Hey guys! Thank you for all the alerts/subscriptions/favorites/reviews! They all mean a lot to me; they keep my juices flowing and the ideas coming. This story should be approximately 18-20 chapters about, no more, no less. Hope you enjoy the ride ;) Please enjoy the tenth chapter of "Magic Eli"...
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Magic Eli
Courage and Hope
CLARE
With his hand in mine, I felt, as if anything was possible.
The heat that radiated off his hand was electrifying, and made my heart skip beats. He would squeeze my hand ever so often, to ensure that our silence was comfortable, and that their was nothing to worry about.
What I've learned in my life, is to take risks with the right people, and even though Eli might be in a bad place, that doesn't make him a bad person. I used to be so quick to judge, but who could blame me, with a past like mine the only word that screams at me is "judge".
He used to judge me, tell me what to wear, how to wear it, why it looked horrible on me, and so on. He'd scream at me for the tiniest things, like a crumb on the floor from when I dropped a box of cereal by accident, or this one time where I shut the bathroom door too loudly and he hit me on the side of my jaw with his clenched fist.
"Isn't it beautiful out tonight?"
Eli's voice broke my train of memories, and I smiled, thankful that he did it before I got too entrapped within my own head, "It is beautiful...t-the moon is out, it looks really big tonight."
"Yeah, it does."
We walked around the park in silence, the only noises to be heard were the crunches of the leaves beneath our feet and the beats of our heart. Eli seemed content, a smirk on his face as he glanced out around his surroundings, "It's always a nice night when I've got someone like you beside me."
I rubbed my nose slowly, trying to ignore the itch from the bandage, "You don't have to impress me Eli, I'm already impressed."
He stopped walking, my hand still gripped between his fingers, "Who says I'm trying to impress you?"
Eli's head leaned forward just a bit, and he glanced nervously between my lips and my eyes. I didn't know what to do, how to respond, I've never been not forced to do this, and I don't want to dissapoint him.
"HEY LOOK! IT'S THAT DUDE FROM THE STRIP CLUB DOWNTOWN! I REMEMBER THAT ASS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY!"
ELI
Just like that...my body was falling apart; mentally and physically.
I remember that woman's voice from the night Jake had found me in the parking lot, face down the next morning. My head immediately jerked away from Clare, and I slithered behind her, using her like a shield.
"I'll pay you extra for two hours in my car..."
"I'm sorry, I'm not exactly feeling well."
"You're fine, let's go. I paid my money, I want my prize."
"Seriously m'am, any other night...I just don't feel good."
"Dazed and delirious is what I'm looking for. Let's go hot shot, you've got a long two hours ahead of you."
"What's wrong buttercup? You miss me?" the woman taunted, blowing a bubble obnoxiously with her red gum.
I clenched tight fists with the fabric of Clare's dress, whimpering into her neck, "Please, make her go...p-please."
"Aw, is he shy?" she tortured, trying to get around Clare, but I buried my head in the back of her neck, my tears dripping onto her skin. I whimpered, sniffling against her back as Clare spoke sternly, "I don't know who you are, but you're upsetting him-you need to leave, now."
"Oh, he never told you about me?"
"No, he didn't, and I don't need to know, it's none of my business. But as for now, he doesn't want you around, so please, leave," Clare begged, her muscles in her back tense as I clenched her dress tighter, my hands shaking.
I should've brought my pills.
"Alright butter balls, I'll just buy you again when you have your next shift. Have fun with your little chew toy," I gasped, feeling her hand cup my ass before she walked on. I whimpered like a pathetic "man" into the back of Clare's head, before my knees hit the ground.
"What's wrong Eli? Are you okay?"
Her voice was soft, and filled with care, but as of now, I had to lie-it was the best thing, for her.
"I'm fine...j-just, I didn't take my medication and-," she cut me off, placing a hand on my shoulder, "You don't need to explain anything to me Eli. You're normal, you're handsome, and you're courageous...just like your tattoo says."
"Just like my tattoo says?" I asked, my tears slipping between my lips, as she nodded, "Just like your tattoo says."
CLARE
"You ripped the sides of my lips open Fitz," I whispered nervously on the edge of our bed, fiddling with my fingers.
"What am I supposed to say? That I'm sorry? That I'm sorry you can't handle a juicy, long, wide, fat cock in your-," I walked away from our bedroom, not being able to take the torture anymore. He was hurting me-not just emotionally anymore, but physically.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going huh? WHERE?" he screamed, as I slipped on my jacket, "This isn't high school anymore Fitz, you can't keep hitting me, it's not right. No matter how many times I have to convince myself it's okay, it's just not working anymore."
"Fitz, I'm done being your doormat."
"The hell you are!" he gripped my curls through his rough fingers, and slammed my head against the front door. My body went limp against the ground, and he slammed his foot into my rib cage, wiping his dirty shoe all over my torso, "...now, you're my doormat."
"Clare! Hello? Earth to Clare!"
I glanced up at Imogen, who smiled, handing me my coffee, "You've been spacing out lately...anything the matter?"
Of course my flashback was caused by just the innocent glance of a doormat in the coffee shop. Of course it was something so little, feeble and stupid, of course. I sighed, tracing my fingers over the cup lid, "I'm just tired, I had a long night."
"How's your nose doing?" she asked, and I smiled, "I'm getting this stupid thing off soon, and surprisingly, it's stopped hurting, but now it itches like a bastard."
"Well, at least it'll be off soon. But, besides that, how was you and Eli's date? Bianca told me that you got tattoos together? What's up with that? That doesn't seem so Clare Edwards-worthy," I grinned, "It was spontaneous, but I didn't mind it one bit. We both needed the release, so we got them."
"Aw, what does his say?" Imogen sipped her latte eagerly, awaiting an answer, "Courage, it's on the top right of his back."
"Did he tell you why he wanted to get that word?" she questioned, and I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't like to push him, because I know that's the last thing I'd want someone to do to me. Pushing only makes it worse, not better. Many people just don't get that, but I do."
"Where'd you get your tattoo?" I smiled, "On my lower back."
"What does it say?"
I stood up, lifting the back of my shirt up slightly, as Imogen grinned, "Hope."
2 WEEKS LATER
ELI
"Shake."
"Move those hips."
"Lose that weight."
"Don't think twice-shove the finger down your throat."
"Come to mama! Let's go, I paid fifty dollars for this!" One woman cheered, as I began to do my job-grinding my hips into the face of a stranger, letting my body feel used and worthless.
When women touched me, I didn't feel it anymore, because I've been numbed with pain. The pain of a twenty six year old male stripper with bipolar disorder, intense anxiety, and an eating disorder.
Perfection.
That's what my adoptive parents always told me, that's what Cece always told me, "Oh Eli, you're a spitting image of perfection. You're a young, handsome, caring boy with a ginormous heart."
At times, I forced myself to believe her, for the sake of my sanity.
But right now, I knew that I haven't lived up to Cece's expectations, and if she knew what I was doing-what I have become, she'd probably cry. She'd cry in Bullfrog's arms, and then, it'd be safe to say that I've disappointed everyone in my life.
"Is that all you got man?" the woman before me taunted, sipping her beer, as I got off of her, and forced a smirk, "Sorry I couldn't live up to your expectations m'am. I'll get another stripper for you."
"Drew? Drew?" he turned around when I touched his shoulder, "I think I've got a stomach bug, can you take care of that woman back there?"
"Yeah sure."
When I was about to walk away, Drew called out over the blaring music, "Oh Eli! I forgot to tell you, there's a girl outside for you. I told her you were working and she said she'd wait, but now that you're done..."
"Thanks."
My body slumped out of the club, as I clutched onto my leather jacket nervously, letting the cool summer night breeze hit my bare chest. I was ready to see a woman who tortured me, or used me for sex, but instead, I saw Clare, smiling worriedly at me.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well...you haven't talked to me in two weeks. I didn't want to be a nag, so I waited. But, it's just that I don't want to wait forever Eli. I can give you space, if that's what you need, but I-," I cut her off, "Say no more, I've disappointed you and I know that. I'm sorry."
"You're not a disappointment Eli, I was just worried. After you ran off from our date, I thought you needed time because of that woman-whoever she was," she glared down at the floor, and silence suffocated us.
My heart raced, the thump echoing loudly in my head, "Y-You don't have to forgive me for ignoring you...but I just, could I ask you for a favor?"
"Anything Eli, I'll do it for you." She sounded caring, and genuinely comforting.
"C-Can you give me a hug?"
Her eyebrows tightened, and I sighed pathetically, "It's stupid, I know-." I stopped talking, feeling her arms wrap around my waist, hugging me tightly to her tiny frame. I leaned my chin on her head, breathing in her beautiful scent, "T-Thank you Clare."
Tears dripped onto her skin, as my jacket slipped from between us, my skin now touching the fabric of her shirt. I clenched my body tightly against hers, and I smiled-for once, I smiled at the contact of another human being.
"You're courageous Eli, remember that," she whispered, tracing over the tattoo with her fingertips.
I snaked my hand beneath her shirt from the back, and traced over the lettering of her tattoo. She giggled into the hug, burying her head in my shoulder playfully, "You give me hope Clare."
END OF CHAPTER 10
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HAPPY ECLARE EVERYONE!
In the next chapter: Eli is going to be going home...
Love you guys,
Cliffhanger Girl
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