You can't love someone you don't trust

Clare's POV:

I stared at Eli from my locker. Eli was standing across the hall talking to some rich preppy girl named Hannah. Now the only reason I knew her name was because Adam had a crush on her. They used to talk all the time, but within the last few weeks she had pushed Adam away and was all up Eli's alley. The bad thing about that was that Eli was right up her alley also. I was pretending to read my copy of Romeo and Juliet, even though we had already learned about it in English class, there was just a part of me that loved the story and couldn't get enough of it, while ever so often glancing up at them to see her bat her stupid fake long eyelashes at him. I didn't get it. We were together, that meant he was supposed to want to spend time with me, not some other girl, right? I could have sworn I saw Hannah glance over at me, so I looked down at my book. I waited a few minutes before looking up again, but when I did they were both gone. Suddenly someone came up behind me and I thought it was her but actually it was Eli.

Eli-"Hey, What's up." "Did I miss anything interesting?" Now earlier Eli had skipped out on eating lunch with me to "take care of something" as he had said. I was honestly over all his little "sorry but I have to take care of something's" so all I said was fine. Over the last few weeks his strange disappearances started to surprise me less and less. So whenever he skipped out on something all I said was fine or ok.

Me-" No, but its not like you ever do because my life is boring as always."

Eli-"Trust me Clare, you're not boring, I like you and you're life just the way it is."

Me-"Yeah, I bet you do." And with that I closed my locker and walked away. I know I was being a little harsh, but why should I have to stand there and listen to him lie to my face, so I won't realize that he is interested in some other girl. To my surprise he didn't come running after me, so I just continued to walk to the picnic tables that were outside. I saw Adam sitting down and reading a comic, so I walked over to him and sat down, while slamming my books down on the table.

Adam-"Let me guess, after Eli skipped out on lunch, you saw him talking to Hannah, and then he tried to talk to you and pretend everything is just dandy."

Me-"You nailed it."

Adam-" Booya!, I'm so good."

Me-"Yeah you're so good that you can predict when my boyfriend is going to skip out on me to go hang with some other girl." "I don't think that's something I would want to be proud of."

Adam-"Yeah, you're right. This sucks. Not only are we loosing a best friend, you're loosing your boyfriend and I'm loosing my crush."

Me-"I know, I just don't understand it. If he was cheating wouldn't he do it where I couldn't see it?"

Adam-"That's normally what guys do."

Me-"Yeah, but he skips out on everything I suggest we do together, says he has to "take care of something", and then goes and flirts with a girl right in front of my face." "What's up with that?" "If he was cheating you would at least think he would hide it."

Adam-"Well, maybe he's not cheating yet…"

Me-"Oh come on Adam, we know he is."

Adam-"What I was saying is, maybe he's not cheating yet, maybe he's just interested in her, and wants to get to know her."

Me-"UHHHHH, this is driving me insane."

Then all of a sudden Eli and Hannah come walking out of the school talking about something, so I pull Adam off of the picnic table bench and into some bushes.

Adam-"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?"

Me-"shhh. Here come Eli and Hannah. I want to hear what they are talking about."

Eli-"Okay so I'll bring the candles and rose pedals."

Hannah-"Yeah. Oh and the beds need to be made. My family hasn't been there since last summer and we took everything with us. so I'll bring blankets and pillows for the beds."

Eli-"Ok sounds great. I can't wait to see your lake house."

Hannah-"I know you're going to love it. oh and by the way you may want to bring some groceries, there is no food in the fridge."

Eli-"Okay, no problem."

Hannah-"Now all I have to do, is swipe the key when my parents aren't looking. Haha so we are meeting at the dot at 5?"

Eli-" Yup, and that will give us 3 hours to get there, do it and get back."

Hannah-'Sounds great, I'll see you then."

They gave each other a hug and Hannah walked off. I couldn't stand the realization that Eli was cheating on me. I saw Eli glance at the books on the table then he started looking around like he knew we were close.

Eli-"Clare, Adam, where are you guys."

Adam-"Oh no, what do we do?"

Me-'just go along with what I say." "OVER HERE ELI."

I pulled Adam through the bushes and we both walked over toward Eli.

Eli-"What were you guys doing in the bushes?"

Me-'Well, um I was showing Adam a cheerleading routine, that my sister Darcy taught me when she used to be a cheerleader, and my ring flew off my hand and landed in the bushes. Adam was just helping me find it." "Isn't that right Adam?"

Adam-"Yeah totally, her ring really meant a lot to her."

Eli-"ok? So Clare I know we had plans for tonight but I…"

I cut him off saying

Me-"You can't make it."

Eli-"Well, I have time for coffee but then I have to go."

Me-"Oh don't worry about it, Adam and I are busy with something so I won't be able to hang out at all."

Adam looked at me like what are you talking about? I nudged his side and he went along with it.

Adam-"Yeah we got to finish a project."

Eli-"Oh, ok well I guess I'll call you later tonight."

With that Eli walked away. I knew that I had hurt him but I had a plan.

Me-"Hey Adam, are you ready to get them back?"

Adam-"It depends what do you have in mind?"

Me-"Oh I think you're going to like it."

In front of the dot- 5:00pm: Adam and me stood in front of the Dot waiting for Eli and Hannah to get there. We had our plan all worked out and we both were a little nervous. Soon after we got there Eli pulled up in his hearse. He walked in took a seat and ordered some coffee. A few minutes later Hannah walked by us and entered the dot, and took a seat in front of Eli. This is perfect. Eli was facing the window so he would see us first.

Me-"Ok Adam, you ready?"

Adam-"Yea, I am."

Me-"Ok, lets do this, and do it good."

Right when Hannah walked back to sit down in her seat, I playfully and seductively grabbed Adam and pulled him to me. Adam went in to seal our plan with a kiss but instead I pushed his back in to the side window of the dot. I leaned in to kiss Adam, but hesitated to look and see if Eli was watching. He was and he looked shocked to see us. Then when I saw that Hannah and Eli were both watching I pushed myself close to Adam and kissed him with all the jealousy and anger that I had from Eli cheating. For a moment Adam was really getting into it. Rubbing his hands this way and that. I pulled away breathless, and stared at Adam for a second, before slightly glancing at Eli. Eli was just standing at his seat, with tears streaming down his face. Ok, I know I was a little too harsh, but that's what he gets for cheating. So I seductively looked at Adam and smiling before grabbing his hand and pulling him away to make it look like we were going to finish this else where. We ran as fast as we could. It didn't take us to long to reach my house, with us running like rabid dogs were chasing after us. We busted through the door, and ran up my stairs and into my room, with my mom asking us if we were ok.

Me-"We're fine Mom, just having fun like always."

Mrs. Edwards-"Ok, I'm going out, I won't be back for a while so don't wait up. Have fun honey I love you."

Me-"Love you to mom. Byee."

Adam-"Bye Mrs. Edwards."

My mom left so I shut my bedroom door.

Adam-"I'm so glad my plan worked."

Me-"Your plan? That was my plan."

Adam-"Oh yea?"

Me-"Yea."

Adam-'Well, we'll just see about that."

Now I know this might seem a little odd to you but Adam, Eli, and me have been best friends since I can't even remember. Now we would always have wrestling competitions. I would normally wrestle with Eli and so would Adam. But ever since Eli has been ditching us Adam and me would wrestle. Now its pretty normal for someone to walk in on us sprawled out on the couch or the floor beating the crap out of one another, but I guess this time they took it the wrong way.

Me-"Really now, what are you going to do about it?"

Adam-"Oh, I'll show you."

Me-"OH YEA BRING IT!"

Then all of a sudden we started beating the heck out of each other. I kicked him while he grabbed my hands, to keep me from hitting him. Then I released my hands while Adam tripped over my bed, falling back on it while pulling me down with him. We both just laughed. It was the perfect opportunity, he thought the game was over and tried to get up, but since I was straddling him, I just rolled so that he was on top of me, then I pushed him so he would fall in the floor. Just when I thought I was going to win, Adam grabbed my both my wrists and held on for dear life, which caused me to fall on top of him in the floor next to my bed. And to claim his victory, he flipped me over so he was pinning me to the ground.

Adam-"Pinned ya, I win."

Me-"Oh, Yea, well we'll just see about that."

I went to go and flip him over but Eli standing in the doorway stopped me. I looked up, and Eli just stood there staring at me. Hair ruffled, shirt hanging off my shoulder, one ballet flat missing, and Adam pinned under me with his Beanie lost in my room, his hair sticking up this way and that, his button up shirt half hanging off revealing his white tee shirt twisted around his body, and his pants almost down to his ankles because he had to look cool and wear them baggy. We were just wrestling, but I knew what it looked like, and so did Adam and Eli.

Eli-"CLARE WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

Me-"Eli, it's not what it looks like I swear." "You see Adam and me were just wrestling like we always do."

Adam-"Yeah, nothing more, nothing less."

Eli-"I don't want to hear you two's lies."

Me-"Eli, we're not lying."

Eli-"Yeah, it's nothing more, that why I saw you two kissing in front of the dot."

Me-"but Eli, that was just a trick to get back at you because we thought you were cheating." I explained as Adam and I were getting up.

Eli-"Cheating? You thought I was cheating?" "I was planning a special night for you because our anniversary is tomorrow."

Me-"What? What about Hannah then?" "And what about you spending 3 hours with her at her stupid lake house tonight?"

Eli-"I was meeting her there so we could stock the house with everything it needed so we could spend this weekend there alone." "But I guess if you'd rather be with Adam, then I won't stop you." He went to walk out of the door, but I begged him to let me explain.

Me-"Please Eli, wait I'm sorry."

Eli-"Its really funny Clare, every time I try to do something nice for you, you end up thinking I'm cheating. What do I have to do to make you understand that I'm not going to cheat on you? I care about you more than life itself. I would never cheat on you. Never. I love you and I thought you loved me to, but I guess I was wrong."

Everything seemed to be in slow motion, except for the tears that were streaming down my face. I stood there in front of the most wonderful person I had ever know, the one person that loved me back amongst all of my flaws, and imperfections. He loved me and I had done this to him. I couldn't speak, I couldn't breath, I couldn't process what was happening.

Me-"What are you saying?"

Eli-"I'm saying that if you can't trust me than why do I keep trying."

Me-"Eli, please.."

Eli-"we should just stopped kidding ourselves."

Me-"no, don't do this."

Eli-"I think it would just be better if we ended this."

Me-"But I… I love you."

Eli-"No you don't. You can't love someone you don't trust."

Me-"Eli, please. I'm begging you."

Eli turned to the door and went to walk out of it but he turned to me.

Eli-"'yeah and I begged you to trust me, but you couldn't."

And with that he turned and walked out. I couldn't believe this. He was gone. He wasn't mine anymore. The beating off my heart quickened. It was storming and the rain came down with nothing stopping it. I ran outside with Adam behind me.

Adam-"CLARE, STOP WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

I didn't answer I just ran out in to the middle of the street, watching as Morty drove off in the distance. I stood there with the rain falling down my face, mixing with the tears that I couldn't contain. He was gone and there was no way to get him back. I couldn't think, I couldn't feel anything except the beating of my heart. I looked over and saw Adam running toward me screaming no. Then two headlights filled my eyes with light, and the last thing I remember seeing was Eli's face.