Disclaimer= I do not own Degrassi.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you... the graduating class of - -

Declan did not care for his graduating year in that sense, nor did anyone else. He was more excited for the fact that he is finally a graduate. He has to Moses his way through the sea of people to find his girl, who was still barking orders at her now former #2.

"Leia, you have to carry the torch. The transition from a Sinclair to an I-don't-know-what-your-last-name-is administration must be smooth and you must make sure of that."

"I don't have to take your crap anymore Holly J because now you are GONE!" Holly J feigned shock as Leia strutted away from her.

"I think she is happy that you are gone."

"As much as I liked this place... I'm glad to be leaving it."

"Why do you say that?"

"Aside from you, people did not really get me. I came from a school which I ran to this school, which I also ran, albeit for a short while."

"You and Anya were best friends."

"Yes, but I made fun of her all the time early in our friendship. Well, maybe not make fun of, but I teased her ALOT; she probably resents me for that."

"Hey she still talked to you, so thats good." *rolls eyes*

"Anyways Declan, some dinner at The Dot?"

"We always eat at The Dot. Why don't we go somewhere else to eat?"

"Fair enough, what do you suggest?"

"Oh I don't know, how about the place where I fed pizza into your mouth?"

"What place are you talking about?"

Come on Holly J, it was during Valentine's Day... I was being a gentleman by pushing the chair out so you could sit down. Okay how about this, two days later you setted up an elegant dinner on stage - -"

"Does not ring a bell..."

"Oh good grief, we'll go to The Dot!"

"Yay! I knew you'll cave Declan. See you later!" Holly J kissed Declan, who did not return it back. After she was out of view, he turned around to see people cleaning up the trash.

"Declan, you're still here?"

"Hey Chantay, Holly J wants to have dinner at The Dot AGAIN."

"Bummer, I could hear you yell from across the gymnasium."

"Yeah, she's difficult. Speaking of which..." Declan notices a girl sitting down in a chair, with seemingly no intention of getting up.

"Say Chantay, who is that sitting down over there?"

"You talking about Clare Edwards? She graduated this year too."

"She wasn't on stage with us..."

"She chose not to be on stage and it would seem like she is regretting it now."

"Wow that is rough. I think I'm going to talk to her..."

"Closing time is in 1 hour - -"

"Spinner I work here, I know what time it closes..."

"Alrighty then bye." Declan gave Holly J a disappointed look.

"That wasn't nice Holly J."

"He knows that I'm kidding."

"Okay, but I think you were out of line..."

"If thats how you feel then... you've been acting really weird since earlier today. Is something up?"

"I was going to ask you that..."

"I beat you to it, so you first."

"I'm perturbed that you don't remember the restaurant where we had our first date."

"Of course I remembered it, I remember everything! How could I not remember all of the beautiful times we had?"

"I'm sorry I doubted you."

"Apology accepted. So, no more Degrassi huh?"

"Thats right, its on to the U."

"Declan, since you are staying in Canada, are you going to go to TU?"

"Nope, Smithdale." That made Holly J drop her fork.

"SMITHDALE?! Why are you going there?"

"Um, for my major. They have the best program for my major."

"Ooh, you are going to TU?"

Yes..."

"... and you are beyond pissed off that I'm going to Smithdale?"

"Yes! I mean, weren't we supposed to take that next step together?"

"I think we are growing farther apart by the day."

"H-how can you say that? This past year and change has meant nothing then?"

"Now don't go saying that because you know how that is not how I feel about what we had." Nothing was computing for Holly J, but those last two words did register in her mind.

"We... had?"

"..."

"Do you love me?"

"..."

"Do you love me?"

"..."

"ANSWER ME DECLAN!!"

"Its not that simple."

"Oh my God, I can't believe y - -"

"AND I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! I've been nothing but a dog for you. The first few months were great; HOWEVER, the rest of the time has been a ticking time bomb. When we talked to Farrah at Spring Formal, you called me Mr. Footinmouth because I complimented Sav about Anya. You always want to do stuff that YOU like. Any opinion I have is wrong in your eyes." Holly J's eyes were moist.

"A-are you breaking up with me?"

"Are you a control freak?"

"Remember Holly J; step 1: ADMISSION."

"Yes."

"I'm sorry Holly J, but we must end this before we become even more distant." Declan got up and as he passed by Holly J, he mumbled something that she probably could not hear.

Ninapenda wewe.

Flash forward 3 years. Declan had gotten his Smithdale stuff ready before stepping on the campus. Not knowing what to do with his emotions, he chatted with a therapist, who simply suggested that Declan throw himself at his education. He did just that and as a result, he was going to graduate early. Funny who he ran into during a kickback that two clubs on campus were hosting.

"Hey man, I'll go get some more medicine."

"Sure man." Declan went to the keg and was filling up the cups when he saw her. She was no longer wearing glasses and she had grown 2-3 inches. Declan threw the cups into the bin and approached the girl.

"Clare Edwards?" Clare took a femtosecond to realize who this guy talking to her was.

"Hey Declan!"

"You know this nerd Edwards?"

"Ladies, this is Declan Coyne. His dad is a diplomat."

"Who cares?"

"Clare, lets talk somewhere private."

"Sure, lets do it."

---

"I cannot believe that they have a professional Risk League on television."

"You would be surprised..."

"How have you been Declan? Wow, its been like 3 years since I last seen you."

"Likewise. The faith's as strong as ever I take it?"

"I have to confess something to you... my belief system has take a complete 360. Since I was named president of GWAP, I had to act 'presidential.'"

"What did that involve?"

"Jell-O shots on my belly and making out with guys."

"I knew you had a wild side under all of that skin."

"What are you talking about? You only talked to me like one time."

"Not true, remember when we talked to each other in the Computer Lab while we were at Degrassi?"

"Only because you had me verify who read those scholarly magazines, which eventually was Holly J."

"Speaking of which, how - -"

"She's at TU and out of my life, thank goodness."

"Rough breakup?"

"That was three years ago," Declan began as he was staring at the TV," I'm long past that."

"I see."

"I'm here at Smithdale, about to graduate shortly and not looking backwards, but forward."

"Now thats being proactive."

"Yes it is. Are you graduating early as well?"

"Yep."

"Great, that makes one girl I know taking the same course of action as I am." Declan turned off the television to look at Clare, who blushed and unknowingly cooed him with her eyes.

"What are we doing now Clare - -"

"We are just sitting down on a couch, staring straight ahead."

"This sure brings back memories, eh Clare?" Clare had a flashback to graduation from Degrassi, when she got told that she was going to graduate early. She did not jump for joy because there were no friends to celebrate with. since her break up with K.C., Clare had gradually begun to push people away. First it was Connor and Dave, and eventually it was Alli. Come graduation time, she chose not to get up on stage but rather sit in the front row while her peers received their diplomas. No one bothered to talk to her. But Clare remembered one person sitting next to her as they talked for a good while. That same person was sitting next to her again. When Clare snapped out of her trance, her head was resting on Declan's shoulder.

"Wow, you did not leave. I wouldn't have gotten upset if you had - -"

"Why would I do that? That would be crazy."

"Why don't I walk you to your dorm room?"

"Oh no the time! That skank of a roommate I have has probably brought some guy over for the night and most likely are romancing right now."

"You... want to sleep in my room. I was able to pull some strings and got a whole room to myself. You can sleep on the bed while I crash on the floor in a sleeping bag."

"You would do that for me?"

"Absolutely, you need a place to crash for tonight correct?"

"Yes, thank you." It was a short walk towards Declan's room.

"Here we are at Casa de Coyne."

"Thanks again Declan."

"No problem." Declan opened the door and the two were inside. He was getting his sleeping bag when Clare tugged his shirt.

"Whats up Clare?"

"Can I say something?"

"Sure - -"

"Do you mind sitting down?"

"My bed isn't that sturdy, but we can sit there since I don't have any chairs."

"Thanks," Clare replies as both her and Declan sat on the bed.

"You know Declan, I wish I could've met you sooner."

"Why?"

"You are very sweet and treat me kindly. At Degrassi, K.C. was a total robot - -"

"Shh," Declan said as he put his finger on Clare's lips," thats the past. We should look towards the future."

"Okay." Declan turned away for a minute.

"You okay?"

"I was going to say something, but I thought better of it."

"You can tell me." Clare's breathing became a little bit labored.

"I feel like I can talk to you about anything. Is that a weird thing to say?"

"Not really, if two people are comfortable around each other, they can tell each other anything."

"My goodness, you are the only one that understands." That was the igniter. Declan found himself kissing Clare and soon that kissing turned to passionate kissing and then it got to some touching. Clothes came off and it was National Geographic after that.