Clare opened up the door for Fitz. He walked in with flowers in hand and grabbed her and kissed her. They watched a movie. Then Fitz began to kiss Clare and Clare let him. Then he began to get aggressive.
"Fitz" Clare began "Stop."
"Oh come on Clare. Your being a tease." he tried to say in a soothing voice. But Clare was not comforted
"Fitz, stop now!" she said loudly. Smack! Across her face
"Shut up bitch!" he said. Clare was tried of being scared, tired of it all. She lost her self respect, her happiness and most of all she lost Eli. The one guy who has been there for her through it all. She grew angry and kneed Fitz in the groin. "Ow!" she pushed him off of her and ran. "Come back here." but she ran up the stairs.
…...
Eli picked up Adam and headed to Clare's house. They drove in silence. Eli didn't speak and Adam didn't even try to start a conversation. Once they pulled up to Clare's house Adam looked at Eli
"What are we doing here?" Adam asked
"Helping Clare." Eli said
"Why?"
"I have to know." Eli said "I have to know if she was lying to you or me. I have to know if..." but Adam finished
"If she still loves you?" Adam looked Eli
"Yeah." Eli looked down as if he was ashamed. "I cant help Adam. OK. You know what everyone thinks when they see me? Some crazy kid who drives a hearse. A guy who wears a lot of black. They see me as a trouble maker. But Clare I mean.." he let his mind drift "She seems to see a different Eli. Besides being being one the most beautiful girls I have ever met, she is kind and sweet and funny. I have to know if we are really over." He said and turned off his engine.
"Fine." Adam rolled his eyes. And they got out and walked up to hear glass breaking. Muffled voices
"Come here." it was Fitz
"Or what? You hit me again? Bring it! I have nothing left to loose!" Clare shouted. Eli and Adam's eyes grew wide Eli pounded on the door
"Clare? Its me Eli! Open this door!"
"Eli?" she said. Clare smiled with relief. Fitz smacked Clare who fell down. Eli heard a body thud. He looked around
"What are you doing?" Adam looked panicked
"Clare's parents keep a spare key out here."
"And you know that because?" Adam asked
"Once when Clare and I came here to hang and do homework." Eli said looking under the mat "She forgot her key. I saw her pull it out form right here." he pulled it out. And he unlocked the door. To find Clare at the bottom of the stairs and Fitz on top of her, Eli was enraged. He pushed Fitz off Of Clare, and Adam helped Clare up. Fitz swung at Eli but missed. Eli punched Fitz in the face, then the gut, then he kicked him a few time once he was down. Eli could have killed him right then and there, but he heard a sweet and pained cry
"Eli, please, stop." It was Clare. And as if by magic the anger and the hatred melted.
"I am giving you 30 seconds to run. If you so much as blink in Clare's direction again, I don't care who is around, I will kill you. That dear Fitzy is a promise." he said and Fitz just left.
…...
Adam had to leave but Eli stayed behind. He looked at Clare who looked ashamed
"Go ahead. Say it." Clare said. She began to choke up "Go ahead and say 'I told you so' Tell me that I was stupid for trusting Fitz. And treating you like dirt." she was crying "Go ahead! You said I deserved it! Well I got what I deserved! Go ahead" she walked up to him and pushed him "Come on! "
When he was a statue she pushed and hit him. But Eli stood there frozen until Clare grew tired of yelling and cursing at Eli and seem to fall into his arms and cry. He held her and she cried harder. She wept harder than she ever had. Eli just tightened his grip on her. After a good 20 minutes Clare stopped at looked at Eli
"I am so sorry. I am sorry for choosing Fitz over you. Can you forgive me?"
"I already have." he told her and hugged her again. Eli stayed until Clare fell asleep and he went home. He smiled. She was alright. That was the most important thing. He could wait to see if she still cared for him.
…...
Clare didn't see Eli until Monday morning. He was sitting at the usual lunch table, it was outside and it was where the the woods near the school began.
"Hey."Clare said
"Hi." he put down the book he was reading and Clare sat down next to him. "How are you?" Eli asked honestly
"My mom went crazy when I told her. But my parents are pressing charges." she said
"Good." Eli said but he looked at her with serious eyes "But how are you?"
"Better. My mom wants me to talk to a therapist. You know to make sure sure that I am OK."
"That is good."
"You know, you really came through for me. Even after what I said to you. I was horrible and you still were willing to come and make sure I was OK." Clare's eyes were misty. "Thanks."
"Its what friends are for." Then he smiled his crooked smile.
"Right friends." Clare smiled and hugged Eli "I will let you get back to your reading." she began to get up. Eli knew this may be his last chance. He sucked up his stupid fears. After all this was Clare.
"Wait." he grabbed her arm so gently and their eyes locked and Eli pulled her in and kissed her full and without hesitation. For the first time in a long time he kissed with his whole heart. And he never had a better kiss. Clare couldn't breathe as Eli kissed her and she could care less. She wanted to be there forever. As long as Eli wanted to kiss her, was as long as she wanted to be kissed
"Clare," he said breathless
"Yeah?" she said
"I love you." he told her. She smiled her sweet and sincere smile
"I love you too Eli." and he kissed her again, and again and again. Did they care it was in the middle of school? No! Did they care everyone was watching? As far as Eli and Clare were concerned., they were the only ones out there.
Authors Note: Sorry this took so long. I started college and I was busy all week. I also wasn't sure how I wanted to end it. And sorry if the ending felt rushed. Thanks to everyone who subscibed and reviewed this! I appreciate all of you. As someone who is trying to be a writer, and I use stuff from my fan fics in my actual writing, its great to know what works and what doesn't! Thanks I love you all
KatieC