I'M SORRY I haven't updated in a while! I've had this on my doc manager since Sunday but I've recently started working, and let me tell you, I am worn out!

Enjoy ;)

Chapter 3: Words Meet Heartbeats

Click. Clack. Click. Clack.

I pass the sound of hooker heels connecting with the sidewalk, but I don't bother to see who it is. This town's already showed its 'colorful' side to me in less than an hour. It's creepy.

I need to check into a hotel; the sun is just saying its sad farewell as it disappears over the hilltops. Most of the people here seem to accept me; they don't ask me how old I am or why I'm alone. They don't ask me why I look like a mess or why I buy this and that.

I would live here if I could, but I have to keep moving on. A new day, a new town.

I park my bike in front of the hotel, walking into the cool building. The receptionist smiles lightly at me and I try to return it. "May I help you?" She asks.

"I need a one night room, one bed, please." I reply, pulling out my mom's credit card. She eyes me once before taking the card, knowing that something's up. But does she care? No.

"Your room is on the right." She says, handing me the room keys.

That was the longest conversation I've had today.

…

The room wasn't in any bad condition; the room was newly painted an off white and the bathroom was cleaned to perfection. I didn't dare look at myself in the mirror to see how bad I look.

I turn the TV on and slump lazily onto the bed, getting lost in the comfort of it.

"Clare Edwards…" The reporter drawls out, and I open an eye. They've already started looking for me, and I'm not even a full 48 hours into it? I pick myself up as I lean closer to the TV. "If seen, please call the phone number at the bottom of the screen. The last time seen she had long curly brown hair and is short. No one has seen her since yesterday morning."

I feel pissed as I understand that either Adam or Eli told on me. Maybe that was what I wanted when I gave them their letters…

Damn Adam; he would be the only one to tell. Eli doesn't have a care for me in any way.

A sudden rage goes through me. I chuck my backpack across the room, the contents spilling all over the floor. I scream lowly, making sure the receptionist won't hear me. I kick the bed repeatedly before stomping my way to the bathroom.

I look at my hideous image reflected in the mirror. "You've done this to yourself." I spat at it, my anger well shown. "And you're going to make this go the way it was planned."

…

"That's all we can do for now," The officer says as he leaves the house. Adam thanks him before closing the door, looking back at me with an exasperated expression.

"Do you think she'll call one of us?" I ask hopefully. Adam's face doesn't change as he shakes his head.

"Did you read any of your letter? She wrote that for you! You'd understand the whole problem right now if you read it!"

I put my head down in shame. "I thought it was from Imogen—she wont stop bugging me, so I—"

"Trashed it?" Adam cuts me off. I nodded, but quickly defended myself.

"But I got it! I'm just waiting for it to… dry."

Adam rolls his eyes and walks towards the television, turning it off. His whole frame shakes as he ignores my presence.

"Adam?" I ask quietly, waiting for him to face me. His body shakes more frantically as I hear him start to cry.

"I just want her back here." He tries to say. I walk over to him and give him a hug.

"We're going to find her, Adam. I'm going to go—"

"No you're not!" Adam yells back at me, pushing me away. "When you leave, I don't have either one of my best friends! You're taking me with you if you even try to find her—understand?"

I nod my head. "Tomorrow," I reply. "We'll start the search. We need to get the plan down now."

…

I sit in the front pew, tears falling uncontrollably down my face. Priest Richards sits next to me, putting an arm around my shoulders.

"Hush," he whispers to me, as to not disturb the other worshipers. "You have nothing to fear."

"But I do," I cry. "I left home, and I'm stuck. Defeated. I don't remember what I was going to do once I got out of Toronto."

"If you go back now, you can still make this all right." Priest Richards assures me, wiping the tears off my cheeks.

I shake my head. "There's no turning back; I have nothing there anymore."

"Are you sure about that?" Priest Richards asks. "What about Adam, Alli, Eli—"

"He doesn't love me." I quickly say, ripping off the band aid. "He was the one that I actually thought I would marry, the one I would spend the rest of my life with. But look at where I am."

I fall on the ground with a groan, slowly picking myself up. I'm at the park where we used to spend all of our time at; the birds still sing, and the people still laugh.

Imogen passes by me without a glance. She smiles widely as she sees Eli, running towards him.

"Eli!" She calls out, extending her arms. She grabs him in a hug which he returns.

"How's my lady doing today?" He asks, putting a lock of her hair behind her ear. She blushes and looks down; what I used to do.

"Eli." I state, seeing if he can hear me. He looks over at Imogen and carefully handles her head before kissing her sweetly.

I stomp my way over to the new couple, bringing my hand up to Imogen's cheek. The sound is heard, but no reaction comes from the girl. I try again and again until I know that it's not helping me.

"Eli, look at me!" I cry out, watching as he picks up Imogen's hand and they walk by me.

"Eli!" I scream.

My head shoots up from my pillow as I gasp for air. My nightmares have been intruding my life.

I rub my eyes as I still hear the TV playing. Everything was still like it was when I fell asleep, but today was going to be more intense. If anyone noticed I was the girl on the news, they would call instantly. I had a feeling of it.

My hoodie surrounds my curly hair as I hand the woman at the front desk my room key. She didn't give me any suspicious look like I thought she might have; maybe they don't watch the news here.

My feet spun as fast as they could to my bike, trying to find the nearest, yet farthest from the town, drug store. I had some things to do tonight that needed to be done before anyone caught on.

I park my bike and walk in a store, getting the things that I needed. A woman gives me a look as I try to smile at her. She has something in her eyes that tells me I'm not welcome here, but I would only take a minute to pay.

All my items fall onto the counter as I flash a toothy smile to the cashier. He seems to buy it, and the woman goes behind the counter and to the telephone.

She holds the phone to her ear, breathing heavily into it. The cashier hands me my items in a bag and my cash, but I hear it on my way out.

"Yes—is this the police?"

…

The paper lies on its back, the warmth of the lamp above disappearing as Cece goes to bed. As she's about to leave the kitchen, she hesitantly picks up the now-dry letter and ponders about on whether or not to read it.

The telephone messenger beeps, alerting Cece that she missed a call. Clicking the button, still holding the letter in the other hand, she pauses.

"Hey," a sigh is breathed. "It's Clare."

The TV can be heard from the other side of the line as Clare hesitates. "I regret not saying goodbye before I left," she admits, "but I think that if I saw one of your faces, I would've stayed. And that's not what I need right now; I know you'd understand if I told you, but I can't. Maybe if I see you again I won't be a coward to admit why."

Silence

"This town holds a lot of good memories for me," a laugh breathed out, "and a lot of bad memories. But don't worry about me; you and Bullfrog were two of the best people I've ever met here; I seriously wish you guys were my parents."

Another silence.

"I'm really sorry."

Silence.

"I—I know that Eli's moved on, but I'm hoping that you will remember me, and that you'll have a special place for me in your hearts as I have for you. Please support what goals he makes and the future girlfriends he brings home; it's what I want you guys to do—for me, at least. I'm going to miss you guys."

Silence.

Click.

Please feel free to review :) I love reading them all!

PREVIEW:

"Excuse me," Someone says on the other side of the road. My water bottle falls in my lap as I frantically try to catch it before it falls to the ground. It can't be.

"Have you seen this girl?" Eli asks, holding a picture of me. The woman leans in closer to take a better look before hesitantly shaking her head.

I know it's short, but if I give you any more, it'll give away things ;)