Somebody to Love
Synopsis - Clare becomes entangled in Fitz's dangerous, possibly fatal, life.
Characters - Fitz, Clare, Eli
Rated - M for alcohol & drug use, language, sexual content, smoking, etc.
Chapter 1 - "Standing in the Dark"
Clare Edwards sighed, pushing a strand of golden curls away from her eyes. "Eli, for the hundredth time, my parents don't allow visitors without them here," she informed her boyfriend over the phone.
"Oh, come on! I thought you were done being 'Saint Clare.' Where's the Clare Edwards that broke curfew to get a piercing?" Eli retorted, laughing at the memory.
"You know that was just a way to piss off my parents," Clare answered, nonchalant over her use of profanity. "And I'm not the good little church girl anymore."
"Well, I certainly agree to that," he retorted teasingly. Clare could visualize the smirk forming on his lips, the iamges of their heated make-out sessions playing through his mind.
The Edwards' were devout Christians, or so she previously thought. Intolerant of any violation of the rules, she earned herself the nickname "Saint Clare" during freshman year. A daily routine it was for her to be taunted for wearing a plaid uniform as her preference until she and Alli attacked Darcy's closet. However, her parents' divorce and her relationship with Eli had started to blur the line separating right and wrong.
A roar of thunder startled her; she gasped. Glancing through the curtain, she noticed the clouds had gathered and acquired a menacing gray hue. The winds howled and the precipitation bombarded her roof. She examined the house's interior as if it would collapse at any moment. She remembered she was alone. Her fear increased the eerie atmosphere surrounding her once safe home.
Eli had obviously heard Clare's reaction. "Do I need to come over and comfort you?" he suggested in a seductive tone.
"As tempting as that seems," Clare replied sarcastically, "no. I'm not afraid of a stupid storm."
"Why did you gasp then?" he challenged. Gosh, Clare thought, he can sometimes be so stubborn.
Before she could respond, the doorbell rung, plunging the house into ominous silence. Clare couldn't identify the face that was peering through the glass of the door.
"Eli, stop it. I know it's you standing outside my door." Clare rolled her eyes, though terror was starting to cloud her head.
"What are you talking about?" Eli asked, confused. His voice became concerned. "Clare, who's outside your house?"
She crept towards the door, phone clutched tightly in her hand. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest, drowning out his words. For several minutes, she debated with herself what to do. What if it was a criminal? Maybe I should call the police. Oh, shut up, Clare. You're just being paranoid. It could be mom or dad coming to visit for the weekend.
A hand knocked on the door, snapping her out of her reverie. Eyes closed, jaw clenched, she grasped the doorknob. The door gradually opened, and, hesitantly, Clare opened her eyes as icy drops of water pelted her.
Lightning flashed, illuminating the figure on her doorstep. Clare gazed deeply into the blue eyes before her - vulnerable, despaired...tortured. Dark blood cascading from a long gash on his right cheek contrasted with his pale face. His lips trembled, opened, and attempted to utter a word above the din.
"Fitz!"
Review!
I know it's short, but it's only the first chapter. I've noticed that ever since the 2011 promo that more Flare fics are popping up. This story is similar but Fitz doesn't have an abusive life and he didn't break out of juvie. I'm doing something Degrassi's never done before, so stay tuned!
