Clare walked to school. She didn't accept a ride form her mom, or Fitz, and even ignored Eli's texts. How could she just cut herself from Eli? Eli was everything to her. Her best friend, her confidant, her protector. He would never cut her off if a girlfriend, so why should she? Clare was so lost in thought she didn't hear Eli calling her name as she grabbed books out of her locker
"Hey you OK?" Eli said and saw Clare's busted lip "Oh my god! What happened?" he touched her cut and she winced
"Nothing." Clare looked into her locker
"Come on Clare," he said
"I fell and cut my lip going into my house." Clare lied. Lies came so easily now. Clare hated lying. It made her feel dirty
"Ok." Eli stared hard at her "Now that your done lying to me, tell me what really." he turned her to face him "He hit you didn't he?"
"No." Clare said
"When?" he pressed on
"Never. Fitz would never hit me." she looked around for an exist. "Listen I gotta go to the ladies room. See you around." Eli wanted to stop her but couldn't. She rushed passed Adam who noticed the busted lip too.
"What's wrong with Clare?" Adam was confused
"I think Fitz is hitting her." Eli said blatantly.
"What?" Adam said shocked
"She claims to have gotten that from falling but, Fitz picked her up yesterday and Clare looked scared and he was yelling and forcefully grabbed her." Eli explained "And now she has a cut on her lip from "falling" out side her house?" Eli shook his head "Not likely."
"What are you gonna do?" Adam asked
"Get her to admit the truth, then get her to leave him." Eli said "Before I loose it and kill Fitz." Eli admitted.
…...
Clare was waiting for Fitz to come back and get her. She was about to cry. Clare had been avoiding Eli all day cause she didn't want to tell him they could no longer be friends. Cause Clare knew a part of her would die. Eli rushed out of the building as soon as he saw Clare sitting there.
"Hey, what's up? You rush away from me this morning and now you avoid me," Eli asked
"I just don't want to see you OK?" Clare began. Here we go. Just rip the band aid. But it was like one for those band aids that takes some skin and blood with it
"What? Why?" Eli looked a little hurt "Is this about this morning? Cause I was worried?" Eli went to touch her shoulder "I am sorry. Its just that Clare," He began "You come to school with new bruises, you are always on edge and scared of displeasing Fitz, and after yesterday and you having a bloody lip, I was just concerned."
"I don't need you looking out for me. I can take care of myself."
"Clare I know there is something your not telling me." Clare began to tear up. Why did he have to be so great? He was making this harder than it had to be. "He is hitting you, isn't he?" Eli asked again
"Maybe he is, maybe he isn't." Clare said. Eli looked mad now.
"I am gonna kill him." Eli turned around Clare stopped him
"No don't. He cant know you know." Eli was scared because of the frightened expression on sweet Clare's face.
"Why?" Clare looked down
"Fitz promised to stop if I stopped hanging out with you."
"WHAT!" Eli shouted "And you believe him?"
"Yes."
"Clare a guy like that will always find a reason to hit you." Clare knew Eli was right
"He tells me he loves me." Clare added almost mouse like
"He loves you so much he hit you? Leaves bruises? Oh and cuts you off from your friends? Your right that is true love." Clare knew Eli was still right and that made her angry
"Oh like you know about real love, you still hold on to your dead ex!" As soon as Clare said she wanted to take it back. Eli looked he was on the verge of tears. "Eli I am so sorry."
"You know Clare, I don't know what sadder. You staying with Fitz when he treats you like this, or you not realizing what your worth?" Eli told her "You are amazing. The smartest, coolest and mot beautiful girl I have ever met. And you deserve someone who knows that. But if you cant even see what your worth, than maybe you deserve Fitz." He looked at her with such hurt and sadness in eyes "Goodbye Clare. I wish you the best." and he walked away
"Eli wait." The way Clare said his was almost too sweet for him to resit. "I am sorry."
"Me too. Bye." Eli walked away and didn't even look back. He heard her sobbing and it took every bit of strength in him not to turn back and hold her. Every ounce of strength.
…...
Fitz cam to get Clare about an hour later
"So?" he asked
"Eli and I are no longer friends." and just like that Clare felt like she died.
"Good. Now things can will get better." and he smiled "I love you Clare." and he drove away. Clare looked back to see if maybe he was there. His hearse was not. Eli was really gone form her life. Forever.