So, I'm not going to lie. I don't have much else written after these last couple of chapters. I'm going to try to write an ending for sure, but it may be shorter than I originally intended. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy it.

Chapter 9

When he began texting her later that evening, Clare had to feel guilty. He really was only trying help and now he was the only person she could be honest with. He was the only person she could be herself around.

-Sorry, not trying to be obnoxious but I just wanted to see how you were holding up.

She was getting ready to text him a novel back when she realized how much easier it would be just to call him. He picked up on the first ring.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey, I just realized I forgot to thank your dad for the ride home."

"Oh, yeah. It's no problem. We were happy to-"

"Eli, I'm sorry. I was really upset earlier and it wasn't fair for me to take it out on you. You've been my only friend the past week and I would have been a wreck without you. I'm still a wreck even having you. Thank you for being there for me," she blurted out, then slapped her head for being such an idiot. She was embarrassed to be pouring her heart out like that, but it needed to be said.

"Clare, you don't have to hide anything from me. Listen, do you want me to come over? We can do our homework together or something."

She really wanted him, too, but she still wasn't sure how her mom would react. "No, no, that's okay. Jake and his dad are here and I don't want to bore you to death."

"Jake? You guys spend a lot of time together, huh?" His insecurity was evident even through the phone line.

Clare was slightly interested in his tone but brushed it off as curiosity. "Not as much as when we were kids. Now we're just kind of thrown together because our parents are friends. Anyway, I'll see you for English tomorrow?"

"You bet, and Clare-" he wanted to mention the kiss, to apologize for it, to tell her that he really wasn't sorry. He wanted to explain why he had done it, and why he wanted to do it again. But he didn't. Afraid of being awkward or complicating their relationship even further, he said, "You're welcome." It was his turn to smack himself in the head out of frustration and embarrassment.

"Goodnight, Eli. I've got to text Adam now. He keeps asking me if I'm alright. He's really pretty cool."

"Yeah, he is. Goodnight, Clare."

When morning came, Eli didn't meet her at her locker for the first time all week. She refused to be disappointed and headed towards his instead. He obviously hadn't arrived yet, but Adam was right there getting his books out of his own locker.

"Good morning," she greeted.

He smiled when he turned to see her. "Hey. 'Sup?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to say thanks for being so nice lately and checking up on me."

"No prob. A friend of Eli's, is… Well you know the rest. Hey you should come over and hang out with us some time. I've got a killer media room."

"Of the few things I remember about your house the night of the party, that was not one of them. I guess I'll have to check it out."

"Check what out?" Eli had arrived. He turned to see that it was Clare who was conversing with Adam. "Oh, hey."

"Hi," she smiled, but he didn't really seem too enthused to see her. "Is everything okay?" It felt weird asking him that when he was the one constantly saying it to her all the time.

"Yeah, just running late for English," he said, not even looking at her.

"We've still got a few minutes," Adam said.

"Yeah, we can all walk in together," Clare suggested.

"Sure," he said, closing his locker. Then he headed off without checking to see if they were behind him.

Clare looked at Adam, "What was that about?"

Adam just shrugged, but she could tell by the look on his face that he knew something she didn't. It was a 'here we go again' sort of expression.

"Is there something the two of you aren't telling me?"

"Oh no. I am so not getting into the middle of that," Adam declared. The bell rang. "Come on, we're going to be late." He trotted away trying to catch up with Eli.

When Clare reached the classroom, Eli already had his book out and was avidly reading or at least looked like he was trying to give off that impression. She spent the rest of the period staring at the back of his head again, watching his silky curls get caught in his collar. Clare decided the best thing she could do was let go. For some reason, Eli was having a difficult morning, which she had definitely had a lot of lately. So, she would follow his lead and be there for him. Then the bell rang.

"So I guess I'll see you at lunch," Clare said cheerfully while she grabbed her books.

"Actually, I've got some theatre stuff to do with Fiona."

Her disappointment was evident. "Oh, well do you need any help?"

"No, I think we've got it covered."

"Sure, I guess I'll just see you tomorrow then. What time do you want to go to the museum?" she asked.

The look on his face said it all. "Right, about that."

"You forgot?"

"No, I just promised I'd help Bullfrog with some stuff at the radio station." She didn't exactly look like she was on the verge of tears. He had seen enough of that lately to know that she was just upset. But this was a different kind of hurt. "Look, the tickets don't expire and the exhibit goes until the end of next month. I'm sure we'll have time another week. Or you can go with Adam if you really want."

"You don't want to go with me?"

"Sure, just some other time." He walked off before she had the chance to respond again. She turned to look at Adam who could only shrug a sympathetic gesture and then ran after his best friend.

"Dude, that was pretty harsh," He said when he caught up with Eli for their next class.

"What?" He asked.

"Don't even try to play dumb. It's none of my business and I'm not about to get in the middle of it. But you just made Fitz look like a cute and cuddly little puppy.

Eli sighed. "I just really can't do this right now, man." Adam raised his hands in surrender and sat down at his desk. He knew he was being ridiculous but he shouldn't have even come to school today. All he was going to end up doing was piss people off. He threw his bag down next to his seat.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Goldsworthy?" Ms. Oh asked.

"Sorry, I just…" he couldn't handle it. He picked his bag back up and walked right out the door, heading for home.

"Okay, so spill," Clare marched straight up to Adam when she heard what happened earlier that day.

Adam sighed knowing that making something up was never going to work. "You've just got to talk to Eli. If he wants you to know, he'll tell you."

It wasn't the answer she wanted, but somehow, it still helped. She finished out the rest of the school day, but all she could focus on was heading to his house straight after the final bell.

"Hey girlie," Alli attempted to approach her. "Want to come-" but before she could finish, Clare darted right past her, desperate to complete her mission. She flew on her bike, barely stopping to catch her breath before she reached his house. When she saw the front door, she just felt stupid and wondered how crazy she was. Who just shows up at someone's house like that? Then she remembered the events of the past few weeks and knew that the two of them weren't just English partners anymore. He was there for her. It was time to return the favor.

Knock. Knock. Nothing. "Eli! I know you're home! I can see the hearse!" Knock. Knock. Pound! "I'm not giving up!"

She heard the door. "Woman, what is your problem?" he asked.

"You are! I spend my entire life hating you and then you decide to practically save my life. Then when you're the only person there for me, you suddenly pull away!" she shouted.

"So you tried to break my door down?" He seemed quite calm but there were dark circles under his eyes.

"I need to have someone in my life that I can trust. And I've come to the conclusion that that person is you. If you really want to throw that away, that's one thing. But you're at least going to tell me why. And if it's something I can help with, then I'm not leaving." She was defiant and would not stop.

Slowly, Eli opened the door wider and allowed her to come in. She followed him to the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of pills off the refrigerator. He turned and tossed it at her.

"What's this?"

"Those are the meds I have to take every day to control my mood swings. I have bipolar disorder." He leaned against the counter with his arms crossed.

"That's it? You were going to throw everything away because you have to take a couple of vitamins throughout the day?"

It wasn't the reaction he was expecting. "That's kind of part of the disease, yeah." She walked closer and leaned back next to him. "I'm just having a bad time right now. It happens every once in a while. I get really depressed and I don't want anyone around. The people who I am around, usually the ones I'm closest to, I snap at and push away."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"It's not exactly something I like to spread around, Clare. I don't want everyone thinking I'm some freak," he explained.

"And I'm everyone? Because at some point I turned around and realized that you were my best friend."
"Wow, I'm your best friend? You must be a real loser then," he joked. For the first time all day, Clare smiled. But then, Eli did tend to have that effect on her lately. She slowly slid her hand down his wrist, and locked her fingers in his.

"Whatever you need, I'm going to be there for you, just like you were for me."

"Thanks, Clare."

"So, are we back on for the museum tomorrow?" she asked.

He hesitated. "I don't think that's good idea. I usually need some time on my own to get out of a funk." Her eyes dropped. "But I promise next week."

"I knew you couldn't resist my powers of persuasion."

He laughed. "I'm supposed to go over to Adam's on Sunday and hang out. Why don't you join us?"

She smiled. "It's a date."