Happy New Year everyone!

I am so sorry for the really long delay…and I don't know if you're going to hate me or continue to like me after this chapter, but it had to be done. And finally, we hear more about Alli…and someone else. ;) I might be ending this story in a few chapters, I think if I make it a long story, it's going to get really boring. It's probably boring now…but that's why I ended this the way I did, to keep the suspense up.

And I'm sorry this is an extremely short chapter. Lots of apologies from me.

For occasional sneak peeks, follow me on Tumblr (kristine-marie) or Twitter (hereinyourarms_).

Thanks for reading and please review!

A few days later...

After Clare and Eli were saved by some sketchy looking but trustworthy truck drivers that night of being stranded on the side of the road, Clare spent time away from Eli. It was definitely not by choice, it was because of school and work. Also, Clare would spend any of her spare time doing all of Adam's wishes after she "stood him up" at Manny and Jay's wedding.

"I was the loner at the wedding! Thank god for the food or else I'd actually be mad at you. But you can make it up to me by cooking and cleaning for me for a week," Adam propositioned. Clare felt bad for leaving Adam in the cold, although it wasn't her fault, so she agreed to it anyways.

So when Clare was home, in the short time that she was, Eli was out for his classes or he was working or he was working on something which was signaled by the sign he tapes on his bedroom door saying "Working on something." Their paths simply hadn't crossed and Clare was getting restless.

When Eli had asked if they were together, Clare felt like she answered him at the time but after spending many nights analyzing her answer, she thought that maybe she has been unclear, that Eli mistook it and thought that they weren't together and that's why Eli could be avoiding her, not just not being at the same place at the same time. She really wanted to talk to someone about her boy troubles but she has already called Alli a few times and did not receive an answer.

"So are you ready to accompany me in watching a few movies tonight? It's the last night of our deal so I thought I'd go easy on you and pick something we both would enjoy." Adam plopped down on the couch beside Clare, who was doing an article for the paper, and he had a collection of snacks and drinks in his hand. Clare sympathetically smiled at him.

"I don't know if I'm in the mood," Clare said.

"Since when do people turn down movies and free food?" Adam asked perplexed. "What's up? This isn't Eli related is it?"

Clare eyed him curiously. "What makes you say that?"

Adam slyly smiled. "Because Eli had the same look this morning and he may have told me that he missed you."

"But I'm here..." Clare said awkwardly.

"Yet you don't see each other. He wants to see you, he says he misses you. He told me all about your concert trip and I have to be honest, I didn't pay attention to him at first because he gave me all of the stuff first but after he explained it to me the second time, I came to one conclusion."

Clare waited for Adam to continue. "And?" she urged.

"That he's never been that comfortable talking to me about a girl he liked...ever."

This made Clare blush like a little girl. There she was thinking that Eli was avoiding her but all this time, he was missing her as much as she was missing him. But of course, she was implying all of this. Maybe Adam had misread Eli as well.

"I could tell that he had a thing for you even before he and Imogen broke up. It was just a matter of time before you two got together."

"We're not together," Clare was quick to say but then she realized…maybe they were. "I mean, I don't know if it's official. We didn't really talk about it, we were just so caught up in the fact that the car wasn't starting and we were stranded. I barely even remember what I told him, word for word. I was exhausted. I know I told him that I don't do that type of things with guys I don't like but…I don't know."

"Well I'll tell you one thing. If you decide to make it officially official, Eli definitely will not deny you, that is a guarantee. Just go wait in his room one night so you guys can talk, get things out in the open, okay? Because no offence, I'm getting really tired of having to hear this back and forth between you two."

"Fine," Clare rolled her eyes. "Thanks for listening. Who knew you'd be better at giving me advice than my own female best friend."

"Speaking of which," Adam said. "Where has Alli been? I haven't seen her here for a while plus I saw Dave yesterday and—"

"Wait," Clare held up her hand and adjusted her body on the couch to face Adam directly. "You saw Dave yesterday? But…she told me days ago that she was on a trip with Dave."

"Dave's been here," Adam replied awkwardly. "I've seen him at least 5 times in the last two weeks so he couldn't have been gone."

"So where has Alli been?" Clare fathomed, looking away. "I can't believe she would lie to me. She wouldn't lie to me unless she had something to hide. Did Dave say anything about Alli?"

"He said she was with her family," Adam answered. "Guess Dave doesn't know either…"

"I can't believe this," Clare put a hand to her head. "The last time she disappeared was…" Clare stopped herself before she continued but Adam had already caught her quick stop.

"When?" he asked.

"When we were in high school, I—" Clare took a deep breath and closed her eyes, remembering the beginnings of her troubles. "She went to some casting call thing for models hours away from home, without me I might add, and she got it. That's why she's a model today."

"Without you? Oh yeah, you said you wanted to model right? Was it because of Alli that you didn't become one?"

"No, not because of Alli. But because she finally got her big break, I tried really hard to be skinnier and, well, you already know what happened."

"Okay, don't get offended or anything but why did you want to be a model? You could've done so many other things and you choose this kind of superficial job?"

Clare rested her head against the back of the couch. "Honestly now, I don't even know. I guess it was because where I went to high school, it became a big thing. My boyfriend started posing in local ads, Alli got a modeling job, I guess I was just jealous. But I starved myself to do it and that I'm not proud of."

"But you have your book," Adam reminded her. "It's become inspirational to a lot of people. When it came out, it became Eli's favorite book in high school. I know he told you about being bipolar and when your book came out, he finally cracked down and told himself he'd take his medication and work on himself. Ever since then, it's been pretty smooth sailing…except for when he was with Imogen. Toxic, that girl is."

"What if he's not really ready to be in another relationship right after his ex cheated on him?"

"If he's not ready, then he'll tell you. I think he's ready but if he's not, then you guys work that out on your own."

Clare pursed her lips to the side, questioning herself. "I guess I'll go wait for him to get home then."

Adam nodded and went to put a DVD into the player. "We'll watch a movie while you wait," he said, going back to sit next to Clare. "By the way, where has Jake been?"

"Didn't he leave a note about him staying with his dad?" Clare replied mindlessly.

"I thought your mom and his dad were together, so wouldn't that mean that Jake would be spending time with your parents? That doesn't sound like fun," Adam said, pressing a button on the remote.

"Yeah, true, but—" Clare's head shot up and she had a thought in her mind that she wished weren't true. The fact that Alli was gone the same time Jake was…Jake missing the first dinner with Clare's mom and Alli's hasty phone call that day…Jake's mood swings toward Clare…Dave being home…Clare didn't want to believe it. No, it couldn't be true.

"You look like an even paler version of that girl in Twilight, what's going on?" Adam asked, nudging Clare with his hand.

"I think I might know where Alli is…and Jake…" Clare said in disbelief.

"Alli and Jake? What do—" Adam stopped mid sentence and Clare knew that Adam had realized what she actually meant. "Oh."

"Yeah," Clare replied almost angrily. "Oh."

"She fell asleep waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?"

"Yeah, because you guys haven't crossed paths in days."

"Yeah, I've been busy…"

"Obviously. Are you going to wake her up or are you gonna leave me here to be stuck under her head. She kinda just used me as a pillow out of nowhere."

Clare heard a long pause as she pretended to be asleep. "Um…I'll talk to her in the morning. I…I'd feel bad if I woke her up this late."

Clare had to force herself not to scowl as she "slept", even though she woke up when the front door had opened.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah man, I'll talk to her eventually."

"Can you at least help me put her in her bed?"

"Uh, sorry Adam, I'm really exhausted. I was gonna go straight to bed."

"What's wrong with you? Now you won't even help your girlfriend get to her—"

"She's not my girlfriend."

Clare's heart dropped. Eli's tone practically cut through her. She wanted to get up and say something but she had no energy, and truthfully, she wasn't in the mood to talk to Eli anymore and he certainly didn't want to talk to her.

"What's that supposed to—"

"Adam, I'm exhausted. Morning, okay?"

"Fine…"

After Clare heard a door closing, she felt herself being lifted up into someone's arms. "Hey, you're lighter than I thought," she heard Adam say. She was placed in the comfort of her bed and her covers being pulled over her. "I don't know what his problem is," Adam was saying as if he knew Clare was awake but she knew she was doing a good job pretending. "But if he all of a sudden changed his mind, I'll personally kick his ass for you."

Once Clare heard her bedroom door close, she slowly opened her eyes. She sat up in bed and pulled the covers up to her neck. Maybe she imagined Eli's harsh tone, it was just her worrying imagination working against her. But Adam's slight anger couldn't be part of her imagination, he was right there tucking her in.

She couldn't sleep, she was too upset thinking that she may have lost her chance…again. But then she remembered the one reason dating Eli could be a recipe for disaster. Being roommates. Having to see each other constantly. Clare completely forgot that once she and Eli started dating, the awkwardness of having their rooms next to each other would be through the rough of their apartment.

And they'd have to cross paths eventually and Clare would have to pretend she heard nothing tonight. She didn't want to do that. She didn't want to accidentally hear something Eli was saying about her to Adam. And Adam! How could she do this to Adam? Putting him between Eli and her and they weren't even dating! If she and Eli fought, he'd have to witness the fighting because his room is just across the hall.

Clare's mind raced with all of the terrible things that could arise from dating her roommate. Now that she was so close to actually dating one, the bad things seemed even worse and more possible. Maybe it was the feelings she had for Eli that masked all of the things that could go wrong but they couldn't be denied anymore. Would she be selfish to put everyone in the apartment in a tough position because of a relationship?

Clare didn't know what to do anymore after hearing Eli's tone change towards her. And on top of that, her best friend is possibly cheating on her boyfriend on Clare's childhood friend and roommate. Maybe choosing to move into the apartment wasn't a good idea afterall.