Re: Polished Hearts

[DracoMalfoy]

Adam couldn’t help but smile foolishly at Fiona. Everything she said seemed to be amazing to him. And, making arrangements to meet again probably made him the happiest man on earth right now. He wanted to get to know her better, so what she was like outside of these tedious gatherings. With his ultramarine eyes, he noticed that quite a few of the guests had already taken their leave and it would be soon that the Edwards would come to dismiss him and thank him for serving tonight. Oddly enough, the misfit wished that time wouldn’t come; he was far too entranced with Fiona and their conversation. He knew he would be seeing her again tomorrow, but his heart couldn’t wait. Saying goodbye to her felt leaving home to live his life. He wasn’t exactly sure if he would stay sane in the twelve or so hours they’d be apart. He didn’t voice his concerns though. Though she was pretty accepting of him so far, coming off too strong and far too dependent would probably scare her away. And, Adam didn’t want that happening.

The odd young man opened his mouth to reply, but quickly silenced himself when he heard Fiona call out another name. At first, he feared a suitor or a date had arrived for her, but, looking up at the tall man standing behind told him differently. He resembled Fiona greatly and he had this protective aura around him when it concerned the sitting brunette. They had to be siblings; he had to be the one Fiona was mentioning to him earlier in their conversation. Declan seemed to still be glaring at him suspiciously. Instantly, fear began to wash over him. He remembered that the rich didn’t treat the poor nicely and even though Fiona was the opposite of this fact, he assumed her brother wasn’t an exception. Though what others thought normally wasn’t a big deal to him, he wanted Declan to at least tolerate him. What if he didn’t approve of his friendship with Fiona? That could ruin everything.

“Y-yes, sorry sir, we were just talking,” Adam spoke up for himself in a stutter, offering Fiona a sad smile. He didn’t want any trouble coming upon her because of him. According to her, there was enough scandal surrounding her and he didn’t want anyone, especially her twin brother, thinking any worse of her. She just didn’t deserve it. “Sorry to cause you any trouble, Mr. Coyne. I’ll just head off now.” Without another word, Adam stood up and turned to pick up some of the empty glasses he’d been carrying earlier before meeting Fiona. If he was going to get paid at all, he would have to do at least some work after all.

Before heading off to wash the glasses, he turned to Fiona and offered her one last smile. But, this one was different from his previous one. This smile was happy and joyful. “It was nice meeting you Fiona,” the misfit said to her kindly. “I hope to see you tomorrow.” And with that, he turned and headed off towards the kitchen to finish his duties and head home. The faster everything got done; he was hoping the faster tomorrow could come so he could see Fiona again. Deciding to silence his thoughts for a moment, Adam entered the kitchen and when he was sure he was out of earshot, he let out a happy sigh. Making a friend wasn’t a common happening for him; meeting someone like Fiona had to be the best thing that had happened to him in a long while.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

Declan eyed Adam’s retreating figure curiously before turning his azure gaze back at his twin sister. Everyone knew Fiona was peculiar, but, talking to the help? That was certainly unlike her. And now, he took a moment to analyze her tone; she sounded almost irritated with him. Fiona never grew annoyed or angry with him. Normally, she stuck to him like glue and it wasn’t that he disliked that, but, she was certainly acting more unusual than she usually did.

When he saw her new friend enter the kitchen, the tall handsome man moved forward and took Adam’s abandoned seat. Then, he offered Fiona a small smile, trying to assure her that he was sorry; he really didn’t mean to scare Adam away. Hopefully, his brunette sister would be able to understand that.

“Hope I didn’t scare him badly,” Declan spoke up gently, hoping he didn’t make his twin sister more irritated with him. Sending a hand through his neat chestnut hair, he stared into Fiona’s cerulean eyes with deep interest, hoping to get a smile out of her. Normally, it was easy for him to make her smile, but, she didn’t seem too happy that he sent Adam away. She didn’t have many friends and most people thought she was a little…insane. He would feel terribly guilt if he’d just ruined her chance at a decent friendship. After what she’d been through, she deserved at least one true friend, besides him of course.

[AppleMistress]

Fiona’s lips parted slightly as she watched Adam stutter, noticing that her brother had indeed scared him. She found herself desperately hoping that he wouldn’t take Declan’s words too seriously; she really liked Adam… Besides Declan himself, Fiona had no other friends. And Adam seemed to take a liking to her. She hoped that his opinion wouldn’t change. She wanted nothing more than to talk to him more, he was actually very intriguing. Not a temporary distraction, as she had deemed him earlier on in the evening. Just talking to him simply opened her eyes; she felt as though there was a lot more the world had to offer her.

Noticing his blissful smile, Fiona couldn’t help but feel a huge wave of relief wash over her. Knowing that he still wanted to see her gave her nearly enough hope to survive the rest of this night. Adam seemed to know that they were siblings; it was quite easy to determine… She and Declan were indeed fraternal twins, but they shared the same azure textured eyes and dark, chocolaty colored hair. Maybe he had a sibling himself, and was understanding of the protective gestures a sibling would send another person if suspicions were brought into a scenario. Suddenly, she found herself a little curious about Adam’s home life… What his troubles and concerns were. Just pondering the situation made the ghost of a smile appear on her features as she watched him walk away with glittering orbs. Really, only one thing really mattered. He still wanted to see her again—that was enough to keep her contented for a lifetime. He didn’t deem her crazy or insane, even after she’d confessed about her slight alcohol problem.

Fiona bit her lip as she heard Declan speak. She was a little disappointed that he had ended her conversation with Adam; but the conversation would have ended soon anyway, as it seemed several guests were already leaving. She knew Adam still probably had to finish some of his work. And Declan was only looking out for her, as he always did. He was a loyal, good man with good intentions. And he cared about her. She loved her brother with all her heart; and could never really hold a grudge against him. She looked up at him, her eyes a little stern at first—but they softened nearly instantaneously when she noted his sincerity. Fiona mustered up a tiny smile, as though to reassure her brother that she didn’t hold anything against him. “Adam’s a good man, Declan. It’s okay.” She said with ease, holding her hands in her lap to keep herself from gnawing on her nails again, “It was… odd. When I talked to him, it was like none of the social standards even mattered.”

It was rather strange, admitting that fact to Declan. But really, she tried her best to share every thought she had with him; he was one of the people she needed the support of desperately to keep herself in check. She would never ever betray his trust. Her twin brother was probably the closest person to her in her life, and she loved him ever so deeply.

Unable to resist her temptations, she hesitantly grabbed an untouched elegant glass of champagne that was still sitting on the table nearby, awaiting a thirsty guest to come and pick it up. She took a small sip, politely licking her lips for a moment as though to savor the taste as she drew it away. She’d only had one glass earlier… One more couldn’t really hurt… right?

Fiona looked about, feeling a little light-headed. Taking this as a bad sign, she set the glass back down. She then coiled a long, wavy strand of her dark hair around her forefinger as she brought herself up to her feet. She eyed the door, inwardly wondering when they’d make their leave. Really, the sooner she could sleep meant the sooner she’d see Adam again.

Feeling just a little dizzy, she offered her twin another slight smile as she moved towards the door. “I’m going to get some fresh air. Just for a little bit. I’ll return within a minute or two.” Her voice sounded a little lost, yet energetic at the same time. Moving onward; she tried to focus on someone or something other than Adam. If she continuously thought of him, she was sure she’d receive no rest that night. So, she let her thoughts meander towards Porcelina… She hoped her dear pig wasn’t lonely. Fiona absolutely hated to leave her behind, after all.

The curious, wandering, and somewhat delusional girl brushed her way through the open door.

[DracoMalfoy]

Declan watched Fiona leave in complete silence. When she’d first grabbed a glass of champagne, he’d opened his mouth to protest her drinking anymore. He was here to protect his little sister, and, being caught having a drink too many would give others more reason to spread lies and rumors about her. Back when she’d been the center of scandal, all he could was sit back and blame himself. He’d felt weak and powerless; there had been nothing he could do to protect his sister. And, he was determined to make sure neither of them felt the way they did back then ever again. So, with cesious eyes, he watched her leave. Any other day, he’d follow her without hesitation, but, he trusted her. She’d shown self control by setting the glass down; hopefully, she wouldn’t do anything too foolish on her walk. Besides, he was tired and exhausted. He’d tried his best to silence any rumors about Miss Edwards; it wasn’t right to spread gossip about one’s host. It seemed no one showed decorum these days.

Letting out a sigh, Declan stood, but continued to watch the door with curious, cerulean orbs. He half-expected Fiona to walk back in and return to his side, but he also half-expected himself to run out the door to catch her and bring her back, so he knew she was safe. Sometimes, his care for his sister was a little…unnatural. He knew it wasn’t right to deem her too dependent on him; he depended on her for so many things. The privileged, young man left Fiona’s abandoned glass alone, too tired to properly dispose of it. He caught sight of his mother and father, chatting away to the Edwards about their business engagements. Deciding it was alright to eavesdrop for a while, Declan walked over to meet them, standing at his father’s side while they chatted away. Although it was rude of him to voice his opinion where he wasn’t welcomed, he hoped they would head home soon; this long had been far too long for his tastes.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

Eli didn’t remember the long walk home. His limbs felt numb and every single step he’d taken felt like a mile. He was somewhat relieved when he opened his front door and stepped into his small, pathetic shack of a house. It didn’t matter much to him though; he had no energy to moan or complain. The gothic young man moved to the table and picked up the unlit candle placed in the center. He found an unused match, lying right next to it and used it to light the candle, bring light to the small room. He proceeded to sit the candle back down on the table and then, he found himself resting in a wooden chair, oddly finding it to be relaxing. For a moment, he shut his chlorochrous eyes and let his thoughts run wild.

He remembered how relieved he’d been when he heard Clare plea with him to meet her tomorrow. For a few minutes, that had soothed his fears and nerves, but now, it did little to settle his shaky thoughts and his paranoid fears that Fitz would harm her before they could meet again. He put nothing past his drunken rival. Instantly, thoughts of what he would to Fitz if he ever laid a hand on Clare began to plague his mind. Though he bitterly hated the taller, older man, those thoughts grew to be a little too dark for his taste, and that was saying a lot. Eli finally opened his eyes and noticed his favorite book resting on the table in front of him.

Reading was his solace, especially when his thoughts were centered on what kept him and Clare apart. But right now, he just didn’t have the will to read. He reached a pale hand out for the book quite a few times, but questions like: “Is Clare okay? What is she doing right now? Did everyone finally leave her home?” kept popping up inside his brain. After a few minutes of debating reading or not, Eli decided against it; he didn’t have the will to even distract himself right now. Tomorrow seemed to be too far away. Whenever he and Clare could steal a few moments to meet, he was the happiest man alive. His heart began to race as he wondered about what tomorrow would have in store for him. It would be hard meeting Clare, especially with Fitz not wanting him to see her again. But, they’d find a way, he was sure of it.

Eli jumped in fright when he heard the door open and he immediately feared Fitz had tracked him down to actually fight him. Turning around to see who had entered the house himself, he felt relief wash over him when his zinnober gaze saw Adam enter the house and shut the door behind him. His best friend was sight for soar eyes right now, even if he wasn’t Clare. He needed someone to talk to. Adam was so carefree and laid back, if anyone could ease his nerves right now, it was probably him.

“Where have you been all night?” Eli asked his friend, his crooked smirk on his face.

Adam shrugged as he hung up his coat, not bothering to take off his hat. “I should ask you the same thing,” the brunet misfit replied instantly. Adam took a seat right next to Eli as the Goth playfully rolled his eyes. “I was serving at the Edwards’ party,” he finally continued, his words gaining the obvious interest of Eli.

“You were?” the other young man asked, leaning forward. Now he was truly engaged with the conversation. Bringing Clare or her family up did very little to ease his restless nerves, but it did very much to capture his interest. “Did you see Clare after she left? How was she?”

Adam recoiled at his friend’s barrage of questions. Truthfully, he’d expected Eli to grow curious when he mentioned where he’d been working all night. Honestly, the misfit hadn’t expected his best friend to be so quick to engage him though. Obviously, due to the night’s events, he was sure Clare was touchy subject for Eli. Adam took a moment to choose his words carefully, making sure not to say anything that would upset his best friend. Finally, Eli’s eyes widened in impatience, which caused Adam to finally break his silence.

“She and Fitz just came in and then she ran up the stairs,” the misfit explained, trying his best to remember the scene perfectly. “I was sure she was with you, but, she didn’t stick around to talk to anybody. She just said she was going to bed.” He paused for a moment, watching Eli nod, his curiosity being somewhat satisfied. Adam took a deep breath, before continuing. “What happened? Fitz seemed a little shaken too.”

This caused Eli to perk up. He seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, like Adam had been only a minute ago. “After Clare left the party, we met up and walked around,” Eli responded, telling his own story. “But, Fitz showed up and he threatened both of us, so Clare went back with him; we promised to meet again before she left though.” Adam took a moment to digest what his friend said; his half of the story filling in some of the gaps. “Did she look hurt, like he’d hit her or anything?” Adam shook his head and Eli sighed with relief and smiled, a few of his fears finally being put to rest.

Then, an awkward silence rose amongst the two. They both sat there in silence; it seemed as if both of them were afraid to say anything, for one reason or another. Eli was tempted to ask more about Clare, but it seemed as if Adam had told him everything he knew. There probably was a whole lot to add to the story, but, the gothic young man couldn’t help but still be curious. And Adam himself was overly excited to tell Eli about Fiona. He wanted to know what his best friend would think about her, but, he was curious to discover the best way of going about telling him.

A few more minutes passed of the two men, sitting in eerie silence until Adam cleared his throat, gaining his best friend’s attention.

“I kind of met a girl tonight,” the misfit started embarrassedly, hoping his words wouldn’t sound too odd. Eli raised an eyebrow, obviously interested in the topic Adam introduced. The brunet hoped Eli wouldn’t ask the one question he was dreading. Unfortunately, meeting Fiona was all the luck Adam was going to get tonight as Eli proceeded to ask said dreaded question.

“Good for you,” the gothic misfit started, his jade eyes glancing at the barely visible floor for a moment, before looking up to meet Adam’s watchet orbs. “How would that work out with…you know…?”

“Not your business, Eli,” Adam snapped at his best friend. His tone had come off a bit more defensive then he’d intended; probably because he was anticipating the question. At his response, Eli raised his hands with defense, but then gave him a genuine smile, obviously willing to look past that question. “She’s really nice, and I don’t think she’d even care if I told her,” the laid back young man finally continued, his voice returning to its normal tone. “Her name was Fiona, Fiona Coyne.” Eli’s jaw almost dropped to the floor.

“Fiona Coyne?” he asked, in complete shock. “I’ve heard a few things about her. Likes to drink…almost as much as Fitzy-boy, I hear. Her parents and doing business with Clare’s or so Clare has told me.” Adam nodded his head, growing a little irritated with Eli’s judgment of Fiona’s drinking habit. It was neither his nor Eli’s business with that. So, Adam rolled his blue eyes, trying to get Eli to shut up.

“Yeah, she was so nice,” he said, a goofy smile on his face. “She wasn’t like all those other rich snobs; she was different, just like Clare is. She listened to what I had to say and for a rich girl, she was really smart.” Eli listened to Adam babble on and on, it seemed to go on for a few minutes and he felt he’d lost his best friend to cloud nine of something. Smirking, Eli’s crooked smirk caught Adam’s attention and instantly, the misfit stopped rambling about Fiona. “So, uh…anyways, I’m meeting her again tomorrow.”

“Guess we’ll both be busy tomorrow,” Eli replied simply, with a friendly shrug.

Silence fell upon them again, as they both sat there, wondering about what tomorrow would bring them. Eli was excited to see Clare again, and he hoped she would be just as he left her. He tried to dismiss his fears as he sent a hand to move his burnet bangs out of his eyes. Adam was ecstatic about his day with Fiona tomorrow. He wondered what they’d do and he was more than excited to learn more about her. The thing was, the misfit was deathly afraid of how to tell her his secret; why did Eli have to bring it up?

“We should both get some rest, we both have big days ahead of us,” Eli finally said, breaking the silence. He stood and made his way towards the short hall that led to his room. Adam stood as well, following his best friend down the hall. They walked for only a few seconds until they reached the two doors at the end of the hall. They bid each other goodnight and a good rest before heading into their rooms and shutting the doors behind them. Both of them practically jumped onto their beds; the young men were both far too tired to change into their night wear. The tossed and turned for a few hours; thoughts of Clare, Fiona and the next day loomed in their heads. Whether it worked out for the good or for the bad, tomorrow would be a day neither of them would forget.

[AppleMistress]

Clare descended the stairwell unhurriedly, the guests of the party that evening had already departed for the night. The paranoid young girl clutched tightly to the annodated railing, as though she was fearful that her inattentive steps would cause her to fall. She felt undersized, yet contended in the large, isolated room. She heard hazy voices from a few rooms down the hall, but decided against investigating the scenario. She was not in the mood to do so, after all. And she didn’t want to risk anyone seeing her. The Coyne’s family usually stayed a little later anyways, as they spoke of business investments and such with her parents. She supposed that was probably the case right now. She was completely out of character; she did not want anyone spotting her under any circumstances. Her cheeks were tearstained, her eyes blemished and painted an odd shade of deep vermillion, her dress was furrowed in an indecent state. In shorter terms, she was an absolute mess.

She shifted her gaze towards the table that held the alcoholic beverages on its’ surface, feeling a surge of resentment. Her sincere topaz orbs flickered with hurt and exasperation as she hurried her slow steps down the staircase. Those beverages were part of the reason she was suffering so. She wanted to be rid of them, forever. Though she knew well that she could never escape its’ presence. If she were to live by Fitz’s side eternally, she would have to face the wafting acrid scent of the intoxicating liquid as well. The pressure was building up on her back like a few thousand pounds of bricks. Her face twisted in pain at the deliberation.

Clare stopped walking as soon as she found herself standing before the table of alcoholic beverages, halting her train of thought before she could do something she’d find herself regretting. Biting her lip, she desperately tried to find something else that could captivate her attention. She instantly noticed the doors she’d emerged from earlier on that evening. She stared at the entrance for a long moment of desperation, extremely tempted to run away. If she happened to leave again, she doubted she’d ever return. She would run as fast as her tiny pristine feet could carry her—she’d probably find Eli, and tell him to think up one of his craziest schemes to help them escape this madness. Actually, that didn’t really seem like so much of a bad idea… But if Fitz were to find out what was happening, he’d surely stop at nothing to find them. And there was no telling what he’d do to Eli if something of that nature happened. His threats still rang as clear as a bell in her head, and it kept her in a panicky, paranoid state. Fitz was a strong, tall young man who could do almost anything he wanted to with his large fists. She herself had experienced that feeling firsthand when he grabbed her wrists earlier on that evening. Though she was definitely not as worried for herself as she was for Eli. Knowing he was safe was the only thing she felt that could help her sleep peacefully at night.

She let a cynical half-smile cross her features as she broke her transfixed stare, turning back to the alcohol. What was she thinking? Her mind was going wild—and there seemed to be no way she could stop it. Thoughts of running away were ones that people would never expect from Saint Clare, after all. The urges to rebel were definitely new for her, and she had no idea how to act upon these avocations. Her undying need to see Eli increased; he always knew what to say in order to soothe her or make her smile. Just being around him made her feel so secure and at ease. And those feelings were exactly what she was seeking then.

“Miss Edwards?” a somewhat familiar and soft voice entered Clare’s ears abruptly, causing her to perk her head up in surprise. She turned to face Fiona Coyne, the one and only. She only spoke with the older girl on a few occasions; they were merely acquaintances. Though Clare was also relieved it was Fiona who had walked in, as she was never one for spreading gossip, as she had been a prime victim of the scandal in the past.

Fiona wore a frown, looking from the bottles of alcoholic beverages to Clare. She knew it was terrible to assume things, but she didn’t want this young girl to become a victim to alcoholism. So if she could say something to spare her future for the better tonight, then she’d try her best to do just that. “Are you fairing well? Mr. Fitzpatrick explained that you were feeling ill…” She bit down on her lip, finding this scenario incredibly discomfited.

At first, Clare found no words. Fiona approached her slowly, as though she was afraid to come on too strongly.

“No… No. I’m not drinking,” Clare replied instantly, shaking her head speedily as though to convince the woman who approached her that she wasn’t. When Fiona shot her a somewhat skeptical and concerned glance, she continued, “I’m… I’m a basketcase. Rumors are spreading like wildfire, and I’m engaged to a fool.” She inhaled a sharp breath, trying her hardest to keep tears from welling in her watchet eyes once again. She felt rather outlandish, admitting all of this to someone she didn’t know all too well, but it felt oddly contenting to let it all out.

Fiona pursed her lips, her ultramarine irises softening in sympathy. She approached Clare, gently setting a hand on her shoulder as though to console her. “I am… terribly sorry to hear that. It mustn’t be reassuring to have such pressure thrust upon you so suddenly.” She bit her lip again, unsure of how to further help the girl. “He’s an alcoholic, isn’t he?”

Clare’s eyes went ablaze with frustration as she bobbed her head in agreement with Fiona’s words. She shut her eyes, sucking in a shaky breath. “Alcohol is only half the problem.” She muttered. Fluttering her eyelids open, she managed to glare at a bottle of champagne that sat on the table before her. Without a second thought, she took hold of the bottle, and tossed it at the floor near her feet. She felt oddly satisfied as she listened to the glass break; the bubbly liquid seeping onto the floor through the bottle’s cracks.

Fiona, however, flinched at the noise. She definitely had not expected Clare to do something so impulsive. Peculiarly enough, though, she admired the smaller girl for acting a little rebellious for once. Though now, she could smell the champagne wafting towards her, and had to fight the urge to pour herself a glass of the sparkling alcohol. Champagne was a weakness of hers’, after all.

Then, the sound of a door creaking open, along with worried sounding voices echoed into the room. Both girls exchanged worried glances; obviously, someone was going to barge in and investigate the situation.

Clare’s skin paled to an extremely niveous shade as she froze in fear. What would her parents say if they knew what she did? As much as she wanted to gain the satisfaction out of rebelling, she did not exactly want to deal with her parents’ strict words tonight.

In a matter of seconds, Clare’s mother, Helen Edwards, and Fiona’s mother, Laura Coyne were rushing towards them with panic stricken expressions.

Fiona’s mother sent her daughter a disappointed look upon noticing the broken bottle, as though to think that the broken bottle was her fault. Fiona was the one who used to have a clear problem with alcoholism, after all.

Clare opened her mouth to take responsibility for the mess, but Fiona cut her off abruptly before she could do so.

“I was… um… Going to pour myself a glass of champagne. I had a lot on my mind, therefore I inadvertently dropped it.” Fiona lied hurriedly, earning herself a stunned glance from Clare. Fiona flinched as her mother stared at her with a mortified expression.

“Be careful of the glass, girls. We’ll have someone clean this mess soon enough.” Clare’s mother’s voice was stern as she ushered the girls away from the shattered glass.

The older women exchanged a glance, and went off into their own whispered conversation. Clare shyly glanced over at Fiona, shame smoldering in her pure eyes.

“Fiona, you didn’t have to do such a thing. I could have taken the blame for my actions.” Clare murmured in an appreciative yet shocked tone. Fiona could only smile back at her. Clare, oddly, found the will to smile in return.

“You had an awful night. It’s the least I can do.” Fiona declared softly in return, overwhelmed with bliss that she had managed to get the seemingly depressed young girl to smile. “I just want you to know that you’re not alone in this mess.”

You’re not alone. Those three words sounded like complete and total ecstasy in Clare’s plagued mind.

“Thanks, Fiona. Really…” Clare whispered, a newly found surge of hope demolishing some of her troubled thoughts. Now that she pondered it, Fiona Coyne definitely wasn’t the insane snob that the more gossipy girls spoke of from time to time. She was a genuinely kind and interesting girl… Perhaps she was like her, trying to break free from the ruthless chains of society.

Fiona managed an earnest grin. Perhaps she managed to make two friends in one night. Even though she knew she’d be in trouble for the incident with the champagne bottle, the very thought that she still had the power to befriend others was contenting enough to last her a lifetime. She would meet Adam again tomorrow—and perhaps she’d have a new companion at future gatherings. This night seemed oddly promising to Fiona.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Clare brushed her fingertips against the icy windowpane in her bedroom, staring out at her yard—the silvery moon illuminating the dewy grass below. Fiona and her family left merely an hour ago, and her parents suggested that she went to bed. Apparently, she was scheduled to have breakfast with Fitz the next morning. She had expected them to yell at her for rudely excusing herself from the party without a word earlier—but they had only given her long looks of sympathy and concern. Oddly, it made her feel uneasy. Did Fitz say something? Or did they finally understand that Fitz wasn’t making her happy? Pondering these questions sent her into a sea of questioning and paranoia.

She held a fistful of her primrose nightgown, playing with the folds of fabric absentmindedly. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t fall asleep. Indeed, she was tired. Massively tired. But she kept recollecting images of this unforgettable evening in her head; it was nearly impossible to submerge herself to sleep.

Fitz’s frightening mazarine stare continuously haunted her. His threats before the announcement of the engagement even occurred—and the ones he had so generously graced her with as they were strolling home ran through her head in no particular order. The thought of his frightening words and gestures sent her into even more terror, and she was sure she wouldn’t sleep knowing that he was still out there somewhere. And his threats directed at Eli scarred her more than anything else. If she even tried to discontinue the engagement, what sort of harm would come to Eli as a result? She knew marrying Fitz would hurt Eli—but doing something to inflict damage on her engagement to Fitz could also harm him. Either way, he would get hurt. It impaired her so to know that she was the cause of his pain. She could unmistakably recall the way his olive eyes flashed in grief as she expressed the horrific news of the engagement to him… It made her hate herself immensely. She cared for Eli too much—seeing him in such a sore state made her feel dreadful.

The way she felt for Eli Goldsworthy simply made her heart swell. She admitted that she did, in fact, harbor some sort of romantic feelings for him. The way she wanted to run her fingers through his sleek atrous hair… The way she wished to hold him close. She was afraid to act on any feelings, especially after her ending with KC. And plus, their social standards managed to slam an indestructible wall in between them. And now, her engagement to Fitz was only the cold slap in the face that could wake her up from her daydreaming. This was a reality—nothing would be able to happen between she and Eli, she had to register that clearly. She couldn’t dismiss her feelings, even so. Not even if she tried. She had been there when he needed someone, and he had done the same. No other person clashed with her like he did. He made her feel… valuable. Like she was worth something. KC walked off with a prettier blonde maiden, and that most definitely didn’t make her feel as though she had any worth. And when Fitz had informed her earlier that she was useless—only good for her beauty and money—that didn’t necessarily help anything. Eli was the only person who made her feel contented… He was the only person she felt comfortable speaking freely with. Clare simply couldn’t get him out of her head.

The analytical adolescent couldn’t help but wonder how they’d manage to meet each other the next day. She had considered leaving through the window… But would that be too risky? Knowing her luck, she’d probably end up twisting an ankle. Perhaps she could sneak through the back door—the one the servants had access to. The one thing she knew for sure was that she’d have to make her escape when Fitz wasn’t close enough to witness it. The last thing she wanted was another intervention from him. Starting at the tree she ran to for an escape earlier that evening would probably be the best place to search for him first. They’d have to discuss a few alternatives for more secure meeting places when they met again. Fitz’s threats and the engagement would not stop her from seeing her one and only friend—nothing could keep her from trying to find him again.

“I promise… I’ll see you tomorrow. Somehow.” She mused quietly, staring at the gray moon for a short moment before turning on her heels. She climbed into bed, hugging her knees to her chest as she pulled her large duvet over her head. Her eyes closed tightly, tiny tears gliding down her porcelain face for a few minutes as she was trying to cast the remains of her misery away. She didn’t bother to wipe the brackish tears away—she just lay there, staring ahead expressionlessly as she tried to prepare herself for sleep.

Eventually, her eyelids closed, allowing her to descend into an unfruitful slumber.

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[DracoMalfoy]

Eli had found it nearly impossible to sleep the prior night, but somehow, he’d drifted into a restless sleep and he woke up feeling like he’d been trampled by a mob. Sending a hand through his long, charcoal hair, he gazed out the small window of his bedroom and realized the sun was out. Questioning the time, the misfit pushed the thought aside and quickly jumped out of bed, energy suddenly finding its way into him. Opening the door and rushing down the thin hallway, Eli found a watch resting on the table and sighed with relief as he noticed it was still morning. He still had plenty of time to meet Clare. He wondered when she was planning on meeting him. It was probably best to lurk around her house most of the day, in case she spontaneously decided to meet him. He wouldn’t want her thinking he’d simply ignored her request, especially with all the troubles she was facing right now. Eli rushed back to his room and threw on the first outfit he could find, caring little about how physically appealing his appeared.

He couldn’t help but chuckle as he passed Adam’s room; his best friend always had a tendency to sleep in late. He was lucky that he and Fiona actually agreed on a meeting time. He debated rudely awaking his companion, simply for the cruel fun out of it. Pushing the thought aside, he walked back into the kitchen and proceeded to fix himself a simple breakfast. Eli really wasn’t that hungry to begin with, but it was probably wisest to eat something. As he ate, he began thinking of Clare. Last night, Adam has assured him that Fitz really hadn’t done anything to her, but he couldn’t help but fear the worst still. Would Clare be able to escape her house to meet him today? He wondered if she was forced to spend the morning with Fitz. It wasn’t fair that she was being forced to marry scum like him; and he hated that his rival was threatening her by threatening him. Eli knew he wasn’t so important anyways; it would just be better if Clare looked out for herself.

In any other situation, he knew he would already have a mad scheme to get both him and Clare out of trouble. If anyone asked her, he was sure she’d tell them that concocting silly solutions to problems was his specialty. Eli took pride to this and the simply thought made him smirk crookedly as he picked at his food. Sadly, he was fresh out of ideas now. Clare’s parents thought they were doing what was best for her, and he was already on thin ice when it came to his relationship with them; he didn’t want to question their judgment any further. And, worst of all, Fitz had money and power. As unfair as it was, his drunken rival had the upper hand. He was bigger, stronger and had the wealth to do anything his heart desired, apparently, that included marrying Clare. The gothic young man wanted to curse to the sky, but kept his self control. Getting too worked up over the situation wouldn’t help anything.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a door open down the hall and suddenly, Adam walked into the kitchen and took a seat right next to Eli. Adam’s hair was standing up, and his delft eyes were half open, half closed, and it appeared as if he was able to slam his head against the table. Noticing how tired his friend was, Eli chuckled as finished his meager breakfast. “What’s wrong with you?” he asked Adam curiously, as he cleaned the table.

“I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” the other misfit answered tiredly with a roll of his eyes. Suddenly, Adam seemed a little more awake and alert. “What time is it?”

“Don’t worry, you have a few hours,” Eli assured him. Adam sighed with relief as he began playing with the unusual strands of hair deciding to stick up on his head. The other young man began cleaning his dish with a towel, making sure to wipe off all the crumbs that he had left behind while eating. Giving up on his hair, Adam looked at Eli with a curious expression.

“Did Clare tell you what time she wanted to meet you?” he asked the Goth.

“Nah, I’m just planning on waiting around,” Eli responded. Moving towards the door, he quickly put on his shoes, not bothering to make sure the correct shoe was on the right foot. He moved to open the door, but before departing, he turned to look over at Adam. “Don’t forget about Fiona,” the misfit told his friend.

“Good luck with Clare,” Adam returned as Eli stepped out the door and shut it behind him.

Walking in solitude left Eli to think. He still couldn’t shake his worry about Clare, even though he had faith she could take care of herself. He wanted to save her, he felt as if it were his duty. She didn’t deserve a life glued to Fitz’s side; there were so many better things she could do with her life. And some of them were with him. Though the gothic young man tried to avoid thinking about it, he knew he harbored romantic feelings for Clare. He shouldn’t; it would never work out, but, at some point into their friendship, he’d begun seeing her as something more. He’d never voice his feelings though. They would just complicate things more. Clare didn’t deserve anymore conflict.

[AppleMistress]

Clare kept her seething blue eyes glued to the book that sat in her lap. Although reading a book at the table could hardly be considered rebellious, it was unladylike—and it would irk her parents to no end. And while her eyes were infatuated with a book, she didn’t have to suffer through a conversation with Fitz. She was wearing darker colors today, which was definitely unusual. Clare honestly liked wearing brighter colors, but really her attire managed to depict her current mood. She found herself counting the seconds until she could climb out her window, and meet with Eli again. Seeing him was most definitely the medicine she needed to cure her miserably dull attitude. She absentmindedly toyed with the dark ribbon that was laced in her hair as she flipped the page of her book. She paid no mind to the meal settled in front of her, and no mind to the young man who sat beside her. Her parents were in the other dining room down the hall, as they wished to give Clare and her soon to be husband more time alone together. Clare detested the very idea of it. Sitting alone with Fitz did not make her feel safe any circumstances—her only relief was that he seemed to be in a sober state.

She clicked her tongue in an exasperating fashion on purpose in order to anger Fitz a little. If he was repulsed by her, perhaps he’d make an attempt at trying to find a more ‘obedient and ladylike’ maiden to marry. The thought of him backing away was absolute ecstasy for her. If Fitz truly wanted to marry her, she’d let him know what bad habits of hers’ he’d have to endure every single day. She couldn’t help put let the ghost of a pessimistic smirk cross her features, knowing well that Eli would probably find just a little humor in this situation she was in because of her immature tactics. In truth, she was trying to act like a child to push Fitz away. Her more playful attitude was something Eli liked; and she inwardly wondered how Fitz would take it. Of course, she was probably handling Fitz a little viler than she’d handle Eli. With Eli, it was all in good fun. With Fitz, however, she found herself trying her hardest to spite him. If he found something he didn’t like, maybe he’d leave her be. Just like K.C did. The memory of K.C himself made her heart swell. Her feelings for the man were near to gone, as because of him, she had allowed herself to become closer to Eli. Though still, knowing K.C didn’t admire her the way she was still hurt. He left her because he assumed she was always mad at him; and perhaps that was true. K.C never took the blame for his own actions, and truthfully, it sort of revolted her. Whenever she scolded one of his tactics, he’d take it the wrong way, and assume she was being judgmental.

Clare was feeling oddly conflicted. Her consonance was telling her not to rebel; though these feelings to rebel were unusual, and she had no idea how to act upon these unfamiliar impulses. She was starting small, she felt. Acting a little mischievous and self-indulgent, wearing somewhat darker attire... Nothing all too extreme, yet something quite a lot of people would find amazement in. Little Saint Clare never broke the rules, after all. Perhaps Eli really was really rubbing off on her...

Her eyelids suddendly felt heavy. She was sure she had dark rings under her eyes because of the lack of sleep she had received the following night; reoccurring nightmares of her dreaded wedding day haunted her mind. She wanted nothing more than to get rid of her frightening thoughts. If she didn’t do something soon, she knew well that her life would be trapped in the strong hands of Marcus Fitzpatrick. And her parents had been sending her looks of sympathy all morning. Why was that? If they thought Fitz was doing this to her, which he was, they would have canceled her breakfast with him. Perhaps they felt bad because she was feeling ill? Or maybe Fitz told them an untrue story based on the previous nights’ events like he said he would? She wrinkled her nose a little at the thought, ducking her head even closer to her book as she tried to preoccupy herself with other thoughts. Like how she’d sneak out to find Eli. Climbing out the tree by her window seemed to be a decent idea... She just hoped she wouldn’t fall. It’d be tough explaining a twisted ankle to her parents, after all. Seeing Eli seemed to be the only thought that could keep her from breaking into a thousand tiny broken pieces; just like that evil champagne bottle she tossed the previous night.

[DracoMalfoy]

Fitz unconsciously picked at his meal sitting in front of him on the table. The room was spinning in circles and he felt as if he were about to be ill. Despite his aching head, he kept silent. Last night had been nothing less of a disaster, and, he was going to make an attempt to choose his words carefully this morning. Gathering up the courage to confront Clare, his icy marine eyes turned away from his plate and over to gaze at her; she was dressed differently today, and the sudden change in her attire would shock anyone. She never wore dark clothes, someone who knew her well would think she went mad. The alcoholic tried to expel those thoughts; if he was going to make any progress in improving Clare’s mood about their engagement, he’d have to be careful in judging her. One wrong move would send her running away out the door to meet that wretched Eli. And Fitz certainly wouldn’t have that. Trying his best not to appear rude, he turned his gaze back to his plate and emotionlessly took another bite of his breakfast.

He winced as Clare clicked her tongue; the irritating action was similar to symbols being played right next to his ears. It wasn’t a secret that he was left with quite the hangover after all the drinking he’d done last night. The smallest sound made his head spin faster. Trying his best not to expression his irritation with her rebellious action, he cleared his throat and fabricated a smile. In his mind, Fitz pondered how he should start a conversation with her. His goal was to make sure she’d accept the marriage. Though, after the story he’d told her parents the previous night, there was little chance of her discontinuing the engagement, he still wanted her to be happy with him. Her family’s money and status was just half of the reasons he’d took interest in her. Smart, independent and attractive girls always aroused his interest. And Clare had been no exception.

“You look beautiful this morning,” Fitz finally said, his tone coming off as close to sweet as he could manage. He mustered up the courage to look at her once again and frowned once he noticed that she seemed more engrossed in her book than she was in him or her food. “You should eat something,” the tall young man continued after a few moments of silence. Although he knew Clare didn’t care for him as much as she did for his gothic rival, her behavior this morning was off.

Looking concerned, Fitz pushed his plate aside, in an effort to give her his full attention. He’d do whatever it took to help Clare believe that he cared. He was debating the best time to tell her what he’d told her parents about Eli. And, if she was upset with him now, then this had to be the best time. It was best to get it over with after all. The sooner Clare forgot about Eli, the sooner everything would be better for everyone involved. “I spoke to your parents about last night,” Fitz said nonchalantly, changing the subject without waiting for her to reply. Before she could protest, he continued. “To save you from any blame, I told them Mr. Goldsworthy forced you into accompanying him last night. They’ve agreed with me; seeing Mr. Goldsworthy will not only distress me, but them as well.” Fitz hoped hearing that her parents disliked Eli would pressure her into staying away from him. He was willing to do anything to remove his rival from the picture.

[AppleMistress]

Clare had tried to ignore Fitz’s words, leaning in closer to her book every time she heard a word come from his mouth. His first words were kind; and he actually sounded as though he meant what he said. Of course, buttering her up now would probably do no good—especially after the disastrous encounters they had the previous night. Ignoring him until breakfast had finished was her initial plan; but his next words were what made her look up.

Hearing that Fitz told her parents that Eli had forced her into accompanying him boiled her blood and distressed her as well. She felt her heart sink every time her parents tried to defame Eli; and now they had a seemingly valid reason to dislike him. They had a completely untrue reason to dislike him. She slowly closed her book, setting it aside on the table as she looked up at Fitz with puzzled azure orbs. He sounded sincere with his words; but she was sure that he had no idea as to how much they hurt her inwardly. “Y-you... told them that? Mr. Goldsworthy would never force me... Never.” Her voice was weak and pained, “I can take the blame for my own actions; there is no need to... to pitch the blame on him.” She shook her head slightly in disbelief, her parents feeling even more hatred towards Eli was really the last thing she needed. If Fitz managed to involve her parents so much, there would be no way possible to struggle out of this engagement. Perhaps she was already trapped. She knew her parents wanted what was best for her; but when Fitz fed them false stories, they probably believed that he was the best suitor for her. She didn’t want to believe that it was already too late to talk them out of it; though it seemed as though this engagement had already been confirmed.

Clare felt that her corset was hugging her tighter—like there was no way she could fill her desperate lungs with oxygen. Trying to let her thoughts sink in a little, she reached over for the glass of water that was settled in front of her. She took a sip; her thirsty tongue devoured half of the glass rather easily. Filled with unease, she fidgeted in her seat a little for what seemed like forever. Frustration and dissatisfied fear settled in her mind, and she felt the instant urge to get away from her house. To get away from her parents, from Fitz, from everything.

Eli didn't deserve this. If her parents thought he was doing something to hurt her, there was no telling what precautions they would attain for her. And Eli was not a bad man... He wasn't, and Fitz's terrible lie about her encounter with him only made her feel a little more dislike for the taller man. She appreciated him when he tried to be sincere; though otherwise, his need to lash out at Eli consistently angered her.

She stood, smoothing some of the creases in her gray dress with her hands as she did so. She just couldn't take this any longer. She inhaled a shaky breath, glancing at Fitz before eyeing the staircase. “I-I’m sorry. Please, excuse me...I think I need to retire to my room for a while longer.” She uttered uncomfortably, starting to make a swift walk towards the stairs, “I’ll see you sometime later.” Before she could endure another word from the young alcoholic, she dashed up the stairs; careful not to trip over the hem of her dress. After her restless night; the last thing she needed was to start her day off on the wrong foot. Finding Eli was her top priority right now. Settling things over with him, along with making sure he was okay was really the only thing that would leave her contented in her mind.

Clare let in a few deep breaths as she entered her room, closing her door quietly behind her. She repeatedly told herself that she couldn’t cry. She couldn’t allow herself to after all the sobbing she’d done the previous night. Her heart pounded at a dangerous pace as she glanced longingly at her window. Moving fast on her feet, she stuffed a few of her larger pillows under her covers. She knew this little detour wouldn’t fool her parents for much too long; but it would keep them from wondering where she was long enough for her to run far enough away from her home. Once she was satisfied with her little display, she moved cautiously towards her window.

Unlocking the little latches, she pushed the glass outward. She heaved her legs over the ledge. With ease, she climbed her way over to the tree nearby. Careful with her steps, she managed to navigate her way down the tree branch by branch. She’d done this a few times before, so she was rather familiar with how to climb down. She thanked the Lord that she had managed to successfully climb down this time without falling, though. It’d be hard to explain a twisted ankle to Fitz or her parents when she was supposedly ‘in bed’ all day. As she landed in the soft grass, she let out a sigh of relief.

Inhaling the outdoorsy air; Clare felt freer than she had in quite a while. The thrill of doing something against the rules like this was so exhilarating. She glanced about her yard for any signs of Fitz or her parents. When she noticed there was no one in sight, she dashed across her yard, and towards the tree she met with Eli at the previous night. That would most definitely be the first place he’d look for her. She just hoped she wasn’t coming much too early... He could still be in bed, for all she knew.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli felt like the walk to Clare’s house was taking much too long for his taste. He wanted to meet her as soon as he possibly could. He knew it was quite possible that she wasn’t able to get away yet; after what had happened last night, he was sure Fitz would be watching her carefully. The gothic young man couldn’t help but fear that his drunken rival had told Clare’s parents an exaggerated tale of what occurred the previous night. He didn’t place Fitz above it. Everyone knew that the Edwards weren’t fond of him; if Fitz had told them lies about last night, they could easily ban Clare from seeing him. He physically shivered at the thought, but he tried his hardest to expel it. Thinking negatively wouldn’t solve anyone’s problems. Eli knew he needed to start thinking of a plan. Clare probably already had an idea or two, but, he felt it was up to him to try and solve the problem. If he had to watch Clare marry Fitz, his entire life would crumble right before him.

He kicked a pebble on the ground continuously as he walked, finding the simple activity to be a much needed distraction from his clouded thoughts. Today, he wanted to focus on just enjoying the limited time he’d have with Clare. Last night was supposed to be dedicated to them spending time with one another, but Fitz had quickly ruined their plans. So, today he wanted to spend time with Clare, just as friends, without having to worry about what was coming in the near future. Who knew how much longer they would have to just simply enjoy each other’s company? His jade eyelids have closed at the grim thought. What if this was their last meeting? Then he’d have to come up with a plan soon.

The idea of taking Clare and just running away was seemingly more appealing than it was last night. Eli was positive that Clare would never support such a mad idea, but, in his dreams, life on their own seemed to be great. They could board a ship and go anywhere their hearts desired; start a new life and have all the adventures they wanted to. As his mind returned to reality, he let out a sad sigh. It wouldn’t happen, it just couldn’t. He’d already told himself that romantic and adventurous fantasies about him and Clare would simply remain that: fantasies. Nothing more could occur between them in this world; society and fate just wouldn’t allow it. Eli let out a dark chuckle and rolled his olive eyes. It was almost as if they were a work of Shakespeare’s genius mind. Fighting fate regardless of the costs; nonconformities always sounded pleasurable to Eli, just not now.

His expression brightened immensely when he noticed none other than Clare by their favorite tree; the one where they’d met last night. Just seeing her made his day. Eli did take note that she appeared different. Her clothes were darker and she looked depressed. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think this was Clare’s way of rebelling against her parents. Ha, even when trying to defy the rules, Clare was still quite the saint.

“My, my Miss Edwards, you look quite gothic this morning,” Eli greeted her as he approached, probably using a much too cheerful tone for the occasion. The pale misfit took note that she didn’t seem like herself today. She looked beautiful as always, but he missed her cinnamon curls; they were fun to play with while he teased her. He missed that sarcastic grin she had whenever they fired playful comments at one another. Seeing Clare depressed sort of depressed him in a way. He felt obligated to get her to smile somehow. “Did those vampires you fancy get a hold of you last night?” Eli asked with his sideways grin. She did have a thing for those bloodsuckers; poking fun at them always made her role her cerulean eyes. He was beginning to fear on the inside though. Had Fitz done something?

[AppleMistress]

Clare found herself relieved when she noticed her wait for Eli wouldn’t be too long. Hearing his voice made the icy chills running up and down her spine melt at a rapid pace, helping her to relax her stiff shoulders just a little. Her heart pounded at an unnatural velocity, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She turned to look at him, instantly feeling relief wash upon her. Most importantly, seeing him safe and healthy was contenting. Her blue eyes danced with enthusiasm that seemed a little foreign. Fleeing from Fitz, climbing out of trees, and meeting Eli Goldsworthy himself. What on earth would her parents say? The analytical adolescent wanted to smirk at the thought.

“What can I say? You’re very influential.” She responded cunningly with a slight smile. She toyed absentmindedly with the dark bow in her hair for the second time that day. These dark clothes certainly weren’t her style, but really, she wanted to do something a little out of character today. Her impulses to rebel were unusual, and she hadn’t a clue when it came to acting upon these thoughts. As for his jab at her interest in vampires, she simply rolled her bright azure irises in reply. She'd always loved how mysterious vampires were... Although they were depicted as frightening monsters, there was something about them that sparked her interest. Eli found a lot of humor in mocking them, just to get a reaction out of her. And really, that was one of the things she loved about him. He was willing to make any situation light hearted; it was much less awkward and proper than the life she'd grown accustomed to.

Clare took a moment just to look at him, noticing how much better she felt just to see him safe and smiling. After Fitz had threatened him, she’d inwardly feared that he ventured off to find him in the middle of the night. As soon as Fitz crossed her mind, she looked back behind her shoulder briefly before turning towards Eli once again. She bit her lip a little guiltily, appearing a little more serious.

“We should go... somewhere further away from my house. I have a lot to say, and I don’t want... him finding us.” She managed to murmur. She liked the fun scenario they created for themselves, but she didn’t want Fitz interfering much too early in their time shared together. He’d find out she went missing any time now; and she knew they’d have to move fast if they didn’t want him finding them. She wanted to end her day with Eli on a contenting note today. And if what Fitz said to her parents was true, she was sure they’d attempt to find her as well. They needed to be somewhere a little more secretive. She grinned sheepishly. “I sort of fled from a scheduled breakfast with Fitz. I did a few things to keep him off our scent for a little while, although I don’t know how long it will take him to figure out that I’ve gone missing.”

She took a few steps forward before whirling around to face Eli with a knowing and somewhat blameworthy grin. She had no clue as to where they’d go from there; but she knew it would be best to leave as soon as possible. Today was going to be a good day; Fitz couldn’t ruin this for her. Clare inwardly hoped there were no gatherings she’d have to attend that evening. She managed to dodge ruthless rumors the previous night by feigning illness, and she was sure she wouldn’t be able to avoid it for a second time.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli raised an eyebrow at Clare’s words, finding some twisted sense of humor in them. It was never in her nature to rebel, and the simple idea of having some form on influence on her amused him. He knew she was just toying with him, but still the very thought made him snicker under his breath. His jade eyes widened in shock though when he heard her next words. Rebelling in general was a first for her, but fleeing from breakfast, with Fitz, now that was dangerous. After she’d fled the party last night, Fitz had come after them; what if he soon discovered that Clare had left home? The fear gave Eli both the desire to run with Clare and also to suggest she head back, just for her safety. The gothic young man offered his best friend a smirk as he nodded his head, finding her suggestion to be the best option for them. He’d face a bunch or two from his alcoholic rival to have some time with Clare. He just hoped she’d stay safe through it all. Last night, things had almost turned violent between him and Fitz. Eli knew he wouldn’t forgive himself if Clare got in the middle of anything like that.

“So you’re kidnapping me today Saint Clare?” Eli asked, still in a haughty, teasing tone. He knew all too well that she wanted to break away from her society and be her own person, but this rebellious side of her was something he’d never seen in her before. And, though he’d never tell her out loud, he found it sort of… attractive. In a purposely goofy fashion, Eli slid on his feet towards her and joined her right at her side. “So, what did you have in mind for today?” She’d already taken the risk of abandoning Fitz, especially after the events of the previous night; the pale youth couldn’t help but wonder what else the normally good girl, Clare had up her sleeve. Though he knew Clare’s new rebellious behavior could lead to some trouble, he was too thrilled to really object.

Though he didn’t want to voice his thoughts, he was sure Clare’s new behavior was because she was frightened of her possible marriage to Fitz. He didn’t want to see the limited freedom she had sucked out of her life. She didn’t deserve that. Clare had visions and plans for her life; Eli had to admit that he was happy that she was finally beginning to act against society though. He just hoped she wouldn’t take it a step or two too far. Running away for a little while did sound like a great way to forget the stresses of what was going on in their lives; Clare had come up with just the thing they both needed, he though. He was still fearing that this would be the last time they’d be able to spend as normal friends… well, he doubted what they had could even be called a normal friendship. He shrugged the thought off, not wanting anything to hinder the fun they could have today.

Was he worried about the future as much as Clare? Of course. But, Eli thought it would be better if they could both just relax and enjoy the last moments of peace they could afford. Life wouldn’t be worth living without Clare in it; so, the gothic misfit was determined to make the best of the life he had with. Saying goodbye wouldn’t be easy, but, he didn’t have to do it just yet. Damn, he just couldn’t shake these negative thoughts.

Hiding any signs of worry from his face, Eli smirked his famous sideways smirk and took one step ahead of Clare. Next, he stretched out his arms in a gesture to show he was willing to let her lead the way. “Where to my unexpected abductor?” he asked her, as goofy as ever. He wanted to make sure Clare enjoyed this day as well.

[AppleMistress]

Clare took a few effervescent steps forward, a little lightheaded because of the freedom she tasted in the outdoorsy air. It felt as though she’d been locked away in a prison cell the previous night after Fitz had escorted her home—she consistently feared never being able to step outside her house again without supervision of some sort. Knowing that she could outsmart Fitz and escape him for just a little while was enough to make her day. “I suppose so.” She giggled at his kidnapping comment. Kidnapping was probably something she’d never even consider, but just the thought of it brought a smile to her face, “I’m not very experienced. Hopefully I won’t lose my victim hastily.”

She held to his wrist lightly. Laying her head on his shoulder was a little too much the previous night; but she wanted to hold him, just so she knew he was still standing beside her. Being around him caused all of her troubles to melt away with ease. She enjoyed this feeling, just walking with him. Free, out in the world where no one could tell her what to do.
She looked up at him, her expression twisting in curiosity. “Honestly, I’m not sure where to go. I considered that bookstore we like… though it’s a little to early to go now, it probably hasn’t opened yet.” She fiddled with the ribbon in her hair absentmindedly once again, “I thought we could just… walk for a little while. I just want to be anywhere but here.”

Clare thought about her reasoning for coming out, suddenly reminded of the lie Fitz had fed her parents about the previous night. As much as she hated bringing up a bad topic, she felt they needed to talk as much as they could before their time together came to an end. And although this may be a dreaded talk, she knew she had to tell him. The sooner she let this out, the sooner they could have a few happier moments. It was better to say this earlier on then later, she supposed. Her crystal blue orbs smoldered with regret and a tinge of sadness as she bit her lower lip uneasily. She lifted her gaze to Eli for just a moment before lowering her gaze.
“There was actually… a kind of… reason. Um… that I left Fitz this morning.” She started, her voice cracking and shaking a little as nervous chills traveled up and down her spine. She laced her pallid fingers together, looking down at them in order to keep herself from looking up at him. She had a habit of beating around the bush whenever she was scared or nervous… She had to mentally yell at herself to spit out the information. “Apparently Fitz fed my parents some lies about last night. He told me before I stormed out… It’s going to be harder for me to leave the house… And you don’t deserve constant defamation from Fitz; it’s not fair. So… I wanted to make sure to find you today.”

She swallowed, deciding to continue. “Last night, after we left… I argued with him. And then he threatened to hurt you if I tried to say anything else. I… was scared. I want you to try to stay away from him.” She looked at him with pleading eyes, sinking her teeth harshly into her lower lip. “I don’t want you to get hurt…”

If anyone was to blame for their current circumstances, it was Fitz, she realized. He continuously threatened others with his fists—the iron clasp of alcoholism controlled him. If she could see Eli in secret, she would. She just didn’t want to hear that Eli had gotten hurt because of her need to taste a little freedom. And based on the way Fitz talked to her, it seemed as though he had the will to hurt her to get his way as well. Of course, she wasn’t about to talk to Eli about this. He had a slight tendency to overreact; and if she said something that worried him, there was no telling what he’d do. She inhaled a deep breath. The sooner they could sort out their current situation, the sooner they could just enjoy each other’s company.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Andrew Torres—or Drew, as he preferred to be called, stood in front of a door. Specifically, the door to his stepbrother Adam’s home. He hesitated, drawing his knuckles away from the door. It was rather unusual for him, to come crawling to his younger brother’s home for advice. Especially advice regarding young women. Though if the rumors he’d heard the previous night were true, then Adam was acquainted with the one girl he was attempting to please. Fiona Coyne consistently pushed him away as he attempted to charm her—she was repelled by his constant gestures to win her over. Drew was usually very smooth and casual when it came to girls. He nearly won the affection of any girl he spoke to. Fiona, she was different. And if Adam knew something about her, perhaps, he could help him through this ordeal.

Casting his nerve-wracked thoughts away, he inhaled a deep breath. He looked away as he nonchalantly rapped his fist against the door that stood before him. It’d been quite a while since he’d last talked to his brother. He shifted on his feet uneasily as he waited for the door to open. His brother usually was a late sleeper—what if he still had the chance to leave? No. He had to push those thoughts away. Drew Torres was no coward!

Rubbing the back of his head, he let out an impatient sigh. Seconds seemed like hours in his head, Drew couldn’t help but think that time was mocking him.

As he stood there, he inwardly wondered why Fiona would even spend her time speaking with Adam. Of course, it wasn’t that Drew considered Adam an awful fellow to talk to—it was just that social classes never clashed so easily. Drew had obtained a higher place in the social food chain than Adam; he’d expect Fiona Coyne, an elegant girl, to chase after someone who had a little more class. Drew really just couldn’t understand what she’d see in someone like Adam—especially in the time of just a single night. Of course, the rumors could have been untrue. High society types had the tendency to exaggerate simple things; rumors were rather deceiving.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli’s heart skipped a few beats at Clare’s news and not in the fashion that he normally preferred. Fear began to plague his being as he grimly wondered what it was Fitz had told her parents. As fate continued to fight against them, the misfit felt constricted and imprisoned with no hope of freedom. And, what was worse was that he knew it was selfish to be dwelling on how the news was making him feel. Clare was to be married to this excuse of a man, and here he was, taking deep breaths trying to control himself. How did she react when she heard Fitz tell her this? Silently, Eli thanked God that he wasn’t present to see the look on her face. He didn’t believe in God, but if he was there to have seen it, his heart probably would’ve shattered like glass. The news had stopped him dead in his tracks and he fought to keep his jade eyes open. Tears threatened to spill out, but he fought them back with all his might. The gothic young man wasn’t about to look weak in front of Clare.

“How could he?” Eli asked in a whisper, already knowing that Fitz had done this without guilt or regret. Just the idea of the drunken alcoholic stumbling up to the Edwards, lying through his teeth about the previous night made his blood boil. He knew all too well that Fitz was looking to extract revenge on him, but why did he have to torture Clare? He would’ve much preferred it if Fitz had showed up at his house last night and hurt him. Though he’d never say that out loud to Clare. Eli fought hard to keep his self control. Getting angry and losing control wouldn’t help anything or anyone. If anything, he’d just scare Clare, he feared. The poor, young man didn’t want to frighten her more than she already was. It was obviously going to be hard to see her now… what if this really was going to be their last meeting?

Pale hands formed fists as Eli wished nothing more than to punch Fitz. This wasn’t fair…it just wasn’t! He knew very well that he was thinking and feeling selfishly, but he couldn’t have Clare taken away from him. The vision of her walking down the aisle, crying, but dressed elegantly to marry Fitz seemed to become less hazy as every second passed. If he lost her…he wouldn’t be able to live. Eli felt as if he were going to die. He was floating down and down through a fiery limbo he just couldn’t escape. What Clare’s parents thought of him had never been an issue, but now, they were on Fitz’s side. Not even a famous Goldsworthy scheme could save them now.

“You need to stop worrying about me,” the gothic young man snapped, with a much harsher tone than intended. “Worrying about me will only get you hurt. I’m not important Clare.” The last thing he wanted to was to upset her or push her away. Though it was for the best if he kept his distant, he was far too selfish to do such a thing. He finally stepped forward, moving a few feet ahead and stood next to her once again. “We’re playing a dangerous game, and I don’t want you to lose.” Eli stopped talking, the nightmare of Fitz slapping Clare played in his mind, as if to taunt him. “If I hadn’t been there last night, maybe things would be different.” Plans to enjoy the day and visit their favorite bookstore were far from his head.

Eli knew that they needed one another, but he was positive he needed Clare more than she needed him. He didn’t want to ever leave her, but it was probably for the best. Either decision he could make now seemed to be the wrong one. He’d forever feel guilty for leaving her alone to deal with this. There wasn’t a single person in her world that truly understood her. But, if he continued meeting her and she was hurt for it…then, he’d request an eternity in hell for himself. Why did this have to be so complicated for him? Fighting his screaming conscience, Eli gave in to his selfish temptations and took Clare’s small hand in his.

“I don’t want to lose you Clare, but Fitz will never stop me,” he smirked, his famous sideways smirk in an effort to make both of them feel a bit better. His anger and sadness were placed by a lust for vengeance. Fitz had taken a step too far, threatening Clare. He wanted to make his taller rival pay for lying. If he couldn’t save Clare from the engagement, he’d so anything he could to irritate Fitz. As long as the alcoholic knew he was the one responsible and didn’t go after Clare, he’d do absolutely anything. Already, a famous Goldsworthy scheme was forming in his mind. Tonight, he’d mess with Fitz. Maybe, if he could place Fitz in an unsatisfying spotlight, the Edwards would discontinue the engagement. Make Fitz look bad in public…that didn’t sound too challenging. “I’ll do something, just wait, Clare.” Eli was more determined than ever now.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

Adam had rested his head against the table shortly after Eli had left. He’d been far too lazy to prepare a breakfast for himself and he was so close to dozing back of f to the comfortable realm of sleep when he heard a knock on the door. Instantly, consciousness returned to his being and the young man let out an annoyed groan. Instantly, he thought it was Eli who must’ve forgotten something. Adam felt half tempted to yell at his friend to come in and get what it was he needed, but then he remembered that it wasn’t long until he had to meet Fiona. It was probably better to get up and prepare for the day instead of just laying around doing absolutely nothing. Besides, what would Princess Fiona, as he had named her, say if he showed up with messy hair and half shut eyes?

With a sigh, the misfit pushed himself out of the chair and lazily walked to the door, hesitated for a moment, before opening it. His aquamarine eyes were still half shut, showing he was still a little stuck in his dream world. “Eli, if you left something, come in and get-“Adam cut himself off though when he fully opened his eyes to see someone he had never expected to knock on his door. Drew didn’t come over much…after leaving home; he made a nice name for himself and thus, rarely associated with the lower social class Adam belonged to or Adam himself in general. Clearly interested in what his brother was doing outside his house, he raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“Well, well, well, how can I help you Mr. Big Shot?” the immature misfit asked his older brother curiously, with an obvious tint of teasing in his voice. Clearly, Adam had forgotten that while Drew looked nice, polished and handsome, he himself looked as he’d just tumbled out of bed…which he had. “Don’t tell me you’re in need of some financial assistance,” Adam snickered with a roll of his ocean blue orbs. Then, he continued, “or else I’ll die of laughter.” Drew didn’t always take his teasing lightly, but it wasn’t often that he had the opportunity to tease his brother.

If he didn’t know any better, the odd young man would say that Drew was a bit ashamed to have him as a brother. As children, they were close, thicker than thieves one could say. But, when Drew had made himself a fortune, he’d almost abandoned their family, so to speak. Drew showed up to wish him happy holidays and a happy birthday when the occasions came around, but that was it. Adam had read what Drew was up to in the papers though. He was quite the womanizer, which wasn’t much so shocking to him. Still, the misfit wondered what purpose his brother had for being here. “So…?” he asked, waiting to hear what it was Drew needed from him.

[AppleMistress]

Clare listened to Eli’s first words solemnly. She honestly couldn’t help worrying about him—he was important to her, and that’s really all that mattered. She’d never stop caring, not even if she tried. Hearing and watching him, moisture began to fill her big blue eyes, but she managed to refrain herself from crying out. Last night, she’d figured out that no matter how long she sobbed; nothing would change. She had to let her strength and wit take control of her mindset if she wanted to make it through this terrifying scenario she was caught in. The only thing was, she was still unsure if she was strong enough to make it. Trying to damage the engagement would hurt Eli, but marrying Fitz was like a death sentence… And marrying Fitz would hurt Eli as well. She felt devastated with herself, putting him through this. But, she couldn’t help but notice he blamed himself as well. This, indeed, was a dangerous game they were playing. But the thrill of this game was hard to resist. If she was glued to Fitz’s side by some sick turn of fate, she wanted to spend the last meaningful moments of her life with someone she actually cared for.

Her thoughts drifted over to the brief conversation she had with Fitz earlier at the table. He said that seeing Eli would distress her parents, and that’s really what hit her the hardest. She loved her parents, probably more than anyone would ever know. And just knowing that Fitz had fed them a bitter, selfish lie tore her in half. The last thing she wanted to do was worry her parents… But she didn’t want to give in to Fitz’s attempts to force her into this marriage. And her heart went out to Eli—she admired him more than anyone else. Her decisions right now would determine what would become of her life, and she found herself realizing that rebelling would be one of the only ways she could convince her parents to unlock her chains. If they deemed her too childish to handle a marriage, maybe they would cancel the engagement completely. The very thought allowed just a tinge of excitement to linger in her mind.

A light shade of vermillion was painted across her pale cheeks as Eli grabbed her hand. She listened to his sudden confidence; his words managed to give her just a little more strength, she felt. If they didn’t give up, maybe they’d get through this. She squeezed his hand a little tighter, as though to let him know that she appreciated being with him, as well as his concern. She searched his olive eyes cautiously. Although she admired his sudden will to do something to stop the engagement, she couldn’t help but feel a little hesitant. When Eli felt too passionate about something, he usually trapped himself in a problematic scenario. His tactics could be a little violent; he was protective, somewhat defensive… She admired those traits of his, but she worried for his safety consistently because of them. Sometimes he overreacted, and she needed to calm him down a little before he did something much too drastic.

“Eli…” she started, pausing as she tried to ponder something to say in reply. She was nearly at loss for words when her thoughts deepened into more serious subjects. They were in water over their heads, trying to find the surface in order to fill their demanding lungs with oxygen. But they weren’t giving up, even so. It was nice; to think that there was still a vague little light of hope shining for them. This battle would be a hard one to fight, but if they tried, maybe something would turn in their favor. And knowing that she wasn’t alone in this puzzling mess was exhilarating. She’d feared that Eli would consider leaving in order to help her… And although his tactics would have been noble, leaving her would only hurt her more than taking a punch or two from Fitz would. He cared, and he wasn’t going anywhere. That touched her heart more than anything else.

Without hesitation, she encircled the gothic young man in her arms, holding him tightly as she rested her forehead on his shoulder. As much as she hated to be too forward, she couldn’t help herself. He meant so much to her, and this really was the only way she felt she could bring her message across in her speechless state. She inhaled his scent, feeling oddly relaxed and compelled by it. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. Fitz wouldn’t find them now he’d be too far behind, even if he were out searching for her at that moment.

“Okay.” Clare responded, her voice a little muffled. She paused, just taking in the pleasure of standing there with him for a moment. She felt happiest with him, if she was torn from him, she wasn’t quite sure how she’d keep herself sane. He was there for her every time her world broke apart—every time she’d felt depressed because of KC, every time she needed to complain about the senseless gatherings she was forced to attend. And she, in return, was always there for him. “Just… promise me you won’t get hurt.”

Knowing Eli wanted to do something to help her in this scenario was inspirational. If she could proceed in her plans to convince her parents that this engagement would not work, and then he did whatever it was he had in mind, maybe their strengths together would help them through this hard time.

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Drew couldn’t help but grin somewhat fondly at his little brother when he opened the door. His hair was tousled, he appeared to be exhausted. Some things simply never changed, it seemed. Adam had always been the late sleeper. He was usually very nonchalant and go-with-the-flow. Drew couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret. He and Adam never spent as much time together as they used to, he couldn’t help but feel like they were growing much too distant. He shook the thoughts off as soon as they came. He was here for a different reason, and he intended on requesting Adam’s help.

“I’ve heard a few things this morning,” he began, his chocolate eyes smoldering in interest. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, diverting his eyes for just a moment before looking back at his brother, mustering up his confidence. “Apparently you’ve had a successful encounter with Fiona Coyne?"

Any man who attempted to win Fiona over was usually rejected. After she’d acquainted herself with Mr. Beckonridge, in another town, she’d stopped trying to spend time with any other man in general. At least, that’s what the rumors were. Fiona was involved with several past scandals, some of them were undoubtedly true, some of them were false. And it was no mystery that her twin brother, Declan, was also quite defensive when it came to the certain types of men who attempted to talk to her. Drew knew that Fiona wasn’t interested in anyone in general, and it was a complete surprise to hear that his younger brother had managed to rise so highly in her eyes. Fiona was a mystery, and Adam somehow had a lead.

“I just want to know… how? How did you do it?” Drew questioned, crossing his arms over his chest as he quirked his head to the side just slightly. “I’ve tried… everything. And for some reason, she’s not interested in me. She’s not supposed to resist someone like me—it just… it isn’t normal.” He was blinded by his social status to see that he was probably acting a little conceited and selfish with his words. But it was true; he was quite the womanizer, and every gesture and attempt to charm the eccentric young lady that he used was ineffective. He feared he was losing his edge—or there was something more he needed in order to gain Fiona’s affections. He couldn’t even sleep at night, knowing that there was something she wanted that he didn’t have. This was his reputation; if Fiona continuously rejected him like she did, it would truly disappear right before his eyes.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli offered Clare a genuine smile as she voiced her concern for him. Knowing that she truly cared for him made his heart skip a few beats, but, the feeling in his chest wasn’t similar to hearing the news of Fitz’s lies. It seemed both of them were trapped in this situation, but, he wanted to do something, anything possible to free both of them from Fitz’s grasp. Whether or not she knew it, Clare meant the world to him. Seeing her go through this made him want to be sick, but he felt determined to help her in any way he could. Though this society they lived in was suffocating, the gothic misfit had little insight on how Clare was feeling. He knew she was being stripped of her freedom and being forced to dedicate her live to a man she despised, but, at the same time, he felt completely ignorant to how she felt, where she stood and how she was dealing with it. Eli would never tell her he couldn’t relate; both of them already felt isolated in this world… There was little purpose in adding to their stress.

His eden eyes sparkled with the memory of last night’s confrontation with Fitz. He’d been so cruel, enraged and uncontrollable. It was no secret that Mr. Fitzpatrick was often drunk, and he couldn’t stand imagining what he could do to Clare when they were alone. Just seeing how fiercely he gripped her wrist last night made him wince. Eli was determined to keep Clare safe at all costs. He knew she was acting a tad different this morning, probably because she wanted an outlet to rebel against her parents. It was a side of Clare Eli really had never seen before, and, quite frankly, he liked how the normally Saint Clare was now a little risky and adventurous. But, he was also fearful that her newly adopted persona would place her in danger. What if she rebelled against Fitz in front of him? What would happen then? The Goth felt unbelievably close to her…he’d feel terrible if she was hurt or punished because of an “influence” he had on her.

When Clare tightened her hand around his, he was pulled from his worrisome thoughts. Her closeness caused his pale cheeks to flush a deep shade of crimson that was most unusual for him. Suddenly embarrassed, he focused his gaze t the ground, silently praying the blush would quickly fade away. A few seconds passed and Eli felt the heat leave his face. Longing to gaze into Clare’s crystal blue eyes, he moved his emerald eyes to hers and smiled once again, probably like a mad fool.

Sadness gripped his heart as he knew he’d be lying if he promised her he’d stay safe. Whenever he and Fitz faced off, it never ended well. Some of their encounters in the past had ended a little… violently. But, trying to ease Clare’s worries, he nodded his head and his smile transformed into his famous Goldsworthy smirk. “With all due respect Miss Edwards, when am I not careful?” he teased tactfully with a light laugh to accompany it. Though when he and Clare had time to themselves, his antics were silly and friendly, but he knew he could get fierce when it came to dealing with enemies, Fitz especially. Eli wasn’t sure how his new game with his alcoholic rival would end, but he did know that Fitz had made the mistake of involving Clare; he wouldn’t let him hurt her, even if he had to sacrifice himself in the process.

Clare had been through enough. She was always watched and one wrong move would place her in the center of scandal. Then, the fool, KC had to break her heart. He remembered having to witness that. And now, Clare was being forced to marry a man both she and him hated with all of their hearts. Eli wanted to see his best friend smile, laugh, be herself again. Sometimes, his antics scared her…he took things “too far” as she often said. But right now, it didn’t matter much to him. He squeezed his hand around hers once again, as if starting a silly game between them. He’d help Clare get out of this.

◆◇◆◇◆◇

Adam was caught off guard by Drew’s questions. Obviously confused, he raised an eyebrow as he tried to process all of what his older brother said. His conversation with Fiona was news? He remembered clearly how the beautiful brunette had told him how anything really could become a scandal last night, but he never expected that a simple conversation could spread like a wildfire of gossip. But, as his mind pushed past that barrier of confusion, he finally realized that Drew was coming to him for help. This made the odd misfit smile like a fool. As a child, he was always the one asking for Drew’s help, but now, it was almost ironic that the coin had flipped. Adam wasn’t entirely sure on how to answer his brother’s questions, but he was sure he probably owed it to him. Besides, if he refused to help, Drew wouldn’t let him live it down.

It wasn’t very shocking to hear that Drew fancied Fiona. She was beautiful, eccentric and she was so intelligent. He hoped his brother would be able to see all of that in her, instead of the money and status she had. Adam feared that was all suitors saw in Fiona, and he hoped that Drew would be the one person who was different from all the others. Trying his best to push that thought aside, the young man tried to ponder answers to Drew’s questions. He remembered last night perfectly, but, to be honest, it’d just happened. Their meeting had been an accident. Though he was glad he’d met Fiona, it was just pure luck that they happened to become good friends.

“It sort of just happened,” Adam responded, speaking his mind as usual. “We just started talking last night; I was serving at the Edwards’ party.” The misfit shrugged his shoulders. He was sure the answer would dissatisfy his brother, but he searched his mind, trying to say anything that would be of some use to his brother. “Just so you know, something tells me she isn’t big on…your type.” Adam knew Drew wouldn’t like hearing that, but it was partially true. Fiona had told him she disapproved of guys that saw her merely as an item and really only cared for themselves. Drew had a tendency to be self centered, so, the young boy felt justified in saying what he said. But, he was also kind of jealous. He feared it would be awkward if Fiona started seeing Drew.

Adam sighed and debated what he should say next. Part of him kind of hoped he’d strike out with Fiona, that way he could remain friends with her without any awkward feelings, but at the same time, he remembered that Drew was his brother; and a good brother always helped another. Rubbing the back of his next, he rolled his ultramarine eyes and offered his older brother a hopeful smile. “I am seeing her again today though,” the misfit started, hoping to help Drew a little. “Perhaps I could see what she thinks of you? Maybe put in a good word?” He didn’t know if Drew would really agree to that, but he hoped so. Adam did feel bad, being unable to help his brother.

[AppleMistress]

Clare pressed her lips together, looking down at the ground, trying to cast her tangled thoughts away from her conflicted mind. This was a dangerous situation, and she’d known that. It was really happening, it wasn’t merely a terrifying nightmare she could simply wake up from. Everything she did from that point in time would affect the entire course of her life. Submerging herself to Fitz in fear would most likely lead to their marriage. An eternity glued to his side seemed like a complete crash course into her personal version of hell. Those who were remembered the most in history were the ones who rebelled, those who spoke up against the rules. Clare felt that if she could rebel in the same way, perhaps, she’d manage to bring her point across. And maybe in doing so, she’d be able to shatter the indestructible wall that kept different social classes from clashing. If this succeeded, life would be much easier for her to live. The brunette knew inwardly, that her plans would most likely lead towards failure. But she’d find herself regretting it forever if she didn’t take a chance while she still could. It was quite unfortunate that both she and Eli were nearly the only two people who couldn’t have an important say when it came to the engagement. Though at the same time, Clare felt at ease when she knew at least one person was on her side throughout this entire ordeal.

As much as Clare wanted to rebel, she was almost scared to. The way Fitz threatened her with slurred words frightened her; and if he’d actually used one of his large fists on her, she knew she’d be utterly helpless. It was hard enough to move around as it was, wearing the tight corsets ladies of her social class were forced to wear. And she wasn’t strong physically enough to defend herself. As much as she hated feeling helpless, she knew well that she’d be vulnerable in a physical situation regarding the taller man. And based on the way he’d grabbed her and yelled at her the previous night, she knew well that he wouldn’t hesitate to do something to her when he was under the strong influence of alcohol. Of course, she wouldn’t voice these fears to Eli. If she said anything more about how terrified she was, she was sure it’d only cause him more pain. And the last thing she wanted to be was another cause of hurt—she’d done enough already, it seemed.

She looked up at him when she heard his lighthearted response, her innocent azure orbs ablaze with trustworthiness and concern. She didn’t exactly get a promise out of him, but hearing that he’d try to be careful was a little bit contenting. She still couldn’t help but worry; if he were hurt, she didn’t know what she’d do. Clare offered him a nervous smile, shifting a little on her feet as she gnawed at her lower lip. “I’d never doubt your carefulness, Eli. Although I cannot say the same for Fitz and his fists.” She grimaced a little upon mentioning his name, glancing down at the wrist he’d latched onto fiercely the previous night. “Honestly, I… I don’t know what I’d do if you were to be hurt.” When she was about to witness a fight between Eli and Fitz the night before, she’d panicked. She felt as though she’d give anything away to have one free night with the gothic young man… And when he was threatened physically, she knew she’d do anything in her power to keep him from getting hurt. And she feared that that would be the tactic Fitz would use—to scare her so badly that she’d force herself to agree to the engagement. For someone as dimwitted as Fitz, it was a well-constructed plan. She wished there was an easier way to work around this problematic scenario.

Clare blushed a light shade of pink when she felt Eli tighten his grip on her hand. He wasn’t holding to her with the same harshness as Fitz had the night before—the strength of his grasp was gentle and reassuring. She held only a little tighter, afraid if she clasped on any tighter, she’d cut off the circulation in his hand. She offered him a slight smile, wanting more than anything to find some sort of happy topic that they could distract themselves with. Sadly, though, her mind seemed fixated on the slew of problems that were headed in their direction.

She took a brief glance behind her shoulder, suddenly pondering whether they should begin to pick up the pace of their walk or not. If they stood there, she was sure Fitz would find the chance to catch up with them. And that was really the last thing she wanted, especially after the rather depressing night she’d endured. She swallowed before looking up at Eli again, her heart skipping a few beats. She felt a little dizzy, having not eaten anything that morning, and stumbled back a little, still keeping her hold on his hand. She rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand awkwardly, letting out a light laugh to disguise the minor mishap as she caught her balance. Embarrassed, she turned to the side, deciding to take the gesture that she was ready to continue on their walk.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

It took Drew a minute or two to let this new information sink in. He honestly could not believe that his little brother managed to befriend Fiona with such a small amount of effort. He’d been trying, doing his research, throwing off nights with his friends just to impress the young mistress. And Adam, a server, had managed to merely impress her during a simple conversation? It was hard to believe. He studied Adam’s facial expression, knowing well that his brother was being honest and sincere with his words. Fiona was different, perhaps she fancied different sorts of people and traits. Drew was willing to do anything to gain her affections at this point—he especially needed someone after his last break up. Girls were what gave him his reputation, he felt as though he needed a beautiful young lady at his side. And earning the affections of Fiona Coyne was quite a chore; he’d certainly be admired if he could win her over.

Drew felt himself grimace when he heard Adam admit that he wasn’t Fiona’s type. Girls like Fiona fancied classy guys; and that’s what he was trying his hardest to become. At least, the rumors determined that she liked classier guys. He’d never actually checked to see if the rumors were true or not. He couldn’t help but inwardly curse at himself for giving in to listening to such pitiful gossip. The stories were usually intense, and usually exaggerated. He was just so desperate for information regarding the mysterious girl that he couldn’t help but listen to what he heard. He hadn't cared much for her involvement in the scandal either, as he'd been a victim to the gossip that floated about only a few weeks back.

As much as he felt bemused because of the situation, he let a grin cross his features as his brother offered help. As much as he hated going to others for advise regarding girls, he really appreciated Adam’s willingness to help him out. Even though they weren’t quite as close as they used to be, he still loved his brother. He helped him when he was in need of assistance, and he returned the favor.

“You’d put in a good word for me?” Drew inquired, his tone dripping with gratefulness. This was the first glimmer of hope he’d seen in his situation with Fiona. As much as he wasn’t thrilled that Adam was the one who was helping him with a girl for once, he still couldn’t help but feel a little better. He set a hand down on his brother’s shoulder with an encouraging smile. “Thanks, Adam. I really want her to give me a chance; but she never really seems that interested in what I have to say.” Maybe if Adam said a few good things about him, Fiona would see him in a new light.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli was honestly caught off guard by Clare’s words. He knew she was a great friend, but sometimes, her kind words just took him for a spin. Save for Clare and Adam, there weren’t many people who really did show genuine care and love for him. He’d grown used to Clare’s care and concern, but sometimes, it surprised him. Even in this dangerous situation, she was kind and selfless. Sometimes, her personality astounded him. She really did earn the teasing nickname, Saint Clare. Her kindness and respect for the rules was really one of the reasons the gothic young man didn’t believe she’d ever make a good rebel. Eli always enjoyed teasing Clare about her nature, but now, he was curious to see this new side of her. This persona she was willing to adopt to discontinue her marriage engagement to Fitz was exciting for him as well. Maybe their misadventures would be more…risky. He never imagined getting into a little mischief with Saint Clare; he actually doubted its possibility.

He did outwardly shiver when Clare mentioned Fitz and his violent tendencies. Just imagining the way his drunken rival had threatened her last night would definitely haunt him in his dreams. Eli wanted time to stand still; he wished this day could last a lifetime. As every second passed, he could almost feel the wedding day slowly creeping closer and closer. The odd misfit swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to expel the phobia from his mind. He focused his jade eyes on Clare and quickly felt the worry melt away. Whenever he was with her, everything just seemed to be alright. Eli really didn’t know how to describe the feeling, but, even with her wedding to Fitz floating ominously near, he felt that somehow they’d get through it. For now, all they could do was savor the last few more moments they could definitely have together. The pale adolescent was overjoyed that Clare was a little more rebellious now. Perhaps they could make their last guaranteed day together a little interesting.

“I am beginning to doubt your credibility though,” Eli smirked teasingly with an odd snicker. Even in this stressful situation, teasing Clare was just too much fun. He just wished they could forget Fitz and all of the melodrama in their lives just for a little while to enjoy each other’s friendship and company. Although it was probably impossible for Clare to forget her engagement to his taller, stronger rival, Eli wished he could do something to at least try and help. He sent his free hand through his charcoal black hair, deep in thought, trying to conjure up a method of improving her mood. Hearing her worry about Fitz’s violent tendencies made it appear real. Though it was real, he just wanted to forget it all for a while. All that mattered to him at the moment was Clare and their friendship.

Eli’s famous Goldsworthy smirk appeared on his face as he noticed Clare’s pink blush. If Fitz wasn’t around, he didn’t deserve their thoughts or concern, he believed. “Mr. Fitzpatrick is currently out of sight, ergo out of mind,” the gothic misfit continued, trying to help Clare forget about the alcoholic they both loathed eternally. Though her concern for his safety warmed his heart, Eli didn’t want to worry about getting hurt or about his rival in any way, shape or form. He just wanted to be free from the unjust, suffocating society he lived in and he was almost positive that Clare wanted the same as well.

The gothic young man looked forward down the path ahead, wondering what really was ahead. He knew their favorite bookstore wasn’t too far away, but, like Clare had mentioned only minutes ago, it probably wasn’t open yet. Eli considered taking her somewhere to eat, but his empty pockets informed him he probably wouldn’t be able to afford it. Sighing a little sadly, his olive eyes stared around intently, trying to think of anything they could do to get further away from her house. The misfit was sure it was probably the last place she really wanted to be. And, though he wanted to forget Fitz, thinking realistically, it wouldn’t be long until the alcoholic realized they were gone. Filled with an enthusiastic desire to escape her neighborhood, Eli looked towards Clare, with his smirk still present on his face.

“Want to run?” he asked her curiously. Sometimes it was satisfying to just run. Eli also somewhat hoped if they ran, they’d never come back. The idea of starting a new life was so attractive to him. But those kind of feelings lied next to his romantic ones. They just couldn’t exist.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Adam nodded his head enthusiastically, happy to be of assistance to his older brother. Since childhood, the two had made an excellent team. They were inseparable back in their youth, so he was just glad that they were speaking to each other again. Though he wouldn’t admit it because of his pride, he did really miss Drew. His brother was always there when he needed him, protected him when he needed it and he’d guarded his secret with his life. The odd misfit was sure it was time to pay him back now. And, he believed if Fiona gave him a chance, she’d really grow to like him. His brother was a good guy; a tad conceited, but a good guy nonetheless.

The odd young man chuckled and folded his arms over his chest. Drew was always well skilled when it came to charming women so it was odd to see his brother come to him for advice concerning women. He’d never inherited Drew’s skill so he thought of his brother as extremely lucky. Although he didn’t think of girls as prizes, Adam did have a tendency to say foolish things when speaking to them. His ability to keep his sanity during his talk with Fiona last night had been a fluke. So, being sought out by his older brother for matters dealing with girls was just surprising to him. He was overjoyed now that he finally had an opportunity to help Drew out with something.

Adam couldn’t help but feel a tad reluctant still. His conscience made him fear he was using his friendship with Fiona to help Drew get what he wanted. His brother deserved an amazing girl like Miss Coyne, but, after talking with her the previous night, the misfit believed that she deserved a man who wouldn’t judge her. And secretly, he feared Drew would look at her and see the scandal that coated her past. Trying to expel the untrue thoughts about Drew, the young misfit rolled his aqua eyes gave his brother a half smile.

“I guess you’ll be able to consider us even,” Adam joked with a genuine smile. He nodded his head once again, assuring that he would help. He hoped bringing his brother up while talking with Fiona wouldn’t sound awkward or rude, but, he had given Drew his word. Hopefully, the beautiful, eccentric brunette would give his handsome sibling a chance. “It’s really the least I can do for you,” Adam continued brightly with another laugh. He sent a pale hand through his messy chocolate hair, trying to straighten it. Compared to Drew, he really did look like a mess. And suddenly, that made him feel a little awkward.

[AppleMistress]

Clare silently cursed her cheeks as they heated even further upon hearing Eli’s impish mockery. Something about his little jabs at her just made her feel increasingly better; he helped her to flee from the nearly unbreakable chains of her unbearable lifestyle. She grinned lightheartedly at his first comment, kicking at the ground lightly with her feet. She couldn’t help but wonder what she’d do without him. She’d be forced to stay inside her home on rainy days, forced to attend several gatherings and errands with Fitz prior to the marriage… And now that her parents believed that Eli was treating her badly, she’d have to be on her toes at all times. There were so many obstacles standing in their way—knowing that fact in general saddened her a little. She knew she had to enjoy her time with him today while it lasted. Clare knew she’d most likely receive more information regarding the engagement this evening, after all. For now, she’d just give anything to forget that simple fact.

When Eli said to just forget about Fitz, it took her only a millisecond to cast the taller man away from her mind. He’d been on her mind for such a long time now; the only thing she really wanted to think about at the moment was running away and spending some of her scarce time with Eli. Fitz deserved no more of her thoughts. She was sure when he’d threatened her the previous night, his ultimate goal was to put himself in her head. She couldn’t bring herself to give him that satisfaction. Worrying was something she did quite often lately, and since Eli was offering her an easy way out for just a little while, she’d surly take him up on his offer.

She didn’t know exactly why she was so surprised when he asked her to run. Just the thought of running with him made her heart skip a few beats. She brushed the slender tips of her fingers up against her ashen cheek in thought as she absentmindedly tipped her head to the side, her short russet locks following suit with her gesture. “Run?” she inquired a little airily, her set of crystal blue eyes widening innocently. It was so improper for a young lady of her time to run, but she felt the escalating urge to just do something out of the ordinary. Of course, she knew she shouldn’t run much too fast when she was laced up in her tight corset. It was hard enough to breathe for her as it was, although she’d grown somewhat accustomed to it. She’d felt the impulse to quickly untie it, though she was much too embarrassed to do such a rash thing in front of Eli. The disobedient feeling increasing in her was foreign, and she was still unsure about how she should act upon her newly found impulses. Act without thinking. This whole concept was new-fangled, and she felt that if she wanted to bring her message across, she’d have to do just that. Corset or not, she knew she inwardly wanted to run. The action seemed very redeeming.

A smirk quirked at her soft pink lips, her azure orbs glazing over with fervor. She held her forefinger out to him for just a second, as though to tell him to give her a second. The adolescent stooped over a little, grabbing a fistful of her smooth dark tinted dress to lift it up just enough to show her heels. After doing so, she carefully slipped out of her uncomfortable shoes. She held them both by their insoles in one hand and straightened her posture before looking to Eli. “All right. Lets run.”

Clare didn’t know why she felt so much excitement towards the simple action of running; but if it got her far enough away from her so called home, she would be overly contented. And it would ensure them that Fitz would spend a long while looking if he happened to figure out that she’d escaped his clutches. Perhaps they’d find someplace new to hide away that was hidden from the rest of their society—a place that they’d be able to meet without being found. She clutched her shoes tighter in her hand, a surge of exhilaration dancing in her blood. The excitement was very evident on her features; she looked very similar to an energetic young child in a candy store. “So, where are we running to, Mr. Goldsworthy?” she asked this somewhat playfully. Really, she didn’t mind if they had no specific place to go at this point in time. They could just run, and possibly stumble across an interesting place.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli’s astonishment was clearly written all over his features as he watched Clare remove her shoes. His request to run had been humorous; though Clare’s new adopted traits were rebellious and free, he never expected her to agree to run. Still, the idea was entertaining to him. It was a form of self expression and a way to escape the troubles that were eerily lingering behind them. The gothic youth’s head swirled as he looked towards the path ahead and then back at his beautiful companion. The temptation to send a hand through her umber hair was exceedingly powerful, but, Eli retained himself. Sooner or later, he knew that he’d have to accept that nothing more than friendship could bud between them. Clare was soon to be tied to Fitz’s side, and he wanted ever so badly to erase that fact from his conscience. Their friendship was too valuable to gamble. It was worth more than all the gold in the world to him. Everything else in both their lives was hanging by a thread; Eli didn’t want their friendship becoming the factor that snapped that thread. If he lost her care and friendship, he’d crumble and break like glass.

Everything in his life centered on her. One could deem him obsessive, but really, he couldn’t help himself. If his undying love and care for Clare was a disease, he most certainly didn’t want to discover the cure. She was the only factor in his life that seemed to remain unchanging. The nonconformist wasn’t sure where his next meal would come from, but, he’d bet everything that Clare would always remain his friend. Just those heartwarming thoughts brought an affectionate smile to his face. Eli felt his porcelain cheeks heating up, along with his temperature, but, he ignored it. Both he and Clare were comfortable with one another. She’d taken her shoes off right in front of him and agreed to his proposition of running down the road. Obviously, there was an eternal trust and bond between them that no marriage could permanently shatter.

Her question of where they could retreat to caught him off guard, though. There was nowhere in mind that they could escape to. The tree outside the Edwards’ house had always served as a meeting ground for them, but, with a suspicious Fitz lurking Clare’s home, they needed to run as far away as possible to find a sanctuary. Eli was well aware that both of them needed a place where peace was guaranteed. The gothic misfit wanted Clare to be happy and he wanted to find a place for her where Fitz wasn’t constantly lurking in her mind. Both of them say enough of the frightening alcoholic in their nightmares anyways. He opened his mouth to suggest they run back to his home, but then he quickly shut his mouth to cancel his suggestion. Adam was probably still there, and, some alone time with Clare sounded nice. And, when Fitz discovered Clare had left home, his house would probably be the first place his taller rival would search.

“Let’s run until we find a place that’s ours,” he suggested with a soft smile. Eli didn’t care if their special place was the King’s palace or a small table in the back of a pub. As long as he was with Clare, the place would be perfect. All he wanted to do was run and find somewhere perfect and tranquil for the both of them. If this really was the last day they’d have together, then he wanted everything to be peaceful, perfect and amazing. The peculiar Goth wondered where they’d find themselves after their feet grew sore and their breaths short. Running with Clare was going to be like jumping through the sky. When he held her hand, his heart raced at hundreds of kilometers an hour and soared through the air. Eli was sure they could defy gravity if they wished. She just made his life perfect.

Willing to put her home farther behind them, Eli outstretched his pale, rough hand, hoping she’d take it with her free hand. Adrenaline was rushing through his frail body; excitement was racing through his blood. He just wanted to escape and forget the stresses their society was roughly stabbing through them. He shook his head, hoping to move his raven hair out of his smaragdine orbs. Chuckling teasingly, he raised his dark eyebrow once again, hoping to jab one more joke at her. “Are you positive you’re up for the task, Saint Clare?” he asked curiously, his smug expression revealing the playful deceit in his inquiry.

[AppleMistress]

Clare beamed, suddenly the happiest she’d been in what seemed like ages. When she heard Eli suggest finding a place that’d be theirs, and only theirs, her heartbeat sped at an abnormal rate. She loved him and cared for him; and although friendship should have been enough for her, she knew well that she inwardly harbored romantic feelings for the gothic young man. It was very hard to merely disregard them, setting those emotions on a shelf to gather dust as though they didn’t matter. But that’s what she had to do, especially in a time like this. Her future marriage to Fitz was the reality that nothing would ever happen between them, to her slight discontent. Really, she was contented as long as she was his friend. It’d be better to have him in her life as a friend rather than not at all. Eli was someone who cared for her well, and she tended to him as well. She couldn’t even imagine living a week without speaking with him at least once. He let her vent out her opinions about how terrible her lifestyle was, and she listened to his views of society eagerly. The things he had to say were always so intriguing. They shared an unbreakable bond, even as they tried to balance their several problems on a tightrope that seemed as though it’d snap at any moment.

She stared up into his eyes, her innocent blue ones meeting his mysterious jade orbs. She was captivated by his mindset in general. He could be so gentle and soft when handling her, yet he wasn’t afraid to take a jab at her when it was safe to do so. Everything he did made her feel excellent, nothing he said ever made her feel pain—unless he was taking the blame for something on his own shoulders, or speaking of doing something much too drastic. Sometimes she cared a little too much for his health, she had a tendency to worry quite a lot. When it came to Eli’s conflicts, it was no mystery that he had a few violent tactics. If he were ever hurt, she’d feel terrible. And if Fitz harmed him for spending time with her, she’d feel worse than terrible. She’d feel completely responsible.

Time seemed to move at a decent pace; it wasn’t moving past her quickly, as she expected it would. She took just a moment to savor the time she had, standing with him as she listened to the comforting outdoorsy sounds that filled her ears. Running with him seemed like such a wondrous idea. The farer away they could get, the better. When she knew she was safe from Fitz, he’d leave her mind for a while, she was sure of it. If the paranoia that he wouldn’t sneak up behind them again were ceased, she’d feel a little more composed.

So, deciding not to waste any more time with her constant pondering, she offered Eli an innocent smile as she took hold of his outstretched hand. She held it gently, but firmly at the same time. She couldn’t hide her blush, and she decided against hiding it behind her auburn bangs this time. Clare hoped that he knew how much she appreciated his company right then.

Wrinkling her nose at his lighthearted jab, Clare grinned teasingly as she rolled her azure eyes. She absentmindedly swung her shoes back and forth with her free hand, looking on towards the path ahead with an eager expression. The thrill of the situation sent elated shivers up and down her spine, this excitement was really something she couldn’t contain. “Of course I am!” she retorted with a look of playful triumph. Saint Clare… She wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to her sweeter side, it was really what made her who she was. But to do something differently, improper, or downright strange was what she wanted. Doing something to separate herself from those who stood together in clustered groups at the high-class social gatherings was her main goal. If she was deemed too childish to marry, or if she managed to convince Fitz that he wouldn’t want her as a bride, then perhaps things would work in her favor.

[DracoMalfoy]

If Eli didn’t know any better, he’d swear he was flying high above the soft clouds in the sky. Being with Clare just lifted him, regardless of the circumstances. Even with the threat of Fitz looming far behind them, he still saw himself as the happiest young man the world has ever known. These moments with her were rare indeed; never did they get to leave the comfort of their favorite tree for a… urban adventure such as this. The judgment of society had always intimidated them into submission, until today. Through the dramatic events concerning Clare’s engagement to his alcoholic rival, the gothic young man had finally realized that he was more of a big speaker, than a profound doer. The way he talked and dressed gave off the appearance of a nonconformist to their unfair society, but truthfully, Eli did so little to rebel against life’s rules and customs. Thinking this way now made him feel hypocritical, but right now, he could put that behind him.

Here he was, with his best friend, and secretly, girl of his dreams, running away from her planned breakfast with her fiancé; they were off to find a place where they couldn’t be found for a while. Maybe this could be considered an actual kidnapping. The misfit spent most of his life planning mischievous ways to jab at their culture, but now, he was finally living one of his plans and dreams. Clare was always timid and responsible; Eli honestly never dreamed she would be with him now, shoes in her hand, running away from her parent’s wishes for a short time. It was almost too good to be true. At that thought, a pang of guilt shot through his chest. She had said not long ago that he was an influence on her. When Clare had said this to him, it had been a sarcastic joke, but, Eli began to fear that there was some truth to her words. It was clear that he was different from all the others she interacted with daily; had he really turned her into something she wasn’t?

Now he was driving himself paranoid. Enjoying his time with Clare was set aside for a moment as he began to wonder if Clare’s new rebellious persona would endanger her with Fitz and worry her parents. Her family was important to her, no matter what they did to her and, if she was hurt by Fitz because of something he was responsible for, he’d never forgive himself. Eli shook his head, trying to expel his fear and paranoia. He was over thinking this whole thing. It was obvious that Clare was acting differently these past few days, but, nothing drastic had changed in her. She wasn’t asking to borrow some of his clothes or arguing with her mother and father. Maybe the stress of the engagement was finally starting to run him mad? Besides Fitz, they really didn’t have a problem to worry about.

Eli’s jade eyes nearly collapsed when they gazed into Clare’s own marine orbs. Just one look at her could melt all his fear and anger away as if it were ice cold snow on a summer’s day. Even when the world around them was crashing down, one look at her always told the gothic misfit that everything would work out somehow. Maybe their current situation was bleak, but, they’d both survive… somehow. But, that didn’t matter right now. He offered her his famous Goldsworthy smirk as he looked to the path ahead. In the past few minutes, they’d created an impressive distance between Clare’s house and themselves, but it wasn’t enough to please Eli yet. Who knew where Fitz was now? Though he didn’t want to worry himself, or Clare anymore, logically thinking, his taller rival could be back in her home or not far behind.

“I admire your determination,” he returned cheerfully, deciding against jabbing her once again with one of his sarcastic comments. The nonconformist moved his eden eyes to her russet hair and found himself lost in her perfect locks. Suddenly, he wondered what she was thinking right now. Was she still pondering her engagement to Fitz? Was she thinking about him? Oh, just that thought caused his heart to skip a few beats. Sadly, Eli once again had to assure himself that a romantic future involving Clare was simply out of the question. Not only was society seemingly fighting against it, but, he’d feel terribly guilty if he caused Clare to rebel against her family in such a way. They clearly thought there were better men for her than him. And even if he disagreed, he was powerless to change their views. Having her as a friend was perfect enough for him. As they ran down the street, searching for their own spot, Eli actually smiled. Even with the complications of their lives rising to unhealthy temperatures, this moment was simply perfect.

[AppleMistress]

Clare felt as though the act of running was exotic. Although little stones on the ground beneath them cut her bare feet as she ran, it was a thousand times less excruciating than when she wore the disastrously expensive and harmful shoes that were currently dangling clumsily in her ashen fingers. Though the way her throbbing feet were really the last things on her mind right then. Feeling the wind that roared in her ears slap her in the face as she moved forward, and how it felt to have the breeze weave through her auburn locks was simply freeing. By running, she was also creating more distance between herself and the prison her home had become. More distance between her troublesome lifestyle, and the plans of the engagement she was supposed to be hearing. And although it seemed as though she was turning her back on everything back there, it was completely worthwhile as she knew the one man she cared for more than anyone else was running alongside her, his hand laced with hers’.

She was running out of breath rapidly, and frankly, she hadn’t cared. The sore feeling in her throat reminded her that she was doing something she shouldn’t, and honestly, it was wonderful. Literally breathtaking. She watched the buildings and fields’ rush past them in blurs of color because of the speed they were moving at. She looked at the open skies ahead, suddenly thankful that the sun was shining down on them today. Rain was a very common weather pattern in this town, and if not for the sunlight, she was sure they wouldn’t have had much of a chance to do anything together. Calming down a little from the exhilaration she felt, she pinpointed her cobalt stare at Eli as a bright grin quirked at her breathless features for only an instant before lowering her gaze to her feet, trying to pick up one last bit of speed.

She couldn't help but wonder if Eli did these exhilarating kinds of things every single day. His life seemed so much more adventurous and far-fetched compared to hers. She spent her days indoors, reading, learning the differences between ladylike and unladylike, and advancing on more feminine activities-- like cooking, cleaning, knitting... All three among a long list of other slightly boring things. Cleaning could be fun; although, living in a wealthy household, it wasn't very often where she had the chance to do so. She wasn't very skilled when it came to cooking; she would accidently cut her fingers with a knife or add in an unnecessary ingredient when she wasn't paying attention. And if she was lucky, she'd get a chance to escape her home. A chance to sit under that tree in hopes of Eli showing up. And if he did, they'd talk. They could go on for hours about anything and everything. Like books, fantasies, life itself, what else is out there, experiences, adventures, dreams. Those moments where they could converse were usually the highlights of her days. And now that their place wasn't as secretive as it used to be, she was as determined as ever to find a new place to hide away from the world. The very thought made her cheeks heat slightly.

It was early, and she noticed that no one else seemed to be around on the street's sidelines. She was partly thankful for that, as Fitz’s chances of finding them were lessened. Her running slowed as her breaths became shorter, eventually to the point where she allowed herself to let go of Eli’s hand and collapse to the ground on her knees. She laughed airily as her chest heaved, panting as she tried her best to catch her breath. It felt like a long while until she had enough strength to say anything. “Perhaps we’ve created enough distance?” she asked with bated breath, dropping her shoes into the dewy grass as she peered over at him with her inquisitive pale blue orbs.

Once her question was out in the air, she took a moment to look around. She was surprised how far they managed to go—this place was definitely unfamiliar, somewhere she’d never been before. Her heart fluttered quickly as childish curiosity took a hold of her. She’d never gone somewhere without asking for her parents consent, this was so diverse and exhilarating. A small smile graced her features as she noticed a worn building—it appeared to be a little old, possibly abandoned based on its condition. But it was still beautiful; thick olive vines decorated the stone walls that remained standing. The area was very private; the branches that swayed above cast a protective shadow over the building, the cracks of golden sunlight that managed to escape through the leaves almost appeared heavenly. When Clare noticed a painted glass window, she then realized it was a church. Or, perhaps, it used to be a church.

Curiosity getting the best of her, she slowly picked herself up to her feet, leaving her shoes behind. She approached the building at a slow pace. “Look at this.” She whispered to Eli, “He’ll never find us here.” She stopped by a tree that stood nearby, brushing her fingertips against its trunk. She looked back to her dark haired companion, another small smile taking its’ place on her features.

“Should we stay here for now?” Clare inquired, tipping her head to the side. She inwardly wondered if Eli had ever seen this place before. In an odd sense, she felt as though she was drawn to it. But of course, that was probably just inquisitiveness getting the better of her.

[DracoMalfoy]

Running wasn’t a foreign practice for Eli. Long ago, he’d discovered that running was an excellent way to clear his mind of harmful thoughts and intentions. It was exhilarating really, just letting sheer will and determination guide you in whatever direction fate pleased. But, the nonconformist had also realized that running away from his problems and trials was really only a temporary escape. It couldn’t heal the wound, only cover it up. He stayed silent though as this grim fact floated carelessly into his mind. Running wasn’t as satisfying when he was alone; Clare was what made this worth something. Feeling her hand intertwined with his made his heart soar up to the clouds, which unfortunately did little to help his retreating breath. The Goth’s heart was pounding unbelievably fast; its speed was too strong for his liking, but, he didn’t voice his concern. They were escaping the threats and troubles that rested near Clare’s house. The farther from Fitz they were the better. It almost convinced Eli that there was no engagement, no marriage in the near future, but of course, there was no escaping reality.

They were rebelling against their strict and suffocating society. There had to be some way to make a statement of dissatisfaction with the way their culture functioned and truthfully, this was it. The misfit was sure they’d earned stares of shock and bewilderment from people they’d passed, but quite frankly, he didn’t care in the least and judging by the expression on Clare’s face, he doubted she did either. Nearly everything he did was considered “abnormal” by the standards of today’s society, but something about Clare being so willing to go along with him today just brought his trademark smirk onto his face. It was interesting indeed, though. Clare’s case always seemed to confuse him. She was perfect, in nearly every aspect. She followed the rules, hid her distaste for the guidelines she so strictly had to follow and still, she was like a bomb, ready to explode. He definitely envied her energy and her constant passion to be something besides the precious doll she was raised to be.

Eli took a deep breath, trying to fill his lungs with oxygen, but, he’d concluded that he was quickly growing tired. He didn’t want to voice his concern to Clare though; she seemed to be having the time of her life. But, after a few more silent minutes of running with no destination in mind, he’d quickly noticed Clare’s pace settle down, so he did so as well, too afraid to move his hand away from hers. Once they finally stopped, the gothic youth turned to his friend and nodded once she’d voiced her question. “Fitz isn’t smart enough to find us here,” he said finally, trying to regain some of his breath as he spoke.

Then, he took a look at where they were. His eden eyes widened in pure amazement as he took in the scene. This place was perfect, in every aspect of the word. Clearly, it was abandoned and he’d never seen this place before in his life. The few stone walls that remained standing were covered in dark green vines. It seemed as if this place hadn’t been visited for quite some time and that assumption made Eli smile. This place was a perfect spot to spend time at; he was determined to start visiting this place more often. They were safe from Fitz here so the misfit was sure he and Clare could visit this place again. At least he hoped they could. Out here, the grim news of Clare’s marriage to Fitz just didn’t seem to exist. Perhaps they’d ran too far away. No… this was perfect.

“I do say this can be our base of operations,” Eli smirked jokingly, nodding his approval to his brunette friend. His alcoholic rival lacked intelligence on a basic scale so he was positive they wouldn’t be found here. They’d ran for quite some time. When Fitz discovered Clare had left the house, he wouldn’t come out this far looking for. Both of them had definitely created new boundaries for themselves. Clare had never rebelled against her parents or against society in this fashion and Eli himself had never ran this far away. It was a darn shame that sooner or later, they’d have to return to their single-minded world full of prejudice and unnecessary melodrama. “This seems like the perfect spot.” The remains of the old building seemed to resemble an old church. For some reason, this caused Eli to roll his eyes. It was irony perhaps; his perfect sanctuary ended up being a church.

Still out of breath, the Goth gently fell to the ground, deciding to give his feet some rest. For a fraction of a second, he thought it would be nice to show Adam this place sometime, but, he quickly dismissed the thought. This place deserved to stay a secret; one that he hoped the two of them would take to their graves. Besides, his odd friend was probably out having fun with Fiona Coyne. This was perfect for him. Just him and Clare away from their troubles. He just wished that this feeling could last a lifetime.

[AppleMistress]

Clare pushed away from the tree she had been leaning against previously, spreading her arms out as she spun herself around two or three times. She enjoyed the feeling of the morning air that caressed her skin and the sunlight that beamed down on them from the spaces between the olive-colored leaves held on the branches above them. She felt so free here; it felt even better than the simple tree they’d usually meet at. She couldn’t help but wonder if they’d be able to find this place again, though. They ran so far away, she wasn’t quite sure. It’d be hard to come all the way down here whenever she wanted. It saddened her to know that she could meet Eli on so few occasions. If she was gone for much too long, Fitz would most definitely catch on. Even if he never caught them in their new secret place, he’d still know. And he’d do something about it. After what he told her parents, he could do almost anything he wanted to her. She was a puppet, under his control. No matter how hard she struggled against her strings, he’d always have control. The problems regarding her future marriage were much too big to merely push into the back of her head.

She looked back up at the church, feeling the slightest bit of hope glimmer inside her. Her belief in religion was beginning to grow thin—though she was sure a part of her would always believe in what she was raised by. Just knowing that her secret place was a church somehow came as a pleasant relief to her. She pressed her lips together, tilting her head to the side as she studied the worn painted windows and the vines that created an etched design across the building. She wanted to remember every detail of this place. It was something she’d be able to think back to whenever she felt uneasy or miserable.

The brunette turned back to her green-eyed companion, walking towards him hesitantly before plopping down beside him on the grass. She smoothed out some of the creases in her dark dress absentmindedly before looking at him. Her heart beat in her chest so quickly—it was like a bird in a cage that was beating against the bars in need of an escape. She knew good and well that she liked Eli more than a friend. It was hard for her to ignore. There definitely no way for her to confess these feelings now that Fitz had drove his way into her life. Also, she desired Eli’s companionship more than anything else. If her romantic interest in him ruined their friendship, she’d feel horrible.

She looked down at the dewy ground, brushing her fingertips against the blades of grass uneasily in order to avoid blushing. Just thinking about these sorts of things put her in the most awkward positions. She wished she didn’t have to hide anything. She wished that she could be truthful with him. She wished that society didn’t have such judgmental eyes. But of course, the key word of all of those sentences was ‘wished’. Wishful thinking would only lead to sheer disappointment.
Clare looked up to the sky, her pale blue eyes glimmering. “I need a strategy.” She started. The young mistress turned to her dark-haired friend, determination lingering in her expression. “If I act immature enough, Fitz would be embarrassed to take me as his bride. I need to… repulse him somehow.”

She wasn’t quite sure as to how Eli would react to her words. He’d think she’d gone mad, enjoy her idea, hate her for even bringing up his nemesis, or worry for her sanity. Saint Clare never even thought of rebelling until now. But Clare knew well that if she did nothing to stop this engagement, she’d be forced to live by Fitz’s side forever. Forced to give up everything she’d ever dreamed of. And she didn’t want that. She needed to do something drastic in order to make a point. The only women who were mentioned in history were the ones who rebelled in some way or another.

[DracoMalfoy]

Eli kept his mouth wide open as he inhaled the free oxygen the air had to offer. The scenery of this hidden sanctuary was breathtaking, and it warmed him to see Clare’s expressions. She seemed quite taken with this place, which made him all the more joyful that they’d discovered it. He sent a large, pale hand through the thin blades of grass on the ground, the touch relaxing his senses. If only they could visit this place every day; it was almost too perfect. This was a place from his fantasies. Here, it was like the pressures of society didn’t exist; intolerance and hate had no presence here. He and Clare were the only ones who knew of this place; Eli only hoped this would always remain true. The misfit sent a breath of air out of his mouth, which caused his dark bangs to flutter up for only a moment. Running had drained him of his energy, but he’d gamble his energy away any day to see this place.

It was sad to think that they may not have the opportunity to return here. With that grim thought in mind, Eli’s emerald eyes moved from the church to the scenery surrounding it, trying to absorb the memory so it would forever be planted in his mind. This day would be one he’d never forget, the youth knew that much, but it was unfortunate to know that the sun would set and eventually, he and Clare would have to return to the realm of society.

Silently, the Goth grew angry with himself. A mere memory wouldn’t be enough; hopes of seeing Clare encouraged him to awaken every morning. When she was finally married to Fitz, he feared their friendship would be killed and buried deep into the cold, heartless ground. Fitz wouldn’t surrender his efforts into both he and Clare were miserable, Eli feared. The scenery of this church was beautiful, but it served as a grim beacon of the near future. A bittersweet memory would be forever tattooed on his heart. He tried not to let his hopeless emotions and stress show to his companion. Keeping his famous smirk on his face, he moved his gaze around, pretending to still be examining their haven.

He told himself constantly that Fitz didn’t deserve Clare. His friend needed someone who was willing to listen to her and love her as if she were the only other person on the planet. Mr. Guthrie had fractured her, and Eli hated him for that. It wasn’t fair to watch Fitz pick up the pieces and shatter them like glass. He only wished there was something he could do, something he could say to change the course of Clare’s future. Not long ago, he’d come to terms with the fact that he himself wished he could marry her.

But, he’d also concluded that wishing was best left to innocent children. Those who wished were rarely granted their desires. While he wished Clare could have a happy life, Fitz gained wealth and prominence and became her fiancé. While he wished they could fall in love, society constantly scolded him. Wishing was useless and it only led to misery.

When Clare spoke, Eli was brought out of his daze. He felt guilty for tuning out the world around him, but quickly put everything back into focus. Clare’s plan sounded brilliant to him. Fitz didn’t truly love her; he loved her family’s wealth and reputation. If he could be disgusted, displeased with his bride-to-be, perhaps there was indeed a chance of saving Clare from this mad engagement. “Your plan borders brilliance, if I may say so myself,” the misfit responded, his goofy smirk didn’t fail to make its way to his face. “All Fitz wants is money and a good name; which he could find somewhere else. If you could repulse him, perhaps he’ll call off the marriage! Though, it could prove risky.”

As much as Eli wished he could say Fitz was ignorant, he wasn’t. He’d found them last night and probably knew they were together now. It was also no secret that Clare was already displeased with the engagement. The Goth feared for his friend’s safety. The alcoholic was unpredictable, especially with drunk. He’d feel an endless amount of guilt if he hurt Clare because of her plan. Eli knew that he had the opportunity now to convince her to abandon that plan, but, instead, he was encouraging her. He’d feel responsible if she was indeed harmed and that would break his heart.

[AppleMistress]

Clare felt a sensation of exhilaration dance around in her blood as she listened to Eli’s response. Her proposition was dangerous, yes. The things that went through her head were risky and foolhardy. But the reality that if she didn’t do a thing about this arranged marriage, she’d be pushed forevermore into her own personal hell… well, that was much more frightening.

“How does one disgust Mr. Fitzpatrick?” she mused to herself absentmindedly, pressing her tongue up against the roof of her mouth as she looked up at the haven she and Eli had just recently discovered. She glanced down at her slightly gothic attire. Fitz seemed a little puzzled at her appearance at breakfast that morning—but that was merely a baby step. She needed to do something a little more noticeable in order to convince him to withdraw the marriage. Her face twisted in puzzlement as she thought the subject over in her head.

‘What is it that he likes about me? My money…’ She thought this over. Of course, there was no way that she could make all of her family’s investments disappear over night. Her father also worked hard for the money they had—if she was to take it all away, she’d feel terrible. She needed to arrange this plot in a way that she would not hurt anyone in the process.

Clare turned her head slightly; glancing at the young, raven haired man who sat besides her in the grass. He appeared to be a little worried. She had a tendency to read him like an open book just by looking into his intelligent green eyes. She smiled dully, sliding her hand underneath his.

“I know that repulsing Mr. Fitzpatrick may be risky—especially after what happened last night.” She spoke up, her voice was gently and almost rhythmic as she tried to soothe him, “But I am willing to take that risk. I have to do everything I can to stop this marriage from occurring… Because if I don’t take a risk, I will indefinitely be sentenced to a lifetime of desolation.”

All right, she hadn’t meant for that statement to sound so gloomy. But really, they had to face the truth. They had fallen into a dark, slippery hole. Climbing out would be difficult and dangerous, but if they tried hard enough, they’d have a chance of getting out. Cushioning the truth with false promises and mockery wouldn’t be enough this time. This situation was terrible and frightening and Clare knew that Eli also knew this. They both knew it, but they didn’t want to admit it.

She’d suddenly realized that she was referring to Fitz as Mr. Fitzpatrick again. Perhaps she was forcing herself to cut off familiarity with the man? If she could distance herself from him, this would be the first step in doing so.

“Mr. Fitzpatrick will not be able to do very much to me if I consistently spend time with groups of people during events… the less moments we have alone together, the better.” She was saying this partly to herself. She was still a little shaken up after recalling what he had said to her in his drunken rage after she had rejected him at the party last night. He was capable of doing awful things to a small girl like herself, and she knew that. But what she had said was true. If she stood with her parents and groups of girls during parties, then there was less of a chance that Fitz would walk up and physically harm her. And if he did, well, then he could kiss this marriage goodbye. There were several witnesses about in a rich society—if he harmed her, then the word would spread around like wildfire.

Clare frowned. Even though she knew that eventually, they would have the possibility of canceling the marriage… she couldn’t help but wonder what would happen to her and Eli afterwards. After Fitz had defamed Eli in front of her parents, she was still in danger of getting him in trouble for being around her. Even if Fitz disappeared completely, the possibility that she and Eli could actually keep this friendship alive was thinning at a precariously fast rate. Of course, she knew that she and Eli both would do everything to keep seeing each other. Upon realizing this, she felt her cheeks heat with a crimson blush.

She looked up at the sky, which served as their clock. The sun was still up and about, beaming down on them. They had time… But the thought that this may be the last time they’d be able to sit together like this was distressing. She didn’t want to waste a second of it.

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