Thank you guys so much for the reviews, story alerts, and for favoriting this story! It really means a lot to me! Okay you're going to like this chapter, but probably not the next one. I'm thinking three more chapters for this story…I'm not 100% sure yet though. Enjoy!

The next few weeks went by just as Eli said it should. They pretended to still be friends for Adam and Alli and avoided each other whenever they could. Inside they were both hurting, but they would never let the other one see it. This was for the best. These thoughts were going through Eli's mind as he sat on Adam's couch, where they were hanging out and playing video games. After beating Eli for the fifth time, Adam paused the game. Eli looked at him questioningly.

"Dude what's up? You've been acting a bit off the last few weeks."

"What do you mean?"

"Well for starters you just lost five times at a game you've mastered. Then there's the fact that you and Clare seem to always act strange when you're around each other. I know something is up. So does Alli. Are you guys secretly dating?" Eli laughed. Adam glared at him. Eli sighed then decided to be honest.

"The complete opposite actually. We got into a fight about Fitz, and well we just realized we can't be friends."

"So you guys decided to stop being friends and torture yourselves by not telling me and Alli so you'd have to see and talk to each other every day? It sounds a little masochistic, I'm just saying." Eli shook his head.

"We just didn't want you guys to be upset or have to choose sides."

"Well do you think you'll become friends again anytime soon?"

"I don't know, but probably not."

"Is this because of Sam?" Eli glared hard at Adam.

"I just said it was because of Fitz. This has nothing to do with Clare's lover boy." Adam decided to drop the conversation.

"Okay I get it. I'm going to get something to eat, do you want anything?"

"Nah I'm good." As Adam walked into the kitchen, Eli texted Clare.

A few streets away Clare and Alli were hanging out, reading magazines. They were listening to music when a certain song came on. Clare walked over and skipped the track. As she walking back to sit down, Alli decided to speak.

"Alright what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well that used to be one of your favorite songs, but you just changed it like it was the worst song in the world. Also you and Eli have been acting weird around each other. Are you two secret sex buddies?"

"Wow I'm glad that subtle gene your parents gave you really works." Alli scoffed.

"I knew it! You've been doing it like bunnies haven't you?"

"Alli it's not like that. We've actually stopped being friends."

"What? What happened?"

"He got into another fight with Fitz, and I just got sick of his excuses. I thought we could still be friends after we broke up, but obviously I was wrong."

"But you guys still hang out all the time!"

"That's because we didn't want to bother you and Adam with our problems."

"Wow, Adam and I were way off. We thought you guys were together."

"You've talked to Adam about this?"

"Well what was I supposed to do? You guys have been acting weird for weeks."

"Well now you know, and I'd really like to drop this." Clare's phone went off signaling she had a text. She looked to see who it was from. Eli.

Adam just asked me why we've been acting so distant. I told him that I had a fight with Fitz and that we stopped being friends. Just so you know.

Yeah Alli just asked too. I told her the same thing. Thanks for letting me know. I guess we don't have to fake it anymore.

I guess not. See you around. She didn't respond. She hated how cold they were acting towards each other. She could feel the tears forming but took some deep breaths to calm herself.

"Clare, what's wrong? You look like you're going to cry."

"It's nothing Alli. Trust me." Alli looked a little unconvinced but let it go.

Meanwhile Eli looked at his phone. He waited a couple minutes for her reply, but it never came. It hurt him to think of how they were acting towards each other. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against Adam's couch. Adam walked in and saw him.

"Dude, you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine." He attempted a smirk, but failed. Adam didn't say anything.

Two months went by after that. Eli and Clare no longer had to hang out together. Adam and Alli switched among them like a pair of divorced parents. Eli and Clare no longer spoke. It hurt but was necessary. It was the beginning of December, and they had a couple of weeks before Christmas break.

Eli was sitting in his room trying to study, but he couldn't concentrate. He hadn't slept well in months. He knew it was because he wasn't with Clare anymore. But she was with Sam, and they weren't even friends anymore. He slammed his book closed. The crash of thunder shook his house. His looked out his window to see the lightning dancing in the sky. The rain was coming down hard. He thought of Clare. She was terrified of thunder storms. He thought of all the times he had to hold her tight and reassure her that she was safe. Before he knew what he was doing, he grabbed his keys and went downstairs.

"Eli where are you going in this mess?" He didn't turn around to answer his mother. He just kept walking out the door. He was soaked before he even got to Morty. He cautiously drove over to Clare's house. He didn't see a car in the driveway. It was late enough so that if it had been Clare's mother's week, she would've been back from work. He got out of the hearse, found the spare key, and unlocked the door. He put the key down on the table near the entrance. He locked the door and raced upstairs, still not knowing what he was doing. He was unsure until he stood in her doorway. She was lying on her stomach, with her head at the foot of her bed. She was staring at her history book. She wore her pajamas and one of his many band t-shirts that he must have left here. She also had on his headphones, which is why she still hadn't noticed him. He had never seen a more beautiful sight.

He took a step into her room. She finally looked up, startled by his sudden presence. He was soaking wet, wearing his black blazer with a tie. His skinny jeans were starting to chafe, but he didn't care. All he cared about was the girl looking at him. She sat up and took the headphones off.

"Eli what are you-" He cut her off with a needy kiss. She was hesitant, but soon enough her arms were wrapped around his neck with her hands tangled in his hair. She laid back, pulling him on top of her. He was getting her, and her bed, wet from his rain soaked clothes, but she couldn't care. She needed him. She kissed him roughly, not ever wanting to let go. Suddenly she pulled back. Eli sat up, waiting for her rejection. She looked at him. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were scared. She brushed his dripping wet bangs from his eyes. He was so beautiful. She couldn't live without him. She stared into his eyes.

"Eli, I…I love you." She said it so simply. The terror in his eyes was replaced by a sparkle. He leaned in and kissed her. He pulled back and looked in her blue eyes.

"I love you too Clare. I always will." She pulled him back on top of her.

A few hours later, they laid wrapped in each other's arms with Clare's head on Eli's chest. Her bed was completely soaked, but she didn't mind. They were warm snuggled together. They fell asleep with smiles on their faces. It was the best sleep either had gotten in months.