“Is it true that wewe couldnt stand being away from me so wewe decided to come surprise me?” Eli smirked at her and Clare rolled her eyes. “Actually I was bored.” Clare chuckled as the song ended and Eli gave her a teasing glare. “You promised no zaidi lying.” Eli whined and Clare tilted her head as she pushed him to sit back on the bed. “Who alisema I was?” Clare teased and Eli frowned before her lips met his. “Truth au Dare, Captain smug.” Clare asked. Eli thought for a moment. “Truth.” He leaned back against his pillows and Clare sat kuvuka, msalaba legged opposite him. “Do wewe really hate all the sinema I make wewe watch?” Clare asked making Eli laugh. “Honestly, they are a bit soft but I remember they are chick flicks and try to brush it off. They aren’t so bad I just usually like things a bit zaidi raw and thrilling. I’d watch Bambi if it means I get to spend time laying on the kitanda with wewe though.” Eli smile tugging on Clare’s foot making her blush. “A very honest yet sweet answer.” Clare blushed. “Truth au dare, beautiful.” Eli asked putting his arm behind his head. “Truth.” She alisema with a bit of blush still present on her cheeks. “What is the most sensitive place I’ve ever placed my lips on you?” Clare smacked Eli’s leg and he wiggled his eyebrows. “I think wewe know.” Clare alisema nonchalantly and Eli laughed. “That’s not an answer. wewe have to say where Clare. Those are the rules.” Eli shook his finger at her and Clare glared. “You aren’t playing fair though. wewe cant ask dirty questions.” Clare alisema and Eli put his hands up. “Hey, I asked wewe a simple question, it’s not my fault your mind automatically goes to the dirty place.” Eli defended and Clare crossed her arms over her chest and remained silent. “You wanted to play this game. What? Can’t handle your own game?” Eli challenged Clare and she huffed. “My thighs…my hip…and my neck. Happy?” Clare gave a fake grin and Eli smirked. “Very.“Truth au Dare.” Clare began, keeping her eyes on Eli as her face fell serious. Eli studied her face, watching the change in emotion as her blush fell. “Truth.” Clare nodded, “Truth… hmmm.” She hummed for a moment as she thought for a swali and finally spoke. “How often do wewe think about it?” She asked and Eli tilted his head. “You’ve got to give me zaidi details than that Clare.” Clare chewed on the corner of her lip, “What do wewe think I’m talking about?” Eli’s face went blank, “I hope it’s not what I think wewe mean, au you’ll probably be embarrased kwa the answer.” He watched her cheeks blush and let out a chuckle. “No, I don’t mean that. I mean… how often do wewe think about me… well about something bad happening to me?” She asked curiously and now Eli’s face was the one that fell. A frown played out on his lips and he shook his head, “I don’t want to talk about it.” Clare pouted her lip out, “But wewe have to tell me.” A heavy sigh escaped from Eli’s lips, “A lot zaidi than I should. Would wewe be satisfied if I told wewe that it’s my biggest fear?” Clare frowned, “I’m sorry I brought it up.” But Eli shook his head, “It’s fine. Let’s just… go on.” Clare nodded and scooted closer to him, letting her hand rest on his leg and she smiled at him, trying to lighten the mood. “Now, it’s your turn.” Eli continued, “Truth au dare? But keep in mind that so far this has been a riveting game of truth. Just saying.” Clare narrowed her eyes but let out a soft laugh as she did so, “Fine. Dare. But go easy on me.” A grin spread across Eli’s face and he leaned over off of his kitanda and grabbed a permanent marker from his desk. “Lay back and pull your shati up.” Clare raised her eyebrow, watching him cautiously. “What for?” Eli smirked, “Just do it. I’m giving wewe a temporary tattoo.” Clare let out a light laugh but did as he alisema and laid out on the kitanda beside him. He moved his body down and pushed her shati up out of the way and tugged her jeans down slightly before he began to draw on the sensitive skin just below her belly button. “What are wewe drawing?” she asked as she looked down at him, feeling the cold ink of the marker as it drew against her skin. Eli didn’t songesha his attention up from it but shook his head, “You’ll see.” She narrowed her eyes, “If better not be inappropriate.” Eli laughed, “Right, because I’m going to draw something Rated X on your skin Clare.” he spoke sarcastically and she rolled her eyes. “Are wewe almost done?” She asked after a few zaidi dakika and as she did she heard him click the cap, herufi kubwa of the pen back on and he pulled away, smiling at her stomach proudly. “Yep, all done.” Clare sat up slightly so she could see the black ink on her stomach. He’d drawn a skull and kuvuka, msalaba Bones with their initials C+E written below it. She smiled and looked up at him, he was smiling right back at her. “To match my English notes?” she chuckled as she recalled earlier that siku in the maktaba where he’d doodles on her notes as she studied. “What can I say?” he chuckled as he crawled up beside her, “I’m a repeat artist, sue me.” She laughed, “I might if wewe continue to distract me when I’m studying.” Eli smiled and moved closer to her, “You upendo me though.” She rolled her eyes yet again, but nodded, “You’re the very best kind of distraction.” Their lips pressed together then and she smiled against their kiss before pulling back, “Now it’s my turn. Truth au dare?“Dare.” Eli alisema nonchalantly sitting back on his bed. “I dare wewe to tell me why wewe thought I would poison Fitz at the dance.” Clare’s face was sullen while Eli pulled away from her. “What?” He asked almost offended. Clare sat up straight and pushed some of her hair behind her ear. “Wh-what made wewe think I would actually do that to someone? Poison them I mean.” Clare asked and Eli continued to gape at her. “I dont want to play this game anymore.” Eli alisema suddenly and Clare sighed. “Did wewe really think I was capable of doing something like that?” Clare continued to ask and Eli didnt look at her as he grabbed his work book from his desk. “I told wewe I dont want to play.” Eli alisema picking up his pen but Clare put her hand on his book. “Please…I just want to know.” Clare pouted at Eli and he sighed. “No…I didnt think wewe were a horrible person au anything Clare. I was being stupid okay? I dont know why I even bothered asking.” Eli couldnt bring himself to look up at Clare. “Eli, I wasnt saying wewe were a horrible person.” Clare put her hand on his and he shook his head. “I could have gotten wewe hurt. There are quite a few things I’m ashamed of in my life and that is one of them.” Eli looked down at Clare’s hand on his and she scooted closer to him. “It’s still your turn. wewe can even pick.” Clare alisema dipping her head down to try and catch Eli’s eye contact. He sat silently for a moment. “Okay…truth au dare?” He asked glancing at her but not holding the eye contact. “Truth.” Clare rubbed her thumb over his hand as she felt Eli’s breath sigh reach her hand. “Do my bila mpangilio anxiety attacks and mood swings scare you?” Eli asked still looking at her hand. “I’m not sure what wewe mean.” Clare asked confused but Eli finally looked at her. “The way I am…about Julia…and Fitz…do I scare you?” Eli asked but this time he held her gaze and she wasnt sure what she saw zaidi of in his eyes: fears au shame.