Author's Note: Gaah! You all must hate me! Why is it that I can never, ever keep up with a story? I make promises of updates and I always break them, and can hardly ever finish a story – no matter how much I love it. But I am trying with this one, I promise. I am trying. I do love Clare and Eli so very much!

Chapter Nine (I accidentally called Chapter Eight, Chapter Seven. So I had two Chapter Sevens. This is Chapter Nine, really)

After eating the crispy scrambled eggs (Clare had no idea how in the world scrambled eggs could possibly be crispy, but Eli had found a way to make them so) she decided it'd be best to call her mom.

"Why?" Eli asked, after she relayed the idea to him.

"She must be worried sick," Clare explained, "I have never just left without telling them goodbye. They need to know where I am."

"Why isn't she worried sick when your dad is kicking your ass?" Eli rolled his eyes.

"That's not fair," Clare whined, "She cares a lot! She's just…she's going through a lot right now too and I am sure she cares, she just has a lot on her plate and…"

"You're making excuses for her."

"Well, she is my mother! She loves me, Eli. She always has."

"You said that about your father."

"Well, I know she does. I know it, Eli. She loves me and it breaks her heart that he's hurting me. Like it breaks my heart that he's hurting her."

"Why didn't she stop him?"

"Because he'd hurt her too. You don't get it…."

Clare jumped at the sound of ceramic against steel. Eli had thrown the plates into the sink, and broken bits were strewn about the counter top. He glanced at the mess and hissed a curse.

"You think I don't get it?" His voice was rising, and so was his heartbeat, "You think I have no idea what you are going through?"

"Eli…"

"Shut up, Clare! You think that my life has been so damn easy? Why do you think I live with Shawn, huh? Why is that, smart one? Huh? Explain it to me."

"Eli…"

"Explain it to me. Why am I living with my older brother? Why is it that my brother had to drop out of school and take up a job as a mechanic in order to support us? Why is it that he had to leave University and his scholarship to the engineering school in order to play house? Why is it that he busts his butt working twelve hour days for little pay? Why is it that we can't really afford much other than what we need to have?"

"Eli…"

"Because my dad used to hit us around too. When Shawn was eighteen, he left for college, leaving me alone with mom and dad. We used to have it tough, but he'd always take it for me. Like, if Dad was about to hit me, Shawn would jump it and take the hit. But when he wasn't there…Dad had a lot to make up for on me. I was sixteen. Shawn came home to visit after for Christmas break and saw the bruises. He got some lawyer that specializes in helping kids out, and since I was sixteen, I could choose to legally leave my parents and live with Shawn."

"Eli…"

"Let me finish," his voice softened, "I moved in with Shawn and have been here ever since. My parents live pretty far away, and don't bother us much anymore. I haven't seen them in over a year. Sometimes I do miss my mom, but what did she ever do for me? So, when people ask, I say my parents died and I live with my brother. But the truth is, I had it as tough if not more so, as you, Blue Eyes. Your dad ever use a belt on you?"

"No," Clare's face was as white as sheet, translucent as a ghost's, "No, he didn't."

"Mine did. His favorite weapon of choice," Eli let out a dry laugh, "You don't know pain until you're being hit with the buckle end of a belt. I'd throw up afterwards. I couldn't lie down. I couldn't really shower. Everything hurt. Clothes hurt. Breathing hurt. What your dad does to you is sick and wrong, Clare. But I do get it. I get the embarrassment and the fear. I understand what it is like. I understand what it is like to have parents that don't give a shit about you."

"My mom…"

"Your mom," Eli rolled his eyes, "Call her if you want. That's your choice."

Clare suddenly became interested in the peeling purple polish on her thumbnail. She couldn't meet his gaze. She was too frightened to. She couldn't even imagine what Eli had gone through, and here he was, helping her and being cheerful and bright and happy. He was positive, and wanted her to be strong. Strong like he had to be. Strong like he was.

Clare felt her stomach flip, "Eli…I am so, so sorry."

"Hey, it happens to some of us. I'm not bitter about it anymore. It's done. It's over. I can move on and live my life. Besides, I'd never have met you if none of it had happened. I'd take all the beatings in the world to just see you smile just once."

"Eli," Clare's eyes filled with tears as she stood up from the kitchen table and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and both of them sobbed together. Finally, Eli pulled away, and wiped one of her tears away with his thumb.

"Hey, Blue Eyes, call your mom. Let her know you are safe here. I will be out in the car waiting and will drive us to school…if you want to go."

"What do you mean if?"

"Well, it was late last night and if you really want to get all dressed and ready to go and force that smile and put on that mask and play that charade, that's fine. But just know, if you don't want to, we could…just hang out."

"Hang out? Like, skip school?"

"Don't go into cardiac arrest, St. Clare," Eli chuckled, "I just think you need a fun day. We'd do whatever you wanted, go wherever you want. It's your day, Blue Eyes."

"Go out to the hearse," Clare grinned, "I'll let you know what I decide after I talk to my mom."

Eli jokingly bowed to her before snatching his keys off the table and heading out the door.

Clare dug her cellphone out of her purse and pressed her mom's name under CONTACTS. It started to dial and she felt her heart sink to her stomach. Her throat seemed to clamp up and she started to pace as the phone rang and rang.

"Clare?"

"Mom?"

"Oh Clare!" Her mom sounded so relieved, that Clare relaxed a bit, "Where have you been? I am so worried!"

"Mom," Clare gulped, working up her courage, "I-I went over to a friend's house last night to stay. Honestly, I am scared to be under the same roof as Daddy and I needed to get away. Please don't be angry. It's just…I didn't feel safe."

"Clare, you can't just leave without telling us where you went. We were worried sick! And you know how your father is. He is just strict, and when you purposefully get in his way and aggravate him, it only makes matters worse. He gets stressed and when he is stressed, he lashes out."

"Mom, you know it's not my fault. He beat me Mom. You know he did."

"He's just strict with us, Clare. You have to not agitate him so much. Now, when you come home tonight, I expect an apology."

"You want me to apologize to him?" Clare nearly choked on her own saliva, "Mom, you can't be serious."

"I am. I want you to apologize and tell him how sorry you are for how you acted and for making him behave in such an aggressive manner."

"So I am supposed to apologize for making him hit me?" Clare couldn't believe what she was hearing. The apartment began to spin upside down and she felt dizzy, "Mom…"

"I mean it, Clare. It'd help everything and I know he will forgive you. Just come home and everything will be alright. I promise."

"You can't promise that. Mom, I-I can't do this. I can't live with him anymore."

"And just where do you think you will live, huh? You can't just take off. You have no job. No money. Where will you go?"

"I don't know, but I do know I can't live under that roof anymore. Not with him. I'm not safe there."

"You're only in danger because you put yourself in danger. It's like you want to anger him and make him hurt you. Is that what you want? Because it seems like you do so on purpose. You want him to be angry. You push all his buttons and when you finally get what's coming to you, you run away and cry about it. You deserved your punishment, Clare."

"Punishment? Mom, punishment is being grounded, not being beaten so hard your lip tears."

"Clare, you're overreacting, as always. Just come home and apologize and we will be a happy family again. We will even go out to eat tonight together at your favorite restaurant. Just come home, baby. Come home and make this right."

Clare sunk down onto the futon, and cradled her head in her hand, "Mom, I can't do that. I am eighteen years old and I can legally be on my own. It's not my fault, the way he treats me. It's not your fault either."

"I get what I deserve, Clare. Your father is a good man. He knows what he is doing. Sometimes, we just need to learn to comply to his way and everything will be fine…"

"Mom, nothing will ever be fine again."

"Yes it will, Clare. Your father and I, despite your defiance, still love you very much."

"You…make…me…sick," Clare felt tears stinging her eyes as she spat out those words as if they were a sour taste in her mouth.

"Excuse me?"

"You make me sick, Mother. I can't believe how you can sit there and say these things to me. You, of all people! You're my mom! My mom! And you act like…like I am nothing to you. I'm done. I am done with all of this."

"Clare Elizabeth…"

"Goodbye, Mom."

"Clare, don't you dare hang up on me! If you hang up on me, I will…"

Clare didn't even let her finish her threat. She tossed the phone back into her purse and stood from the futon. She went over to the bathroom to check out her face and to wipe away the tears that had just stained her cheeks.

The bruises were yellowed, and her lip was scabbed over. Her eye was still swollen and it still hurt to blink. She grabbed some makeup from her bag, and applied it as thickly as she could. She brushed her hair and changed into a different t-shirt and splashed on some body spray before grabbing her purse and heading out the door to meet Eli.

Her makeup didn't fool him though. He had gotten so good at seeing through the masks she would put one. One look was all it took for him to know that something was far from being right.

"Clare, what the hell happened in there?" He asked, barely giving her time to sit down.

"My mom," Clare sighed, buckling her seatbelt, "She said it's my fault my dad has been hitting me. She says I should come home and that I have to apologize to him for making him hit me."

"Good Lord!" Eli threw his head back against the leather headrest.

"I can't live there anymore," Clare furiously wiped away a tear, "I have nowhere to go…"

"Shut up," Eli sighed, kissing her on top of her head, "You always have a place to go. I'll talk to Shawn tonight when he gets off work and see what we can do."

"Oh, Eli!"

"Don't get excited. He makes the final decision. But I am pretty positive he will say that it's okay for you stay with us. You are eighteen, Clare. You don't need to live with them."

"Thank you so much, Eli. That really…wow…that really means a lot to me."

"Where are we off to?" He asked, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.

"Hmm…well…I think it is best if we just go to school and get our homework turned in and our work done. I just can't possibly skip class…"

Eli turned slowly and glared at her, "You can't be serious."

"And we can study together for our English test and go over The Great Gatsby and…" Clare couldn't contain herself anymore and she started laughing.

"Oh you little…"

"Just drive," Clare giggled, "Drive, I don't care where. Just us – you and me – and the road and no problems to think about or worry over. Just drive away from here."

"I can do that," Eli grinned. He turned the car on and pulled out of the parking lot, "You know, for a minute there, you had me worried."

"Oh really?" Clare batted her eyelashes, "You know, I'm not as innocent as I look, Mr. Goldsworthy."

"Clearly."

"I can be a rebel."

"Is that so?"

"Mmhmm," Clare grinned, "I can be! Why, on top of skipping school today, I didn't even floss my teeth this morning!"

"Officer, I need back up. Mayday, mayday! Backup requested. I've got a 40939, on Redbriar Road. There's a crazy woman on the loose! Calling in backup! Mayday, mayday! I need to get the Shady Lanes Insane Asylum over here STAT! One of their patients has escaped and is on the rampage!"

"Oh shut up!" Clare laughed, "I can be a rebel."

"Yeah right," Eli grinned, "I'll believe it when I see it."

"Is that a bet I am hearing?"

"Fine," Eli thought it over a minute, "I bet you twenty bucks that St. Clare can't do something 'bad' today without feeling embarrassed or guilty or without blushing."

Clare bit her lower lip, "You're on!"

"Like I said, I'll believe it when I see it."