As soon as I noticed it was Clare, I opened the door and ran to her side.

"I couldn't do it anymore" Clare cried as I picked her up and ran to the passenger side of the door. I managed to get it open and slide her in. I reached behind her and grabbed a blanket to wrap around her. I ran to the driver's side and started the car right away. I pulled Clare closer to me and tried to help dry her off. She just sat there and cried. I held her close as I drove home as quickly as I could.

I didn't want to ask any questions even though I had a million. She had a bloody lip, she was limping, and she was out here without a coat and shoes.

As I pulled into the Driveway, I could see Clare calming down a little. She was still crying but not as bad. I turned the car off and unlocked the door.

"You don't have to do this" Clare whispered quietly.

"Yes I do" was all I said before getting out and walking to her side of the door. I picked her up bridal style and walked to the door. Once I was inside, Cece immediately came running over but I told her I'd be back and took Clare upstairs to my room.

I laid her down on my bed and tried to move away but her arms were still locked behind my neck.

"Please don't go" she cried out before I sat next to her and just held her as she cried. We sat there got a good 20 minutes before she finally let go. We both just stared at each other before she yawned and I could tell she was getting tired.

"Let me get you some clothes and you can go to sleep. We'll talk about this tomorrow."

"But where are you going to sleep?"

"I'll sleep on the couch. You need a good night of sleep."

She nodded her head and I got up to grab some clothes. I handed her a pair of basketball shorts and my Dead Hand shirt.

"Are you going to be ok?"

She shook her head yes and tried to stand but fell right over. I ran to her and helped her up.

"We'll have to get your foot looked at tomorrow but I'll go get you some aspirin and ice."

I ran down the steps and into the kitchen. Cece was standing at the counter looking worried.

"Was that Clare? What's going on?" she asked as I grabbed an ice pack, aspirin, and a glass of water.

"I'll be back to explain it later, right now I need to get this to Clare." I ran up the steps and into my room to see Clare had changed into the shorts but still had on her wet long sleeve shirt.

"Aren't you going to change your shirt?" I asked moving closer.

"I will in a few minutes" she said quickly. Odd but ok.

I handed her the aspirin and water. I helped her prop her foot on a pillow and ice pack.

"I'm going to go back downstairs now ok? I'll check on you in a little while. If you need anything just yell." She nodded her head as I left the room and went back downstairs.

I sat at the kitchen counter as Cece stood by the tea pot making me a cup.

"What's going on Eli?"

I rested my head in my hands and closed my eyes. Cece placed a cup of tea in front of me and rubbed my back.

"I let Clare down. All of this happened because I broke my promise." This is my fault. If I had just protected her like I said I would, I wouldn't let any of this happen.

"What promise? Eli you aren't making sense right now" Cece said.

"I can't tell you what's going on right now because I don't even know what's fully going on. All I know is I need to protect Clare right now." I turned and looked her right in the eye. "Clare use to be my world and you know that. I let her slip away from me and now she needs me. I can't let her go again."

She looked at me and smiled. "Tomorrow I'm taking her to the doctors; I think she may have sprained her ankle. But first I'm going to talk to her and figure everything out. Then I'll talk to you about it. But for now she needs to stay here. Please Cece let her stay here for a while."

She threw her arms around me and hugged me. "Clare can stay here as long as she wants. She never has to leave if she doesn't want to." I smiled and hugged her back.

"Alright I'm going to go to bed. Are you sleeping on the couch?" I nodded my head and told her goodnight.

I needed to go to my room to grab some clothes plus I wanted to check on Clare again. When I got in my room Clare was asleep. I walked as quietly as I could to my closet where I grabbed a pair of basketball shorts and shirt. I was about to walk out the door, when I heard a little whimper. I stopped walking and turned towards Clare who was now tossing and turning all over the bed. I ran to her side and tried waking her up.

"Clare wake up you're having a nightmare. It's alright." After a moment she jumped right up and let out a huge breath. She turned to me a grabbed my neck, pulling me into a hug. I just hugged her back as she cried.

"Shh okay Clare, no one is going to get you. You're safe now."

She pulled away and looked at me. "Eli I know this may be a lot to ask but can you please stay with me?" I hugged her and said of course. She lay back down and I ran to the other side of the bed and got changed really quick. It was dark so I don't think she could see me.

I crawled into the bed and without hesitation, Clare curled right up into me. I wrapped my arms around her and gave her a little squeeze.

"I'm so scared Eli" she whispered.

"I promise I won't let him near you again" I whispered back and we eventually drifted off to sleep.

I woke up with Clare wrapped around me. She was still sleeping and I didn't wasn't to disturb her but I needed to use the bathroom. I grabbed her arm lightly to move it off me but I felt something weird on her arm. I looked down and lifted her arm to see a bunch of scars and words carved into her skin. I saw the word SLUT on her arms and lost it.

I gently got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. I closed the door and cried. I cried because this is my entire fault. I should have never left her when I did. I should have never gotten jealous of her friendship with Jake. I needed to make this right for her.

Clare's POV

I woke up and felt the bed I was on. These aren't my sheets? Then I remembered what happened. I was at Eli's. But where is he? I looked down and saw my arm remembering my scars. I quickly took off the shirt I had on and put on the long sleeve shirt. A few moments later Eli walked back in. he sat on the bed next to me. We just kind of stared at each other for a few minutes.

"How's your foot?" he asked. I kind of forgot about my foot until I tried to move it and a pain went through it. I jumped at the pain and made a gasping noise.

"I guess we should get you to a doctor." He said with a little chuckle.

"Before I take you though I need to know what happened last night. I need to know what your dad did to you."