"Are you nervous?" Clare's quiet chuckle drew my attention from the door bell I had been over analyzing to her soft, amused blue eyes.
"No of course not, especially considering the great first impression I made no your mom. Why in the world would I be nervous?" I smirked, anxiously fidgeting with the collar of my blazer. Clare blushed, shooing my hands away from my collar and straightening it herself. Some of my anxiety was put to ease at the sight of the bridge of her nose wrinkling up in concentration in the cutest fashion imaginable.
"Well I guess a tiny bit of that first impression may have been my fault," Clare flushed, avoiding my gaze.
This prompted rapturous laughter on my part, "Tiny? Whatever you say, darling," I snorted, sliding my fingers through Clare's and lowering her hand from my collar.
Clare's eyes rolled before boring into mine, "Now are you going to man up enough to press the door bell or will I have to?" She quipped playfully.
"I'm on it, I'm on it," I grumbled, punching the doorbell with one finger. I could hear the ding echo through the house and rapid footsteps before the wooden door swung open to reveal Clare's mom. Ms. Edwards looked thoroughly worn out. Dark bags hung under thin brown eyes and underlying annoyance shadowed her eyes as she briefly peered over her shoulder before looking back at Clare and I. Her gaze softened at the sight of us and she stepped back, beckoning us in.
"Eli I'm so glad you could join us for dinner,"
Before I could answer, Clare interjected sharply, "Us?"
Ms. Edwards looked instantly uncomfortable, her gaze dropping to her chewed on nails, "Well, I invited Jordan over as well..."
Clare made an angry noise of disapproval, her fingers tightening around mine. A storm of anger swirled with curiosity brewed in my stomach; this would be the first time I would meet the man who had been making Clare's life miserable for the last week and a half.
"Clare Bear, did you bring a friend?" A sick, falsely sweet voice rang from the kitchen and heavy footsteps brought Jordan into sight for the first time.
I had been expecting a lot of the first time Jordan and I would meet. I had been expecting a sloppy piggish man with no manners. But never in my wildest dreams could I have foreseen that Ms. Edwards' new boyfriend was this monster. Jordan Brooks stood before me, his face instantly blanching at the sight of my conflicted face. His squinty brown eyes flooded with fear and shock, matching mine. Jordan's hand fluttered nervously to scratch at his balding head, anxiously tugging on the scarcely remaining hanks of brown hair.
A few seconds passed and all I was conscious of was the pounding of my heart in my throat. I had seen those eyes before, more than once. I had seen them in the hospital room on April twenty second of two years ago. I had seen them in the courthouse when I had testified. I had seen them in my nightmares. And I had seen them behind the wheel, filled with fear as the hood of the car belonging to their master ended Julia's life.
In three quick steps I was across the room, my fists clenching around the collar of Jordan's shirt as I slammed him backwards into the wall angrily. I barely registered the squeals of shock as Clare and Ms. Edwards watched in horrified confusion as I pressed my forearm against Jordan's throat, pinning him to the wall. Furious tears tracked trails down my suddenly flushed cheeks, blurring my vision as the hefty man squirmed under my hold.
"You bastard! How are you here? What maniac let you out, you fucking monster!" My voice came out in a raw howl, shaking with angry as I careened my body forward, slamming Jordan back into the wall once again for emphasis.
Jordan's face was flushed bright red as he wheezed out, "Eli? - Got let out for good behavior -" The man could barely form his scrambled sentences under the pressure of my arm.
My fury escalated into a fully grown animal. The edges of my vision were blurred with tears and insatiable anger, "Good behavior? They let a murderer out for good behavior?"
Jordan's cheeks had taken on a purplish tint. Two pairs of pallid hands locked around each one of my arms, prying me off of Jordan. I shook out of Clare and her mom's hold, spinning on my heel with every intention of storming out. I swung the door open before hesitating and turning, my cold gaze locked on Jordan's frightened one. "If you do anything to Clare or her family I swear to God Jordan I will make you regret the day you walked out of prison," I snarled before making my exit.
Fury bubbled in my stomach as I stumbled out of Clare's house. The rivers on my cheeks had yet to subside and I could barely see a foot in front of me.
"Eli! Eli! What the heck was that all about?" Clare's breathless voice reached me before her cool hands gently grabbed mine, turning me.
I tried to struggle out of her grasp, one hand flying up to angrily brush away the tears. "That man- Clare... He..." I could barely bring myself to say it. "He's the one," I finally spat out, the words tasted like venom in my mouth.
Clare's face blanched, "Julia..? Oh Eli," Her hand fluttered to cover her mouth in shock, "You have to know, I had no idea. I would have never brought you here if I had known..." Clare whispered miserably, her hands flying to cover her eyes in guilt.
"Clare, it's not your fault. You didn't know," I mumbled.
Clare reached out, pressing one hand over my rapidly rising and falling chest. My heart thudded beneath her palm as she looked up with sad, remorseful eyes. "I wish you had never lost her," Clare murmured, tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.
"I wish she was still alive too Clare," My hand raised to encase Clare's slowly. The muscles in my hand had memorized the familiar movement, I knew the action well. I knew the soft skin of her fingers and the lines of her palm as well as I did my own. I eased forward, resting my forehead against the top of Clare's head and gently kissing her forehead. I sought shelter in her touch, soaking in the soothing tranquility as the angry pounding in my chest subsided. Clare's hand dropped mine, roaming over my body. They first travelled to cup my cheeks before sliding down my neck and wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies were pressed together.
This is just a short little chapter that is admittedly not my best :( I had been so busy these last weeks though and I wanted to let you guys know I hadn't forgotten you!
Yes, Jordan is the drunk driver that killed Julia.
The next couple chapters will go into detail of the accident and what exactly happened.
Thanks for being patient guys xoxox I hope you enjoy.