Clare
I walked into Degrassi pulling my sleeves farther down my arms so that they were folded over my hands. I hung head low so that my bangs fell over my bruised skin which I had tried, but failed, to cover with make-up.
I arrived at my locker and knelt down to grab the books that I needed for the day. Just kneeling made every part of my body scream in pain.
"Good morning, Blue Eyes." I heard as I was finishing stuffing my algebra book into my bag. 'Eli.' I thought. I was hoping I could avoid him until English, if not the whole day, but obviously that plan had failed as well.
"Hi, Eli." I said standing up slowly gripping the locker for support. I turned toward Eli, my head still hung low, my eyes averting his completely.
"What's the matter, Clare? Afraid that you'll faint if you so much as glance at my gorgeous face." He was smirking. Man, his smirk drove me crazy.
"I'm not in the mood, Elijah." I said which made him gasp, melodramatically.
"Ouch. Using my full name, someone's cranky this morning." He was smiling. I turned to walk away, hoping he'd take the hint, but of course this was Eli we're talking about and he obviously wouldn't take that hint.
Eli grabbed my lower arm lightly to stop me from walking away and I gasped in pain. I hoped he hadn't noticed my gasp. He spun me around to face him. I looked up at him. The look on his face told me that he had heard me gasp. Eli pulled my long sleeve up to my elbow. His hand lightly grazed over the large bruise that had formed since the night before. He scanned my face quickly. My hand jumped up to cover the bruise that surrounded my eye.
Eli pulled my hand away with one of his hands and gently rubbed his thumb over the bruise. Even this slight touch made me flinch from the pain. Eli pulled his hand away and clenched it at his side. I could see the rage in his eyes quickly growing.
"Who?" He asked me through clenched teeth. I stared at ground and didn't answer.
"Who was it? Your dad?" I quickly shook my head. "Clare," he said lifting my head so that our eyes connected. "please tell me."
I could still see the rage under his calm façade. I couldn't tell him. If I did, it would end badly. Eli would go and do something idiotic, like always, and end up hurt, just like me. I couldn't bear to see him hurt again. Especially, not this badly.
"I can't tell you." I said quietly.
"I'll find out, Clare. I can't let you get hurt again." His voice was thick and rough.
"If I tell you, will you promise me that you won't do anything idiotic? I don't want you getting hurt, too."
"Yes, Clare, I promise." Eli said in a very serious tone. I took a deep breath.
"Fitz." I breathed out. "It was Fitz."