Hi, everyone! Here's my first fanfiction for Eclare! I hope you will all enjoy reading it as much as I'll enjoy writing it! :)

I don't own the show Degrassi or any of the characters affiliated with it.

Clare took a breath as the last bell rung and sighed silently. She began putting her things away, grateful that everyone would clear out before she could zip up her book bag. She had gone around all day long, talking about how glad she was that summer was here and of all the possibilities it brought, but deep down, she had been worried about today. Because today marked the fourth month that Clare had been waiting. Waiting patiently for Eli. She felt horrible for wanting him so badly, for wanting to finally say that he was hers. And that she was his. She couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of pain he went through after what happened to Julia, but it had happened so long ago now. She wondered if he would ever be ready to move on. Of course, she would never have the heart to ask him to do so. She promised him time, and that's exactly what she continued to give. Day after day, week after week, month after month…she could drive herself crazy just thinking about all the missed opportunities with him: hands brushing in the hallway as they walked to class, wistful glances from across the study table, tentative hands that seemed to long for each other when they were to close…

"Ms. Edwards," a voice chimed, breaking her away from her thoughts.

"School's out! Go, have fun! Or would you like a summer assignment? I've always wanted to give one of those."

Clare smiled as she stood up, swinging her book bag over her shoulder. "I think you'll have to wait another year to give out one of those, because I just remembered I have something very important to do over here."

The teacher laughed lightly and waved a good bye as Clare quickly left the room. She wasn't surprised when she didn't see many people roaming about the halls. At this point she was glad to be alone, she wasn't sure if she could hide her unease anymore now that summer was actually here. And she was especially glad that she knew for a fact that Eli was at Adam's house. It might have been the last day of school, but it was still guy's night as far as Adam was concerned. Clare smiled slightly knowing she would have at least another day before she would have to face Eli with a whole new batch of possibilities that summer would undoubtedly bring.

She rounded the corner to her locker, smile still intact, when she noticed a boy leaning against her locker. Her breath hitched in her throat. He was waiting patiently, a foot resting back on the blue locker, hands in his pockets, hair in his eyes. She was almost disappointed. She loved a lot about Eli, but nothing more so than his emerald eyes; with the exception of that smirk he only ever seemed to give her. And speaking of said smirk, he was giving it to her now. Her cheeks flushed pink as she realized she'd been spotted. She looked to the floor, an embarrassed smile making its way across her face. Eli started to walk towards her, one hand in his pocket, the other now on the strap of his book bag. She wondered if it was strange that just seeing him walk towards her made her knees week and her heart beat like it was keeping time with a hummingbird. She swallowed her nervousness and resolved to put on her best mask yet. She met him halfway and continued to her locker, Eli turning to face her.

"What happened to guy's night?" She asked, coming to stand in front of her locker.

"Oh, it's still happening," he answered. "There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that would stop me from watching the horror flicks we've got picked out."

Clare shook her head and rolled her eyes with a smile as she opened the locker and began to put the last remaining items it held into her book bag. "You and those horror movies. Don't they make you sick?"

"Sometimes," he mused. "But those are the best ones." He nudged her arm jokingly. Is this what he had to do just to touch her? 'Pathetic,' he thought to himself.

Her eyes glanced up to him for a brief moment, her smile still across her face, and then moved back to the inside of her bare locker. 'If it gets her to look at me like that, I'll nudge her a million more times.'

"So, what are you doing here and not at Adam's watching something like, 'Killer Clowns from Outer Space'?"

He leaned on the locker next to hers, his hand still holding onto the strap of his book bag.

"First of all, that is a great and hilarious movie."

'A movie like that exists?' Clare asked herself.

"Second, I wanted to ask you something."

Clare's heart skipped a beat.

'Don't smile, don't smile, don't smile…'

She shut her locker door, having finally successfully taken everything out of it.

"Sure, Eli. What's up?"

She began to walk towards the exit and he followed suit.

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to-"

Clare's heart was beating so fast, she wondered how he couldn't hear it.

Eli wondered how his voice didn't reflect the pounding in his chest.

'Don't get your hopes up, Clare," she begged to herself.

'Don't mess this up," Eli told himself.

"-Go on a drive with me tomorrow." He didn't want to see her reaction. He was looking everywhere but at her.

"A drive?" The words were out of her mouth before she realized she'd said anything.

"Yeah," he began. "There's this comic I've been wanting and I found it at a store a few cities over. It'll be at least a five hour drive there and back, and, well, there's no fun in going on a drive that long without some company." He glanced over at her face, hopeful.

'Crap, Clare. Get your hair out of those eyes. That's the only way I ever know what you're thinking…'

'Okay,' she thought. 'Don't get over excited. I'm sure Adam is coming to. Ask him.'

"That sounds fun. Is Adam going too?"

Eli swallowed his nerves and gave Clare his best fake excuse.

"No, Adam has a, uh, previous engagement with his family…or something."

'Or something? Good going, Eli. Now she'll KNOW you're lying.'

"Huh," she thought allowed.

'Don't sound too eager…remember, you're still nothing more than friends,' she thought to herself. 'So Adam's not coming. It doesn't change a thing…right?'

"So, what do you think?"

They were at Clare's bike by now; the parking lot was empty, except for Eli's hearse in one of the farther parking spots.

She turned to face him, swinging one leg over her bike.

"Yeah, I'll come."

She smiled shyly as that smirk she loved so much returned to his face.

"Great. I'll pick you up at 10?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Eli backed up to give her room to leave.

"Bye, Eli."

"Bye, Clare."

Eli stood there until Clare faded off into the distance. Once she was gone, he took a deep breath and let his shoulders fall. This is always how it seemed to be with them. He'd have the perfect chance to tell Clare that he was finally ready to become more than just friends, to end this constant tip-toeing around each other they both seemed to do. But every single time he'd watch as she left, leaving him behind. And maybe that was the best thing for her to do. He was in so deep now, he'd do anything for Clare. Even if it meant walking away.

Eli is finally ready be with Clare, so what's keeping him from telling her? What is Adam going to think about all this? Will Clare's parents allow her to go with Eli? Find out in the next chapters!

P.S.- I love 'Killer Clowns From Outer Space'. It's so awful, it's good. ;)