ELI'S P.O.V.

"Hey, Clare." I said in the morning, when I picked her up on Oak Street, where I picked her up everyone morning, a block from her house.

She obviously was very shaken, bags under her eyes. Her porcelain fingers were shaking a little bit, but she smiled, kissed me softly good morning.

But even after we'd gotten into the car, whatever funk Clare was in was still not completely shaken. "Coffee stop?" I asked, gesturing in the direction of the Dot.

She grinned, and I turned in, glad to have found at least a temporary remedy to her mood this morning. I got my standard black-coffee, while Clare ordered some foo-foo drink I would never let touch my lips. She seemed a tad more upbeat, and I figured she just must be exhausted from everything that's been going on his life right now. We continued the drive in a comfortable silence, while a radio station that we both had agreed on finally, played softly through the speakers.

But as we arrived in the parking lot of school, something was still obviously wrong. I parked the car, and sat there a moment, while Clare reached for the handle.

"Clare?" I asked, stretching out my hand to stop her from leaving. She leaned back in her seat, and faced me, a light smile playing on her lips.

"Mr. Goldsworthy, are you trying to make me late for first period?" She asked, laughing in her weak smile.

"Clare, something's wrong." I said, rather bluntly. She look taken back.

"Um… Did I do something-"

"No, no- I mean… with you. Something's wrong- with you."

She sighed, staring in to the insides of drink. Then, suddenly, she looked at me. "And I thought I was hiding it so well." She smiled, another weak smile.

"I can read you like a book." I laughed, and then examined her closely. "Seriously, Clare. What's wrong?"

The first bell rang, and she again tried to leave. "Clare." I said again, "Please."

She exhaled loudly, and turned back to face me. "I talked to KC last night."

My face burned, I could feel it. I really hated that kid.

"And..?"

"Well… He wants me, to- well, you know…?"

"No- Clare, I don't actually know." Well, that came out sharper then I imagined it would. She looked at me curiously, and then continued.

"He wants to get back together."

"Did you tell him you weren't exactly on the market?"

"As sexiest as that sounds? Of course I did. He already knew. Word gets around in a school like this." She replied. Of course she would point something out like that, and I fought the sudden urge to smile.

"Of course it does." I sighed, slapping my hands against the steering wheel. But I was still confused. "What's.. What's the big deal about that?" I asked, turning back to face Clare. "As long as you stay away from the creep-"

"Look." Clare said, surprisingly cutting me off. I think he's going to hurt you."

I almost laughed, but the look on Clare's face was so deadly serious, I monitored my reaction to a slight smirk.

"KC. Hurt- me? Fat chance." I smirked, making a 'are-you-being-serious-right-now' face.

"KC not exactly the weakest soul at this school." She said, making an uneasy face. "And he never backs down."

"Yeah, well- neither to I." I said, as the late bell was ringing.

"Looks like we've got to run." Clare said, slinging her back up up on to her back.

She got out of the car with ease, and waited for me on the other side.

I kissed her lightly on her lips, trying to ease the pained look on her face.

"Seriously. Nothing to worry about."