never a doubt

Julia supposed she was just going to have to use some magic on Eli. Seriously, he was getting out of hand.

"Don't you go blaming this on me." She found him when he least expected it, in the MENS BATHROOM at school.

"What the fuck!" He almost peed on her.

"I'm happy to see you too." She winced with a smile. Her arms were no longer crossed. "You need me, and you know it."

"No I don't." He looked puzzled. Almost deranged. She liked that about him. Dark. Disturbed. But really, he was fooling around way too much.

"You know, I'm the only one you'll ever need." She gave him a dead stare as he zipped up his pants.

"I don't think so." He smirked back.

"Think again, dildo boy." Her smile was sly. Had he no idea there was a new sheriff in his head, and she planned to make him her puppet. "Come with me."

"Why?" He looked scared and Julia liked that. He so needed to be scared. He'd been far too foolish with so many little sluts at school. It was time to whip him into shape. "Open your eyes, boy." She grabbed him by the arm then. "I'm the best you ever had. Don't forget it." She suppose she'd have to dip her hand down into that heart of his a squeeze it tight. So she did.

She heard his choke. His eyes closed. He fell to the floor, barely breathing. Julia just smiled. He didn't really know what had hit him on the restroom floor.

what to think now

"What?" Clare couldn't believe what Owen was trying to tell her about Adam. "The two of them?" She winced hard. It couldn't be. Adam was in to her, but then she was suppose to be into Eli, but he didn't seem to have time for her, lately.

Clare shook her head. No, she didn't want to believe it. But what if it were true? Maybe she meant nothing to Adam.

This was tearing her a part. And the only person she could find herself pouring all this out on was Jay. Jay of all people.

"Its not the end of the world." His grin was complete. As it was, he'd gotten his old job back at the gas station. He and Mannie had called it quits after a long engagement. "You're young." He told her. "Just snap out of it."

But Clare didn't want to. There was only Eli's arch-nemsis to turn to. Fitz.

She wanted to tell him he was a liar and that he was faking religion. But she couldn't. Not when she looked Fitz in the eye. She doubted herself now. On so many levels. What had she done? Spending all this time with Adam, just to be jilted. She felt as if a confession was in order, somehow. But did she really want Fitz to know everything about her?

like a new burning religion

Fiona had a feeling she might not be with the one she'd wanted to be with. Of course, it kind of got dizzy on their trip to New York City, anyhow. Maybe it was the drugs. But she had to face the fact, he was with her. Wasn't he?

Well, she liked him..now didn't she?

He was so cool. Especially, when he was emo. But did she like that other Eli. You know, just ELI.

Fiona didn't think so. Of course, it was Declan she missed the most. Always would. Couldn't help herself. After all, she was little warped and well, as long as Eli was a little warped....

Fiona was having second thoughts about that. Honestly, she was. Especially, when Declan called.

"What, you want to see me?" Fiona couldn't help but smile when she got his call. It had been forever. It was like he'd banned her from him. Or something.

"Yeah, we should talk?" She could feel his smile already.

After all, New Years day had been ages ago. It was time to be a new Fiona. She didn't need time with Eli to make her cool. She was looking forward to Declan, like a new pony. Maybe this time, they'd get it right.

just in time

"Well?" Fiona looked at Eli as if he were supposed to know. But he gave her a wince as if he hadn't a clue what that was suppose to mean. After all, she found him coming out of the DOT. She was in her little sporty car.

"Get in." She ordered.

"All righty then." He acted as if he could add lib, somehow.

"I want to go to New York." She informed him with her hands on the wheel.

"Right now?" He acted as if he had things to do, and they weren't with her.

"Remember, you said, you'd go." She gave him a glare then as if she meant business.

"Did I? Really?" His half cocked smirk would not do. She drove on. He was going. After awhile, he said. "Then let me drive, will you?"

"But why? Its my car. I am just fine." She liked to drive.

"I feel like such a pansy, you know, letting a girl drive." He shrugged, looking away as if this would be a terribly long trip if she didn't let him have his way.

"No, you might go to Toronto, instead. I want Manhattan. We have to get to Times Square to watch the ball drop." She sounded indifferent. He would just have to suck it up.

"Whatever." He was being cold now. How did they ever get along. He was making her restless.

"Fine." She finally pulled over.

His smile was sly then as she rolled over him to the passenger side. He caught her in a kiss. They stayed there for a very long time. It was good to feel his lips next to hers. He was so warm.

"Listen," she decided to tell him while caught in this tight spot with him that he was really trying to make the most of. "I hear your Clare was out with Adam." She couldn't help but giggle. "But don't worry. I hear my brother has a thing for Clare. He misses those stories she used to write about him."

Eli just looked her in the eye, as if was not the information he needed. Finally, he kissed her again as if this was the moment that mattered. He got behind the wheel then. Yes, they were most definitely going to New York, just in time for New Year's Eve.