Hey people of the world. So, I just came up with this story when I was attempting to write my other story. This was inspired by real life memories. I feel like I want to continue, because I have alot of interesting ideas in my head, but I don't know if anyone wants to read it. Let me know what you think :) (Oh yeah it's a little OOC and AU)

7th Grade

-GETTING READY-

Today was my first day of middle school, and I was really nervous and excited to see how different it was from elementary school. I hoped that I would share classes with my lifelong friends, and that we would stay friends. I hung out with Alli and a few kids from my church over the summer, and was reassured by them when they said that we would stay friends and keep in contact.

I ran around my room, discarding outfit after outfit after I tried them on. I didn't want to go all-out fancy, but I did want to make a good impression. After a while, I was starting to get tired of trying so hard so I gave up and threw on a light pink babydoll dress and a light grey cardigan.

You are going to wear this, Clare I told myself.

It looks cute.

No one is going to be thinking about your outfit, anyways.

It's only middle school.

Sigh.

WEAR IT.

Ugh no.

After about twenty more minutes of internal debate and changing my outfit, I still had plenty of time. I made sure to wake up extra early today because I knew I would have a bad case of indecision. I ran downstairs to find that all of the lights were out. I guess no one else is up. I grinned mischievously.

Taking advantage of the situation, I tiptoed into the bathroom where Darcy kept all of her makeup. I knew I was breaking the rules, but sometimes they need to be broken. Mom said that Darcy was allowed to wear it since she was in high school, but all of my friends were wearing makeup by now. This was not the first time I had used some of her makeup. Over the summer, Alli had taught me how to apply mascara and eyeliner so that it brightened my eyes and made me look ten times better. I figured that I could put it on right now and sneak off to Alli's house before going to school together. I did my makeup, adding a little gold eyeliner on the bottom to make my eyes look really blue. I checked myself out in the mirror one last time and smiled. My final outfit choice was a flowy violet button down blouse and a pair of black skinny jeans. The gold in my makeup looked phenomenal in contrast to my dark clothing. I accessorized with my cross necklace and some random black flats.

I ate a quick breakfast and texted Alli to tell her I was coming over. She texted me back to say that it was fine. I was starting to get worried that someone would come down and see my made-up face, so I grabbed my bag and headed out the door.

-THE DAY-

"Oh, I am so excited!" Alli squealed when her dad dropped us off at Degrassi Junior High.

"Me too! I can't believe we only have one class toge- Alli,what are you doing!" I yelled at her. She was taking off her clothes on the steps to the school.

"Did you really think I was going to wear this ugly outfit? Gosh, Clare, I'm insulted,"

I gasped when I saw what she was wearing under her long denim skirt and bulky sweatshirt. It was a skin-tight, cherry red dress that fell down to mid thigh.

"Alli, you do know that there is a dress code." I said, shocked.

"Oh calm down, my fingers are above the hem!" she defended.

"If you say so..." I wasn't going to get into it. If Alli wanted to attract the wrong kind of attention, that was her deal. We walked up the steps and into the school we would now call our own for the next two years.

First period algebra was a breeze. Second period science, a class I shared with Alli, was rather tedious, but it went smoothly. When I got to third period, however, there was a turn in events. This class was Advanced English, my favorite subject in elementary school. It was going to be full of eighth graders, so I wouldn't really know anyone. When I got to the room, I was a minute late (due to Alli pulling me into the bathroom so I could fix her hair for her), and all of the seats were already taken except for one in the back. I walked over to the seat, trying to look nonchalant as the teacher looked up from her introduction.

"Late on the first day, really?" the teacher said angrily.

I looked over at her, surprised at her audacity. "I-I'm sorry it won't happen again," I stammered. Everyone was staring at me by now.

"You better hope it doesn't," she grit out. I felt embarrassed tears springing to my eyes as I hurried silently to my seat in the back.

Oh please no, not on the first day. I stared at the ceiling, trying to force the tears back into my head.

"Geez, harsh." a voice in front of me whispered. I looked forward to see a boy with medium-length dark brown hair and bright emerald green eyes turned backwards in his seat staring at me. He must have seen the tears in my eyes because he said "Hey, are you alright?" in a soft voice.

"Yeah, I'm good, thanks." I said, averting my gaze.

"It's okay, Ms. Hernandez is a bitch to everyone."

I laughed a little, and the tears instantly disappeared. I glanced at the boy who was still looking back at me. He wore a black v-neck and skinny jeans and had sharpie all over his hands. I felt the need to introduce myself to this comforting stranger.

"I'm Clare."

"Eli, nice to meet ya." he said, extending his hand. I looked at it and giggled.

"Really?"

"My hands are clean, I promise." he said sarcastically. I shrugged and shook his hand.

"Mostly," he added, smirking deviously. I shook my head with a grin and slapped his shoulder.

"Abuse!" he whisper-shouted.

"Oh whatever." I rolled my eyes.

He turned back to the teacher, but not before saying "This could be the start of a beautiful friendship, Miss Clare."

I couldn't understand why my stomach flipped when he said my name.

The rest of class was uneventful, but Ms. Hernandez said that she was assigning writing partners the next day. I really hoped I would be paired with my new acquaintance, Eli. He seemed really cool. The bell rang and everyone rushed out of the classroom to their next classes. I had lunch next, and I was nervous about this. I didn't know if I had any friends to sit with. I looked around the cafeteria, not recognizing a single face.

Please, God, let me find someone to sit with. I prayed in my head as I walked around the rapidly filling tables. I spotted a boy sitting alone at one end of a table. The other end was occupied by some kids I knew from my Algebra class. Better than nothing.

I went over to the lone boy and asked "This seat taken?" I pointed to the seat across from him.

"Well... kind of," he said frowning, "but that one isn't." He pointed to the one next to it. I stared at him for a second, confused.

"Just kidding, chill." he laughed, "do sit."

"Oh thanks," I laughed, relieved. I sat in the chair across from him.

"No problem..."

"Clare." I filled in.

"Okay, no problem Clare. I could use the company, anyways." he gestured to the empty seats around us.

"Same here. What's your name?" I asked.

"Adam Torres."

"Nice to meet you, Adam. So were you really waiting for someone?"

"Yeah, my best friend. He was supposed to meet me here." he said, extending his neck to look around the cafeteria.

"Oh, there he is!" he got up and yelled "ELI!"

I followed Adam's gaze and saw Eli from my English class walking over to us.

"Hey, sorry, I had to go to the bathroom." Eli told Adam as he neared our table.

"It's cool, man. I know you have a weak bladder." Adam said. I took one glance at Eli's incredulous expression and burst out laughing.

"Adam!" Eli exclaimed.

"What? It's the truth." Adam said in defense. "Take a seat."

Eli shrugged and sat in the chair next to me. "Hey Miss Clare." he greeted me.

"Hey, Eli,"

"You guys know each other?" Adam asked.

"We have English together." we said in unison.

"Well, wasn't that ironic." Adam laughed.

Lunch rolled by easily, the two boys and I talking non-stop about the most random things. I could easily imagine becoming good friends with these guys. Eli is witty, smooth, and mysterious and Adam is playful, open, and sarcastic. They balance each other out in the most perfect of ways. I learned many things about them, including that they'd known one another since kindergarten, were obsessed with comics books, and worshiped Dead Hand religiously (not that I knew what Dead Hand was).

The rest of the day went by in a flash, and I suddenly found myself sitting in the back of a school bus with Alli. She was whining about how a teacher made her change her outfit.

"Claaare. It was so embarrassing! I had to walk around in my gym clothes for three periods! Three!"

"Wow, bummer. I hate to say I told you so. But I did!" I laughed.

Her mouth was parted in shock. "How can you say that!"

"Calm down, Alli. I was just kidding."

"Ugh, so not appreciated!" she huffed.

"Sorry, it must have been horrible." I eased.

"Yes, it was. Anyways, how was your day? Meet any hotties?" she wiggled her eyebrows.

"It was good, kind of boring. And, I wouldn't say hotties, but I did make two guy friends."

"Ooh! Are they at least cute! Can you set me up?"

"No, I just met them! But yeah, one of them is kind of cute." I admitted.

"Ooh, Clare is crushin' on someone" she sang.

"Shhhh no I'm not." I shushed her.

"What's his name?"

"Alli, I don't like him! He's just cute and nice. And his name is Eli."

"Aw, Clare and Eli. Eli and Clare. ECLARE!" Alli yelled. My face turned tomato red as I saw the kids around us looking over curiously.

"Alli, shut up!" I hissed. I grabbed my ipod from my backpack and cranked it up to full blast the whole way home. I was pretty angry at Alli for being such a big mouth. But that was Alli, and I knew I couldn't stay mad at her for long. She got off the bus first, and I waved her goodbye. My stop came up next and I walked home happily. I knew that this year was going to be good.

So... shall I continue?