She had had enough. Enough of school, enough of her family, enough of her life. She needed a release.
Hugging herself, she half-jogged down the halls of Degrassi. Heading to the one place she always felt safe when she felt this way, the music room.
Unbenounced to nearly everyone in her life, Clare loved to sing and play. It was her life. It had helped her get along when her older sister Darcy moved to Kenya, leaving Clare behind. It helped her through her parents divorce, though her and KC's break up, and helped her when she just overall felt depressed.
And right now, she felt very depressed.
As she walked, she replayed the last few minutes she just spent in Simpson's office in her mind. The conversation ringing in her ears.
"Clare...the police have done everything they can to help prove your story, but... things aren't going well. There's no evidence, no witnesses, no one to back your story up. They say that if nothing comes up before the hearing next week, Asher will walk."
Hearing this, she put my head in her hands, leaning forward in the slightly uncomfortable chair that sat across the remorseful principle's desk. Her fingers pulled at her hair, wanting to rip it all out from the roots. She ignored Simpson's half-hearted reassurances of they still had seven days, and anything could happen, and they just had to have faith. Echoing in her mind, his last three words. "Asher will walk. Asher will walk. Asher will walk..."
This could not be happening.
One thing on her mind, she had jumped out of the chair and bolted out of the room and down the hall. Ignoring the shouting of her name, she ran farther and farther.
With the longing of stings and keys beneath her fingers, and losing herself in a melody, she shoved the door open roughly. Too distracted and frustrated to focus on anything other than the sight of the musical instruments that littered the room. Only hesitating when she pondered which instrument to play. She needed to sing, so wind instruments were out. she didn't really care for the drums, and she preferred her own guitar over a school one. So that left only one option.
She threw herself on to the piano bench. The piano was a beautiful, old-style baby grand. When Clare ever felt overwhelmed or depressed, she would skip whatever class she had next and sit in here, relishing in the beautiful sound. She always made sure she was quiet, to not draw attention to herself as she played. And always sang her songs octaves lower than how she wrote them. She did not want to share her playing with anyone. Because it was the one thing that was all her's. Though it might sound crazy, she somehow felt that if she were to share it with anyone else, it might somehow end up being taken from her too. And there was no way she was ever going to let go of playing. She would not survive it. But now she didn't think about secrecy, all she wanted to do was play.
But as she began the process bending over to grab her music out of her bag she froze. Her heart dropped a sudden realization hit her.
She had left all her stuff in Simpson's office.
Shit.
frantically, she looked around, She needed to sing. Needed to feel the smooth ivory keys under her fingers as she played. Needed to release all this...this..emotion. All this anger, frustration, and fear.
She finally noticed some sheet music on the floor by the bench. Scooping it up, she looked at it. It was a short little song, the title on the top said "In Forever"
Clare scanned the notes, seeing the song was not that hard to play. She read the lyrics through a couple of times, playing the melody over in her mind. She set the music in its proper place above the keys. Her fingers hovering over the keys, she took a deep breath.
She played.
Oh, it felt so good.
She bent over the keys, her auburn curls falling in her face as she moved. Her body's position adjusting as she moved her arms, playing the soft but swift melody perfectly. As the piano intro progressed, she started to lose her self in the song. Glancing up every few times to make sure the kept to the right melody. The moment to sing was coming, she welcomed it wholeheartedly.
She sucked in a breath, then began to release the song from her throat.
In forever, i saw your face.
our hearts as one
Each other's side, was each other's place.
In forever, your smile
a gift from heaven
your time was sweet,
your eyes my soul they beckon,
my heart explodes when our lips they meet.
Clare relished in the song. As the hurt and fear started to flee from her heart like the notes fled from her lungs,she did not bother to quiet herself, instead letting the notes belt from her throat and be carried away. dragging out words until she was satisfied their point was made. She absolutely loved it. Too happy, she did not notice the creek of the door as it was opened.
In forever, it's where I know you'll be
where i know happiness, will exist
where i know you'll see,
me too.
In forever, no thought will be conceded
no hope will be dashed,
no second chance needed,
no dream will be slashed.
Clare's voice filled with intensity as she came up on the last verse written. Completely oblivious to her surroundings, she went all out.
In Forever...my heart resides.
Oh! In Forever...i feel the love you provide
oh...in forever...i know We'll, both, see...
oh in forever...together we'll...be...
she started to hum, adding an extra line.
Oh...together...we'll...be.
She played the last few notes,dragging out the 'be' until the piano melody drifted to a final rest.
Eye's close, head still bent over the keys, Clare grinned. Oh god, it felt sooo.. good to let go of it all and get lost in the music. She felt as if all her worries and frustration had flowed out with the melody as it left her throat. disappearing into the air as she let them go. Leaving her calm and content. She wiped a tear from her eye as she stood up, feeling refreshed. But froze in place as a single sound rang though the music room.
It was the sound of someone clapping.