My house was a mess, and for that I couldn't claim responsibility for. Everyday after school I came home and went to my room. I never cleaned, and the smell was from my alcoholic father. "I'm sorry about the mess." I looked over at Eli and shrugged. "I try to stay in my room as much as I can so I don't have to see my dad." I explained.

"I completely understand Clare." Eli replied, as he followed me up the stairs to my bedroom. I was pretty sure that was the only room in the house that was clean, because I would not be able to stand the mess if I lived like that. It was weird having Eli here with me, when normally I was always alone. It felt nice, knowing that someone could come into my life and not judge me for the things my father did. We continued walking up the stairs until we stopped at my room.

"This is is," I gave a small grin, gesturing to my door.

"Ladies first." Eli insisted, and with that we went inside. My room was simple for a teenage girl, pastel colors, posters on the wall, my bed was made with multiple comforters and pillows. The only thing that was relatively messy was my desk in the corner of my room. I had notebooks full of my writing, and my laptop was open with too many tabs. "Wow Clare, I didn't expect you to be such a girl." Eli joked, as he sat on the bed.

I shut the door behind us and sat down on the bed beside him. "Well, my room is my safe place."

"I understand that." Eli replied. We sat there on my bed for about an hour or so, just talking and getting to know each other. If I was being honest with myself, it felt really nice. I was venting and laughing and so was Eli and for lack of better words, it was great. He was holding my hand and I felt safe. Finally, it began to get dark and Eli noticed this. "I probably should get going, yeah?"

My heart sank, "It is getting dark."

"I just don't want to be here when... you know..." He was talking about my father, and I absolutely didn't want Eli to be here when he got home either.

I nodded, "I know." I stood up from the bed. "I'll show you out then." We walked back downstairs and stood at the front door for a few moments. "It was nice having you here."

"Yeah," Eli agreed. "It was nice. Can I give you a kiss goodnight, Clare?" He questioned, and I couldn't think of anything that I wanted more in that moment than Eli's lips against my own. So I nodded, and he moved toward me slowly, then finally, our lips brushed together and for a minute of time, everything was okay and I wished that everything could feel like this all the time. After we kissed, we stood there for a minute, just cherishing the moment. "Okay, I should go, goodnight Clare."

"Goodnight Eli." I watched him through the window as he walked to the hearse. He climbed inside and drove away. I headed back upstairs to my room before my dad decided to show up. Today wasn't a bad day, and I was so thankful for it being that way. Because of that, I was able to change into pajamas and drift gently off to sleep. I dreamed about Eli, and I was looking forward to the future of our relationship. He understood me, understood what I was going through, and I couldn't wait to see what the future held.

I had been asleep for a few hours when suddenly, I awoke from a very loud noise. Immediately I knew it was my father, he was home. The door was slamming, he was stomping around, and I couldn't believe that after such a fantastic day, it was going to be a horrible night. "Clare!" He yelled, slurring his words, and I immediately knew he was drunk, very drunk at that. I heard him stomping up the stairs. "Clare Diane Edwards!" His voice was getting closer, so I hurried and got up to lock my door. I didn't want to deal with this tonight. I couldn't deal with this tonight. And suddenly before I knew it, he was at my door, banging loudly. "Clare!"

"No!" I yelled, making sure the door was closed.

The banging was getting louder and louder and I was extremely sure that he was going to bust the door open. "Clare!" And suddenly the door flew open and my dad was in my room. "When I tell you to do something you fucking do it!" He grabbed me by my hair, slinging me around and I couldn't help but to cry. What did I ever do to deserve this? He threw me down on the bed, and I knew what was coming next. It had happened before, but not for awhile, but now it was going to happen again.

"Please, no." I laid there crying, crying while my father did what he wanted and I could do nothing. I felt numb, I felt hopeless, and I wanted to die. I wanted Eli to save me. After what seemed like hours, my dad finally finished his business and disappeared to wherever he was going to sleep for that night. I cried and cried and cried, not able to get out of my bed. My room was no longer my safe place, and I could no longer deal with this. I got up from my bed, went over to the drawer where I kept my scissors, and drug the blade across my skin. It was my way of coping, my way of dealing with this mess. After that, I grabbed my phone. It was late and I hoped Eli was awake.

"Clare?" His voice was sleepy and I could tell I had woken him up.

I couldn't get my voice to come out, the only thing that did come out was a strangled sob. "Eli..."

"Clare, what is it?"

"I need help... My dad... Please come get me." I choked out.

He didn't hesitate and I could practically hear him in motion. "I'm on my way Clare, sit tight." I tried to dry my tears, so I could pack a small bag with clothes and stuff I needed for school. I could never stay here again, I never wanted to see my dad again. It was too much. I didn't know what else to do. With my stuff in hand, I opened my window, which luckily wasn't that much of a drop and jumped out. Goodbye room, goodbye house, goodbye dad. I couldn't live like this anymore. I went to the curb and waited for Eli.

As soon as I saw his hearse, I ran to him and he got out of the car. "Clare? What's wrong? You okay?"

I fell into his arms and broke down again. "I can't stay here Eli... I can't anymore."

He helped me into the car and held me for a little while I cried. "You don't have to Clare... You can stay with me, okay?"

"Okay." I sniffled, hoping that everything would get better.