Chapter 7

If you've ever loved somebody,put your hands up

"You're not?" Clare asked in disbelief. Did Eli say he was okay with this?

"Nope,because we have an English assignment to finish. And you're my English partner." Clare thought to herself. Did I just imagine that going that well? Was he trying to not upset me?

"What just happened,here?" Clare asked,choosing her words carefully. "What do you mean?' Eli refrained from answering.

"I just told you,I was dying,and you didn't run away scared..." She pondered the thought,as she sat on the couch. "Hmm well that B average has a lot to do with it." Eli remarked.

"Running away isn't exactly my style..." He glanced down at his book. "So Romeo will die unexpectedly and Juliet will run away from home,yeah that will work." Eli teased. "You're taking this really well..." Clare interrupted him.

"I did some research Edwards,there are options it's not like it's a death sentence." He smirked. "And by research you mean...?"
"googled your symptoms. You've blacked out like twice in one week around me." He smiled smugly. "Why you being so optimistic?" Eli rolled his eyes. "You should try it sometime."

Clare couldn't contain her laughter. "What!" Eli sat up, a smile on his face. "This coming from a guy who drives a hearse!" She continued laughing.

"please not as bad as your English assignment..." Eli smirked,reaching in his backpack. "I edited for you." He teased,handing Clare a paper with a bunch of eraser marks. "thanks" Clare smiled. "So where's that journal of yours? That I supposedly copied?" Clare asked.

"right,the painful existence of Elijah Goldsworthy." He teased. "I want to read it."Clare said, Eli smirked. "alright,I'll show you mine if you show me yours." Clare giggled.

"You have such a dirty mind" He laughed,hitting her with a throw pillow. "When's the last time you had a good ol fashioned pillow fight?" Clare asked. "I try to avoid things that can muss up my hair." Eli teased

"I don't blame you it's unbelievably lush,like a feather duster." Clare commented, Eli laughed. "You're one to talk,Shirley Temple!" Then the two got in a pillow fight. "Ding dong"
"beep beep" "That scared me" Clare said,as she got up to answer the door. "Adam!" Clare yelled,motioning for Eli to hide. Adam rolled his eyes.

"Real convinsive,saying as your blinds are open." Adam stepped into the house uninvited. "Here,all the assignments you missed,and apparently you have a new study buddy." Adam sneered. "Wow,sorry to have made your boy there jealous." Eli remarked. Adam raised his voice. "I'm not jealous!"

"I'm just the guy who has been there since grade 9,since she was first diagnosed taking her to appointments,comforting her,soothing her,keeping her fromdanger! I'm not going to let my hard work go to waste!" He looked at Eli cold in the eye.

"I assume he knows..." Adam started. Eli nodded. "Alright Eli,since you're my replacement then feel free to drive her to her appointment tomorrow,and hold her hand when they rip the stickers off her chest! Cause I'm done!" Clare ran after Adam. "Wait,are you serious? I thought you said you'd never develop feelings for anyone. You knew the risk,you know you were dealing with a completely broken heart. I don't know what to say anymore Clare,but I can't be around you anymore." Adam argued. "Please you're my best friend." Clare cried. Adam looked down,something forming in his eyes,not tears,anger.

"Not once,not one time around me,did that monitor go off for a reason other than a speeding car,or car horn honking. I'm not the one,I'm just the friend who lost out." Adam walked back to his station wagon. "Hope you and your Landon Carter are happy together,but let me just remind you how that movie ends Clare!"

He yelled out,causing Clare to fall on her front steps crying.

"Wow" Eli started. "Are you alright?" Eli asked,sitting down next to her. "just peachy" Clare mumbled through the tears. "When he gets upset like this,he does things. He could tag something,or beat someone up,anything."

"It's alright" Eli comforted her.

-The next day-

"Clare what's up with the puppy sweater?" Ally asked. "Oh no,Clare you're not going back in time are you?" She squinted,like she was feeling some kind of pain." "I just want to remember what it was like to be a kid." Clare said, holding her arms. "You're a kid!" Clare shook her head. "a kid doesn't have to go through all this,worry about their health,their parents."

"beep,beep ,beep" Ally held her against the wall. "just breathe,okay" Clare took a breath.

"I'm falling for a guy I just met,and the one that's been here all along told me had feelings for me,and My mom and dad told me they're getting divorced." She cried against the wall,Ally covering her so people wouldn't see it.

"I'm dying,and because of it,my family are preparing to move on. Adam is moving on. I don't think Eli will stick around." She felt the wires through her sweater. "I don't want to go through this,Ally." She cried.

"Ready to go,pretty eyes?" Clare turned to see Eli. "Don't cry" He took his thumb and brushed the tear away. "I don't think Adam was serious." Eli smirked. "Well he seemed pretty serious. He even dropped this doctors address in my locker this morning." Clare caught a breath.

"You don't have to take me." Eli nodded. "right,I don't have to,but I'd like to know more about it." Clare looked away. "beep beep beep"
"What did I say?" Eli asked. "It's just,my parents told me they're getting divorced ,and I don't want you to have to take me there. It's not fun Eli,it's boring,really boring,and painful."

"today I have to have a bunch of tests,and another EKG. I'll just take a cab." Clare finished,as she scooped up her green and black von douche bag.

"Edwards,except help when it's offered." Eli said,pulling Clare out the door.

"You really don't have to." Clare begged. "Yes,I do,please let me Clare." Why does he care? Clare thought to herself,before getting into the car. The two pulled into the cardiologists office. "Come on Edwards"

Clare kept breathing as they made it to the office. Clare looked around at all the elderly people around her. She was the youngest person there,not counting Eli. She sat on the hard bench,reading woman's day magazine. "heart health" She raised her brows.

"Clare Edwards" She hated how they called her name. "This is Eli,my friend." The nurse nodded,as Eli followed Clare into the examing room. "put this on,and we'll be right there to get that bulky monitor off you."

"uhh." Eli turned around. Clare quickly slipped her sweater off,leaving her bra on,pulling the johnny over her quickly,slipping her bra out onto the floor. "You can look now" Clare said,as Eli turned around.

"Alright,Ms Edwards" The doctor entered the room. "Okay,lets get this off you." Clare held onto the railings of the bed,as the doctor unsnapped the wires and forcefully peeled the medical tape off of her,leaving noticeable red squares all over her chest.

"I really hate those" Clare muttered,squinting at the pain. "Okay" The doctor started on her back,the swift motion making Clare feel light headed,and she fell right onto the hard white paper. "Oh ok,easy does it." The doctor said. "Has this been happening a lot?" The doctor asked.

Clare slowly opened her eyes. "yes." She said. The doctor put a check mark on his chart. "Alright we're ready to set up for the echocardiogram." The doctor walked out. "You okay,Clare?" Eli asked,holding her hand.

"I'm scared Eli,really scared,okay?" Minutes later the doctor came in with the equipment,asking Eli to leave the room,as the cool gel was worked into her chest.

"Oh!" The doctors eyes opened wide. "That's the problem right there!" He said. "What?" Clare stopped. The doctor turned the machine off,sitting Clare up against the wall. "Did you want your friend to come back?" Clare shook her head.

"Just give him another reason to leave me." Clare said,looking at the doctor. "Clare,you have a hole in your heart,now it's in a place that wouldn't of been seen on regular tests,now they're are many reasons this could of formed..." The doctor went through tons of medical terms,that made Clare feel even more anxiety. Then he said something else,that made Clare shake. "You're going to need a major surgery to try to close this hole."

"and very soon." The doctor finished. "And if this works...you won't have to worry about blacking out or your fast heart rate,but if it fails. We need to look for a heart transplant." Clare gulped. "now you can ask my friend to come back." She said,getting dressed.

Eli's words prancing through her mind. "It's not a death sentence." Then the doctors diagnosis. "yes it is" She mumbled,and started to cry.
"I'll book the procedure for Monday morning." Eli walked into the room.

"What procedure?" Eli asked. Clare didn't want to answer.

to be continued...

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