I knocked on the door of my girlfriend's home and waited. She came to the door in a pair of ripped jeans and a Breathe Carolina band shirt. She seemed…different.
"Ready to catch that movie?" I asked hesitantly.
"Absolutely," she smiled.
We walked to the car and I opened her door for her. She nodded in thanks and climbed in. I ran around, climbed in myself, and closed the door. Quickly, I started the car and drove toward the theatre. The question Adam had asked me was still buzzing in my skull. What was the one thing I couldn't live without?…Damn! Why was I so stuck on one stupid question?
"Eli?" Clare asked from the seat over, so I looked at her quickly. "What's wrong?"
"Just…this whole Adam thing has me a bit on edge is all," I sighed the lie.
"Me too, honey," she said, laying her hand on my forearm. "He's my friend too."
I nodded once and tried to focus on just driving. That didn't seem to be happening…
Adam's PoV
I just laid in the hospital bed. Maybe Eli was right and I just got ahead of myself a little too much. Drinking was definitely not going to help me with the whole Eli thing. Damn, I wish I could find something to take my mind off of him. Suddenly, and very conveniently, Fiona Coyne walked in. She was gorgeous.
"Hi, Adam," she smiled.
"Hey, Princess," I grinned back at her.
As she sat on the side of my bed, she asked, "How are you feeling, darling?"
"I'm doing fine," I replied. "I feel kind of sick, but that's what happens when you get your stomach pumped…"
She giggled and nodded in agreement. I swear I loved her, but I couldn't do anything with her because she'd find out about my…situation…
"What are you doing here?" I wondered of her.
"I heard that you were hospitalized and I had to see you," she sighed. "I was so worried…"
"Well, how nice of you to be worried about me," I smiled at her.
"How could I not?" she smirked. "You're always so nice to me."
"How could I not?" I mimicked her.
She rolled her eyes and then pressed her lips against mine softly. It wasn't like when I kissed Eli, though. There was a spark when it was with Eli…
Eli's PoV
The entire movie, Clare was trying to hold my hand or kiss me. I wanted to go to the movies to kind of escape any romance of any kind. I guess that'll teach me to take my girlfriend with me the next time I want to get away from reality. Though, by the end, she was pretty pissed off because I wouldn't kiss her. I didn't want to hurt her, but I didn't want to lose Adam either. My head was so jumbled. While I was driving Clare home, the only sounds were the rain and the low music coming from the radio. She wouldn't even look at me. Not once. It was almost scary.
I came to a stop outside Clare's house and looked over at her. She just sat there for a moment and then looked to me.
"What did you and Adam talk about after I left?" she asked out of the blue.
"What does it matter?" I wondered.
She turned her body and stared into my eyes.
"Do you have feelings for Adam?" she urged.
My heart stopped. I was in serious shit now…
Adam's PoV
Fiona stayed for only a little while after and kept me company. Then it was time for her to go. I sat in the bed, thinking some of those things over. Me and Eli? Eli and Adam? I guess it had a ring to it. Then there was Adam and Fiona or Fiona and Adam. That was nice too. I guess it just got to me that I couldn't answer my own question honestly. What was the one thing I couldn't live without?…I was in the same boat as Eli. I had to take a rain check on myself.
Eli's PoV
"Eli?" Clare asked.
"Uh…uhm…" I stammered. "Adam's my best friend. Why would I have feelings for my best friend?"
"I don't know," Clare sighed. "I guess…I'm just being paranoid. Well, night. I'll call you later."
"Okay," I nodded.
We kissed one another quickly and she climbed out, breaking into a run after she closed the door. I pulled out and suddenly got an incoming call. I took it.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Hey, Eli," Adam said through the phone.
"Hey, Grasshopper," I smiled. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he sighed. "Just bored. Visiting hours are over, so I got the nurse to let me use a phone."
"Shouldn't you be resting?" I wondered.
"I guess I should," he replied. "I don't want to, though. So, guess who came in today? Fiona Coyne!"
"Very nice, man," I said happily. "She's a fine little lady."
"Yes, yes she is," Adam chuckled. "But, when she kissed me…never mind."
"What?" my voice broke. "She kissed you?"
"Yeah!" Adam exclaimed, a little more happy now. "It was freaking awesome!"
"Sounds like," I smiled.
I have to admit, it upset me a little to know that he was kissing girls, but I realized we were never an item.
"Oh, damn!" he said. "I have to go. It's time for my meds."
"Okay," I sighed. "See you tomorrow, I guess."
"Yeah," Adam said. "Bye."
I put my phone away and sighed. Suddenly, I saw a pair of lights swerve over and start taking me head-on. I panicked and started trying to avoid it, but it didn't work. I heard the sound of crunching metal, pain surged through my body, and then everything went…black…