This is when it starts

Eli had expected her reaction to his car to be worse than it was. Most people didn't drive hearses. Normal people didn't. But he wasn't normal, and he could tell she knew that. She didn't even seem to have a reaction to it, though he was sure she was hiding it. Most people hid their emotions when they were around him. He opened his door, ignoring that she was there and got behind the wheel, letting it slam shut behind him. It took a moment but soon she was in the passengers seat staring awkwardly out the window and he let out a sigh, wondering what on earth he was doing. This wasn't like him. He never let himself get involved with people, even an interaction as simple as this. Something happened then, an emotion he wasn't used to and it shook him to the core. He was frightened. Why had he let her come with him so easily? Though this feeling was new, it wasn't one he enjoyed. So the first thought that came to his head, was to make her frightened in return. He leaned over in front of her, opening the glove box and pulled out the zip lock bag. He didn't look at her, but he knew she was watching him. He opened the bag, pretending as if she wasn't there and took out one of the small white pills. Soon, her presence wouldn't bother him at all.

"What are you doing?" Her voice startled him and he shot his eyes over to her.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" His voice was cold and she shrunk back in the seat away from him as he sat the bag in his lap and then looked over to her.

"Do me a favor." he said softer now and she looked back at him with her arms crossed tightly over her chest, "Reach down beneath the seat. There's a bottle, could you grab it for me?"

"A bottle of what?" she asked but he didn't reply. She let out a sigh and did as he'd said, reaching down beneath the seat and pulled out a glass container. The amber liquid danced within the bottle as she held it out to him. She examined the words on the label and looked back over at him.

"Whiskey?" she asked in disbelief.

He merely nodded as he took it from her and opened it up. He tossed the small pill into his mouth and washed it down with the golden drink, not even wincing as the burn spread out through him.

He felt her eyes on him, suddenly aware that she was watching his every move and he looked back at her with a smirk.

"Want some?" he asked, holding the bottle out to her.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head, "What? Uhm... N- no thank you."

He let out a chuckle knowing that would be her response and took another sip.

"What's your name?" he asked and she swallowed hard.

"Clare."

Clare. It was a pretty name. Simple, which seemed to fit perfectly.

"Well Clare," he began, "Why exactly are you here if you're just going to sit there and watch me?"

She stayed quiet for a moment.

"I… don't really know. I was worried. You... You looked like you needed a friend. Or at least someone to talk to…"

Eli scoffed, "Why do you care? Does it look like I want friends? I like being alone."

Again, at the fierce sound of his voice, she shrunk back into the seat and her face fell.

Silence filled the car and he hoped in that moment that she would just leave, but as time trickled away she merely sat there, watching him as his hands clenched around the glass bottle. So he took another drink.

"What happened to you?" She asked suddenly, breaking the silence that had fell around them.

He glanced over at her, screwing the cap back on as he spoke, "What do you mean?"

"What happened to make you…" she paused for a moment, studying him for what his reaction may be, "…like this? Like you don't care. Completely... reckless."

He furrowed his brows as he looked out the window, "Nothing happened."

Silence again surrounded them, but the girl decided not to push any further. Eli, however, spoke again.

"I just know how to have fun is all… obviously you have no idea what that is."

Clare narrowed her eyes, "Oh, I know how to have fun."

He smirked now, turning his body in his seat to face her, "Really? Prove it then. Take a drink."

He held the bottle out to her and watched her eyes grow as she studied it. Minutes passed and Eli let out a heavy chuckle.

"I knew you wouldn't."

"Well how do you expect me to drink something from a stranger?" she asked, "I mean I don't even know your name."

He chuckled again, "What, do you think there's poison in it or something? I'm sitting here drinking it so obviously that's not the case."

"No. It's just… Really, what's your name? I've been in class with you the entire year and all Ms Dawes does is call you by your last."

"Why do you want to know my name so badly?"

She shrugged and he rolled his eyes.

"Fine. Let's make a deal. You take a sip of this," he shook the bottle, "And I'll tell you my name."

She looked at the bottle again and chewed on the corner of her lip. He could tell she was thinking about it and the smirk stayed dormant on his face as he shook the bottle again.

"Fine." She grabbed it from him and unscrewed the cap with her small fingers. He watched unbelieving as she took in a deep breath and brought the bottle to her lips. Her face scrunched up at the smell and she closed her eyes tightly as she tilted her head back and the liquid poured into her mouth. The moment it touched her tongue she winced and immediately spit it out. Though he should have been upset about the liquid now covering the dash of his car, he couldn't help but chuckle. She sat beside him, coughing up a fit and he continued to laugh uncontrollably as he grabbed the bottle from her.

"That's disgusting!" she choked out as she wiped at her mouth and cringed at the smell that now filled the car.

"It's not that bad." he spoke before taking another sip and watched as she continued cough lightly. It took a few moments for her to regain her composure but she continued to wince as she tried to clear the taste from her mouth.

"How can you drink that?" she asked in disbelief, wiping her lips once more.

"Guess I'm just used to it."

She stuck out her tongue and shook her head frantically.

"I couldn't imagine being used to that."

Eli laughed and took another drink, feeling the effects of it slip over him. He was warm now and in a considerably better mood than he had been minutes before.

"So what's your name?" she asked, breathing heavy and he could tell she was still suffering from the smell.

"I'm not telling you, that didn't even count. You spit it all over my car!"

"Hey!" She whined, "I did not! That's not fair at all! I did what you asked, now either you tell me your name or I'll march back into that school and tell Mr. Simpson that a boy in a hearse is drinking alcohol on campus. I'm sure it won't be hard to narrow down." She crossed her arms over her chest now, watching as he glowered back at her.

"It's Eli."

She smiled now, triumphant in her victory, "Eli. That's a nice name."

"Whatever," he spoke sourly, furious that she'd use his actions against him so easily, "You should leave now."

Her face fell and she loosed her arms from over her chest, "What? I… I don't want to…"

"What are you doing here?" his voice was raised now and he looked hard at her, "You want to know what happened to me right? What, do I seem like some sort of charity case to you?"

Her eyes widened, "No, no that's not it at all! It's just-"

"Then I'll tell you what," he began, cutting her off, "If you really want to know what's wrong with me… if you really want to know why I'm as fucked up as I am…"

She watched him intently, waiting for his terms with wide eyes and open ears.

"Then down the rest of this bottle. Finish it and I'll tell you my fucked up story that's made me so... reckless as you say."

She looked at the bottle, it was two thirds of the way gone and she knew it was far more than she could handle.

"But keep in mind," he began feeling the need to frighten her now more than ever, "that since you seem to be the type that's never drank before, that this will affect you. Your mind will become fuzzy and you'll lose control of your actions. You won't be thinking for yourself anymore. You seem like the type of person who prides yourself on thinking. Wouldn't want to upset your parents of course so you'd try to keep your composure. But that won't be as easy as you think it is. You'll lose your balance. Soon you'll say something you didn't mean to say or do something you didn't mean to do. You'll lose control. Are you willing to let yourself lose control?"

From the beating of your heart .