Hey Guys! I'm back! I just wanted to let you guys know that I am really trying to make these chapters longer! I really am. However, what I might do is go back and combine chapters in Ransom Romance to make them longer, and do the same for this story too. That's the only way I can think it would work. Oh well. Anyways, hope you guys enjoy the chapter! As always, Read and Review!

Clare's POV

"Clare, what would I ever do without you?" Katie beamed.

"Crash and burn, I suppose." I smiled back, watching as she walked back into the classroom.

"Hey, Clare. What are you doing?" Zig asked, as he came walking up.

"Katie forgot her assignment back at her dorm, and Marisol was in class." I replied.

It was Friday, and classes had started on Tuesday. I have been living here for almost two weeks now. I was really becoming accustomed to living here. So much so, that I was already learning new insider knowledge about the best places to hide from people, the best ways to sneak people in and out of your dorm, et cetera. There was a lot I was learning here, and I couldn't be more happier.

"Thank god. I had to turn that in by the end of the class or it was a zero." Katie exhaled, as she came walking back out of the class. "You are a life saver."

"What are friends for?" I joked. She smiled, before turning to Zig.

"Hi, Zig. What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Well, I do go to school here. It's not a crime." He smirked. Every time I saw it, it sent a pang to my chest, however, that pang was lessening the more time I spent with him.

"Stop being such a smart ass." Katie smiled, shaking her head.

"Do you have a free period?" I asked Zig. "Because Katie and I were going to go get some breakfast."

"For you? Of course I do." He teased. I blushed, but tried to keep it at bay. We all started heading down the hallway, while Zig changed the subject. "So do you want to come listen to our band, tonight? Katie has heard us, but you haven't. I, personally, guarantee that you will enjoy it."

"I'd love to." I smiled. I decided it would be a good idea, considering I knew that I couldn't dwell on what I lost forever. If I couldn't have what I left back in Toronto, I would make sure to get it again in New York.

"Hey, Clare. Look at this." Katie called, making me stop in my tracks. I turned around and walked over to where she had stopped as she was studying the bulletin board. I noticed Zig had done the same.

"What?" I asked.

"You said you wanted to be a journalist." Katie began.

"Yeah, so?" I asked confused.

"There is your start." She said pointing to a flyer that was stuck to the board. It was an ad for a work-study program at a local newspaper.

"What?" I asked, shocked. I ripped the paper off the wall and studied what it said. "It's at some place called 'The Core'? Ever heard of it?" I asked Katie and Zig.

"Yeah. My friend Connor works there. He's been working there since last year." Zig explained. "You'll actually meet him tonight."

"Does he like it there?" I asked. I wasn't really needing the answer. I was going to work there either way.

"Yeah. He loves it. He says it's the best work study for journalism around here." Zig continued.

"You should give it a shot." Katie stated. "I mean what do you have to lose?"

"Exactly." I gave a small smile, before stuffing the paper into my purse.

We headed to the nearest dining hall, and I learned more about Zig's band. He and Katie were ecstatic that I was going tonight. Katie told me that I would get to meet Marisol officially and Mo, and that she would get introduce me to some others that hang out at the gigs. Zig told me that I would get to meet the band, and he would introduce me to Connor.

Honestly, I felt lost. They were both outgoing and I didn't really see how I could possibly fit in, into their social group. They told me that I wasn't the only one who felt that way, but sadly, I felt completely awkward and out of place in large groups. I've always felt that way, but since the whole Asher situation, I haven't been able to handle it.

Last year, I had avoided everyone that I possibly could. Even though it was my senior year, I didn't do anything. I didn't go to prom or graduation. I didn't socialize. I was glad to not have rumors circulating like I knew they would back in Toronto, but at the same time, if I told anyone who I was I would be judged. I would be known as 'the girl who got kidnapped' or 'the girl who is mentally unstable'. So that meant I couldn't get close to anyone.

I was slowly working on that by getting out there more, and hanging out with more people, but I also know that I can't get too close to anyone because they'll find out about me and that wouldn't be too good. It was best to keep these people at bay. Keep them at length so that way they didn't have to find out about my past, especially since I was trying to avoid it, and so if they ever did find out, I wouldn't feel so hurt when they leave.

After breakfast, Zig had to go to another class, which gave time for Katie to begin pestering me about him. She wanted to know everything. Whether I liked him or not, etc. Honestly. I couldn't say for sure whether I liked him or not. I liked that he helped me forget and remember all at the same time. I was able to see the similarities to Eli, but at the same time I was able to see that he wasn't like Eli. I was able to forget Eli, but also having Zig so similar to Eli made the pain of the loss all that much easier.

"So? Do you like him? Because I know that he has taken a liking to you." Katie questioned.

"I don't know. I like him. But I am not sure what that entails. He just reminds me of someone that I thought I wouldn't think about. Apparently that's not the case." I replied sadly.

"Your ex. Yeah." Katie agreed remembering our earlier conversation. "However, you didn't say anything else about him, or her I don't judge. And Zig is a very feminine guy sometimes." She teased trying to lighten the mood.

"Him." I smiled. "It's just so complicated that I don't know how to even explain our relationship into words." Besides the whole way we met, I wasn't even sure how to put everything that adds up to Eli into words.

"Why not start with him. Tell me about him."

"Eli is—" I began. "He's very—" I cut off again, a smile forming. "He's amazing. He's caring. He's passionate. He's strong. He's intelligent. He's brave. And all those words don't even come close to describing him."

"Why did you two break up then?" She asked me. I knew this was coming. I bit my lip deciding whether or not to respond to that question.

"I ended it." I sighed.

"Why?" She asked confused. "You sound like you love him. Why would you end it?"

"I do love him. I think I always will, but I couldn't be with him. He came into my life at a time where I needed him most, but a lot of stuff happened while we were dating. It wasn't necessarily about him, but I just wanted a fresh start. And being with him, it just reminded me of everything that happened. I felt like I couldn't get over it and put it behind me, and date him too." I explained.

"But you aren't over him." She said.

"I thought I was. But Zig is just so similar that he reminds me so much of Eli that I'm not so sure anymore." I sighed. Katie nodded before speaking again.

"Have you seen him since?" She asked.

"No. I sort of ran away. Literally. I moved to Boston—" I paused. "From Toronto."

"How long after?"

"Three days." I cringed.

"Three days?" Katie asked appalled. "Three days? Clare!"

"I know. I know." I sighed, looking down at my hands. "I just—" I paused again. "I run. That's what I do. And I don't know what to do about it, but that's what I do. I didn't expect him to come after me. I don't expect him to still love me back, but that doesn't change the fact that I am still not over him."

"Maybe spending some time with Zig will be good? Not necessarily romantically, but just hanging out. See where it goes. It couldn't hurt, and maybe it'll help you decide what you want to do. Either move on with your life and get over Eli, or giving it another shot with him." Katie explained. "Just start with the meet up tonight. Go from there." I nodded.

"I guess it couldn't hurt." I stated.

"At least then you'll know, and you won't be so confused." She replied.

"True." I exhaled. Maybe moving on is for the best?