Well, a fair bit of people seemed to want me to continue this story (you angst!lovers you), so I decided to make it a THREESHOT. Now, I warn you it gets worse...I'm sorry, it's just the way it worked out in my head and I had to go with it. And I was a bit reluctant to update because summersetlights already wrote such a beautiful version, and I haven't read all of hers yet because what I did read was sorta similar to my ideas and I didn't want to copy or follow hers too closely...but here we go!
Thank you to all the lovely people who reviewed and favourited.
I don't own.
-x-
"Pick up, pick up, pick up," she begs.
"Clare-"
"Eli."
"Are you-"
"Can you pick me up?" she asks, a little too brightly for a girl who's shaking.
There's a pause. "Bossy," he teases, a desperate attempt to grasp at older, happier times.
"Please?" she laughs, though it's more of a plea.
"I'll be right there," he swears, and she wants to shout Wait! but he's already ended the call.
-x-
"How was work?" he asks once she sits in the passenger seat. She looks at the dash of Bullfrog's Mustang, and ignores him.
"That bad eh?" he says softly.
"Can we just get out of here?" she snaps, and looks determinedly out the window.
"Yeah," he answers, the hurt swimming in his chest.
She won't look at him, but he won't look away.
"I have to take a piss. Just wait here okay?"
She looks at him finally, horrified. "What?" she gasps, snatching his arm. "No. You can't. Let's just go-"
"Clare, it's alright. Just give me five seconds okay? I swear I'll be right back."
"Please," she cries, "let's just go! I'm so tired Eli, please."
"Five seconds, I promise," he smiles, brushing his thumb over her cheek before he pushes open the door. She grips him tighter.
"I'll be back before you know it," he assures, slamming the door.
-x-
"Mr. Shostak?" he calls, pushing against the office door. "Asher!"
The man looks at Eli; his expression distraught and murderous at the same time.
"Got a moment?" Eli asks boldly, and Asher gestures to the seats in front of his desk.
"What brings you here Mr. Director, boyfriend of Clare Edwards?"
Eli rolls his shoulders uncomfortably, but offers the man a smile.
"I have a favour to ask."
"You can ask any favour you like," Clare's boss says lowly, "but I can't guarantee I'll provide."
The raven-haired teen stiffens at that.
"Clare put her whole heart into that article, and it would mean the world to her if you would reconsider leaving it out of tomorrow's newspaper."
Asher's eyes narrow at him.
"Clare Edwards has her cunning boyfriend do her bidding, does she?"
One, two, three, Eli counts, clenching his jaw and tightening his fists at his sides.
"No, I'm here of my own accord," Eli continues. "She deserves her name in print - I know it, and you know it."
Asher guffaws, and swipes his tongue across his teeth before standing up.
"Yes, she's the best Intern I've ever had, no doubt about that," he says casually. "So...eager."
Eli steps forward, his hips touching Asher's desk, his eyes meeting the man's; unrelenting.
"There you have it," he says lowly. "Obviously her article deserves to be in your paper."
Neither of them move, unwilling to bend. They'd rather break.
Asher laughs after a moment. "You're right," he says, "she does deserve it."
Eli regards the man, still unyielding.
"Tell her she's got to be here extra late tomorrow...there is no free lunch, after all."
Eli searches the man's eyes quickly, not sure he likes what he sees. "She'll be there."
"Good," Asher smirks, and Eli wants to smack it off his face.
"Thank you," he nods, and realizes how tense he is. He takes two even breaths, expelling the utter paranoia that suffocated him only moments ago and turns to leave. He feels sick, for a reason he can't place. But Asher isn't finished.
"Clare's lucky to have such a protective boyfriend...I'll have to watch my back."
"And I'll have to watch mine," Eli states, shutting the door behind him.
-x-
"Why would you do that?!" she shrieks, and Eli's never seen her so distraught. "Why would you talk to him? Why would you interfere? Why would you threaten my boss?!"
"I didn't threaten him," he tries to explain, "I just told him that my girlfriend deserves to have her article published, especially after all the work you've done for him!"
"Why would you do that?" she screams, and starts sobbing uncontrollably. "Why would you put yourself in danger?"
"In danger?" he asks, doing his best to hold her. "Clare, I don't understand. How am I in danger?"
"I can't-" she yells, collapsing in his arms. "I can't!"
"Clare!" he breathes, "Clare it's okay! He just wants you to work later tomorrow with him, that's all. If you don't want to do it, or if it's too much stress, it's okay, don't worry, I can tell him. It's okay-"
"NO, IT'S NOT!" she shouts, pushing him so violently he staggers back. "You've ruined everything! I can't deal with this! Why couldn't you just leave it alone?!"
"Clare!" he begs, and realizes that he's crying too. "What's wrong with you? Please, it's okay!"
"GET OUT!" she shrieks, pushing him harder. "GET OUT! LEAVE!"
He tries to grab her fists, but she's thrashing wildly.
"Please," he gasps, "what happened? Just tell me! I'm not going to leave you!"
"I hate you!" she bawls. "I HATE YOU! JUST GO!" And she throws him against her front door, pushing until he's forced outside.
"Clare!" he roars, pounding himself against her door that she just manages to lock. "CLARE!" he yells in agony.
He tries calling her mom and dad at their cottage; Jake at Katie's, but he drops his phone five times. His vision is so blurred he can't even see the screen. He tries calling her cell, her home, over and over again but still, she's silent. He shakes every time he hears the blaring ring from outside.
And he stays outside all night in his leather jacket and combat boots, knowing that this is so much bigger than the two of them.
-x-
So if I broke your heart last night it's because I love you most of all.
-x-
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, mean as it was, and I hope we can all survive Clare's plotline tonight. She's such a strong angel :( Review?