Guyyyyyyys, may I say that I hate school. (: But I love that song Caramell Dansen or whatever. Officially addicted. x) This story is nearing to close. this is Eli's p.o.v. The next will be Clare's with all the major drama and then like, two more chapters after that. (: Don't worry, I'll make more stories. As always, read and review. PLeeeease, I'd love more reviews. I don't own any of this. /: Anyway, let's see, OH YEAH! Tell me what you thought of the fight scene. And watch my friends video!

Chapter 11: Simple touch.

So, here's how my weekend went. Friday: Basically beat the shit out of that asshole KC. I managed to get home safely before crawling into my basement and passing out. Saturday: I wake up with my face blown up like a blimp. My eye was swollen shut and my lip looked like I got stung by thirteen bees. It was gross. I spent the whole day icing myself down. Sunday (which is today): I'm sitting on the couch in my basement, ice on my side and face. I feel even shittier then yesterday. I can't even get out of bed. My side is bruised like a mother f***er. Who knew KC was actually that tough?

Killer is camped out on my stomach, curled up in a little fluff ball. My hand buries itself in the dog's soft fur. I begin to lose myself in the memory of how Clare's hair felt in my hand. It was soft, silky… I start, sitting up. Pain erupts from all over, making me intake a sharp breath. Killer glares at me and grumbles things to himself before hopping off my lap and padding away.

Ugh. I can't lie here any longer. If I think about Clare one more time I may kill myself. Painfully, I fish my cell phone out of my pocket and press 2 on speed dial. "Yo," Adam's voice sounds from the other end. I almost roll my eyes. No one says yo anymore.

"Hey," Each word is a pain to get out. I think maybe my ribs were bruised. "Wanna hang today?"

"I was just about to hit the gym…" Adam trails off, unsure. So, the gym's not really my thing. A bunch of dudes chugging down steroids and pumping out the extra testosterone on different machinery hardly seemed amusing. Well, I guess something worse than a juice head are the ones who go just to stand around and watch the girls work out in their yoga pants. That's just a disgrace. But I digress. (God, I sounded like Clare right there. UGH! There I go again!)

"I'll go!" I say eagerly, wincing as my lungs protest again the quick remark. I just want to get out of this damned confined space. Adam says a long, drawn out okay before hanging up. His faith in me is overwhelming. Now, here comes the hard part. Getting myself dressed and ready to go.

After the long, excruciating procedure of getting dressed, and a few dozen curses, I make it to the gym. Loud, energetic music blasts through the joint. Healthy snack machines and exercise equipment buzzes softly under the music. Muscle heads are pumping iron by the weights and girls are running the treadmill or working the bikes. I find it oh so convenient how the free weights are right behind the treadmills. But, who knows. Maybe, by some off chance, it has something to do with aligning chakras and obtaining spiritual enlightenment.

The walls are a piss colored yellow with blue and white tiled floors. It's an open space. Giant windows are placed in the front, letting clean light wash from the over head florescent lights. Inspirational posters cling to the walls. A little cat clinging to an umbrella is staring me in the face with the caption of "You Can Do It! Hang In There!" beneath it. Thanks cat, of course I will.

I'm sorry to say that Adam is, in fact, one of those slobbering fools. Rolling my eyes, I limp over to him. He's trying so hard to inconspicuously check out girls. It makes me chuckle. I slump down next to him, letting out a pained breath. Adam gives me the signature "'sup?" nod, eyes not leaving the girl.

"You're drooling." I say, wiping my sleeve on his mouth. His face twists in disgust, a faint pink kissing his cheeks.

"Dude," He moans, clearly embarrassed. The side of my mouth twitches up into a grin. "If I wanted to go out with my mom, I would have! Shouldn't you be a bro and rate these girls for me?"

I shrug and turn to the girls. They're all glistened in sweat with, well, uh, toned bodies. All of them have hair pulled into pony tails, swishing with each energetic step. There's just nothing special about them. "They're all twos or threes." Compared to Clare, I amend silently.

Adam cocks his head back, face full of disbelief. "Seriously? I think some of them are fine as hell." He hungry looks over the girls that flounce out of yoga class. A girl with a nose ring and blond highlighted hair winks at him before giggling and turning back to her friends. Adam beams brighter than fireworks. He turns to look at her ass. What a guy.

I roll my eyes, putting my hands on his shoulders. "Down there, boy."

Then he looks at me. I mean, really looks at me. His eyes widen and he lets out a string of curses. "What the hell happened? You look like someone pushed you down the stairs!"

"Close enough." I murmur disgustedly. "KC jumped me on Friday! I don't even know why! I mean, Clare stormed out of the mall and th-"

"Whoa, back up," Adam grins. "You stalked Clare?"

"No!" I say too quickly, my voice is too high pitched.

"Well, then how'd you know she was in the mall?" Touché, Adam. My eyes narrow at how right he is, but I'm not going to admit. No way in hell.

Heat creeps up the nape of my neck. "Um, well, I was going in the same direction as her. Ah, it was totally a mishap." I sigh at Adam's disbelieving look. Hell, I wouldn't blame him. Usually I'm a good liar, but that was pitiful. "Yeah, I stalked her. I had to make sure she got home safe and sound after I bitched her out like that." I wince as the memories flood back painfully.

Adam shrugs and nods. "It's cool. You're just looking after your lady. So, tell me more about this fight."

I delve into the story, detail for detail. Anger wells up in me for many reasons. One, KC got the best of me and landed a few punches. Two, he left me looking like this. Three, I still don't know why he even did it! Probably has something to do with Clare. It's gonna get annoying to have to deal with him. You know, if he beat me up after every rumor he heard, pretty sure I'd be dead. Well, one of us would be dead.

Adam is quiet for a minute, taking in the fight. He looks down and speaks softly. "What are you gonna do when Clare sees?"

Shit! I didn't think about that.

I didn't go to school Monday. I couldn't. My body hurt too badly and my eyes was still swollen. I spent the whole day on my couch, watching horror films, and daydreaming about Clare. How will she act when she sees me? What will her face look like? Will she even notice? What will she be wearing? How will her hair look? I can't stop thinking about her. I nearly drove myself insane with the want to call her. My innocent little angel, Clare.

After driving myself crazy for hours, I filled my house with the angriest music I could find and drowned myself with it. Oh, and since I'm such a good kid, I did some homework too. That's always fun.

I'm sitting in Morty's cab today (Tuesday) drumming my hands against the wheel. I can't bring myself to get out of the car. Or rather, face Clare. Be brave, Eli. You did a good job of scaring her away last time. Setting my jaw, I get out of my car. I bring the fire that constantly burns me to light.

As soon as I step into the building, Clare manages to find her. God, she's so beautiful. The curls in her hair, stunning, sad blue eyes, and that killer pouty lip; I'm going insane right now. Her mouth is popped open in shock and eyes widened in anger. Her hand flutters to my chin, cupping it ever so gently. Many emotions flow through me, but I reign them in, my face a mask of annoyance.

"Eli…" She breathes, as she can't believe I'm mortal. "Wha…how did this happen?"

My voice is hard, emotionless. "Is that really your business?" I hiss. This is killing me. Something flickers behind her eyes before her eyes narrow.

"I guess not." Clare says before dropping my chin and storming away. I can't help but watch her leave. Yeah, she's way better than all of those girls at the gym. She's my ten.