Authors Note: So this is my first FanFiction evar! I've been reading FF for a LONG time like since I was 12 (back then I was a Darry shipper lol). I hope you like it and if anyone has any pointers for me please message me or review. =]
I DO NOT OWN DEGRASSI OR MARIANAS TRENCH OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS MENTIONED IN HERE FROM POP CULTURE.
Character Ages:
Clare, Alli, Adam, Finona- 18
Drew- 20
Eli- 21
Spinner, Craig- 24
Also Clare dated K.C. in her Junior year not Freshmen for this story and everything up until her breakup with K.C. is cannon.
Last thing (promise =] ) the chapter titles are all Marianas Trench songs that I thought would fit with the chapter (even though some of them may not be self explanatory but if you want an explanation at any point just ask) and I also made a playlist on YouTube (posted on my page) for the songs. And if you don't know who Marianas Trench is then I seriously suggest checking them out cuz they are awesome squared. Plus that's what Eli's band would sound like in my head and so that's how they sound in this story. KK enough jibber-jabber.
Beside You
Chapter One
ALIBIS
"School. I have three months left. I can't wait until it's over. I still haven't told anyone but I plan on leaving the second I get that diploma. Heck, I may not even stay that long." Clare thought to herself.
She finished putting on her light make-up and thought about what just crossed her mind. She truly can't wait to get out but there is a part of her, maybe a big part that is actually scared half to death. "Will he come after me? No, he won't how could he. He has no money to spare, spending it all on drugs and whatnot." She sighed as she grabs her bag and left her house to walk to school.
The walk is long but she actually likes the fresh air and time to think. Mostly she likes the time to be alone away from HIM.
She started to think of how everything became this way.
"K.C. and I were okay together. Nothing special really but I wish I knew that when we ended. Yeah, I thought I was in love so I kinda did some stupid stuff to try and get over him. I went to The Ravine the day we broke up and FUCK I wish I didn't. At first it was cool. The guys and Bianca all looked at me like I was crazy. Eventually they got over the shock factor of "Saint Clare" coming to hang out with them and they started to accept me, especially Fitz. We started hanging out outside of The Ravine gang. He was so sweet to me then. He would even go to church with me, sometimes. Suddenly we started dating. I forgot about K.C. and everything going on at home with my parents. And it was all great, almost perfect actually. That is until our four month anniversary.
"That was officially the day my life changed and "Saint Clare" died. Yeah, yeah, yeah I'm being dramatic now I know I'm still alive but not really. We went out on a nice date at The Dot then after he said he wanted to walk me home. Nothing unusual about that so of course I agreed. Damn! Now I'm just sitting here pitying myself and I swore I wouldn't do that after the first few times it happened because I realized it could be much worse. Remember Clare he could have raped you but he didn't. Urgh! I guess it's better that he only took me down a dark ally, typical I know, just to kiss me. And then he tried to get me to have sex with him but of course I said no. I still remember his response before he punched me and then knocked me down and kicked me until I thought he was going to kill me. "I love you so fucking much Clare and I will never force you. But FUCK! You know I love you but if I can't sleep with you..." Then he swung his fist so hard into my stomach.
"God! I need to stop thinking about the past. Today is about my future… if I have one" Clare thought as she finally got to Degrassi and walked up the steps to her first period.
~! #$%^&*()_+
"Ah my lovely wine fanatics!" yelled Craig Manning as he walked into Dionysians penthouse.
Spinner was sitting in living room watching cartoons shoving his face full of pancake with Jane as he laughed at Craig's nickname for the band. "Yo dude. I'm the only one up, since Jane here likes her morning romps in the sack I needed to get some food. You know how I get hungry after those." Spinner said as he winked to Craig and then was smacked by Jane for his comment.
"Hi Craig nice to see you." Jane said. "I'll go get Adam and Drew up but I leave you two to Eli since he's such an ass in the AM. I know you guys have some important band stuff to talk about."
"Thanks babe!" Spinner yelled sarcastically as she got up to wake the boys.
"Alright I did it last time man so obviously it's your turn." Craig said to Spinner.
"Damn it!" Spin sighed then grunted "Fine."
Gavin "Spinner" Mason took one last bite of pancakes and started walking into the den of the dragon AKA Elijah Goldsworthy. Eli, Drew Torres, Adam Torres and he were in only the most popular Canadian band like ever: Dionysians. They did just beat Nickelback for best song of the year last week at the JUNO's. Spinner stopped at Eli's door and braced himself for getting some random object thrown at him for waking the sleeping monster. Eli wasn't bad all in all he was actually pretty awesome, as long as you don't have to wake him up in the morning or any time of day actually.
Spinner knocked on the door and heard Eli grown. "Time to get up lazy ass! Craig's here so that means we have impotante business type stuff to go over I assume. SO GET UP!" Spinner yelled the last part as he opened Eli's door to find Eli not only awake but sitting up in bed on his computer. "Dang sweet I didn't wake you up so that means you have no right to throw anything at my shmexy face" grinned Spinner.
"Shut it" laughed Eli. "I'll be right out just Skyping Cece. It's her birthday today hence why I'm alive at this ungodly hour."
"Cece? Sweet" Spin said as he walked over to say hello to Eli's mom. "Hello beautiful. Are you sure that it's your birthday you don't look like you've aged at all."
Cece laughed and Eli shooed Spinner out so he could say a proper good-bye to his mom.
After Spinner left the room Eli turned back to his computer and then his mom spoke. "Eli. I love you and thank you for talking to me today but go take care of your stuff. And hun think about what I talked to you about earlier, you know finally settling down. I just want you to be happy again."
"I'll think about it mom. Love ya too, oh and happy birthday, again." Eli said as he closed the computer.
By the time he got to the living room the rest of the band was there plus Jane. She was practically an honorary member anyway being Spinner's fiancé and all.
"Morning" said Eli as the boys looked at him astounded that Spinner was telling the truth that he was up and that none of them had to go and pry him from his bed. "Dudes it was my mom's b-day I had to be awake." Eli said in response to the shocked faces of his best friends and band mates.
"Alright now that you are all here it's time to talk business." Craig said while getting out his signature yellow legal pad that he kept notes on.
Jane stood up "That's my queue boys. Tootles. Bye babe" she said as she gave Spinner a kiss.
"Hey remind my girlfriend about our date tonight!" shouted Adam as she was leaving.
Jane laughed and replied "I'll tell Fiona but since we are going shopping for it I hardly think that she forgot." With that Jane left and Adam had a giant smile on his face as Craig got into manager mode.
~! #$%^&*()_+
"CLARE!" Alli screamed as she ran up to her best friend since pretty much forever.
"Whoa calm down and breathe" Clare said after she chuckled and Alli's antics. Alli was the only person that could actually put a smile on Clare's face now-a-days. Of course Alli didn't know everything about Clare's life anymore and Clare made dang sure to keep it that way. "So what's the emergency?"
"DIONYSIANS!"
"Okay… epic band I agree but you have to elaborate, Alli."
"They are playing the last show of their tour here! In Toronto!" squealed Alli.
Clare just looked at her and a huge smile crossed her face then it fell. "All my money is going into my college fund. I don't have a dime to spare and I seriously doubt that the tickets are only worth a dime."
"Well lucky for you I have connections!"
"What? How? WHAT?" Clare said not believing what Alli was insinuating.
"Don't worry but I got tickets and not just any tickets." Alli grinned as she shoved the tickets she just got in the mail at Clare.
Clare looked down and saw that they were not just in the front row but also backstage passes. "No way…"
"Yes, way Clare. This is going to be awesome," grinned Alli. "So I guess I'm going to have to tell you how I got these based off of that look on your face that's screaming at me to explain, right?" Clare just nodded slightly speechless.
"Well… Drew Torres Clare. DUH! Gracie's brother. We've kind of been talking since… after everything and they moved." Alli said as she bit her lip anxiously waiting on Clare's response.
Gracie had been part of their crew back in Jr. High. Well Clare and Gracie were best friends and Alli was also Clare's best friend. They were always together until Gracie suddenly died. No one knew what happened but Gracie's parents told Clare that she was dead and then next thing Clare and Alli knew the whole family moved away. They left before Gracie even got a funeral. It broke Clare and Alli was hurting too but she was never as close to Gracie as Clare was. Honestly, Alli stuck around for Gracie's brother Drew because he was so cute and she liked him. Clare didn't know this but they even kissed once, much to Alli's dismay, that it was only once. A year after they left she got a call from Drew and they had been talking since. Alli decided not to tell Clare because she thought it would just hurt her even more.
"Oh."
"Clare, you're looking kind of pale. Sit down let me explain please." Alli said as she grabbed Clare's hand walking her to a bench.
"I'm fine. Really I am. I just… I just try not to think of Gracie much anymore." And with that Clare started balling. She felt as if she would cry forever but as soon as Alli tried to hug her and comfort her Clare practically jumped in the air as the bruise on her arm was burning again. "I gotta go." With that Clare ran off leaving a very upset and confused Alli sitting there.
Alli sat there for maybe a whole minute before she booked it after Clare. Of course Alli has noticed this change in Clare in the past few months. She wouldn't ever let anyone touch her anywhere besides her hands. Alli even asked Clare about it at first but Clare just changed the subject every time sidestepping the question masterfully. Clare was amazing with words after all.
Once Alli reached the bathroom door and opened it she saw Clare sitting in the corner crying.
"I'm so, so, so super sorry Clare. I know you don't like being touched I just forgot. I just wanted to comfort you. Seriously ever since your parents' divorce you've been so sad and not the happy awesome Clare that I know and miss. That's why I agreed to accept the tickets from Drew. I thought a good concert might cheer you up. I'm sorry I should have known better." Alli finished and then sat next to Clare making sure not to touch her.
"Oh Alli" Clare sighed. "I didn't realize that you noticed. I'm so super sorry too. It's not the concert. Just, um, parents stuff." Clare's go to excuse whenever she would break down about Fitz was to just say it had to do with her parents. She didn't want anyone to know the truth about her. How weak she felt. Plus Fitz would constantly threaten her if she turned him in. Mostly he would say that he would kill her but he said no matter what he would get out and rape her. Actually every time she cried at first he said that that's what he would do if she didn't "Shut up and take it." She decided that she could handle all the physical crap as long as he didn't take her virginity from her. She would never get that back, that would never heal. "I'll go," Clare said and she meant it she really did need some fun. Plus she thought that seeing Drew again could be good closure for her.