I know you guys were expecting this last Friday and I ended switching it with my plotting at the last minute. I apologize for not getting warning or letting you it had been switched.

I replied to several guest reviews today so check my profile page for those.

Also the next chapter of Christlove88's story "What Happens Next?" is up so be sure and check it out.

Ch. 2 Keep My Head up Like I Know how this will End

(CLARE)

I wake earlier than usual this morning, it's still dark outside and I don't know why I'm awake so early. Today is Thursday and ever since the incidents on Monday night and Tuesday morning Eli had been calmer. Although I had been avoiding him and keeping my distance with some help from Adam. He was worried about Eli's behavior too and on Tuesday we told Cece that Eli was erratic but neither of us wanted to go into specifics. We both care about Eli and we knew he was stressed but we also knew he needed help. Cece had taken Eli in to speak with his therapist yesterday morning and yesterday he'd been much better. I hoped that meant that Eli had worked out whatever it was with his therapist and he was better now, able to handle his stress and anxiety without letting it take control of him.

Since I was wide awake now I got up and showered then got dressed and went to the Dot for breakfast. Fitz was working, he smiled at me and got my order, I sat in the corner, eating breakfast while reading an e-book on my phone. When there's a lull in the customers Fitz will come over and chat with me a bit. We talk about church, he tells me he's thinking about studying for his GED and small talk like the weather and stuff. When it's nearing eight Fitz tells me he's on lunch and goes into the back. I decide to walk to school now, I get outside and my arm is grabbed, I'm pulled into the alley behind the Dot. Eli shoves me into the cement wall and his eyes burn with anger and jealousy.

"Why were you talking to Fitz?! You're going to leave me for him aren't you? Well I won't let you, you're mine Clare! Mine, you are my muse and you can't leave me for Fitz!" Eli growls, his voice is very low but incredibly menacing.

"Eli I'm not, we were just talking, Fitz and I are just fr…" I start but that's all I get out before he grabs me by the arm and throws me on the ground! He straddles over me, sitting on my stomach and it's hard to breathe now.

"Don't lie to me, I saw you, I saw you flirting, I won't let you leave me!" Eli snarls in a low growl like a rabid bulldog being threatened.

Before I can say anything he punches me very hard in the chest and his silver skull ring bites into my skin. I whimper trying to take a deep breath and coughing, Eli gets off of me now. He sits up next to me and pulls me into his lap cradling me in a nurturing caring manor; you'd never know that just a minute ago he hit me.

"I'm sorry Clare, really sorry," Eli apologizes in a pleading voice as he strokes my face gently as I cough and try to breath. My chest hurts and I think I'm bleeding or at least have a bad bruise. "I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to hurt you Clare please believe me I didn't mean to hurt you I would never hurt you on purpose. But I can't lose you Clare, I can't lose you, you're my muse, my life Clare I can't lose you. I love you Clare, more than anything, I love you more than life, I love you so much I can't stand the thought of losing you. Please don't leave me Clare, please please don't leave me, I couldn't live without you I need you Clare," Eli begs as he bawls like a baby. Within a few seconds he went from being a malevolent monster to a pleading frightened child. I'm beginning to think that he drank the Hyde potion and I'm dating Jekyll and Hyde.

I take a deep breath which hurts much more than I was expecting and my body tightens up, I grip onto Eli because of the pain and he holds me tighter. After a few seconds I can breathe okay and then the pain has lessened some so I can speak a little.

"I won't leave you Eli, I love you too. I won't leave you Eli," I assure him in a soothing voice and he starts to relax and calm down a bit.

"Clare, are you guys okay?" It's Dallas's voice and I hear him walking over.

Suddenly Eli's tears dry up and he looks up at Dallas like he just encroached on us in the middle of something scandalous.

"We're fine, Clare fell and I was worried about her," Eli tells him.

"Are you okay Clare?" Dallas asks, he reaches for me and Eli pulls me away from Dallas.

"I'm fine I just want to get to school," I reply somewhat strained as my chest still hurts.

"You guys need a lift?" Dallas questions as I move to get out of Eli's arms.

Dallas takes my hand to help me up and Eli releases me allowing Dallas to help me up. Eli stands after me and his hands instantly got to my waist, something that Dallas notices.

"No thanks Dallas I have my car, we'll see you at school," Eli tells him putting his arm around my waist.

"Dude are you high?" Dallas questions.

Eli's eyes are rather bloodshot but he was crying too and I can't remember now if his eyes were that bloodshot before he was crying. Eli just glares at Dallas in response and the three of us walk out of the alley and Eli takes me to his car, Dallas watches us get in Eli's car and then Adam comes over getting in the backseat.

"Clare are you okay?" Adam asks.

"Yeah I'm fine Adam," I tell him as Eli starts driving to school.

"How's Becky feeling?" Eli asks Adam getting the attention off of us and changing the subject.

"Better, she should be in school today," Adam replies just as Eli pulls into school and we see the Bakers on the steps.

Eli parks, we get out and walk to the steps with Eli's arm around me. Becky greets us and Luke walks off then the four of us walk inside.

"I have to use the washroom," I tell them when we're inside.

"Oh I'll come with you, meet you boys in a minute," Becky says taking my hand and skipping off with me to the washroom.

I actually do have to pee after the coffee I drank this morning but I also want to look at my chest because I think Eli's ring may have cut me. Becky goes right into a stall and since no one's front of the mirror I pull my shirt down a little. Almost exactly in the middle of my breasts, about four inches from my clavicle is a bruise that's rapidly becoming purple and has the shape of Eli's ring. It is also bleeding a little, I grab a paper towel and start dabbing away the blood and then the door opens and Maya comes in.

"Clare," she gasps.

I know she's about to make a big deal out of it but then Becky will hear. I grab Maya's arm holding my finger to my lips and shaking my head, she gives me a worried look but I go into a stall and she doesn't say anything else. I'm able to stop the bleeding as it was just a minor scrape. When I leave the stall I don't see Maya and after washing my hands Becky and I go back to the boys. The four of us hang out until the bells about to ring, Adam and I have the same room so he kisses Becky and I kiss Eli then we walk to our writers craft class. After Miss Dawes reads to us we're broken into pairs to write, Adam and I get paired together and Miss Dawes said we could leave the class to work so he and I go outside.

"What's with Eli? He's been acting weird ever since your birthday party and it's only getting worse," Adam comments. I bite my lip and look at the abstinence ring on my finger thinking about how I could have lost it that day in Asher's car. Adam puts his hand on my arm and I look up at him again. "Clare please tell me what happened you know you can trust me," Adam pleads. He is my best friend, I should be able to tell him what' happened and he deserves to know.

"Asher kissed me," I confess.

"He what?!" Adam exclaims tensing up.

"We were at the office late working on the article for the play and I thought I was so lucky to have such a wonderful mentor. I was thanking him for helping me and he kissed me. I ran out and told Alli the next morning but I was afraid to tell Eli or anyone else. I confronted Asher and he apologized, told me he was going through a rough divorce and I'm so much more mature than 17 and he was so sorry. I wanted it to be over with, I wanted it to be forgotten and I believed him, I was so stupid but I believed him," I tell Adam tearing up again Adam puts his arm around me.

"That wasn't the end of it was it?" Adam asks.

"No right after his apology he invited me to the mayoral debate. I thought lucky me I get to see the great Asher Shostak in action. He was great at the debate and I really admired his skills. I was still excited when we got back in the car; he was telling me how I remind him of him and not to lose my passion. He showed me the article that was going to come out on Saturday and he caressed my cheek," I inform Adam and shiver as I can feel Asher's fingers on my skin again. "He tried to touch me Adam, he was trying to force me and talk me into it at the same time. I was trying to get out of the car, to get away. I was trying to open the car door but he had it locked it felt like I was trapped in that car forever. I finally got the door open and I tried to get out, Asher grabbed my arm and threatened me to keep my mouth shut. I should have gone to Miss Oh or told Dave's dad but I was scared and I didn't want Eli to know. I went to Asher's boss but he had already talked to her, he blamed me for everything, said I kissed him; I was coming on to him. There were all my tweets e-mails that said I was excited to be working with Asher and taken in the wrong light it looks like I'm obsessed with him. So I got fired and then yelled at Asher. That time Dallas kissed me was after a tipsy confession to him. I was forced to tell Eli all of this at my birthday party and he took it pretty well. I wanted to get back at Asher and I felt so alone, Eli forced me to confess to my mom and Miss Oh and I felt even worse. I almost planted topless pictures of myself on Asher's computer."

"Clare tell me you didn't," Adam exclaims.

"I didn't and the pictures have been deleted, a former inter of Asher's confessed to him assaulting her too. We went to the police together and they're investigating but I don't think anything is going to happen with it," I admit.

"Why didn't you tell me before? That jerk has to pay for what he did," Adam says angrily.

"I was scared and embarrassed, I just didn't want anyone to know," I reply quietly and Adam hugs me tightly.

"Let me guess Eli took it well at first but now that it's been sitting in his brain and he's been thinking about some other guy touching you it's getting to him?" Adam postulates.

"Yeah I guess along with the stress of his movie and NYU portfolio, and I think he might be smoking pot with Jake a lot," I reply.

"Fine but it's no excuse for him mistreating you, he's my friend too but if he's hurting you then break up with him," Adam asserts.

I nod my head but I don't think I can break up with Eli, I'm truly afraid he might actually himself or try and kill me if I try and end the relationship. Eli needs me I can't just leave him.

(OWEN)

"Hey Dallas," I greet the team captain when I get into chemistry class. Dallas nods at me but he's looking at Eli. "What's up? You're looking at Eli like he did something to you," I comment.

"Not to me but I found him with Clare in the alley behind the Dot. He had his legs crossed and she was in his lap, she was sort of wheezing like she was in pain and he was holding her and crying. It was weird but I think he was high too, his eyes were all bloodshot but that could have been from the crying. I don't know the whole thing was just weird but Clare said she was okay," Dallas informs me.

"Like I said Eli's done some crazy shit before, I never did get that guy or what Clare ever saw in him," I comment and Eli must hear me because he gives me a harsh glare.

I just glare back at him as the teacher comes in and starts class. Eli keeps giving me or Dallas, or maybe both of us dirty looks all through class but we just stare him down. When class lets out we walk to our personal fitness class, we have the class with Drew and Bianca and we sit with them. After class it's time for lunch and Drew and Bianca have a lunch date at the Dot but Dallas and I usually eat with the team anyway, first though we stop by our lockers to put away our books.

"Dallas!" Adam barks at him from down the hall, it surprises us both and we turn to look at him.

"What'd I do?" Dallas questions his billet brother who is obviously irked at him.

"That kiss with Clare I know she was tipsy and I know what she told you! I can't believe you'd be such a jerk and kiss her after that, even you! If you ever do something so stupid again, especially with my friends you will pay for it. I may not match you in muscle but I know where you sleep," Adam says and walks off.

"Whoa he's pissed at you but why is he pissed now about a kiss Clare slapped you for a month ago?" I inquire.

"She must have told him everything, Clare was upset because her co-op boss kissed her and tried to assault her. She told it all to me when she got tipsy off the one beer and then I tried to kiss her and she slapped me," Dallas confesses.

"Good, she should have kicked you in the balls! I thought you tried to kiss her after she had a fight with Eli and she slapped you," I comment.

"Yeah I know it was pretty low of me, I probably should apologize," he says.

"Probably? You should definitely apologize, come on let's go eat," I tell him and we walk to the caf to meet the rest of the team.

The rest of school is pretty boring but Eli acts pretty weird all day, a little more weird than usual actually. He's never violent or anything just high strung and tense, and he glares at other people a lot, particularly anyone near or even talking about Clare. Not that Clare's a hot topic at school but he glared at me and Dallas after Dallas told me about finding them in the alley. Then near the end of lunch Dave and Alli were talking about Clare, something about weekend plans I think but Dave said Clare's name and Eli glared at him like he might kill him. However given Eli's past extremes of jealousy and overprotectiveness it's not out of character for Eli. After school the team takes the bus to practice and since we have a game tomorrow Coach works us hard, suicides, defense drills and puck drills. Finally the bus takes us back to DeGrassi and I drive home, Mom left dinner on the stove for me which is good because I'm starving. I heat my plate in the microwave and sit on the sofa when Tris and Maya come down the stairs from my brother's room.

"…you should have seen it Tristan it looked awful, it was turning purple and was bleeding. It was such an odd shape," Maya is saying but I missed the first part of what she said. They wave to me and go to the freezer to get ice cream then get out bowls.

"What do you mean an odd shape?" Tris asks getting out the ice cream scoop.

"I don't know, like a skull or something. Hey doesn't Eli where a bunch of rings?" Maya asks Tris. Hearing Eli's name catches my attention only because of his behavior today.

"What are you two talking about?" I ask them.

"Clare had a bruise on her chest; she was looking at it in the mirror in the girl's washroom. It had a small cut and was sort of oval shaped with two little circles like the top of a skull," Maya tells me.

"Eli does where a skull ring but you don't think Eli would really hurt Clare do you?" Tris asks.

"I don't know, he's done some crazy shit before but he's never wanted to hurt Clare that I know of," I tell them but decide to keep a closer eye on Eli and Clare tomorrow.

Tris and Maya get their ice cream and go back upstairs; I eat my dinner and go into my room to do my homework. I start it but can't concentrate, I'm thinking about what Maya said and I get out my phone. I want to talk to Adam but I don't actually have his number, I do however have Dallas' and Drew's numbers so I try Drew first but he doesn't answer so I call Dallas.

"Yeah?" Dallas answers.

"Let me talk to Adam," I tell him.

"Uh why?" He questions.

"Dude just give the phone to Adam," I reply.

"Ok here," Dallas says and I hear some noises as the phone gets handed over.

"Hello?" Adam questions into the phone.

"Hey it's Owen," I tell him.

"Uh hi Owen," he says cautiously and I can hear Drew asking why I'm calling in the background.

"Hey did you see the bruise on Clare's chest today?" I inquire.

"No I didn't even know she had one on her chest, how exactly did you know?" Adam queries.

"Maya saw it in the washroom; she said it had a funny shape like a skull ring. Eli wears one of those doesn't he?"

"Yeah he does but Eli wouldn…" Adam pauses and I hear the hesitation in his voice.

"What is it?" I ask.

"She had bruises on her arms the other day, from Eli's hands she said he didn't mean to but I still got mad at him at lunch that day. He swore it was a mistake and he went to talk to his therapist but he's been acting weird," Adam says.

"Yeah his behavior has been weird, he's acting like last year right after Fitz got out of juvie but worse," I comment.

"I'll talk to Clare tomorrow and call Eli's mom again, he was doing okay on Wednesday after talking to his therapist maybe he needs to see her again. Thanks for calling Owen," Adam says.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow I need to get my homework done," I reply and hang up.

After what Maya saw today, Eli's behavior recently and what Adam just told me I actually think Eli might be abusing Clare.

(CLARE)

The bruises on my arms were starting to fade but the bruise on my chest was still hurting this morning. It looked worse than yesterday too, pretty swollen and there were two circles from the eyes of Eli's skull ring. It was purple with a little cut where the skulls teeth are. I had put ice on it yesterday and used anti-inflammatory cream on it but it didn't seem to be helping yet. Jake was late getting up and we almost didn't make it to school on time, I probably should have just walked. I slip into class right before the late bell and get a concerned look from Adam.

"You okay?" Adam whispers when Miss Dawes starts class.

"Fine Jake just didn't want to get up this morning, I need my own car," I whisper back.

Adam nods in agreement, I'm sure he's felt the need for his own car more than once especially with Drew and Dallas in the same house. When class lets out we go to my locker so I can quickly grab my physics book.

"Do you have a bruise on your chest, in the shape of Eli's ring?" Adam questions in a low voice.

I stop putting in my locker combo and look at him biting my lip. "He was sorry Adam, he got angry, he's stressed and I think he forgot his meds or took too many," I tell Adam.

"Clare that's no excuse for him to hurt you, I'm going to call Cece again at lunch I think Eli needs to see his therapist again," Adam says and I nod. "Can I see the bruise?" Adam requests.

I bite my lip looking up and down the hall but we're mostly alone, Adam gets a little closer to me and I pull my shirt down a bit to expose the bruise. I've barely exposed the top portion of it when there's suddenly an arm around my waist and Eli's lips on my neck sends a chill up my spine.

"What are we doing? You're not trying to get a peek at my girls chest are you Adam?" Eli asks, his tone is sardonic like he's joking but his tone is also malicious.

"Eli you know Adam wouldn't do that," I admonish him.

"I wanted to see the bruise you gave her yesterday," Adam tells Eli.

Eli tightens his arm around me again, so much that it becomes somewhat difficult to breathe. "I would never hurt my muse, she knows I didn't mean to. I need my muse; you know I didn't mean to don't you Clare?"

"Yes I know Eli," I nod as the bell rings.

"I have to get to communications see you at lunch," Eli tell me kissing my cheek and letting me go.

"I'm calling Cece, he needs to talk to his therapist or have his meds adjusted or something. His behavior is volatile and there is no excuse for hurting you," Adam tells me as I open my locker and get my physics book.

We rush to class just before the late bell and sit at our desks, Becky smiles at Adam and kisses his cheek when the teacher isn't looking. At lunch the three of us leave class together, Adam tells Becky he'll meet her in a minute and walks off to call Cece. I walk to my locker and put in my books when I close my locker I find Owen standing there. Considering Owen and I have exchanged maybe three words in all the time we've gone to school together I don't think Owen could want to talk to me. I look behind me but I'm alone so I look back and Owen with my eyebrows squeezed together.

"Something I can do for you Owen?" I inquire.

"Is Eli hurting you?" He asks rather bluntly.

"If Eli was why would I tell you I don't even know you?" I question and turn to walk away but Owen catches my hand and turns me back to him.

"I know you don't know me but if Eli's hurting you then tell me," Owen says again.

"He's just going through some stuff but it's none of your business Owen now please let me go," I assert.

Owen looks doubtful but he does release me, I walk away quickly, I don't think Owen would hurt me. He hasn't been a bully or a jerk in a long time but I don't know Owen at all and I'm not going to talk to him about Eli's behavior. Anyway Adam is already calling Cece and she'll make sure that Eli goes to his therapist. Walking away from Owen I leave my locker and almost bump into Eli who's standing at the end of the hall.

"What was that about?" Eli questions.

"Nothing," I reply.

"I don't like him Clare, he's not a good person stay away from Owen," Eli tells me glaring at Owen.

"Eli it was nothing come on let's go eat lunch," I insist taking Eli's hand.

"Let's eat somewhere private, I want time alone with you," Eli says pulling me into the prop room.

We go in and sit on the sofa getting out our lunches, we start eating and then Eli reaches for his drink and knocks his chemistry book off the table. I pick it up and see his chemistry test from last week and he flunked it bad.

"Eli what happened? I thought you were doing well in chemistry?" I inquire.

"I was but I won't need chemistry to be a director anyway it was one pop quiz," Eli shrugs.

"Yeah but NYU is a hard school to get into, I can help tutor you for the next quiz," I offer and Eli suddenly changes. His eyes narrow, his face goes red, he turns to me with a malevolence in his eyes.

"ARE YOU CALLING ME STUPID?! I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP YOU'RE IN A GRADE LOWER THAN ME! FIRST YOU FLIRT WITH OWEN AND NOW YOU CALL ME STUPID!" Eli yells pushing me down on the sofa with his hand on my chest pushing on the bruise and I whimper.

"Eli I wa…" I can't say anything more as I start coughing and struggle to breathe.

Eli gets off of me finally, I cough and take a few deep breaths as Eli starts pulling things off the shelves and tossing them to the floor. He's making a lot of noise and before I can warn him to stop the doors burst open and Owen, Dallas, Luke, Cam, Bo and Ingvar all come in and see Eli's manic fit.

Update on July 31st and this time it won't be switched with my plotting day because I don't have one next month. Next chapter will pick up from right here and possibly in one of the Ice Hounds pov.