I was standing at my locker waiting anxiously for Jake to get here. I texted him and asked him to meet me early so I could talk to him about Clare. She also wasn't here yet and that made me even more anxious. What if her dad hurt her? What if she's really injured? I was pulled out of my negative thoughts as Jake leaned against the lockers next to me.

"Hey man what did you need to talk about?" he asked as I turned towards him.

"Jake yesterday while Clare and I were working on the project she got a call from her dad. He was screaming at her and she seemed terrified." I paused to look at his face which showed anger and concern. "What's going on between her and her dad?"

He looked down and rubbed the back of his neck. "Eli that's something Clare needs to talk to you about not me."

"But she's not going to tell me!"

"Why do you even care? You torment that poor girl to no end."

I took a deep breath and leaned against the lockers closing my eyes.

"Jake, Clare and I use to be best friends. I thought of her as a sister. I made a promise to her that I would protect her and never let anyone hurt her. I broke that promise. I have hurt her so much that I don't think she could ever forgive me but if someone else is hurting her then I need to help her. Please Jake help me out." I could hear the desperation in my own voice but at this point didn't care. I was desperate.

Jake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Clare's relationship with her dad kind of fell apart after her mom died. Her dad started hitting her."

I clenched my jaw and fist as Jake talked. "I wanted so badly to tell someone but she made me promise not to. Her dad is all she has left and even though he treated her like that she still needed him."

I punched the locker and attracted a few eyes in our direction. "We have to tell someone Jake we can't let this keep happening"

He shook "she told me it's a lot better now. He doesn't hit her anymore he just yells but he's working on it. If you tell someone now it will just mess things up."

The bell rang for first period and everyone started going to their classes. I opened my locker and put my books away.

"Where are you going?" Jake asked as I was walking towards the door.

"I'm going to check on Clare. I need to know if she's ok."

Clare's POV

After waking up this morning to make my father's coffee I decided to just get back in bed. After Eli dropped me off last night my dad wasn't happy. He had a few friends over again and I wasn't there to serve them. It wasn't a good night.

I was lying in bed when I heard the sound of someone knocking on the door. I looked at my clock and saw it was only 8:15 and no one is ever here this early. I put on my slippers and went downstairs to answer the door. I was very surprised to see Eli standing there.

"Eli? What are you doing here?" he looked concerned and worried.

"I um I really need to talk to you." he seemed nervous as I told him to come in. we sat on the couch with a good amount of space between us. After yesterday's little blow up I think it's best to keep our distance.

"How come you weren't coming to school today?" he asked breaking the awkward silence.

"I needed a day off. I had a bad night." As soon as I said that his head shot right up and his eyes got wide.

"Why did you have a bad night? Did something happen?" It's almost like he already knows why I had a bad night and that makes me nervous.

"What is it you needed to talk to me about?" I wanted to change the subject right away. I saw him look down and try to find the words to say.

"Clare has you're father ever hit you? Don't lie to me please." I sat there biting my lip trying to think of a response. I want to tell someone what's going on. I want someone to help me. But at the same time I know I can't tell anyone. Losing my dad is like losing the last connection I have to my mom.

"Clare please just tell me the truth." Eli pleaded again.

I shook my head very slowly and almost unnoticeable. "Yes my father hit me. After my mom died he went into a deep dark depression. He would come home from work, grab a few beers and lock himself in his room. We barely saw each other."

I stopped to take a breath before continuing. "As time went by, we were both in an unhealthy state. I had become so depressed and did things I regret."

I looked at him and was deciding whether or not I wanted to show him my scars. I decided I better not.

"One day when he came home from work he went to grab a beer but there wasn't any. I threw them all away before he got home. I tried explaining to him that he needs to go get help because I can't keep living this way. But he was too mad to even answer me with his words. So instead he hit me."

I touched my cheek which is where he slapped me.

"It became a regular thing. If I screwed up I'd get hit."

Eli moved closer but not too much.

"After a few months I finally left and moved in with Jake. I told him that if he didn't go get help I wouldn't comeback. I lived at Jake's for the summer while he went to rehab and got help."

"Have things been better since he came back?" Eli asked.

"They have. He doesn't hit me anymore but he tells and screams. I know he's working on it so I'm willing to give him a chance."

This whole thing is a lie. I never lived with Jake, my dad never went to rehab, he still hits me, and I know for a fact that he is NOT trying to change. I just can't bring myself to tell Eli the truth.

"So how come you were so scared when he called you yesterday?"
I started biting my lip while trying to think of an excuse.

"It still makes me nervous when he yells. His voice is just scary."
I could tell by his face that he didn't believe it but he didn't push it.

"So do you want to work on our project? If you're up to it." He asked grabbing his backpack.

"Yea sure but can we work in my room? All my stuffs there and there's a desk you can sit at."
I actually just didn't want my dad to walk in and see him here. I'm not allowed to have anyone over and who knows what he would do.

We walked up stairs and into my room. I left the door open and sat on my bed while Eli sat in the chair by my desk. I took out my note pad and scanned it over.

"So you never told me who your hero is" I asked. I saw him smile to himself before answer.

"My hero is a little girl, Aiden."
I wrote the name but I have no clue who she is. I looked at him, waiting for him to elaborate.

Eli's POV

I could tell she was waiting for me to continue. It's just hard to talk about.
" Aiden was the little sister of my Ex-girlfriend Julia. She's the cutest, sweetest, and smartest 6 years old I know." I knew I was going to have to tell Clare why she's my hero but just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

"One day I was babysitting Aiden and we were on the couch watching Finding Nemo. Half way through the movie I got a phone call from Julia's parent." I closed my eyes and saw the whole scene again in my head.

"She was in critical condition in the hospital. They wouldn't tell me why but just to get there as fast as I could. So I grabbed Aiden without even explaining anything and drove to the hospital. When we got there, her father pulled me aside from Aiden to tell me what happened."

By now I had tears coming down my face. I didn't even care though.

"When Julia's parents got home, they went up to her room and found her laying there with a gun in her hand and blood on her head. She shot herself."

I felt Clare's hand running my back as I let out a sob.

"Once the doctor came out to tell us she was gone, I lost it. I broke down and began blaming myself. I knew she had depression, and I knew she hated herself but I never thought she would take her own life."

Clare looked at me and I could see her own eyes watering up.

"After Julia died I became really depressed. I didn't leave my room. I wouldn't eat. I felt like I needed to punish myself for letting her do this. It got to the point where I was just slowly trying to kill myself."

I stopped and smiled. This is where Aiden became my hero.

"Until Aiden came to visit me. She was the first person to be in my room since Julia died. I lay up in bed and she sat across from me. I could tell she was upset and that upset me. But then she got mad at me and asked why I was doing this to her. She said she didn't want to lose me like she lost Julia and she feels like she is. It was then that I decided I can't do this to myself or to Aiden. I was like an older brother to her and she said she didn't want to lose two family members."

I sat there smiling and looked over to Clare. "Aiden saved my life. If it wasn't for her I probably would have ended up killing myself. I spend almost every weekend with her and think of her as a sister."

"I'm so sorry Eli I had no idea what you went through last year." Clare looked sad and upset.

"Clare don't be sad. I'm better now. Although if I were you, I would probably wish I had killed myself."

She immediately moved closer to me. We were only inches apart.

"Eli Goldsworthy I would never wish death upon anyone. I know we aren't on the best of terms and we fight all the time but I promise you I would never want you dead."

It felt good to know that Clare didn't hate me enough to want me dead.

"Well anyway how about some pizza for lunch?" she asked moving away from me. I looked at the clock and saw it was already 1:15.

"Shoot, I have to go I'm picking Aiden up from school today at 1:30." I grabbed my bag and Clare led the way downstairs. I was about to walk out the door when Clare grabbed my arm.

"Please don't tell anyone what I told you today? I really don't want people to know."

I smiled at her "I promise I won't tell anyone." Then I left. I felt better knowing Clare was ok at her house.

Clare's POV

It was now 7 and my dad still wasn't home. I'm hoping maybe he won't be home tonight and that he'll stay out with some whore.

As I was watching TV in the living room, the front door opened and my dad came marching towards me.

"Who the fuck was here today!" he screamed at me.

I fumbled for words, terrified to say anything. He slapped me across the face and knocked me off the couch.

"The neighbor said she saw a boy leave the house earlier today. Who was he? Is he you're fuck buddy? Uh Clare?" he then punched me in the mouth and I could taste blood.

After I laid there for a few minutes he walked towards the kitchen to get a beer. As he was walking, I got up and ran to my room as fast as I could. I could her him yelling for me and chasing after me. I ran into my room and locked my door although that won't hold him long.

"You're going to really regret doing that once I get this door open!" he screamed through the door.

I have had it! I don't need to live this way. I can't do it anymore. I grabbed my purse off my bed and opened the window. I could still hear my dad messing with the lock on the door as I climbed out the window and jumped down to the ground. It was thundering and raining but I didn't care. I didn't realize how far of a drop it was until I landed and fell on my ankle. I got up but could barely put weight on it.

I didn't care though. I started limping as fast as I could. I wasn't sure where I was going but I knew I needed to get away.

Eli's POV

After dropping Aiden off at home I came home and relaxed. I felt better knowing Clare was safe. I also felt better telling her about Julia and Aiden. I never really told anyone that story.

As I was on the computer Jake called me.

"Hey man how was Clare?"

"She was alright she explained the whole thing to me. Hey I'm really glad you let Clare live with you for the summer. She could have really gotten hurt if she stayed there."

There was a silence on the phone that just didn't feel right.

"Eli, Clare didn't live with me this summer. She was at home with her dad."

I felt my heart drop and I wanted to scream.

"What? No she said she lived with you over the summer while her dad was in rehab"

"No she stayed home with her dad. He never went to rehab."

I didn't even say good bye before hanging up. I walked right out the door and hopped inside Morty. How Clare lie to me about that?

As I was driving towards Clare's house to talk to her about this, I saw a girl limping very fast quickly. She didn't have any coat or shoes on. I pulled over and flashed my lights towards her to see her. Limping in front of my car was Clare.

Not sure if I like this chapter but whatever. This isn't going to be a long story. Maybe like 10 chapters but that's it. Please review