Title: This Conversation Never Happened

Chapter 1: Ali Doesn't Know

Johnny DiMarco ran his hands through his shoulder length blonde hair before putting his hat back on and leting out a sigh as he left the computer lab. He'd just checked the anti-grapevine and wasn't surprised to see that Bruce was right. The site was flooded with news about Ali and her kiss with some nerdy freshman named KC. Since his break-up with Ali he'd made it a point to stay as far away from all freshmen as possible and with the exception of Ali's best friend Clare Edwards, he hadn't met any of her friends, so the task of avoiding Ali "Backwoods" Bhandari was a simple one.

'I can't believe it' Johnny thought with a sigh 'well I can but, her best friend's guy, I never thought Ali would be that girl' his hands found their way into his pocket as he headed towards the cafeteria silently hoping that Ali wouldn't be hanging around the clothing drive that Clare had set up. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice when he bumped into the girl leaning against the wall discretely watching the clothing drive from the corner."Sorry" he muttered, as he looked up only to find Clare Edwards smirking back at him.

"It's Alright." She said tucking a strand of long brownish-red hair behind her ear and straightening out her sister's ruffled black mini skirt and Her layered and ripped black t-shirt with a blood red tank top underneath. She was surprised that she liked Darcy's stuff enough to keep wearing it even though Ali had told her that she only looked alright.

"Clare" Johnny breathed out looking her up and down. "You look different" he said remembering her private school uniform that she'd worn almost every day since she'd gotten to Degrassi. The Black and red outfit complete with black converse boots and black charcoal like eye liner only seamed to add to the beauty that he hadn't really noticed was there. "Different, but good" he continued to hide that fact that he was starting to stare

"You know that's the same thing Peter said, they're Darcy's" Clare said with the smirk returning to her face as she tried to keep herself composed and calm for the most part. She knew that if it wasn't for the waterproof eyeliner she'd found in Darcy's room she'd have faint black lines streaming down her cheeks from the amount of crying she had done, instead of the slight blotchiness that was left from her crying not too long ago.

"I see you heard about Ali and KC? I think it was. He was your boyfriend right?" Johnny asked taking note of the faint trail of tears that had been left from when she when she had been crying and the tears that she was trying not to spill

"You noticed huh," she let out a small sad laugh that made him wince on the inside at how much she was trying to hide her pain."He was..." she started "he was just my friend" she said trying to find the right words. "Yeah I like him and I thought he liked me, but they kissed" she rambled and shrugged "Which I'm sure you know, it's all over school. I was told about it by eight people that I don't even know and I don't know what to do. Ali apologized to me for kissing KC, he apologized to me for kissing Ali... it's just I don't think I'm the one that needed to be apologized to, if you know what I mean." She looked up at him as she bit her bottom lip. "Technically he wasn't mine, he wasn't my boyfriend so it shouldn't hurt like it did and it shouldn't matter, but it does… I think" Clare rambled silently begging for him to interrupt him

"You're confused aren't you?" Johnny stepped in "If he was really just a friend, who you liked and apparently liked you, do you pretend to be cool with it because she apologized and is your best friend or do you get mad at the two of them because you're hurt that she did that to you for no reason. Is that it?" Johnny asked an eloquent eyebrow arched in a way that was starting to infuriate her. He seemed to be able to read her like an open book and she couldn't understand why.

"She had a reason though" Clare said speaking up," she was upset and KC was comforting her" She explained as if that was the answer to everything.

"Why was she upset?" Johnny said and Claire glared at him, causing him to shrink into himself a little "what" he asked and she rolled her eyes.

"Well, you for one thing," She pause to send him a pointed look again" and she didn't like the attention that Darcy's clothes had given me. Before class she told me that I couldn't be smart and pretty at the same time, I think she was still upset that she got brushed off by this guy that we met at The Dot. She tried not to let it show, but you know Ali, she wears her heart on her sleeve and she isn't as good at hiding her feelings as she thinks she is."She rambled "I wanted to prove her wrong. That just because I'm dressing different doesn't mean that I'm stupid, she hated that I corrected her. So it didn't surprise me that she ran to the first person that would at least have a clue what she was talking about. Which happened to be KC, he told her what she needed to hear." Clare said looking at Johnny with a soft smile.

Only to have Johnny shot her a questioning look before finally speaking up "And what did he say to her that was so right?" Johnny asked, 'What could he have said that would make her kiss him' he thought to himself as he waited for her to give him the answer he was seeking

"I'm not going to tell you exactly what he said, because I don't really know. You should talk to KC about that. But the main thing was that any guy who was ashamed of her" she sent a pointed look in his direction. "Didn't deserve her and that me being pretty or smart didn't make her less of anything. He told her that she was amazing" Her head was turned towards the floor but she looked up at him through her lashes hoping that he wouldn't notice too much.

'He told her all the things I should have said and she kissed him because he was right. He treated he better than I ever did with a few simple words' Johnny thought. He looked at her board, not really seeing what how this could possibly be his fault. "How could this be my fault?" Johnny almost yelled before he realized that they were still in the hallway and he needed to be quiet or Ali would hear them.

"You broke up with her because you couldn't deal with how your friends would think of you for dating her. Instead of doing it in private you dissed her in front of everyone and didn't make her take losing her clothes any better. If there is anything that Ali cares about its how she looks, she thinks she's not beautiful and won't stand out if her clothes aren't amazing. She was just going to suffer though it but then you made a comment and she decided that stealing from the less fortunate was a better choice than walking around in clothes her parents approved of... and my sister's clothes weren't being used so they became Ali's next choice. And well you've seen how that turned out."

"So... if this is entirely fault as you suggest" he paused moving closer to her until his face was parallel from her own and his hair almost brushed hers where it rested on her shoulder. "How exactly do you suggest I fix it?" He smirked at how uncomfortable she seemed for a moment as she realized how close he was standing to her and the little amount of space separating them.

She smirked before grabbing Johnny by his the loops on the shoulders of his jacket and turned him towards the corner that connected to the main hall which led to the cafeteria where she had been watching Ali. "Go over there, make a stupid comment or whatever, I don't know what you do. But go over there and say something to her. Say something that will make her stop feeling sorry for herself. Tell her she's beautiful and that you both did stupid things for your own reasons, but don't judge her. Just say something to make her feel special Johnny. Because right now that's all she needs" Clare said earning an astonished look from Johnny as he considered her words. She almost gave him a push but he turned around and looked her in the eyes, not moving any closer to her but not any further away either

"This conversation never happened, say anything to anyone and I'll deny it ever happened" He said staring her down to make sure she got his point. "Not like anybody would believe you anyway" he added for good measure.

"I wouldn't expect anything less from Johnny DiMarco." Clare said with an all knowing smirk. "Now go! Make me proud" she said earning her a confused look. She made a shooing motion with her hand and watched as he turned the corner and walked up to Ali. She couldn't hear most of the conversation other than Ali calling Johnny and idiot. But he spoke loud enough for her to hear him say…

"Ali you always look beautiful to me" he said before he turned and walked out of Degrassi's glass front doors. Clare couldn't help but smile to herself as Ali smiled and returned to sorting the clothes for the booth not noticing as Johnny looked back from his position on the stairs and smiled at her. Clare noticed and a small part of her couldn't help but think that smile wasn't only reserved for Ali Bhandari, the girl who hadn't even noticed it, but maybe this time it was meant for her too.

=======1====1======1=Clare===Johnny[=====

Author's note:

This was my first Degrassi Fan Fiction without any of my original characters. My other fan fics for Degrassi are on Degrassi … They are The Other Side and its companion piece It Always Happens on A Saturday.

This was supposed to be a one shot, but It may end up being a multi chapter fiction if people like it, also I have another Degrassi fic in the same fashion called Hallways which is Mia and Sav. So let me know what you think of this and if I should continue…

Also a BETA reader or Co-writer would be wonderful

Please Review and I'll love you forever

3 Anigen