Hi! Okay, so this chapter has major drama. Please tell me if you want a sequel or not! And also, I'm currently writing another story and I also finished another one.

Chapter 6

"Ready for our talk?" Jayce asked.

"Actually, let's go to the Dot." When he was confused, I explained, "It's a cafe just down the street." We slipped out a side door. The walk was fairly short.

I ordered a hot chocolate with marshmallows. Jayce ordered a latte.

"We need to know where we stand." I blurted out.

"I'll be fine with anything you choose." He stated.

"I really liked the kiss and all, but I still love Eli, even if he has been different lately." So much from a drama-free year.

"How about you wait and see how your relationship with Eli goes. If it continues, that's fine with me. If you guys break up, we can go out. I'll wait for you forever."

"That's perfect. Thanks understanding." I stood up and gave him a hug.

"Clare?" I looked up. Eli and Adam entered the Dot. "And you're with him?" His face nearly exploded with anger. Adam's eyes were wide. He knew Eli was at the breaking point and tried to calm him down.

"We just wanted to skip the French exam because we didn't study." I lied.

"Oh, and I'm sure you do this with all the other guys too? You're MY girlfriend, Clare. Oh wait, ex-girlfriend. I don't want to see you ever again. Come by my house and pick up your belongings. I just hope he's worth it." I had never seen him this mad. He ran out the Dot and slammed the door.

Adam stayed. "I'm so sorry about him; I have no clue why he's been like this lately."

I was sobbing. Jayce was watching this whole time, speechless.

"I'm just going to go to Eli's house and get my stuff." How could I be so stupid? First of all, I kept saying Eli and I were together forever. We were too different and ended up just like my parents. I had my heart broken and it sucked.

I rang the doorbell. CeCe opened the door.

"Hi, can I come in?" I asked.

"Of course, Clare, are you okay?" She asked, concerned.

"Not really. Eli broke up with me and I came here to pick up some stuff of mine." I sobbed.

"Oh, honey, why would Eli break up with such a sweet girl like you?" She gave me a hug.

"I don't know, he's been very different lately. Would you know anything about it?"

"You're the closest person to Eli. Has he been taking his pills?" She asked.

"Pills?" I asked, confused. Why would Eli need pills?

"Oh, I guess he never told you. He must be too ashamed. Sit down honey, I'll explain." I sat down on the couch.

She took a deep breath. "Bulldog isn't Eli's biological father." He never told me that. "His real father is James Marshall." That name didn't ring a bell, but she went on. "I was married to him for fifteen years. But near the end of our marriage, he drank and did crack. This was about when Eli was fourteen, and dating Julia." I nodded. This all made sense.

"One night, I was at a friend's house. This was about a year and a half ago. Eli and Julia were at home. Eli was taking a shower when James came in. Julia was on the couch, watching T.V. James was high on crack but this night he was especially worse. James was angry from being fired from his job. He took out his knife and repeatedly stabbed Julia. When Eli came down from his shower, he saw Julia, dead."

I was horrified. "But he told me Julia died from a car crash."

"Eli doesn't like to talk about it much. He's ashamed of his father. James was sent to jail for life. But just last week, it was James's court case. During a break, one of his friends stabbed his security guard, and they both escaped. They're out on the loose. Eli was furious. His father killed the love of his life and he thought jail wasn't enough. Now that he escaped jail, Eli wanted to search and kill James. I sent him to therapy and he was prescribed pills to tame his body and mind."

This completely made sense. I knew Eli had a dark past. He still blamed himself for Julia's death because he wasn't there to stop his father. Eli has been acting out all week, and I had never seen him take his pills.

"Thank you so much for sharing this with me." I thanked her.

"No problem, and please talk to Eli."

"I will." And I completely intended to.

I went home. I texted Jayce. Hey, sorry about today. I'm not sure about us just yet, but I have something to do.

The next day I went to search for Eli. I found him at his locker.

"I thought I made it clear that I never wanted to see you again." He said coldly.

"Eli, I know you're mad, but I have something to say."

"What?" He said, angrily.

"I know about your father." I blurted out.

"Dammit Adam! He can never keep a fucking secret!" Eli smashed his fist into the locker in frustration.

"What? No! Wait, he knew?" Adam was hiding something! All this time I thought that Adam was the third wheel, he knew more about Eli than me. "Your mom told me yesterday, and it's okay. I'm here to help."

"We're broken up, remember?" His anger was gone.

"It doesn't matter. I still want to help."

"No! Don't you fucking get it, Clare? Just because your parents got a divorce doesn't mean anything. My life is way worse than yours so just stay out of it. I don't need you and I don't want you. Leave me alone!" Eli snarled.

This was way worse than him calling me a bitch. I backed off and walked away, tears falling fast. It's not me, he's just taking his frustration out on me. I'll give him time.

"Are you okay, belle?" Jayce asked, concerned.

"It's just Eli." I explained about his dad. "Should I just give him time? I'm not caring about our relationship, but I still want him in my life and I want him to know that I'm there for him.

"He'll come around. He can't love you one day and then you be out of his life the next."

"Thanks, you're an amazing friend." I hugged him. I just hope that we can be more than friends.