Hope everyone enjoyed the short story premier of "Tell Me I'm the Only One".
Ch. 12 Full of Hope & Pain
(DREW)
I wake up to Clare's curls tickling my nose. I move her hair aside and kiss the back of her neck.
"Mmmmorning," she yawns kissing my arm that is still holding her.
"Morning, Adam and I were talking last night, and we thought we'd spend the day out. We figure when Eli gets up and sees your text this will be the first place he comes. We can have dinner here tonight and tell my parents we're dating. Then when I take you home, well, when Adam and I take you home we can tell your parents."
"Yeah that's a good idea," she says stretching out for her phone. She clicks it on and we see that it's just after nine. "I don't know when Eli will wake up, so we should probably leave soon, but what about your parents?"
"They're out already, running errands," I assure her and kiss her earlobe gently.
"We should go then, and drop the truck off at my house for Jake. I'll get dressed and wake up Adam. He should come with us or he'll be dealing with Eli all alone."
"The plan was for Adam to come with us, but I'll wake him up. He wouldn't like it if you woke him up," I tell her placing one last kiss on her temple before I get out of bed.
"Why can't I wake Adam up?" She asks sitting up and pouting a little.
"He sleeps in boxers and a tank undershirt, you'll see that he still has…"
"Breasts? Adam's worried that I'll see he's still in a girl's body?"
"Not just you," I respond pulling on a pair of jeans, "why do you think he wears a compression vest and at least two layers at school?"
"But, he's my best friend, I know he's a guy, I only see him as a guy."
"Clare, he even wears his compression vest around the house, it's not just you. He doesn't even like Mom to wake him up, don't take it personally. He loves you, you're his best friend, it's just hard for him being in the body he's in. You get dressed and start getting ready, I'll wake up Adam and take us to breakfast," I tell her. She's still pouting a little, but she gets out of bed as I leave the room. I knock on Adam's door, but we're both pretty heavy sleepers, so when I don't hear anything I open the door and go in. "Adam it's a little after nine we should probably get going to avoid Eli," I say shaking my brother's arms.
"I'm up," he yawns sitting up and scratching his head.
"Clare's getting ready, she wanted to come wake you up, but I told her I'd better do it. I explained, but she was still upset," I tell him and he scrunches his face.
"I don't want her to see me like this," he sighs.
"I told her that, she says she only sees you as a guy. I'm only telling you because she was pretty upset by it. I think she's in the washroom now, but she should be out in a minute. I'll get dressed and tell Dallas we're leaving, give him the option of coming with us so he's not facing Eli's wrath alone if Eli comes by," I comment before leaving Adam's room.
I return to my room and put on a t-shirt and then get my socks and shoes on. Adam will take the longest in the washroom, so when Clare comes back to my room I go into the washroom. I leave the door open as I'm just putting on deodorant and fixing my hair real quick. I don't even shave, I'm a little scratchy, but it'll be okay. Adam comes into the washroom just as I'm finishing and closes the door when I leave. I'm sure he'll lock the door, I go into my room where Clare is gathering her purse and getting her shoes on.
"I'm going to tell Dallas we're leaving, give him the option of coming with us. Adam is getting ready in the washroom; he'll be out in a few minutes," I tell Clare while grabbing my wallet, keys and jacket.
"I'm ready, since I don't have makeup here," she says.
"You don't need makeup," I reply snatching her lips for a kiss.
Clare left her house yesterday without a coat, so I grab my football jacket for her to wear. It kind of swallows her, so I also grab one of Adam's hoodie's for her. She comes with me downstairs, but waits in the living room while I go down to the basement to wake up Dallas.
"Coming in," I call knocking on the wall near his room. He opens his eyes and looks at me, yawning and blinking his eyes as he tries to wake up.
"Dude, what time is it?"
"Almost 9:30, the rest of us are going out for the day. Whenever Eli gets up he'll see Clare's text and he'll probably come here, looking for her or Adam. We're going to avoid him and return for dinner to tell Mom and Dad we're dating. She didn't tell him she was breaking up with him for me, but he may figure it out. Anyway, we'd rather just not be here, and you probably don't want to be here either. You're welcome to join us, no plan really, just avoiding Eli."
"I'll head out too, but I think I'll see what Bianca's up to," Dallas yawns stretching again. "I'll probably take her to dinner too, so you can have a family dinner, plus Clare."
"Cool," I grin turning to go upstairs again.
Clare is sitting on the arm of the sofa and Adam comes downstairs ready to go. Clare drives the truck and we follow in my car. She parks outside of her house, locks the truck and Adam gets in the backseat, so she can have the passenger sea. When Clare gets in my car she sends a text to Jake as I begin driving. In an effort to avoid Eli I drive until we're completely out of our neighborhood and then Adam looks up a place to have breakfast.
"So, what should we do today?" Adam questions after we've ordered.
"Something Eli wouldn't do, and somewhere he wouldn't think to look for us," Clare says.
"We could see what movies are playing, or…" my sentence trails off as I try and think of something the three of us can do and Eli wouldn't want to do.
"Mini golf?" Clare questions looking at Adam, "I doubt he'd think to look there."
"Good idea, and some of the courses have arcades and serve food, that should kill a few hours," Adam nods.
"Breakfast and then mini golf it is then," I grin just as Clare's phone rings. She takes it from her purse and grimaces so I know it's Eli. Clare ignores the call and he calls back, and she ignores it again. A few seconds after she ignores the call Adam's phone rings and Clare bites her lip.
"I'll be right back," Adam says sliding out of the booth.
"I should warn Jake that Eli might be by," Clare says when Adam is outside. She unlocks her phone again and sends a text to Jake.
Clare: I broke up with Eli by text last night. I'm spending the day with Drew and Adam to avoid him, but he might come by the house. Considering he took drugs, and I don't think he took his medication I don't have any idea what state of mind or mood he'll be in, so be careful. I'll have dinner at Adam's tonight and they'll bring me home after.
She sends the text and then puts her phone back in her purse without waiting for a reply. Adam comes back in and sits down as the waitress brings our coffee, we all reach for the cream and sugar to start mixing it in our coffee.
"I'm sorry you're in the middle of this Adam," Clare apologizes as she stirs four sugar packets into her coffee.
"It's my two best friends and my brother there's no way for me to not be in the middle. It's not your fault Clare," Adam assures her.
"I still don't like putting you in the middle, what did Eli say?"
"He was angry, said he was sorry and swore nothing happened. I told him it was too late and you'd already moved on, he wanted to know with whom? I didn't say anything, but he asked if it was Drew. I didn't answer and he hung up," Adam tells her and she bites her lip. "We're spending the day out, and I didn't tell him we were together. It'll be fine," Adam says although he doesn't entirely sound like he believes it himself.
"You want to call Maya? See if she can hang with us today?" I offer.
"She's got family stuff today, it's fine. I'm hanging out with two of my favorite people in the world, and I don't feel like a third wheel. Just don't start making out in front of me," Adam comments and Clare giggles.
We eat breakfast and then find a mini golf place in Mississauga. We decide it's better just to not be anywhere close to our neighborhood all day. We play two rounds of golf and then spend three hours in the arcade, including eating lunch. When we're done it's almost five and we head home, Mom usually has dinner on the table by six. Adam already texted Mom asking if Clare could stay for dinner.
"Dallas is out with Bianca, so it's just the five of us tonight. Please set the table boys," Mom says as soon as we walk in.
"Yes Ma'am," I nod.
I told Mom and Dad that Bianca and I broke up amicably and that she liked Dallas now. I knew they'd find out at some point, and they'd ask questions. I told them I was fine with it and I had been falling for someone else, I just didn't tell them it was Clare.
Clare helps Adam and I set the table, so we have it done before dinner is ready. We serve ourselves and sit down, everyone starts eating and Clare compliments Mom on the dinner.
"So, what did you kids do today?" Mom questions.
"Avoided Eli," I comment and Adam kicks my leg under the table.
"Whatever for?" Mom questions.
"I broke up with him last night, via text. Text is not the way I wanted to do it, but he took drugs and cheated on me. I was going to have him over and talk to him today, tell him face to face that I was falling for someone else. When I found out that he'd taken drugs and cheated on me I just didn't want to be with him another minute. I knew he wouldn't take it well and we knew he'd eventually show up here, so we decided just to be away from the house and avoid him."
"Remember how I said I was okay with Bianca and Dallas because I was falling for another girl? Well, that girl is Clare, and she was falling for me too, so we're dating now," I inform my parents.
"Oh, when did you two fall for each other?" Mom asks.
"Not sure exactly, but Drew's been there for me through everything with Asher. Picking me up after Asher kissed me and tried to assault me in his car. Staying on the phone with me late into the night when I couldn't sleep. We were afraid the other one didn't reciprocate our feelings and we were both in relationships, so neither one of us said anything. We spent a lot of time together though, and always seemed to be finding excuses to spend more time together. When we finally confessed our feelings I was afraid to just break things off with Eli. His behavior and moods have been erratic, especially with all the stuff around Asher, he's been possessive and I was afraid of setting him off. So, I was going to talk to him alone, but I guess Eli made the decision for me."
"I'm sorry about Eli Clare, and I can't say I'm that surprised that you and Drew developed feelings for each other. You have been spending a lot of time together, and I never thought you and Bianca were a good couple," Mom remarks.
"Mom! She's still dating Dallas you know, it's not as though she's out of my life," I remind her.
"I like Bianca Honey, she's been through a lot and come through it all. She's been working really hard this last year to clean up her grades. I just never thought she was a good match for you."
"Have you told your family yet Clare?" Dad asks.
"No, we'll take her home after dinner and tell them then," Adam says for us.
"Yeah, what he said," I nod.
"So, any big plans for your last day before going back to school?" Dad questions.
None of us have plans tomorrow and then Mom and Dad start talking about the friends they had lunch with today. We help clean up after dinner and Clare gets her stuff, thanks my parents for dinner and says goodnight. The three of us go out to my car to take her home and tell her parents we're dating.
(CLARE)
"You okay?" Drew inquires with concern and a little fear in his tone. "You look worried, do your parents not like me?" He asks removing one hand from the steering wheel to reach over and take my hand.
"No, it isn't that. My parents do like you, I'm not worried about telling my family, I'm sure Jake's already figured it out. I'm just…thinking," I reply squeezing Drew's hand and looking out the window again.
"That's Clare speak for she has too much on her mind and can't put it into words just yet," Adam speaks up from the backseat.
"Thanks little bro, wish all my girlfriends came with a translator, my relationships may have lasted longer," Drew comments and I giggle.
Drew parks outside my house, we get out and they follow me to the front door. Mom saw us park as she was washing dishes, the exterior door is unlocked as usual and I unlock the interior door. Jake must be in his room, but I'm pretty sure he knows I had feelings for Drew.
"Hi kids, how was dinner at Adam's?" Mom questions.
"It was good, we told Drew's parents that we're dating," I announce.
"Jake told us you broke up with Eli," Mom comments slowly. I can see that she has another question, something she wants to ask. Either doesn't want to ask in front of Adam and Drew, or something she's not sure how to phrase tactfully just yet.
"I was planning to break up with him today, talk to him and explain that I had feelings for Drew. Then Eli took drugs and cheated on me, so I broke up with him last night, by text instead."
"That's why you spent the night at Alli's last night and went out so late," Mom remarks.
"Yep," I nod, thankful that Jake covered for me. "I'm going to walk Drew and Adam to the door."
"Drew, perhaps you could join us for dinner this week? Adam, you're welcome to come as well," Mom remarks as we turn around.
"Thanks Mrs. Martin we'll be happy too," Adam replies for the both of them and Mom smiles.
"I have family stuff tomorrow, I don't know if Eli will try and come over, but be careful," I warn them both.
"We'll be fine, I'll call you later," Drew says brushing his fingers into my hair and placing a soft kiss on my lips.
I hug Adam, watch them get into their car and I go back inside, locking the interior door. I want to take a shower tonight, so I don't have to get up and do it in the morning. Before I do that though I knock on Jake's door, he opens the door and when he sees me holds his door open so I can come in his room.
"Thanks for covering for me last night," I smile leaning on his desk.
"No problem, so are you and Drew official yet?"
"Yeah, as soon as I broke up with Eli. He called Adam pretty upset this morning, and I think he surmised I broke up with him for Drew. Did Eli call or come by the house at all?"
"Not that I saw, but I was out most of the day. He didn't call or text me, should I be worried?"
"Given his recent behavior I just don't know. I'm going to take a shower; do you need the washroom at all?" I inquire.
Jake shakes his head, I leave his room and go into mine. I set down my purse, slip off my shoes, grab my bathrobe and then go into the washroom turning on the shower. At first, all I can think about is Eli, but then my mind drifts to Drew and I smile. I'm still wearing the smile when I get out of the shower, drying off and wrapping up in my bathrobe before I go across to my room. It's dark now and I turn on my light, walking to my window to close the curtain. When I get to the window I hear something in the tree and think I see something moving. With it so dark outside and the light on in my room it's hard to tell though. I close my curtain quickly and go back to Jake's room knocking on the door once again.
"What's wrong?" Jake inquires letting me in.
"I'm probably just being paranoid, but I thought I heard something in the tree out back, and thought I saw movement when I was closing my curtain."
"Stay here, I'll go check," Jake tells me.
"By yourself?"
"I'm sure it's nothing," he says grabbing his jacket. I'm sure it's Eli, which doesn't make me feel any better about Jake checking by himself. He leaves his room closing his door behind him. I pace the room nervously until he returns. "Someone ran off through the front when I opened the door. I followed, but lost them on the street, someone small though, I think maybe Eli."
"That's what I was afraid of," I sigh.
"Lock your window tonight. I'll make sure all the doors are locked. I could just take you back to Drew's tonight, I'm sure he'll protect you all night," Jake grins.
"As nice as sleeping in Drew's arms again sounds, we'd have to sneak me out of here into their house. Then sneak me back out before church tomorrow, I'll lock my window, anyway Eli was probably scared off."
Jake leaves his room with me, but he goes downstairs to see if all the doors are locked. I go into my room and turn on my laptop, I put on a movie to try and get my mind off Eli. It doesn't work that well, and I'm happy to see Drew's name flash on my phone when he calls me.
"Hi, I wish you were here with me."
"Just missing me? Or is something wrong?" Drew questions.
"Both, I'm pretty sure Eli was outside my window earlier. Jake went out and chased off whoever it was, but now I can't sleep. It's not like I didn't have enough trouble sleeping."
"So, Eli's stalking you now," Drew says and I know he's clenching his teeth.
"We don't know for sure that it was Eli, I didn't really see him and Jake didn't get a good enough look. My whole family is home, my window is locked, the doors. I don't think Eli will break in, I just can't sleep. Not that I was sleeping that well before."
"You always sleep well with me," Drew says.
"I sleep wonderfully when I'm safely enveloped in your arms."
"You want me to come over?"
"Yes, but you shouldn't. We'd have to sneak you in, then out again in the morning. Adam would have to cover for you, Jake already offered to take me to your place. I'll be okay tonight; I just need more boring sports stories to put me to sleep."
"Settle in then, I have plenty of boring sports stories still."
Drew starts telling me sports stories, I interrupt him a lot to ask questions. We fall asleep together on the phone, both waking up when my mom knocks on the door. I tell Drew I'll call him later and we hang up. It's a pretty quiet day, church, lunch with the family, errands, chores and no sign of Eli. Jake still checks the yard before bed, and makes sure the house is locked up tight again. Drew calls as I'm getting ready for bed and tells me stories until I fall asleep. He must hang up, because I'm not on the phone with him the next morning.
"So, last night was quiet?" Jake asks as we drive to school.
"Yeah, I fell asleep on the phone with Drew."
"Are you working after school?"
"Not sure, but if I am I'm sure Drew will take me and pick me up, but I'll need the truck to get there this morning."
Jake parks at school, we grab our backpacks, walking in together, but parting when we go inside. I walk to my locker and open it, I take my purse out of my backpack and set my backpack in the locker. I really only need my purse for co-op, and I hate lugging my backpack around when I don't need it. I close my locker intending to go find Drew, but when I turn around I'm startled by Eli standing there.
"You broke up with me for Drew," Eli growls.
"You took drugs and cheated on me Eli, my feelings for Drew have been developing for a while. Now if you'll excuse me I need to get to co-op," I tell him trying to walk past him.
"Don't walk away from me, you're mine," Eli seethes grabbing my arm. He pulls me back and squeezes my arm tightly.
"Ow," I yelp, "Eli let go of me," I assert as my eyes become crowded by tears. Tears of pain, tears of fear. There's a hallway full of students, but most of them just stand there watching.
"You can't just br…"
"Let her go Dr. Doom, NOW," Bianca snaps at him coming over.
"You heard her Eli, let Clare go before I break your face," Owen warns him.
"You want to fight me you homophobic jock cretin?" Eli challenges, but does let go of my arm.
"Go to co-op Clare," Owen orders. I give him and Bianca a grateful look and start walking away quickly.
"WE'RE NOT DONE CLARE," Eli yells after me.
I turn back to see Owen holding Eli by the shoulder, Owen shoves him away a little and I start walking faster. I get out to the truck, I'm shaking slightly and absentmindedly rubbing my upper arm where Eli squeezed. I'm wearing a denim jacket, and I remove my arm from my jacket to get a look. A bruise is already forming; I release a breath I didn't realize I was holding, biting my lip as I do so. I put my arm back in my jacket, it will hide the bruise while I'm at work. I'll probably just wear my jacket all day, to keep anyone else from seeing the bruise.
I check in at co-op, Caitlin is out, but she left work for me to do, instructions and asked if I could come in this afternoon. I sit down and start working, however the scene with Eli this morning, and thinking he was in my yard last night keeps going through my mind. Without really thinking about it I take off my jacket and set it down. I'm really only half working, mostly thinking about Eli. I am getting work done, just at a much slower pace than I normally do. I'm also caught in my head, almost like I've created a bubble that I'm in, I can hardly even hear what's going on in the rest of the office.
"Clare," Caitlin says putting her hand on my shoulder. I jump and blink at her, she's giving me a worried look and I wonder how many times she called my name before I reacted. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, sorry, I know I'm going slow, I'll speed up, and I'll come in this afternoon."
"Something's clearly on your mind, what is it? And, what happened to your arm?"
(DREW)
"Hey," Owen nods to me coming into class, "Eli went psycho on your girl just now."
"Where's Clare? Is she okay?" I question.
"Bianca and I stopped him, Clare's on her way to co-op now. When were you going to tell me you two were dating?"
"She officially broke up with him Friday night and we officially became official. She was worried about telling Eli, she thinks he was in her yard last night."
"Eli is a fucking psycho, I don't know what Clare ever saw in him," Bianca remarks as she walks in.
"So, Eli really did attack her in the hall?" Katie questions.
"He grabbed her arm, yelling at her for leaving him for Drew," Owen tells them.
The bell rings and we drop the subject of Eli, I'm worried though and I want to text Clare. When the teacher isn't looking I send a quick one asking if she's okay. I wait for an answer, but don't get one, she doesn't reply at all. Owen said she was leaving for co-op, I'm hoping she's just not looking at her phone and that's why she didn't answer. My next class is math, which I have with Eli, I rush to that classroom as soon as the bell rings. I don't go in yet; I wait at the door for Eli. He's walking with Jake and Mo; they all have homeroom together. He sees me and glares, but doesn't stop walking. As soon as he gets near me I grab his shirt and shove him to the wall.
"Whoa Drew, what are you doing?" Jake questions.
"What the hell did you do to Clare this morning?" I growl at Eli ignoring Jake and Mo.
"I didn't do anything to her, get off me you muscles-for-brains ignoramus," Eli says shoving me away. He gets me away from him a little, but I grab him again and shove him into the wall.
"What the hell is going on out here?" Coach Armstrong asks coming out of the classroom. "All of you into class, Drew and Eli I catch you fighting again it's detention for a week," Armstrong warns.
I growl, but walk into the classroom and sit at my desk. I spend all of class thinking of ways to hurt Eli if he did hurt Clare. When class lets out Eli leaves quickly, I follow and walk fast to catch up with him. Instead I almost run into my brother as he comes around the corner.
"Why do you look like you want to kill someone?" Adam questions.
"I do, Eli. He did something to Clare this morning."
"Did what to Clare?"
"I don't know, Owen and B told me he grabbed her arm and was angry because she's with me now. If he hurt her I'll kill him," I growl.
"Clare should be back from co-op soon, let's wait for her outside," Adam says. I still want to kill Eli, but I nod and follow Adam.
We sit on the banister and after a few minutes see Jake's truck pull in. She parks and we stand up, she smiles when she sees us. I love it when she smiles at the sight of me. She comes over and hugs Adam before kissing me.
"You okay? Owen and B said Eli attacked you this morning, and you didn't answer any of my texts," I comment putting my arm around her.
"Eli was angry about us, Owen and Bianca forced him to back off and told me to go to co-op. I knew he would be angry about us, even though he took drugs and cheated," she sighs.
"He do this," Adam asks brushing her arm.
I look down to see a bruise in the shape of a handprint around her arm. I start growling and let go of Clare, turning to go inside and find Eli. He hurt Clare and all I want to do right now is hurt him.
"Drew stop," Clare asserts while she and Adam both grab one of my arms.
"I'm going to kill him," I say through clenched teeth.
"I'm okay, it's just a bruise, and I knew Eli wouldn't take it well. I don't want you fighting with Eli, and neither does Adam," Clare says.
"She's right Drew, you'll get in trouble and it's bound to just fuel Eli's fire. Remember what happened last year when he couldn't let his feud with Fitz go?" Adam comments.
"Promise me that you'll just stay away from Eli, please Drew," Clare begs.
I look between her and my brother, they're both giving me about the same look, pleading with me to not fight Eli. "Fine, but if he hurts you again I can't promise anything. Come on, I'll buy us lunch from The Dot," I remark putting my arm around Clare again. "I'm really glad you didn't talk to Eli alone at your house," I say as we start walking. She doesn't reply, but does tense up slightly.
"How was co-op?" Adam asks when we're sitting down in the café.
"Okay, I was sort of distracted and didn't get a lot of work done. Caitlin was really nice about it, but she asked me to go back in this afternoon," Clare replies looking at me.
"I'll take you and pick you up," I assure her and she smiles.
We finish lunch and walk back to school, I walk with them to their lockers and then drop them at English class. I walk to my third period class and glare at Eli as I sit at my desk.
"You see Clare?" Bianca asks in a whisper.
"Yeah, she says she's okay, but she has a large bruise on her arm from his hand. I wanted to kill him, but I promised her I wouldn't fight with him. If he hurts her again though I have to do something."
"He kind of ambushed her this morning, I think she was just a little shocked, Clare can take care of herself," Bianca reminds me.
"That doesn't keep me from wanting to smash his face in," I reply. Eli hears and looks back at me with a smirk.
"You know, I'm pretty sure he had that same look last year before all that stuff with Fitz. Watch yourself," Bianca warns me.
I nod, but all I can think is that if Eli tries to come after me, Clare or Adam I'll kill him.
Hey look, no cliffhanger, not really anyway. Update soon will pick up from around here likely in Clare's pov and include an alumni appearance. Next story to be updated is "In No Particular City".