"Wow, Clare, that was some gesture, what you did back there," Adam muttered once again. I was sure that he was just going through this to entertain himself, this time around.

"I know, I know 'not a very St. Clare thing to do'. I know, Adam. I know, I know." I knew I was rambling but I'd totally and completely blown up at my parents. And it may have not seemed like such a big deal to other kids, but I was me and I had lived my whole life doing what I was told. Yelling at my parents, well let's just say Darcy would have been proud. I'm almost positive that isn't a good thing.

He chuckled, glancing back up at that tv they had, the one that swung out over Eli's bed.

Eli's bed, where he was laying, his hair staying sprawled over the pillow, which hadn't moved a single millimeter since they had layed him down. He was limp and vulnerable to anything that were to creep up on him. It wasn't right to see him this way, he'd always been the one who would be strong enough to protect himself, Adam and me. And the way he looked tonight, his face calm and serene, his eyes closed to cover those green eyes that would always be on alert, well... I felt like he was too innocent to have been that boy who assured me he would be able to protect me from anything.

I yawned as a young nurse, maybe her early twenties walked in, her flats slapping softly against the tile. I watched as she checked on the machines that were connected to his body by these thin wires, twisting down to where he lay. She nodded, a soft hum coming from her lips, a sound that felt so loud to me as apposed to Adam's tv.

Yet, she was soft. So quiet. So... happy.

Suddenly she turned, like she felt my gaze, and met my eyes. She smiled sympatheticly and nodded. "So, you're a friend of..." She gestured to Eli's still body, checking through the clipboard for her name, flicking her long blonde hair behind her shoulder.

"Eli," I interjected, moving my hands onto my lap, something I did when I felt out of place. "His name—it's Eli Goldsworthy."

She smiled slightly. "Eli," she nodded, looking over him again. We both watched his slow, but steady breathing. "Eli got it pretty hard." She made sure not to make it too obvious that she had focused her eyes on his stomach, where the knife had pierced his skin. I was glad there were blankets covering it, knowing I could never handle seeing the blood, even if it was dry.

I nodded slowly, ignoring the glance I got for Adam. "He did... it was a—" I paused, searching for the right words. "complicated night." I hoped that was enough for her, and by the nod she gave me, it seemed it was enough.

"Well..." the nurse began, rubbing her thumb against the clip on her clipboard. "However complicated this night was, you two are amazing friends. To stay with him like this." Adam smiled slightly, turning to look in our direction. But I didn't feel so nice, I knew it was terrible, but the word friend sort of stung as it hit me again, another wave pulling me under.

I felt myself worried that I would never find out what we were. Friends? Maybe. I wouldn't get a chance, if he gave up on me...

No, Clare, my inner voice spoke up. Or was that just my thoughts, trying to keep me from crying? Too bad I could already feel the tears, creeping behind my eyelids, pushing their way out. Eli would take a bullet for you, he'd go through all that for you. He won't give up on you now. He loves you too much.

I sighed heavily as a tear slipped down the side of my face. Then I felt the nurse's hand fold over my shoulder.

"I've been in a position, just like yours," she muttered softly, I brought my eyes up to meet hers. "And I know people are going to tell you to be strong, not to cry, for him, but you don't have to. If he cares about you like the way you care about him, he'd understand." She shook her head and looked away for a moment, like her own memory was starting to rematerialize. "Don't... don't try to hold it in. Just have some... faith. And what is supposed to happen, will happen."

I bit my lip and nodded slowly, not bothering to offer a weak smile. I could manage it.

Then she added, "Oh, and think about it this way. Just a little longer, a little more waiting, and that lovely boy will get to wake up to a pretty girl. I'm sure you being here will immediately make him feel better." She smiled and started toward the door.

I muttered a soft "thank you" as she left, letting my eyes, now blurry with tears, look around the room once again.

I wish I could say that nurse gave me some insight and I saw everything with a brighter mind. I wish I could say the dull light streaming in the room from the moon glittered with hope and that the monitors sprung to life, his heartbeat rising to a steady, healthy speed. That, maybe, Adam was able to rip his eyes away from his television and beam at Eli, waking up for a seemingly never-ending slumber. But of course it didn't, since this wasn't some sort of fairytale book.

Nothing look different. I was just reassured of the one thing that I was starting to forget.

Eli could wake up.

He probably will wake up.

And I should trust that he won't give up on me. This is Eli we're talking about. Protective, revenge seeking, clever, snarky Eli. And that Eli would make sure to wake up, for me, for Adam.

hope.

I sort of like this chapter.

I'm pretty proud of it.

I don't know why, maybe because I found a way to stretch this out longer.

Because he could have already died/woken up already.

BUT HE HAS NOT. Because I want to keep my readers reading.

SO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK, Lovely readers.