A/N: hey guys sorry it took me this long to update. At first I had a little writer's block and when it finally passed my friend called me and asked if I wanted to go to her house, and I ended up staying the night. When I got home and I was ready to finally write, I found out my cat ran away. After 24 hours of freaking out looking for her, I finally found her in a sewer. It was 2 A.M when I found her so I couldn't call anyone to get her out until this morning. She's ok now, she just stinks a little, and I can finally write (:

ELI'S POV

I log off my computer and grab the keys to Morty. Jess looks at me quizzically, but I ignore her.

"Where to?" she asks curiously.

"I'm going to get Clare. She might be coming over. I'm not sure yet."

"Clare? So that's her name? Can't wait to meet her, bro." Her attention immediately turns back to the TV. I run out of the house and settle into Morty and before I know it, I'm already outside of Clare's house. I contemplate on whether I should get out and knock, or call her. I decide on the latter, because I don't want to get her into trouble.

After two rings she answers and her voice sounds week and upset. "Hello?" She says, sniffling a little.

"Hey, Edwards. I'm outside."

"Listen, Eli. I don't know if this is such a good idea. I mean, my mom-"

I cut in before she can convince herself to not come. "I'm already here, so don't make me waste anymore gas and get outside." I say, trying not to sound as if I was snapping at her. I hear her sigh and then the connection ruffles a little bit, but she mutters "Fine. I'll be out in a minute."

I smirk and snap the phone shut. I look at her house and it looks so peaceful, I can't imagine that there could be any sort of dispute going on inside of it. The lawn is trimmed nicely, the brick looks expensive and there are pretty flowers littering the windowsills. Clare suddenly exits out of the front door, her head down, her hand to her cheek. She quickly strides towards me, keeping her head down. It's hard to see her face when she gets into Morty, because it's night time and the widows are tinted so it looks especially dark.

"What's wrong with your cheek?" I ask, concern clearly written across my face.

"Nothing," She answers defensively.

"Okay Edwards that pretty much gave it away. Show me your cheek." I demand. She looks at me, her big blue doe like yes tortured. I realize they are sparkling with tears.

"Listen, Clare, you don't have to show me if you don't want to." I say, putting my hand of her shoulder reassuringly. She continues to stare into my eyes and then lets out a long sigh.

"No, no. I guess you're going to see it sooner or later." She shakily takes her hand off of her cheek and when I look at her my blood begins to boil.

Her soft cheek is swollen and red. Her usually pink lips are red and busted. She closes her eyes and her cheeks begin to sparkle with more tears.

"Who did this to you." I practically growl. Stay gentle, Eli. Don't want to upset her. She's upset enough. She looks down at her hand in her lap.

"Who?" I whisper, trying to be gentler but failing miserably. She looks at me and whispers, quiet as the wind,

"My father." It's so quiet, that at first I'm not sure if I heard her correctly. Her father? Did that? To my Clare? Whoa. She's not anyone's, and she surely not mine. I need to get my thoughts straight.

"I'll kill that bastard!" I yell, slamming my fist on the dashboard. Sorry, Morty.

"Eli. Please. Don't." She mutters, clearly exhausted. When I look into her eyes, she is still the same Clare. Her eyes are still innocent. She is still kind, and able to love and forgive. I can't help admire her for that. No matter what happens, she will always have her innocence. And I promise I will never let anything take that from her. Not her parents. Not herself. Not even me.

"So," She laughs nervously, "where are we going?"

I smirk and start put Morty in drive "I know just the place." I say, pulling away from her house.

CLARE'S POV

I walk into the bathroom one more time, frowning at myself in the mirror. The girl staring back at me had a large bruise swelling up her left cheek and her upper lip was busted. Her blue eyes looked like large oceans of fear and pain. I shake my head. This isn't me. I'm Clare Edwards. I get good grades. My parents don't fight. Or hit me. And I defiantly don't sneak out with boys at- I glance at the clock- Oh God, 1:34 in the morning. But Eli isn't like other boys. And he's just a friend. Right?

I shake my head. I think way too much. I should just let myself be a teen. But it's so hard. I don't want to disappoint my mother… Snap out of it! You're going out for a late night drive. It's not even a school night. This is what normal teens do. Please, God, let me normal for one night. Please. I promise I'll pray everyday.

I look at the girl one more time and try to cover up the bruises with make-up. No luck. I guess I'll just have to go like this. I sigh and change into skinny jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. Just as I slip on my silver flats, I hear my cell phone vibrate. I check the caller ID. It's Eli. Gulp.

"Hello?" I answer shakily. I hope my parents can't hear me. I begin to slowly make my way downstairs. My mother is passed out on the couch.

"Hey, Edwards. I'm outside." His voice is husky and loud, yelling over the sound of his stereo. I take one look down at my mother. I can't just leave her here…

"Listen, Eli. I don't know if this is such a good idea. I mean, my mom-" I start, the words crashing out of my mouth at full speed. They always did when I was contemplating with myself.

"I'm already here, so don't make me waste anymore gas and get outside." He cuts in. I guess he's right. I sigh and move the phone closer to my ear. "Fine. I'll be out in a minute." I mutter before hanging up. I grab a pen and piece of paper before quickly scrawling,

Dear Mom and Dad,

You may have noticed that I'm not in my room. I have not been kidnapped, and I'm not running away. I just need time to think. I went out with my friend. No, I wont tell you who. And I wont tell you where were going. I'll have my cell phone with me, but it's turned off. I'll call you when I've cleared my head. I'll be back before dinner.

Love,

Clare

I drop the paper on the coffee table and lean down to kiss my mothers temple. She reeks of alcohol. She's been doing that a lot since the fighting started. Drinking and passing out on the couch. I walk outside covering my cheek with my hand when I remember the bruising, and brace myself for what Eli will say.

It feels good to cry in front of someone. I haven't cried in front of someone since Darcy left for Kenya. Not even my parents. It was…releasing. Eli pulls away from my house and begins to take roads that I don't recognize.

"Where are we going?" I ask for the seventh time.

"I told you, it's a surprise." He smirks, not even taking his eyes of the road. Thank God. Eli drives like a mad man. When the streets aren't crowded he will go as fast as 80 mph on a 25 mph road. He has the windows rolled down and occasionally will stick his head out of the window, letting the wind hit his face. Music is blasting from the stereo, some unrecognizable rock song.

After nearly an hour of driving we pull up to a little booth. A middle-aged blonde woman with curly hair is inside of it.

"Hi, Eli!" she smiles enthusiastically.

"Hey, Ms. Parker." Eli smiles widely.

"It's been too long. The last time I saw you, you had just gotten Morty, and still had braces!" She says. Eli looks down, mumbling something like "Really? Do you have to mention that?" but it's too low for me to really understand. His cheeks are a little pink. I can't help but giggle. Eli, with braces. Ha.

"What can I get you?" Ms. Parker asks with a bright smile. She always seems to be smiling.

"Two for Motel Hell." Eli says. Ms. Parker's face goes quizzical.

"Two? Is Jess with you?" She moves her head until she can see me. I wave feebly.

"Oh my! Eli are you on a date?" she practically shouts. Eli's face turns crimson and I can feel my cheeks turning rosy.

"No," Eli says, his jaws clenched. "She's just a friend. Now, can I have the damn tickets?" His face is growing a brighter red by the second, especially when Ms. Parker laughs.

"Now, no need to get snippy young man. I thought your sister was the one with the sharp tongue." She laughs. As she is turning around I hear her mumble "They grow up so fast." When she turns around again she hands Eli two tickets. I can hear her whisper as she leans in "She's very pretty. But don't do anything you wouldn't do if I was watching."

Eli's face turns even brighter, if that was possible. He shoves a twenty in her hand.

"Goodbye, Ms. Parker." He practically shouts before hitting the gas and pulling away from her. I can hear her raspy laugh fading into the background as we drive away.

I giggle at his facial expression. "She was… nice." I say when I finally think of a word to describe her.

"Yeah." He grumbles while driving up to a parking lot with a big screen in the front.

"A drive-in?" I ask when he parks.

"Uh-huh. I used to come hear a lot when I was younger. That's kind of how I know Ms. Parker. Now shhh, the movie is starting." He changes the radio station and a cliché scream fills the speakers. I look up at the screen, and sure enough, a low budget horror film has begun to dance along the sheet. I sit back and watch through an hour and a half of cheap looking blood and tacky screams. At one part where the farmer and the girl are kissing, I sneak a glance at Eli, and see that he's staring at me. My face turns a bright red and I chew on my lower lip, wincing when I accidently bite the skin that was ripped. Eli looks at me with concern.

"You okay?" He asks.

Yeah, I'm fine. I just bit my lip."

"Would I have anything to day with that, Miss Edwards?" he smirks, raising his eyebrow in a challenge. I giggle and punch his chest.

"Ouch!" He yells, rubbing the spot I hit. "I thought violence wasn't your style?"

"Where did you hear this?" I ask, not really concerned about the truth. Probably just a rumor. That's weird. I didn't think much about if people have ever talked about me before.

"C'mon. All saints are against violence." He states plainly. I frown

"How many saints do you know that sneak out of their house to go watch movies in a hearse?" I raise a brow. Got him there.

"Hmm, true Saint Clare. You might just be losing you're saintliness." He shrugs. That's what I'm worried about. I gulp and take a deep breathe.

ELI'S POV

After the movie is over I begin to drive to our next destination. We drive in silence for about a half an hour. After a while, though, I just can't stand the silence.

"What's the matter Edwards? Too busy day dreaming about a certain goth boy to talk?" I ask sarcastically, half hoping its true.

"She looks at me and rolls her eyes. "How'd you guess!" she mocks surprise.

"I can read you're mind. And I must say, some of the thoughts you have about me, while flattering, make me truly question your saintliness." I grin evilly. Her cheeks turn a bright pink. Okay, now I really wish I was privy to her thoughts.

"In your dreams, Goldsworthy!" she scoffed.

"Yeah, I guess so." I smirk and raise a brow, wiggling it suggestively. Her face grows darker.

"No, but seriously, what's on your mind?" I look at her, my playful tone erased.

"My parents." She sighs. "I- I just don't know anymore. I don't know if they're going to get a divorce and if they did, I don't know how I would feel about it. I mean, they were the ones who taught me divorce is wrong. But I don't want them to stay together and be unhappy just because of me. But, if they did get a divorce, where would I go? With my mom or dad? Who would I want to go with? Would I still be able to go to Degrassi?" the worlds jumbled out of her mouth at top speed.

"Whoa, Clare. Stop. Rewind. Play." When I say this she looks at me, her eyes confused and apprehensive.

"I just don't understand anything anymore" She whispers with tears in her voice. I put my hand on her shoulder, rubbing her back rhythmically, ignoring the slight tingle I get from the feel of her skin. This is no time to be thinking of her like that. I sigh mentally. I know it's true. Right now she needs a friend, if anything. I remember, when I was younger, if it weren't for Jess I honestly would have went completely insane…

I see our destination in the distance and I squeeze her shoulder. She looks up at me.

"Were here." I smile.

CLARE'S POV

We pull up to an ice cream shop.

"Ice cream?" I voice my surprise. This boy is full of surprises.

"Milkshakes." He corrects with a smile

"Milkshakes?" I ask.

"Must you question everything I do? Just sit back, and relax. You can trust me." He hauls me out of the hearse and to the counter.

"I'll have one large vanilla shake and a…" He looks down at me, pretty much silently asking me what I want. I have noticed that about him. He talks a lot more with his eyes than his voice. I could stare at his eyes all day…Snap out of it! Eli's a friend. And you don't want to loose him as a friend, right? Right.

"Uh, I'll have, uh, chocolate shake, please." I'm not quite sure why, but I'm always very awkward when I order things. I look at the girl taking our order. She's tall, blonde, curvy and pretty. She nods her head and winks at Eli. She did not just do that. I can feel fire burning inside of me, making me suddenly want to hit this girl. I'm not jealous, am I? I haven't been jealous since I saw K.C and Jenna and it surely wasn't this bad. When she hands Eli our shakes she shows off her cleavage.

Whore!

Wait, I did not just think that about someone. I don't even know this girl! But when I see her laugh flirtatiously and throw her hair over her should while she's talking to Eli, I know I don't regret it. Eli just stares at her deadpanned, pulling out his wallet to pay her. When he hands her the money and she starts giggling like and idiot.

"Here." She says. I watch as she hands Eli a piece of paper, and he just stares at her, with a confused expression. Apparently, Eli can't tell when a girl is trying to flirt. Thank God. "Call me sometime." She giggles. He stares at the piece of paper and grabs both of our milkshakes. Just as he is turning away, I turn to the girl, fire burning in my gut. I can feel my face darken and my eyes fill with hatred.

"Back off." I growl. Okay, now I know that there is something controlling me. I did not, I repeat; did not, threaten someone. Over a boy. Over Eli. Her face turns up into a snort and she scoffs. I feel guilty. That was mean. Even if this girl is very, um, how do I put it, slutty? She doesn't deserve to be harassed. Sorry, God. I will never do something like that again. I don't know what came over me.

I walk over to where Eli is and sit down across from him. I look at the clock, conveniently placed right behind the girl. She is glaring at me. It's 4:00 A.M

"Where'd you find a place open this early?" I ask Eli.

"I get out a lot. Sometimes I get hungry. I saw a sign that led to here and followed it."

I nod. That's simple enough. I hear the door open and Eli stiffens, glaring at who ever it is that walked in. I turn around to look, and I get horror struck.

"Clare Edwards, is that you?" The voice says.

A/N: ahahahaha CLIFFHANGER: D sorry if it sucked, its early and I have writers block. But I was lagging majorly in updating so I thought I would give you guys something. Please review, because I'm not sure of how to get to my main story line because I need time for Clare and Eli's relationship to grow and I need ideas and such. So review. Even if you hate it I don't care, you can FLAME ME! Constructive criticism is appreciated. It's early and I'm exhausted, so I don't know if I have any grammar mistakes or anything