It was a dreary Saturday morning at the hospital, but it was one that Eli would never give up seeing the day of. It was the day that Clare would be allowed to go home with him, where she wouldn't have to think about last year.

He watched as Clare mumbled something under her breath, tossing and turning as she woke up. Her eyes slowly opened and a smile spread on her lips.

"Today's the day," she excitedly said as she rubbed her eyes. Eli chuckled at his girlfriend.

"It's going to be a day worth living." He replied, taking her hand in his. Her cheeks hadn't warmed into the pinkish red tone that she used to have; she had become partially lifeless since coming to the hospital. It was like she was… drained… from all the meanings of life. But not once did Eli (or Clare) tell anyone of the night's events.

It was something special between them and only between them—when Adam would ask about the events that night they wouldn't say a word but smile at their best friend. The memories that they shared showed the tight bond that they didn't think they had.

"Are you ready to leave?" Eli asked cautiously. "I mean, yeah, you've been here for a while, but are you sure that you are ready to face the world again?"

Clare looked over at her boyfriend while she thought in consideration. "I believe I am," she replied. "I feel like it—I'm so tired of having to remember all of this. I want to start over like I can once I leave here." She spaced out, staring at the wall like she had been for several days.

Eli smiled at Clare, but deep inside he was worrying about her. He had never seen Clare so out of it before; she hadn't been herself since he had found her. That was likely, since the afterlife usually changes you, but Eli didn't know what to think of her at the moment. Was she going to stay like this forever? He didn't like having this Clare who was always deep in thought; he wanted the kind and funny Clare Edwards—the one who didn't have an abusive father or a bad boyfriend. Eli promised himself that he would never leave her side.

Clare's fingers caressed the mark on her neck. She barely remembered that it was there before—all of the swelling and bruising had disappeared. The only thing that was left was a small mark. "Do you think we'll be able to forget all of this?" She asked curiously. Eli's tired emerald eyes connected with her.

"If you want to you can, but I think it's best to remember the past so that you don't make the same mistakes."

Clare's expression hardened. "Do you mean that I was making the wrong choice?" She almost growled, causing Eli to lean his head away from her.

"No," he defensively said. Clare relaxed in her bed. "Why do you think I would say that?"

Clare shrugged. "I don't know," she confirmed. "I just thought that you were saying that I was the one with the messed up past."

Eli scoffed. "What does that mean?" He murmured, trying not to raise his voice. But how could he not—she was firing this on him!

Clare rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean, Elijah. Two of your girlfriends have died; doesn't that teach you something?"

Eli stood from his chair, having enough accusations pointed at him. "Clare, when you're done bitching about my bad past, I'll come back. Otherwise your big mouth and you are on your own." Eli left the room in a swift movement, leaving a gaping Clare.

"You bastard!" She yelled at no one. A nurse who had heard her came to her room, a concerned expression growing on her face.

"Is something wrong, sweetie?" She asked. Clare shook her head, a sad smile playing at her lips.

"No miss, I'm sorry; I was fighting with my boyfriend."

The nurse looked at her again, curious as to what to do. A silence engulfed between the two, and the only noise that was heard was from the IV that Clare was connected to. "Okay, but remember—don't forget how much people mean to you. One day they may be gone."

When the nurse was out of the room, Clare's face turned grave. "Yeah, right." She sarcastically muttered under her breath, playing with her hands. Clare was bored; without Eli, there was nothing to do. But she didn't feel sorry for what she had said; she was telling the truth. He was the one who had gotten her stuck in this situation, almost killing her.

Clare had forgotten all about Julia; she didn't even remember who she was. Julia wasn't worth anything to her anymore. More importantly, she forgot to tell Eli Julia's message to him.

A knock on the threshold made Clare jump, but she calmed down once she saw that it was Cece. "Hey," Clare said, a little surprised. Cece's face was sympathetic.

"Hey honey," Cece walked over to the side of Clare's bed, sitting on the edge that was vacant. "I just wanted to check on you; how's everything been going?"

Clare looked at her hands again, shrugging. "It's been better," she mumbled. Cece noticed her discomfort.

"Where's Eli?"

Another silence. "He left."

"Why? I thought he was bringing you home-"

"I told him off," Clare admitted. "I told him that he should've learned something from having two dead girlfriends." The last part was barely coherent, but Cece had good enough hearing.

"You what?" She gasped. Clare looked up at her.

"I know it was wrong, but he deserved it. He was scrutinizing me."

"Oh Clare," Cece brought her hand reassuringly to Clare's leg. "He doesn't mean anything like that. He only cares about you, and I would know. You are all he talks about."

Clare breathed out a smile as she looked Cece in the eyes. "Really?" She asked hopefully.

Cece laughed. "Of course, Clare! He loves you." With those three words, Clare smiled at Cece, but inside she was frozen. Eli… loved… her? They hadn't even been going out that long! She wasn't sure how to respond to Cece.

"Yeah," she replied, looking for a distraction. She looked at her phone. "I want to go to the Dot; do you mind checking me out?" Without hesitation Cece agreed with Clare, signing her out as they left the hospital. Clare felt the cool breeze caress her arms; it had been so long since she had been outside.

"Will we see you later tonight? Eli had told me that you were moving in." Cece's teasing gesture made Clare laugh.

"Of course," Clare responded, straining out a laugh. "Where am I going to sleep, anyways? In the guest room?"

Cece laughed as she shook her head. When she got to the driver's car of her SUV, she smirked back at Clare. "We have no guest room."

Clare stood frozen where she was, watching Cece laugh and drive away. Was she serious? She was going to have to sleep with Eli, all by themselves in his room?

She shuddered the though out of her mind. There went the "Saint" side of her.

On Top

The door's bell rung throughout the Dot as it always had when she went here. Peter's head rose as he looked at who entered, a smile enticing. Clare grinned back. "Well, well, well, look who's here. After how long?"

Clare shrugged her shoulders. "No idea," she laughed, looking up at the menu displayed on the wall. "I'll just take a coffee to go."

Peter nodded, getting to work while the smile stayed attached to him. He hadn't seen an Edward in so long; Clare had changed so much. She was becoming an adult, like Darcy probably was.

"How's the family?" Peter asked after a second. Clare blinked once before looking at him.

"What?" She asked.

"How's your family?" Peter repeated, taking her coffee to the counter. Clare exchanged it with the cash she had on her.

Clare's smile died down as she took her coffee. "I don't really have one anymore," she murmured. When she saw Peter's confusion, she decided that she would tell him later. "Maybe I can come in… later this week and tell you the whole story. It's too long for me to describe in a few sentences."

Peter brought his arms to the counter, swaying his weight back and fourth. "If you say so," he agreed, watching as Clare left. "Was that her?" Peter asked to his right, looking down at the gloomy boy who sat to the closest table next to him.

The boy's bright blue eyes were now hazed, making them appear as a medium gray. His brown hair was shaggy and oily at the roots. His appearance didn't make him look any more outgoing than he already looked. The boy's brown sweatshirt was lifted to cover his hair.

"Yeah," the musky voice said, a darkened voice behind it.

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Preview:

"But don't you love me?" Clare asked incredulously. Eli looked at her with knowing eyes.

"You know I do," he desperately spoke. Clare was breaking down for the second time in two days. Tears fell down her face as she grabbed a handful of her hair.

"Why can't you love me?" She screamed in a broken sob. Eli couldn't speak; he could only stare.