(Clare's POV)

The next morning I woke up with a pounding headache. I knew I had a lot to face that day, so I'd rather go back to being unconscience. But I pulled myself out of bed, got dressed and headed downstairs. My parents were sitting at the table, staring blankly at the wooden surface.

"Good morning." I said weakly, awkwardly sliding into the chair across from them and pouring myself a glass of orange juice.

My mom just nodded. My dad start shuffling through the stack of newspapers on the table.

I swallowed my juice in one gulp and stood up. "I'm gonna go into school early. To do some homework." I lied.

"Honey, come home right after school. We have a lot to talk about." my mom said softly but sternly.

"Okay." I said, grabbing my school tote off the floor by the door.

"Oh, and bring Eli and his parents too. We would like to discuss some things with them too." my dad said.

I gulped and felt the blood drain from my face. Oh God no! I don't want to put Eli and his parents through all of this!

"But... why his parents?" I asked, feeling the juice rise in my throat as I choked it back down.

"We have lots to talk about. His parents need to be here too." my dad said.

"Okay, bye." I said, trying to keep my voice from rising into hysterics as I rushed out the door.

...

I sat at a picnic table outside of school, staring at the words on the page of my history textbook but not reading them. It was early, only 7:15. Since school didn't start until 8:00, barely any students were here yet. My grades had been slipping for the past few weeks, because of all the drama in my life. I desperately needed to study, but I couldn't get myself to focus.

"Boo!" I heard a voice yell behind me. I jumped a few inches of the bench.

I turned around. Eli stood there, smirking. I scowled at him.

"Why are you here so early?" I asked.

"Nice to see you too." he said sarcastically. "I woke up early and I didn't feel like being at home." he said as he sat down next to me.

I sighed. "My parents want to talk to you and your parents. After school." I bit my lip.

Eli's eyes widened. "Well, I wasn't planning on including my parents in all of this."

"I know." I slammed my face into my book. "I don't know what to do."
"Well, I guess I better call my parents and tell them about this." Eli said, taking out his phone. I grabbed it from him.

"No." I said, setting the phone down on the table.

"Uh?" Eli asked, confused.

"I'm not gonna turn your life even more upside down." I said.

"Stop worrying about me."

"That's kind of impossibe." I said, running my hands through my hair.

"I'll bring my parents over after school. We'll keep telling the lie, it'll be okay."

"That's exactly the point!" I screeched. "I'm tired of living this lie!" I stood up and threw my book in my tote, and started heading towards the front door of the school. I could feel Eli walking behind me.

I turned around abrubtly. "I'm coming clean. After school. I'll press the charges. Enough is enough."

"Woah. You don't have to do that. I don't mind having my parents thinking this, it's okay."

"No, it isn't so stop saying that! This is what you wanted in the first place, so be happy about it!"

He sighed. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes."

"Positive?"

I nodded.

He kissed me quickly. "I have to go study. Do you want me to be there, when you tell your parents the truth?"

I shook my head. "I can handle it."

He nodded and then turned down the hall.

Can I handle this? I asked myself.

...

Later that day, I ran into Fitz, literally. My head was buried in my math book, trying to cram because I had a quiz next hour and I honestly had no idea what we had been doing in class for the past week. I wasn't watching where I was going and well...

"What where you're goi- Oh, hi Clare." Fitz said, helping me up off the floor. He then picked up my math book and handed it to me.

"Hi." I said, awkwardly clutching my book.

"So, uh, how are you?" he asked.

"Um, can I actually talk to you sometime?" I asked. He might as well know I'm carrying his child.

Fitz's eyes lit up, oddly. "Sure. How about after school?"

"Can't. How about later? Coffee at the Dot?" I asked.

"Sure. Meet you there at 6:00?"

"Okay." I forced myself to smile, even though I felt like kicking him.

He walked away. Eli strode up to me, obviously mad.

"Why were you talking to him?" he asked.

"I'm carrying his child. He has a right to know."

"I don't want him being involved." Eli said, grabbing my arm.

"He isn't going to be! Calm down." I said, he let go of my arm.

"Wait, aren't you going to press charges?" he asked.

"Well, I am gonna have to. But I kind of want to talk to him beforehand."

"That's... weird. You're gonna be all nice to him, then press charges?"

"Who said anything about being nice?" I asked.

Sorry, this chapter was sorta a filler. But it was necessary.