Clare's toes skid across the crystal-clear (and freezing) water. She smooths out her white cotton skirt, and adjusts her yellow tank-top, looking out at the horizon ahead of her.
That's really pretty... she thinks, smiling to herself. When her mom announced the two were going to this old cabin on the lake that summer, Clare was overjoyed. And when she gave her permission to take Clare's boyfriend, Eli, she was even more happy.
So, here she sat, looking at the lake, sitting on the dock, peaceful, serene, and, most of all, happy.
It was a good break from all the drama of Degrassi. From Fiona cheating on Adam (with some girl she met at a camp her mother forced her to go to, none the less. Who would've known that Fiona's a lesbian?) to Clare's dad marrying some slut he met at some bar.
Clare was so mesmerized by the setting sun, she didn't notice her boyfriend sitting down next to her.
They sit there for a minute, but Eli was getting noticeably bored, so he nudges Clare's shoulder.
"Clare?" he asks. "You there?"
She shudders as she enters the cold, dark reality of life once again, but then looks at her boyfriend. "Yeah, sorry." She sighs. "Just distracted."
Eli nods, not truly believing her, but letting it go.
"Don't you ever wish that everything was just perfect?" Clare asks, throwing her hands out. "Or that you could just snap your fingers, and everything would just be okay?"
He nods. "Yeah. Trust me, you have no idea I wished that when Julia died." he shrugs. "But life would get pretty god damn boring if that was possible." He wraps one black-clad arm around her thin shoulders.
Clare rests her head on his shoulders. "Yeah, I guess."
They sit there in silence, until Clare feels a small push on her back. And, all of a sudden, she's falling into the water.
They cold liquid covers her, drenching her and her clothes. When her feet feel ground, she stands up, her mouth in a perfect 'O', her curly auburn hair in her face.
She brushes the hair out of her eyes. "I cannot believe you just did that!" she cries, trudging through the mud.
Eli chuckles, and holds out a hand for her. She takes it, and tugs, so he was joining her in the water.
When he emerges, he splashes her, and she pitifully blocks her face.
This turns into a huge splash fight, consisting of squeals from Clare and belly laughs from Eli.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Edwards opens up the screen door, about to call out to them to tell them dinner was ready, but when she sees their fun, she stops mid-sentence. She was glad her daughter could have a little fun, from all the drama back home.
She turns away, glad her daughter could find someone to be happy with after all the heartbreak she's been having lately.
