Thank you all so much for the reviews. My readers are my motivation. Hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as you all enjoyed the last one. It picks up during Clare and Eli's detention.

Before Eli knew it school was over. He was looking forward to school ending, but he wasn't looking forward to seeing Clare in detention. "If only I would have kept my mouth shut, I wouldn't be in this mess". He thought to himself. Eli never kept his mouth shut, that just wasn't his style he always had a snappy comeback or remark for anyone that had something to say about him. Eli went straight to the detention room and sat in the first row so that he wouldn't have to see or talk to Clare. He didn't hate her or anything like that, he just couldn't tell her what was going on.

Mrs. Kwan was sitting at her desk waiting patiently for Clare to arrive. "Right on time Mrs. Edwards, take a seat." she said as Clare walked into the room.

Clare's POV: Eli Goldsworthy voluntarily sitting in the front row. He must really not want to talk to me because he never sits in the front row. First, he tells me to mind my own business. Then, he glares at me during lunch and now he's avoiding me. What did I do to him? All I wanted to do was find out what was bothering him. I just wanted to make him feel better because I care about him.

Clare decides to take action and get Eli's attention so she takes out a piece of paper, scribbles down a couple of words and then kicks it over to Eli. At first, he's a little hesistant to pick it up because he doesn't want to hear from her or risk getting another detention. It's a good thing that Mrs. Kwan is so into her novel that she isn't even paying them any attention. Eli quickly grabs the note and reads it. It reads ELI WE NEED TO TALK. Eli writes a quick response and then passes the note back to Clare. She opens it and it says WHY DON'T YOU TALK TO YOUR NEW PAL KC? Clare couldn't believe it, Eli was jealous. He had no reason to be, but he was. Clare wrote YOU SHOULDN'T BE JEALOUS OF KC, KC AND I ARE OVER. WE HAVE BEEN FOR QUITE A WHILE NOW. WHO SAID I'M JEALOUS Eli responded. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY IT, ITS WRITTEN ALL OVER YOUR FACE Clare replied and then slid the note back to him. Eli just sat there and starred at the note. He had no intention of responding.

Mrs. Kwan told them that she wanted a three page essay on why they shouldn't be talking in class while their teaching is talking. She told them that she wanted it complete by the end of detention, which meant that they had an hour and a half to get it done. They both got to work right away. They finished around the same time and decided to hand in their papers early. Mrs. Kwan received a phone call and then she told Eli and Clare that they were dismissed. Usually she would have never let students leave detention early, but his time she made an exception because she had to leave early.

Eli and Clare made their way out of the building when Eli said "Do you want a ride home?"

Clare: "I thought you weren't speaking to me." she exclaimed.

Eli: "Do you want a ride or not?" he asked.

Just because Eli wasn't on the best of terms with Clare at the moment did not mean he was going to let her walk home alone. He would never be able to live with himself if something bad happened to her.

Clare: "Sure." she said as she got into his hearse.

The car ride to Clare's house was quiet, too quiet. Eli hadn't spoken to Clare since she got into his hearse. Eli stopped at Clare's house and patiently waited for her to get out. When he noticed that she hadn't moved, he got out of the car, walked over to her side and opened the door for her. Clare got out and before she could say anything Eli walked back over to the driver's side and got in. He waited for Clare to get inside of her house before he pulled off.

That night Clare couldn't sleep at all so she decided to pay Eli a visit. She knew his address, but she had never been to his house before . She had only gotten a quick glance of it once and that was only because Eli drove past it on their way to the movies one night. It was the kind of house that one would not forget. It was two stories, light green and had circle shaped windows. Clare walked up to the house and before she could ring the door bell she stopped herself. She heard a loud crash and people arguing. It sounded like Eli and his father.

Before she could even knock on the door a figure opened it. It was Eli.

Clare's POV: How did he know that I was at his door? Does he have ESPN or something? He looks so sad. I wonder if him and his dad argue a lot.

Eli: "Clare? What are you doing here? I told you that I didn't want to talk to you. " he said quietly noticing the disappointed look on her face.

She looked as if someone had just broken her heart. All she wanted to do was help Eli. She wanted so bad to be there for him, to comfort him. She didn't understand why he kept pushing her away.

Clare: "I couldn't sleep. I had to see you Eli. I want to know what's going on with you. I need to know what's going on with you. I care about you a lot. If anything happened to you I'd just...before Clare could finish her sentence Eli's father came to the door.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "Hey cutie, you must be Clare. The girl my son can't stop talking about." he said.

Eli: "Dad, me and Clare were talking. Can we please have some time alone?" he said nervously because he was unsure of his father's next action.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "Shut the hell up. Don't you see me talking to this sweet young lady? Stop being rude Eli." he said as he directed Clare into the living room.

Clare was shocked. She had never heard an adult use such profanity, at least not intentionally. She started to think that coming there was a mistake. Maybe Eli had a good reason for why he didn't want Clare to come to his home.

Eli moved out of the doorway so Clare could enter their house. She looked a little nervous and afraid. She turned to Eli for reassurance, but all she got was a sad look full of desperation. Eli didn't want Clare to witness his father's profanity and violent temper. He was afraid that this would scare Clare and that she wouldn't want to associate herself with him anymore.

In the living room: Clare took a seat on the couch next to Eli, who looked like he was on the verge of having a panic attack. Clare had never seen him like this before. He kept fidgeting and looking everywhere but at Clare.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "Eli why don't you get Clare something to drink?" he said calmly.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "Clare, what would you like to drink? We have soda and apple juice." he exclaimed.

Clare: "Soda's fine. Thanks." she said as she watched Eli get up and walk into the kitchen.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "Sooo, what do you think of my son? Does his goth overly obsessed with death exterior scare you?" he asked.

Clare: "I think your son is a really nice guy and no his appearance doesn't bother me at all." she said.

Eli came out of the kitchen with a soda in one hand and a beer in the other. He handed Clare the soda and when his father saw that he was carrying a beer in the other hand, he lost it.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "What is this? Why are you handing me a beer right now? We have company and besides you know I don't drink at this hour." he said as he gave Eli a look that would frighten anyone.

Eli: "What are you talking about dad? You drink all of the time. Stop putting on an act just because Clare's here." he said while Clare sat there looking uncomfortable and out of place.

Eli's Father got up and walked over to Eli and grabbed him by his collar.

Eli's Father (Elliot): "I was trying to be nice while your little girlfriend was here, but you just had to tick me off. Loose the attitude or I'll help you lose it." he said before he sat back down and apologized to Clare for the disturbance.

Clare didn't know what to say. She was flabbergasted. All she could do was sit and watch.

Clare: "I think I should go home. I'll see you at school tomorrow Eli." she said as she got up and headed to the door.

Eli: "Wait I'll walk you home. I don't want anyone to bother you and I just want to make sure you get there safely." he said as he opened the door and allowed Clare to exit first.

Clare: "What was that back there? Does your father treat you like that all of the time?" she said in a worried voice.

Eli: "No, no. It's just that my dad has been very stressed lately with his job. His boss has him going insane." he said while he looked away from Clare.

Clare: "But, you said he drinks all of the time. Does that mean that his boss always gets to him or does that mean that he was the one that caused you to break your leg and get a black eye?" she said trying to get Eli to look her in the eyes.

Eli's POV: She's too smart for her own good. Sometimes I wish she was more naïve like the other girls at school, then she wouldn't know every time something was up with me. What am I saying? If she was naïve and stupid, I wouldn't be able to stand her. I love that she has a brain and knows how to use it. She figured it out, so I should probably just tell her what happened.

Eli: "Your right Clare, my father did this to me. Sometimes he just gets so mad at me and he hits me. He's been like this since my mom left us. She couldn't take his emotional and physical abuse anymore so she just left. Can you believe that? My own mother just up and left me." he said as his voice began to crack. He was on the verge of tears, but he got himself together.

Clare: "I'm so sorry Eli. I didn't know you were going through this. I wish you would have told me." she said as she pulled Eli into a hug. That's all that he needed at the moment. He just needed to know that someone cared about him.

Eli: "I couldn't tell you because you had too much stuff going on. You had school and you were dealing with your parents getting a divorce. I didn't want to cause you anymore pain. I didn't want to worry you. I thought I could handle this on my own, but I can't. I just can't Clare. I need you to help me get through this. You and Adam are the only people that I can trust." he said as a single tear ran down his cheek.

Clare wiped away the tear and kissed Eli on his lips. It was a short and sweet kiss. Innocent, but at the same time full of passion. "I don't want to go back home Clare. Is it okay if I stay with you tonight? I promise I won't try anything. I just want to lay with you and hold you." he said. "Okay, but we have to be very quiet." she said as they climbed the tree that led to Clare's bedroom window. Clare also had to sneek in because she left her house without her parents' consent. They thought she was sound asleep, when in actuality, she was awake and gone.

Clare opened her window and crawled through it. Eli came in right after her. Once he was in her bedroom, Clare quickly went over to her door and locked it.

Her parents would freak if they found out that she had a guy in her room. Although they were fighting, they still agreed on some things, like their fifteen year old daughter not having boys in her room. They were strict Christians that were against premarital sex.

Clare walked over to her bed where Eli was patiently sitting. She laid down and Eli instantly laid beside her and put his arms around her waist. He respected her too much to try and make a move on her, so he kept to his word and just laid and held her.

Clare's POV: How does he know how to hold me just right? I feel so safe in his arms. I wish we could stay like this forever, us laying down in my bed and him holding me. But, unfortunately it would only last until morning. Eli had to be out of Clare's room before her parents woke.

A couple minutes later, Eli and Clare fell asleep, Eli's arms around Clare and her hands around his arms. They looked so sweet and innocent. If only that moment could last forever.

I hope you all liked this chapter. It was my longest chapter so far. Please review and tell me what you think.