I'm deciding to give into peer pressure.

If you recall to last week, you'll find in my last story that I stated that I don't own Degrassi. That, unfortunately, is still factual.

Enjoy my pretties.

'Death had never interested me. Immortality has that affect. Living without purpose, drifting like a fallen branch floating along a tranquil creek, was my destiny. My burden.

But then death fascinated me. It was mysterious. Clad in black from head to toe. Paraded through the streets in the vehicle of death. Pierced my flesh with his stare and sent my heart soaring to the lonely moon. Strutted around with lips that were soft and inviting, and always wore a sexy smirk. And when pressed against mine, the world ceased to exist. They moved in sync. Our tongues danced in a fiery battle of dominance.

I sensed this to be the death of my destiny.'

"Wow Clare. I'm flattered." Eli Goldsworthy said with a smirk. "Even if it is Fortnight."

He turned and stared at the girl next to him. She refused to meet his gaze; Eli suspected she was hiding a blush. He raised his hand to her cheek and pulled her upward, so he could see her. He was correct- her face was a rosy red, and Eli loved it. His own emerald eyes were met with a pair sparkling blue ones.

"You shouldn't be reading that," Clare Edwards mumbled, aware that his hand was still on her cheek. "It's private."

Eli scoffed. "I don't think that exists anymore Clare."

That was true. It had been over four months since Eli had made a late night expedition to Clare's room, only to be caught by her mother in an uncomfortable state. The day after the incident, Eli and Clare began dating. That earned them an exasperated "FINALLY!" from Adam and a heartfelt cheer from Alli. Even Clare's sister Darcy was excited, and even spoke with Eli on the phone once. From the look on his face afterwards, Clare could only imagine the sisterly words of advice she had for Eli.

Clare reached for her laptop, but Eli scooted farther from her.

"Nu-uh, Miss Edwards. I'm not done."

"It's taking you long enough."

"Ouch Clare. That hurt, right her." Eli said sarcastically and jabbed his chest with his finger. "We can't all be in advanced classes." He added playfully, and ran his fingers through her curly auburn hair.

She swatted his hand away, much to his and her own disappointment. "I have to work on our English assignment."

Eli stroked his chin. "Hm…" He drew out. He looked at Clare out of the corner of her eye. She was attempting to give him a stern look, but her frown quivered a little too much. God, she's beautiful, Eli thought. He still couldn't get over that fact. And how he managed to win her over was still a mystery to him.

After a few moments, Eli sighed loudly. "I suppose I should let you work." Before handing the computer back to her, he began typing furiously.

Clare tilted her head in confusion. Eli smiled. "What are you doing?" She asked, with a little frustration in her voice.

"Just emailing your story to myself."

Clare sighed. She decided it wasn't worth fighting over.

"Aaaaand done. Here you are." Eli said and handed her the computer.

She gave him a triumphant smile. "Thank you."

Instead of grabbing his computer, he rotated his body so he was facing Clare. They were in Clare's living room, on her couch once again. The setting of one of their many almost kisses and dozens of make out sessions.

"Or we could do something else…" He suggested.

Clare turned her attention to Eli. She placed the computer on the table. She raised one of her eyebrows curiously. "Oh really? What'd you have in mind?"

Eli grinned. "Oh I don't know…" He murmured. He looked at the ceiling while sliding his hand over to Clare's thigh and began stroking it with his thumb. He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Clare laughed. "Eli, we can't. My mother's in the other room." Clare's mother had made it perfectly clear to her daughter that Eli was not allowed in their home unless she was present to supervise.

Eli rolled his eyes, but didn't remove his hand. "I guess it's my loss." he mumbled.

Clare leaned over to where Eli sat and gave give a chaste kiss on his lips. But Eli was too smart and wrapped his arms around her thigh and back and refused to let her squirm back to the other side of the couch. Her hands began roaming his chest. He brought his lips back to hers. His tongue grazed her bottom lip, begging for entrance. She complied.

Clare would have never done this last year. But Eli naturally brought out a spontaneity and courage that she had no knowledge of possessing. He dared her to break out of her comfort zone, and she excelled.

"I don't hear any talking or typing in there!"

Eli and Clare broke apart at the sound of Clare's mother's voice. They both looked at each other longingly and returned to their work.

After a few minutes of silence, they heard the same voice once again. "Clare? Could you and Elijah come here for a moment?"

Eli looked at Clare. She shrugged. They left the couch and went into her mother's study.

It had previously belonged to her father's, but after he left, Clare insisted that her mother stop doing her work at the kitchen counter top and move into the room. Eventually she did, and Eli was more than happy to impress his girlfriend's mother by offering what he called his "manliness physique" (Clare giggled at that) to help. She allowed him to assist, and she quickly warmed up to his charm.

Apparently not enough.

Clare and Eli entered the study. Clare's mother, Helen, ushered them to two seats placed directly in front of her empowering desk. They sat down, both aware of the tension in the room.

Helen looked skeptically at the two teens before her. She really dreaded doing this, but she had procrastinated for far too long, and knew that this was the perfect time for her speech.

"You two have been dating for quite a while now. And it seems that this relationship will grow into, uh, certain places." Eli gave her a quizzical expression, while Clare was frozen with fear. Oh no, she thought. This conversation was one Clare was supposed to receive the morning after she discovered Eli in her closet, but never got around to it. The whole conversation she dreaded, but Eli's presence only made it worse.

"I want to talk to the two of you about sex."

Reviews are welcomed with opened arms and a plate full of Grandma's homemade chocolate chip cookies. Be careful- I just took them out of the oven.

Also, does anyone know the song and/or artist to the song sung at the end of "Still Fighting It"? It plays when Ms. Dawes is watching Eli's, Clare's, and Adam's project. If you have any knowledge of this, let me know.