It's been a while since I've posted anything but I got this strange little idea after watching the Nowhere to Run special (which I found positively amusing- anyone trying to take that movie seriously is seriously dellusional). Anyhoo, I have no idea how long this story will be because, at this point, it's purely gut writing. And although Eclare has officially bit the dust, the Degrassi writers can kiss my ass because I'm still gonna ship it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi, I don't pretend to own Degrassi, and nobody will ever hear me claim to own Degrassi, not nobody, not no how.
One
"Mistletoe- an aphrodisiac or a way to get over your fears?"
It was just like any other day at Degrassi Community School. Students filed into their respective classrooms and listened to morning announcements, watching the corner telescreens with half-open eyes. Teachers tried desperately to keep their pupils entertained while inundating them with an invective of pointless data. The lunch lady served her customary tuna special, slopping it onto student's trays with a slotted spoon and a counterfeit smile. Indeed, there was nothing particularly special about this day at all. It was just as, if not more humdrum than the one before it…which is precisely why Clare Edwards did not see it coming when life decided to the throw her a head fake.
"So let me get this straight," Bianca drawled, flicking her long curls over one shoulder, "your boyfriend kisses another girl and you don't care?"
"It's not that I don't care, Bianca," Clare replied as she tugged a book off a nearby shelf, "it's just that, well, I love him. Besides, Jake told me that Alli kissed him."
The girls were loitering in the library during a free period- Bianca perched on one of the tables while Clare sifted through the World History section, looking for a book on the French Revolution. After their "wild weekend" in the mountains, the two of them had become somewhat chummy. Well, perhaps chummy wasn't the word. Their relationship wasn't something Clare would deem "friendship", it was more an association that consisted of Bianca buzzing around making off-color remarks before running off to some undisclosed location.
True to form, the older girl barked a cold laugh. "That's not what it looked like to me," she sang.
Shaking her head, Clare gave her companion a bemused smile. "I was standing right next to you, Bianca," she pointed out. "I saw exactly what you did."
Leaning back on her elbows, Bianca's legs dangled indolently beneath the table. "Maybe you saw what you wanted to see, Edwards," she shot back. "You do know what they say about love…"
Clare lifted a brow. "What's that?"
Sitting up, Bianca flashed a devious smile. "It's blind."
With that she hopped off the table and strolled towards the library exit. Clare watched her go, a small tinge of annoyance running through her. Bianca always went out with a bang and today was no different, but her barbs weren't usually pointed in Clare's direction. This small turn of events left the younger girl feeling confused. What if Bianca was right? What if she did look at Jake through rose-colored glasses?
"Clare?"
Her head snapped up as a familiar voice called her name. Green eyes met blue and, for just a moment, Clare felt the earth tilt on its axis.
"Oh, hey Eli," she said, ignoring the odd sensation.
"Hi," he replied and gave her an incisive look. "Are you alright?"
Smiling, she barked a small albeit forced laugh. "I'm fine!" she beamed—a little too brightly.
Eli's eyes narrowed and he folded his arms. "Look, I know that things are sort of wonky between us but, I can still tell when you're lying, Edwards."
Clare heaved a sigh and dropped her book on Bianca's recently vacated table. She looked at her ex-boyfriend for a moment, unsure of whether she wanted to confide in him about Jake.She felt weird talking to him about their relationship. No matter how upbeat Eli might seem, Clare didn't want to keep shoving her new boyfriend in his face.
"Um…"
"Way to articulate," he teased, a crooked grin tugging at his lips.
She swallowed hard and looked down at her feet. "I was just thinking about Jake," she said softly.
"Oh."
She could hear the disappointment in his voice and she immediately wanted to kick herself. No matter how much Eli tried to play it off, Clare knew him- she knew every inflection, every expression, every little tick— their relationship may have been short but everything they had been through made it as long as a life age.
Clearing his throat, Eli shoved his hands into his pockets. "So, what's the problem?" he murmured.
Clare bit her lip and tried to think of the right way to put this. She didn't want Eli to get the wrong idea.
"Well, Bianca thinks he's…" she trailed off when Eli started to chuckle.
"Bianca?" he said. "Since when do you take advice from her?"
Blowing out a breath, Clare threw up her hands. "I don't know!" she groused. "It's just…she was with me when I caught Jake and Alli kissing and she thinks my point of view is biased because I lo…like him."
"You mean, you love him," Eli stated simply.
She peeked up at him from beneath her lashes. "I guess but, what if love is blinding me to his faults?"
"Isn't that kind of the point?" he replied in his snarky, knowing tone.
Clare's head dropped and she shrugged. While she certainly agreed with Eli, she couldn't help thinking how she failed to do the same for him.
Once again, he seemed to pick up on her discomfort. "Clare," he said gently. "I know what you're thinking and it wasn't-"
"Okay, did you two notice how batshit crazy my brother's girlfriend went with all the 'Welcome Back Degrassi' crap?" Adam barged into the conversation, tugging his book bag along behind him. "The girl actually garnished the doorways!"
Clare looked to where Adam was pointing and saw that Katie had, in fact, adorned the doorjambs with greenery.
"I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" He looked back and forth between the two of them, a coy expression on his face.
"Uh, no…" Eli hedged.
Adam looked skeptical. "Right, because I believe that," he said with a roll of his eyes.
"We were just talking about my World History assignment," Clare piped up, scooping her book off the table. "Perino is being a complete tyrant—he won't let me write about Archimedes, even though he's my favorite Greek scientist. Eli here was just giving me some alternatives."
"That's a book on the French Revolution, Clare," Adam returned smugly.
"I know that, Adam," she fired back, "it was one of the alternatives that Eli came up with." She glanced at her former boyfriend, who was smirking at her in mild amusement. "Isn't that right?"
He nodded in agreement. "Oh yeah…I figured Clare- Reign of Terror- perfect match," he teased.
She narrowed her eyes. "Very funny, Eli."
"I thought so," he shot back and waggled his brows.
"Okay, French Revolution, we get it," Adam cut in, "now back to how my brother is dating a psychotic banshee…"
Clare snorted. "Banshee?" she squeaked. "I'll have to circle that one around the Daily's news room."
"Seriously you guys, this is nuts. Not even Holly J took the time to embellish the frickin' doorways—Katie Matlin is beyond Type A."
"So, does that make her Type O Negative?" Eli deadpanned.
"Were you jokes this bad before you were on medication?" Adam huffed, tugging on the lapel of his jacket.
Eli grinned. "Probably not," he admitted. "I guess that's one benefit to being crazy—I can blame my idiosyncrasies on the meds."
Feeling awkward, Clare shifted from one foot to the other. She couldn't get over how easy it was for Eli to discuss his problems. In retrospect, it was somewhat admirable. He had always been the type of boy to put it all out there, to wear his heart on his sleeve. At times she wished she had the same capability, it would certainly make things easier on the relationship front—no games equaled no drama—but Clare had slipped into unknown territory and she didn't quite know how to find her way out . Where she was once open and direct, now she felt like she had lost herself somewhere along the way. She suspected this was why she clung to Jake as hard as she did…and why she had run away from Eli.
"Hey Adam!" Drew Torres poked his head through the library entrance. "You think you can do me a favor?"
"Depends on what the favor is," Adam drawled and crossed his arms over his chest.
Drew shot his brother a withering look. "Katie asked me to round up some students for the Degrassi Daily's back to school feature," he announced, "and I told her you'd be more than willing to help."
"Uh…no," Adam contested, "but thanks for thinking of me."
The elder Torres stepped into the library, all evidence of irritation draining from his face. "Come on dude," he pleaded, "Katie's wound really tight with all this presidential crap." Drew ran a hand over his perfectly gelled head of hair. "I need to help her relax. Please Adam…just do this one thing for me."
"X-Box rights for two weeks," Adam declared, buffing his nails on the front of his bright red polo.
Drew blew out a heavy breath. "Fine," he grunted. "Now come on…all of you."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Eli stated, holding his hands up in contention, "you made that deal with Adam, not us."
"Really Eli?" Drew bit back. "You're really going to make me bargain with you?"
Clare looked at her ex and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. He wore a mischievous expression she knew only too well.
"Nah, watching you squirm is enough for me," Eli replied with a wink.
Adam barked a laugh and Drew shook his head. "Nice," he averred and then looked at Clare. "Any razzing you want to send my way, Edwards?"
She tried to keep the smile from blooming across her face but, it was all for naught. "I'm good, Drew," she replied. "Besides, the last thing I want to do is get on my editor's bad side."
"Cool, thanks Clare." Drew blew out a relieved breath and cocked his head toward the hallway. "I think Katie managed to round up Jake for the photo, too."
Clare dropped her book on the table and scampered towards the exit, suddenly oblivious to everything but her boyfriend. "Oh really?" she asked. "Where are we taking the picture?"
"By the school entrance," he replied with a knowing smile. "Come on, I'll show you."
With a wave of his hand Drew turned and began to schlep down the hallway. Clare, Adam, and Eli followed at his heels and eventually made their way to the front of the school. When they got there, they discovered Katie and Marisol sprucing up the front doors with an absurd amount of foliage. Bianca and Jake stood by, watching the two girls bicker over where to hang a mammoth sign reading Welcome Back Degrassi! in huge, block letters. Their expressions were identical—stoic disbelief—and Clare couldn't help but agree with the sentiment. It looked like a Degrassi Power Squad Pep Rally had exploded all over the front entryway. Besides the alien quantity of plant life and the behemoth sign at the center of the girls' tug-o-war, there was also a wacky assortment of ribbons in the school's customary blue and gold, a preposterously large golden Panther positioned by Simpson's office, and a telescreen with a running news ticker flashing the latest Degrassi bulletin. Looking around with wide eyes, Clare had to admit that Adam had a point about Katie Matlin.
Jake glanced at her and smiled. "Hey," he whispered, sliding an arm around Clare's shoulders. "I'm glad Drew found you."
She smiled up at him in return. "Me too, though I'm not so sure about this photo op. How long have they been going at it?"
He rolled his eyes. "A while…"
"Would you freaks make up your minds, already?" Bianca spoke up. "Some of us have places to be."
Katie shot the girl a scathing look but managed to keep her tongue in check. "Look at the bright side, Bianca, at least you got out of class for this," she pointed out.
"Yes, but I'd rather be doing something worth my time," she remarked, a wicked smile splitting her swarthy features.
Katie opened her mouth to retort but Drew stepped in. "Why don't you hang it in the middle, between the doors? That way we get a full view of the lobby when we take the picture."
Katie reluctantly agreed, turning her attention back to the task at hand. Marisol helped her hang the sign where Drew had suggested and, once it was straight, they stood back and admired their work.
"It looks great!" Marisol proclaimed eagerly.
Katie turned to face the Daily's photographer. "I want the photos to be candid," she clipped, "I prefer to have it look like everyone is going about their business—posing looks too fake."
"You would know all about that, wouldn't you honey?" Bianca cut in.
Lifting her chin, Katie ignored the insult and gestured to the front doors. "Alright, everyone act like you're just coming into school," she instructed. "Clare and Jake, why don't you set up near the Panther," she pointed to the stuffed mascot with a finger, "Eli, you and Bianca position yourselves by the doors and Adam, you and Drew sit on that bench." Katie held up her hands like a movie director, measuring the space while she inspected the arrangement. "Okay, Jake I want you to look down at Clare affectionately and Clare, you do the same…"
"No problem," Jake drawled—his tone was playful and it made Clare giggle. Hoisting his book bag over one shoulder, Jake placed a hand on her arm and looked down at her with a sweet expression. Clare gazed back at him, quickly losing herself in his eyes. They were a dusky viridian, demure and understated—much different than Eli's vibrant green—but she had grown to love them, nonetheless.
"Perfect!" Katie commended. "Now Adam, I want you to read your comic book and Drew, toss a football into the air while you chat with your brother." Facing the two remaining students, she gestured at the entrance. "Bianca, I want you to walk a step behind Eli as you come through the double doors."
"Good thing, I don't want anyone to think I'm dating Dr. Doom," she teased, shooting Eli a mocking smile.
He lifted a brow. "Excellent point, Bianca…people see me walk in with you, they might think I've relapsed."
"Ha! Good one, man!" Adam laughed and the two boys gave each other a quick fist bump.
"Alright, alright," Katie yapped in an amused voice, "everyone set up in their respective places. We need to get this done before class lets out."
"Maybe if you hadn't spent thirty minutes arguing over a stupid sign, we'd have more time," Bianca replied, smoothing the front of her school skirt with both hands.
Katie's face went pink and she closed her eyes. "Bianca," she gritted out, "you come through the doors three seconds after Eli. Everyone else make like you've just come back to school and you're ready for a great new year!"
The Daily's photographer began to snap photos as Katie continued barking orders. Jake and Clare made subtle movements as they flirted; Adam and Drew spent their time razzing each other- one brother mocking the second's nerdy comic book habit, the other poking fun at how the first threw a football like a girl; and Eli and Bianca made a continual loop through the front doors until Katie finally announced she had the perfect shot.
"Okay, that's one photo," she said with a wide smile, "only three more to go!"
The rest of the students groaned as Katie began to re-position them. They spent the next half hour in various locations, mooning for the camera and trying to live up to Katie's anal-retentive- not to mention impossible- standards. Once they had finally gotten the last photo, their new president surprised them with a final request.
"I want you guys to pose together," she said softly, "any way you want."
Glancing around, the students congregated under the doorjamb and began to strike silly poses. Eli got down on his knees and folded his arms while Adam climbed on his shoulders, thrusting his hand up in a "rock on" gesture. Drew hugged his girlfriend as she joined him for the photo and they stuck their tongues out at one another, unable to keep from giggling. Bianca stood next to them, a hand on her hip and a sultry look on her face. Finally, Jake grabbed Clare and dipped her, mimicking the infamous Ticker Tape Kiss. She laughed as he leaned her backwards and her eyes roamed to a spot just above his head. She caught sight of a familiar looking plant adorning the Degrassi entryway—it was green with a myriad of pearly white berries.
"Hey, isn't that mistletoe?" she asked just before Jake's lips descended on hers.
In a flash, the entire world went black and the other students screamed as a gust of wind whipped through the lobby. Clare opened her eyes but all she could see was darkness and, as she tried to makes sense of what was going on, she began to realize that she was the one making the sound. Oddly, Jake's hands were still wrapped around her waist and she could vaguely make out his ragged breathing.
"Jake?" she whispered. "What's happening?"
A baritone chuckle reverberated around her and Clare began to struggle as cold panic welled in her gut. The hands that had coiled around her body tightened and she groaned in response. Tugging her arms, she realized that they were bound above her head. This information sent her into a state of shock and she shrieked, kicking her legs out in an attempt to dislodge the person who held her.
"Now, now," a deep voice reproved, "you know that fighting will get you nowhere."
"Let me go," she cried. "I can't see anything!"
"Mmmm, we discussed a safe word Miss Edwards and you decided to use it."
"What?" she hissed. "I don't know what you're talking about!"
"You know the rules," the man countered loudly.
"I…I'm sorry," she stammered. "I can't remember th-them."
The man was quiet for a moment and she swallowed hard, praying that he wouldn't hurt her.
"Seeing as this is your first time, I am willing to overlook it," he stated finally and began to undo the apparatus that encircled her head. "But next time I will not be so lenient. We can only accommodate those who are interested in going the distance."
Clare squinted as the man lifted a strange looking helmet off of her face. Blinking, she looked around and tried to make sense of what was going on. She was lying on a gurney in a bright, white room, a number of computers surrounding her bed. Clad in white underwear and a cotton bra, a series of electrodes dotted different parts of her body and the "hands" she felt gripping her waist were actually two silver belts securing her to the mattress.
Letting her head fall sideways, Clare got a look at the man who had spoken to her. Long and lean, he donned a white overcoat and had a dark, moon-shaped face. A patch of white fur dusted his chin and he tugged at it, a wrinkle in his leathery brow.
"Where am I?" she asked timidly.
"You don't remember?" the man replied.
"No…" Clare rubbed her aching biceps.
"Miss Edwards, you came to me a month ago requesting to take part in this experiment," the man stated. "You asked me if I could help make your dreams a reality and I have attempted to do so, but your use of the safe word gives me pause."
Clare shook her head in confusion. "I really have no idea what you're talking about!" she declared. "One minute I was standing in the hallway of Degrassi Community School and the next, I'm in some strange laboratory covered with electrodes!"
The man leaned forward and smoothed a hand over her forehead. "Clare," he said softly, "you were never at Degrassi Community School."
She frowned, unsure of what he was getting at.
"You're thirty two years old," he went on, his formerly stern expression soft, "you graduated from Degrassi thirteen years ago."