AN- This is what you need to know to keep up with this story. All falls down never happened. There was no near stabbing. Clare and Eli went to the dance together. they were happy. they became boyfriend and girlfriend. Fitz is still an enemy of the trio (Eli, Clare, Adam). Setting in spring. Please, no one get mad at me. lol. Sorry if theres any glaring mistakes cause as of right now it is one in the morning and im dead tired and sick. review me please!

Chapter 1

Clare strolled quickly through the dark halls of Degrassi. The small heels of her shoes click-clacked on the cold marble floors, they echoed off the walls. The sun had already set and there was no one left in the school, save the night janitor and herself. Unease filled Clare's chest as the normally bustling halls were eerily silent and still. Clare's yearbook meeting had run late and she had been charged with the task of finishing off the remaining pages so the other members could leave. She groaned to herself as she remembered that she was supposed to finish an english project with Eli tonight. She pulled out her phone and dialled his number.

"Hey Edwards, I see you couldn't stay mad at me for long." Clare could almost hear his smirk thought the phone.

"For your information, Eli, I am only talking to you because I have to, not because I want to. We still have a project to finish."

"Ouch Clare! You're my girlfriend; you're supposed to forgive me for silly things like this." Clare sighed inwardly. She knew she wasn't going to be able to hold out much longer. It was almost impossible to stay angry at Eli for any length of time, but she refused to be a push-over. She had to hold her own in this relationship, and she knew it.

"Ah, see Eli? That's where you're wrong, Darling. Because I'm your girlfriend, I reserve the right to stay upset with you for as long as I want and hold it over your head for the remainder of our lives. That is…unless you want to beg for forgiveness? I'm always open to grovelling." Now Clare was the one smirking.

Eli scoffed, "Eli Goldsworthy does not grovel."

"Whatever you say Eli," Clare giggled, "So, english project. Your place or mine?"

"Mine, where are you? I'll pick you up."

She thought about it, "Don't worry about it. It's a nice night. I'll walk and be there in fifteen."

"Great. That'll give me enough time to practice my grovelling in the mirror." Awe, he really was a softy at heart.

"See you in a bit."

"Wait, Clare," His tone surprisingly serious and urgent.

"Yes?" She asked cautiously.

"I love you."

Damn, Clare's heart melted. "I love you, too. See you soon," and with that she hung up. Clare approached the main doors with a little more bounce in her step. This was why she could never stay mad at Eli: he made her too happy. Throwing open the front doors, Clare stepped into the cool Ontario air- and heard the sound of glass breaking? Clare looked down into the parking lot and saw Fitz, Bianca, and-was that really him?- KC, laughing around an old car; a smashed beer bottle on the ground. Oh poo, Clare thought as the door closed quite loudly behind her. The trio's heads snapped up at the sound. Clare stood dumbly in the flood lights of the school; they might as well have been a spotlight. A cruel smile crept across Fitz's face as he approached her.

"Hey Clare," He called sweetly.

Clare stepped down the stairs, attempting to look casual. "Hi guys," She stumbled, "listen, I really have to get going so I'll see you all at school tomorrow-,"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up. You just got here in time to join the party." Fitz blocked her exit.

Clare's heart fluttered helplessly in her ribs, "Really, Fitz, I have to go meet someone…"

Fitz's eyes darkened. "See, that's my problem. You're going to meet Eli aren't you?" he smirked. God, his smirk was so different than Eli's. Eli's teased. Fitz's was just…evil. He turned to look at KC who was still leaning against the car, enjoying the show. "KC, if you just looked at her would you be able to tell if she was dating an emo boy?"

KC studied her for a moment, his eyes clouded with alcohol. "Nope," he said.

Fitz looked back at Clare, a maniacal grin on his face. "Then we should give her some marks shouldn't we?" He reached in his pocket and popped open a switch blade. Clare tried to run. Fitz grabbed Clare violently by her shoulders and slammed her against the wall. Her head cracked against the brick and she felt warm blood drip down the side of her face.

"Help! Please! Someone! KC, please!" Clare screamed. KC just stared.

"God, shut her up! She's going to give me a migraine before the hangover even gets a chance to kick in," Bianca complained, disgusted. At her bidding, Fitz levelled one punch: solidly to Clare's gut, two punches: firmly to her ribs, and three punches: directly on her diaphragm. Clare had no more air left to scream.

Fitz lifted Clare's right arm above her head and clamped it firmly to the brick wall. With surgical precision, Fitz drew the steel blade across the soft flesh of Clare's wrist in excruciating slowness. The deep wound opened and leaked profusely down her arm and dripped to the pavement. Clare screamed silently into the night air. Fitz let her right arm fall to her side in order to pick up her left. Again, Clare tried to run but Fitz hit her hard in the face and dark roses bloomed in Clare's vision. Fitz repeated the gruesome task of slitting Clare's wrist, end to end. He let go of her arm and she fell helpless to the ground.

Fitz pocketed his blade, "Let's go guys, our community service is done for the night." Footsteps, squealing tires, silence. Dark blood pooled around Clare's hands making them wet and sticky. She looked up to see her bag lying a few feet away. She used her remaining strength to drag herself to her backpack and pull out her phone. Dialling became difficult as Fitz must have cut through a couple of her tendons. Clare focused intently on each number. It seemed to ring forever.

"Clare Edwards, you shock me! I know you were mad at me but I never thought you would ditch a project-"

"Eli-," She whispered.

"Did you know you were supposed to be here an hour ago?" he raved. An hour? It hadn't seemed that long.

"Eli!" Clare said louder. Her voice cracked.

This time Eli caught on. "What's wrong?"

"I'm hurt…"

"Where are you?"

"Degrassi parking lot."

"I'm coming." And he hung up.

Clare felt tears (or was it blood?) running down her cheeks. Her head felt so light…maybe she'd just have a little nap…Eli was coming…she'd be okay…