Clare lounged on the couch, phone against her ear as she chatted with Eli. The muted TV was casting an almost eerie light as it flickered on the walls of the darkened room.

Clare flinched as an extra loud thunderclap boomed overhead. She didn't mind thunderstorms but that didn't mean she was a fan.

"You okay, Clare-bear?" Eli said, after a minute of silence as Clare took in the storm.

"Yeah, fine," she breathed.

Eli laughed, "You're not scared are you?" Clare could practically see the smirk on his joking face.

"No, of course not," she replied, but not sure if it was entirely true. Being alone in a thunderstorm wasn't fun, but her mom was at some church fundraiser and her dad was AWOL.

Suddenly Clare heard soft knocking at her door, "Hold on a sec," Clare said to Eli, standing up and slowly walking towards the front door.

"I'll be here," he said as she reached for the knob and flung the door open.

"Fitz!" she quietly gasped and nearly dropped the phone, staring wide-eyed at the boy on her front stoop.

Fitz, whom was soaked to the bone, stared dead-eyed at her. She gulped, and her mouth opened slightly, but she couldn't form words.

"Clare? Clare, what's happening?" Elis muffled, frantic voice came out of the receiver. Slowly, Clare's finger brushed over the END button and she didn't know what brought her to the decision but she pressed it, causing the line to go dead.