The Meeting

I was walking the halls with my best friend Alli, she was excited for the start of the new school year. As we approached our lockers she kept going on about boy's, and how this year she wouldn't make the same mistakes with them that she did the year before. I nodded and smiled when appropriate, but I didn't care about her plans to be a better person. I couldn't find it in me to care about anything anymore, not after him. Not after K.C. He was my first love, I had revolved my whole life around him and then one day everything I Knew was wrong. I remember it like it was yesterday, I ran into his room hoping to surprise him by coming home early from my family Summer vacation when I found him in bed with her. K.C. cheated on me with Jenna, the new blonde at Degrassi. I ran away with tears in my eyes and when I got half way down the road he caught up to me grabbing my arm and stopping me. He pleaded with me to understand that it was a mistake and that he loved me. I slapped him across the face and I ran away, never turning back. The rest of the Summer I ignored his calls and texts, I couldn't be with someone I didn't trust. The feeling of being betrayed on such a deep level was unbearable, and ever since I haven't been the same. I never was one to break the rules, or misbehave but the loss of him changed everything. The feeling of not being good enough for him the way I am, made me hate myself. It made me do everything in my power to change the Clare Edwards everyone knew.

"Clare, what is wrong with you today! It's like everything I say is going in one ear and out the other."

"I'm sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Can we talk later I have to find my English class." Before she could say anything I made my way passed her. I walked around the hall's long after the tardy bell had rung, pondering on weather or not I should actually attend my English class. K.C. would be in there, I knew so because there was only one period of advanced English. K.C. had taken every advanced course since 1st grade, I doubted he would have changed that because of our break up. After passing the class about 5 times I made the decision to not only not go, but to leave school. The walls around me felt like they were caving in and no matter how much I wanted to be able to sit through class I couldn't. When I reached the parking lot I pulled out a joint, I had been planning to save it for the end of the day. I figured id be able to get through a day of school without it, I guess I couldn't even get through not going to 1st period without it. The sensation weed gave me took away everything bad. The images of K.C. and Jenna, the feeling of hate I had for myself, it was all gone when I put the blunt to my lips. Anytime I had ever done anything wrong my parents had always been there to stop me, but their divorce left little time to worry about me or what I was going through. The blunt had about one more hit left, but before I could take it someone grabbed my wrist.

"Ditching, are we?" The boy in front of me had green eyes, dark hair, dark clothes, and a menacing look on his face. He was beautiful.

"I don't know about we, but me? Yeah, I am." I was trying to act bad ass about it, but his intense stare was making me lose my focus.

"You have pretty blue eyes, it's a shame you're smoking. The red eyes take away from the blue, and you don't seem the type to smoke.

"You don't know me."

"That is a true statement. I'm Eli Goldsworthy. Who are you?"

"I'm Clare Edwards. Can you let go of my wrist?"

Eli changed his intense stare to a smile, and let go of my wrist. "I'm sorry about that, I just saw you from across the parking lot and I couldn't help myself. Seeing a girl like you skipping class to smoke pot doesn't sit well with me. That stuff is just an excuse to ignore your problems. I have to know, why are you out here skipping 1st period?"

"I could ask you the same question, you don't appear to be in your desk either."

"This is also true. I didn't really feel like sitting in class today, that's all there is to it. What's your story Edwards?" I dropped the blunt and flashed a smile.

"Ex boyfriend. Couldn't face his cheating face." Eli's smile faded.

"I see. That's rough. Let's get out of here, we can face school tomorrow?" He put his hand out for me to take, I stared at it with confusion. "Clare, its just a hand. It doesn't bite." I hesitantly took it, and into the hearse he pulled me.

...

"Eli, where are we going!" He was speeding down a dirt road with his music on full blast.

"Anywhere Clare, relax. We're just going for a drive, enjoy it!" Eli through his head back and screamed at the top of his lungs, he didn't have a care in the world.

"I don't even know you." I took off my seatbelt, and Eli pressed on the brake and began to put the car into park.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to school." I Opened the door and began walking back the way we came. Eli imidietley following.

"I can take you back to school you'll never get back by walking, we're in the middle of no where. We were having a good time what happened?"

"No this is ridiculous I don't even know you, you started driving like a maniac!"

"We were on a dirt road, for a reason. There's nothing to hit out here, I don't know why you're freaking out I wouldn't put you in danger Clare. For someone who's trying to be so bad, you're being so lame." I stopped and turned around, we were face to face.

"I'm not lame! I can be just as bad as you, or anyone else for that matter!"

"Whatever you say Clare, can you just get back in the car. We have to get back, its gonna rain soon."

I don't know if it was Eli doubting my capability to be spontaneous, if It was just an impulse, or if it was the rush of this handsome and mysterious guy standing in front of me, but whatever the reason I kissed him. I through my arms around his neck and I pulled his lips to mine. It was slow and soft, and I felt my stomach drop the moment our lips connected. Eli was stiff at first but after a few moments he relaxed running his hand through my hair and pulling my body to his. I pulled away for breath, and he let go of me. I stood there staring into his eyes, and he into mine. When I walked out of school depressed over K.C. and myself I wasn't expecting to end up in the middle of no where with this stranger, but now I felt like there was no where else I should be. It was like that one moment, that one kiss changed everything for me. I didn't care about K.C. or Jenna, all I could focus on was Eli. This person I didn't know, but at the same time was drawn to so strongly and undeniably. Eli grabbed my hand, pulling me back to the car. When we got inside I sat there waiting for a response, and dreading a response at the same time.

"What was that?" Eli's face was soft, with concern on it.

"I don't know, I honestly don't know what made me do that. I just know It wasn't under my control."

"I understand what you're saying. Clare, are you ok? I know you must be messed up over that guy, and you're obviously confused about who you are. I wanna help you, but I cant be a distraction for you."

"Eli, just now in that moment you were not a distraction. I felt something, something I've never felt before. I know I must sound like a crazy person, and we just met but I don't want to be anywhere else but here with you right now Eli Goldsworthy." Eli leaned over and kissed me, it was soft and short. As a reaction I brought my hands to my mouth, almost in disbelief that he kissed me.

"Clare Edwards, K.C. is an idiot."