Love Always Remains
01. Brick By Boring Brick

It was the first day of my junior year. My grip on the strap of my bag tightened as I walked through the doors of Degrassi. The halls were already fairly crowded. Kids were gathered together in groups by the lockers or walking down the hall, chatting about their summer vacations. My upper lip slightly curled in disgust. My summer was the LAST thing I'd like to talk about.

I turned my attention away from those people and focused on getting to my locker. I began heading towards it, determined to get in and out as fast as possible because his locker is right next to mine and I wasn't looking forward to seeing him.

As my locker came into view, a smile stretched across my lips because I spotted Alli. When she saw me, she squealed, threw her arms wide open, and ran to me. I braced for impact. Alli was tiny, but she had the impact of a tackle from a varsity football player.

When we were done hugging, she walked with me over to my locker, "So, how are you?"

I knew she wasn't generally speaking, I knew what she was talking about. She just didn't want to exactly say it because it was still a sensitive topic. I felt a slight tug at my heart as I entered the combination to my lock, "I've been better," I answered, trying not to sound too miserable.

However, Alli couldn't be fooled, "I know you're still hurting a lot," She moved out of the way to prevent being smacked in the face by the door of my locker as I opened it, "But just know that time always kills the pain."

I groaned lightly, "The wait seems like an eternity!" I grabbed a book from my locker and held it in my other hand.

She opened her mouth to reply, closed it as if she had changed her mind about what she was going to say, and then opened it again, "Do you mind seeing him?"

I paused and stared blankly at the inside of my locker. I thought I didn't want to see him, but I felt a part of me wanting to. I wanted to see if he was doing good without me. Part of me hoped he was doing bad, as mean as that sounds. "Honestly, I don't really know," I glanced up at her and noticed she was looking past me.

"Better decide quick," She pointed a newly manicured finger past me.

I quickly turned my head to the direction she was pointing. My eyes widened as I saw Adam coming down the hall along with the source of my misery, Eli. It seemed as though they were too engaged in their conversation to notice me yet.

"Stick around or book it?" Alli asked.

My hand shot up to close my locker. I shut it lightly to avoid getting any attention, "Book it!"

Alli nodded in response. We linked arms and began to walk away. I smiled in relief. That was a close one. Luck was not on my side though, and the smile was wiped off my face when I heard, "Clare!" from behind me.

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. I knew that voice belonged to Adam.

I came to a halt, Alli did too. Although I played so many scenarios of this moment in my head countless times, I wasn't ready to face Eli yet. But here I was, about to be face to face with him for the first time in weeks.

I took a deep breath and slowly turned around and there he... wasn't? I blinked a few times. Adam was standing there alone, Eli-less.

Of course. I was foolish to even think he'd want to be near me.

I shoved that thought to the back of my mind and allowed the feeling of relief to wash over me once again. The happiness of seeing my other best friend also set in as I closed the gap between Adam and I by giving him a hug. It had been a while since I last saw him. He and Eli had been hanging out a lot more recently and me being there with them was way out of the question.

"I missed you!" He said as he tightly squeezed me.

"I... Missed... You... Too... Adam!" I replied, struggling to breathe.

He noticed my difficulty and let go immediately, "My bad!"

I chuckled, "No worries."

He smiled for a moment before his face turned serious, "How are you?"

There was that question again. I let out a sigh, "I'm alright." Lie.

Adam seemed skeptical, but went with it nonetheless, "I'm glad you're doing better, even if its only a little."

I nodded in agreement. Before I had been a complete wreck, but now I could at least keep myself composed.

"Well, I gotta go... somewhere..." He began awkwardly, pointing behind him "Let's catch up later?"

I wasn't stupid, I knew 'somewhere' meant wherever Eli was. I forced a small smile on my lips, "Sure."

He smiled back, "Alrighty then, see ya!"

I waved and he turned around and headed towards 'somewhere.' The fake smile that was plastered on my face immediately disappeared. I knew Adam and I wouldn't 'catch up later' like we agreed. He'd be too occupied with his other best friend.

I spun on my heels to face Alli. She gave me a sympathetic look because she knew as well as I did that Adam and I were drifting apart. That was another thought I shoved to the back of my mind as Alli and I linked arms again and began to walk to homeroom.

People stared and the whispers began:

"I heard she wouldn't give it up so he got bored and left."

"I heard he dumped her for Jenna just like K.C. did."

"Poor girl."

"Yeah, I feel so bad for her."

I wished I could of just gotten up in their faces and said, "Shut up, you guys don't know anything!" but quite frankly, I don't even know the reason why he did it myself. I was too afraid to ask. I couldn't even bring myself to form the words of the question without my lips quivering and tears ready to spill. But then again, that jerk didn't even have the decency to just tell me.

Anyway, I had no other choice but to ignore the whispers. This was how it was going to be for a while.

People at Degrassi are well known throughout school for specific things, whether it be good or bad. Alli for sexting, Dave for peeing on Bruce's locker, K.C. for being the basketball star, Jenna for being pregnant, and Adam for being transgendered. Me? I'm known throughout Degrassi for being Eli Goldsworthy's ex-girlfriend.

A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Should I continue? This chapter was short, but the others will be longer. Review and let me know what your thoughts :)

Every chapter will have a song that goes with it. For this chapter its Paramore - Brick By Boring Brick.