GUESS WHO IS BACK.

HELLO, IT'S LAUREN AHHHH.

I put this together as I couldn't resist not to write ASAP! So here I am, how exciting!

This chapter is called 'free will' for obvious reasons, it means we should be able to do as we can, and is a Christian idea. I'm not Christian myself (well I don't practise it...) but yeah. It's ironic...yeah just read on :)

Sorry if I'm a bit rusty, I hope this chapter makes up for my long exam break ;)....lots of drama. Prepare.

Thank you so much for all the support on Mafia Girl guys!

-Lx

---
~Clara~

Nonna and make our way down the church aisle, me pulling at my dress, and Nonna waving merrily to pretty much everybody in the church.

"Hurry along now Tesoro, we need to get good seats" Nonna tugs at my hand, yanking me forward. I stumble and she chuckles. I roll my eyes and internally groan.

"Clara" someone whispers from my left, I freeze, breath catching in my throat suddenly, as I turn to see Elliot sitting in the pews at about bottom hip height, I smile at him as he beams up at me.

"Oh um...hi Elliot" I smile as images of last Friday flash through my mind. My heart beats in my ears as I smile and wave at him quickly and hurry after Nonna, she raises her eyebrows at me.

"Oh hush" I say, unable to hide the smile evident on my face. She pats my shoulder and smiles herself, shaking her had as the vicar steps up to the podium, ready to start the service.

"Good morning all and a happy Sunday to you all, today we we will be talking about confessions..."

Then I zone out.

***

"And therefore, we conclude our service, but before I do, I ask you, oh gracious people in the eyes of God, is there anything any of you would like to confess? Don't be shy now, we are a shared community"

The room is silent, calm, nobody has anything to confess, everything is still and nobody is uncomfortable.

Until.

The creak of wood echoes through the hall as someone gets to the feet and says "I do" and I shut my eyes tight as I recognise his voice.

"Don't do this, man" Elliot's voice echoes along side his. I turn along with everyone else and get to my feet with Elliot because he can't do this, he shouldn't do this, not to himself.

"Hugo..." I trail off hopelessly as he makes his way down the aisles past each pew, his face set and determined.

"Clara it's fine" he smiles shakily at me, patting my arm as Nonna gives me an odd look, then I notice a familiar quiff of blonde hair at the far left pew. Austin.

"Yeah, I have something to confess" Hugh says into the microphone. Without looking up, I can see the sweat on his brow and that he is shaking slightly. I notice what looks to be his Mum and Dad looking confused, I frown and begin to prepare myself for this giant shitstorm that's about to unravel.

"I'm...I'm sorry in advance, Mum...Dad" he says slowly, looking up slowly, his hair falling into his chestnut brown eyes. I close my eyes and slowly snake my hand into Nonna's warm grip, she clutches it right back and I open my eyes.

"I know in your eyes it's wrong and...oh, I don't know what you'll do but guys I'm...I'm gay"

The hall falls silent, but this time it's tense and thick with tension that makes me feel ill, my eyes meet Hugh's as he looks terrified, I smile reassuringly and he just looks to his parents.

They both looked shocked, baffled, but the most part, mortified.

"We can get someone to talk to you about this Hugo" his Mum says, without looking at him. "I think you might be unwell"

"I'm not...oh"

And then Hugo takes a step back, and before us all, in front of my very eyes, I watch the recently out, but past popular and confident boy Hugo Sullivan that I knew so well, crumble.

He runs down the stage steps faster than anyone can stop him; sunlight floods into the hall as he throws the doors open, and then humiliated and upset, Hugh takes off, sprinting accords the car park. Elliot gets up, but his Mum grabs his forearm to stop him. Birds sing outside, cars drive in the distance, the green scenery of the park opposite the church enters my vision, creating an edenic scene at the complete wrong time.

Austin's feet scrape across the wood floor as he gets to his feet, glares hard at the back of Hugh's parents heads. Then runs out the open door into the spring breeze after him. I let myself sink into the chair, head in my hands as I silently feel terrible for Hugo. Belief or not, his parents should find a way to understand.

***

We all walk out of the church in a flood of people, Hugh's parents walk away with heads low as they avoid all attention. I groan and look up at the sun.

"This is like Chloe all over again" Elliot exclaims, I turn to face him, his brown eyes meet mine and I swallow, he smiles, his blue eyes meeting mine. I grip at my hem and frown at him as he surveys me intently.

"Okay, please can someone just tell me what that was all about? I feel like I'm slightly out of the circuit" I cross my arms and look up expectantly at him, completely unprepared for what comes next.

"Okay fine, but please, don't say anything. She doesn't like talking about it" he whispers, grabbing my wrist and pulling me forward so he can whisper straight in my ear, my chest nearly touches his and I exhale deeply, his musky cologne surrounding me like a warm hug, his soft hand on my arm.

"So...Chloe was dating this guy, but Vanessa liked him, so like the loyal friend she is, Chloe dumped him. Problem was.." He breathes "this guy was older, even though we were 15 he was persuasive and um...Chloe was pregnant" I gasp and he continues quickly "she went to see Vanessa about her problem, she threatened to tell the whole school because she thought it would make her look bad because he was her 'man candy' so then she made Chloe have an abortion even though she didn't even like the guy that much, so then she did it for her best friends sake and because she didn't want to be shown up in front of everyone. Only a few of us knew, Nessa and the boy broke up and then...here we are I suppose"

"Oh my god" I say, staring at his chest as I am so close to him right now. I feel so bad for Chloe, but course, there's nothing I can about it.

But my dislike for Vanessa? Well that's certainly increased, she believes she rules the whole bloody school when really she seems heartless and completely unsympathetic. It's clear Chloe would run through a war zone for her, but is also evident that the time Chloe got to where Nessa was supposed to be, she wouldn't be. No apology.

Oh poor poor Chloe, that really does explain everything. I guess there's no real secrets left now. Right?

"Nessa is...complicated" he sighs, shaking his head with a dark look on his face, looking haunted and disappointed by the past.

"Well she certainly likes you" I say, my tone bitter and fuelled with a certain jealousy. Man, I definitely have it bad for Elliot don't I? Oh great.

He chuckles, deep and still in my ear, it's almost seductive and it sets my heart off again. I can almost feel it rumble through his chest. I press my lips into a tight line to conceal my sudden weakness.

"Oh I wouldn't worry about that" he says, leaning away and smiling at me as I face him wide eyes. He smiles and breaths deep. "I have eyes on someone else, rather bad actually"

I blink but he doesn't tear eye contact, and he's close again, just like Friday. My ribcage almost bursts with how hard my heart is thumping as he steadily leans his face in at an angle. I let my eye lids fall closed as I stand on my tippy toes.

"Clara dear! Oh where is she...Clara?!"

I gasp and push him back in shock and I spin round to see Nonna looking through the crowd for me, her back to me, black skirt blowing in the light wind. I hear Elliot splutter behind me, his hands leaving my arm and leaving it cold and weird feeling.

"Non-" I start, but I'm caught off by Elliot turning me back into his embrace. He gives me seconds to contemplate it as he simply says:

"Oh no, you're not getting away from me again"

Then his lips are on mine and everything in my head goes blank, eyes wide in shook, I let them fall closed again and I stand on my tiptoes to wrap my arms round his neck. It's electric, it's alive, my whole body feels like it's gone into shock yet it's so so real and in the moment and nothing has felt so right. Everything is just..Elliot.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.

I gasp for air as we separate, his eyes not leaving mine as he smiles bigger than ever, I laugh and he places a tiny peck to my lips again. His eyes are a darker blue, his whole face seems to glow in a rosy flush as he looks lost for words. I can't believe that I'm the cause of all that.

"El! Come on sweetheart!" His Mum's voice cuts through the sweet air between us, he turns to look over his shoulder and yells "coming mum!"

He takes my hand in his briefly, I bite my lip at the feeling that tingles up my arm. He grins then says, with a knew roughness to his voice:

"See you around, Mafia Girl"

And then he releases my hand and walks leisurely after his Mum with a slight spring in his step.

"There you are Clara!" Nonna's hand rests on my shoulder, "where have you been? I've been looking all over!"

"I-"

"Come on! I have a casserole to turn down!" She lectures, pulling me, who is slightly stunned and light headed, away to her car.

"Why do you look so...dazed and...Clara look at me"

I meet her eyes without speaking, my mouth slightly agape as she frowns at me.

"Are you unwell? You look flushed?"

A small creeps up on my lips as the events play like a movie through my thoughts again and again, soft and feathery and light, but so real and exciting and electric at the same time. I shake my head and she nods.

"Heat maybe?" She shrugs, smoothing her fragile hands over my shoulders.

"Yeah...heat" I grin, she raises an eyebrow in confusion and then just shrugs and pulls me back to the car.

---
SOOO

All was revealed about Chloe, Vanessa's worst flaws are shown, Hugo seems to be in trouble with his catholic parents, Austin ran after him and...

CLARIOT KISSED! AHHHHHHHHH I'M SO HAPPY AND IT'S MY OWN BOOK, you're welcome.

So yeah, it's shorter than I thought and I just thought with all the drama it would be worth the long wait...?

Anyways,

Don't forget to vote and leave feedback!

-Lx

(Lauren, by the way, my name is Lauren, some of you have been asking :) )