CPOV
"I need a car, I need a car, I need a car..." I chanted as a mantra in my head as I walked home, I had my music up so loud that I was taken completely by surprised when I felt a hand on my arm. I jumped, turning quickly, only to face Eli, "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said as I removed my headphones, "It's fine, I was just zoned out," I explained, "Well I was just wondering if you wanted a ride, it's pretty cold out here," he said, I smiled, "That would be cool," I said, "And I can take you to Alli's afterwards," he continued, "If you would like," "I'd like that," I said. We climbed into his car, and headed in the direction of my house.
"So, you're the family that moved in down the street," he commented upon pulling up to the curb in front of my house, "I guess so," I stated. I walked into my room, just in time to grab my phone as it rang. I had left it at home on the charger when I arrived here, seeing as the long plane ride drained my battery, "Hello," "Clare dear, you finally answered your phone," my mother exclaimed, "I told you before I left that I was leaving it on the charger," I sighed, taking my phone from the charger to grab a bag so I could start packing to go to Alli's, "Did you find someone to stay with?" she asked, apparently ignoring what I had just said, I grabbed some clothes from the nearest box "Yeah I did. But I have to go," I said zipping up my bag and heading out the door. She began rambling on about something, so I just hung up. I sighed, looking up, "Is it bad that I just realized that you drive a hearse?" I asked, climbing into the car, he smirked, "Maybe a little," he commented, shifting into drive and heading toward Alli's house.
EPOV
New was something different, that was for sure. I found that she was really easy to get along with. Once we got to Alli's house, Alli insisted on getting to know her better. She asked her how old she was, where she was born, if she had any siblings, what her parents did for a living, and about her love life, "Well, I haven't really had a love life," New admitted, "So, you're a virgin?" Alli guessed. New went pale, "Alli, stop," I said, "What I was just asking," she replied, defensively, "What is your sister like?" Adam asked, effectively changing the subject, "She's a few years older than I am, she has auburn hair and brown eyes. When she was eighteen, she moved to Kenya, and she's pretty much been there ever since," she said, grateful of the distraction. Everything was quiet for a few moments, so Drew turned on the T.V.
CPOV
I wanted a cigarette, like really badly right now; but it wasn't like I could really just slip out right now. Alli was in her kitchen ordering pizza and Julia came over to me as the boys tuned out to watch a football game, "You okay?" she asked, "Sure," I responded, "I just don't really feel comfortable talking about... That," "I understand,: she said, "So, what's your life like?" I asked, trying to escape the awkward silence that was between us, "I am seventeen as well, I was born in Montreal and I live with my dad. He's a mechanic. I am an only child and I've never really been with anyone besides Eli," she said, I didn't really believe her, but I wasn't about to say anything.
The pizza was alright, but I wasn't really hungry, so I just threw it away. Someone eventually put in a scary movie because, apparently, it was some sort of tradition with them, but it didn't really hold my interest. When I thought everyone was asleep, I went for a walk down the street. I eventually stopped at a bench, where I lit a cigarette and fell into the silence of the night.
EPOV
I was laying down, staring at the ceiling when I heard the front door shut. New's spot was empty, so I followed her to make sure she was alright. She had stopped at a bench, and lit a cigarette. I wanted to make my presence known, so I didn't appear to be some creep that was following her. Once I caught up to her, I spoke up, "I never would have guessed that you were a smoker," I said, my voice breaking the serenity of the night,"I started way too early in my life to relieve stress, and I haven't been able to bring myself to try and quit," she said, "So, how has your first day in toronto been?" I asked, "Well, I had just started getting used to NYC, and now I am here. There is really not much more to say," she sighed, "Did you really like it there?" I asked, "Not necessarily, but my dad's job makes it hard to really get used to living anywhere, and of course his job is far more important than something trivial, like my happiness," she said, taking a drag from her cigarette, "It must be hard," "You have no idea, I don't even blame my sister for abandoning me, I would have gotten the hell out of this mess as soon as I could have too," she sighed, "What's so bad about your family?" I asked, "They ignore me, I always take a backseat to my father's precious job, we haven't spoken in years, I only talk to my mom anymore," she explained, "I'm sure that's not true," I tried to console her, "It really is, they left today for base, they will probably won't be back for a couple months to pack me up and move me to another place," she said, laughing without humor.
CPOV
I was so sick of talking about myself, so as I lit another cigarette, I asked, "So, what are you all about?" I asked, "Me?" he asked, I nodded, "What do you want to know?" he smirked, "Anything you're willing to share," I responded, "I live with both of my parents, my mom's a psych; dad's a disk jockey, I'm an only child, and at one point in my life, I thought Julia was the love of my life," he sighed, "What do you mean?" I asked, "She's been cheating on me for the past... probably three or four months," he said, "I know that I should break up with her, but part of me still doesn't want to believe that she's done anything wrong," he put his face in his hands. We sat in silence, being that I wasn't exactly sure what to say. Finally, I put a hand on his leg, removing it quickly as he turned to face me, "You really shouldn't beat yourself up about it. No one wants to let go of a good thing," I said, picking at cuff of my sleeve. When I looked up, I noticed that he was staring at me; my lips particularly. He began to lean in, and some unknown force drew me into him, and we kissed. Every part of my being was screaming at me to pull away from him; but I didn't. It wasn't until I heard an actual scream that we pulled apart, "What the hell are you doing kissing my boyfriend?" Julia demanded. We just stared at her and I took a drag from my cigarette.
EPOV
"Eli, how could you do this to me?" she continued, "That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think?" I asked, "What do you mean, I have-" "Been cheating on me for the past three months," I finished, "How-" "Do you remember that day we fought back in August, well, I felt really bad for it. I went to your house to work things out, and I found you and Fitz in a rather compromising position," I explained, "We're over," The moon shone on her tears as they cascaded down her face. She turned to run across the street, "Look out!" New called out, as we witnessed Julia being run into by a passing car. She rolled up onto the hood of the car, and then fell off as the car screeched to a stop. The women came rushing out to apologize. I didn't hear it. Out of the corner of my eye I saw New on the phone; I didn't hear her either. I saw the red, flashing lights of the ambulance and I zoned out.
CPOV
"Eli, Eli!" I said, waving a hand in his face, causing him to snap out of his stupor, "Give me your keys," I repeated myself, "You can go in the ambulance with Julia and I will go get the others from Alli's and we will meet you at the hospital," he numbly gave me his keys and we parted ways.
1 hour later...
EPOV
I felt better once I realized that she was fine. I walked out to the hallway, where the others sat, "Can you please go talk to New. This shook her up pretty badly," Alli Pleaded. I walked out of the hospital and found New sitting against a pillar, smoking. "You alright?" I asked, kneeling down to her level, "I feel bad," she said, "Like it's my fault she got hit by a car," I rolled my eyes, "She's fine," I said, "Just a few minor cuts and bruises," I looked down at her hands as something shiny caught my eyes. She had a knife, and was using it to pick at a burn on her arm, "What are you doing?" I asked, "When Julia got hit, I dropped my cigarette on my arm," she said, focused solely on her knife. I took it away from her.
CPOV
"Give me my knife back," I said, "Are you going to stop?" he asked, I shook my head, "Then no," he said, I sighed and we sat there in silence. My burn-turned-cut began to bleed out, "Can you do me a favor?" he asked out of the blue, "Depends," I stated, "Will you talk to Alli... about this. She can understand it better than I can," he said, "And maybe help you get past it," I gave him a skeptical look, "Just consider it... Please?" he asked, then turned to go back inside.
EPOV
After about another half an hour, we went back to Alli's house. I had talked to Alli after New, so it was no surprise when she pulled her away.
Alli POV
Eli had asked me to talk to New; he really didn't say what it was about, but he said that there was something I might be able to help her with. We went up to my room for some privacy, "I know you don't feel really comfortable here, but if you ever need someone to talk to, you can talk to me," I said, she scoffed, "I know you may think that I could not possibly relate to anything you may be going through, but three years ago, I dated this senior; his name was Johnny Dimarco. He filled my head full of all these lies of how he was a virgin when; at the time, I had been one too. I thought he was the perfect person to give everything to; so I did. In return, I got an STD," her eyes widened, "Nothing serious," I reassured her, "But it ruined my life and I dealt with it pretty badly during the later part of my freshman year, but then my sophomore year, I met Drew and it's like my freshman year never happened," I said with a small smile, "So, where does Eli and Julia come into the story?" she asked, "Eli has been my friend since forever," I said, "Neither of us would socialize with anyone in kindergarten, then one day, there was these kids picking on me, so I ran off to the park. He followed me there, and talked to me for the first time, about nothing really in particular, just trying to get my mind off of the other kids, and we've been best friends ever since," I said, "And Julia?" she prompted, "Julia and I never really saw eye to eye," I began, "But in seventh grade, her and Eli began to date, to we tried to put our differences aside for him. We were actually just starting to get along, but then I found out that she was cheating on Eli, so I told him, but he already knew, and I really can't believe that he waited so long to end things with her," I sighed, "Oh," she said after a moment. It was quiet for a little while, until I saw blood seeping from her sleeve onto her hand, "Um, your hand is bleeding," I said, slightly unnerved. She looked at her and although seeming completely unphased by it, she asked me to help her clean it up.
CPOV
My whole forearm began to burn, so once she led me into her bathroom, and left to find a first aid kit, I carefully removed my jacket. Blood was covering most of my arm, so I walked to the bathtub to rinse my arm off, Truth be told, blood makes me a little nauseous, so my head was swimming by the time Alli returned with the first aid kit. She gasped when she saw the small gash on my arm, "It's not as bad as it looks," I said feebly. She was silent as she tended to my wound. By the time she was finished the clock read seven fifteen, and the guys were asleep on the living room floor. We weren't tired, so we sat in the kitchen, eating whatever we found in her cupboard. Her landline rang and then moments later, there was a knock at the door. Alli, who was still on the phone, asked me to answer to the door. I opened the door to an older woman, seemly in her mid forties, with a stern look on her face, "Oh, do I have the wrong house. I am looking for the Bhandari residence," she said, "Uh, this is it, I am one of Alli's friends,my name is New." I said, "Audra Torres, I've heard of you, you're Sergeant Edwards' daughter," she said, "I'm just looking for my sons," I let her in and she woke the boys, and took Adam and Drew with her.
Hey everyone, it's only been for-fucking-ever since the last time I wrote... So here you go... Enjoy
