Hey guys! All of your (much appreciated) reviews motivated me to update quickly! Thank you for continuing to support me, even though we had hit a rough patch. I love you guys, so please enjoy the ninth chapter of "Titanium"...
No Beta Reader, so ignore if there are any mistakes (:
Titanium
ELI
"Sleeping with the victim eh? I thought you were classy, not trashy." Drew, my buddy who I invited over for some pizza and beer said, while wiping sauce off his face with his sleeve.
"I'm not sleeping with her, but I've bonded a lot with her. She's really special, and even though I have to go to sign the divorce papers with Imogen tomorrow, I don't feel any pain." I spoke confidently, while Drew asked with a full mouth, "Do you think your feelings for Clare are just there because you're hiding your hateful feelings of Imogen?"
I shook my head, "It's different with Clare. I could be in the shittiest moods; I could lose my house and be homeless, but if she'd just walk up to me on that very same day, I'd feel like the happiest man alive."
"You're in love." Drew declared, practically spitting all of his food in my face.
I winced, wiping his pizza off my cheeks, and sighing, "I don't know what it is man. I just feel like if I ever lost her, there'd be no me anymore."
"Enough of this emotional crap, how's your 'd' doing?" I gave him a strange look, before he pointed to my crotch, "How's he doing? Getting any action from this girl or you've got bruised nuts?"
"We've only been seeing each other for a month Drew, and plus, we've both been nervous about going back to work next week. I mean, she doesn't think I should go back to the police force but I have to. Working with you guys, saving lives, it makes me feel like I'm doing something right. It was as if I was born to protect, to risk my life for others." I admitted, taking a swig of beer.
"We haven't really...labled 'us' yet. I guess, technically we're just really close friends who make out and have sleepovers..." I mumbled, feeling a wave of sadness come over me by the reality of Clare and I's relationship.
"So you're telling me that she can be out there right now, fucking some other dude, while you come over in the middle of the night to be the cuddle buddy. Nah man, that's fucked up." He stated, and I laughed, "She's not that type of person Drew. She's innocent, adorable, cute, funny, and gives off this vibe that makes you feel like you're invincible."
"You're whipped man. She's got a leash on you too. Listen bud, hate to break it to you but Chief Mason may decline your request to come back. He took your near death experience very roughly, so I hope you're prepared to take on a beast." I rolled my eyes at his comment, chugging down the rest of my beer.
"Well, I'm buzzed enough to sleep through the night without any nightmares so I think I'm going to just head upstairs and go to sleep. You can watch some tv, and take the couch." I handed Drew the remote, and he wouldn't let it go.
He looked into my eyes and said, "I know you may be drunk as fuck right now, but understand that women are getting smarter these days. If they're hurt by men, they'll drop them, and just like that you'll be all alone. Don't fuck up Eli, this one cares about you."
"Thanks man." I slapped his back in a 'bro hug', before heading up the steps and crawling into bed.
Although I had burned the sheets and bought a new mattress, Imogen's smell still lingered. And sometimes, I could hear her. Feel her. A tear slipped through my eyes as I tightened my arms around my pillow, and clung onto it for dear life. My heart felt heavy as the moonlight shinned in through the shades.
A sob escaped my lips when I thought about how when I worked late, Imogen and I had this "thing" where we'd both look at the moon at ten at night. Knowing that we were under the same sky comforted the both of us when I was roaming a dark street, or when she was sitting by herself on the couch.
The timing had filled our lonesome voids.
I grazed my hand under my pillows, looking for my cellphone. Once I found it, I swiped the lock code, then pressed on my pictures icon. I smiled through tears and sobs at the pictures of Clare and I in the park at night; her tongue was in my ear, while my eyes were wide.
She was so cute, and for some reason, she could take my mind off of anything. My phone buzzed in my hand, and I smirked, seeing a goodnight text from Clare.
I laughed, seeing a picture of Mr. Cuddles and her snuggling on the couch. The message below the picture read:
Mr. Cuddles wanted to say goodnight! Sweet dreams Eli, we miss you! xoxo
~Clare & Mr. C-dawg
Before I could respond my eyelids became extremely heavy, and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep...
ELI
"So that's it? It's over?" I asked my lawyer, who nodded, "You can shake hands with her if you'd like, but other than that, no. You may leave."
I smiled, looking at Imogen who was holding onto Liam's hand.
We stood up all at the same time, and I held out my hand to Imogen. She bit back her bottom lip, and shook my hand lightly.
"I'm sorry we didn't work out Eli, but I do hope your whole charity case works out with Clare. Hopefully Luke doesn't sneak into her house and kill her in her sleep..what a shame that'd be, am I right?" I tugged my hand away from her grip and was about to deck her in the face, when my lawyer wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back, "That's enough Ms. Moreno, please be on your way. Your services are not needed here any longer."
"How could she say something like that about Clare?" I asked, all the blood in my body rushing to my head.
"Don't worry about it Elijah, she's just trying to get to you. Now, you're officially free. Please, go out, go have fun with Clare, call some buddies over. You deserve it, you're a hero." Mr. Coyne said, giving me an encouraging grip of the shoulder.
"Thanks man, for everything. I'll call you if I have any troubles with Imogen." I declared, making my way out of the building.
Even though Clare couldn't make it to be with me today because of an emergency vet appointment with Mr. Cuddles because she had discovered flees, we had agreed to meet up at her place after.
I pulled my phone out, and smiled, seeing Clare was already calling me.
How cute; we were on the same mind wavelengths.
Tonight was the night I was going to ask Clare to be my girlfriend; I wanted to take life and the chances that I have from now on. I'm risking my heart, and strangely, I'm up for all of what lies ahead. The midnight calls when she hears a creak in the steps but it's just the wind, rubbing her back when it's her time of the month, being yelled at for not buying the right ice cream when she's having cravings.
I wanted to be that guy who was there for her when she needs a shoulder to cry on, a person to share life long memories with.
I swiped the lock code of my phone, and answered, "Hey Clare, I was just going to call you. How's Mr. Cud-."
She cut me off with a loud sob, "I-I really need you here Eli, please hurry. I'm so s-scared."
"What're you talking about Clare? What happened?" I asked in a frantic tone, stopping in my tracks as she whimpered, "Someone broke into my apartment. T-They destroyed everything, t-they wrote things on the wall and-and-."
"I'll be right there Clare, just stay put. I'll call the police, just knock on one of your neighbors' doors and stay there. I'll be there soon."
"Do you promise?" She asked, and I could hear her heart breaking sniffles through the phone.
"Clare, I'm not going anywhere."
END OF CHAPTER NINE
Who do you guys think trashed Clare's apartment? (;
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Cliffhanger Girl
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