Author's Note: I don't own Degrassi or any of its characters. Also, all words written in italics are the lines from this past episode, "Love Lockdown Part. 2" I hope you enjoy! Comments and review are always welcomed by me! Thank you for reading!
The classical music filled the quiet room. We all were awkwardly trying to focus on something other than the other people sitting around the table. Things could not be any tenser in the Edward's household and I knew that my presence was not helping the already uneasy family dynamic. I cast a quick look at Clare and sipped my drink.
"Mom, thanks so much for letting Eli stay for dinner," Clare said breaking the silence and gently touched my arm. She did not reply to her daughter which made me begin to wonder if she was given the choice for my being there this evening.
"Eli, how do you and Clare know each other?" Mr. Edwards asked.
I put on my best smile, "We're in English class together. She's one of the smartest even though she's younger," I said looking over at my girlfriend.
She looked back at me, "And I have a wonderful editor"
My faced beamed, that was really nice of her to say. I appreciated her complimenting me like that in front of her parents.
"When we aren't skipping class" she continued with a smirk on her face.
Wait. What did she just say?
My green eyes grew wider and at that moment I thanked whatever power in the Universe that popped into my mind right then, that I was not still drinking my soda otherwise it would have definitely been sprayed over Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. While I was still trying to quickly formulate a backup plan in case they started asking questions about the lack of attendance in our English class, fate smiled on me as Mrs. Edwards continued with a friendly question.
"So, what do your parents do Eli?"
I opened my mouth to reply but Clare immediately jumped in with her answer, "oh, his Dad is a shock jock…Bullfrog…on solid rock 98. That station you hate," she said directly to her father.
I felt the wind being pressed out of my chest. My hands were turning cold and my feet bobbed nervously under the table. Ladies and Gentlemen, there has been a change on the menu tonight. Instead of serving tacos…my head will be substituted for the main course. Right on a shiny freaking platter! I looked hopelessly at her father, trying to gauge if I should remain where I was or throw in the white flag of surrender and call it a night.
"Bet your home life must be colorful," Mr. Edwards said smiling. I gave a small laugh and looked down at my plate.
"Less colorful, more black" Clare chimed in, "Eli even drives that hearse outside".
"Speaking of my hearse…I would so love to be in it right now. I could just go ahead and lie down in the back since Clare is gladly slaughtering me before her parents," I thought angrily to myself.
"Why don't we get started," Mrs. Edwards said moving her napkin to her lap.
We hadn't gotten started already? This was already beginning to feel like the longest night of my life and we had not even begun to eat!
"Eli, as our guest would you like to thank the Lord for this beautiful meal for us?" Clare's mother asked as she and Mr. Edwards clasped their hands together in prayer.
I finally found some words to say, "oh..well..I…uh…"
"Did I forget to mention…?" Clare started to say.
I looked over at her and saw the wicked gleam in her eyes, "Oh no, Clare, please don't do this. I know exactly where she's about to go with this statement. This is it, the final nail on my coffin. Good night and good luck folks," I thought.
My silent hoping was in vain. No dice. Total snake eyes.
"Eli's an atheist."
Her words hung in the air, they seem to hover over the table, slowly sinking into the minds of her parents as I watched the last of my hope of being with their daughter slide out the other side.
"Clare," I said with my mouth still hanging open. I felt like I was trapped in a game of hangman. Clare had drawn the spaces, thought of the word, slowly crossing letters out as her parents sat there trying to figure out who I was. It was too bad that I was the only one seeing the noose being tightened around MY neck. With her wielding her verbal pen, I didn't stand a chance. I never did.
Her mother took a deep breath and Mr. Edwards spoke up, "Never mind, Eli. Helen?"
Mrs. Edwards continued with the blessing. I looked back over at Clare who was sitting there looking very proud of herself as she casually popped an olive into her mouth. I felt myself glare at her. I couldn't help it. I was so angry and hurt. This was not my sweet Clare, and right now, I didn't want to be here.
Part two: After dinner and Clare's new look.
