#intentionallyeli

Alli: What are you doing today?

Alli: Good morning, handsome.

Clare: She couldn't believe that it was the first day of work and of course her car was giving her problems. Knowing this was probably giving her a bad impression, Clare dialed Eli's number and waited for him to answer the phone, hoping he would be sympathetic about her situation.

Clare: stood stoically in place as Eli reacted silently but effectively to her defensive over-exaggeration. She wasn't planning on backing down anytime soon, both because of the stuborness that was her nature and the fact that she knew, and perhaps they both did, that the problem she was resisting was bigger than they both imagined, or in Clare's case, accepted. She was a perfectionist and always had been, and a problem of this magnitude was not her definition of perfect nor in her agenda to tackle. She'd finally gotten everything she wanted; control of her life, a break from the harrowing stresses of school, and best of all, her sorely missed boyfriend back for vacation, despite how it was winding down thus far. He was there in front of her, and regardless of the mess being spun, that's what mattered. Coming out of her daze and narrowing her eyes at Eli's retort, Clare felt herself seeth at his relentless pursuit of an admission on her part, one she wasn't prepared to offer. "You're overreacting," she sighed, her eyes darting down to the floor to avoid his gaze. At his mention of Jake, Clare simply scoffed out loud. "You've known Jake long enough to know his stomach rivals a garbage disposal, I hardly think that's a fair plantiff point." Her ice melted as her hand was encaptured in his, and she could feel her bottom lip quake the tiniest bit, hoping it went undetected by the cause. Still averting her eyes away, she let her palm lay still in Eli's, regretfully listening to the words he had for her. He was right; his leaves didn't only crush her, and it wasn't fair to be so selfish in thinking so, least of all wasting a break together in the manner they currently were, but it seemed too late to escape it now. It took a lot of strength not to cry right then and there, but for his sake and take on her sanity already wavering, she had to push on until his speil was over. "I know," she choked out softly, swallowing back the painful lump in her tight throat as he spelled out the future they both desried so crucially. It seemed simple enough on paper: get through dinner, get through Christmas, get through the school year and she'd be rewarded with a long and breezy lifetime with Eli, out of harm's way for good. Blinking at the needed kiss on the back of her palm, Clare smiled softly, finally daring to glide her line of vision back to the sweet boy in front of her, the smile not fading until her next sentiment. Feeling her stomach turn for a different reason this time, her head began to swam in syncronization, everything in her body clouding her head as he expressed more and more worry on her behalf. "The point is there is no point. There isn't anything to talk about, Eli." A war was waging inside of Clare, with half of her bitter that Eli wasn't giving in, and the other half a starnge confusion of sadness for him and guilt for being so stubborn. "I love you," she repeated, more gentleness in her tone than her previous statement. Turning her face into his palm, she hummed quietly, relishing the warmth of his large hands on her delicate skin. The serenity of the moment was soon forgotten, the room dimming in Clare's periphery as her breathing shallowed. Before she knew it, the room wasn't the only thing losing its light, and Clare was careening towards the ground, barely avoding a nasty spill before landing crumpled in Eli's grip. Blinking back to consciousness in a few moments' time, Clare next found herself in the crowded kitchen, not the arena she would have chosen to spend these minutes. Her hearing flooding back just in time, Clare let out a quick "no!" as she pointed to her mother, a warning, almost to keep her at bay. Backing out of the room quick as she could bring herself to, her finger stayed pointed, shooting a glance at Eli to lure him away. Stumbling down to the sofa, out of sight of the lingering family members, she plopped atop the cushion, bringing a hand to her forehead and rubbing. "I'm not going to the hospital and you're sure as Hell not bringing my mother into this," she hissed, the curse burning her ears. "Don't do this," she plead, "let us finish the night off happy. Presents, cookies, Rudolph, we can save this, let's just go upstairs."

Becky: I hope I'm not bothering you by texting.

Clare: -Pushing in the numbers, Clare nervously but patiently waited as the dial tone began to ring in her ears.-