A/N

I've decided to re-write this story and from now on, I am going to work with an update schedule, which can be found on my profile.

-ECLARExSHIPPER

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi

Friendly Love, Chapter 1

Eli's POV

I bit on my pen, staring at the blank paper in front of me. For English we had to write an essay about "A day to remember".

Usually, I don't even have to think, words just flow out. But now I didn't have a clue. There are a lot of days to remember. The day I met Clare, the day I lost her. I shook my head, blocking out the bad thoughts. It's just one of those days.

While I was thinking about the topic again, I felt someone poke me in my back.

"Eli you got a pen I could borrow?"

I searched my bag and fished out a pen and handed it to Clare.

"Thanks." She smiled at me and I smirked at her before turning around to my own paper.

I feel weird around Clare, she is not like other girls. She's kind and genuine, always tries to see the best in everyone. She has been my best friend since I met her this year. I think I feel something for her. Wait what? No of course I don't. I couldn't. Not after what happened to her..

Flashback

I rushed Morty, my hearse, over the parking lot. If I was late for math again, Armstrong would kill me.
A detention is the last thing I needed, I couldn't afford another one because I had to work at The Dot today. It was my first day and I couldn't be late.

While driving, I looked for a parking spot, not noticing the thing I ran over. I heard something break under my front wheels. I jumped out of the car and looked under the wheel, pulling the destroyed glasses frame under my wheel. I looked behind me, only to see a girl gasping.

"I think they're dead." I said, handing the frame back to her.

"Uhm, it's okay I don't need them anymore anyway.. laser eye surgery.." She stuttered, taking the frame from me.

I looked at her. She had gorgeous baby blue eyes.

"You have pretty eyes."

"Thanks.. so.. see you around?" She said, blushing.

"Guess you will." I said, getting in my car and driving away.

The bell interrupted my thoughts. I collected my stuff and got out of the classroom. This essay was messing with my mind.

Jake's POV

I brushed away some dust from paper. I was designing a garden for the school. I always loved designing and building gardens. Before I lost her, my mom always used to work in the garden and I would always help her design it. My mom died when I was about 10, but I have always kept her alive through gardening and designing.

Last week, Clare came to me with the idea for a school garden. She said there was a spot that would be perfect, and no one really used the place anyway. Simpson, the principal, was very enthusiatic about the idea, and told me to work out an idea on paper and show it to him.

Clare was amazing. I have always liked her every since the moment I first met her..

Flashback

I was eating my lunch and sketching outside, untill Eli came up to me with a petite girl with auburn curled hair.

"Goldsworthy! How did your first day go?" I asked, remembering he had his first day at The Dot yesterday.

"They didn't throw me out yet, so I suppose it went okay." Eli said with a smirk.

"Not yet.. Who is the girl?" I said with a smirk of my own.

"Oh, this is Clare. She's in my English class."

"You're a senior too?" I asked Clare.

"No, I just follow grade 12 English."

"So.. beauty AND brains. Why don't you join me?"

"Thanks.." Clare blushed, looked at her feet and sat down.

"What about me?" Eli said jokingly.

"Do you really have to? I'd love to get to know Clare better." I joked, winking at her.

Eli rolled his head and smirked, sitting down.

She was so adorable, blushing every time I complimented her. She was smart, beautifull, nice, caring..

I've liked her for quite some time now, and I figured it was time to just make a move already, before someone else would sweep her away.

Clare's POV

While taking my books from my locker, Jake came up to me.

"Clare, just the girl I was looking for."

I smiled. "What's up?"

"What are you doing later?"

"Uhm, nothing really, how about you?"

"Oh just taking you out. We could go to The Dot to grab coffee." Jake said.

I smiled. "Yeah sounds fun, maybe Eli can tag along!"

"Yeah maybe, whatever." Jake said, slightly annoyed.

"I thought you guys were friends?" I asked, confused at the sudden annoyance towards Eli.

"We are, just thought it could be just the two of us."

I never hung out alone with Jake before.. Could be fun.

"Oh, that's alright. Then it's just you and me." I smiled.

"Great, i'll see you after class." He smiled and walked away.

I really like Jake. He actually showed interest in me. At first I thought Eli had a thing for me, and to be honest, I had a thing for him earlier too. But everytime I got close he backed away, so I figured i'd just imagined that. Eli doesn't like me that way, so I managed to get over it.

Jake on the other hand always made me feel.. wanted. He complimented me, walked with me to class and made me feel good, so I was excited to hang out with him later, I was curious how it would go. I have no idea if this was supposed to be a date, but I guess I should just go with it.

Jake's POV

Feeling good, I walked through the halls after class to find Clare. She agreed to go out and it was time to show her how I felt.

I was glad she didn't insist on Eli tagging along. Don't get me wrong, he's a good friend, but he got Julia too. I know he likes her, I can just see it by the way he looks at her. But Eli doesn't do anything about it, he just pushes her away and i'm refusing to do nothing just because Eli feels that way.

He didn't act on his feelings, so I had every right too.

"Jake. Shall we go?" Clare said, joining me.

"Yes, let's go."

While walking, she kept glancing at me.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I said smirking.

She blushed and looked away.

We reached my truck and I opened the door for her.

While driving, I noticed she was really silent, blankly staring out of the window.

"You okay? "

"Yeah.. just some family stuff."

I knew Clare's parents had been fighting a lot lately. Appareantly, Clare's dad had cheated on her mom with someone from work and you could feel the tension when you stepped into her house. Like you stepped into a war zone where you could be shot any second.

"Still fighting?"

Clare nodded. "I hear them mentioning divorce yesterday. I think they might actually split up. I know my dad made mistakes, a lot, but I just can't imagine life without him. Then it would just be mom and me since Darcy is in Africa."

Her sister went to school in Kenya, some kind of project. Clare always told me how much she missed her sister, especially in times like this.

"But they seem unhappy now too. I mean they're constantly fighting."

"I guess. I just don't want another person that's important to me leave."

I took her hand. "Clare, I won't go anywhere. Don't worry."

She put her head on my shoulder. "Thanks."

I smiled. "You're welcome."

Clare's POV

After a long talk about our families, we arrived at The Dot.

"So have you started on that essay yet?" Talking about family the whole time didn't really appeal to me, so I changed the subject to something lighter.

"Not really, there are a lot of days i'll always remember."

"Like what?"

"The day I met you is definitely one i'll never forget." Jake said, making me blush.

We had eye contact for a moment, before he got out of the truck and opened the door for me.

Jake's POV

I know I could've kissed her in that moment, but it would seem too soon.
I'm waiting for the right moment. The right mood. This will be her day to always remember.

"Welcome to The Dot, can I take your order?" We looked up, only to see Eli stand there with a blocknote, and I swear I could feel the jealousy coming from him.

"Can we have two coffees please?" Clare asked sweetly.

"Sure." Eli walked away to get our order and Clare looked at me.

"Is it just me or does he seem annoyed by the fact we're hanging out without him?"

"I noticed, he just has to deal with it. If we want to go together, we can. It's not like we have to take him with us EVERY time."

"You're right." Clare nodded. "I'm glad we're together, it's something else for a change."

"Yeah I like that too, just the two of us. I've been wanting to take you out on a date."

"Me? I'm flattered.. but.. there are so many other girls.." Clare bit her lip and looked at the table.

"I know." I lifted her chin up with my hand, looking her in the eyes. "But I want you."

Clare blushed and smiled, looking away and then looking me in the eye again.

I cupped her cheek. "You're really special Clare."

Before she could respond to me, Eli came with our order.

He didn't make eye contact with us, just roughly put the coffee on our table, muttered 'enjoy' and walked away.

I could see he obviously didn't like me taking out Clare.

Clare's POV

I had a really fun afternoon with Jake. He had made me blush more times then I could count.

The only thing kind of bothering me was Eli. I really didn't want him to be mad as us or something. The whole time I was there with Jake, I could feel Eli glancing at us from behind the counter.

Jake already got in the car and was still in the restaurant. I told Jake to wait for me there. Before he drove me home, I wanted to make sure if Eli was okay.

I found Eli cleaning the counter.

"Eli?"

"Hmm-mm" He said, avoiding eye contact.

"Are you okay? Because when Jake and I were here you seemed kind of anno-"

Eli put down the paper he was cleaning with and looked at me.

"Clare, I honestly don't give a shit about what you do with Jake."

"But you seemed so-"

He cut me off again.

"I don't care. Now, if you don't mind, i've got work to do. Bye Clare."

"I'm sorry for keeping you of work.. bye."

I turned around to walk away. I really wanted Eli to be okay, but if he's so rude to me, I don't care how he feels about me and Jake.

"We good to go?" Jake asked after I sat down next to him.

I smiled. "Let's go."

Jake's POV

"So we're here." I said, parking my truck in front of Clare's house.

"Do you want to come in? My parents are out of town today to visit my aunt. Must be hard for them to keep up the happy act."

"Of course." I unbuckled my seat belt and went into her house with her.

We spend the entire evening watching movies and talking.

When another movie had ended, I glanced at my watch. It had been 2 am already.

I put on my jacket, untill Clare stopped me.

"Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"I had a great day with you."

"We should really go out again soon."

"I'd like that." Clare said with a smile.

I smiled at her too. The timing couldn't be more right, so I leaned in and kissed her.

When we pulled apart, I expected her to stutter something or to blush, but to my surprise, she didn't.

All she did was pull me back to kiss her.

Again and again.