I sighed, looking at Eli's face, calm and collected when he was sleeping. He hadn't moved in quite some time, a couple hours. I suddenly found myself missing his smirk, the one that was always set on his lips. The doctors told me that all we could do was wait, and see what happened, but I wasn't sure if I had the patience for that. Adam had stayed here with me, heading here after the dance was evacuated, and Eli's parents were on their way. And so were mine.

Not that I wanted them here, but when they heard about the school and I didn't come home, they called me. And I told them where I was and they were headed to pick me up.

Even though I wanted to stay with Eli.

Adam had left for the cafeteria just minutes ago, but it felt like hours. And these few hours have seemed to lag on for days. Days of listening to the clock tick, much slower than it usually did. Days of watching someone I cared about lie lifelessly on a hospital bed, his cheeks seeming paler then anyone's I've ever seen. And days of knowing that I'd soon be taken away from him.

"Clare, honey?" My mom asked in a soft voice, knocking lightly on the door frame. I turned to look at her, swiveling in the uncomfortable hospital chair.

My father was standing next to her, and for once, they weren't arguing. But by the way he glanced at Elijah, my black-clad prince, I knew one would start up soon. "Hi, mom," I replied, trying my best to sound perky. Unfortunately, I wasn't a good actress.

My mom dismissed my fake reply and walked further into the room, setting her sights on Eli. "Hun," she began, her eyes moving over his dark, long hair, then to his black eyelashes. "Who is," she paused again, let her eyes trace down his arms, covered in that red jacket he'd worn for Vegas Night. Then to his pale hands, his nails drawn on with sharpie. "this?"

I bit my lip, moving over to him to try and distract my mother before she really started to judge him. I set my hand on top of his, feeling the chill to them. "This is Eli Goldsworthy, a friend of mine."

I strained to say friend, since that was not what I wanted us to be. And I wasn't sure if that was what we were, after that kiss in the library. Either way, it was safer, and may have held my mother together a bit better than "my one-true love."

My dad raised an eyebrow and, like my mom, looked over what he was wearing and what he looked like. "Friend? You've never had friends like him before." My father was a little more giving and didn't say him with as much disgust as my mother would have. I thanked him for that silently.

"No," I paused, glancing at him again, he hadn't moved. Not even a twitch. "I haven't, but he's different then what I expected him to be. He's my... english partner."

My mom sighed, a little more satisfied. I wondered why, but then she told me. "Oh, so this boy's a little genius too." She smiled at me and was quick to grab my arm, pulling it away from his. "He's two years ahead in english, just like your other friends."

I sighed, shaking my head. "No, I mean he's smart, but he's... a year older than me."

I felt terrible, having to explain my friendship to him to my parents right above him, like he wasn't even there. He was, he just wasn't conscious.

My father's mouth upturned into a slight frown. "Hmm..." he paused, looking around for someone else in the room. It was only me, considering Adam was in the cafeteria.

My mother was slightly more upset. "What happened to your other friends, Alli, KC, that boy with the blue sweatshirt. And how about that little blonde girl?"

I sighed, knowing she missed my old friends. Alli and I were drifting and everyone else, well they were things of the past. Especially KC and Jenna, they'd hurt me too much, and I really didn't want to see them anymore. I just shook my head in reply to my mother, looking at her. She was staring at Eli with a sort of disgust and I finally spoke up. "Mom, don't do this."

"Do what, honey?"

Her sweet act annoyed me, I should have known. These were the same people who were constantly fighting, the ones who sent my sister to brat camp. The ones who let her leave us and go to Africa, when they knew I would need her throughout high school. Like I need her now.

I glared at her. "Act so disgusted at a boy who could very well be in his death bed!" I yelled, then forced myself to calm down, before they kicked me out. "You're so judgmental and you haven't even met him." I shook my head. "He's sweet and he has this smirk and a perfect smile and he's gone through a lot." I knew I was rambling now. "And you just waltz in here and disapprove of him." I felt my throat choke up when the realization hit me that they may never meet him.

No, I told myself. He wouldn't leave me.

I felt a hand clasp my shoulder and glanced back to see Adam, the only other best friend I really had. My father glanced at him and raised an eyebrow, immediately knowing that he was trans-gender. I sighed, forcing myself to not bring Adam into this too.

"You think he's so bad, just because he wears dark clothes." Tears stung my eyes when I realized that was one of my first thoughts about him. Before he said such a sweet sentence. "But my other friends were so much worse. KC broke up with me for Jenna, who always wanted to steal him away. Alli never talks to me anymore, she'd take Jenna's side before mine. At least... Eli cared about me. A lot more than any of them did."

I closed my eyes, hoping I could stop there. I bit my lip and finally opened them up and glanced at Adam, who was nodding slowly, a sympathetic smile on his face.

I smiled slightly and he laughed, "Where'd that come from?"

I shrugged, completely avoiding looking at my parents. "I'm not sure." I paused, wondering what I should do next. Unsure, I turned to my parents, "You guys should go, I'm going to stay here. With my friends."

Then nodded slowly, shuffling out of the room. I bet Eli would have liked that.

So, lovely readers, how'd you like that?

I'm not sure how true it was to the characters, but I think when you care about someone, I guess you lose that little bit of control you had over your emotions. Especially if that person was in Eli's position.

Originally supposed to be a one-shot, but everyone wanted to know if he lived. So I made it a two shot.

Then I got this idea. And now I think it'll be a short series.

Only two, maybe three more chapters.