Chapter 1:

The Beginning Starts Here...

Do you know that feeling, when nothing feels right? The feeling you get when a best friend moves away, or when you see rain cry out of the clouds, rushing and spilling onto the earth and you can't do anything about it? Or when you feel like you are about to burst with sadness and you go in the shower to let your sorrow wash down the drain? That's how Clare felt. Nothing was going the way she hoped for in her life. Her life was like a cookie. Rich and sweet at first, then piece by piece, a portion breaks off, and crumbles to your feet.

Her family had split up, and Clare was living with her mom. They were having major financial issues, her father paid for everything, and since he wasn't there, their life was brutal. Her mom had just lost her job, so they were scrambling, trying to find enough money for their next meal. They didn't have enough money to pay their bills, so they soon had to move. Her sister, Darcy, was in Africa studying for her college work, but was mauled by a lion and was recovering. Nothing at all was going Clare's way. She was such a sweet girl, so why did these things have to happen to her?

However, there was one person in her life that she could count on. Someone that would encourage her to do the impossible, someone that would be with her every step of the way. His name was Eli. Eli Goldsworthy. Eli and Clare didn't really know what their relationship was. Were they dating, or just close friends? It didn't matter. They were there for each other through thick and thin. It all started out with shyly saying "hi" in the halls at Degrassi, to emailing each other every night after dinner, to talking on the phone till 1:00 a.m. about stupid, silly things. Eli wasn't one to judge. He could care less if Clare was poor and having problems. He understood. And that is why Clare thought she had a slight "crush" on him.

She remembered that Degrassi was going to have their annual Homecoming dance for couples. She was worried she wouldn't get to go, since she probably didn't have a formal dress that she could afford. The Homecoming dance was in 3 days, though! She wanted Eli to ask her so badly, but she didn't know if Eli "liked" her back. She was tempted to ask him, but she thought that would be too desperate. Clare was just going to hang back and wait till Eli said something. Hopefully, he would feel the same way.

Clare was on her way, walking to Degrassi in her kaki skirt, knee-high socks, and navy blue Degrassi polo shirt. She was texting Eli on her old, "flip-phone". When she finally got to Degrassi, Eli greeted her with a friendly hug. Clare giggled as they walked into school together. As they were walking down the hall, someone had made an "evil-eye glare" to Clare. Holly J. Sinclair looked at her with a snobbish attitude.

Holly J. used to have financial problems like Clare, and she actually was kinda nice. But, her father GOT BACK is old job, so they didn't have to move, and her family was a rich and snobbish family once more. Holly J. had every back: her clothes, her credit cards, and her attitude. Her mother even demanded the school to put Holly J. as captain on the Power Squad again. However, she didn't have one thing almost every girl had. A "boy friend". Sav Bhandari had recently gone out with Holly J., but he was shot and thrown off an apartment building. Who did all of this to Sav? Declan Coyne. He was another man who loved Holly J. But, Holly J. didn't know what to think when he started stalking her and going every where she went. Or when Declan spied through her window, watching every move she made. So, Holly J. ran away from him after he killed Sav. She had no boy interested in her at that point, so she thought. Holly J. is a major boyfriend stealer, though. If she sees a couple she doesn't like, she breaks them up. She will try and try, and eventually her plot works. Now, Holly J. hates Clare, and Clare has no idea why. She did nothing to Holly J. Nothing.

So, when Clare and Eli were walking down the hall, Holly J. glared at her, and made sure Clare knew she was looking at Eli with a flirt face. She did that on purpose, to make Clare jealous of course.

"That's the guy." Holly J. said. "That's the guy I'm gonna snatch from little ol' Clare Bear. HA! This is going to be too easy…"

Holly J. waved flipped her hair back, and waved with a giggle to Eli. Eli looked shocked, but he kinda waved back and smiled. Clare saw, and jerked him away from Holly J. Endless thoughts grew inside Clare's mind. "Eli is the only guy I have left. I can't let him leave me. I hope Holly J. isn't going to pull off the 'K.C. loves Jenna and not Clare because Jenna STOLE him from her' trip AGAIN.I am so worried…" Clare thought deeply in her mind.

"This is going to be harder than I thought…" Holly J. said. "But Eli is too good for an old rag like Clare. Hmmm…what should I do?"

Holly J. let out a snicker and shuffled things around in her purse. A gun. A gun she held inside her purse. WHY in the world did she have a gun? What was she going to do with it? It looked like the same one used on Sav. It was Declan's. Did Holly J. put the gun in the purse, or did Declan?

Holly J. glared once more on Clare. "Now…" she started, "I have a LOT of work to do to get rid of this little Clare…"


Hey guys! I hope you liked my first story! Review my story, and tell me what you think, please! This is just the beginning, and I will continue this story in different chapters. I will try my best to upload new ones as soon as possible! :) Thanks!~