Hello readers; the winner of our poll is "Tell Me I'm the Only One"! That is a short story and will therefore go into the short story rotation.
Ch. 11 Can't Believe I Ever Fell in Love with You
(CLARE)
"I have to run Clare, are you good for the afternoon?" Caitlin asks peeking into the little room where I work.
"Yes, I have plenty to do, I'll see you tomorrow," I smile back at her.
"If you finish before the end of your shift feel free to leave early. You can always make up the time."
"Thanks Caitlin," I reply. It's a nice offer, but I couldn't really leave early anyway, Drew is my ride and he won't be here until the end of his shift.
Caitlin leaves and I go back to work, until my phone alerts me to a text. I expect it to be Drew and smile just at the thought, my smile drops when I see it's from Eli.
Eli: I'll pick you up from work, take you to an early dinner and you can tell me how it went at the lawyer.
Clare: You don't have to pick me up, it's not exactly on your way. Drew had to work today too, he said he'd pick me up, the office is on his way home.
Eli: No reason for Drew to pick you up, you're my girlfriend. Besides Asher made bail already, if he tries something I want to be there.
I swallow hard, I had no idea Asher made bail already. The thought that he could be waiting for me outside sends a shiver up my spine. I don't respond, but Eli sends another text.
Eli: I'm leaving in a few minutes, I thought given the circumstances they would let you go a little early.
Clare: Okay.
It's the only reply I have, my mind has become consumed over the fact that Asher is out on bail. That he might just be waiting to attack me again, and this time Adam won't be there. A loud noise from somewhere else in the studio pulls me from my fear. I realize I better call Drew and tell him that Eli's picking me up.
"Hey Beautiful, are you done already?"
Hearing his voice, hearing him call me beautiful, puts a smile on my lips. My heart fluttering at the thought of Drew, I pull my lower lip into my teeth. Knowing what I have to tell him my smile drops and I release my lower lip with a sigh.
"No, but you don't have to pick me up. Eli's on his way, he insisted on it. Apparently, Asher's out on bail already," I inform him.
"That fucking prick! I haven't seen him back at the office, but I haven't left my desk for most of the day."
"Don't confront him Drew, he's been arrested and I don't want you to get arrested."
"I'll walk out quickly, but I'd rather punch his face in. So, if Eli's picking you up are you going to talk to him?"
"I'll try, if he's already fired up over Asher though…"
"You still sound like you don't want to talk to him. I thought you wanted to be with me?"
"I do Drew, please believe that. I'm just afraid of setting Eli off, I will tell him about us."
"Okay, call me tonight, after your date," Drew says. He barely got out the word date, I could hear how his teeth were clenched.
"I'll talk to him Drew, after everything he's done you can't blame me for being cautious."
"I'm not, I just hate that he's all that's standing in our way now," Drew says and his voice has relaxed.
"I know, me too, but I have to wait until the time is right."
"Yeah, I know, call me tonight."
"I will," I reply before hanging up.
I work for about 15 more minutes, before Eli texts that he's outside. I pack up and leave a note for Caitlin so she knows when I left. Waving to a few people as I leave the building for Eli's car. Eli smirks and kisses me when I get in the car.
"How was work?"
"Good, I really like Caitlin, her whole team is great."
"I'm glad. How was the lawyer this morning?"
"Fine, Dana wants me to write what happened into a new statement. I remembered some other things too, and I'll be revising my earlier statement. I can combine them into one, but Adam's video helps a lot. I'll probably write it up tomorrow after work, she needs it by Monday."
"I'm glad Adam was there with you. He's the only one I trust to protect you as I would," Eli says brushing a curl behind my ear.
I don't know how to reply; this is the behavior that scares me. Possessive almost maniacal, just like when he essentially said he'd shoot Asher. I hate to admit it even to myself, but it's this behavior that keeps me from telling him about Drew. I'm truly worried that Eli will go after Drew.
Eli starts talking about an idea for a movie he has, and wants to start working on. He fills the conversation through dinner, which is fine with me because I don't feel much like talking. Eli takes me home and walks me to my door, there's no sign of Asher thankfully.
"I love you, more than anything in this world Clare, you're my life, my muse," Eli says before giving me a hard kiss goodnight. It's not even really passionate, just hard and possessive.
"I love you too," I reply softly, almost automatically, when he takes his lips away.
I unlock my door and go inside, and all I want is for Drew to kiss me. I lock my front door, waving to Eli as he drives away. Mom and Glen are in the living room, they ask me how work was, Mom asks if I've eaten. I tell them it was fine, and that I ate with Eli, before I go up to my room. Slipping off my shoes, I grab my phone from my purse and lie on my bed to call Drew.
"How was your date?" He questions through clenched teeth again.
"Dinner was fine; Eli did all the talking."
"So, you didn't talk to him then?"
"You didn't hear the way he was talking Drew. I'm afraid if I tell him the wrong way at the wrong time he'll come after you. He's so riled up and on edge with Asher I don't want to set him off."
"You may not go to trial for a year or more, you can't stay with Eli out of fear Clare. That's not good for any of us," Drew admonishes.
"I'm not going to stay with Eli until it goes to trial, but he essentially said he was going to shoot Asher. All this stuff with Asher, it's setting him off, and I don't want you to be a casualty of it."
"Eli's not going to shoot me, he might get angry and try to fight me, but I know I can beat Eli in a fight. If you don't do it soon then I'll tell Eli myself, then I'll take him down real fast with my MMA moves."
"Andrew, that's not funny."
"I wasn't joking," Drew replies flippantly.
"I don't want you fighting at all, you've had too many concussions as it is. Last time I broke up with Eli he crashed a car and hurt himself, I don't want that to happen either. You don't hear him Drew, it has me worried, I'm just trying to keep anyone from getting hurt. I have to work on my statement tomorrow, get it written up for Dana. Saturday, I'll ask Eli to come over so we can talk, I'll tell him then. Right now he's stewing and seriously overprotective because Asher's out on bail."
"Overprotective or possessive?" Drew asks.
"Both."
"You're worried about him coming after me, but you plan to talk to him alone at your house?"
"He won't hurt me, I don't think. He's never tried to before, he tries to hurt himself, like crashing his car, lighting the script on fire."
"Did he not try and hurt Jake when Jake was building sets for that crazy play?"
"I'll be okay, if it's early enough Jake will be home if I need him, but I don't think Eli will try and hurt me."
"I think I should be there."
"So, he can punch you? It's better if I do it alone."
"And if he's still angry about Asher? Are you going to chicken out again?" Drew questions with venom laced in his tone.
"That isn't fair. I don't want to fight about this," I reply just as sharply and hang up on him.
As soon as I hang up on him I feel bad, I didn't want to fight. I didn't mean to get into an argument over Eli and breaking up with him. I wanted to hear Drew's voice, I wanted him to be here with me. He might not answer if I call, and I wouldn't exactly blame him, so I text him instead.
Clare: After Eli kissed me at my door all I wanted was to be in your arms, kissing your lips.
Drew: I could come over and hold you and kiss you. He adds a winking kiss emoji.
Clare: Not with everyone here. They don't know how I feel about you. I really do want to kiss you though.
Drew: The offer still stands, I'll happily come over and kiss you.
Clare: Soon. Very soon. I add a kissing lips emoji.
Drew replies with a smile emoji and I set my phone done. I smile biting my lip, and think happily about kissing Drew. I take a shower and think of Drew, and then watch a couple movies on my laptop before going to bed. With all the thinking I was doing about Drew you'd think he would be in my dreams. Instead I have a truly horrific nightmare involving Asher.
I wake with a gasp, my eyes flooded with tears that won't stop, I'm shaking, and in a cold sweat. Most of all I'm terrified, in the darkness of my room I feel as though Asher is still here. That he somehow followed me out of the dream and is about to attack once more. The only thing I want is for Drew to be here, holding me, to be wrapped in his arms, hearing his heartbeat, feeling his breaths across my skin. I turn on my light, to assure myself that Asher is not in the room, then grab my phone from my nightstand.
"What's wrong?" Drew yawns.
"I…I…" I'm still crying so hard I can't even get a word out.
"Clare what is it?" Drew asks, sounding far more alert now.
I sniffle in some tears and take a deep breath, trying to speak. "B…bad…dr…dream," I stutter through my tears and short breaths.
"Must've been really bad, you're safe now. Do you want me to tell you more sports stories?"
"I…want…you…with me," I manage between heavy sobs.
"I'll take the car and sneak over. I'll text you when I'm downstairs, we can drive around again if you want."
"Okay," I whisper into the phone.
I text Jake that I had a bad dream and I'm out with Drew, make it look like I'm still sleeping, just in case Mom checks on me. Then I slip on ballet flats, and a sweater. I don't even get dressed, I just want Drew to be here. I turn off my light and then turn on the hall light, keeping it on until I'm downstairs, and then the kitchen light goes on. The porch light is already on, and I sit peeking out the window waiting for Drew. I finally feel safe when I see his car, he gets out and starts walking to the door. I go to the front door, unlock and open it, and throw myself into his arms.
"It's okay, you're safe I've got you," Drew assures me hugging me tightly.
"Can we drive around again?" I request.
"Anything you want," he says kissing my temple softly.
I lock the door with the spare key and Drew puts his arm around me to walk to his car. I don't have my phone or purse or anything, but all I need right now is Drew. He opens the passenger door for me before going around to the driver's side.
"I think you need some water, there's an all-night drive-thru nearby. Then I can park near the harbor again," Drew offers. I nod sniffling my tears again, Drew reaches over and takes my hand interlacing our fingers. "You're safe Clare, I've got you," he assures me again.
"I know; it was just a really awful dream. I didn't really feel safe until I was in your arms."
Drew smiles and kisses the back of my hand. When we get to the drive-thru he orders us each a pop and then gets a large ice water and fries to share. He drives out to a lookout spot near the harbor where we can watch the water.
"Tell me about the dream," he urges when I remain silent.
"Asher, he was waiting for me again, in my house this time. No one else was home and he was waiting in the dark of my room, he grabbed me and shook me. He was yelling at me for pressing charges, he started to strangle me and I tried to scream, but I couldn't. I tried to call for you, I couldn't even breathe, then he raped me and cut me open as he was doing it. He was still raping me as I was slowly bleeding out, that's when I woke up," I tell him taking a deep breath. I've started tearing up just thinking about the dream again, how terrified I was, how very real it felt. "I could feel my life draining away, I felt so alone and scared, I could feel the blood running down my side and I could feel him…" I bite my lip not wanting to say I could feel the stabbing pain of him raping me.
Drew reaches over wiping some tears from my cheeks, and places a soft kiss on my lips. "I will never let Asher touch you again. If I have to come into your house with you every night to make sure he's not there, then I will."
I nod and give him a smile, but the dream is still fresh on my mind. I can feel it all again, as though I were still trapped in the dream. I move as close to him as I can, holding tightly to his arm.
"The problem with driving around is that you can't hold me very well," I complain.
"Hang on, I have an idea," Drew says.
He pops the trunk as he gets out of the car, I watch him walk around to the trunk. I panic for a moment when the open trunk blocks my view of him. He takes something out and then comes around opening my door. He holds his hand out and I take it, getting out of the car. He helps me onto the hood of the car, gets on leaning against the windshield, holds his arm out and I cuddle up to him. Then he puts the blanket over us, this is much better, I'm far more comfortable and I'm in his arms.
"Do you think it was Asher being out on bail that prompted the dream?"
"Yeah, and having to think about it all when telling Dana about Asher's ambush at my house. I think even my dinner with Eli and my fear that our breakup will cause him to retaliate."
"I won't let Eli hurt you either, or me," Drew assures me kissing my temple.
"Thanks for coming when I needed you Drew, thanks for always coming when I need you."
"I always will Clare," he says holding me a little tighter.
For a while I sit there watching the stars, the moon, the water. I feel safe now in Drew's arms, warm against his body, soothed by the sounds of his heart. After some time, I drop off to sleep, waking up a little before dawn by a car alarm going off in the distance. It startles us both awake, Drew's eyes blink open and then he smiles at me. I tip my head up and steal his lips for a quick kiss.
"I should probably get you home, and get home myself," Drew yawns.
"Yeah, probably," I reply with a yawn.
Drew slides off the trunk, and helps me off the car, he tosses the blanket in the backseat of the car as we get in. He drives me home, walks me to the door, and gives me a soft and tender kiss. I go inside, lock my door and watch until Drew is in his car and driving away. When he's out of sight I go upstairs, and get in bed, my sweater smells like Drew now and it makes me smile. I fall asleep again, remembering the wonderful feeling of being in Drew's arms.
I wake up in the early afternoon, when my alarm goes off, because I have to be at work in a couple of hours. I yawn and stretch, get up and shuffle into the washroom. After using it I turn on the shower, it feels very nice and I think of Drew the whole time. I get out of the shower, dry off and get dressed before going downstairs to get some breakfast. Jake and Mo are down here smoking pot.
"Did you get some sleep?" Jake asks.
"Yes, I did," I smile.
"Guess, Drew made you feel better," Jake remarks and sort of snickers.
"Oooooooh," Mo says like I'm in trouble.
"He always does," I reply with a smile.
They go back to laughing at whatever ridiculous thing they're watching on TV. I take my breakfast upstairs and eat while picking out clothes for today. After I eat and take my plate downstairs to the dishwasher I tell Jake I'm taking the truck to co-op. He just nods and starts laughing again, at what I have no idea. I grab my purse, slip on some shoes and drive to co-op. Caitlin is on location, but left a long list of things for me to do, I'm kept really busy and it makes the afternoon go by fast.
When I get home Jake and Mo are still watching TV, but the house doesn't smell like pot. They seem to be coming down, and Jake says there's some pizza on the table if I'm hungry, and that our parents went out to eat. I take a slice of pizza and go upstairs, deciding I need to work on the statements my lawyer needs from me. I sit at my desk and open my laptop, I start with revising my original statement to include the things I remembered. Then I begin to write out Asher's ambush on Wednesday, I've just started on it when the doorbell rings. I hear it, but I'm not really paying attention and I let Jake deal with it. A moment later I hear heavy footsteps running up the stairs, then my door opens and I look over my shoulder to see Eli standing there.
"You can't be doing homework, it's our last official day of break, we go back to school on Monday. Let's go out and have some fun, you deserve some fun. I got invited to this great party," Eli says coming over and snatches my lips before I can respond.
"I can't Eli, I have to get this to my lawyer."
"Oh, come on, you have all weekend to work on that. Let's go out and party," he replies tugging at my arm.
"Eli, I don't feel like partying, I want to get this done and over with and to my lawyer today. It's all fresh on my mind, I'm not in much of a partying mood."
"I just want to go out and have some fun with my girlfriend, is that so wrong?" He asks with a pout and his green eyes sadly begging.
"No Eli, of course not, but I'm not in the mood and I have something to do. Tomorrow night, we can celebrate that we got this done," I tell him. While in my head I'm thinking "And, I can break up with you and go celebrate that with Drew." "Why don't you take Jake and Mo to this party, I'm sure they'd like it and I could use the peace and quiet to work on this."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure, go have a guy's night. Have some fun," I assert.
Eli grins, stealing my lips for another kiss before he goes down the stairs. I hear muffled conversation then some hooting and yelling about a party. They call goodbye as the leave and finally the house is quiet. I finish with the statement about an hour after they leave, and e-mail it to Dana, feeling like I accomplished something good I reward myself with some rocky road ice cream. Which is what I'm eating when my parents get home. We talk for a few minutes, I tell them Jake is out with Mo and Eli, and I'm sure they'll be home by curfew. I'm actually almost positive they will not be home by curfew, but I'm sure they'll be fine. Mom and Glen say goodnight and go up to their room. I stay in the living room watching a movie, and am very surprised when Jake and Mo come in just after eleven. Jake's curfew isn't even until one so I'm shocked to see them home so early.
"Did you drop Eli at home?" I ask Jake noticing that Eli is not with them.
"Actually, we couldn't find Eli," Jake admits looking away from me.
"What do you mean you couldn't find him?"
"Well, last time we saw him he was with some girl and she kissed him, after that he disappeared."
"WHAT?" I exclaim angrily.
"I think she was passing him a drug, on her tongue," Jake informs me.
Worried that he's having a bad reaction or overdosed, I grab my phone and call Eli, when his phone picks up it tells me all I need to know. I growl in irate fury and run upstairs to get my purse, then I run back down and slip on my shoes.
"Clare, where are you going?" Jake inquires.
"Drew's, and I'm taking the truck."
(DREW)
When my phone rang just before 11:30 I knew it would be Clare, and I pick up without even looking at the display. Holding it to my ear as I continue playing video games. Adam was out with Maya, Dallas was out with Bianca, though he'd have to be home soon with her curfew.
"Hey Gorgeous? Another nightmare or you can't get to sleep without my boring sports stories?"
"I'm outside," she replies.
"What do you mean you're outside?"
"I'm at the sliding glass door," she tells me. I pause the game and jump up unlocking and opening the sliding glass door. She steps inside and I wrap her in my arms.
"After the dream you had last night you're alone in the dark? Tell me you didn't walk over here?"
"I took the truck, and your porch light is on, besides Asher doesn't know where your house is. Eli cheated on me! I know that sounds somewhat hypocritical seeing as we've kissed, but from what I heard they did not have all of their clothes on. I just wanted to be here, with you, and now I'm going to break up with him."
"I'm glad you're here, but didn't you think it was dangerous with Asher out on bail?" I scold her as I lock the door again.
"No, I wasn't thinking, I just wanted to be in your arms," she says taking my hand and pulling me to the sofa. She sits down and I put my arm around her. She gets out her phone and sends a text to Eli.
Clare: I know you cheated on me. We're done Eli. I should have done this days ago. I have feelings for someone else. GOODBYE ELI.
She sends the text and turns off her phone. Curling her knees onto the sofa and putting her arm around me, her head on my chest.
"What can I do?" I ask rubbing her arm gently.
"You are doing it, just be with me," she replies.
She turns her head up to look at me, her eyes glossed by tears, but a wonderful smile on her lips lighting up her beautiful face. I brush a curl behind her ear, combing my fingers into her hair and overtaking her lips with mine. She moves her hand up, gripping the back of my neck, and her lips part just slightly. I lick her bottom lip requesting access and she grants it, her lips opening even more and allowing my tongue in. My tongue wraps around hers, caressing it gently. I want to kiss every inch of her wonderfully soft porcelain skin, for now I settle for pulling her into my lap and holding her close. I would stay like this all night, but we get interrupted when I get smacked in the back of the head with a throw pillow.
"Stop making out with my best friend," Adam gripes.
"Hey, making out with my girlfriend," I tell him though I do release Clare a little and set her on the sofa next to me.
"So, you finally broke up with Eli?" Adam questions leaping over the back of the sofa and sitting on the other side of Clare.
"I was planning to do it tomorrow when we could talk. He came over wanting to go to a party, I was working on my statement and told him I couldn't. I told him to go with Jake and Mo instead, and they went. A short time ago Jake and Mo returned without Eli. They told me he kissed another girl, they think she kissed a drug onto his tongue, and he disappeared with her. I was worried that he overdosed, or the drug was reacting badly with his medication. I called him and heard him…well I guarantee he didn't have all his clothes on. Then I came over here, and after feeling much better being in Drew's arms," she says smiling at me. I grin, kiss her temple and hold her a little tighter. "I sent Eli a breakup text. I didn't want to do it that way but I didn't want to call him again."
"I can't believe Eli cheated on you, sadly I can believe he took drugs. I hope they don't mess with his medication," Adam says.
"I want to be here, I don't want to go home, I don't want Eli to find me there tomorrow. I don't want to leave your arms," she says looking up at me with these sad hopeful eyes.
"Can't believe I'm saying this, but I think we can hide you in Drew's room tonight. Mom and Dad will be in bed soon, and they'll be out pretty early tomorrow. You two can tell them you're dating tomorrow," Adam comments and I grin.
"I'm going to enjoy sleeping with you in my arms all night," I smile and kiss Clare's forehead.
"I really hope all you do is sleep," Adam remarks and Clare giggles. "If it's not you're sleeping on my floor," Adam tells me and Clare laughs again.
"I can't sleep yet, let's watch a movie or something. At least, until Dallas gets home and wants the basement," Clare requests.
I turn off the video game, Adam puts on a movie, and Clare cuddles into me. We're about halfway through the movie when Dallas comes home.
"Hey kids, what's going on?" Dallas asks as he comes downs the stairs.
"We're going to hide Clare here tonight; she broke up with Eli when she found he was cheating on her," I inform Dallas.
"So, you guys are official now?" Dallas asks, sitting down to watch the movie.
"Yes, we are official now," I grin and snatch Clare's lips for a quick kiss.
"Cool," he grins.
He finishes the movie with us and we decide to go to bed. Adam gives Clare one of the extra toothbrushes we have, and she goes into the washroom to brush her teeth.
"You know, Eli is going to get her text at tonight or tomorrow and call me," Adam comments while Clare's in the washroom.
"Yeah, I know, he may even come here looking for Clare, or me. She didn't say anything about me in the text, but Eli might figure it out."
"We could go out tomorrow, avoid him for as long as possible. We'll have to see him Monday though."
"It's probably a good idea to go out for a while, Clare can stay for dinner and we'll tell Mom and Dad we're dating. After dinner I'll take her home and we can tell her family, or at least her parents, Jake might not be home."
Adam nods and turns to leaves my room, then turns back, "Sleep in your clothes."
I grimace and throw a pillow at him as he ducks through my doorway. Clare comes to my room after a couple of minutes, biting her lip, rolling it between her teeth, so I know she's nervous.
"I'll sleep on the floor of Adam's room if that will make you more comfortable," I tell her.
"No," she smiles, "it's not that. I'm just worried about how Eli react when he sees the text."
"He won't be happy; no one could be happy losing you. But, he'll have to deal with it," I tell her.
"I know, I'm more worried about him trying to hurt himself or you."
"He won't hurt me, and hopefully he's stable enough not to hurt himself now."
"I'm going to go brush my teeth, help yourself to anything in my dresser to sleep in," I tell Clare. I kiss her forehead and close the door as I leave my bedroom. When I return to my room she's snuggled up in the bed, I can see she's in one of my t-shirts. I undress and pull on a pair of pajama bottoms. More than I usually sleep in, but I don't want to make her uncomfortable.
"Will you tell me some sports stories? I'm not tired," Clare requests when I get into bed. I see that she's also wearing a pair of my sweat shorts.
"Of course," I smile turning off my bedside light.
"Drew," she says looking up at me with her gorgeous blue eyes, "I'm very happy we're together now."
"Me too, I've been longing to hold you like this and call you mine for a very long time now," I grin attaching my lips to hers for a tenderly passionate kiss.
Aww, feel the Clew love! Update soon picking up the next day with Eli's reaction and the parents finding out Clew is dating. Next story to be updated is "In No Particular City."