A/N: Inspired by the song "Hurricane" by Needtobreathe. I wrote this for an Eclare contest at LJ (but I didn't finish it in time) before Degrassi's return. Please enjoy. :D

Warning/Spoilers: Takes place at the end of "All Falls Down"

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi in any way.

"Whatever Fitz does to you, you deserve it."

Clare still regrets those words because it feels like she might have brought on the events of that evening herself. Logically, she knows it was no one person's fault. They all played a part like fools in their twisted game. She chose her side in the end. She should have known nothing could be so simply resolved.

Yet there she stands as Fitz is taken away in handcuffs, and she studies Eli's face. She recalls that terrible knot in the pit of her stomach when she realized Fitz had a knife, knowing what he planned to do with it. She remembers her desperation to find Eli, to make one last futile attempt to pull him out of the hurricane's path. She still sees his fearful brown eyes above the serious, stubborn set of his lips. She never again wants to feel that heartbreaking terror of nearly losing someone she loves.

So she didn't mean those words that echoed in her head even after she sank to her knees in relief, but when Eli said he didn't know what he was supposed to do, like that was an excuse, like that made it better, she nearly gave up.

"I don't have the answer, but if it's this, I can't be with you."

After everything that happened, Clare is more disappointed in herself. She doesn't regret standing up for Eli, but maybe she wishes she hadn't changed for him. There's a difference between stepping out of your comfort zone and becoming someone you don't want to be. And yeah, she was probably blinded by her feelings for Eli, torn between doing the right thing and siding with this boy who can't control himself, who carelessly rolls the dice and hurts the people he loves because that's all he knows to do. But now Clare knows the right reasons aren't always right.

Eli can't keep playing the victim, drowning in his guiltiness, suffocating under his loneliness. So she will stand beside him out of love because he makes her feel like no one else, and somewhere inside, she craves that feeling and wants them to be together. But now the time has come.

"We can't stay like this," she says. "Something has to change."

Eli's eyes meet hers. He doesn't say a word.