Important stuff to know:
Takes place sometime after Eli and Clare break up. Nobody is with anybody this is A/U. This is a two shot.
Okay enjoy.
Ch. 1 Photograph
(OWEN)
"We could do our report on the beaches and then we can find some pics of some hot bikini babes sunbathing on the beach." I suggest to Luke.
We'd been partnered in environmental science class to do a report on a local ecology. Neither of us wanted to do it and we'd been putting it off for days.
"I like the way you think Milligan, I say we start by searching for hot chicks in bikinis." Luke smiles.
I get off my bed and go sit at the computer, Luke sits on the chair he brought in from the dining room earlier. I type girls on Toronto beaches into the search bar and hit enter and click on the images link. We start scrolling through the pictures mostly of hot chicks in their early twenties on the beaches in bikinis and swimsuits.
"Whoa wait is that Clare?" I ask seeing a picture of a girl in a green and purple two piece swimsuit, it doesn't show as much skin as a bikini but it's still sexy and really shows off her bust.
I click on the picture to make it bigger and look over at Luke although I don't know why I probably know Clare better than he does. He looks just as shocked and blissfully surprised as me, then crinkles his eyebrows together and points at the screen.
"It's definitely Clare and I'm pretty sure that's chicken cutlet, you know you're brothers friend." Luke remarks.
I look where he's pointing to see a blonde head with glasses behind Clare she's sort of blurry as she's not the focus of the picture.
"Yeah that's Maya alright," I nod closing the picture and clicking on the link for the site the picture is on.
The first thing we see is a picture of Clare and Maya in their swimsuits setting out towels. Maya is wearing a dark blue one piece swimsuit but it looks good on her. I scroll down to see a picture of the two of them sunbathing, it's really pretty sexy and I know I have a goofy horny grin on my face. From the corner of my eye I see Luke has the same grin. I scroll down to the next one that shows Clare lying on her back now with the top of her swimsuit untied. You can just see her large breasts being squished; Maya is propped on her side and talking to Clare. Scrolling down again the next picture is of the girls in one of the beach cabanas changing, they're wearing shirts and panties only probably about to put on the rest of their clothes.
"Whoa!" Luke comments in a lustful tone and all I can do is nod as I'm currently mesmerized. "I don't think they know they're being photographed." Luke says after a minute of us just staring at the picture.
It's this comment that snaps me out of staring at the picture like a horny teenage boy and look at it for what it is.
"No they don't and now there are pictures of them out there for everyone to see. Clare and Maya don't even know they were photographed we have to talk to them tomorrow, find out who took these, get them to take them down and then kill them!" I declare.
I scroll down but that's the last of the pictures, scrolling up I see that the site is called Modest Girls of DeGrassi and the intro says: See two of the most modest girls at DeGrassi in a whole new way. There's no name for the author of the site or even a screen name or way to contact. We're totally distracted now and can't concentrate on our assignment.
"I should get home I guess, start on my other homework. See you tomorrow Owen." Luke says getting up.
"Yeah see you tomorrow." I wave and close the site.
I hear Luke leave the house and pull out the rest of my homework trying to concentrate but I can't.
(CLARE)
I was at my locker getting out the books I needed before class, putting the books in my book bag and closing my locker I turn around to face Owen. I find this very odd because Owen has hardly said anything to me in all the time we've gone to school together. He's certainly never sought me out. He has an odd look on his face, it's a mix of determination, anger and what I swear is protectiveness although I have no idea why. The only reason I swear it's protectiveness is I've seen the same look in Eli's eyes.
"Uh hi Owen," I say slowly and with much confusion.
"When did you and Maya go to the beach?" He asks me.
His choice of questions is very odd to me and seems to be completely random. I scrunch my forehead at him and take a minute to answer because I'm so thrown off.
"On Saturday why?" I ask back.
"Did you see anyone following you guys or hanging around you guys?" Owen questions.
"Why?" I inquire.
The fact that Owen is talking to me at all is odd and this line of questioning is even weirder.
"Just answer the question Clare," he insists, his tone is slightly harsh but it's not really directed at me and once again reminds me of Eli, like when Eli used to talk to me about Fitz.
"No, that is I didn't see anyone in particular hanging around us a lot but the beach was pretty busy and there were a lot of people." I shrug. "Why were you at the beach too?" I question.
"No because if I was there I would have found the fucker and…" his sentence trails off and then he explodes a punch on the locker next to mine.
The power of his punch not only dents the locker door but nearly bends it in half! I gasp as much from fear as surprise and jump back to end up in a pair of muscular arms.
"Dude what's got you all pissed off? The locker call you a name or something?" Drew asks from my side and I look behind me to see it's Dallas that's currently holding me.
Owen looks at them, growls and storms off down the hall way. Dallas finally lets go of me and I turn to look at them, they look just as confused as I do.
"You turn him down for a date or something?" Dallas jokes.
"No he…he asked if I…I have no idea what that was about." I shrug still entirely confused.
"Are you okay?" Drew asks.
"Yeah fine, he didn't hurt me I'm just very confused. He was asking about when Maya went to the beach on Saturday. Then he said something about…actually I have no idea I'm just really confused." I tell them.
"We'll ask him about it in class," Dallas tells me.
Suddenly Drew whistles really loud and I cover my ears but then Adam looks over at us and Drew waves him over.
"You whistled bro?" Adam questions smiling at me.
"Yeah you two have homeroom together walk with Clare." Drew commands him.
Adam looks at me and puts his arm around my shoulders; we turn and start walking to class.
"So what happened? That is I'm assuming Drew thought you needed an escort to class for a reason." Adam says. I nod and tell him all about what happened with Owen and how Dallas and Drew came just when he punched the locker. "Weird," Adam says when I'm done.
"I know, Owen's barley even looked at me and suddenly he's the Spanish inquisition and I still don't know what he was talking about." I reply as we sit at our desks.
"Well Drew will ask him about it this period and we'll get it from Drew on morning break." Adam assures me as the bell rings and the teacher starts class.
(LUKE)
I saw Maya get into school but she walked in with Katie and I didn't want to talk to her with her sister around. Owen and I had met this morning and decided he would question Clare and I would talk to Maya. After she left her sister I followed her down the hall a little, Owen's brother and that really annoying girl with all the hair started talking to her.
"Other niners get lost I need to talk to Maya for a minute." I command them.
"Rude much?" Tori snaps at me.
"We're not going anywhere; we're not leaving you alone with Maya." Tristan tells me standing up to me.
"I'm not going to hurt her, I just need to talk to her for a minute if you don't trust me then watch from over there." I command them and point.
"It's okay guys," Maya tells them.
They linger a minute giving me a harsh look but finally walk down the hall, they stay there leaning against the lockers and Maya looks at me expectantly.
"Why did you go to the beach with Clare?" I ask her and she gives me a very confused look.
"Because it was a warm day and we wanted to go to the beach. Not that it's any of your business but we've become good friends since Jake and Katie started dating." Maya responds still looking very confused.
"Was there anybody following you around or was anyone bothering you guys?" I ask her.
"No," she says slowly, "the beach was pretty busy and a few guys whistled at us but none of them pestered us or followed us."
"If you see anyone following you guys tell me or Owen." I tell her and walk away to find Owen.
Tristan and Tori run back to Maya. "What the hell was that about?" I hear Tori ask.
"I have no idea," I hear Maya reply.
Owen's not at his locker but we have environmental science together first period so I head to class and see him at one of the work tables.
"What did Clare say and what the hell happened to your hand?" I question seeing that his head is all red and the knuckles are a little scratched.
"They went to the beach on Saturday and she didn't see anyone following them or hanging around them. I punched a locker," he says explaining his hand.
"Maya said pretty much the same thing, no one bothered them and she didn't see anyone following them." I tell him as Drew and Dallas come in sitting at the table by us.
"So Owen what did you want with Clare this morning and what had you so pissed off that you punched a locker?" Drew asks.
Owen looks at me and I shrug just as the bell rings and the teacher comes in.
"Some asshole took pictures of her and Maya at the beach and posted them on a site. The girls don't know and we were trying to figure out who so we can kill them." Owen explains.
"I don't see how pictures at the beach are so bad," Dallas shrugs.
"You haven't seen them yet," Owen replies.
"Ice Hounds and Mr. Torres please pay attention," Mr. Bettankamp says in a stern voice and we fall silent.
When class lets out we all split up as we all have different classes but make plans to meet in the storage room at morning break. Math class takes forever but it's finally morning break and I head straight to the storage room. Owen and Drew are already there sitting on the sofa and Owen has his laptop up and open, Dallas comes in a minute later and Owen logs onto the site.
"Damn Clare is pretty sexy; I don't think I ever really noticed it before." Drew smiles at the first picture and Owen smacks his arm hard.
"Yeah she's a good kisser too even when she's drunk," Dallas smiles and Owen smacks him too. "Whoa is that Maya? She's sexy too and these pictures aren't so bad." Dallas remarks when Owen scrolls down again.
"These are just the first ones and bad or not Clare and Maya don't know they were being photographed and don't know the pictures are on the site." I remind them.
Then Owen gets to the one of them changing. Drew and Dallas seem to have about the same reaction as we did, at first they're just blissfully surprised and then they become outraged that some jerk took the pictures and posted them on the site.
"Some fucker was stalking them and took pictures of them putting them up on a site without their knowledge?! We need to find this asshole and kill him!" Drew declares.
"Agreed he needs to die for this," Dallas agrees, "hey Owen there's more you can scroll down farther," Dallas points out.
"They weren't there yesterday," Owen replies scrolling down.
The first picture we see must be in the Matlin's washroom, it's of Maya probably fresh out of the shower, in a fluffy pink bathrobe and wet hair. She looks really hot with no glasses and wet hair and her robe is open pretty far but you can't really see anything.
"He's stalking her! That's at Maya's house!" I say through clenched teeth and pound my fist into the sofa.
Owen scrolls down some more, this picture was taken outside of Clare's house through her window as she's dressing or undressing it's hard to tell because all we see is Clare topless. Her back is to the camera but she's in front of a mirror and the creep zoomed in focusing on her breasts.
"He's stalking them! He's going to die, when I find this fucker I will rip his eyes out and feed them to him!" Owen states as the bell rings.
"Clare and Maya have no idea?" Drew asks.
"You really think Clare would put up this if she did?" Owen shoots back.
"Good point," Drew replies as we get up and leave the storage room, "the guy probably goes to the school so keep your eye out. I'll talk to Adam at lunch see if he's noticed anyone hanging around Clare." Drew says.
"Good plan; I'll ask Tris the same about Maya." Owen replies.
(ADAM)
The lunch bell rang and I walked out of class with Dave we started going to our lockers when I was suddenly stopped.
"Hey Adam got a sec?" My brother asks coming up with Dallas.
"Yeah what's up?" I question.
"Have you seen anyone new hanging around Clare lately?" Drew asks me as we walk away from Dave.
"Okay what's going on? Is Clare being stalked? Should I be worried? She said Owen asked her almost the same thing this morning." I remark.
"Just answer the question," Drew tells me.
"No I haven't noticed anyone strange hanging around Clare. Drew what's going on?" I question again.
"Just keep an eye out; we need to go find Owen." Dallas insists pulling Drew away quickly.
I'm a little worried but shrug it off as I need to get to Whisper Hug practice. I go into the music room to find only Zig is there.
"I know one of them is living with you and Cam was my friend but those hockey players are weird. Luke and Owen were interrogating Tristan about whether he'd seen anyone hanging around Maya lately. They told me to leave but I heard some of it." Zig tells me.
Knowing Owen was asking Clare the same thing this morning I know something is going on.
"I'll be back," I tell Zig leaving the music room just as Imogen is coming in.
"Adam where are you going?" Imogen calls but I ignore her.
Drew usually eats in the lunch room as do the Ice Hounds and I find them all there but the four of them are at a table together, talking in a huddle. I go over and sit down inserting myself into their huddle.
"One of you tell me what the hell is going on now!" I demand but they all fall silent and look at me. "You've been asking the same questions about and to Maya and Clare, one is my best friend and one is in my band if they're in trouble I have to know." I insist.
"Okay Adam but not here," Drew says.
We get up and go out to the resource center, Owen goes to a computer in the back corner and we all huddle around him. He logs onto a website and I see a picture of Clare and Maya at the beach. Owen scrolls down and I see there's more pictures and it's obvious that someone is stalking them because some of the pictures have been taken from outside their houses. I'm stunned, angry beyond words that someone could invade their privacy like that.
"What's everyone looking at?" Eli asks suddenly appearing and Owen logs off the site.
"Nothing Eli just looking at the Ice Hounds site," I lie.
He may have broken up with Clare but somehow I doubt telling him that she's being stalked is going to be something he takes well.
"Okay, didn't know you were such a hockey fan and shouldn't you be at band practice?" Eli asks.
"Yeah just on my way," I nod and leave the room as fast as I can.
All I can think in band practice is that someone is stalking Maya, when lunch is over and I go to chemistry sitting across from Clare all I can think is someone is stalking her. I don't say anything to either of them though, I know I probably should have and I'm not really known for keeping my mouth shut but I didn't want to make them paranoid. Them and their families and much as I love Clare she has a tendency to overreact until she has time to really think about things. Anyway I'm pretty sure my brother and three specific Ice Hounds are being paranoid enough for everyone. It didn't escape my attention that Luke was watching Clare very closely during bio, or that Dallas was watching Maya when school let out. Owen, Dallas and Luke leave for hockey practice and Drew and I follow Maya to the Dot. I spend the whole walk carefully eyeing everyone who so much as glances at her. Great now they have me paranoid!
"Can I get a mocha please," Maya orders when we follow her into the Dot.
"Sure," Fitz smiles starting to make her drink, "you know you should get a sexier robe, for a niner you're pretty hot." Fitz says handing her coffee to her.
"Excuse me?" Maya asks astounded handing him the money.
"Watch your mouth Fitz!" Drew barks at him.
"You want another ass kicking Torres?" Fitz laughs.
"Ignore him Maya he's nuts, can we give you a lift home?" I offer.
"Uh sure, thanks." She nods.
We walk back to the school and Drew's car; he drives Maya home knowing where she lives of course as he dated Katie. When we get there Drew and I both look around from the car but don't see anyone out of place and we know Katie's here as we can see Jake's truck.
"Thanks for the ride guys, see you tomorrow." Maya says waving to us.
We wave to Maya and start driving home, seeing Jake's truck makes me worried that Clare is home alone and considering someone is stalking her and taking pictures of her I think this could be dangerous so I get out my phone and call her.
"Hi Adam," she answers in a happy voice.
"Are you home alone?" I ask her quickly getting straight to the point.
"Uh no, I'm at Alli's doing homework with her and Jenna." She says slowly obviously confused.
"Is she home alone because we'll go over?" Drew queries.
"No she's at Alli's," I tell him and Drew lets out a relieved breath.
"Adam what's wrong? What did Drew just say?" Clare asks.
"Nothing just get a ride home and call me when you're there." I tell her.
"Adam not you too, why are you guys acting so weird?" She asks and I can hear Jenna and Alli asking her what's going on.
"Just want you to be careful, gotta go." I tell her and hang up because I can't think of anything better.
"Smooth Adam, like chunky peanut butter." Drew laughs when I hang up.
"Shut up and what was I supposed to tell her?" I inquire.
"I don't know but do you think Fitz is the one taking the pictures? He's had a thing for Clare since last year." Drew remarks.
"Yeah but I doubt he's smart enough to make a website, besides he hasn't bothered her in a long time." I tell him.
"Can we find out who did create the site?" Drew asks.
"Maybe, it might be traceable through the IP and domain but it depends on how smart the person that made it was." I reply.
By the time we get home Mom is angry because we didn't call to say we'd be late. Clare calls at seven to say that she's home and so is the rest of her family which only makes me feel slightly better since I know the last picture on the site of her changing was probably taken when her family was home. I hardly sleep that night and have a terrible dream about Clare and Maya trying to run from a stalker.
(CLARE)
Jake drives us to school and I get out of the truck, Jake sees Katie near the garden and leaves me to see his girlfriend. The second he's away from me Owen and Luke appear at my sides, standing tall and looking menacing.
"Hi, umm why am I being escorted into school by Ice Hounds?" I ask.
"We're just walking into school and you're walking into school so we're walking into school with you." Luke tells me.
"Yeah okay you guys have been acting weird since yesterday what's going on?" I demand as we go through the doors.
"Nothing's going on, we're just walking you inside," Owen replies.
"And looking around eyeing everyone like you're paranoid," I remark.
"Do this many people always look at you when you're walking?" Luke asks.
"No but I'm not usually escorted by two Ice Hounds I barely ever talked to before this so I'm guessing that's why so many people are looking at us. We're inside now so I'm going to my locker." I tell them trying to walk away but they stay in step with me. "Okay either tell me what's going on or stop following me around like you're suddenly body guards." I insist when we reach my locker.
Owen and Luke look at each other, open their mouths as if to talk then close them again, look at me and walk away. I'm only alone for a minute when Adam comes up to me, leaning on the locker next to mine, the one Owen didn't punch which is still broken. This isn't out of the ordinary as he's my best friend and I smile at him.
"Hey Clare how was homework at Alli's last night?" He asks.
"Fine, why did you call so worried that I might be home alone? Do you know why Dallas, Owen, Luke and Drew suddenly seem so concerned with my safety?" I ask him as we start walking to class.
"Did I hear my name?" Drew questions appearing on the other side of Adam.
"Yeah what's going on?" I ask.
"Just walking my brother and his best friend to class." Drew replies.
"No I mean why did you both seem so concerned that I was home alone last night?" I ask.
"We heard there were break ins around your neighborhood and Adam was worried." Drew says rather quickly and I'm certain he's lying.
"Uh huh, well this is our class bye now Drew," I say pushing him away from the door and pulling Adam in with me.
Adam insists everything is fine but when class ends he walks me to my next class which he doesn't have with me and I notice Owen and Dallas following behind us a few paces but I don't say anything. Jenna's already at her desk when I get into class and I sit down at mine which is next to hers.
"Why are Dallas and Owen watching us?" Jenna inquires motioning to the Ice Hounds leaning against the wall.
"I have no idea; maybe they've been hit in the head by the puck one too many times." I reply.
When the warning bell rings Owen and Dallas finally walk to their class. When class ends I walk out with Jenna to find Luke and Dallas outside the door.
"So are you guys following Clare around for a special reason? Is this like some Ice Hounds trick?" Jenna questions as they begin following us to our lockers.
"It's no trick," Dallas replies.
"It's not just the Ice Hounds it's Drew and Adam too. Drew said there were break ins around my neighborhood and they were concerned but I know he's lying. So do you two want to tell me what the sudden interest in my safety is?" I ask them.
"You're just paranoid Edwards; we're simply looking out for you. We know how vulnerable you are since your break up with Eli. Adam was talking about it and we're just concerned." Dallas tells me putting an arm around my shoulders.
"Since when are the Ice Hounds, let alone Drew concerned with my vulnerability after a break up?" I ask as we reach the garden and I see Maya sitting with Tristan, Katie and Jake are nearby but so are Owen, Drew and Adam.
"We care, Eli was harsh." Dallas tells me.
"And I believe that as much as I believe the break in story." I reply as Jenna leaves me to go talk to Alli. "Hey Tristan can I borrow Maya a moment?" I request taking Maya's hand and pulling her up.
"Uh sure, I'm gonna go find Tori see you guys." Tris says standing up and walking off.
I link my arm with Maya's and start walking inside, not surprisingly we're followed by the three Ice Hounds and the Torres brothers.
"They've been doing that all morning," Maya says as we go back into DeGrassi.
"You too? They've been like that since yesterday! Drew told me they were worried because there were break ins around my neighborhood and Dallas said they were suddenly all concerned about me after my break up with Eli." I tell her in a low voice and pull her into the girls washroom so the boys can't follow us.
"Luke told me they were worried about me after Cam and Adam told me he was looking out for a fellow band mate." Maya tells me.
"Yeah and I'm pretty sure they're all lying but why the sudden interest in us and our safety? Really Adam is the only one that has a reason to be worried about us both since he's the only one either of us is friends with." I point out.
"Yeah and maybe Drew and Owen because we're friends with their brothers but Luke and Dallas? They were asking me yesterday why we went to the beach last weekend and did I notice anyone hanging around us." Maya says.
"They asked me the same thing, well similar questions anyway. I didn't see anyone out of place at the beach or hanging around us more than anyone else. Even if somebody was loitering around us at the beach how would they know?" I question as the bell rings.
"No idea maybe we can ask them at lunch for now, I think we're about to be escorted to class." Maya remarks.
"Should be easy for me Luke and Adam both have bio with me this period," I comment as I open the door. Just as we thought the boys are waiting for us, I walk to Adam linking my arm with his and then link an arm with Luke. "Let's go to bio," I say and we leave the others.
Becky gives me a funny look for walking in with my arms linked with her boyfriend and her brother. I release their arms as soon as we're in the classroom and go sit by Becky.
"Is everything okay?" Becky asks me.
"No, your brother, boyfriend, his brother, their billet brother and the former school bully have gone insane!" I tell her.
"What?" Becky asks.
"Luke, Adam, Drew, Dallas and Owen have been very concerned with my safety and Maya's safety the last couple of days. To the point that they've started escorting us from class to class and they won't tell us why." I inform Becky.
"Weird, I'll try talking to Luke and Adam at lunch but if they're all worried something must be going on so be careful okay?" Becky requests.
"I will," I assure her as the teacher comes in and starts class.
When class is over I have free period and when Luke and Adam get distracted by Becky talking to them I slip out and start walking to the Dot. Just as I'm about to pass the bus stop however Fitz steps out from behind it and blocks my path.
"Uh hi Fitz," I say with a small smile.
"I'm curious," he says with a carnal grin.
"Curious about what?" I question beginning to feel uncomfortable.
"I wonder if they look as wonderfully sexy in person as in the picture?" Fitz smiles as his eyes wander to my chest.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I demand getting annoyed.
Fitz reaches behind him and pulls something from his back pocket, it's a piece of paper and he unfolds it revealing a print out of a picture of my breasts! I'm shocked and enraged, frozen for a minute and then anger takes over, I reach for the picture but Fitz holds it above my head.
"Where the hell did you get that?!" I demand.
"Found it on a nice little site full of pictures of you and Maya but this is my favorite one. So tell me Clare are they this lovely in person? I want to see for myself." Fitz says.
He reaches for my shirt and I back up tripping on the bench and falling back on it. He seizes the opportunity to hover over me and yank on my shirt. I start to fight him off but he gets my arms pinned above my head and he's not in a position where I can kick him because I've been trying. I'm about to scream when he's pulled away from me and violently tossed into the wall of the bus stop but it's not one of the guys that comes to my rescue it's Bianca.
"Fitz what the hell is wrong with you! Fucking asshole leave Clare alone for the last fucking time!" Bianca barks at him. "You okay?" Bianca asks turning to me as I stand up.
"Yeah fine thanks for the rescue," I say to her going over and grabbing the picture out of Fitz's hands.
"What's that?" Bianca asks.
"I'm betting part of the answer as to why three of the Ice Hounds and the Torres brothers have been acting so odd these last couple of days. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go kill them all for not telling me what was going on!"
Part 2 will be posted as soon as I can.