~Eli P.O.V~

We ended up in the park. Clare was swinging, Adam and I were sitting on the ground. I looked at Clare for a second. She had changed. Her once long curly hair, was now short and framing her face just right. The curls weren't that dull color anymore. They were a nice auburn color. She no longer wore glasses, her baby blue eyes shined freely. She was beautiful...

I turned my attention back to Adam. He was tracing circles into the sand. I laughed at his childish act and he looked at me.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing." I shook my head. Clare looked at us, hearing us talk.

"Guys we've been sitting here saying nothing the entire time. Eli, tells us about your old school." She got off the swing and sat with us.

"It was just a regular school. You know with the popular kids, the jocks, nerds, freaks, Jesus club...kinda like Degrassi. Except for Julia. She was there..."

"Who's Julia?" Clare asked. I realized that I had let Julia slip out and mentally kicked myself. I did not just do that!

"No one important." I shrugged. Except she was the most important thing to me not even a year ago. The whole reason I moved back was everyone thought I was a murderer. They thought I killed her, they said I just thought she wasn't good enough for me. Yea right. More like I wasn't good enough for her.

My mind flash backed to that night. The night I lost everything. The first girl I loved, my friends, my freedom, my sanity...

"Julia..." I said, hoping to get her attention. She whipped around, looking guilty.

"Eli? Uhm..what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I came to find you. I wanted to apologize..." I took a step towards her. She stood there, shocked.

"I told you Eli. It's over. I just need a break... I'll call you."

"God damn it Julia!" I yelled. "Why? Why cant we just make this work for once! You knew I loved you! You've known all along! So why cant I be enough!" I was on the verge of tears.

"You are Eli...I just cant do this..."

"Do what? I haven't done anything to you. I've been good to you. I was there when you needed me."

"I know..."

"Then why?"

"Listen, I know you love me. I know. I just cant..."

"Loved." I spat out. "Loved Julia. I loved you. Take all the breaks you want. I'm done with this. I'm tired of you making me feel like shit. I'm done with you. Don't call me. I hate you." a tear fell from her eye and she took off on her bike.

Half an hour later I was sitting by her side. I was crying, wishing I hadn't said what I said. She was gone, thinking I hated her.

"Eli?" Clare was shaking me. I looked at her, and she ran her thumb over my cheek. I realized I was crying. I looked down, trying to pull myself together. I couldn't let them see me like this. "Are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine..." I lied. She frowned and hugged me. I hugged back, enjoying the way she felt in my arms. She fit perfectly. Her head fit into the crook of my neck like it belonged there.

I noticed Adam looking at us. He looked left out and I couldn't let him just watch us. I smirked and extended an arm out to Adam. He looked at me like I would hurt him.

"Come on Adam. I don't bite...much." I chuckled softly, my arm still out. Clare looked up and smiled at Adam, extending an arm to him also. Finally he joined in on our little love fest.

"Oh look, emo boy, Jesus freak, and Tranny Freak. All together again." A voice came. Damn it. Fitz. I forgot about him. We all looked over at him. He had some slutty looking girl hanging on him.

"Nice to see you to Fitz." I said between my teeth. The girl chewed her gum loudly. That, and her appearance reminded me of a cow.

"Welcome back Eli." Fitz said tauntingly. "Why are you back? Mommy and daddy didn't want you anymore? I'd hate you if you were my son to." I shook my head, not wanting to get into it. "What are you going to do? Go listen to emo music and cry some more?"

"Clever, another stunning display of verbal acuity." I said sarcastically. Clare giggled and Adam laughed. I smirked. Fitz glared daggers at me.

"Come on Bianca." Fitz said, pulling the girl with him. I shook my head at how stupid he was. I could tell already that we would have problems. That's going to make school fun...

"Don't mind Fitz Eli. He's always like that." Adam said threw clenched teeth.

"I remember..." I said, already thinking up a way to get at him.

"Maybe you should just avoid him." Clare said in her gentle way.

"The only way to avoid a bully is to keep them scared." I stood up, pulling Clare and Adam with me.

"Eli violence is never the answer."

"Then what is Clare? Letting him push me around? I don't think so."

"Just try not to start anything Eli. For me?" She batted her long eye lashes and I melted immediately. How could I say no to her adorable baby blue eyes?

"I'll try." I smirked. She smiled and hugged me, then turned to Adam.

"Are you still staying tonight?" she asked him.

"Yea." he nodded and smiled.

"Are you to..." I looked between them and Clare caught on quickly.

"No, no no." She shook her head. "He just stays with me when my parent's leave. You see they started fighting, so there not home sometimes. Adam just stays over to make sure I'm okay."

"Yea. I have my eyes set on someone else." he smiled, his mind drifting.

"Oh. Well does saint Clare have a boyfriend?" I smiled, not really wanting the answer to be yes.

"Uh yea." She nodded. I was immediately saddened. "Remember KC?" she asked.

"Yea..."

"That's him." She smiled.

"Why doesn't he stay with you? I mean he is your boyfriend and all...unless you haven't been dating for to long."

"Oh no we've been together for 2 years. He's just been busy with Jenna lately."

"His sister?"

"No our friend." Clare shrugged it off like it was nothing. But I could tell she was worried. She probably thought he was cheating. But I remembered KC. He was to shy to even think of cheating. Plus he was in the smart class. Nerds don't cheat. Or do they?

"Okay then. You guys want a ride?" they hadn't seen my hearse yet. I wondered how they would react to Morty. He'd been my best friend since I first saw him. He was sitting in my uncles repair shop. His previous owner sold him to my uncle, who gave him to me when I learned how to drive. Best present ever.

They both nodded and I started walking out of the park. We walked back over towards the Dot. That's where I had left him. I stopped in front of Morty. Clare and Adam looked at him like I was joking or something.

"This is my car." I smiled proudly. They exchanged a look but shrugged.

"Cool." Adam said.

"Yea. Suits you well." Clare smiled. I laughed and opened the passenger side door. There was a long bench in the front as the seat. Clare climbed in, then Adam, then I shut the door. I walked over to the driver side and got in.

I drove them to Clare's house. It looked the same as it always had. A nice little christian house, with a balcony that lead to Clare's and Darcy's room. I guess she would be at college now. She was like...2 years older then Clare. I think...

They got out, saying a quick goodbye and running inside. I was left alone. Time to go home I suppose...