ADAM'S POV

Here I am again. In front of Eli's house. It better be open this time! Lately it seems I'm only visiting him when something is wrong. I sighed. I missed the time when we would hang out all day, every day. The time when nothing was wrong. The time when I didn't have to break into his locked room just to talk to him. I shook my head as I tried the doorknob. I was surprised as the door easily opened. Well, that's refreshing. I slowly entered his house. I know what you're thinking, "why is he just walking in like that? What happened to knocking?". Well you see, the Goldsworthy family was tired of me knocking on their door all day so they told me to pretend I was their second son and just walk in when I feel like it. And that's exactly what I've been doing for the past 10 years. I walked into the kitchen, trying to figure out if anyone's at home. It didn't seem like it.

"Cece? Bullfrog?" I shouted. No answer. I pouted. That means no free food for me today. I shook my head trying to clear my thoughts. Focus Adam! Focus! I walked up the stairs, heading for Eli's room. I reached out for the doorknob as soon as I reached his room. It was locked. Damn it! I thought this was my lucky day! I thought this was the day every door would be open, but I guess that's impossible in this house. I started knocking. No answer. I put my ear closer to the door. I couldn't hear anything. No tv, no talking and most shockingly no music blasting from the stereo. A frown appeared on my face. Something's wrong.

"Eli, open up" I said calmly as I gently knocked. No answer. "Come on Eli, I know you're in there, open up!" Still no answer. Damn that boy is so stubborn! "Eli, OPEN UP!" I suddenly screamed. I heard something move inside his room. I backed away from the a door a little as Eli opened up. "That's more like it" I said walking in.

"What do you want?" Eli asked tiredly as he sat down on his bed, rubbing his eyes.

"Damn you look horrible" I said bluntly.

"Yeah, I'm kind of tired" he answered just as bluntly.

"Why?" I asked sitting down beside him.

"Don't know. I'm just tired of everything" He said. A comfortable silence fell upon us after those words. I looked at Eli. He just started into the air, looking at nothing at all.

"I talked to Bianca" I said carefully.

"Oh" was all he said.

"So?" I asked while looking at Eli. He looked a bit uncomfortable as he changed his sitting position a bit. He looked down at his hands.

"Um, Daniel called" He said barely audible.

"I know" I said gently. "What did he want?" Eli seemed to hesitate a bit before looking at me. He sighed then said "He wants me in court" My eyes widened at his words.

"What?! Why? You didn't do anything!" I said a bit too loud.

"No, not like that. I mean he wants me to tell my side of the story, like testify I guess" He explained calmly. I looked at him trying to find the right words to say. After a few seconds I asked the question I was trying to avoid.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean.. You get kinda.. eh.. you know, when you talk about her" Eli gave me a death glare.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked harshly.

"Nothing! Just that, you know you don't handle the situation all that well and.." I was interrupted.

"Can you blame me though?" He asked loudly his voice shaking a bit. I bit my lip trying to say the right words.

"No, Eli, but.." I was interrupted again.

"But what?"

"Can you please let me talk?" I asked calmly. "I'm not against you, I'm trying to help" I said putting my hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry" he said looking at his hands again.

"No worries. So, as I was saying… are you sure this is the best idea? I mean if Daniel is trying to win this he might need some more, well stable people to bring in court." Eli gave me a confused look, so I tried to explain. "Think about it. If you were the judge in this case, who would you believe? The strong healthy boys claiming they didn't sell drugs to her, or her brother that's trying to get money after his sister's death even though he has never even met the guys he's accusing?"

"That's exactly why he wants me there Adam! I am the reason for all this shit! I am the one who introduced Julia to those idiots!" his eyes were glossy with tears that threatened to fall at this moment, but he continued "I am the link that binds everything together, and I am the only one who can give any helpful trustworthy information on them and how they work in that little business of theirs"

"I know Eli, but.."

"Just admit it Adam, me being a bit unstable as you put it, isn't the reason you don't want me to do this" Eli swallowed hard after this. "Just admit it" He whispered.

"Eli" I said carefully. "I know you don't like to hear this, but I think you should think about yourself for a bit. What do you think this case is going to do to you? You're going to have to talk about her, in detail, and explain everything you know about what happened! You know you can't do that yet. Eli you're barely able to say her name without choking! Don't give me that look, you know it's true. You hate talking about this, you always avoid the topic and whenever it comes up you become all depressed. Imagine how it's going to feel sitting in court all alone being questioned about this topic you would to anything to forget. I'm scared that if you do it all the memories will come alive again and you'll be like.. like.."

"Like what?" Eli asked in a low kind of scary voice.

"Like you were the first month after her death." I sad slowly.

"But I'm better Adam!" Eli suddenly yelled.

"I know you are! And that's exactly why I don't think this is a good idea! All this work you have put in to get better will go to waste! You're going to fall back into old tracks!" Eli looked at me, but I couldn't read his emotions. I have to admit I was a bit scared of his reaction. He just looked at me. As time passed it seemed as if he was trying to decide whether to kill me or not. After a few seconds he tore his gaze away from me and rubbed his eyes, before he let his head fall into his hands. I swallowed as I rubbed his back.

"What am I supposed to do then?" Eli asked not looking up.

"I don't know" I truthfully answered.

"I can't just tell Daniel no. I basically stole his sister away forever, and when he asks for help I'm going to say no?" He asked as he lifted his head to look at me. I looked back at Eli trying once again to find the right words.

"I don't think Daniel really knows what he would be putting you through if.." I was interrupted by Eli.

"What about what I put him through?! Hmm? What I put her whole family through, and her friends?!" he shouted at his voice cracked at the end.

"It wasn't your fault" I said for the millionth time in my life. Eli just rolled his eyes.

"Whatever" he said tiredly as he laid down on his bed.

"Look" I started "don't make any decision yet. You should talk to Cece and Bullfrog and I'll talk to Bianca. Get more views on it, ok?" I asked him. He just closed his eyes and mumbled "whatever". A feeling of concern came over me.

"Eli.."

"Just go Adam I'm fine" He said motionless. I sighed and was about to do as he wished, when a thought came over me.

"Eli, please don't go all 'I-don't-care-about-anything' again. You'll scare people away"

"I don't care" he mumbled.

"What about Clare?" I asked. He didn't answer. "You finally gained her trust again, don't fuck it up"

"I probably will anyways so what's the point?"

"You can tell her what happened. Maybe she can help?"

"Not gonna happen" he said. I sighed as I left the room. That boy is impossible, but he's gonna give in sooner or later. I just know it.

So.. what do you think? :) I hope you liked it.. I don't know why, but this chapter didn't come to me quite as natural as the others so I'm really sorry if it isn't living up to your expectations :(

Anyways, I can tell you that Eli is gonna talk to Clare in the next chapter about what happened... *drum roll* So REVIEW to make me update and find out how the talk goes!

Love,

xLoveOfMyLifex