Chapter 7
Clare and I continued to walk in the dark with flickering street lights over head. Breezes came here and there pushing Clare's auburn curls into her eyes which she blushed off. We walked in tranquil silence for a while, the surroundings dissolved into oblivion focusing in on just the two of us.
"Hey Eli." Clare said breaking the tranquility but I didn't mind.
"Yeah?" I answered tilting my head to hers she looked at me, our eyes met, her sky blue eyes filled with happiness with a string of guilt and sorrow.
"Where exactly are we going?" She asked, the surroundings became clear again and I realized that we were completely and utterly lost. Good job Eli, your first date with Clare and you get her lost. Smooth move. Shut up! I will find our way back I usually end up getting lost anyways. I thought, trying to find any familiarity but no such luck it was like we stumbled upon a deserted ghost town.
"I'm not quite sure actually, oh darn it we're lost." I sounded pathetic, even to my own wasteful ears, just turn around and retrace your steps.
"Do you want to turn around?" Clare asked before I could even open my mouth, I nodded and with a slight turn we headed for the mall once more.
"Ha, this is such a weird feeling, you know." Clare said with a slight giggle escaping her graceful lips.
"What is?" I was 'distraught' according to Clare, who began to skip with unnatural joy you would believe she was on something.
"Breaking the rules, lying to my parents if Darcy ever found out she would think I'm definitely turning into her, she had done a lot when she went to Degrassi, though I wish she came home sometimes maybe our family will still be intact." She explained, such dramatic changes in her mood lately, was she bipolar? Surely even my love-struck eyes would have seen this earlier.
"No your parents would have been fighting either way; the only difference is you wouldn't have to deal with the cold atmosphere alone." I said with a longing shrug that even I wasn't expecting to pass.
"But I'm not alone⦠I have you."She said with a small smile, I couldn't help but feel some warmth inside my damaged heart. "I know what you meant though; she would help cope with the fighting when I can't see you. Would you believe me if I told you she was only supposed to be in Kenya for a semester?" She added, glad that she understood what I was trying to say.
"Yeah, uh why hasn't she returned yet?" I asked, Clare looked up at the star infested black skies, the air was silent but I could swear I heard the stars twinkle in brightness, gathering in clusters around the crescent moon.
"She called, Darcy, about a month ago claiming that she wants to make every living soul in Kenya has a home to live in. I have a feeling that moving to Kenya definitely purified her, it was the remedy she needed."
"What exactly happened to her that made her go to Kenya?" I asked she looked at me with nervousness; I cursed myself for overstepping my boundaries. "Sorry that was too personal to ask." I added feeling upset to ask Clare to answer something so scarred and deep.
"Its fine it's just that two years ago Darcy snuck out of the house while my parents and I were on a church retreat. She had a boyfriend then, Peter his name is. I don't know if they broke up or not but she went to ski club up in the mountains where a guy slipped roofies, a date rape drug, and well did the rape part of the drug. She had gotten Chlamydia, which after some research is a sexually transmitted disease; luckily it won't kill her or give her unwanted bumps. She never told my parents, and I never would give her secret away to them. She tried to commit suicide; fortunately the wrist cuts weren't deep enough. I just wish she didn't have to feel that miserable ever. I know my parents were a factor in the cut; they never wanted to see something taint such a perfect image. Unfortunately nothing's perfect." Clare said with sadness and deep heart break, I walked in front of her, she stopped and I closed the foot of space between us and hugged her tightly. Clare's emotions went haywire and tears took their place down her cheek and onto my shirt.
"I keep thinking⦠what would-d of happened-d if-f the cut was deep-per." Clare said between tears her voice shook with isolation and misery, you would have never thought that such a well put together brilliant and beautiful Clare Edwards would have scars that ran bone deep.
"Shush, don't talk just cry and hug." I said rubbing the small of her frail shivering back. We stood like this for about 10 minutes; Clare released her grip on my neck and looked at me.
"You think I'm pathetic right?" She asked with embarrassment.
"No, not at all you deserve to vent your emotions to someone who is going to listen." I said looking at her with utter honesty. She threw her hands around my neck and we embraced in a tear free hug this time.
"Now let's go do something fun!" She said with a smirk after our long and heartfelt hug, she placed her hand on mine, our fingers entwined. We reached the mall now moving in the opposite direction in which we got lost in, a smile crept upon my face as we walked into the neon lights on the store signs.
Note: Don't worry it doesn't end here
