Author's note: I didn't get many reviews, but I post at least one chapter every day. Thank you to those that have reviewed, because that pushes me to post more. And even if you don't review, but you read, thank you, too, for reading my book.

When Friday came along, I wasn't happy. Obviously, I was still going to the dance, but that would mean I'd have to watch my Clare dance with Fitz right in front of me.

About an hour before the dance, I drove to her house. When I knocked on the door, I could hear her from the inside.

"Fitz, I told you to pick me up at six-oh, hey," she said when she opened the door and realized it was me.

"Can I talk to you for sec?"

"Yeah, sure," she walked outside and closed the door behind her.

"So, I know it's kinda much to ask from Saint Clare, but will you do me a huge favor? You'll get something out of it, too, it's for both of us,"

She looked up into my green eyes and smiled. Her arms slipped around my waist and rested my hands on her back. "What do you need?" she asked.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pill bottle.

"What's that?" she asked.

"It's Ipecac. It makes people barf. I want you to slip it into Fitz's drink, then when he goes to puke, we can have our dance,"

"I was just going to ask nicely if I could dance with you,"

"Yeah…I'm thinking he'll say no, so he's plan B," I held the pill bottle out to her.

She shook her head. "No. I'm not going to put drugs in anyone's drink,"

I looked directly into her eyes, staring there with all my might. I leaned in close enough to where our lips were almost touching. "Please?" I breathed.

Her eyes fluttered and I think her legs gave out because she leaned against me with all her weight. I held her up, not breaking my gaze.

"Uh…" she stuttered.

I pressed my lips to hers for one second. Not nearly long enough as we both wanted, then went back to staring at her. "Please, Clare? I wanna be with you,"

"Eli, I…"

She couldn't form coherent thoughts from the looks of it. And that's exactly what I was going for.

I gently walked with her in my arms to press her lightly against the door. I fit the shape of my body against hers. "Please, Clare?" I whispered again.

She blinked a few times and was breathing hard. She finally closed her eyes and let in a long breath. I leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Clare Bear, please?" I begged.

The door opened the same time someone whined Clare's name. Clare stumbled backward and I held her up and against me. Alli stood in the doorway, eyes darting back and forth between us. "Was I interrupting something?"

I nodded but Clare said no. "No, Eli was just saying bye before the dance," she turned to me and kissed me. "Sorry, but I wont do it,"

Dammit, Alli. I almost had her! I sighed as she closed the door in front of me. Well, if Clare wasn't going to slip it in his drink, I would.

The dance was boring. All Vegas themed, with people in smutty dresses and gambling tables everywhere. I just stood at the blackjack table, watching people play, not wanting to see Clare with Fitz.

But part of me wanted to see them together. To see if she was even the slightest bit happy with him or if she sulked all night like I did.

Someone put there hand on my elbow and I looked up. "Clare? Is he gone? Can we have our dance?"

"Fitz is over there," she pointed behind her. I didn't look. "He said he'll drop everything for just one thing,"

His voice from earlier that week ran threw my head. Don't worry. When we have sex, I'll be gentle wit her.

"You're gonna sleep with him?" I asked all too loud. Some people turned to looked at us.

"No," Clare whispered, pulling me away from the people. "You have to apologize. That's all he wants and he'll leave us alone,"

"I have to apologize? For what?"

"Anything he wants. Please, Eli, do this for me?"

"Fine," I sighed. "But I won't mean anything I say,"

"Just make him believe it,"

I nodded and she smiled. "I'll go get him,"

When she walked away, I smiled. I went over to the drink table and poured two punches. I made sure nobody was looking then I took two Ipecac out and put them in my drink.

Fitz and Clare came over and made us face each other.

"Eli, go ahead," Clare nudged me.

Sarcastically, I said, "I'm sorry. For everything,"

"Hmmm," he said. "I hear the words, but I don't feel the meaning,"

I glared.

"Fitz, you got your apology. Now shake hands," Clare ordered.

"Or…" I said picking up the drink. I still held the drugged one. "We could toast. To seized fire,"

Fitz took the other drink and we put the both to our lips.

"Wait!" Clare called and I smiled. Perfect. "Switch cups,"

Fitz looked at her confused and I played along. "Why?"

"It's an…ancient Roman custom, just do it," she ordered.

"She's the boss," I held out the drink and took the untouched one form Fitz. I smiled as we both drank.

I was one step ahead of Clare. When Fitz turned and puked in the trash can, I couldn't control my laughter.

He ran off and Clare turned to face me, horrified. "What did you do?"

"You're the one that made us switch cups," I shrugged.

"Don't you dare blame this on me. Whatever Fitz does to you for this, you deserve it," she turned away and ran after him.

That cut deeper than the words. To watch my girlfriend run after and comfort Fitz.

I walked out of the gym and to my locker. Dammit. I left my iPod in my car. I sighed and just walked around the empty dark halls.

So Clare was furious with me and there was no doubt that she'd probably break up with me after this. I kicked a locker and leaned against it.

A figure started running down the hall. She came up to me and took my hand. "Come with me-Fitz has a knife,"

I looked at Clare. What? I didn't say anything out loud, though. I was suddenly too terrified to speak.

"This is when we run. Let's go!" she tugged on my hand.

The only sound that came out of me, was my voice cracking around words that I didn't mean. "I'm not gonna let that jerk scare me,"

Part of me didn't believe that he really had a knife. He probably told Clare he had one to scare me, but another part of me could only think of that JT kid getting stabbed. Was I next?

"Eli, he has a knife,"

A door opened and another figure stepped out. "Aw, don't you two look cute?"

Fitz walked forward, the knife in his hand. My throat felt swollen.

"You should go," Clare murmured.

"And let pretty boy make time with my date?"

"Please, Fitz," she begged.

"SHUT UP, BITCH!"

Again, I was split in two. Part of me was furious that he talked to her that way and I wanted to punch him. But the other part was terrified and couldn't move. I gently pushed Clare away from me. "Get away from me,"

She backed into a locker and Fitz came up to me. He pushed me and I walked backwards, him following me.

"Fitz, I'm sorry about before, about everything. You win," I whispered.

"Yeah, I heard that before," he pushed me again.

"This time I'm serious,"

He kept pushing me and walking me back. "So am I. You've had this coming for a while,"

My eyes filled with tears as I thought of Clare. I was never going to be able to tell her how I felt. She would never know how much I loved her. I spared a glance away from Fitz, to look at her.

She was against the locker, her tears running down her cheeks without slowing. Her eyes stayed locked on me.

I was about to open my mouth and tell her that I loved her, but Fitz pushed me one last time and I hit the wall. "What's the matter, Emo Boy, all out of smart-ass comments?"

"Please." This was all I had to say. All I could say. "Don't do this,"

He sighed and rolled his eyes, looking so mad and frustrated. "Someone's gotta shut you up,"

I heard it. I heard Clare yell no. I heard my own voice form the word no. I heard the knife hit something. And I saw Fitz looking down at me.

But I couldn't feel the pain. I automatically clutched my stomach, trying to hold in the blood I couldn't feel pouring out. I waited for the pain. Or even death. But all I saw through my tears was Fitz's smug face smiling at me.

I slid down the wall and continued to wait for the pain. Maybe this was what dying was like. Maybe you didn't feel anything. Fitz's hand returned back to his side, without a knife. I looked up at the wall.

The knife was in the wall. He didn't stab me. He stabbed the wall next to me. I sighed and closed my eyes, letting the tears spill over. I was either gonna puke or pass out I wasn't sure which one yet.

I felt someone next to me and I snapped open my eyes.

Clare looked down at my stomach and then into my eyes. Silently, she just wrapped her arms around my neck and sobbed into my shoulder.

I still couldn't move. My hands stayed clutching my stomach.

"You should see your face," Fitz laughed.

"Nobody move," someone else yelled.

Two cops came down the hall and took Fitz away. I closed my eyes, not bothering to see where or what they did to him. Clare's arms were still around my neck and she was still sobbing.

I moved my arms for the first time to wrapped the around her waist. "I'm okay," I whispered in her ear.

She didn't stop sobbing.

One cop came over to us. "Are you two alright?" she asked.

I nodded and Clare continued sobbing. The cop nodded to Clare.

"She's just really shaken up,"

We still didn't move off the floor. The cop took the knife out of the wall and put it in a bag. But I still sat there, holding Clare and letting her cry, my own silent tears streaming down my face.

"Clare, I need you to know something," I whispered. When she didn't reply, I kept going. "Clare, I love you. With all my heart. And I was so scared I wasn't going to be able to tell you that. But I'm in love with you and I have been since I first saw you and I always will be. I never want to loose you. I need you in my life and I love you,"

She pulled back from my shoulder and looked at me with tear filled eyes. She didn't need to say it because I saw it plain in her eyes in that moment.

But hearing her say it anyway made it all the more real. "Eli, I love you, too,"

I pulled her into me again and held her. This time I was sobbing and I didn't know why. She cried against my shoulder with me and every couple minutes we would say it again. I love you.

Mr. Simpson came around the corner. We were still sitting on the floor. I hadn't moved off the floor since it happened. The cops were still here, looking at the scene. I didn't want to stand. I wasn't sure if I could. I might pass out.

"Clare, Eli, are you two okay?" Mr. Simpson asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, we're fine,"

"Do either of you wanna explain what happened?"

I nodded again and sighed. "It all started with a parking spot…"

I held Clare as she cried against me and told Mr. Simpson, the personal, pointless, short story of why Mark Fitzgerald tried to kill me.

Author's note: haha! didn't change anything about the "stabbing" but I've always wondered what Eli was thinking during that. I hope this wasn't too bad of a chapter. There is one more chapter left to "butterflies" so review if you want me to post it.

Oh, and by the way! I didn't get any questions about it, but I'd thought I'd tell you just in case you were wondering. Adam isn't a FTM in this book. Since I wanted to focus it ALL on Eli and Clare, I decided to make that happen. Okay, so go make my day…..