Traveling Solider

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi.

Everything is OOC.

Chapter One: Departure

Clare laid with his arm draped lazily around her thin waste, as the morning sun peered in through her balcony door. She knew what today was, the day she had been dreading for four months. It was the day that everything was suppose to start falling into place, but as reality had it, everything was falling out.

Ryan stirred in his sleep and Clare took it as a chance to turn, she glanced up at her boyfriend who was sound asleep in her bed. Examining his tan skin and how his blond hair, that had been recently buzzed off, glowed in the dark orange sun. His facial expression was calm, peaceful almost. She didn't understand how this didn't bother him.

Didn't worry him.

Rolling out of his loose embrace she made her way to her attached bathroom to get ready for the first day of her senior year and her last day with Ryan.

Once she was dressed and ready, she walked out of the bathroom and took in the scene before her. Ryan dressed in his Uniform and Military boots. His blue eyes burned into her's and she had to fight back the tears that were threatening her paler blue eyes.

"Clare." He whispered walking towards her and wrapping her in his strong embrace, Clare wrapped her arms around his waist and his around her neck. She didn't want to leave this spot, she didn't want to look up and let the tears fall. She wasn't ready for another goodbye. She didn't think she could handle.

But your going to have to. Her brain rattled.

Taking in his scent she leaned up and kissed him, passionately and slowly, taking in everything. She remembered their first kiss two years ago.

"Clare-bear." The school bully, well Clare and Ryan's bully, Eli Goldsworthy singsong.

Clare glanced up from her stretched and glared at the green eyed demon.

"You know for one of the most popular girls in school, its hard to believe you haven't been kissed."

Clare wanted to push the scrawny goth down and break him in half, knowing she easily could. That was when Ryan, their next door neighbor came up to Clare and planted a kiss on her lips that took her breath away. Making Eli gasp in hatred.

She remembered their first date at the Degrassi Annual Back-to-School Carnival on the ferris wheel. That she would have to put together three weeks from today, without him.

"It's time Clare." Ryan whispered and Clare just nodded picking up her purse and power squad bag. The two young lovers made their way down stairs, Clare heard the bickering from her parents down stairs and stopped midway. How was she going to get through that without him? She didn't know.

"Sheryl. Dad." Clare said grabbing her car keys off of the table and heading outside while her dad and step mom said good-bye to Ryan. They loved him, they hoped he would be their son-in-law and so did Clare. But she wasn't looking to much into the future, she stopped expecting things when Ryan told her they couldn't attend Dartmouth together. That like everyone else that had came into her life, had done.

He promised he never would, though he was breaking his promise she couldn't be bad at him, she couldn't fight with him because she loved him. Though the sad thing was the only constant thing, or person in her life was Eli. Who was out to make her life a living hell ever since she moved to North Carolina.

Once the two were outside, she noticed his sister and mom outside waiting. Along with the black town car that would take him away. "I have to go Ry." She whispered.

Ryan nodded and grabbed her in a breath taking embrace. "I love you." He whispered in her hair.

"I love you."

He dropped her, and looked at her in surprise that was the first time she's ever said it, out loud. He understood with her commitment issues and never pushed her, but hearing those words have never sounded so beautiful.

"I'll write you. Everyday." Clare whispered into his board chest.

"Same here baby." He said kissing her forehead.

"Be careful and contact me as soon as you can. Promise?" she asked, hopeful.

"I promise." He kissed her again on the lips and his lips lingered near hers as he told her good bye and watched her walk to her black BWM that was parked on the corner of her house.

Walking down the side walk the felt a stare from across the street, Eli Goldsworthy. Standing in front of his mansion that looked similar to hers. She rolled her eyes and flicked him off, not ready to put up with his shit. Not today.

Not this year.

The school day had drug on and on and on, Clare sat in her last period English class waiting for the bell to ring, she wasn't going to practice, the squad was okay with it and Alli would take over.

Once the bell chimed Clare was out of there and out into the student parking lot, Eli free all day. Almost.

"Hey Cla-a-re."