I was that little girl you would see walking out of church every Sunday with her parents. The girl who always did her best in school and got A's. The girl who had the best big sister who would protect me as much as she could. The girls who had the best mom and dad who loved each other with so much love. But that was when I was younger.

Now I'm 17 and so many things have changed. My once so in love parents decided that they didn't love each other anymore. Now my dad loves in the states and I haven't heard from him in almost a year. My mother had no problem moving on though. She's already re married to Glen Martin, who has a son the same age as me Jake. The day they both moved in my life changed drastically. Jake and I don't get along well. He's always irritating me in purpose and getting me in trouble. Darcy, My older sister left when my parents announced their divorce. She said it was too much and needed to get away. No one has heard from her and we don't know where she is. So a lot really has changed.

I was getting ready for school which I really didn't want to but I've missed too many days and if I miss anymore I have to repeat junior year. I'm not an A+ student anymore either. I slipped on my black skinny jeans, the Asking Alexandria band shirt I got from Warped Tour, and a pair of black and white checkered suspenders. I sat in front of my mirror and started my makeup. I put on eyeliner on the top and bottom lid of my eye than put liquid eyeliner on the top. Then I put on dark gray eye shadow and mascara. Once I looked at my makeup I put my converses on and brushed my hair and teeth.

I ran downstairs and grabbed an apple. Jake was still upstairs getting ready. He takes longer than a girl does. I was enjoying my apple when someone knocked on the door. My mom and Glen were already at work so normally no one ever comes over this early.

I opened the door and there in front of me stood man I've never met before but I want to know. He had chocolate brown hair that hung a little in front of his piercing green eyes. His skinny jeans looked a little too skinny but looked amazing on him.

"Hey is Jake here?" his voice was deep but not too deep. I just stood there not moving. He waved his hand in front of my face and came out of my trance.

"Oh sorry um yea he's still getting ready."

"Well mind if I come in? I have to take him to school." I opened the door more for him and he walked in. I moved in front of him and into the kitchen. He sat down and looked around. I walked to the stairs and screamed to Jake that his ride was here.

"So you're Jakes new step sister right?" he asked as I sat down across from him.

"Yup" was all I gave him.

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't even tell you my name. I'm Eli.'

"I'm Clare" he gave me a little smirk and was about to say something but Jake came running downstairs.

"Hey man what's up?" he asked as he got closer to Eli.

They continued to talk as I pulled put my IPOD and I got up walking to the door.

"Hey emo where you going?" Jake asked. He always makes fun of me for how I dress.

"I'm going to school" Was the simple answer I gave him.

"Well wait don't you go to Degrassi? I can just drive you" Eli said while getting up.

"What the fuck are you smoking Eli? Today's your first day you can't be seen socializing with her." Jake laughed.

I couldn't take it I needed to get away from this house. I put my iPod in my ears and left. I always walk to school it gives me time to get myself ready for the day ahead of me.

When I got to school I went right to my locker. I heard people whispering as I walked by. Here at school I'm known as a freak and my brother making fun of me doesn't help much either. I spun in my combination and grabbed my books for history, science, and English. I closed my locker and sat on the ground in front of it. Here at Degrassi we don't have a homeroom so everyone just mingles through the hallway until first period. I was reading my book Willow, when someone came and sat next to me and took my book.

"Excuse me I was reading that" I said snatching back out of his hands.

"What a shocker Clare's reading yet another book!" Adam laughed. Adam's my best and only friend. He moved here freshman year with his twin brother Drew. They're fraternal twins and couldn't be any more different. Adam's a FTM and I'm totally cool with that. I don't think of Adam as anything but a guy and it fucking sucks that people have issues with that!

We were just sitting on the ground laughing until I saw him again. Eli was walking this way with Jake. I watched as he came up to us and stood right next to me but not looking at me.

"This is it locker number 4127" he said. My lockers 4128 so I guess we're locker neighbors.

He looked down and saw me. He gave me a smile and extended a hand out for me to take but I just got up without his help. His smile faded and he awkwardly put his hand at his side again. Adam stood up and extended his hand to Eli.

"HI I'm Ad-"but before he could finish Jake cut him off.

"Oh shit dude are you serious? Your locker is right next to Clare's!" Jake seemed pretty pissed off.

"Its ok dude I'm fine with being next to you sister"

"Step sister" I corrected him. I put my things in my locker and grabbed Adams arm pulling him with me to history.

"Whoa slow down Clare! First of all who was that guy? Second of all your step brothers an ass" we both laughed as we took our seats for history.

"Tell me about it. Ok that guy is Eli. He's friends with Jake and he came over this morning to give Jake a ride to school. He offered to drive me too but of course Jake wouldn't have that" I rolled my eyes as the teacher walked by. Time for history.

"What the fuck do we need to learn history and science for? I mean it's not like I plan on becoming a scientist or a history buff" Adam was whining while we were on our way to third period. I had English he had computers. I waved him goodbye and took my seat in the very back row.

I'm kind of an English nerd. I was the first one in the classroom as always. I don't understand why people socialize in the hallway instead of getting to class on time.

"Hey mind if I sit next to you?" I was startled by the voice interrupting my thoughts. I looked up and saw it was Eli.

"I just nodded my head and looked back at my desk. Why does this guy have this effect on me? Normally I hate being around people but when I see him I just want to be right next to him.

"So this morning I really wouldn't have minded giving you a ride just so you know. I would have handled your brother" he was sitting only a few feet away looking I right in the eye.

"Thanks but I really don't mind" I kept my face down the whole time. Then I felt his hand grab my chin. I immediately flinched out of his grip.

"Hey hey I'm so sorry I didn't mean to do that I just want to see your beautiful blue eyes." He smirked and soon the students began piling into class and it's a good thing too. I was sure I was blushing.

I breathed a sigh of relief when class was over. I don't think I can be in the same room as Eli he just has this weird effect on me! I was at my locker eating lunch. I had a bag of grapes and a blue Gatorade. Adam doesn't have lunch 4th period actually I won't see him until last period for gym. I normally just eat my lunch by myself in front of my locker but I guess I won't be doing that today.

"Can I join you?"

Of course it had to be Eli.

"Sure" I said as I swallowed my grape. I closed my vampire novel and put it down.

"So Clare why don't you tell me about yourself starting with why do you read twilight?" he asked chuckling while holding up my book I started laughing and took my book back.

"Ha ha no it's not Twilight for your information it's the Vampire Diaries. I've always had a thing for the vampire novels but not Twilight that's for sure." I popped another grape into my mouth and looked up at him to see him smirking.

"And why not Twilight?"

"Well you see the werewolves in the book totally screw it up! I mean seriously I wanted to read a romance novel about vampires not werewolves killing vampires that's so not a romance novel!"

He was laughing and now I felt dumb. Was really that pathetic that I was funny?

"Oh goodness Clare that actually does make a lot of sense though. So you-"

"What the fuck?"

Eli was cut off by none other than Jake.

"Alright Clare I don't care how much money you paid Eli to have lunch with you leave my friends alone! You're going to ruin his reputation!"

Eli and I stood up and I started walking away but not before Eli grabbed my arm.

"No Eli its fine I needed to use the bathroom anyway." And with that I walked slowly down the hallway but I could still hear them talking.

"Man it's my first day I don't have a fucking reputation!"

"Yea and you'll have a horrible one if you keep hanging out with my sister!"

"Your sisters pretty damn cool man"

I smiled and walked away faster. He barely knows me and he thinks I'm cool.

8th period

"So what are you doing after school today?" Adam asked while I grabbed my belt for flag football.

"Oh you know going on tumblr and tumbling until I can't stand it. Oh and I'm trying to win those tickets to the A Day To Remember concert from that radio station."

Just as I said that Eli bumped my shoulder on his way out to the field with the football. He turned his head and smirked before continuing to run off. I knew I was blushing and so I looked down at the ground.

"Clare what is going on with you and that guy?"

I looked at Adam and just smiled.

"I don't know Adam but I do know that he's nice to me and doesn't treat me like shit."

After gym

I was walking down the steps of the school turning my IPod on when I heard my name being called. Next thing I know someone from behind me is grabbing my arm. I pull the ear bud out of my ear and turned to see Eli with a smile on his face.

"Geez Eli you scared me!" I said placing my hand over my heart.

"Oh I'm sorry but I just wanted to catch you before you started walking. I'm heading back to your house now Jake told me to just hang out there until he gets home so I was wondering if you wanted a ride. I know earlier you said you didn't mind walking but there's no point in you walking when we're going to the same place right?"

"you're right yes I would love a ride thank you."

His face lit up and I gave him a little smile as I followed behind him to his car.

"whoa wait you drive a hearse?" I asked as I stood in front of a black hearse.

"Yup and his name is Morty. Is this a problem?"

My lips formed a giant smile as I looked at him.

"Dude I've always had an obsession with hearses! Don't tell anyone but I don't I think they're fucking cool. And no I'm not obsessed with death I just like hearses."

His face was in shock. "Wow ok here I am thinking I'm the only person who likes hearses and think I'm weird. But I guess I'm not the only one." We both smiled but frowned when we head K.C screaming across the parking lot.

"Eli what the fuck are you doing man? You know that Emo chick might cut herself in your car and get the blood everywhere. You know she's a freak?"

I looked down and I could feel Eli's eyes on me.

"Whatever man you think what you want about Clare but she's fucking awesome so it doesn't matter what you think." And with that he got in the car. I slid into the seat and looked at him shocked.

"You just defended me."

"well it's not fair how people treat you Clare. I know we don't really know each other but you seem like a really nice person and I hope we can be friends." Once again he smiled at me. I smiled back.

"Oh and just so you know I um I don't cut myself and I'm not really emo. I just have a different style." I wanted to reassure him that I wasn't that type of person.

"It's cool Clare I didn't think you cut anyway and as for your style? I like it. it's not like the revealing shit most girls at Degrassi wear."

Eli is so different and I really do want to be friends but I don't know how Jake will handle this.