A/N S/O to MeganObrien90 for being the first reviewer.

Chapter four

Once we were out of eye sight he stopped walking and took a good look at me. His eyes raked up and down my body causing heat to fill my cheeks.

" Do you have something you want to say? " I asked looking away in embarrassment.

He gave me a look that was usually reserved for the 09ers. " Do you? I reached out to you and you completely blew me off. "

" You wish. " I mumbled, kicking the sand.

I should have known better. I really should have.

" Fine. I should have listening to my instincts when they told me you were just like the others. " He said.

I watched him for a second before realizing what he just said. " Oh hell no! You do not get to give me the " I knew you were like them " speech. " She yelled making him stop in his tracks.

" YOU were the one that ditched me as soon as Lily Kane came into the picture. " Low blow I know, but he pissed me off.

Eli flinched at her words and turned around. " I don't know what you're talking about. "

" Lying doesn't become you Eli. I saw it with my own eyes. An image I'd rather forget but can't. So don't you come at me like I'm in the wrong for keeping my distance. I'd rather not let you hurt me a second time. " I said wiping the tears from my face.

For a second he didn't say anything. The wheels in his head were spinning at full speed as he processed what I just said. Taking a step towards me he went to take my hand but I wouldn't let him.

" I don't know what to say. " He said lowly.

I rolled my eyes. " Then don't say anything. Just don't make it seem like I was the one that cut you off when it was the other way around. "

I then turned and walked away leaving him to think about what I said.

Later that night Veronica came into my room as I was doing my home work. With out knocking I might add. She sat down next me on my bed and I continued to do my work like she wasn't there.

After a few minutes she sighed. " Look I know we aren't on good terms right now but we are sisters Tori. "

" So now we're sisters? " I asked not looking up from my history book.

I know how Veronica gets and if she thinks that the whole " come on we're sisters " thing will make up for everything she is sorely mistaken.

" Yeah we are. " She said with the famous Mars attitude. " It seems like you forgot that. "

Oh no she didn't. I sat my book down and got up so I could leave if I needed to. " Excuse me? I forgot? No you forgot we were sisters the day you met Lily. "

Damn why did every thing always have to come back to her?

Veronica stood and I prepared for a shouting match because lets face it, we're both hard headed and never back down.

" Where were you? She died and you never asked if I was okay and then you left to Australia as if you didn't have a care in the world! You left and I had to deal with mom leaving all by myself! " She yelled as tears flowed down her face.

I can't believe this. Are she and Eli really this self centered? " Why would I care Veronica?! You were supposed to be my sister and then made a rich girl friend and cut me out! What was I supposed to do? Come back and cry about mom leaving? It wouldn't have brought her back! I left because I couldn't handle everything that was being thrown at me. I'm not gonna apologize for handling things the only way I knew how! "

Dad rushed in the room and stood between us. Lord knows he didn't want the great hair pulling war of nineteen ninety nine to start again.

" What is going on in here? " He asked calmly.

I looked from him to Veronica who looked back at me with guilt in her eyes. " Nothing. " I said walking out into the living room and grabbing my keys. A drive was just what I needed to calm down.

I left my phone in my room so my dad couldn't track it and lifted my hood to temporarily disable the tracker in my car as well. I didn't need to talk about what happened. I didn't even know what I needed at this point.

Not heading in any particular direction I ended up in the last place I thought I wanted to be. Eli's neighborhood. Parking behind his bike on the street I rested my head against the steering wheel. He probably didn't even want to see me but I honestly had no where else to go and I didn't want to be alone.

A couple minutes later I decided that I was being stalkerish so I went to turn the key over. The passenger side door opened suddenly and in came Eli. He shut the door and gave me a look.

I looked back at him and every wall I had built over the past year and a half came crashing down. Embarrassed that I was now crying in front of him for the second time that day I hid my face in my hands as sobs wracked my body.

The next thing I knew I was straddling his lap and he was holding me. His warm hands moved in soothing circles on my back and he just let me cry it all out.

" Please don't tell me I caused this. " He whispered.

I tried my best to get the words out but I couldn't so I shook my head into his shirt. The door opened and the next thing I knew I was being lifted up. Eli carried me into his house and sat with me on the couch.

" Mi'jo is that Tori? " Letty, his grandmother asked.

He must have nodded cus I didn't hear him saying anything.

" I'll go make some tea. " I heard her say.

Eli made sure both of us were comfortable on the couch and then continued to rub my back. " Feeling better? "

I nodded into his neck making him chuckle. " Good. "

" Mi'ja I brought you some tea with honey. " Came his grandmothers voice.

I lifted my head to reveal my red face. I was all over her grandson right in front of her. Slowly I dismounted him and sat up right on the couch. Taking the cup I thanked her. The hot tea really made me feel a hundred times better.

A knock sounded at the front door and I knew that it was my super sleuth father and so did Eli. He got up and opened the door slowly.

" Eli. " My dad said looking at me from the doorway.

He stepped aside to let him in. " Sheriff. " He greeted.

My dad walked in and shook Mrs. Navarro's hand. " Leticia how are things? " He asked.

" The same as usual sheriff. " She replied.

I finished my tea and stood up eager to get him out of her. " I think I'm okay now. Thank you for letting me stay Mrs. Navarro. "

The older woman gave me a genuine smile. " Any time mi'ja you know you're always welcome. "

I looked at Eli who was still standing by the door. " I'll se you at school? " She asked.

He looked at my dad who didn't look happy but didn't say anything. " If that's what you want. "

My dad nudged me out of the door with a wave to both Eli and his grandmother.

" So you're friends with him now? " He asked trying to hold in the sheriff side of him.

I sighed and looked at him. " I've been friends with him since freshman year. I didn't tell you because I knew how you would react. Can we please go home now? "

" When we get there we are having a serious talk. " He said pointing at me.

Sighing again I nodded. " Fine. "

" You go straight there and I mean it. " He said with bass in his tone.