I'm really sorry I didn't have a chapter up yesterday. I was at a fair all day and by the time I got home was exhausted. Anyhoo…enjoy!

Protect

"Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can't figure out what from." ~Mae West

The arrangement Clare and Eli had worked smoothly for 3 more months. They didn't speak very often, except for things concerning the baby. They had agreed it would be easier that way; easier on Eli anyway.

But people were starting to definitely know that Clare was pregnant. She felt like a walking planet every time she had to hobble through the halls. It was like parting the red sea whenever they saw her waddling by.

She stood at her locker, on her tiptoes, trying to reach the top shelf. It wasn't that she was short; it was that she needed to extra help to do things. She hated relying on people that much. She wanted to just get this over with as casually as possible. "

Here," Eli had seen her struggling and reached up, grabbing her history book.

Clare smiled thankfully at him. "Thanks," she said, tucking the book under her arm, "It's so hard to-"

She was cut off by a body slamming into her from behind. The book went flying across the hall and Eli had to catch her to keep her from falling. Once she was steadied, the Goth boy looked at the offender, who was none other than his archrival, Fitz.

"What the hell?" he interrogated, walking up to the taller boy. Fitz looked down at Eli and glared.

"She was in my way," he smirked. Eli gave him a fierce shove, which was returned in full force. Soon, their small shoving turned into a full blown fight, fists involved.

"Stop it!" Clare yelled, trying to pull them away from each other. Her efforts were stomped when a hand pushed her roughly against the nearest locker. She didn't know whose, but it was strong enough to make her back throb where it hit.

Soon enough, a teacher came out and stopped it. They were all three sent to the principal's office.

Clare stormed out of the office after being condemned to a 2 hour after school detention with Eli and Fitz. She hadn't done anything but was still in trouble.

Eli jogged after her. "Hey! Wait up!" he called. She turned fiercely, her lips tight.

"What do you want?" she asked, shifting her bag on her shoulder.

"Aren't you gonna thank me?" he asked like it was so obvious. She crossed her arms and scoffed.

"For what, getting me a detention?" "For protecting you." She exhaled angrily. "So that's what that was. Then thank you… so much," she said, sarcastically. She took off in the other direction, but he caught her wrist.

"You're mad," he stated.

"Of course I'm mad! I have a detention because of you. Not to mention a welt growing on my back from where I got slammed against a locker."

"I'm sorry."

"No," she clenched her fists, "Stop saying you're sorry. I'm done with sorry. Just leave me alone…okay. I don't need your help. I never did."

"Fine," he gave in. He was done bargaining with her. If she didn't want his help, she wasn't going to get it.

"Good," she turned and walked away. And he let her.