Rescue Me Chapter One

READ: Yes, yes, I know I shouldn't be starting another story, but I am having troubles with my other ones. I have huge writers block for them and it's getting frustrating that I can't write because of it. But I did have this idea and I figured I should post it and see what you guys thought. The updates for this story won't be very fast, since I'm still working on my other stories. Sorry this is so short, but it's just the first chapter. I hope you enjoy!

Summary: When you think all is lost as you travel down the broken road, do you choose life or death? Eli's made his decision, but will a girl who just happens to be at the right place at the wrong time show him that not all is lost?

Clare's POV

"Alli!" I whined into the phone as I made my way home from work, "Shut up, already! I don't want to hear about you and your amazing sex life. I'd appreciate it if you didn't rub it in my face." I teased. I knew she wasn't actually trying to rub it in that her boyfriend, Jake, is a sex God; I just liked messing with her. I know that she hasn't had many very successful relationships in her past and I know she is just happy that she found a man who treats her with respect. And though it gets annoying at times to hear her rant on about how amazing he is, I still love her to death.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Clare-Bear. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable… wait… you seem to be a bit uncomfortable even when the topic of sex is brought up." She said, and I knew we were about to talk about my sex life. "When was the last time you got laid?"

"Alli!" I gasped, wishing I could slap her right now. I don't mind the topic of sex, but the words she uses sometimes gets to me. I don't think sex should be referred to as getting laid or fucking; sex is something that you are supposed to share with someone you truly care about and it should be referred to as making love. "Do we really need to have this conversation right now?"

"Yes, we do. And by the way, avoiding my question only tells me that it's been a while since you last got it in." I rolled my eyes at her statement. "You really need to step up your game girl!"

I scoffed, "Yeah, I'll get right on that." I teased. "Alli, you know I don't have time for that. I have work and school is getting hectic. I'm lucky if I have enough time to eat or sleep, let alone have sex with someone who I don't have time to meet."

I heard her sigh loudly, making sure I got the message that she was getting frustrated with me. "Okay, okay, but I am taking you out soon. You are going to forget about work and school for one night so I can teach you how to live life!"

"Hey!" I protested, "I live life just fine, thank you very much."

"Yeah, okay," she said and I could tell she just rolled her eyes. "I'm serious, Clare. You have to get out and try and meet a guy before it gets too late. It's not like he'll fall from the sky."

As the last word left her mouth, I couldn't help but giggle as I looked up into the sky. I knew she was right about that.

But as I went to return my gaze back to the street so I could cross the road, something caught my eye. A figure… though it was hard to tell if it was a man or a woman since it was getting dark. But what shocked me the most and had me clutching the phone to my ear was the fact that they were standing on the roof to a tall building… no, on the ledge of the roof. It didn't have to take a genius to realize that a life was soon to be taken by their own accord. I knew it would probably take the police a while to get here and it would take too long to reach the person if I took the stairs but I knew I couldn't just stand here and watch.

"Alli, I'll see you at home, I have to go." I stammered out.

I didn't wait for her to answer before I hung up and sprinted across the street, praying that a car wouldn't hit me. It looked like luck was on my side as I finally made it to the building's entrance and that's when I noticed it was an old abandoned building. I didn't know how long it had been abandoned, nor did I care. I ran up to the elevators and it didn't take too long for me to figure out that they weren't working. I cursed and looked around, feeling delighted as I saw the stair case. I quickly ran as fast as I could as I ran up the stairs, praying that I wouldn't be too late.

I dialed 911 as I made my way up the third staircase, wishing I was more in shape to make doing this easier. I quickly scrambled to explain what was going on and I thanked the lord when the woman understood what I was saying even with my pants between my words. I listened intently, my feet never losing movement, as she told me to do whatever I could to not let the person jump. I knew it was a hard task and if I failed I would feel like shit and never forgive myself, but I knew I had to try my best.

I had finally made it to the last stair case as I hung up with the woman, putting the phone back in my pocket. I pushed open the roof doors and stepped out, nearly having a panic attack when I didn't see anyone up here. I dropped my bag to the ground as my chest heaved up and down rapidly, trying to get my breathing even again. My mouth was dry and I swallowed.

I turned my head and suddenly felt a wave of relief when I saw the person still standing on the ledge, looking down at the ground below. As I crept closer I could see that it was a man in about his early twenties. I walked closer and stood about ten feet behind him. He was wearing all black, making it even harder to see him as night crept in. His dark hair danced in the wind and I could see his body shaking.

I went to step forward and cringed when I had kicked a rock, hearing it roll across the pavement. The man had flinched, but he didn't turn around. I wondered if maybe I was wrong, that maybe he was just admiring the city. Maybe he just enjoyed the sounds of the cars from below as they sped by, or the way the city looked when night took over. I thought about what I would say to the police once they get here and realize that no one had planned on killing themselves tonight. But all those thoughts vanished when he spoke.

"If you think you'll change my mind, you're wrong."

His voice was hoarse as he spoke and by the way he gulped afterward told me that he was on the verge of tears. I slowly stepped forward and when he took a small step forward, I stopped, knowing he was only doing it because I had moved. I silently thanked God for the wide ledge, giving him a few steps before he would fall off.

"Okay," I said slowly. "Just know this won't solve anything."

He scoffed, "What do you know?"

I knew that I had to choose my words carefully, and I was sweating with the thought that if I say the wrong thing, than he could jump and all of this would be over. He would die and I would feel like a waste of space. So, I tried my hardest to stay strong as I spoke.

"I know that life isn't fair," I started, feeling a bit at ease as he turned his head slightly, signalling he was listening to what I had to say. "I know that things don't always go the way they should, or that bad things happen to good people. Now, the one thing I don't know is why you're up here, but I know that if you step down from that ledge… we could talk."

"You're a stranger… why would I tell you anything?" He asked as he turned his head back so he was facing the city.

"Sometimes it's easier to talk to a stranger than to someone you know." I told him, slowly creeping forward. I was glad that he hadn't noticed the few steps I had taken.

It was silent for a few minutes and I knew he was thinking. I was hoping that I had gotten to him and that any minute now he would step away from the ledge and I would be able to tell him that I was here if he needed to talk.

"You don't know me." He said softly.

I had finally gotten to at least two feet away from the ledge, and as I spoke, I kept walking. "True… hence the talk about me being a stranger." I looked up and I couldn't help but feel my heart melt when I noticed his lips curl up into a small smirk… though it quickly fell. I was getting to him. "But I'd like to get to know you."

He laughed with no humor, and I knew I had said the wrong thing. "The only reason you want to get to know me is because I'm up here trying to kill myself. If I wasn't up here right now and we had met on other circumstances, you wouldn't give me the time of day and you know it. You wouldn't even send a second glance in my direction."

As he spoke his head had turned towards me without his knowledge and I got a good look at him, and it hit me… he was wrong. If I had met him on other circumstances I would probably try everything in my power to get to know this man. Behind his tired eyes that were underlined with dark circles and the messy hair and the sad expression, he was a decent looking man. I knew that it was wrong to think this at this moment, but I was very attracted to this man, and I knew that if I didn't get him down from this roof than there was no way I would have a chance to get to know him.

"You don't know that." I told him softly. "You don't know me, so why are you acting as if you do. You make it seem like I'm this heartless bitch who wouldn't give a shit if a handsome man like yourself came waltzing into a room," and I took note of the way he raised his eyebrows at my comment. "Tell me something… if I'm that low that I wouldn't give you the time of day… than what am I doing up here?"

I watched as he took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he let it out. His eyes stayed closed as he stood there, and I became a bit worried. What if he just jumped right in front of me? What if what I had said made his decision more clear? What if he thought I was just some girl who pitied him and was only trying to be the hero? But when I looked closely, I realized that he had tears streaming down his face. I had gotten to him; it was only a matter of time before he stepped down from that ledge. He was still shaking, and I figured I'd calm down his nerves.

"What's your name?"

He took a deep breath and finally opened his eyes, though he didn't look at me. "Eli Goldsworthy."

I smiled softly, "Well, Eli, I would like to make a proposal." He turned his head and for the first time tonight, he looked me in the eyes. "Come get some coffee with me, my treat, and if you still feel the need to do… this by the end of the night… be my guest."

I held out my hand to him and he stared at it. I watched as he gulped, obviously torn. I knew he needed a bit of a boost, and I wasn't willing to watch him refuse my offer and jump anyways. It was then that I realized the sirens from below. The police must have been here for a while, though my attention was taken up by this young man.

"You can do it." I spoke up and his eyes lifted to meet mine.

"Do what?" he asked, swallowing afterwards. He looked scared, like if he took up my offer he knew that there was no going back to this. It was as if this whole conversation had drained him, as if he was too weak to even jump anymore. I felt like he was still in control in this situation, but he just didn't know it. And I knew that if I wanted him to be alive to see the sun rise tomorrow, I needed to have hope.

"Trust me."

And that was all it took.

His hand found mine and he jumped down from the ledge and onto the roof again as I let out a huge sigh of relief. I fell to the ground, bringing him with me since our hands were still intertwined. I didn't let go of his hand with the fear of him going right back to where we started. I tried to ignore the look of curiosity he was giving me as I placed my other hand over the back of his, creating a cave over his hand with my own as I brought them up to my face, closing my eyes. I didn't notice I had a tear streaming down my face until I felt it hit my parted lips, the salty fluid entering them as I breathed in and out. I tried to wrap my head around what I had just done, but I couldn't.

I had just saved Eli Goldsworthy's life.

How was it? Did it suck as much as I thought it did? Again, sorry it was so short but this was just the first chapter.

Tell me what you think and if I should continue. xoxo