Fiona was right. I did have some good ideas for the play. I jotted them down on the whiteboard and everyone clapped. Now to get home and write the final draft. I made my way to the front of the school, sat down on the steps and waited for Bullfrog to pick me up. I was looking around at nothing in particular when I saw her. Clare. She was standing alone. Probably waiting for her mom to pick her up. At that instant she turned and saw me. I looked down quickly. Curiosity got the best of me and I looked up again. She was walking over to me.
I was looking down when I heard her. "Hey Eli." Clare's voice sounded sweet.
I glanced up. "Hi." She smiled politely and sat beside me.
"Your play is something, Eli." She smiled softly.
I frowned. "Wait. You were there today? I didn't see you."
She nodded. "I came in to get a quote from you for the newspaper and I saw your ideas on the board. I looked for you, but you already left."
"Well, here I am. What questions do you have for me, reporter?" I laughed lightly.
She didn't speak for a long time. She looked like she was thinking about something as she stared at the step under her feet. Finally, she faced me and spoke. "You made Clara the hero."
She caught me off guard. It took a minute for the words to form in my mouth, but once they were there they were going to be heard.
I whispered. "That's because she is the hero." I sighed and looked into her eyes. "You're my hero."
Her face was serious. She was staring at me as tears formed in her eyes, then she quickly stood up. She was looking down at me now.
"Eli. I can't be. From the moment I met you, my life has been in hiatus. From dead ex-girlfriends, to smashed up hearses." She was really crying now. "I don't know how to be with someone like that. I don't know how to help you."
It took me a staggered moment, but I stood up and leaned on my cane.
"Clare. I'm not asking you to help me!" I closed my eyes for a moment, collecting my thoughts then opened my eyes again. "I'm working on it. This play's been helping me, and I've been seeing a therapist."
Although, I'm not sure my actual therapist is really helping. I consider Julia more of a therapist than her, but I should probably keep Julia out of this conversation.
I looked in Clare's tearful eyes and continued speaking. "But regardless, Clare. You've helped me. In more ways than one."
Clare looked at me puzzled. With tears streaming down her face, she opens her mouth to talk, but a car horn interrupts her.
"Clare. Come on, we're going to be late." Mrs. Edwards smiled out the car window, but I could tell she was irritated.
She turned around quickly and picked up her bag. "Yeah, okay mom." She wiped away the tears as she stood up. She turned and looked at me. "Eli. Please just drop it." Her voice was low.
I got closer to her and whispered. "What about your promise? You promised you'd never give up on me."
She didn't back up. Staring at me, she shook her head. "I'm sorry Eli. I just- I can't." Her voice cracked and another set of tears formed in her eyes. She turned around and got in the car. It drove off quickly.