Welcome to my new short story which is also my 150th story!
Legal: I own nothing but the idea
Important things to know before reading:
*Takes place right after Sparks Will Fly
*Adam did not die or crash but he and Becky fought and the Becky's went back to Florida
*Adam does know what happened with Asher and how Clare almost got revenge but Drew doesn't know
* Alli was never with Leo after Paris and he never came to the states she and Dallas are dating
*Fitz still works at the Dot and is somewhat friends with Clare, Adam and even Drew
*Maya is dating Zig and Zoe was never raped but her career ruined and was expelled after getting drunk at school and damaging school property
*Adam is dating Grace
*Clare is not and will not get pregnant
*Rest cannon through Sparks will Fly
Ch. 1 Ransom My Heart, but Baby Don't Look Back
(CLARE)
The loud music and rowdy teenagers were nothing but background noise to me as I sit in this teen club stirring my drink with my straw absentmindedly. My last moments with Drew and with Eli run through my head. I went home changing out of my saloon dress but I didn't want to stay at the dance or anywhere near Drew. So I left, wandering in the snow a while before coming to this teen club on the far side of Riverdale. I was fairly certain I wouldn't run into anyone I know here and I just needed a place to escape and stew in my anger. After everything I said to Eli and knowing I'd been falling in love with Drew, I told Eli we were done. But when I went to Drew he tells me he won't be a rebound and walks away from me! He didn't try to talk to me, didn't tell me why he thought he was a rebound he just suddenly decided it! How on earth could he think that after all that's happened this last semester? After all the time we've spent together this last semester.
"Hey there Sexy, what's a hot thing like you doing alone in a place like this?" A boy asks sitting next to me and interrupting my anger and boy loathing.
"Waiting for a guy to hit on me with a truly cheesy pickup line so I could knee him in the nuts," I respond with a biting tone.
"Ooh spicy, I like a girl with attitude especially one that looks so sugary sweet," the boy replies.
"Maybe this will cool you off," I respond tossing my drink on him and getting off the stool. I grab my coat and purse and walk out of the club. I get outside putting my coat on and the boy runs after me coming to my side.
"You know it's a shame to see such a beautiful girl look so sad and angry," he remarks as he puts on his own jacket.
"You are just full of corny lines aren't you?"
"Yeah," he grins running ahead of me a couple of steps and blocking my path, "but that one was sincere."
"You look oddly familiar," I comment now that I'm getting a good look at him. He has a deep chocolate brown complexion. Tall with a round face and his very short hair looks like it had been previously shaved or very close cropped, but is beginning to grow a little more which kind of matches my hair. His dark eyes are deep set in oval sockets. If I wasn't so pissed I would find his wide grin and somewhat boyish features attractive. "You don't go to DeGrassi but I'm sure I've seen you before," I tell him pinching my eyebrows together and trying to place him.
"No I don't go DeGrassi but I know people there," he says extending his hand, "Vincent Bell."
As soon as he says his name I recognize him. I raise my hand but not to shake his hand, instead I smack him across the face as hard as I can. Hard enough that a red outline of my hand is left on his cheek.
"YOU SHOT ADAM YOU ROTTEN IDIOTIC GANGSTER SCUM!" I scream at him. I was already angry and boiling with animosity and now I'm faced with the guy that shot Adam! I feel like there's so much more I want to say to him, to yell at him for shooting Adam and brining a gun to prom. Only I'm so angry about everything else I can't think of any of them so I raise my hand and slap him again just as hard. It makes the red mark on his cheek even redder. From what I know about Vince I fully expect him to hit me back but he doesn't look angry, he doesn't even blink. Instead he takes my hand, which has just slapped him twice, and he kisses my palm.
"For such a beautiful hand it packs a mighty slap, my cheek will be tingling for hours. You know you're sexy when you're so angry," Vince grins releasing my hand.
"You can be as charming as you want I know what you did to Adam, what you did to Drew and how you treated Bianca, giving her bruises and forcing her to sell drugs. Now move or I will knee you in the nuts," I hiss at him pushing him out of my way and storming off. I only get a few steps on the snowy sidewalk before he catches up with me again.
"I'm sorry Adam got hurt, I didn't mean for him to get hurt I just wanted to scare Drew. I wasn't going to shoot anyone but Drew went all Hulk on me. I did my time and got out a better person," Vince says.
"Uh-hughff," I scoff at this answer, "this sounds familiar I suppose next you're going to tell me that you found God?"
"Do I look like the Jesus type to you?" He laughs.
"I don't know that there's a type," I reply looking him over and shake my head, "but no I guess not."
"I used to react with anger and not think about anyone else. I grew up, prison will do that to you and they make you take anger management classes. And yeah there was a pastor in prison and some people went that path but it's just not for me. I really am sorry for what I did to Adam, and for having Drew beat up even though he did kill my best friend. I'm especially sorry for how I treated Bianca. I was a very angry person back then but I'm not anymore, I saw a pretty girl upset in a club she didn't belong in and I wanted know why."
"Did they teach you to be charming in prison too?" I question crossing my arms dubious at his behavior. Of course I really don't know Vince, I've only seen him once ever and he was holding a gun. All I have ever heard about him I've heard from Bianca as we driving to my cabin chasing after ex-boyfriends.
"No all the charm is mine," he grins. "You still haven't told me why you were so upset and angry. Why don't you let me by you a hot chocolate and you can tell me what brought a scowl to that beautiful face," Vince says brushing his thumb over my cheek.
My instincts tell me that going with him is a bad idea; then again my instincts told me that having sex with Drew was a good idea so I decide to ignore my instincts. Vince holds his arm out to me and I link my arm with his. We walk down the street to a little coffee shop and Vince buys us two hot chocolates.
"Alright so what made you so upset and angry that you went walking through the snow to a club that doesn't suit you, rather than attending the hoedown at DeGrassi?" Vince asks.
"Don't mention that wretched dance to me," I reply with a slight growl in my voice.
"What happened at the dance?" Vince asks in a prodding voice.
While in the back of my mind a little voice in my head tells me not to say a word, it tells me Vince is dangerous and I should leave. However instead of leaving I find my lips moving and I begin to talk. He probably shouldn't know this stuff, I don't even know him but the fact that someone is interested in why I'm upset and wants to know what happened, just having someone care has let my guard down.
"I had sex with a boy I've been falling in love with all semester. I thought he was falling in love with me too. Maybe I wanted to think that he was falling in love with me too, I don't know. He was there every time I needed him even when my boyfriend wasn't. I tried to keep my distance but it was pretty much impossible. My boyfriend couldn't even be bothered to call me once a week, he's living this great new life at NYU and he's all but forgotten me. He rushes home last summer to be with me when he finds out I have cancer, he nurses me through it but as soon as I'm in remission he's back to New York and cheats on me before Thanksgiving. I found out at Thanksgiving and we broke up. But I took him back, he groveled and I took him back because I was afraid to be with the boy I wanted to be with so I went with what was safe. Of course what was safe went back to ignoring me and only coming up when we'd had a fight or he had something to make up for. So after months of struggling with my feelings I broke up with Eli and told Drew and we had sex," I say with gritted teeth. I've been looking down at the mug of hot chocolate in my hands but when I see Vince crack a half smile I glance up at him. He wipes it from his face giving me a sympathetic look and I continue. "Eli shows up right as we're done, he thinks we were only kissing but we get in a fight none the less. Eli doesn't want to let me go, Drew's angry that he's there and I said the wrong thing, I always say the wrong thing. Drew left us alone and I told Eli we couldn't be together because I wasn't even on his list of priorities and that Drew meant everything to me. Then I go out to find Drew and he tells me he won't be a rebound. He wasn't a rebound; if I wanted to rebound I would have had sex with Drew at Thanksgiving."
"Drew's a fucking moron, if it had been me I would have punched Eli and told him he lost you and to get out. If you ask me Drew got what he wanted from you and then he was done with you."
"Yeah I know and it really hurts because I thought I meant more to him than that," I sigh sipping at my hot chocolate. "Adam is my best friend and now I'm not even sure I can look at him again after what happened with me and Drew. I've got a little over a week until school resumes and I don't want to go back. I don't want to see Drew."
"Thing you ought to do," Vince says setting down his empty mug and moving next to me, "is teach Drew a lesson. Show him what a real rebound is, what angry revenge sex is truly is."
"No way, I know how you treated Bianca and I know nothing about you for all I know you'll give me syphilis," I respond quickly drinking the rest of my hot chocolate and setting down my mug. "Thanks for the hot chocolate but I really should be going now," I comment grabbing my coat and purse and getting up. I put on my coat and walk out the door but Vince follows me again.
"Where are you going? If you had anywhere to go you would have gone home from the dance instead of wandering. Why don't you come to my place? At least you won't be wandering in the snow and I don't have syphilis I'm clean, I've only been out a few months and only slept with one other girl in that time. We can go to the clinic right now if you want."
"That would imply that I was even pondering having sex with you," I shoot back keeping my voice sharp. He's right though about not having anywhere else to go. I can't go cry on Adam's shoulder I broke up with his other best friend and then had sex with his brother. Alli is dating Dallas and there are many things I don't feel comfortable confiding to Alli and Jenna lives with her. I can only imagine their reaction if they found out and Alli did date Drew for a while, a couple of years ago but none the less. My dad is gone, I barely hear from Darcy, and my parents…well Glen and I have never been close and I know my mom cares about me but I've really never confided in her about anything. Anyway they just got back from a trip and after the last 24 hours I've had I want to be anywhere but home. So I go back to ignoring my instincts, "Okay let's go to your place."
Vince smiles and puts his hand at my back; we walk a couple of blocks reaching a car which he unlocks. He uses a key so I assume it's his car, I get in and he drives us to an apartment building. I follow him up the stairs and he unlocks the door.
"Here we are home sweet home," Vince says taking off his coat and dropping his keys on the table by the door.
"You live here alone?" I question looking at the mess of the apparent bachelor pad.
"Me and my little brother Tiny," he replies.
"Tiny? He goes to DeGrassi," I remark taking off my coat in the warm apartment.
"Yep he's at the dance with his buddy Zig."
"Yeah I know Zig he was in Whisper Hug with Adam," I reply.
"You want a beer?" Vince offers.
"No I'd better not, I don't hold liquor very well," I tell him sitting on the sofa.
"Wouldn't want that," Vince says bringing me a glass of water as he sits next to me with a beer.
"So just what did you see in Drew anyway? I mean besides the fact that he was everything your pathetic boyfriend wasn't," Vince inquires.
"We got close after he was elected President and asked me to be his VP. I didn't think he'd ever even look at me that way. I'm not his usual type. He was sweet and we just bonded. Now I think everything I did see in him was a lie. I honestly don't know what makes me angrier, the fact that Eli could hardly make a phone call to me but when I tell him we're done he finds the time and the money to fly to Toronto and ruin my happy moment. Or that after getting close all semester, after all we've been through and knowing me the way he does now that Drew thought he was a rebound."
And then acting out of anger and hurt and frustration, knowing that this will hurt Drew the way he hurt me, and because Vince has actually made me feel good when I felt incredibly low and worthless. Also because I'm not thinking at all just reacting and I react by crushing my lips to his. I know he propositioned this earlier and I balked at the idea but right now, for whatever reason and whatever motivation, it seems like the best idea and it's what I want.
Vince instantly responds to the kiss, his right hand brushes the hair from my face and reaches around to the back of my head. His other hand remains in his lap, he's letting me be in charge. What I want is to feel anything but anger and currently Vince seems like a good outlet for that. I push him down on the sofa and grip his shirt pulling it from his jeans. My fingers run over his abs and then down to his jeans, my fingertips brush over the top of his jeans and Vince smiles into the kiss.
"What am I doing? We can't do this; I can't do this I already had impetuous sex once today having angry impetuous sex isn't going to fix anything. I should get home or at least get out of here," I tell him sitting up rapidly as my reasoning skills and rationality come back to me. "Thanks for everything but I should really go," I assert getting up and grabbing me jacket.
"No sweat I'll take you home," he says standing up and fixes his clothes.
"Thanks," I smile nervously feeling a little stupid now. We go back to his car and I tell him how to get to my house.
"I had fun tonight, call me if you want to do it again," Vince says when he parks in front of my house.
"Thanks for today it helped," I reply getting out of his car.
I walk to my front door and unlock it, my parents decided to go out to dinner which is probably a good thing. I microwave some leftovers, grab some juice and go up to my room. I turn on the light and shriek when I find someone in my room, dropping my glass of juice which shatters on the floor.
"Sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Vince apologizes.
"Then maybe you shouldn't be stalking around my room in the dark like a psychopath! What are you doing in here and how did you get in? And look what you did," I complain looking at the juice on my floor.
"Sorry," he apologizes scratching the back of his head with a sheepish look. Next thing I know he's picking me up. He lifts me up and takes me to my bed setting me down. "Where's the towels?" He asks.
"In the hall closet," I reply still shocked that he's even in here and even more shocked that he's cleaning up the mess of my juice falling on the floor. Vince goes out and finds a towel and then grabs my trashcan, he picks up all the glass, mops the rest with a towel that he then throws away and then he goes downstairs for the vacuum. He vacuums where the juice spilled and then sits on the bed with me. I've been watching him clean and haven't actually started eating yet. "I realized you didn't have my number so I came to give it to you. And I came in through your open window; you really shouldn't leave your window open like that it isn't safe. That looks disgusting," he comments looking at my food, "you should let me take you out to dinner, least I can do for sneaking in and scaring you."
"I guess," I reply slowly.
I get my coat and purse, take my now cold food down to the kitchen tossing it and we leave my house. Vince takes me to a little whole in the wall place but they have good food. He asks about my family, tells me about his brother and that their parents abandoned them when they were younger. We don't talk at all about Drew, Bianca or DeGrassi. I find myself relaxed and laughing and even happy by the time he takes me home.
"Thanks I had fun, you were actually the best part of my day," I smile when we're parked in front of my house again.
"I had fun too, now why don't you give me your phone so I can give you my number and you can call me next time you want to hang out," Vince says.
I bite my lip hesitating for a moment before I reach into my purse and pull out my phone handing it to Vince.
(ADAM)
"You keep looking at your phone waiting for Grace to call?" Dallas teases taking my phone from me.
"She's still at her grandparents. I'm worried about Clare, she's not answering any of my calls or texts," I reply and notice my brother look away. "What did you do?" I question Drew because I know his guilty look.
"Your best friend and your big brother were fucking in the prop room during the dance," Dallas informs me.
"Dude don't say it like that," Drew grimaces.
"You were WHAT? Drew what the hell were you thinking?" I growl at my brother getting up and walking over to him.
"She wanted to, it was her idea and it was just rebound sex after she broke up with Eli," Drew responds with a growl.
"I haven't heard anything from her at all, I heard about her breakup with Eli from him! I'm thinking it's because she doesn't want to put me in the middle of the breakup but worse she had sex with my brother! And what makes you think it was rebound sex? Clare overthinks everything she wouldn't have rebound sex."
"Eli showed up and she told him I had nothing to do with their breakup. Plus Dallas pointed out that I rebounded with Zoe after Bianca so I was probably Clare's rebound," Drew responds.
"You listen to him about what Clare is thinking? The guy that thought it was a good idea to kiss her after he got her tipsy and she told him about Asher! If Clare hates me because the two of you are idiots I will never speak to either of you again. I'm going over there to talk to Clare," I say and run upstairs to grab my coat.
"Who the fuck is Asher?" Is the last thing I hear Drew say before I go into the kitchen. I grab my coat and tell Mom I'm going to Clare's and I take the car. I drive to Clare's parking out front and get out ringing the bell.
"Adam what are you doing here?" Clare asks when she opens the door.
"You weren't answering my calls or texts. I know what happened with you and Drew and what Dallas told him. They're both idiots," I tell her and she steps aside so I can come in. "I'm sorry my brother and my billet brother are idiots I don't want you to hate me because they suck."
"I don't hate you Adam, I didn't want to see Drew and I didn't want to put you in the middle. I don't know what they told you but me sleeping with Drew, it wasn't rebound sex Adam. I really care about Drew and I wanted to be with him, I still do but…forget it I don't want you to be in the middle."
"I could talk to Drew," I offer.
"No that would definitely put you in the middle. I was angry about it but except for Christmas with my parents the last few days have been fun. I made a new friend and got over my anger. I wish things had turned out differently but you can't turn back time. Anyway Drew is convinced he's a rebound and I don't think anything you said would make a difference," she sighs sitting on the sofa.
"He thinks that because that's what Dallas told him and because you told Eli that Drew had nothing to do with your breakup," I enlighten her.
"I didn't want them to start fighting and I wasn't thinking, Eli showed up and it threw me for a loop. Of course Drew had something to do with the breakup but he wasn't the only reason. There were lots of reasons Eli and I broke up and Drew was one of them. And why would Dallas tell him that?"
"I don't know, it wasn't his place to say anything and I'm sorry he did and that Eli showed up although I'm still not sure how I feel about you and Drew."
"Well I doubt it will be a problem for you now," Clare responds with a smile. "Let's not talk about this anymore; you want to go to a movie or something?"
"Yeah sure," I grin.
Clare goes upstairs and gets her coat and shoes on, she grabs her purse and we go out to my car. I drive us downtown and we spend the day together. Avoiding all talk of my brother and Dallas, I take her back home after eating at our favorite spot.
"I had fun today thanks Adam," she smiles.
"You know I'm still you're friend, and Eli's and I'm kinda in the middle anyway but I'll try to stay out of it. You got plans for tomorrow night?" I question since tomorrow is New Year's Eve.
"No I'll probably just stay home and have a quiet evening. I'll see you at school on Monday," Clare says and hugs me before getting out of the car. I wait until she's inside before driving home.
"So how's Clare?" Drew asks when I come in.
"Well she doesn't hate me but she didn't want to talk about either of you. Monday at school should be interesting."
(CLARE)
"We're leaving for the party now Clare, we'll be home about one. If you do go out home by one okay?" Mom tells me as she grabs her coat.
"Have fun," I wave to my parents before they leave for the New Year's party.
My parents leave and I grab a container of ice cream from the freezer, ready to settle in for a solitary New Year's Eve of watching movies and pigging out on junk food. Before I can even reach the sofa and turn on the TV my cell phone rings. When I see that it's Vince calling I actually smile. I didn't see Alli or Jenna at all over break and only saw Adam when he came by a couple of days ago. Vince called nearly every day, mostly to check up on me, he took me to dinner a couple of times, mostly we just talked on the phone.
"Hi Vince," I smile.
"Happy New Year's Spicy you still planning to spend tonight alone?"
"I was just about to settle in with a movie and some ice cream," I reply.
"I think you should come out, my buddy is throwing a New Year's party," Vince says.
"I don't think I'll be much fun and I don't know you're friends," I reply.
"Then you should come out and meet them and I happen to know you're great company," Vince replies.
"I guess a party would be fun. Give me ten minutes to get ready," I tell him and hang up.
Since I'm in sweats I'm not about to go to a party this way so I run upstairs. I change quickly into a black boot cut jeans and a dark blue sweater. I brush my hair to be sure it's not all over the place and get my boots on just as the doorbell rings. Grabbing my coat and purse I turn out the lights and lock the door.
"You look great," Vince smiles as I lock up the door. I smile and go down to his car with him, he opens my door and I get in. He drives a few blocks parking in front of a single story house it's sort of run down and this isn't the best part of town. Vince parks and we get out, Vince walks straight in and a tall boy approaches us.
"Hey Erik this Clare," Vince introduces me.
"It's nice to meet you," I smile politely.
"Welcome to the party," Erik grins.
"Come on, you want a drink? I know no alcohol," Vince says.
"Yeah, uh I think I'll go with you," I comment looking around the party and feeling very out of place.
"Don't worry you're safe everyone knows you're with me," Vince says.
He puts his arm around me and we walk to the kitchen where the drinks are and some food. Vince introduces me to some of his friends and we wander and he talks to people. I don't talk too much, there isn't anyone from DeGrassi here and I feel don't feel like I belong here. But every time I start to look uncomfortable talking to one group of people Vince excuses us and moves on. We sit for a while and we're alone, well as alone as you can be in a great crowd of people. Just before midnight Erik turns on the TV and we all countdown to midnight, I smile and turn to say Happy New Year to Vince and his lips crush to mine. I'm not shocked by the kiss; I enjoy it and kiss him back, my lips parting when his tongue slides across my bottom lip. I pull out of the kiss after a moment and we're both smiling. It wasn't an angry impetuous kiss; it was a kiss we both wanted.
"I should get home, my curfew is one," I comment after a moment of silence.
"Then let's get you home," he grins getting up and pulling me up. He puts his arm around me and we leave the party.
"I had a good time, thanks for getting me out," I smile when we're outside of my house.
"Me too, goodnight Spicy," he grins leaning over to kiss me but I put my hand on his chest.
"Just so you know I'm not Bianca. I won't sell drugs for you; if I catch with drugs I'll call the cops. If you put bruises on me I'll knee you in the nuts. If you try to rape me I'll castrate you myself," I warn him.
"I believe that you will and I already told you I've changed," he says brushing a curl from my face. "Goodnight Spicy," he smiles leaning over to kiss me again and this time I don't push him away.
I pull away after a few seconds and say goodnight going into my house. My parents arrive home as we're getting ready for bed. I go to bed not thinking of Drew or worried about school which is back in session tomorrow. I wake to my alarm the next morning and get ready for school; everything is fine until I see Drew in the hallway. I walk quickly to my locker but then find him in my homeroom.
"Hey you want to sign up for salsa dancing with Dallas and me? Jenna even convinced Connor to come," Alli says as she and Dallas come into class.
"No thanks that sounds like a couple thing and I'm not in a couple," I reply shooting a look to Drew and he looks away.
"There could be single guys," Alli encourages.
"Alli you're social chair for the school not my life but I appreciate it," I reply and she drops it.
Thankfully the only one in my second period class is Adam. I smile when I see him and sit at my desk.
"How was your New Year's?" I ask Adam.
"Not too bad, Drew and Dallas went to a party at Owen's but I was out with Grace. Did you just stay at home?"
"No I ended up going to a party," I reply.
Second period, studies in literature, actually goes by pretty quickly since I'm not ignoring anyone. And when the bell rings it's lunch time.
"You can eat with me, Grace, Zig and Maya," Adam offers.
"That's okay I'm going to go get a start on my homework and eat outside," I tell him.
I walk outside sitting at a picnic table and almost as soon as I sit down at a picnic table flowers are held in front of me. I look up to see Vince holding the flowers.
"What are you doing here? You can't be on school grounds."
"I came to see you, and I thought Drew should know you had a real rebound and who it was with," he grins.
He hands me the flowers and then leans over to kiss me but I pull away. His lips still catch my cheek and I hear people approaching. I turn and look over my shoulder just in time to see Drew storming over with Dallas, Alli, Jenna and Adam. Drew is running over with clenched fists and my heart begins pounding as I know this is not going to turn out well.
The update on Friday December 11th will pick up from a little before this in Drew's pov.
