Where Are They Now? Eady’s Elite Edition: Fox
The Elite: Henri | Hale & Ean | Gunner | Kile
A/N: This is probably the longest ‘Where Are They Now?’, it just started as a simple idea and I ran with it and I didn’t expect it to get quite explicit (not that explicit, its just implied that they had sex) towards the middle so look out for that. I hope you like this as much as the previous two and as much as I loved writing Clara. She’s my fave match so far!
Fox
He went back to Clermont disappointed, he couldn’t even face Eadlyn for the rejection. He did attend the wedding and smoothed things over with Eady and they ended it off on good terms. He realised that he was in fact in love with the idea of her as she pointed out.
After dealing with the usual initial months of pain and isolation, he finally went back to being a lifeguard. It was around the time where Clermont held their Annual Surfing Competition. Fox hadn’t done that in years so he decided to give it a shot.
For the final lap, he was in the lead but tied with a girl around his age with hair that matched the ocean. She was a good competitor, he thought to himself before pushing himself harder to win. At least then he would have won something, if not the Selection. As they caught the final wave, they were both doing so well until the waves crashed onto the girl. They both saw her cord snap and she went under.
A part of him wanted to go on, assuring himself that she would be fine, the other part of him wanted to be heroic and to be known as her savior rather than the guy who came in 3rd for Queen Eadlyn’s Selection. He made the call when she didn’t come up in 2 minutes. He abandoned his board as well and dove in. He saw her struggling before losing consciousness. He swam further and faster to reach her.
Even though he was holding his breath, he felt like he could breathe as he held her in his arms. He tucked her safely on his left side and swam with his right arm alone. After what felt like forever, they reached the surface and the girl coughed out water and started to breathe. They retrieved their boards and headed back to shore. The competition was postponed in light of the current situation.
Without even a word of gratitude, she swam off on her own ahead of him. He rolled his eyes, so much for being a hero. The girl, Clara was too prideful and embarassed to thank him. She had been training for this for months and she goes down just like that because of a snapped cord and a side stitch? That did not settle well with Clara. As if to sweeten the deal, she was saved by some Blonde Ken doll. She was Clara Clermont, she didn’t need saving.
“A simple thank you would suffice.” She heard Fox calling behind her when they reached the shore. “I didn’t need to be rescued. I was doing fine on my own.” “You were going to die, if that’s what you call fine, then by all means.” She did not want to engage in him but that did it. She turned on her heel and made a jab at his chest.
“Listen here, Blondie, I didn’t ask you to save me. By all means you could have just let me drown. So just leave me alone and never speak of this again.” She grabbed her surfboard, her tote while wrestling out a towel to wrap herself with, and she exited the beach.
*** Fox was going to leave her alone and never mention it to anyone because he had a feeling she had enough power to destroy him, but it became increasingly hard as they seemed to be heading in the same direction. She noticed this too and turned to glare at him.
“Are you following me now? God, what is wrong with you?” He raised his hands in mock surrender and returned the glare. “Me? I’m just heading home!” They both stopped in front of the same cottage.
“Well, here’s my stop, you can go now.” They said at the same time. Fox gritted his teeth; was she mocking him? “What the hell are you talking about? I live here, you crazy girl.” She frowned and then she took in his features. He looked just like Phil Wesley, his father. “You’re the oldest Wesley boy? The one who is always in his room whenever I come over? Looking at you now, I’m kind of disappointed, I expected you to be more buff.” Now she kind of felt bad for being such a bitch to him earlier. He narrowed his eyes at her when she commented on being disappointed.
“Who are you?! I’ve never seen you before. Also sorry to disappoint, I wasn’t born to please you.” He snapped his last line at her. “You would know if you didn’t spend the last few months moping in your room. Gosh, I was joking, I had no expectations. I’m Clara by the way. I helped your father out while you were in the Selection. Well now that you’re a Wesley, I’m sorry for snapping at you. Any kid of Phil’s should be a generous person, just like your siblings Frankie and Franny.”
Funny his father never mentioned a Clara, knowing his Dad, he had something planned. Fox unlocked the door and let them both in. Phil smiled when his son came in but he lit up when he saw Clara.
“You two finally met!” Phil seemed more excited than usual. It was all a part of his plan; he knew both of them were going to be in the same competition. “Yeah, he’s a real charmer. A good kid too, he saved me during the competition today, I had a side stitch that rendered me useless.” Fox was surprised, he thought she never wanted to talk about it. To anyone else she would have clamed up on them regarding what had happened but with Phil, she could tell him anything. He treated her as his own and he was the father figure she never quite had.
“Good job, son! Other than that, did you two have fun at the competition?” "50/50, anyways I brought you all food!” She announced melodiously and immediately Fox’s younger siblings perked up.
“Yay!” They chorused before Frankie turned to Fox and stuck out his tongue. “You know Clara cooks better than you.” “Frankie, don’t be so mean to your brother!” She knew Fox didn’t need this right now, “I’m sure your brother’s cooking is just as good.” “Nah, after eating the Palace food and Henri’s cooking, mine hardly compares.”
“Henri Jaakoppi? He was hot.” Clara let it slip as the two of them helped to set the table. Fox frowned at her. “You watched the Selection yet you didn’t recognise me at the beach?” “I never paid attention to you, I always had eyes for Henri. What’s more attractive than a cute guy like Henri with a hot accent?” Fox rolled his eyes.
Phil was laughing to himself as he watched them interacting. He also knew Clara was lying, she was too prideful to admit to the boy himself that she found him attractive when she first started watching The Selection with the Wesleys.
As they sat down for dinner and dug in, Fox was amazed by Clara’s cooking. It wasn’t Henri’s pasteries but they were amazing nonetheless and he recognised the taste. “Wait, so you’re the one who has been bringing the food and fattening up my family while I was gone? I just thought Dad got himself a girlfriend.” He chuckled and Franny piped in. “Dad can’t have a girlfriend! Mom’s coming back!” Clara and Phil’s eyes averted to Fox’s balled up fists. She knew about their family’s dilemma. That’s why she started to bring food and never stopped.
She also considered the Wesleys as her own family. She was quickly warming up to Fox as well. This was the first time in months he has come out of his room to eat with his family and his younger siblings’ hope of their mother returning was going to make him recede back to his shell again. Instinctively, she held his hand and rubbed soothing circles on the back of his hand.
“Frankie, Franny please be dears and help me wash the dishes.” She sent them off to do their chores while she sat with the two men. “I’m so sorry Fox. Phil, why aren’t you eating your porridge?” She walked over to Phil and sat beside him. He grumbled under his breath but Clara caught it. “This is the same old shit they served me at the hospital.” “It’s not because I made it and I made it with love. Just eat the goddamn porridge, Dad.” She blurted out the last word, her eyes widened and she slapped her hand onto her mouth. “I didn’t mean to call you that, Phil. I sincerely apologise.” He laughed instead and started to eat the porridge.
“You can call me whatever you want, Clara. It would be nice having you as a daughter.” He looked between his son and his honourary daughter, hoping that they would get the hint. “Dad, you go ahead eat your porridge, I have to speak to Clara in private.” “Whatever you want to tell me, you can tell your father too.” She placed her hands on her hips, challenging him. He rolled his eyes and tugged her to his room. “Oh, just let the old man eat his dinner!”
“Okay okay, what was so private that we had to come into your testosterone filled room to talk?” “Are you always this sarcastic or is that just reserved for me?” He batted his eyelashes mockingly. There was just something about her that made him want to throw caution into the wind and be carefree and not worry about his Dad, Frankie and Franny for once.
“Just reserved for you, sweetie.” She puckered her lips and then rolled her eyes, “You and my dad; granted you get the better end of it. Everything I say to him is mean, cruel and sarcastic but the thing is nothing I ever say registers.” He knew how that felt, he dug around the bottom of his shelf and pulled out two bottles of beer. She raised a single perfectly arched eyebrow at him and the bottles.
“How many of those do you have?” “A whole bunch, they are only reserved for nights when the kids bring up Mom or nowadays for Eady. But anyways I didn’t bring you here to get you drunk, I wanted to thank you for being a support system for my family when I wasn’t here physically. Now…after hearing about your dad, I figured you could use the beer.” She plucked the bottle from his hands. “You’re right. I do need it. Can I say something and I’m just going to hope you don’t get offended. Your mom is a bitch.” She took a swing.
“You’re absolutely right and I’m not offended at all. Your real dad sounds like a dick.” He took a swing. “Yep that sums Harold Clermont up. He brings me a new stepmonster every month or so.” “What happened to your mom, if you don’t mind me asking?” “She ran out on us when I was little. I think that’s why he hates me so much. I look too much like her and he thinks I’m going to leave just like she did.” “…Wait did you say your dad was Harold Clermont? As in the mayor of Clermont?” “You didn’t know I’m Clara Clermont?” “Hey, you didn’t recognise me!” he threw back at her. She rolled her eyes. “I did, I was just too prideful to admit it. Also let’s not talk about me being the Mayor’s Daughter. I don’t like that flaunting that fact.”
“One last question though.” Fox requested. She nodded, “Shoot.” “So does that mean you’re rich? And is my family your charity project?” She punched him for the second question. “You said one question and your family is not my charity project! I can’t believe you’d think so lowly of me.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to come across that way. Can we just go back to talking about our shitty parents?” “Gladly.”
At this point they had both finished their bottles and Fox was opening a second round. They went back and forth discussing their paternal issues. By their fourth bottle, they were both pretty wasted.
“You’re extremely hot.” He said lazily, heavily leaning against her. “Well the alcohol does heat up our body.” She smirked and giggled. She was the giggly drunk and hated herself for it. Soon they were both pulling at each other’s clothes.
That night two people became one. **** The next morning Clara woke up with a maddening headache. She felt groggy and strangely satisfied. She blinked her eyes and felt an arm around her. She turned slowly to face the owner of the arm as she remember everything that happened last night. Oh…she slept with Fox. How was she going to explain to Phil? She didn’t have to…he had been hinting for this to happen for a while now. For once, she was going to let herself fall. She smiled turning to face Fox. She hugged him closer.
At the close contact, Fox woke up, blinking down at Clara.
“Did we…?” He gulped down nervously. He couldn’t believe he took advantage of her being drunk like that. She sensed his panic and was quick to calm him down.
“It was purely consensual. We were drunk enough to want it but not so drunk that we could have taken advantage of each other. Soo now that we have established that we are sexually compatible, would you like to go out on a date with me?” His face split in half from grinning wildly.
**** 2 Years Later
Clara was waiting for Phil to walk her down the aisle when her cell rang. It was the family attorney.
“What, Tony? I’m about to walk down the aisle in five minutes.” She hissed into the phone. “Your father has passed away this morning, Miss Clermont. He left everything to you.” Clara’s eyes widened. “Thank you Tony, I’ll come over after the ceremony to go over the legal details with you.” She said quietly. She hung up and considered her options.
Finally she laughed and smiled, she had never been happier. Her old man was gone, he can’t control her anymore and she was going to become the daughter (in-law) to her favourite father figure. When Phil came around to walk her down the aisle, she grabbed his arm quickly and rattled off,
“Dad, do you mind if I do something untraditional?” He knew Clara was a force not to be reckoned with so he shrugged and let her be. Except he didn’t realise that he would be involved in this. She pulled him towards the Hall doors leading to the ceremony. She pushed opened the door excitedly and ran down the aisle with Phil tailing behind her. She threw a fist in the air and yelled as she ran towards Fox.
“HE’S DEAD! HE’S DEAD AND HE LEFT EVERYTHING IN MY NAME!” When she reached him, she was practically jumping with joy and clutch Fox’s hand so as to transfer some of her happiness to him.
“My father’s gone and he left everything to me, Fox! We can finally move you and your family out of that tiny cottage.” She yelled-whispered giddily. “That’s great, dear but um…” He bit his lip and gestured to the first row, on the her side of the guests, the Royal Family were seated. All the guests looked slightly motified but the Royal Family looked like they were trying to hold their laughter in. Clara also spied some of the boys from Fox’s Selection losing it and giggling to themselves. She was then fully aware of where she was and what she had done. She had to fix this.
“Sorry for startling everyone, I’m just soo excited to marry this good looking fella.” She adjusted his bow and smoothed over his sleeves for effect, smiling at everyone before turning back to Fox and motioned to the pastor to start the ceremony.
The ceremony was a success, they both said the right names, no one was drunk and no one turned out to be a lesbian after that. And all on their first try. It was during the reception that Clara finally got to meet the Royal Family and the Elite followed behind, whom she had met over the past two years, to offer their congratulations.
“Your Majesties and Highnesses, it’s pleasure to have you here.” Clara bowed gracefully. She was hoping no one would mention her little performance at the Wedding Hall. Too late, she had jinxed it because Kile started to laugh as he patted Fox’s back.
“I knew she was wild, Fox but that was quite a show you put on, Clara.” Queen Eadlyn pinched him. “Kile, be nice!” “I am! The three of us joke about this all the time.” “Well I’m glad someone liked it.” Clara deadpanned. This broke the ice and everyone started to laugh. The Elite caught up with each other and the Queen. Fox pulled Clara close and kissed her temple.
“I love you.” He said seriously. “Ew, you have a crush on me.” “Clara, we’re married.” “Still…” “Shut up, Clara.” “I love you too, Mr. Clermont-Wesley.” “What? Clara, we are not hypenating!” “Ooops…already did…” Fox sighed heavily. Kile was right, he was in for a wild ride but he knew he was going love every minute of it as long as he was with his Clara.
