Title: Overrated

Rating: M

Chapter: 1

Fandom: Degrassi: The Next Generation

Summary: AU. Clare can't have Drew. Dallas can't have Alli. If they can't have who they want, they might as well take advantage of each other.

Comments: Takes place during 1319 Dig Me Out. Eclare never got back together at the end of 1316 Spiderwebs. Drew is sleeping with Zoe. Alli doesn't want a relationship after her drama with Leo.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the idea.

"Said that we're not lovers, we're just strangers

With the same damn hunger

To be touched, to be loved, to feel anything at all."

"Strangers" - Halsey & Lauren Jauregui

Clare stood glowering inside the student council office; her eyes fixated on the other side of the window. She pouted jealously at the sight of Drew and Zoe entangled in each other's limbs, their mouths fighting with the other's for dominance. Clare had no idea what had drawn Drew towards the younger girl. Afterall, he had seemed so interested in Clare during the Thanksgiving fundraiser. They had made out in this very room on a couch not far from where she currently stood.

"Hey Clare."

Clare closed her eyes, turning away from the view of the couple making out in the lobby. She opened her eyes to find Dallas lingering behind after the game of poker Connor had hosted.

"You need a ride?" he offered, using his thumb to gesture over his shoulder.

Clare gave a tiny smile and nodded. "Yeah. Thanks."

When she got close enough, Dallas wrapped his arm around her to guide her out of the school. She wasn't sure why he felt the need to touch her. But as they walked past Drew and Zoe, she felt Dallas's hand squeeze her shoulder and pull her into his side tighter. She had not originally cared for Dallas to touch her, but she now appreciated the small comfort.

They got to Audra Torres's van and Clare paused.

"Shouldn't you be driving, Drew?"

"He can find his own ride."

Dallas got into the car without a second thought and Clare followed, climbing into the front passenger seat.

Clare could vaguely make out Drew's form inside the doorway of Degrassi, pressed up with Zoe in passionate ferocity, as the car pulled out of the parking lot.

Clare bit her lips together. She had dreamed about his mouth on hers for weeks, but every time she tried to talk to him, they had got sidetracked into other conversations.

Then, Zoe happened to dance into their lives, thrusting her tiny, scantily clad body and her big mouth against all of Drew and it was hopeless in Clare's eyes. Hopeless and frustrating for her emotional and sexual health.

She had even considered sending Eli a sexy text, despite their breakup, to help ease some of the tension weighing heavily on her body. If she sent Eli a picture of her breasts and a note about how much she missed his mouth on every bit of her, at least he would send something back. He always did. If he didn't, then she would never send him another sext again and, even apart, he would probably dread that.

Or, maybe, she should be sending Drew a sext. He was the one she had been craving to touch for weeks now.

She heard Dallas clear his throat, interrupting her train of sexy thoughts, and she practically jumped out of her own skin.

"You alright there?" Dallas smirked at her, quirking an eyebrow, his eyes fixated below her neck.

That's when Clare realized she had a hand cupping her breast through her lacy, green blouse. Her own hand. She gave her breast a squeeze as if to confirm that she was in fact touching herself in a minivan next to Mike Dallas and this wasn't just a cruel dream. She had only once touched herself in front of Eli and that was upon his insistent request.

She dropped her hand, her whole face burning red, and grasped at the edge of her tan skirt, clearing her throat. "Totally." She ground her teeth together in frustration that her stupid hormones couldn't have waited until she was inside and alone in bed. That's what always happened when she thought about Drew, and Eli, naked. She couldn't seem to control herself.

Dallas shook his head, suppressing a laugh, "I would offer you a hand, but it looks like you can handle it yourself."

Clare let her skirt go and reached out, giving him a playful shove, but she was letting out a few giggles herself. "I certainly can," she assured confidently.

So confidently that Dallas's eyes almost popped out of his head. "Shit, Edwards. Really?"

Clare actually laughed in reply. "You think I've never masturbated?" She placed a hand over her heart as tears blurred her eyes from her hysterical fit.

"Fuck," Dallas cussed, watching her with wonder. "Are you even allowed to say - "

"Masturbate," she repeated, trying to control herself with a gasp. She shook her head, quieting down to amused chuckles. "Masturbating is probably far more innocent than some of the things I've done."

Dallas moved his hands back to the steering wheel, gripping tightly. It seemed like the safest bet at this exact moment. If he didn't, he might reach over and pull her in to kiss him because the idea that sweet Clare Edwards touched herself to get off was too much for his brain to handle. Not to mention that she had done other things. He knew she had slept with Eli last year around prom, thanks to Alli. But he had no idea what things they did behind closed doors.

"I should, probably, just," Clare looped her bag over her shoulder, "go."

"Probably."

Clare gave Dallas one last glance before getting out of the minivan.

"Holy shit," he grumbled, his knuckles turning white with self control. It was going to take him the better part of the night bleaching the image of Clare lying in bed, touching herself, from his brain.