CHAPTER 01 - STARTING ANEW
Stepping onto the front steps of Degrassi didn't feel too different than the year before. The only thing that felt the slightest bit different was his well-being. He had spent his whole summer away from his few friends so he could try and better himself, for the sake of his sanity. It seemed to had worked, his therapist thought he seemed well enough to put a halt on the therapy sessions. His parents didn't seem to think it was a good idea to go back to school the first week of therapy, and the first week he started on new medication. Despite their doubts, he had convinced them that he could handle everything on his own.
Taking a deep breath, Eli headed up the stairs, making his way through the metal detector and past one of the few policeman that still graced the populated and vocal hallways. As he made his way down the hall, he passed familiar faces, ones that either gave him a small smile and wave, or ones that turned away quickly. Amongst the familiar ones were unfamiliar ones, nervous and anxious, unaware of what they were going to undergo.
"Mr. Goldsworthy, don't you look dapper in that blue polo." A peppy, familiar voice sounded from behind him. He stopped in his tracks and turned around, coming face to face with none other than Imogen Moreno. A smile came across his face as she threw her arms around him, a completely normal greeting coming from her.
"Imogen, how was your summer?" He questioned once she undraped her arms from around his waist.
Imogen Moreno was one of those people that was always hiding in the shadows, quietly observing everyone around her. Someone who came off as a bit quirky and strange, but had an interesting outlook on everything. Someone who only looked to fit in while being herself.
He hadn't seen any of that the year before, his mind clogged and completely in a different state. He had only thought of her as a girl with an overbearing crush on him, who tried her absolute hardest to get him to like her back, and all he ended up doing to her in the end was crushing everything she had hoped for. He hurt her horribly, and the fact that she was even speaking to him was surprising.
"It was okay, I guess. Spent most of it alone, reminiscing. But enough about me, tell me about your summer." She interlocked his arm with his, and led him down the hallway. He opened his mouth, about to answer as they rounded the hallway, where the sight of Clare Edwards caused him to stop in his tracks. She was with Jake Martin, and they were yelling across the hall at each other. Nothing too surprising, but it intrigued him, nonetheless.
"You are so overbearing, Clare. I can't have you attached at my hip all the time. I'm sorry." Jake said furiously as he glared at her for a quick moment, walking away in a angry stance.
Eli couldn't help but keep his eyes locked on Clare, who's mind was obviously preoccupied with emotions. She stood against the wall, her eyes filled with tears threatening to fall down her cheeks. She was always one to hold back her emotions, she didn't like coming off as weak. She kept her eyes locked on her feet, not looking up at any passing student in the hallway.
"Come on, Eli." Imogen said, bringing Eli out of his thoughts, apparently noticing how his full attention was set on Clare. He gave her a swift nod as she began pulling him down the hallway again, his eyes still locked on Clare. She looked up as they walked past, her eyes locking with his. The longing stare that they had always had, the stare that still made his heart jump to this very day. He feared that he would never be able to shake the feelings he had for her-no matter how hard he tried.