"I know that I love you and that I want the best for you, but I'm sick and tired of the games. Swing by my place tomorrow. We'll talk, okay?" Clare said to Eli's voice-mailbox, pressing and holding down the end button on her 'dinosaur-phone' as Eli had called it just a week before. Why can't I just have one successful relationship? she wondered, taking a seat on her front porch.

It was cold outside, and she wished more than anything for Eli to be beside her at that moment, holding her hand and snuggling against her face like he always had. She sat on the porch, silent- thoughtless, for a good half-hour before her mother, Helen, came to check up on her. "You must be freezing! It sure is nippy out here. Come on inside, I've got hot chocolate waiting for you."

After much thought, Clare came to the conclusion that it was in fact very cold outside and that she should go inside. She closed the door gently behind her to see Helen sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace.

Grabbing her hot chocolate, she took a seat. "Mom... Have you ever had one of those days- Where the amount of bad things that happened were twice the amount of good things? Everything is snow-balling and the person that means the most to me- Other than you, of course- Seems to have given up. What do I do?"

Helen sighed. "If I knew your father and I would still be together. Oh, and please stop using that silly phrase! Snow-balling is a childish term. You're in advanced English, dear. Think harder." She floated gracefully out of the room, leaving her brown sugar scent behind.

Before she knew it, the morning light was shining through the window panes and there was a note on the counter from Helen, stating: Didn't want to wake you. I'm at work. Dad and I are switching out tonight. Enjoy the rest of your winter break!

Great! Mom's at work, Eli's ignoring me, and Dad's coming home. Just what I wanted. she thought to herself, tearing up the piece of paper the note was written on and throwing it out. She first took a shower in hopes of it making her feel better.

When she came downstairs, Eli was sitting on her couch, looking anxious. He smiled politely, standing up. "What- What are you doing here?" Clare asked worriedly. "I thought you were ignoring me." she added with a twinge of hatred.

"Not 'ignoring', just trying to surpass this. After I heard that voicemail you left me, I felt your pain. Clare, please understand that what I'm going through is bigger than this. Bigger than you. Bigger than us." He put his hands in his jacket in attempt to hide the shaking, but she knew something was wrong.

"It may be bigger, but it's not stronger." She embraced him, taking in his stiff body. "We have to fix me." He mumbled into her shoulder, tears in his eyes. She could hear the sorrow in his voice. "No. We just have some straightening up to do. That's all. You can't fix something that's not broken."

"I am broken." he replied, saddened. They sat closely together without saying a word for what seemed to be hours, but was only a few minutes. "God, when did we get so sappy?" Clare giggled, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, smiling. This was the Eli she loved. Spontaneous and caring. "Famished!" she joked, throwing her head back dramatically. "Morty awaits!" He lead her to the hearse.

So, this is it? All of the obstacles we just faced are now irrelevant? Clare pondered, buckling her seat belt. The hearse had an odd yet comforting smell- or odor, rather. He blamed it on the whole 'hearse' thing, but it was probably just Eli's lack of organization and vehicular hygiene.

Eli drove to a diner called 'Xpo' that they had discovered on one of their many "urban adventures", as Clare had called them, in silence. That was one of the many things Eli adored about his relationship with Clare. There were never any awkward silences, just comfortable quiet times.

Besides, they had nothing to say to one another. Eli was just as confused as Clare about their recent relationship drama. Despite the hear-say, he had never cheated on her. What Eli didn't know was that Clare had gotten revenge against his rumored hook-up.

Back-stabbing, lies, commitment issues... Where will it end? Keep reading to find out!