" … and that was Paisley Jacket by The Dead Hand."

Ugghh, I thought to myself as I woke up bright and early Monday morning. Today was the first day of school, and I am now a junior at Degrassi Community School. Before I continue, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Clare Diane Edwards. I am 15 years old and, as I said before, a sophomore in high school. I have two best friends, Alli Bhandari. I've known Alli for as long as I can remember, we met back in elementary school on the first day of Kindergarten.

As I walk down the stairs, I hear the never-ending sound of my parents fighting. They've been fighting non-stop for a month now and I'm worried that they may decide to get a divorce. I've always been extremely close to my family: my mother, Helen, my father, Randall, and my older sister, Darcy. Darcy left to build schools in Kenya, but we send letters to each other and talk on the phone as much as we can. I miss her, but I know that she is happy and that's all that I want as a sister. I told Darcy about our parents fighting, and she told me that there was nothing to worry about and that all married couples go through this phase of arguing with each other, but that still doesn't make me feel better.

I walk over to my closet to see what I'm going to wear today. This year is going to be my year. I've gotten contacts and I've cut my hair into a short bob. I'm a little to see how everyone is going to respond to my new look. Before last year, I was always wearing a school uniform, even though I didn't have to. I've always been known as "Darcy's little sister." Darcy is the beautiful one, she got all of the looks. I got the brains, that's what I wanted to be known for. Alli didn't like that, though. When I brought some of Darcy's old clothes to school for charity, we ended up looking through them and trying them on and I ended up keeping some for myself. I decided to wear a black and white striped shirt, a pair of plain skinny jeans, and black ballet flats. My hair is as usual, it's crazy curly mess, and my makeup is very natural. I don't believe you need to cake it on just to look beautiful. Natural is better. I head downstairs to the kitchen, and once I enter, my parents immediately stop fighting and look towards me.

"Good morning, Clarebear," my dad, Randall, says as he walks up to me and gives me a kiss on the forehead. "I'm sorry I have to rush and can't enjoy breakfast with you, but I'm already late for work. I'll see you tonight, kiddo."

As he walks out of the front door, closing it with him, my mom leaves the kitchen mumbling something about her having to get ready to work. Again, I'm stuck here, all by myself, eating breakfast that my mom half-cooked because she was too busy fighting with my dad to pay attention to anything else. I walk over to our counter and grab a granola bar and head outside where Alli is already waiting for me.

"More parent drama?" Alli asks.

"What gave it away?" I reply, sarcastically. "I'm so tired of it, sometimes I just wish that they would get a divorce."

"You don't mean that, Clare. You're just frustrated." Alli says, trying to comfort me, but failing miserably. "Remember what Darcy said, all married couples go through this. It's just a phase, don't worry about it."

I change the subject, not wanting to talk about it any longer. We finally get to Degrassi, and as we walk up the steps leading to the front doors, I feel a pair of eyes watching me, following me as I walk. Instead of turning back, I just walk forward, finding my new locker and getting the things that I need for my first class, English with Ms. Dawes. I've always enjoyed English and I've heard that Ms. Dawes is a cool teacher, so I can't wait to see what she'll come up with this school year. I sit down near the middle of the classroom, but more towards the window so I can stare out and look at the beauty that Mother Nature created. I feel someone sit down behind me, but I don't look. Ms. Dawes enters and begins handing out the syllabus, while talking about to expect this year in English. She goes over the rules, big assignments that will be due throughout the year, the attendance policy, and all of that other boring stuff. I don't pay too much attention until I hear start talking about assigning us writing partners.

"Whenever a writing assignment is near its due date, we will take one class period for you and your partner to look over each other's papers and revise their work." Ms. Dawes, explained.

I'm a little worried about the whole "writing partner" thing. I've always been a pretty private person, especially when it comes to my writing. I hear my name being called, and I'm paired up with this guy named Elijah Goldsworthy.

"For the rest of class, I would like for you and your writing partner to talk and get to know each other. You will be with each other this entire year, no exceptions."

I look around for Elijah, then I see the most beautiful boy I have ever laid my eyes on. He has jet black hair, breath-taking emerald green eyes, and a crooked smile that makes me go weak in the knees. He is dressed in all black and is wearing a skull ring on his right ring finger. In other words, he is gorgeous.

"Hey, are you Clare Edwards?"

"Uh huh." Uh huh, really Clare, that's all that you can say. "Yeah, I'm Clare. Are you Elijah?"

"Yes, but please, call me Eli." He smiles that beautiful crooked smile.

Oh boy, I am definitely worried about this whole "writing partner" thing.