Clare's POV

All day all I've been able to do is worry. Worry that Eli was going to tell someone what he saw last night. I kind of wanted to tell Eli the truth when he asked this morning but I just couldn't. He doesn't care anyway. There is only one person who knows what is going on and that's Jake. He kept asking me where these bruises on my body were coming from and I ran out of excuses. I made him promise not to tell. He wanted to but he knows that my dad is all that I have left. He thinks things are better that he doesn't hit me much anymore but only yells a lot. I can't tell him the truth. I can't tell anyone.

I walked into English class and was shock to see Eli already in his seat. There's still 5 minutes until the bell rings and he's normally not even in here when the bell rings. I took a deep breath and sat in my desk. I was trying to ignore him but I felt him tap my shoulder.

"Yes Eli?" I asked still facing forward.

"I just wanted to know if we were still going to work on the project after school. We at least need to start it."

He was right as much as I didn't want to work on it today I knew we needed to start it.

"Yea we can work on it that's fine." I heard him mutter a fine and he sat back in his seat. About a minute passed and I turned around to face him.

"Yes?" he gave me a look like what do you want?

I bit my lip and looked down nervously. "You um you didn't tell anyone about last night did you?"

I sat up a bit and shook his head. "Clare that's your personal business. I may not like you that much but I wouldn't tell anyone about your personal life."

Wow this was a new side of Eli he even had a small smile. I saw he was getting ready to say something when one of his friends came in and sat next to him.

"What are you looking at Edwards? I know you want my body but isn't it against your religion to lust over a body?" he chuckled and I just turned around. It's amazing how he can change in only a matter of seconds.

After class I went right to my locker. I really didn't want to work with Eli but it has to be done. Just as I closed my locker Eli was beside me getting his stuff out of his locker.

"What was that about in English?" I asked crossing my arms.

"Clare you should have known better then to think I was going to get all soft on you. I just wanted you to know that I wouldn't tell your personal business that doesn't mean we're best friends."

I rolled my eyes as he shut his locker.

"Are you ready to go work on this project?" he asked walking away before I could answer.

"What's the point in asking if you're not going to wait for a response?" I asked catching up to him. He just smiled to himself and walked out the doors. We walked to the parking lot and he walked to the hearse. Now I knew he drove the hearse but it still creeped me out. I walked towards it and stood at the door while Eli started the car. I slowly got in and shut the door. He looked at me with amusement.

"What's the matter Edwards scared of my car?" I just looked at him and told him to drive. He turned on the radio and was shocked to hear what sounded like Demi Lovato? He quickly ejected the CD and looked at me with horror. I had a smile on my face and held back my laughter.

"That CD isn't mine I swear" he tried to make me believe.

"It's already it's nice to know you have a girly sensitive side next to that jackass side."

He chuckled a bit and shook his head. "Shut up Edwards."

We drove past the Dot and I looked at him. "I thought we were going to work on this in the Dot?"

"It's too nice of a day I thought we could go to the park." I looked out the window and saw it was really pretty outside. I told him that was fine as we drove for a few more minutes until we reached the park. Once we were out of the car I started walking towards the picnic tables in the sun but Eli was going in the opposite direction.

"Um where are you going?" I asked

"I want to sit over there in the shade" he pointed to table that was kind of secluded from the park and in a shaded area.

"We should sit under the sun it's so pretty out."

He started walking towards the shaded area again.

"I don't like the sun it's too hot" he shouted while continuing to walk.

I rolled my eyes and walked behind him. "Maybe you wouldn't be so hot if you didn't wear so much black"

I saw him smirk and gave him a face. "Why are you smirking like that?"

"Oh Clare I would still be hot if I didn't wear black" the smug look on his face just made me want to punch him.

I rolled my eyes and sat on the other side of the table while Eli decided to sit on top of it.

"Whatever let's just get this over with." I took out my notepad and the paper with the assignment.

"Alright it says we have to interview our partners then write an essay using the answers we gathered. First question, when is your partners birthday?"

I looked up at Eli then started to write on my paper.

"You didn't even ask me how could you be writing already?" I finished writing it then held the notepad up to show his birthday.

"You still remember that?" he asked shocked.

"Well yea we always had the most fun on your birthdays it was hard to forget." I saw him smile but then saw it fade away as he looked at his paper. It was obvious he didn't remember my birthday. I rolled my eyes and told him my birthday.

"I know I already had it written down" he said handing me his paper. When he did I noticed some answers were already filled in.

"You remember what my favorite color is?" I asked as he looked out into the woods.

"Yea it's hard to forget." He looked at me and I saw hurt in his eyes.

"What do you mean it's hard to forget my favorite color?" he shook his head and looked at me again.

"You mean you don't remember my favorite color?" I tried to think really hard to remember but the only think I could think of was black.

"Is it black?" I saw his jaw tighten a little and he looked mad but he also look sad.

"Yea sure it's black." I was about to ask why he was so made but he already took his paper back and asked me the next question.

"Favorite animal?" I decided it was best to just answer the questions and be done.

"Giraffe. Yours?" he didn't even look at me as he answered Dog.

"Who's your hero and why?" I smiled and looked down.

"My mom."

Eli's POV

I smiled at the paper as I heard her say her mom. Mrs. Edwards is Amazing. She was always there for me when my parents weren't and made me feel like I was part of the Edwards family.

"My mom always knew what to do in any situation. She was always there for me and did everything she could to keep me safe and happy." I continued to write as she spoke.

"But most importantly she was scared when she was told she has cancer."

I stopped writing immediately in shock.

"As I saw her getting weaker and less of herself I would cry in fear and sadness but she didn't. She didn't shed one tear until the very end when she said goodbye to me." I moved to sit next to her while a few tears escaped her eyes.

"Your mom died?" she shook her head yes and looked away. I can't believe this! How could I not know?

"She died three years ago after fighting breast cancer for 6 months." I looked at her as she spoke. "When the doctors found it they said her chances of beating it weren't too great. They um they gave her a year to live but she didn't even live that." she threw her head in her lap and cried. I rubber her back and then puller her up and into a hug. She was stiff at first but when I let out a sob I was holding in she held me tight.

Yes I was crying. I loved Mrs. Edwards like a mother and the fact that I didn't know she has been gone for three years killed me.

"Clare I am so sorry I had no idea. Your mother was like my second mom I loved her like my mom."

She pulled away and looked at me. "She thought of you like the son she never had." We sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"Eli if you haven't noticed we kind of aren't friends."

"I know but we use to be best friends. You know how much you're mother meant to me and how much I meant to her. You should have told me!" I started getting angry and stood up.

"I know I should of. I wanted to tell you and invite you to the funeral but I just couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to tell you!" now she was standing up and yelling.

"Why Clare? Why couldn't you tell me?"

All of a sudden her phone went off. She picked it up and I could hear the sound of a man yelling.

"No sir I need to work on a project" I thought she was talking to her dad but why would she call him sir.

"No no no please I promise I'll be home in 5 minutes please sir I'm sorry" she hung up the phone and started grabbing her stuff.

"Eli please give me a ride home please I'll do anything" I grabbed my stuff and told her I would give her a ride home.

The whole way to her house I saw fear and worry in her eyes. "Clare was that your dad on the phone?" she looked at me and shook her head yes.

"Why was he so angry?"

"I um I forgot to clean my room." I couldn't help but feel like she was lying but we were already at her house. I stopped the car and she was about to get out but I stopped her.

"Clare are you sure you're going to be ok?"

"Yes Eli I promise nothing is going on I'm fine." And with that she got out of the car and into the house.

I know something is up. There is no reason why she should be that afraid of her dad. I pulled out of the driveway and started driving. Clare won't tell me what's going on but maybe she told someone else.