Chapter Eighteen

"I really did have a wonderful time," Clare hugged Charlotte for about the tenth time as they stepped out of the car.

"Me too, sweetheart. I really hope you can come back and join us again. Maybe for Easter Break or something. You're always welcome in my home, sweet girl."

Clare felt tears brimming in her eyes. She and Eli had failed in the past. If they failed a second time, there would be much more at stake – his mental sanity, her relationship with his family…Clare realized that maybe having more at stake would mean more to fight for during the hard time. Charlotte saw her tears and scolded, saying –

"Come now, don't do that," she pulled Clare into another hug, "We'll see each other again very soon. Now, Eli," she turned her attention to the boy who was helping pull luggage from the trunk, "You take good care of this one, understand? If I hear you've done anything to hurt her in any way, I'll fly out to Canada and wallop you myself."

"Grandmother," Eli rolled his eyes.

"Don't think I won't. I used to have this measuring stick in my kitchen, and I'd always threaten him with that whenever he'd act up," she leaned in close to Clare and winked, "Not that I'd ever use it on him, of course."

"Well Ma," Bullfrog turned to his mother, "It was nice to see you again. We had a great time, as always."

"Of course, baby," Charlotte kissed him on the cheek, "Now you take care, alright. Don't get into too much trouble and be a bad influence on my sweet grandson, you hear?"

"I'm an awesome influence on the kid," Bullfrog ruffled Eli's hair, and Eli gagged and scurried out from under his grasp.

"What did I say about the mushy family moments," Eli folded his arms over his chest and tried to look cross.

Cece rolled her eyes before turning to Charlotte, "Thanks for having us, Charlotte. It was really nice – everything was super special. We really appreciate it."

"Of course, Cecelia. Now, don't you go dying your hair any more funky colors. And did you really close up your nose piercing? I am so proud…"

"Char, do you really think I closed up my nose piercing? I just took it out to come visit you."

Charlotte laughed, "You're a keeper, Cecelia. You take care, alright? Keep Liam out of trouble, and make sure Eli stays just as sweet as ever."

"Well, I'll do my best," Cece hugged Charlotte goodbye one last time before the group headed into the airport.

Clare couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of melancholy as she waved to Charlotte through the glass window. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Bullfrog standing behind her.

"You'll see her again soon," he told her, "Don't you worry about that."

"I have never really been close to my grandparents," Clare admitted to him, "It was nice to have that for the Christmas holidays."

"Well I am pretty sure she just adopted you," Bullfrog grinned, "Come on – that girl and kid of mine are about up to security, and we're laggin' behind!"

Clare smiled as she followed Bullfrog to the line at security. She was so grateful for them for inviting her to come along. It was as if she just fit with this family. With her family, she had always been worried about messing up or doing something wrong or saying the wrong thing. Not with Eli's family though. Everything was so comfortable, so relaxed.

When they were through security, Bullfrog bought Eli and Clare a huge bag of sour neon gummy worms to share while on the plane. As they were waiting for boarding, Clare sat next to Eli in their terminal.

"Thank you so much for inviting me," she said, "It really meant a lot to me."

"Well, it was Bullfrog's idea…"

"I don't care," Clare chuckled, "I only care that it meant so much to me to feel like I belonged. I felt like I truly was a part of a family…and I don't feel like that much in my own family."

"Well you are part of my family, Clare," Eli tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "And always have been."

They boarded the plane, and sat together like on their first flight. Clare stared out the window as the plane lifted into the air. She grabbed hold of Eli's hand again, and gave a little squeeze until the plane balanced out. She leaned her head against Eli's shoulder and he played with her hair for a moment before growing bored. He could play with her hair all day, but it just wouldn't be quite as fun as messing with her.

"What do you say we play truth or dare," he grinned down at her and tapped her on the nose with his fingertip.

"Eli, how on earth do you purpose we play truth or dare on an airplane?"

"I'll show you. Come on."

"Eli, I don't know…"

"Unless you're chicken."

"Eli, don't be immature…"

He grabbed hold of her eyes with his and said, in complete seriousness, "Play with me, Clare."

"I would…but we're on an airplane and I don't think that's appropriate," she shrugged innocently, "I'm sorry. Maybe you can go into the bathroom and play with yourself?"

"And when did Saint Clare get such an unsaintly mind?" Eli raised an eyebrow, impressed and shocked by her comment.

"Are we playing Truth or Dare, or not, Goldsworthy."

"Assertiveness is sexy on you," Eli grinned, "Alright, Truth or Dare."

"Truth."

"Lame."

"Eli!'

"Fine," Eli held up his hands in surrender, "What's your biggest fear?"

"Well, it used to be drowning."

"What is it now?" Eli asked curiously.

"Losing you," Clare answered honestly.

"Oh don't you even think giving me mushy answers are going to get you out of having to do a dare, Blue Eyes."

"Didn't even cross my mind," Clare smirked, "Your turn. Truth or Dare?"

"Dare."

"I have no clue how to dare you on a freakin' air plane, Eli," Clare rolled her eyes, "Um…hmm…I dare you to…uh…" she lowered her voice, "tell Bullfrog that your aspiration in life is to be in a boy band."

"No!" Eli gasped, "Clare, my dad loves me but I am pretty sure he will disown me if I said anything along those lines."

"Come on," Clare nudged him, "Unless…you're chicken."

Eli let out a soft, throaty growl before reaching between the seats to tap his dad on the shoulder.

"What's up?" Bullfrog craned his neck to turn and face his son.

"Dad…you…uh…you like me, right?"

"Depends," Bullfrog furrowed his brow, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," Eli ran a hand through his hair, "I just need to tell you something."

"What, kid?"

"Well, Dad…my greatest aspiration in life is to…to be…in a boy band."

"Eli?" Bullfrog stared at his son as if he had just sprouted a second head, "What in God's name…Cece…smack that boy."

"Bullfrog, what the hell?"

"He just said he wants to be in a boy band."

"Eli, how can you say something so disgraceful?" Cece demanded, "We raised you better than that!"

"Thanks, Clare," Eli turned to his girlfriend and rolled his eyes.

"You know we can hear you two, right?" Bullfrog chuckled, "Truth and Dare on an airplane, Eli? Seriously? Not your brightest idea…"

"Oh hush," Cece shook her head, "I want to see where this goes."

"With us getting thrown of the plane is where it's gonna go," Bullfrog sighed before turning back around. Clare burst out into a fit of giggles and Eli glared daggers at her.

"You're something, Clare," he shook his head, "Your turn."

"Oh gosh," Clare winced, "Truth."

"You said truth last time," Eli whined, "Now you have to do a dare."

"That's not how this game works," Clare protested.

"It is if I say so," Eli smirked, "I was the one that suggested the game."

"Eli, you're being ridiculous," Clare said, to which Eli cocked an eyebrow; finally, she gave in, "Alright, fine. I'll do a dare."

"Alright," Eli glanced around the plane, trying to think up something that wouldn't result in them being thrown off the airplane, "I dare you to go to the bathroom, but on your way there – as you're walking all the way down the aisle – I want you to sing Wannabe by the Spice Girls."

"Eli, that is going to get us in so much trouble…"

"Eh, let's see how it goes."

"You're crazy!"

"I thought we already established that fact."

"Eli, I am not going to go down the aisle of the airplane singing Wannabe. No, just no."

"Didn't you say they were your favorite singers when you were seven?"

"Yeah…I was seven. That was ten years ago, Eli."

"Do it," Eli stared at her with that look that said I-know-I'm-going-to-get-my-way-so-just-save-us-all-the-time.

Clare rolled her eyes and stood from her seat. He scooted his legs out of her way so she could pass by him and make her way to the aisle. As she was standing in the aisle, Clare adjusted her hair and tried to look at least somewhat dignified while she still had dignity left.

"Alright," she sighed, "I'm doing it."

"I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. So tell me what you want what you really, really want. I'll tell you what I want what I really, really want. So tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really, really, really wanna zigazig-ah."

Eli was dying of laughter as the flight attendant stormed over to Clare who was now about halfway towards the restroom. The whole cabin of the plane was staring at her in shock, and Eli thought he saw someone with their camera-phone out. If this ended up on YouTube, it'd be even better.

"I'm sorry," Clare winced at the flight attendant, "My boyfriend over there…well, he dared me to do this and I know it was terribly inappropriate..."

"We do not tolerate any sort of misconduct on our aircraft, ma'am. If we so wanted to, we could make an emergency landing and have you escorted off the plane. Is that what you want?"

"No…I just…I'm very sorry."

"Please return to your seat, and do not leave said seat for the remainder of the flight."

"Yes ma'am," Clare sunk, defeated, back to her assigned seat. Eli was cackling.

"Thanks Eli, that was real funny."

"Wasn't it?" Eli grinned.

"The hell is wrong with you?" Bullfrog turned around and glared at his son, "Don't make me come back there; you will not like it if I have to come back there."

"Dad, it was just a dare…"

"A stupid dare. God, that was so embarrassing. You two morons better not get us kicked off a freakin' airplane – got it. I can't believe that you'd do something so stupid. I mean, come on Eli! What the hell were you thinking?"

"I-I wasn't…"

"Obviously. Geeze. At least pick a better song than that next time."

"What?" Clare's eyeballs nearly popped from their sockets.

Bullfrog shrugged, "I raised him better than that. Next time Eli, pick a better song. I have a reputation to uphold, and the fact that you even know who the Spice Girls are is damaging."