CLARE POV

Gazing from the front porch I watched as the black hearse I was only moments ago seated in, drive down the dark suburban street disappearing around the nearby corner. 'Who was I becoming? I'm standing here almost like a little lost puppy…in…in…lo- No.' Shaking my head dismissively at the thought, 'No of course,' I smirked at myself, 'it's ridiculous I'd be to even consider that, I knew better than that'.

Reluctantly turning around, I came to face my biggest challenge ahead; reminding myself I was about to proceed in the orderly fashion as one would do, when returning home. I carefully yanked out a small set of keys from my handbag, delicately turned what was the most stubborn house key in the lock, successfully opening the door with not a sound too loud or enough to raise concern.

I let out a breath of relief once I shut the door, but before I could go any further, I had a sudden brain wave reminder of Eli's voice echoing in mind, "Take off your shoes." I learnt the hard way last time by not taking them off, clip, clomp, clank-screeeeeeeeeech, were thesounds of the musically talented floorboards.

Following suite of my consciously quiet tactics, I placed the now discarded pair of shoes by the wall, to then tip-toe my way down the hall in the darkness; however, thankfully I had the guidance of the stream of moonlight pouring through the glass windows to either side of the front door.

"Alright Edwards, you can do this…" I prepped myself up for the obstacles ahead, which was to pass at least 5 doorways successfully to get to my room; thankfully in my favour this time round, the floorboards hadn't yet squeaked.

Door by door, I was passing with success; I could feel the adrenaline pumping through me, almost like the satisfaction from when I got when I got an A+ on a recent test.

I was almost to the end of the hall, I could see my bedroom door, I was nearly there…

Suddenly the longue room lamp flicked on, I could feel the immediate holes burn into the side of my face as I turned my face slightly to see the watchful eyes, which chose to stare me down.

Shit.

In the corner of my eye, I was so close to my room… I was mentally reaching out for it, to just stretch far enough to yank myself through to safety. I didn't have time to deal with these court room antics, whilst I had a certain someone to text already.

"Hello Clare," Dad's bitter tone greeted, "May I ask, where have you been?"

But, there was no use in running, and I clearly couldn't hide because the creepy hunched posture hadn't gotten me any further than I'd hoped so. I sighed as I turned around, I took note on the glare I was receiving, which urged me to stand in an upright position, my ankles clicking together as I clasped my hands nervously together awaiting my fate.

Dad and his girlfriend, Andrea, mimicked my actions but clasping their hands together, whilst they sat comfortably beneath the lamps' encircling glow, which seemed to suit the mood of the interrogation all too well.

Goodbye what little social life I had.

I couldn't stand looking at them anymore, so I let my head slung low, my chin reaching my chest, as I looked to the floor.

It'd really hit me that I just couldn't catch a break, somehow it hadn't been enough I was travelling between two homes to keep my parents happy right after their messy divorce all those months ago… no… I was also becoming aware of the change of behaviour and how strict my dad had become that suddenly I felt trapped; I was a prisoner in my own home.

Then again, maybe I'd never been good at this so called thing called 'sneaking out', since I've been caught just about every time, most recently with Eli, skipping an English class.

But I just can't say no to him.

"Clare?" He motioned his hand for me to proceed with an answer.

I pursed my drying lips together and gazed up reluctantly. "I uh, you see, the thing is I was…" Nervously I started to chew on my lower lip as it wasn't helping that I was stumbling over each and every attempt of a reason, "…and what with school, going between houses and-and seeing mum-"

Before I had the chance to even continue, there was instant change of expression on my dad's face. "I hope you're not about to lie to me, young lady." He'd said with an ounce of confidence, he wasn't showing just moments earlier; he knew he had me cornered.

"Well, that depends." I used my pointer finger to make an air 'dot-point' as though I had a ready list. "You see dad, I was just speaking with mum, because she wanted my opinion on something…"

"Clare!" He dangerously growled my name this time. "I've had just about enough of your out of control behaviour, and now you're choosing to lie to me…" He shook his head, "Who are you? Because you're clearly not my daughter-"

I felt my heart stop.

"Randall… calm down." Andrea placed her hand on top of his thigh and giving it a light squeeze.

Somehow the beast was settled.

Now I wondered if I could have that effect on Eli-

Wait… now isn't the time to think about that dark and mysterious-

"Clare…" I was snapped back to attention, when Andrea had spoken my name in a much softer tone, "You know better than to be out this late. It's dangerous out there, haven't you heard all the stories? Doesn't it frighten you to be out this late?"

I had shrugged my shoulders, before I'd even noticed I'd absentmindedly rolled my eyes. "I know, I don't know what I was thinking..." To be honest, hardly anything had happened recently in this town enough to have me the least bit concerned.

"Then what were you doing?" Dad asked what felt like the hundredth time, he reminded me of a broken record, which was stuck on repeat, "And by yourself might I add!"

"I…I…was…"

There'd been a crash down the hall at the front door that'd taken everybody by surprise.

I turned to see the shadowed figure suddenly approach me with their stance as tall as me, "She was out with me." Once I'd taken in the tone of voice, I realized it's my soon to be step sister having stumbled through the front door.

"We were at our friend's house studying," She'd turned to me, "Weren't we, Clare?"

I nodded uncertainly. "That's ri-right, right, yes."

"Is that so, Bek…" Dad exchanged looks between the both of us now, "Whose house was it? I didn't realize you knew people here already since you've just transferred to Degrassi."

She looked to our parents. "I do, it was, we were just… over at our friends place, fi…uh, what's her name again? Fi, fi, Wyona…" Her eyes looked to me pleading to help and go along with this, and I was having just as much trouble thinking of who she was trying to pick out of the crowded Degrassi halls; hurriedly I went over the names of people at Degrassi that I knew, till finally the little light bulb in my head went off when matching fi to a person.

"Fiona's house!" I spat out as like an anxious contestant on a game show, "Yes, of course we were at Fiona's going over some drama homework. What did you think I was going to say dad… I was at mum's house the whole time?" I grinned.

Ladies and Gentlemen… we have a winner.

I could see dad was not ready to let this go, nor attempt to even smile at my reliving answers.

Bek yawned through the silence. "I'm tired… not to mention, we've got an early morning tomorrow."

"Where do you think you're going? You're not off the hook just yet." The attention had now been completely turned on to Bek, "You know better than to be out late and now you're getting your sister into trouble." Andrea frowned over to her.

Suddenly I felt bad for bringing her into this, but, wait, what was she doing?

"I know, sorry mum, we lost track of time. I'll make sure it doesn't happen again." It was as though she'd rehearsed that line many times before, or she was just that convincing, because I was almost ready to apologize to her for the hassle an 20 questions game.

Andrea however, didn't seem to budge even with the sincerity of her tone. "You always say it won't happen again, I just don't know when to trust you anymore, and I hate to be admitting that."

Bek rolled her eyes. "What would you rather I do, mum? Would you rather I fail?" She snapped back, she had a lot more guts and known use of words than I did, that's for sure. "Seriously, mum. I'm not a child anymore, haven't you seen enough news and TV shows to realize how this all goes… I'm a teenager, I know my curfew, and tonight I went a little over time and you're acting like I've committed a crime-"

"Rebecca." Andrea halted that conversation.

"You never-"

"Rebecca!" Andrea repeated. "I've had enough…" She pinched at the bridge of her nose, trying to keep her cool and composure.

I stood wide eyed, staring at the three of them, feeling grateful I haven't been put on this pedestal in a long time… and for once was nice not to have everyone yelling at me, picking at my each and every move.

"Just go to bed now, you girls are grounded for the rest of the week, I think that's a fair enough punishment for now, don't you Randy?"

Not only had I shuddered by the nickname she'd called my dad, but so did Bek, thankfully someone else had felt just as repulsed as I did.

Randy? Ew.

"For now? Yes." Dad gave Andrea a kiss upon her temple before giving both Bek and I a frown. "You can both stay at home this weekend and study together, I'm sure your friends will live without you for a few days after school."

"But dad I'm supposed to be going out this weekend with-" Bek tugged at my arm, it was game over for us. "Okay, fine."

"Goodnight."

Disappearing down the hall, I was yanked into what was once the guest room to dads' new place, which had now become Bek's room. Immediately she'd shut the door behind us.

"What in the hell were you doing out so late?" She harshly whispered, "Thankfully I was there to save your arse, before it was just about handed back to you!"

"I, I was out seeing my friend." I said taking a seat to the edge of the end of her bed. "And I don't need you interrogating me as well, after what we just went through out there" I pointed sternly towards the hall where our parents were most likely being too friendly on the couch together, "So please spare me the melodrama."

The top of her lip curled up, along with her brows pinching together. "Are you kidding? I just saved you, and you're going to lie to me…I know you weren't at Fi-fi's house, whatever her name is… so who was it? Huh? Who?"

Snatching the nearest pillow into my arms, "I was seeing Eli!" I spluttered out before burying my face into the cushion, "I don't know what I was thinking, but I needed to get out of the house, you weren't here and he…he was the first person I thought of."

"The guy is trouble, Clare, you don't know what he could have done to you." Bek flung off the heavy mustard coloured jumper she'd been wearing to the small pile of clothes to the corner of her room. "Have you even seen that thing he drives? I bet he'd gladly drive you to your grave in that."

"Bek!" I tossed the pillow forcefully at her. "You don't know him like I do, he's just misunderstood, that's all."

"Doubt you'd be saying that in your grave." She smirked. "Or would you like your stone to have that engraved into that?"

Yet again I looked for ammo, but Bek let out a chuckle, that I let down my guard looking at her. "I'm just joking, gosh. I've got drama with the guy."

"Well…I have English with him."

She gave me the thumbs up. "Cool."

"So this is what it's like to have a sister…"

"Thought you already had one…" she mumbled from inside her wardrobe.

"I did, I mean, I do, but… not like you, she's older than us anyway, I didn't really get to know her too well.. besides… anyway." She leant back from her wardrobe and looked to me giving an obvious cough for attention, as I quickly focused my attention to her bed sheets. "Sorry."

Shedding what little clothes she'd had on, quickly changing into a pair of PJs on, she jumped on to her bed, just about knocking me to the floor from the impact of her jump.

She let out a sigh. "Look, do what you want, but at least let me know next time, maybe we can come in the house together, and not get caught."

"I was quiet." I insisted pointing to my feet, clicking my heels together, showing off the colourful socks that'd helped me glide through along the floorboards.

The ball of her foot nudged me. "Quiet doesn't mean you won't get caught." She nudged me again, which caused me to swat at her feet, making her stop. "It's simple though, if you want to go out and be home late, then we'll devise a plan, so we don't end up being grounded."

I looked awkwardly to her, giving my shoulders a light shrug. "Sorry about that."

"No drama, first timers have to learn somehow."

"Hasn't your mum ever caught you?" Curiously I'd asked, thinking to the multiple times I'd been caught now.

She nodded. "Of course, but live and learn, Clare."

"I, I shouldn't even be listening to you." I stood up quickly, scooping some of my bouncy curls falling into my face and shoving them out the way. "But, part of me wants to know how to do it."

There was a small smirk that grew from ear to ear. "It's up to you. I'm still breathing, so obviously it's not all bad to sneak out every now and again… it's about being smart, which you seem to have some brains."

"I resent that."

"Ha-ha! Take a joke."

"I'm going to bed, night Bek." I smiled to her. "I guess, thanks for saving me."

What I hadn't expected was the way Bek stood up and wrapped her arms around me, giving a quick hug before pulling back with a lopsided smile. "Anytime, sis."

As I left the room quietly, and entering my own, I suppose having a sister my age wasn't going to be such a bad thing after all. I leant my back against my now closed door, looking to my room, which was much different to Bek's, I was tidier, that's a given, and she had a bit more edge to her, which was shown enough in her attitude let alone her room too, that I realized I was more on the safe side.

There seemed to be a lot of things that needed to change, whether I wanted them to or not… time was ticking, and nothing was about to stop for anyone.

And here I was now, still breathing.

Bek had a point though, maybe being a risk taker wouldn't be the end of the world.

I just needed to plan, better.

Just then, my phone buzzed and all sudden thoughts came to a halt as I tugged the rectangle shaped phone from my pants' pocket, looking to the name that had my stomach drop instantly.

Eli.

But before I could check the message, I discarded my clothes, switching into a pair of comfy PJS, my bathroom rituals and eventually snug into my bed.

From: Eli

'i had fun tonite.'

I smiled to my phone, which had been the only thing to have my room a light.

My thumb tapped the necessary letters, before I hit send.

To: Eli.

'so did i, til i got caught. :-('

I wasn't waiting long till my phone buzzed again.

From: Eli

'that sukz. wats ur punishment?'

To: Eli.

'grnded for the rest of wk'

From: Eli

'I can always sneak over. ;)'

I felt my cheeks burn up, along with a huge grin.

To: Eli.

'if I ever wanna see daylight again, u can wait till nxt wk, then we can go out late'

From: Eli

'ill see u at school tomoz?'

To: Eli.

'yeh. Cant wait. X'

But after that, I hadn't received a reply back.

Had I of been to short? No, our replies were just…almost pointless, but enough to reply back to, well, at least I thought so.

There was a sudden roar of an engine coming from outside, that curiosity had gotten the better of me, but had it of acted sooner, I would have caught sight of what was going on… without thinking, I'd peered into Bek's room, and it was pitch black.

"Bek?" I whispered out.

No reply.

"Bek?" I stood into her room, and found the light app on my phone, but there was no sign of her, even an empty bed.

She'd only just gotten in trouble and was already out? The girl had game.