"You're right, Alanna, I don't know what's best for you. That's why I'm not fucking leaving you alone. How do I know you're going to be okay? I happen to know your parents aren't around. And what if you fall into a coma or something ridiculous. No. You're losing this fight. So just give up now. Also, if you were smart, you would have waited to have this conversation later. Now you're just screwed." Without another word, Eli felt as though the conversation were over. He looked away from her and gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.

Why was she being so damn difficult? Eli ground his teeth to keep from saying anything to her It was easy to ignore her squirming. All he had to do was clench his arms and hold her tight against him. Perhaps this wouldn't have been as weird if they were dating. Or maybe just if knew each other better. It didn't really matter to Eli though. He was making sure that Miss Clement got home safe... and that she stayed that way. "Wiggling is getting you nothing. You can keep doing it if you want though. I don't really mind. In fact, I find it amusing." This was sure to annoy her just a bit.

Eli put her down as soon as she asked. When she started talking, however, he leaned against the wall instead. "No." He didn't really have to say anything else, did he? Then she went on a rant. Eli looked at her as if she had multiple heads. He laughed silently before hitting the wall lightly. "Are you that oblivious? Or do you just not listen to yourself speak? This has abso-fucking-lutely NOTHING to do with being a hero. I'm just making sure you're safe. It's not my fault you don't know what happened to you and you're a complete mess. No. That's what you did all by yourself when you were in charge of yourself. That makes me feel all warm and fuzzy about leaving you alone. No. I'm not going anywhere." Eli crossed his arms and just stared down at her.

"Look. I don't give a shit what you want. What you want doesn't matter to me. I just know how my conscience works and how it'll fuck with me for pretty much ever if something does happen to you. I don't know that you can take care of yourself. I don't trust you enough to take your word for anything. And I do like sleeping on couches. In fact, it's what I was doing before you called and asked for my help. There's no way you're getting out of this now. Not after you ruined a perfectly good nap." The number of words Eli had just spit out was probably the longest string he'd said in the past five or six years. Apparently a little anger goes a long way.

It was obvious that she had been crying when she opened up her door. It was honestly the last thing he had planned to do, make her cry, but she seriously just wasn't getting anything he was saying. Couldn't she just be rational and humor him and tell him the couch was in a completely different room and he could stay there? Eli put his forehead against the wall as she went into the apartment. How did he manage to screw this one up so badly already? With a sigh he pushed himself off and stepped inside.

Everything seemed alright and in order. Eli walked over to the dog that seemed content to just stay in it's spot. Petting its head, he smiled as the dog's tailed flicked around. As soon as the round eyes closed and the head dropped back to the floor, Eli heard the bathroom door shut. He looked over his shoulder at the shut door. When had she gone in there?

Sighing heavily, Eli lifted himself up and walked the few feet to the couch. If he was camping in this room tonight he may as well test out the place he planned on spending most of his night. Lying down on it, he folded his hands on his stomach and closed his eyes. Comfortable. Of course his feet were sticking off by a few inches, but that was a minor inconvenience. What was that phrase? Right. Beggars can't be choosers.