Happy Tuesday you guys! Once again I apologize for updating so slowly.

I'm surprised that I didn't like yesterday's episode of Now or Never. Does anyone else feel this way? I'm glad that we met Imogen though!

Enjoy ;)

Chapter 4: Strange world

They're getting closer to finding me. I'm pacing in my hotel room, nearly pulling my hair out.

What's so wrong about a fifteen year old girl running away from a careless family? I'm better off on my own!

My phone continues to vibrate but I don't dare pick it up. I could suddenly decide that I need to come home from just hearing a familiar voice. There is no good end to that situation.

The TV's on a higher volume as I try to listen to it while looking at myself with disgust in the bathroom window. Taking the scissors to my hair, I cut off the length in half.

Snip; the scissors cut my hair to a short length. The dark red dye completely makes me look different.

No one will ever find me; no one.

I don't recognize myself anymore; who runs off every night in hopes of not being caught? I don't look anything like a saint; I look like a hooker.

But it works.

…

The third town I'm leaving. It's not as bad as it sounds.

Ever since I've transformed, no one's looked at me weirdly. A smile appears on my lips almost naturally now. It's been better since I've left; independence isn't that bad.

I try to write a letter to Eli whenever I get to a new town or city; I don't think I'll send them until I'm out of Canada, if I get that far. They won't be able to find me then.

No one important has called me yet; most are from the dreaded Elijah Goldsworthy. Why does he think I'd want to talk to him after I left? I left to get over my past life, but things are still holding me down.

An unknown number calls me; it might be the receptionist at the last hotel. Did I leave anything?

"Hello?" I ask, continuing down the street.

A heavy sigh comes from the other line. "Clare."

"Do I know you?" I ask cautiously. If people are suddenly getting my number, then I have to chuck it. It could be the police for all I know!

"It's me, Eli."

"No." I almost yell. "I swear if you're tracking my call I'm—"

"Calm down!" He retorts at me. I pause at the train station so that I don't have to multitask. "I promise I'm not tracking your call. I'm in my car with Adam."

"How can I know for sure?" I question him, making sure no police cars are near me. "You won't find me anyway, even with the police on your side."

"Clare," Eli whispers on the other end. "Just shut up for a second; the police honestly don't want my help. I have Adam with me, and for his sake, please just tell us where you are. He's been a mess since you left."

"You're lying." I whisper. "He doesn't care about me."

"But he does." Eli quickly responds. "I couldn't leave by myself to find you; he had to come with me." There's some talking in the background of where he is.

"Where are you?" I ask quietly.

"Uh—" It sounds like he's looking around himself; not in his car.

"Liar!" I yell, chucking the phone on the train tracks. The one time I almost believe him, he lies to me.

…

"We got her location," The chief says. I sigh in relief as he turns to me. "You did a good job, kid; you did the right thing."

"But now she doesn't trust me at all." I mutter, covering my face with my hands.

A hand pats me on the back. "It's what you needed to do. If we want a better chance at finding her, we need to break some promises."

I didn't tell Adam why I came here; he was still waiting in the car, listening to Dead Hand. I don't know what made me come here; the first girl I fell in love with after Julia hated me—why should I be helping the cops find her?

Maybe I think it's a favor.

The police tell me to follow them out of the parking lot. Adam looks confusedly at me as we get onto the highway.

"Where are we going?" He asks curiously.

"To find Clare," I murmur, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. "The police were able to track her phone, so—"

"So you broke her trust in you?" Adam growls at me, exasperated. "I can't believe you did that! She trusted you!"

"She never did." I retort. "Maybe you thought so, but I know she didn't trust me!"

"Then why did she pick up the phone?" Adam questions, and I don't have an answer.

"It was an unknown number?" I answer.

He forces a chuckle. "Un-freaking-believable, Eli."

We stay silent for a while before Adam speaks up again. "Did you ever read the letter?"

I stay silent again. Damn it.

"You forgot." He concludes, looking out the window. "Do you want to know what she told me in mine?" He asks, and I weakly nod.

"She told me that something had happened; if I had cared enough, she would've written it. I think it had something to do with Jake, but I'll never know." Adam sighs. "She also said that she saw how everyone around her was moving on with their lives and she was still stuck in the past; you have Imogen now, I have Fi, and she has no one."

"That's a lie." I state. Adam looks in my direction.

"It's not," he honestly says. "You know that Imogen's been hitting on you since you guys have become friends. She thinks you guys are already dating! Clare's had to watch you two for weeks during play rehearsals; I guess she just finally cracked."

"Why would she think I could move on?" I ask myself.

"Because it looks like you have." He answers quietly.

"It does?" Adam nods.

"You're all happy; good friends, nice family; you seem to have the perfect life now."

"That's what people think," I growl. "But I'm in as much pain as Clare is! I haven't gotten over the whole breakup either. She hurt me!"

"Did you tell her that, or did you just stop talking altogether?"

I think for a moment. "We just… stopped. Clare needed her space, as did I."

Adam sighs. The cop cars stop in front of us as they walk out and look around the area. "Aw man," Adam whines. "I know this place."

I raise an eyebrow. "You do?" I ask. He nods.

"This is the more… sketchy side of this area. It's very… different, you could say."

"Would anyone hurt her here?" I almost growl. Adam jumps out of his seat and out of the car.

"No man," he assures me. "People like to stand out here more—they wouldn't hurt someone because of that."

A policeman jogs back to the cars with a cell phone in his hands. "Does this look familiar?" He asks me, and I instantly know.

"It's hers." I reply, fiddling with my rings. "She's been here."

"It means we're closer," He answers me. "We can ask around the area to see if they've recognized her, but otherwise we're going to have to be patient."

I curse under my breath. I hate waiting.

…

City number four is close; a few miles away.

I know they're getting closer since Eli pulled me out, but I have to continue the ride. It's a never ending journey I'm on the path of.

I nearly fall off my bike as I see three cop cars rush by me. My breathing stops as I see that they're closer than I thought.

I stop for a moment, grabbing my water bottle. While they're passing by, I can try to find another route to go on; one that they wouldn't think of. But of course I don't know the area…

"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. He's… looking for me now?

He has the nerve! Basically setting me up in a trap and then trying to find me on his own?

I tried taking in all I could about his new car; a five-seater with an old paint job. It's probably his dad's old car since he can't drive Morty…

A boy with a beanie sits anxiously in the passenger seat; it was obviously Adam. They haven't changed at all.

Eli's head lowers as the woman walks away from him, looking over at Adam with a pained expression. I can't go over there, as much as I want to; he's got so many tricks up his sleeve that he never taught me.

Adam gets out of the car and they walk into the drug store they parked in front of. I take the opportunity and ride over to the car, opening the trunk. Shoving the items in his car, I close the door, knowing that he heard it.

The emerald eyes I learned to love catch my attention once again.

This was a bad idea.

REVIEW :)

PREVIEW:

A rock trips me once again, this time making me fall to the dampened ground. I breathe out in pain as I feel my foot protest in the motion.

"Damn it." I mutter under my breath, picking myself up. My expression worsens as I fall back down again, not able to get up.

Once again it's a rrrreeaaaallllyyyy short preview but that's what previews are ;)