(Eli's POV)
I looked down at the sling on my arm. KC had really tried to kill me; it was a good thing he had bad aim, otherwise I wouldn't sitting in an angled bed in a white, sanitary hospital room. I felt someone squeeze my hand; it was Clare.
"I'm so glad you aren't hurt." She said in a delighted tone.
I gave her a puzzled look and tilted my head towards my shoulder.
She made an exasperated noise and smiled, "Well, I meant that you aren't seriously-"
"I know what you mean." I interrupted, smiling back at her. Clare was so nice and beautiful. I was glad she was all mine. And now with KC gone, we could actually—
"Yeah, dude, I'm glad that you're OK too. I mean if you had died, who else would read comics with me in between classes." Adam, who was sitting in a chair near the wall, said breaking off my train of thought.
A silence fell over us. Clare, who was sitting on the edge of my bed, gave Adam a look that said could we get some privacy please? Adam grabbed his backpack and stood up. "I've gotta go. But I'll come and see you tomorrow." He said and walked out of the room.
Once Adam left, Clare turned back to me a sad expression on her face. "I'm so sorry, Eli, for everything. None of this," Clare pointed to my sling, "would have happened if I hadn't kissed KC."
I winced when she said kissed KC. Even though I had forgiven her for it, the kiss still made my heart feel like it was going to stop. "No," I said sternly, "do not blame this on you. This whole thing happened because of KC. He was obsessed with you." I cradled her exquisite face in my competent hand, "But, of course, who wouldn't be obsessed with you?" I asked, giving her a huge smile.
Clare flushed and looked down. When she looked up again, she wore a smile that uplifted her whole face. "Yeah, KC was crazy." she said.
Then she leaned forward and locked her lips with mine. Our mouths moved in unison, sparks sending blissful shocks all through my body.
My arm traveled from the top of her back to her waist. Clare straddled herself over my legs and wrapped her arms around my neck. If possible, our kiss got more powerful; more intense.
Then, just like that, Clare stopped. As her lips parted from mine, a slight feeling of desperation coursed through me. I didn't want Clare to stop; I would do anything to get her to kiss me like that again. But I knew that if we hadn't stopped then, Clare would have broken her virginity promise to her family, to God, and to herself.
Clare got off of the bed and just stood awkwardly next to it for a while. She was looking down at the floor, probably chastising herself for what had just almost happened.
"Clare," I said, the sound of her name hung in the air like the echo of a bell; ringing in the empty silence. Clare lifted her head and locked eyes with me. With her wonderful gaze on me, I almost forgot what I was about to say. But with a certain, calm voice I said, "I love you."
The corners of her lips turned up and her whole face was transformed. "I love you, too." Clare said. And that sound of Clare's perfect voice was my favorite sound in the whole, entire world.
*The End*