Author's Note: So it has been quite a while since I wrote for fanfiction, but I started reading stuff again and I couldn't help but get that bug. I have never written a Degrassi Fanfiction, but like many others I have been bitten by the Eli bug. I am disappointed by the direction that his character is taken on the show. I am going to take that all in stride all though and set this story after the disaster that will be the finale. This story starts at the beginning of next year, his senior year. I will be incorporating the new characters that are set to be debuted.

Eli and Clare are over. Eli's trying to learn how to live again. Clare is trying to stop shouldering his issues and move on her own life. Meanwhile Adam is once again torn in the middle, worried about the sanity of his best friend. Then there is Theresa. Eli isn't the only person who has had trouble letting go of Julia. Theresa has had her issues with letting go of Julia. That's because Julia was, is, her sister. Theresa and Julia were techinally stepsisters, after Theresa's mom married Julia's dad, but they had been attached at the hip ever since they met. Their differences were what brought them together, but now Theresa is without Julia and letting go of her sister's memories hasn't been easy. Now though she is in a new home, a new school, and she finally has the chance to move on. That was until she saw the one walking reminder she didn't expect. Eli Goldsworthy.

Theresa is an invention all of my own. Hopefully this is an original story and the first of its kind. I don't believe there is a story line floating around like this, but there are a lot of Degrassi stories so who knows. I hope you enjoy this first chapter, review and keep reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything, but Theresa! Who is Theresa? Well, you will find out soon enough!

Degrassi. This was the place where Theresa would finally leave behind everything about her past and make a new future. As she walked up the steps to her new school, trying to maneuver through the crowds of people, she smiled. This school was exactly what she needed after the last year of her life. Things were going to get better for Theresa. She knew it. She had known that as soon as her mother and step father had told her they were moving. As much as she desperately wanted to hold onto her memories of her sister, she also needed a place where she could finally stop being the dead girl's sister. Degrassi was going to be that place for her, but as she clutched her hand on the charm that was attached to her bracelet she knew it was easier said than done to forget Julia.

Clare pushed a lock of her short hair behind her ear as she hurriedly made her way to her science class. She groaned as the bell rang realizing that it was only the first day of classes and already she was starting off on a bad foot with her teacher. If she hadn't gotten so caught up talking to Jake this could have been avoided. She knew he wasn't to blame though, she had been more than happy to stop and chat with the tall, good looking guy who had been the best part of her summer. Being with Jake was easy, he was so carefree. That was exactly what Clare needed after the intense year that had been her sophomore year of high school. Her parent's divorce, her turbulent relationship with Eli…

She shook her head as she tried not to think of Eli. She had had to do that a lot though. Eli was always somewhere in her mind, haunting her. She still couldn't decide if making their break a permanent thing was a good idea. Over the summer they had seen each other a couple times, with Adam present of course, and he seemed to be getting better. He was slowly, but surely dealing with his demons, including Julia.

All Clare wanted was for Eli to get better. If that meant she needed to remove herself from the situation and let him learn to depend on himself then that was what she was going to do. She tried to keep that thought with her so she wouldn't be tempted to fall right back into his arms. As she rounded the corner she ran right into someone causing her to gasp slightly.

"I'm so sorry," she stammered as she looked at the books that were now spread across the hallway.

"Oh, it's ok," the petite girl in front of her said with a grimace, "I was lost and wasn't paying attention."

The girl bent down and began gathering her books. Clare knelt down and started grabbing pieces of paper that had fell.

"What class room were you looking for?" Clare asked as she studied the girl. She didn't recognize the girl and assumed she was new. The girl had dark locks of hair that came down to her shoulder and pale skin. Her eyes though were a warm brown and even now as she picked up her things there was a smile on her delicate looking face.

"Chemistry," the girl answered as she stood up.

"In room 203?" Clare asked and the girl nodded her head.

"Me too," Clare replied with a smile, "Sorry I'm so rude. I'm Clare."

Clare held out her hand and the girl shook it.

"I'm Theresa. I just transferred here," Theresa said as she put some her things in her bag.

"Well welcome to Degrassi," Clare said with a bright smile, "Chemistry is this way. What year are you?"

"Junior," Theresa responded grateful to now know at least one friendly face.

"Me too!" Clare said as they came to the door of the chemistry class and opened it slowly.

"Well, well nice to see you Ms. Edwards. Who might this be with you?" Mr. Betenkamp said.

"This is Theresa. She's a new student," answered Clare.

"Well it was awfully nice of you to give her a personal tour, but please try to remember what time class starts next time."

"Oh course sir," Clare said as the girls sat down.

Eli steadily ignored his best friend's glances as they sat in their Advanced English class. His gaze was on the empty desk in front of him. As much as he missed being close to Clare he hoped that when she came into the room she would chose to occupy the empty seat in front of Adam instead.

He knew the reason for Adam's furtive glances. He was worried. Worried that being at Degrassi and around Clare would bring back Eli's bad habits, habits that almost led to his death. Eli wasn't going back to that dark place now though. He was going to learn to be…happy. It was an interesting notion to him. For so long he had tried to just focus on everything, but himself and what was dragging him down. Now he knew. Sure it had taken losing Clare and weeks of therapy, but he knew that he had to be more independent. He had to focus on making himself happy, he couldn't put the responsibility on Clare, Adam, or his parents.

It was getting easier with each day that passed. Seeing Clare with Jake, now that wasn't easy. Adam and Eli had both pretended they didn't see their friend with the tall jock this morning, but there was no use denying the fact that Clare was moving on. Over the summer, the few times Eli had seen Clare, she had mentioned Jake, but Eli had known something would happen after they started to reconnect at the end of last year. Eli grimaced as he looked at the seat in front of him.

He couldn't stop himself from feeling like it should have been him and Clare. They should have been the ones talking in the hallway; hanging out at the Dot after school…He shook his head as if attempting to shake the thoughts out.

"You ok?" Adam said from next to him and Eli glanced at his friend who, as usual, looked worried. Eli managed to summon up his normal smirk.

"You worry way too much. I'm fine. Everything is going to be fine," Eli assured him. Eli knew it was, too. Everything was going to be fine. It was a new year, a fresh start. As he thought this Clare walked into the room and made her way over to them. She hesitated behind the two who couldn't see her before finally walking past them and sitting down in front of Adam. She put her bag on the seat in front of Eli before she turned around smiling.

"Hey Adam, Eli," she said softly.

"Hi Clare," Adam said. I didn't trust myself to talk so I just smiled weakly. As I looked at Clare I tried to push every memory into the back of my head. My want to reach over and kiss her needed to go. This was a new year. I was going to let go of the past.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it! The chapters will get longer. Next chapter will be up in a couple days! :)