~2

I woke up to a pain in my stomach, my head felt hot, my head throbbed and my throat burned. I didn't even want to attempt to talk. I propped myself up on my elbow, I blinked my eyes repeatedly, Nothing looked different. I carefully and slowly pulled my legs over the side of my bed, The tips of my toes touched the carpet, I didn't know if I should attempt to walk or if I'm going to trip and fall down the stairs because of my migraine. I grabbed the bed post and began to stand up, I felt fine until about I was almost in the hallway when a shiver went down my spine, I felt my forehead, and it still felt hot and clammy. Weird. I made my way down the stairs, gripping the railing just in case, I lost my balance and potentially kill myself.

I had a feeling another note would await me. Of course another note was left in the same place my mom's had last night "Clare, I got in late last night and went back in early this morning, -love dad "Of course that wouldn't make any sense to anyone else. It technically meant that he came home from 'work' then went back to this mysterious 'work.' I looked out the window; my mom wasn't home, I felt horrible, and no parents are to be found. And it's Saturday. They defiantly deserve the 'Parent-Of-The-Year' award. I grabbed a glass from the cabinet, and filled it with milk and sat down at the table, my hand was shaking slightly. I sighed and put the glass firmly on the table. I starred at my hand like I was willing it to stand still. When my hand stopped slightly fidgeting, I picked up the glass and took a small sip of milk, just causing the pain in my stomach to worsen; I clutched my stomach waiting for the pain to pass. So milk wasn't the answer. I let out a very frustrated sigh and gabbed the glass of milk that was still full and poured it down the metallic sink. Well that was a waste. I leaned against the counter and rubbed my temples with my hands; I took a breath and began my journey to the couch, where I would spend the rest- or a big portion- of my day.

I pulled the blanket that was lying over the top of the couch over me; I rested my head on the cold pillow and closed my eyes. For once today I felt decent. Until that obnoxious ringing started again. I decided who ever was calling would call again if they really needed me. And they did. They called again and again. The pillow I had suffocating my head, didn't block out the ringing. I got up and looked towards the phone that still rested on the counter. I waited for it to ring again, right before I thought it wouldn't- It did. I gave it the death stare, like it was alive. Yes, I am delusional now. I dizzily got off the couch and went towards the counter where the dreaded ringing came from.

"Hello?" I said in a sore voice, it was defiantly noticeable.

"Hey Clare its me Eli, you didn't answer your phone so I called you house phone-Are you sick?" I figured this would be along conversation; I rested both my elbows on the counter top.

"Yeah- I think, I'm not entirely sure" I said that last part sarcastically, but even being Eli I didn't expect him to pick that one up over the phone.

"You think? Well what's wrong?" Eli sounded worried now, the only time I heard him this way is when Morty wouldn't start on the way back when we had skipped school.

"Well my throat hurts- obviously- and I have a headache, fever, oh and I can't eat or my stomach might explode." My elbows started to hurt from the pressure of my head, so I shifted and leaned against the counter with one hand gripping it.

"And what did your parents' say?" Eli questioned.

"Well, neither of them are home" I said shyly, Eli already knew why, this is defiantly not the first time this has happened.

"Ok, Clare you need somebody to take care of you I will leave in 5 minutes" Eli said anxiously "No- its fine I don't want you to get sick-"but before I could protest anymore the line went dead. Great, when they always said 'your best friend see's you at your worst times' they weren't kidding. This was going to be almost as worse as when I explained the whole 'my family is falling apart' thing; which I had also been in tears for most of the day. I pressed the 'end' button on the phone and placed it on the counter. I probably looked like a mess, so I dragged myself up stairs to the bathroom. My appearance was defiantly as bad as I felt, maybe even worse. I was pale, but my cheeks were flush to the maximum. My hair was knotted and I practically looked like a girl from a horror movie. I took the nearest brush and tried to comb out my hair but it was no use, why was your hair always messier when you're sick? Nothing ever makes sense. I gave up on the tangled mess and headed into my room to change into sweat pants and a tee-shirt. I pulled out long grey sweatpants that went far past my feet and a Black, red and green 'Kenya' tee-shirt Darcy had sent me a few weeks ago. I looked in the vanity mirror. I still looked like the living dead. Not the Vampire way either.

I headed back and downstairs to await my temporary doctor. Mr. Goldsworthy. The bottoms of my pants worked like socks, so I couldn't feel the cold ground as I walked back to the couch. When I got close enough I just fell on the couch, I pulled my blankets back over me and grabbed the remote from the basket that sat on the coffee table. Before Eli gets here I might as well watch T.V. The T.V guide was filled with horror movies or little kids shows, or the health channel, but I don't need to watch somebody get cut open when I'm in such a vulnerable state. I settled for "sponge bob square pants" I knew adults that watched this show, even though I had never cared much for it. Soon enough I heard a car pull into the driveway and the engine get cut off. My temporary doctor was here.

I didn't bother to get up and got to the door, knowing Eli he would let himself in. The doors were never locked, considering usually my dad would get drunk, come home, sleep for an hour then go back out, he almost always forgot to lock them. Seconds later the door opened and closed, I shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep. But I soon felt somebody sit on the edge of the couch; I wouldn't be able to keep up this act for long.

"Clare I know you're not asleep." Eli said in a plain voice. I had absolutely no idea how he did that. I groaned and started to sit up.

"I was to asleep you just woke me up." I Propped myself up against the arm of the couch, the opposite side of which Eli was sitting.

"Besides the point- Clare I am your doctor today now what hurts?" Eli asked I cleared my throat, which only made it hurt worse.

"My stomach, my throat, my head, I'm freezing but I'm positive I have a temperature." Eli moved closer to me and put the back of his hand on my forehead, his hand was icy cold. "You defiantly have a temperature." Eli said getting up and heading towards the kitchen.

"And what do you think you're doing?" I said trying to stand up.

"You stay right there." Eli grabbed a clean dish towel and ran water over it until it was drenched; he rang it out and came back over towards the couch.

"Keep this on your head." He folded the towel horizontally and placed it across my forehead.

"Fine." I pressed my hand on the towel making some of the water drip down the side of my head, I wiped it away with my forearm and tried to sit up even straighter.

"And what else are you going to do?" I asked Eli who was sitting on the couch again a little bit closer this time.

"First I am turning of sponge bob because it's too obnoxious." He said grabbing the remote I had placed back on the table.

"Now I am going to make your stomach fell better." He had a smirk on his face and disappeared into the kitchen again. This time he came back with a glass filled with seltzer water.

"Drink this slowly." He handed me the glass I sipped carefully.

"Thank you." I said placing the glass on the table.

"Now, if your throat hurts that must mean… You need a popsicle." Eli obviously thought frozen treats solved problems, milkshakes with K.C now popsicles? I laughed to myself then agreed.

"Sure, I think we have some in the freezer." I started to get up but Eli lightly pushed me back down with one finger.

"You are the sick one here, let me do this." He walked back into the kitchen once again going through the frozen hamburgers, old freezer burnt ice cream, frozen vegetables until he found what he was looking for.

"Artificial fruit pops." He read from the kitchen.

"Found them." He said again. I smiled at how cute he was being, wait did I just say Eli was cute? Nope that wasn't possible.

"And what flavor does Clare want?" Eli asked digging through the box.

"Lime." I said loudly enough for Eli to hear in the kitchen.

"Ok then" He pulled out two popsicles and placed the box in the back in the freezer.

"Now a toast to a great doctor." Eli said tearing the plastic off the popsicles and handing one to me.

"A toast." I Repeated, We bumped popsicles.

"What flavor is that?" I asked staring at the dark red Popsicle in his hand.

"Black cherry." He said.

"Of course." I muttered. Eli had sat down next to me.

"And when did I say you could have one anyway?" I asked starring at the Popsicle in his hand again.

"When I became such an excellent doctor." He licked the Popsicle all around, I laughed at how much he looked like a five-year old.

"What's so funny Edwards?" he asked slowing his licking.

"You look like a five year old." I started to lick my Popsicle.

"Eli, you got black cherry on my popsicle!" I said as I stared at the dark red spot that covered the lime green.

"Look who's the five year old now." He said laughing.

"Still you." I took my finger and swept the black cherry of my Popsicle and placed it right on the tip of his nose.

"Clare, if you weren't sick or in pain this whole Popsicle would be in your hair." Eli growled wiping the melting Popsicle off his nose.

Eli finished his Popsicle first, me following behind. "Ok, so what else hurts Clare?" Eli said grabbing the popsicle stick out of my hand.

"I'm just freezing" Eli threw away the sticks then grabbed the blanket that had fallen off me, and tucked me in, just like my mom used to do; when her and my dad were actually around to take care of me. I grabbed my seltzer water and began sipping it again, thinking about my parents was just making me feel worse, I sipped so much that half the glass was gone.

"Clare, you just drank half that glass, do you really feel that bad?" Eli put the back of his hand to my forehead again and grabbing the wet towel that had fallen on the floor, he placed the towel on my head again.

"No, but the thought of my parents makes me nauseous" I sat up so I was right next to Eli, He put his arm in back of me and rubbed my back, easing my tension.

"It'll be ok, I promise" I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes, I listened to Eli's even breathing and began to doze off, I snuggled closer to him and he tightened his grip on me, in some way, somehow this has to be breaking the friend barrier.

I woke up, I was lying on the couch, but on the opposite side, I blinked a few times, and then tried to sit up, I placed my hand lightly on the couch, but instead Eli's forearm was beneath me, and he was sleeping. We fell asleep in each other's arms, how cliché. I looked at the hair that had fallen in Eli's eyes, then I laid back down so his arm was beneath me again, right before I tried to fall asleep again, his other arm suddenly, moved to my hip and he pulled me closer, I let out a sigh and rested my head on the pillow that was never comfortable, but now it just felt, perfect. But it defiantly was breaking the friend barrier.

"Clare, Sleepy head wake up." I heard Eli whisper, My head felt a lot better, but my throat and stomach still hurt, I sat up, Eli no longer had his arms around me, he was sitting on the couch watching some show I've never heard of before.

"What time is it?" I asked scratching my head and looking around the room.

"Almost 6." Eli said with a smirk.

"What? But I fell asleep around like one or two."

"You are sick and you need tons of rest." Eli scooted closer to me.

"Now would you like some dinner?" Eli asked turning his attention away from the T.V.

"I- don't know." I said, my stomach hurts, I'm pretty sure the Popsicle didn't help.

"Clare you need to eat, you can't live off popsicles." Eli started to get up, and head towards the kitchen, I quickly followed him. Eli opened the refrigerator; I leaned on the kitchen counter across from the stove.

"And now what are you doing?" I asked looking at him.

"I am going to make Clare dinner." Eli said sarcastically. Eli pulled out a frying ban, a plate, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and bread, luckily the tomatoes and lettuce had already been chopped up.

"You cook?" I asked as Eli took the knife from the holder next to the stove and slit open the bacon package.

"When my parents have to go out of town for their radio show, -to interview people that can't come here- I usually have to live on my own for a day or two." Eli turned on the stove and put enough bacon for the two of us in the pan that was already on the burner.

"Clare watch out this grease pops." Eli said looking for something.

"Do you have a fork?" he asked leaning against the counter next to the stove.

"The second drawer behind you." I said, I could already here the grease popping. Eli turned around and grabbed a fork. I realized how grown up Eli really could act. A side of him I have never seen before, a side I particularly liked.

Eli flipped over the pieces of bacon every minute or so. He then put the package back into the freezer; he took out four pieces of bread and placed them on the plate, then he added the lettuce on the bread.

"Why don't you add the tomatoes?" I asked confused, I knew how to cook from the classes in school, and watching my mom, but my mom always put the tomatoes and lettuce on first.

"Then the bread will get soggy." Eli said like he's explained it a million times before. He placed the first two pieces of bacon on the bread followed by the tomatoes. Eli began to put the rest of the bacon on the plate.

"Ow!" Eli said through his teeth.

"What happened?" I asked.

"The grease popped on me." He said, a red spot was forming on the top of his hand.

"And you told me to be careful." I said as I went over to the drawer with a first aid kit, I pulled out a band aid that had Barney on it.

"Here" I handed him the band-aid.

"No way." Eli said putting the rest of the ingredients on his sandwich.

"It might make me feel better." I pleaded; Eli looked at me like I was crazy.

"Fine, I'm only doing this so you will go to school on Monday and I don't have to face Mrs. Dawes alone." Eli snatched the band-aid from my hand and peeled of the paper on the back, and he put it on over the red mark on his hand.

"Happy?" he questioned, I nodded my head.

"Let's eat Edwards." He glared at me, I headed towards the couch, usually I would eat at the table, but the couch just seemed, cozier.

Eli and I sat side-by-side on the couch, our hips almost touching.

"Eli why did you only get one plate?" I asked grabbing my sandwich.

"So I don't have to do too many dishes." Eli grabbed his sandwich. I took a bite of the warm sandwich then looked at Eli.

"You can really cook." My stomach ache slowly faded away every bite of the delicious sandwich.

"I know." Eli took a bite of his sandwich, bit before he could make a comment on how his own cooking was so good, the phone rang. I started to get up.

"You are still the sick one here Edwards." Eli said resting a hand on my shoulder and putting the plate on the table.

"I'll get it" I rolled my eyes and watched him pick up the phone from the counter.

"Hudson?" Eli asked with a strange look on his face, as he starred at the caller I.D.

"That's my mom, she's staying at a friend's" I extended my hand for the phone.

"Your sick and she's at a friend's house?" Eli questioned handing me the phone.

"She doesn't know I'm sick." I answered before I pressed the 'talk' button.

"Hello?" I said as I cleared my throat.

"Clare? Oh Clare I was so worried! What happened? Why didn't you call?" I quickly thought of answers to all of her questions.

"Mom, I got in at 11, I thought you were sleeping, then I woke up feeling really sick so it slipped my mind, sorry." I tapped my fingers on the back of the phone.

"Clare is your dad there?" Of course she knew the answer to this.

"No, he's not" I glanced at Eli who had sat next to me again; he could probably here my mom on the other end.

"Oh Clare, I am so sorry are you ok?" my mom sounded panicked like this was such a terrible thing, but it wasn't.

"I'm absolutely fine." I smiled at Eli who smiled back.

"Ok, Clare have you had dinner?" Eli laughed to himself.

"Yes, don't worry, mom I'll be fine." I reassured her.

"Clare I will be home tomorrow at noon." she said like she didn't want to come home, but she couldn't leave me here forever.

"Okay mom, love you." I hung up and sat the phone on the coffee table.

"You're going to be all alone until tomorrow at noon?" Eli asked like he didn't eavesdrop.

"Yeah, it's ok though." I picked up the plate of sandwich's and placed It on my lap, there wasn't much but crust left of both of our sandwich's but I still nibbled on the crust.

"Clare somebody could kidnap you" Eli smirked and looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Eli, what are you getting at?" I asked, I obviously knew he wanted to stay over.

"Well, I was thinking I could stay over here, and we could do each other's nails and hair." Eli smirked placing his crust on the plate.

"And what if my dad comes home drunk and realizes there's a boy in his house?" I asked placing my crust next to his.

"All the more reason for me to stay; to protect you, you told me he has come pretty close to hitting your mom." Eli actually sounded, concerned, and I had sleepovers with Ali all the time, me and Eli are just as close so why not?

"Fine Eli." I picked up the plate of crusts and walked over to the kitchen, before Eli could tell me I'm too sick to get up. "Clare-" Eli started, I shushed him.

"Call your mom and tell her you're staying at Adams and then come help me with these dishes" I dumped the crust into the trash and ran the water.

"Clare, you know my mom won't care if I stay over here" Eli said picking up the phone and dialing his phone number. Eli was right, His mom knows were good friends, so she would let him stay over here. I sometimes wish my mom was like that.

I ran the dish water and started washing the few dishes, Eli got off the phone with his mom and took handed me a towel, obviously trying to give me the hint I should be drying the plates. Eli and I were silent, until he suddenly broke the silence with one of his off-the-wall questions.

"You know what we need? A game." Eli handed me a plate.

"A game?" I asked confused drying off the same plate.

"Like, truth or dare, or would you rather." Eli handed me the rest of the pans that had been washed.

"That could be hazardous playing with you." I smiled to dried the pan,.

"What's so dangerous about me?" Eli turned off the water and moved closer to me.

"Eli, you drive a hearse." He got closer so instantly I backed up into the counter.

"Morty will never hurt anybody." He smirked and placed both hands down on the counter next to me; leaving only centimeters away from our faces.

"So what will it be? Truth or Dare."

Eli headed towards the couch, and I followed behind. I sat crissed crossed on the blankets that still lay messily on the couch. Eli was leaning against the other arm on the couch, so he was directly facing me. I slowly propped myself up against the arm of the couch and awaited the questions to come.

"Ok, truth or dare" Eli said staring me down, I shifted uncomfortably and braced myself.

"Dare." I said, I could see Eli thinking about some ridiculous thing to make me do.

"Well since you're sick and I can't make you eat hot sauce… Stick your hand in ice water for 20 seconds." Eli looked pleased with himself, I have never done anything like that; it was ice, what's so bad about it that it has to be a dare?

"Ok." I got up and walked into the kitchen, and I pulled out a bowl. Eli had gotten off the couch and helped me get my ridiculous dare ready.

"This is pointless." I said as I filled the bowl with cold water, Eli stood behind me and pulled out ice cube trays out of the freezer.

"It is certainly not." Eli said dumping both ice cube trays in the bowl. I rolled my eyes and looked at the bowl with about 32 ice cubes floating in the already too cold water.

"Here it goes." I said before I plunged my forearm into the icy water.

The first dew seconds were just cold but then my arm stated to sting. "Ouch!" I hissed moving my arm around a little in the water.

"Why did you make me do this?" I asked Eli through my teeth.

"You said dare, and you did have a temperature."

I pulled out my hand from the bowl and grabbed the dishtowel hanging over the sink, "My hand is freezing." I said rubbing the towel furiously on my hand. Eli smirked and dumped out the bowl of ice water in the sink.

"Well, that was a waste of water." Eli turned to look at my hand, which was bright red.

"Once again my doctor skills may come in handy." Eli grabbed the towel from my hand and threw it on the counter behind me. He grabbed my numb hand, his hand was warm and it immediately started to warm my hand. I smiled and looked down.

"Thanks." I said quickly glancing at Eli.

"No problem." He pulled me back to the couch, we sat closer than before.

"Now it's my turn, truth or dare." I said thinking of all the possibilities.

"Truth." I was all most positive Eli, of all people, would pick dare. But he picked truth.

"Um, well, ok." I only thought of dares, not any questions to ask him.

"Who do you like?" So that might have been the stupidest questions I have ever asked. He told me about Julia, of course he would need time to love anybody again; a year is not enough to get over your first love.

"Clare,-"He started.

"No- Eli I'm sorry I shouldn't have asked that." I said looking into his eyes, his eyes were shining.

"It's fine, really." Eli smiled, but I could almost see through it; it was defiantly not an Eli smile.

"No, it's really not Eli, I'm sorry, it was a stupid question." I scooted closer to him and placed my hand on his arm. "Clare, its fine. Julia is gone." He shifted closer to me so our shoulders were only centimeters apart.
"She will never be gone Eli." I could almost feel tears in my eyes, Eli took one glance at me and put his arm around me.

"Clare don't cry, I'm fine, and you have done enough crying in the last few days." The sarcasm in his voice made me feel a little bit ease.

I closed my eyes and just concentrated Eli's breathing. Soon enough I was feeling tired again. I loved the warmth I felt in Eli's arms, I could feel myself fading in and out of consciousness, what felt like only one minute might have even been an hour. I could lightly feel a blanket being placed over me and I felt somebody- Eli whisper in my ear "Clare I like you."