A/N: I am sooo sorry it took so long to update! I've been dealing with some emotional distress as well as writer's block and Christmas was just around the corner. Overall, I couldn't find the time or the willpower to write anything, so please forgive me. I hope you like this chapter. I PROMISE there will be another one up this week...maybe in Eli's POV...ooooh! Enjoy!
I silently slipped my shirt back on while Fitz lay sleeping next to me. I tried not to make any noise as she got dressed, but failed when one of my shoes hit the dresser. He stirred slightly and opened his eyes, looking over at me.
"Stay with me." He mumbled, pulling me back towards the bed. I pulled my hand away.
"I can't." I whispered. "I have to get home before my parents kill me." He grabbed my wrist again.
"Just tell them you're staying at Alli's." He replied, fully awake now. He wanted me to stay. And he always got what he wanted.
"No Fitz. I can't." I knew I had a curfew and I didn't want to stay with him anyway. Otherwise, I would have just told her parents she was staying at Alli's in the first place.
"Clare, you're staying here with me. Now go call your parents and tell them you're staying at Alli's." He said firmly, a slight threat to his demand. I nodded silently and went to the living room to find my phone.
After rummaging through my backpack, I finally found it. I stood there for a moment, contemplating what I should do. I knew I didn't want to stay with Fitz. Actually, I didn't think I could bear to spend any more time with him.
Who could I possibly call? I sure as hell couldn't call my parents to come pick me up from Fitz's. I'd be grounded for life. Alli didn't have a car. I didn't want to explain the whole mess to Peter. He'd tell Darcy, which would eventually get back to my parents anyway.
Before I knew what I was doing, I scrolled through my contact list and stopped, staring at the name on the screen for a moment before hitting the send button and pressing the phone to my ear. He answered on the first ring.
"Clare?" I breathed a sigh of relief as I heard Eli's voice coming in through the speaker.
"Hi, um, I'm really sorry it's so late. I just really need a favor." I whispered, so Fitz wouldn't hear me. There was a brief moment of silence before he answered.
"Sure. Anything. What do you need?" He asked. I paused, figuring out how to word it.
"I was, um, wondering if you could come pick me. I'm at Fitz's house. I didn't know who else to call." I said. He didn't say anything for a tense moment.
"Okay." He finally said. I quickly whispered the address and hung up the phone, slipping it into my pocket and walking back into Fitz's room.
"My parents said that they wanted me home tonight. I'm sorry." I said quietly as I entered the room. Fitz got up from the bed.
"So what? Stay." He said, moving closer to me. I backed up slightly, until there was no more room.
"I can't Fitz. I have to leave." I whispered harshly. A little too harshly. His fist came up and immediately connected with my cheek. I whimpered quietly.
"I have to go. I'll walk home." I snapped. Fitz backed away from me, anger evident in his eyes.
"Fine. Do whatever the fuck you want. I don't care." He said darkly. I grabbed my bag and walked out the door, quickly texting Eli to meet me at the end of the street. I didn't want Fitz to see him, in case he was watching.
I sat on the curb, waiting for Eli. My cheek stung badly. I pulled out my mirror and assessed the damage. This would be too difficult to cover up from Eli. Hell, it would be too difficult to cover up from anybody.
Eli's familiar hearse pulled up and I got up from the curb and opened up the passenger door, getting into the car. For once, music wasn't blaring and I thanked God for that. I didn't think I could handle the noise.
"Thanks for coming to pick me up, Eli. I appreciate it." I whispered in a small voice. The aftermath of the fight was finally starting to hit me. My face hurt. My spirit was crushed a little more. I briefly glanced at Eli and quickly looked away, but not quickly enough. He had seen the bruise.
"Shit, Clare. What the hell happened?" He asked in shock. I looked down at my bag and tried to take deep breaths.
"Nothing happened." I mumbled quietly, turning my head to stare out the window. The trees and houses and street lamps all blurred together as tears filled my eyes.
"Look at me." He demanded. I didn't know why I did it. Maybe it was because I was so used to taking orders from Fitz. But I turned to look at him. His eyes widened slightly as he looked at me.
"Did he do this to you?" He asked, staring at the giant bruise on my cheek. I nodded silently, feeling embarrassed. Eli shouldn't have to see this. Nobody should have to see this. What the hell did I get myself into?
"Have you told anyone?" He asked. Again, I didn't say anything. I just shook my head. He sighed.
"Well maybe you should." He suggested. But that was enough to get the gears in my head turning again.
"You aren't going to tell anyone, right?" I asked quickly. Shit, what if he did? Then what? I'd be completely screwed over. Fitz would kill me.
"Clare, you're getting hurt. Why shouldn't I tell someone?" He asked. He stared straight ahead, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. My heart sank.
"No, Eli, you can't!" I said, getting more worried by the second. If anyone else found out about this, it would ruin me. Fitz would literally murder me.
"Why not? Why the hell should I just stand by while you're getting hurt?" He asked. A thought struck me.
"Why do you even care anyway? You barely know me." I snapped at him. He thought about this for a moment.
"You called me. Out of everyone else you could've called, you called me. I can't just walk away. I'm already involved." He finally said. I sank back in my seat.
"Look, I'm…I'm not asking you to walk away. I just really need this to be kept a secret. Please." I begged, tears welling in my eyes. He didn't say anything, just clenched the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. After about 5 minutes, he spoke.
"Fine. But don't think I'll just forget what happened. And if you ever need anything, call me, okay?" He said. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Okay." I said. I looked up and realized we were at my house. "Thank you, Eli." I gave him a small smile and grabbed my backpack, getting out of the car. Just as I was closing the door, I heard him speak.
"Anything for you, Blue Eyes."
Take off your shoes, hang up your wings
Stack up the chairs, roll up the rug
Savor the things that sobriety brings
Drain in the last from a jug
But when I hit the bottle, there's no tellin' what I'll do
'Cause something deep inside me wants to turn you black and blue
I can't resist you, I can't wait
To twist your loving arms 'til you capitulate
Beat me in the kitchen, and I'll beat you in the hall
There's nothing I love better than a free for all
To take your pretty neck and see which way it bends
But when it is all over we will still be friends
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Oh, was it all right, or was it okay
I'll make it all up to you someday
Oh, but you didn't have to laugh that way
Oh, no, you didn't have to laugh that way
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Gee, baby, hope you don't murder me
