Disclaimer: If I was making any money off of this, I wouldn't be struggling to buy a new car.

"Hello, fellow Degrassians. Your Madam President Katie Matlin here just wanting to congratulate you all on completing your first day of exams. Your teachers want you to know that it's not too late…"

Eli Goldsworthy tuned out the words that were assaulting him from every speaker and television in the school. His locker held his attention now, his brain being fried from both an English and French exam. The rest of the week didn't look great either; Pre-Cal, Ancient Civ, a short script due for Theater, and Anatomy to finish it all off. Wednesday seemed like ages away, his one day where he didn't have a test.

"Finished for the day. Want to quiz each other at The Dot?" Clare Edwards asked sweetly, leaning against the locker next to his. He grinned lightly at her, her presence being a sight for sore eyes. Eli and Clare started dating again three months before and things had been going well for them. It wasn't as intense as it was in the beginning last time, but Eli didn't really expect it to be. They weren't new to each other anymore, being able to fall into a comfortable routine.

"Raincheck? I have to concentrate to finish this script that's due tomorrow and The Dot is a little distracting," he responded, pulling out his history book from his locker and closing it. He shouldered his bag and the two fell in step, walking down the hall towards the front entrance.

"But tonight's one of the only nights I have free. My mom signed us up to volunteer at every church event this year, and it is a busy time of year," she reminded. Eli didn't need another reminder that he was seeing less and less of his girlfriend as Christmas approached. "Or, you could always come to one of the services, you know, the more the merrier?"

Eli shot her a look from the corner of his eye. Ever since Julia had been taken from him, his faith had completely disappeared, and not even Saint Clare could make him believe again. She had never pushed him to attend her church before, but with the holidays coming up, the subject had been breeched more and more. That was the one thing Eli wouldn't do.

"Okay, I get it. Not going to happen," Clare responded with a sigh, "Have you heard from any other universities besides TU yet?" Eli went over his list in his mind. He had applied to Toronto University as a safe back up and had been accepted already, Smithdale University, Ryerson University, and his long shot. When he had gotten accepted at TU, Clare urged him to go ahead with early decision, binding him to attend. He refused though, saying that he wanted to hear back from his other schools. In fact, he only needed to hear back from one.

"Nothing yet, but it's still pretty early. Most of the schools send out acceptances in January," he explained. His top choice had said that all decision letters would be sent out at the end of November, and yet it was the middle of December and still nothing. He was nervous, but he couldn't show it. Clare had no clue that he had even applied to the school.

"As always, it's great to see you, Holly J. Come back and visit any time you're in town," Principal Simpson's voice came from the doorway of his office. Eli's head snapped around from watching the snow fall silently on the steps of the school. He would have recognized that red hair anywhere, even without hearing her name. The blood started pumping through his veins and his brain felt more awake, even more than it did before exams started. Holly J Sinclair was back. Part of him wanted to run but he found his feet slowing down, needing to talk to her if she would let him. When she left, he didn't see her off like she wished. He just couldn't do it, to be there and watch her walk out of his life. He could only hope that she wasn't angry about it. Clare slowed down her pace with his own, looking over to see what grabbed his attention so quickly.

"Oh, Holly J's back. She must be on her winter break," Clare observed nonchalantly, but her hand still managed to find Eli's by his side, gripping it tight.

"Of course I will, sir. And thank you so much again for helping me with this. I really appreciate it," and Holly J shook the man's hand with a smile. He mirrored her gesture and turned to go back into his office. The red head sighed to herself, taking a moment to gather her thoughts. That was two recommendations down, just one more to go to finish her application for a summer internship. She knew that she should relax this break, like the rest of her classmates, but if she got all of this stuff done and out of the way now, she could relax for the rest of it and start the next semester ahead of everyone. Staying with Fiona this break was going to force Holly J to not work, which was good. She deserved to have some fun.

Holly J slowly turned around, her head lost in thoughts of internships and massages, when she laid eyes on him. His dark hair, piercing green eyes accentuated by eyeliner, the blue polo and khaki in complete opposition to who he really was. Eli was standing just on the other side of the receptionist's desk, an image she had been counting down the days to see. He was paler than he was last time they had seen each other, the effects of the summer on his skin fading. He wasn't smiling and she couldn't blame him. She couldn't smile either.

"Eli…" fell softly from her lips and a shiver went up his spine at hearing her say his name. Four months. It had been four months since he had heard her say it last. It felt good, warm, comforting. "And Clare. Hey, you two," she said, taking a breath and trying to fake a smile as best she could. When he didn't show back in August, it hurt and she spent her first few weeks at university trying to figure out why he would do that to her. Holly J was angry with him but it was a different kind of angry. It was the kind of angry that made you want to stay up fighting with the person all night, the type of angry that showed you how much you really care.

"Hi, Holly J. How's Yale?" Clare piped up, trying to ignore the tension that was forming between the girl and her boyfriend. Eli stood there, frozen, not daring to take his eyes away from Holly J. He was excited to see her again… and completely terrified of what that could mean.

"Yale's nice. Classes are challenging, but not too horrible…" Holly J answered lightly, trying to decide what to do. She wanted to talk to Eli so that they could clear the air once and for all, but this was not exactly how she thought it was going to happen, "Clare, do you mind if I speak to Eli for a moment?" Eli swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat, turning his head slightly and nodding to Clare.

"Of course, sure. You allowed me that so…" she started, shifting her bag a little. She gave Eli a warm smile and leaned up, placing a small kiss on his cheek. Eli didn't flinch. Holly J's smile faltered slightly, averting her eyes. "I'll go wait by Morty. Don't be long, it's cold out there," and she turned from the two. They both watched her walk out the doors and down the steps, making sure she was out of earshot before either of them spoke.

"I see they've eased up on the no PDA rule this year," Holly J tried.

"No, they haven't. I don't know why she did that," Eli said, his voice a little hoarse.

"I know why. She's marking her territory, establishing what's hers."

"You make me sound like I'm some sort of prized possession, like I'm a great catch."

"Well, you are, aren't you?" Eli had to look down for a moment, the blush forming over his cheeks. He wasn't, he knew he wasn't. No matter what, he was still damaged goods and no amount of girls fighting over him would change that.

"When did you get back?" he asked, meeting her gaze again.

"I got off of school Friday, but I didn't get into Toronto until last night. I spent Friday and Saturday with my parents in Niagara Falls doing a small Christmas there and then I took the bus from there to Fi's condo," she explained. Eli nodded in understanding. "I was going to call you as soon as I could," she said softly, "I needed to get a few things settled first though."

"What are you doing tomorrow afternoon? The Dot? 5 o'clock?" Eli suddenly suggested. He could stand there forever, just listening to her and gazing at her, but Clare was out in the cold and Fiona was quickly approaching them from down the hall.

"Um, yeah, that should work. Are you sure? I mean, it's exam week and Clare and…"

"It's fine. Clare won't mind," he quickly explained.

"Hi, Eli. Holly J, are you almost ready? The cab will be here any minute," Fiona said as she came up to the two of them, being completely oblivious to the conversation that was taking place. Holly J smiled weakly at Eli and he nodded. The two girls quickly disappeared from his sight and Eli could finally breathe.

She was angry, he could tell, even though she had tried to hide it. It didn't even dawn on him that she would be around. It was December, after all, but they hadn't spoken to each other in four months. He figured that she had made other plans, had gotten a boyfriend or something, and just forgot about it. That thought hurt him more than he would admit, but if he knew that she was happy, then he would live with it.

Clare offered a small smile as he approached the car, unlocking the doors for the both of them. They each slid onto the bench seat, their backpacks wedged between them. Clare was going to ask questions, he knew it, and right now, he wasn't exactly in the mood to answer them.

"So… how was the talk?" she asked. Eli's eyes focused on the road in front of them, concentrating on how to get out of this parking lot without hitting anyone. "You weren't in there very long."

"Fine. I'm meeting her tomorrow at The Dot to talk," he confessed.

"Excuse me?"

"Clare, we both knew this day was going to happen. Holly J and I need to have this conversation. We need to get closure," he said, his tone final. He was not going to negotiate this. Clare would have to deal with it.

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm not exactly thrilled about it," she said, "I guess it's a good thing I'll be helping with church stuff tomorrow. Text me when you get home from that." Eli nodded into the steering wheel, his eyes wandering to the taxi that was pulling into the parking lot.

A/N: And so it begins. What could possibly happen in four weeks? Why is Holly J staying with Fi? Why is Eli scared of her? Why can't Eli tell Clare where he applied? All these questions and more will be answered so come back every week for the next chapter! And review!