Eli's POV
My breath rushed out of my lungs, creating steam in the cold night air. I felt like I got hit with a brick. I blinked, amazed. Clare. She was here. My knees buckled. Get a grip, Eli! Clare's curls flew around her face, unrestrained by a headband. Her pale skin glowed in the lamplight. She was wearing torn jeans, which were splattered with mud. She only wore a light blouse that had one of the sleeves torn. She shivered in the wind. I saved her eyes for last.
I inhaled sharply as those hypnotic sapphires gazed into my eyes. My knees almost gave out, and my hand shook. I could drown in those eyes. You could find the meaning of life in those sad eyes. It was like she stared through me instead of at me. She saw my soul, my pain my longing-no, my need-for her. "Eli?" she said again, her velvet voice stopping my heart. "Are you alright?" she asked, that angel face marred by concern and discomfort. A lump had formed in my throat, I couldn't speak. She cares. Clare wants to know if I'm alright. 'Talk, Eli,' said the little voice in my head. Stop being an idiot.
I'm dying inside, and every day when I wake up I wish I hadn't. I feel like I can't breathe, I'm suffocated by my love for you… "I'm fine." I whisper. She didn't say anything, just kept staring. Then a ghost of a smile appeared on her face. Memories flooded unwillingly back into my mind.
"Did you flip a switch and erase me from your memory? Did you ever love me at all?"
"I never loved you!"
"You're suffocating me!"
"…I'll never leave you, Eli."
The shattered broken promises filled the air between us, and suddenly I wanted to leave. I wanted to leave and shoot Jake Martin, to silence that hateful voice forever. He took Clare from me, and then he hurt her. He deserved to die. But looking into those agonized blue eyes something shifted inside me. Clare loved Jake. The realization was clear. She loved Jake Martin. I could never hurt anything Clare loved, because that would hurt her. I could not watch her go through pain without straining my sanity. I wouldn't hurt Jake Martin.
"So…Um….What are you doing up there?" she asked. She was cautious. Scared of me? Uncertain of what I might do? The gun seemed to burn in my jacket pocket. She couldn't know, could she? "I'm just looking at the view." I said nonchalantly, still gazing at her. I turn for a brief agonized second and gesture to the water. My eager eyes turn back to her and I watch as she takes a hesitant step forward. She was only wearing one shoe.
"Clare! It's freezing, why aren't you wearing your shoes?" I asked her. Stop caring Eli, she doesn't love you, remember? She shivers again, and her pale skin pales even more. Even mud splattered, she's an angel. "I had to keep running, it was either me or my shoes." She said quietly. Her eyes heated with anger, and the atmosphere changed instantly. It went from cold and callous to suddenly…melting. I forgot about everything we had gone through, I forgot that I wasn't supposed to love her anymore, that I wasn't supposed to feel anymore. "Clare…What happened to you?" I gasped. "It's a long story." She whispered, almost as if it was a confession. "How about we go out for coffee and I'll tell you about it?" she said. Me. Go on a date. With Clare Edwards. "Sure." I whispered, and wordlessly me and Clare walked out into the cold, dark night together.
AN Sorry it's so short. Five reviews to update!