Disclaimer: Yeah, yeah I got it. I own nothing. Also I'm so sorry it's been so long. And I'm sorry that this chapter isn't all that particularly long. College applications and AP classes have been taking over my time.
"Maybe we shouldn't go in today."
"My, my, my, is Saint Clare suggesting we skip school?"
I bit my lip as I looked out the window of the hearse. The school yard was already emptying out so it was likely that the first bell had already rung. I should have been rushing to get inside by now but there was nothing I wanted to do less than leave the safety of Morty.
"It's just that…" I paused and looked over at Eli. The teasing had fled his face. His eyes were squinted in concentration. "You know that he's going to be waiting for you today."
"Fitz isn't as big of a threat as he thinks he is," Eli said shaking his head. I felt a chill crawl up my spine.
I started to say something, but bit my lip and stopped myself, turning away from him.
"Clare," he said. "If you have something to say, just say it."
"It's just that…" I started again. "I know he's not as big of a threat to you, but…the…things…you could…do to him…It's just…I'm not sure if…"
"You're scared I'll hurt him?" I turned back to him and Eli looked back, incredulous. "Clare, you know this guy better than I do. How could you want to protect him?"
"I don't!" I jumped in. "I'm not trying to protect him, well, I mean…"
"Clare," I was relieved to find his voice even and smooth. No anger at me for my comments. No black eyes this morning. "It's not about me anymore. I can hold my own against Fitz, get him off my back. He doesn't want to face me anymore because he knows he can't beat me. He wants to pick on the little guy to get to me and in this case, it's Adam. That's the only person I'm worried about. That's the only person I'm protecting."
I nodded, knowing he was right. Fitz wasn't one to play fair. Adam was about a third his size, an easy target and an easy way to get to Eli as Adam was really Eli's only friend at school. Well Adam and…
The thought struck me hard and I looked at Eli with wide eyes. He must have figured out what I just did a long time ago but had been trying to protect it from me because the recognition of my fear was plain on his face.
"I know," he said, pulling me to him so that my head was against his shoulder. "I'm not going to let them hurt you. You and Adam. I promise. No matter what I'll protect you both."
"I know," I mumbled into his shoulder.
We sat in silence for a minute more as I stared from my safe heaven at the brick building in front of us.
"Come on," Eli said, before kissing me on the top of the head. "We need to make a chose. Eventually someone will see us out here. Stay or go?"
I sighed, glaring at the building, as if I looked at it hard enough, it would just disappear. I looked at the clock on the dashboard. We were ten minutes late, which wasn't too bad, but I hated to have such a black spot of tardy on my record, again.
"Maybe we should stay."
Eli looked me over and nodded. "Alright, just let me handle it and don't worry about anything."
I gave him a confused look. "You mean about Fitz, right?"
He stopped and gave me a smirk. "Well no, but you shouldn't worry about that either. I meant let me handle coming in late and I promise you won't have to worry about your reputation of being perfect ruined."
I wanted to laugh, but it got stuck in my throat.
"Come on," he said again. He grabbed his things and then my things and helped me out of the hearse. For a brief second, I thought about the fact that he had Morty. I always thought of it just as a car before, just the car Bullfrog happen to have given to him. But now I couldn't help but think that this "car" once held caskets. With a shiver down my spine, I wondered if it would ever hold any more.
