Legal: I own nothing but the idea.

Important to know before reading:

Starts with "Come as You Are".

Nobody went to the cabin, basically "Nowhere to Run" doesn't happen in this. Clare never got back together with Jake after the wedding and therefor were not dating at the beginning of the school year.

Dallas is not a father in this story.

This is a Clowen story it's just going to take a while so be patient Clowen fans.

Okay that should so it enjoy the chapter.

Ch. 1 Some Ghosts are Never Gone

(CLARE)

Jake dropped me off out front of the school; I saw Adam and some of my other friends walking to the steps.

"Hey anybody seen Eli?" I ask joining the group.

"He just got his driving privileges back," Adam says they must be talking about breakups, or bad relationships.

"That was a long time ago," I remind him; after all it's been over 9 months since that night.

It had taken us nearly that long to start talking again, we'd had our moments over the past few months. A few times during his play, Adam getting shot of course and I still hate thinking about that night. After prom I'd spent the summer at my grandparents so I had missed Eli and Jake hanging out all summer and becoming friends. I'd missed Drew breaking Katie's heart to get back together with Bianca. Then Katie and Jake had started dating and still were. I came back from summer to a whole new world as a whole new Clare, not that anyone knew it, I kept it very well hidden. As much as Eli and Jake had become friends Eli and I had pretty much avoided each other all of last semester and I had spent the whole semester trying to forget and atone for my summer. However Eli had helped rescue the last edition of the DeGrassi Daily before break and we'd reconnected, after exploring the carnival I had kissed him. So I was excited to see him today, I felt that spark again and I was hoping he did too.

"Hey what are we talking about?" Bianca questions coming up to Drew and greeting him with a kiss.

"Clare's excited to see Eli," Alli tells her.

"Could it be the schools most talked about couple is rekindling their flame?" Bianca says in a half teasing tone.

With all the time I spent at Adam's house last semester, because I didn't want to be at home, Bianca and I had begun a friendship. I even considered Drew to be a friend now and not just Adam's brother.

"We were not the schools most talked about couple," I say shaking my head as we all take seats in the gym for the mandatory assembly Simpson sent letters home about.

"Yeah you were, blackmail to get a date, poisoning, a knife fight and that was just the first night you two were even official don't forget a whole semesters worth of sexual tension that drove the rest of us crazy," Drew remarks.

"Yep," everyone else choruses in agreement.

Jenna and Connor join us; I see Jake and Katie sitting a few rows ahead of us and Simpson goes to the podium on stage.

"Welcome back DeGrassi students, I'm sure you're all wondering about the letter that went out over break. After much deliberation I am happy to announce that DeGrassi is now uniform free!"

With this announcement the gym erupts into cheers and people throwing off uniform jackets. Bianca just takes off her red polo revealing a bright pink lace tank top, which attracts the attention of most of the boys around us. Simpson has more to say though as he motions for us all to sit down.

"I am also happy to announce that DeGrassi has its very own junior pro hockey team the Toronto Ice Hounds," Simpson tells us.

People start clapping and a dozen boys sitting on the front left side of the gym stand up. The only one I recognize is Owen but Simpson is telling us how they were recruited from all over North America and there is even a set of twins from Sweden.

"NHL hopefuls go here?" Jenna asks licking her lips at the boy prospects.

"Aren't you guys hosting one?" I ask Adam and he nods.

"Are you single ladies going to "show them around", you have a whole dozen to choose from," Alli teases with finger quotes.

"Finger quotes? Really Alli? Besides I wa…" I freeze when I see him not even finishing my sentence. "No it can't be, what's he doing here at my school?! I don't remember him ever saying he even played hockey, of course I was there in summer. He's a senior I can probably avoid him…I hope."

"Clare?" Adam questions putting a hand on my arm and breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Uh I have to use the washroom," I say getting up quickly to walk to the exit.

Eli is leaning in the doorway and I nearly don't see him as I rush to get out of the gym.

"Whoa Blue Eyes where's the fire?" He asks catching my arm.

I stop and smile when I look into his piercing green eyes, "Just wanted to stash some books before class, I have co-op this semester."

"I bet you'll get something good, anyone would be crazy not to take you," Eli smirks.

"So how was New York?" I ask him because I know he spent the holidays in New York with his parents.

"Ugh I hated it, there was all this art and culture and architecture," Eli says making a face and shivering like it was disgusting.

"So you loved it," I laugh.

"Already thinking about my NYU portfolio for next year," he tells me.

"Eli that's amazing," I grin.

"So," he says uncomfortably.

"So w…" I'm cut off by a startling cheery voice suddenly at my side.

"Hi I'm Rebecca Baker but everyone calls me Becky. My family just moved here from Florida, my brother's on the hockey team," she tells us.

Becky is few inches taller than me, incredibly skinny, possibly skinner than Maya which I didn't think possible. She has long strawberry or dark blonde hair and blue eyes.

"The sunshine state I might have guessed," Eli quips giving her his smirk.

"Can one of you show me to Mr. Perino's World History class?" Becky requests.

I notice that the assembly is breaking up and as I want to avoid the hockey team at all costs I want to get out of here.

"Yeah I can show you," I say to Becky and look at Eli, "talk to you later Eli."

He smiles and I take Becky's hand walking away as quickly as I can without seeming rude.

"I'm kind of nervous about starting at a new school but we couldn't pass up this opportunity for my brother. Oh hey you wear a chastity ring, so do Luke and I. Our dad's a minister at Broadview Gospel Hall. You should come by some time; everyone at our church is really nice. I was thinking of starting a youth group, I know you have friendship club here but that's just at lunch, we could have it at my house after school," Becky says excitedly.

"Oh yeah, my ring," I say uncomfortably turning the band of metal on my finger. Becky's still talking but we've reached her class so I interrupt her. "This is Perino's class; well have a good first day. I'm Clare by the way," I say extending my hand.

"Thanks and thanks for showing me my class, it's nice to meet you Clare," Becky grins shaking my hand and then goes into the room.

I head off to Miss Oh's class excited to find out what my co-op is, although I won't find out until later this week. Alli's in class and waves to me so I sit at the desk in front of her because the ones on either side of her are taken. We talk for a few minutes until the bell rings and Miss Oh begins class. She tells us a little of what to expect this semester and reads from a few past students who did co-op. She gives us the rest of class to fill out our applications and write our essays for each place. I've already done that, I did it over break and e-mailed them to Miss Oh because I knew I'd be in co-op this semester, so Miss Oh excuses me from the rest of class which means I don't have any classes until after lunch. So I leave class and stash my backpack in my locker before going to the bulletin board for the clubs to see if there is anything worth joining this year.

"Well now this school just got a whole lot better."

The sound of his voice makes my skin crawl and yet, much as I'd like pretend it didn't, it makes me tingle as well.

"Go away Mike," I demand as firmly as I can without turning around to look at him.

"I know you don't mean that Clare," he replies walking up behind me and caressing his hands down my arms.

My skin tingles at his touch and I shake with disgust all at once. I hate so very much that there's a part of me that wants him to keep touching me. Last summer comes rushing back and I bite my lip briefly and then push him away.

"Don't touch me!" I snap at him turning to face him a little and crossing my arms over my chest.

"Now I know you don't mean that," he says in a despicably vile way and catches my hand examining my purity ring. "I can't believe you're still wearing this, does everyone really still think you're a virgin?" He laughs.

"Nobody has any idea about last summer, about us or anything and I want it to stay that way. Just leave me alone me alone Mike!" I snarl at him getting angry and a little scared now.

I try and walk away but he's still holding my hand, he grips it a little tighter and pulls me back, not roughly but with enough force that our bodies nearly touch. God I can smell him, his scent brings back such a rush of extreme memories I feel like I might pass out, or possibly vomit.

"You don't really expect me to leave you alone do you?" Dallas questions with his lips very close to mine.

"Everything okay?" Owen's voice makes me jump and I look over, sure that I have a guilty look on my face.

"Everything's fine," I reply quickly yanking my hand back and walking away as fast as I can go.

As soon as I'm down the hall from the two Ice Hounds I start running, down the hall and out the back. I push the metal utility door so hard that it hits the brick and makes a loud bang. I start pacing along the soccer field, shaking slightly and am nearly in tears because Mike Dallas is at my school and now he knows I'm here too.

(OWEN)

I watch Clare run off and look at Dallas, "What was that about?" I inquire.

"Just getting acquainted with the hot girls here at DeGrassi," Dallas replies.

"Yeah well rumor is that hot girl is getting back together with her ex so hands off," I warn him I'm also sure more is going on than he's saying. Dallas just gives me a grin and walks off down the hall. I go in the direction Clare ran off to, I hear the metal door behind the utility room opening and closing with bang so I know where she went. "Clare are you okay?" I question and she jumps a little, guess I surprised her.

"I'm fine," she responds trying to walk away but I run ahead of her and block her path.

"Clare if Dallas did something then you can tell me. The whole team has a code of conduct to follow and if Dallas did something I should tell coach, he doesn't get special treatment just for being captain," I inform her.

"Mike didn't do anything I was showing him how to get to class," she insists.

"That's not what it looked like to me, and that's another thing why do you call him Mike?" I question.

"That's his first name isn't it," she shoots back in a snarky and slightly annoyed tone.

"Yeah but I've never heard anyone call him that but you, even the coach calls him Dallas. The only time coach tried to call him Mike he went ballistic and no one has even tried since but he didn't bat an eye when you called him Mike. Plus you never called Fitz Mark or call K.C. Kirk Cameron. How'd you even know his first name was Mike?" I inquire.

"He told me, can I go now?" She asks getting agitated.

I know something else is going on, every instinct I have is telling me so but I'm sure Clare isn't going to tell me, not right now anyway. I move aside, she runs off in the direction of the Dot and I head back into school to grab my stuff for my next class.

"Hey Drew," I call to him when I get to my locker and see Drew at his, he looks over at me, "Does Clare know Dallas is billeted with you?" I ask him.

"Adam could have told her, why?" He asks closing his locker and coming over to me.

"I think she might know him already, she calls him by his first name," I remark.

"You're kidding, he won't even let my mom call him that and very few people say no to Audra Torres. She's never been to Guelph that I know of but Adam would be the one to ask," Drew replies.

I nod close my locker and Drew walks with me, turns out we both have business leadership this period. When I get to the room I see Eli in there, he's sitting at the front with Fiona and Imogen. Drew and I sit in back and then Dallas comes in and sits on the other side of Drew.

"Hey Eli you getting back together with Clare?" I call across the room.

Dallas had been flipping through a book but this peaks his interest and he looks up, Drew just looks at me like I've lost my mind. Eli had been talking to Fiona and Imogen but now the three of them look over their shoulders at me.

"Why? You thinking of asking her out?" Eli asks cautiously and giving me quite the glare because he's worried I'm going to ask her out.

"Just curious, heard you two were heating up again," I remark glancing at Dallas just a little, he's awaiting Eli's answer but doesn't seem to be worried either way.

"She kissed me before break but we haven't talked about getting back together," Eli responds and Dallas chortles which makes Eli and Drew look at him. "I hadn't really thought about it," Eli adds furrowing his brow at Dallas.

"Oh yeah right that's probably all you thought about during break," Fiona chides and Imogen agrees.

"Okay I thought about it, a lot," Eli says and Imogen laughs.

I look at Dallas but he's just grinning like he's happy about this, no time to think about it now as the teacher has come in. Class is fine but I spend most of it wondering how Clare knows Dallas and what happened with them. After class it's lunch so after stashing my books in my locker Drew and I go with Bianca to the Dot.

"Hey we're having a party tonight," Adam informs his brother when we get to the Dot.

"Mom and Dad will be home tomorrow morning," Drew argues.

"We'll have it cleaned up before they get home, I already tweeted it," Adam tells us and Bianca pulls out her phone.

"Burn your uniform party cool," she grins at Adam then looks at Drew, "I'll help set up and clean up, Audra will never know."

"Yeah we don't have practice today so I can help too," I tell Drew.

"Adam brilliant idea on the party dude, it's going to be huge," Dallas grins walking in with Luke and a few of the other guys.

"Good thing you specified grades 11 and 12 only, I got to know who all the hot girls are that aren't too young," remarks Casey our second string left wing.

"Dave's taking me to the store, gonna buy some supplies," Adam tells us walking out.

"We better keep the party in the basement," Drew comments just as I see Clare out the window, she's walking back to school.

Dallas notices her too and watches her walk away, to be fair he's not the only one a couple of the other guys watch her ass sway as she walks but Dallas is the only one I'm worried about. My last two classes of the day go by quickly and after school we split up to get supplies for the party. Dallas comes with me to buy beer since we both have fake ID's. Drew and Adam already have the basement pretty well set up by the time we get there and people are beginning to arrive. Clare comes with Alli and Jenna, her dark blue top has long sleeves and covers a lot but it's tight and looks like it's been formed around her breasts. Alli leaves Clare to be with Dave, Luke starts talking to Jenna and Clare is looking around the room, for Eli I assume but Dallas goes to her first. She gets a displeased look on her face at the sight of him and although I can't hear what they're saying from this side of the room she doesn't look happy. In fact she walks away from him and starts talking K.C. to make Dallas leave her alone and now I'm certain that something happened between the two.

(CLARE)

I had been at Adam's party for over two hours; I'd talked to K.C. and Connor, watched Adam burn some uniforms on the BBQ and spent a good deal of time with Jenna. I'd only seen Eli once and he was talking to some other people and the music was so loud we couldn't really talk in here anyway. On the other hand Mike seemed to be there every time I turned around, I hate that he's here, I thought after last summer I'd never have to see him again but now he was going to my school.

"I don't know why you keep trying to run from me Clare," he says appearing when I go to get a drink. "How about you have some beer," he offers.

"Why don't you just leave me alone? There are at least a dozen other girls here that I'm sure would be happy to talk to you," I point out.

"Yeah but they're not interesting and you know I want to do more than talk," Dallas replies.

"I'm sure they'll do that with you too," I snap back trying to walk past him but he grabs my arm.

"Maybe but I don't know what they'll do and I know what you'll do," he says nearly whispering it in my ear.

"Just leave me alone!" I assert pulling my arm back and pushing my way through people to get outside.

I close the sliding glass door behind me and let out a frustrated scream stomping my foot on the ground!

"Problem?" Eli asks looking up from his spot on the bench, I didn't even realize he was outside until he spoke.

"Just getting annoyed with our new hockey team," I reply it's not a lie…exactly.

"Yeah I met a couple of them today; I've got classes with a few of them," Eli tells me.

"Yeah well I think I've had all the drunken hockey players I can handle for right now, I'm gonna go home," I tell him.

"You want a lift?" Eli offers.

"Sure," I smile and he gets up. He's driving his mom's car and we get in, my house is only a few minutes from Adam's but when he parks outside of my house I don't get out of the car. "Eli about that ki…" I begin to say but before I can finish the word he cups my face in his hand and crushes his lips to mine.

I exhale into the kiss, so warm, so familiar, so gentle and I smile. After a minute I pull away from the kiss and Eli's eyes lock onto mine.

"That kiss was on my mind the whole time I was in New York," he tells me and my smile gets a little bigger.

"Then why didn't you say anything all day? Or kiss me again?" I question.

"I've come a long way from last year and I was afraid to chase you again," he tells me.

"You don't have to chase me Eli I'm right here," I tell him, he smirks and smashes our lips together again.

We stay with our lips locked this time, never breaking apart, not even coming up for air, at least not until there's a knock on the car door and we both jump. I turn around to see Jake standing there, well that's better than my mom standing there. I lean over and open the door, Jake leans in the opening, one arm on top of the car, the other along the top of the door.

"So does this mean you two are back together?" Jake questions and I look at Eli.

"Yeah," he grins.

"Cool well Clare's curfew is in five minutes so I suggest she get inside you two can make out tomorrow," Jake grins and I glower at him.

"Call me when you get home," I request.

"Of course Blue Eyes," Eli smiles and I get out of the car.

I go in with Jake, say hi to my mom and tell her homework at Adam's was fine because that's what she thinks I was doing. I only have a little homework to do and I finish that in about an hour, while talking to Eli on the phone. We get ready for bed together and fall asleep on the phone. I wake to the sound of Eli's deep rhythmic breathing and I smile.

"Eli," I say but he doesn't wake up, "Eli."

"Hey guess we fell asleep on the phone," he says in a tired voice.

"Guess so you have morning voice," I grin.

"So date tonight? Like a re-first date?" He asks and I hear the grin on his lips.

"Sounds perfect, I'll see you at school, no more uniforms means I have to think about what to wear," I tell him.

"Mmm you look good in anything, see you at school Blue Eyes," Eli says and hangs up.

I get up gleefully and go to my closet to decide what to wear. I nab the washroom before Jake and go down to breakfast.

"Well you seem awfully cheery this morning," Mom comments when we're all at the breakfast table.

"She's back together with Eli," Jake explains taking a large bite of egg.

"Oh, well Eli's a nice boy and you two did make a cute couple. We should have him over some time," Mom says slowly like she's not sure if my getting back together with Eli is good or bad.

"I'm sure Eli will come to dinner, especially since he and Jake are friends now," I comment.

Jake and I leave for school after breakfast, Eli is waiting on the steps for me, he waves to Jake and kisses me.

"Hey if you crash your car this time I'm going to kill you," Adam calls from behind us and we turn around.

Adam runs up being followed Drew, and to my disgust Mike, at least he seems to be having a conversation with Drew and not paying attention to us. Or so I think but Mike gives me a look when he passes me, at least Adam and Eli don't notice.

"So when do you find out what your co-op is?" Eli questions as the three of us walk into school together.

"Everyone gets placed by the end of the week," I shrug.

"I have to get to my locker, I'll see you guys later, and you tonight Blue Eyes," Eli says tipping my chin up to kiss me softly.

Eli walks off and I'm smiling while Adam shakes his head, but he's smiling too. I put most of my books in my locker and then Alli and Jenna appear.

"Girl talk I'm outta here," Adam says when they gather around me.

"So you disappeared from the party last night, were you with Eli?" Alli questions as I wave to Adam.

"Yes and we're back together," I tell them and they squeal.

"I knew it! You can double date with me and Dave sometime," Alli insists.

"Uh sure," I reply not sure that Eli and Dave have a single thing in common.

We talk until the bell and then Alli and I run to class, getting in just before the late bell.

"A big congratulations to our first placement Clare Edwards, she's been placed at the Interpreter with one of my favorite reporters Asher Shostak," Miss Oh tells me as soon as she starts class.

"You're kidding, that was my first choice," I grin happily taking my packet from Miss Oh.

"Yes and they are expecting you in 45 minutes so you better get going," she tells me.

I smile at Alli and race out the door; I send a text to Jake that I'm taking the truck to my co-op. I show the security guard my packet when I get to the building and he lets me in.

"Mr. Shostak," I say knocking on his office door, "I'm Clare Edwards."

"Ah yes my high school slave for the next few months," he says in a joking tone and I laugh nervously. "Welcome aboard Clare, we're going to just toss you in and see if you can swim but don't be afraid to ask questions. So why don't you start with this stack of fact checking," Asher says handing me a huge pile of papers.

He takes me out to a desk I can use and I get to work, it takes pretty much all my time to do the fact checking.

"All done, every fact has been triple checked," I tell him.

"Wonderful, can you run downstairs and get me a red eye with two shots?" He asks handing me some money.

"Sure," I reply taking the money, I don't really want to do grunt work but it's part of the job.

"Get yourself something too Newsie," he says just before I go out the door. I go down to the little coffee shop that's conveniently next door and get his coffee and one for me, with less caffeine. "Thanks Newsie, you should be heading back now, I'll see you tomorrow," Asher says when I hand him his coffee.

"Yes see you tomorrow Mr. Shostak," I smile.

"Newsie call me Asher, my father is Mr. Shostak," he says.

"Okay see you tomorrow Asher," I grin and leave.

So far today has been wonderful, I'm back together with Eli, I have a great co-op with an amazing journalist mentor and Eli and I have our re-first date tonight. I get back to school at lunch and practically skip inside.

"You look happy, how was co-op?" Eli asks when I join him and Adam in the memorial garden.

"Great Asher is amazing, he's this incredible journalist and he's only 32. He's really nice and friendly, he even has a nickname for me," I inform them before taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Uh is that normal?" Adam inquires.

"What do you mean?" I question furrowing my brow because I don't see the problem.

"For your boss to have a nickname for you?" Eli clarifies and Adam nods.

"Guys he calls me Newsie not Baby Doll or something," I laugh.

"Still seems a little creepy to me," Adam remarks.

"Oh Adam stop being paranoid it's an innocent nickname," I assure him,

Neither of them looks convinced but at least they drop it. After I eat I leave the boys so I can use the washroom and get some books from my locker. I don't even make it to a washroom however when Mike grabs my arm and pulls me into a classroom.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" I demand pulling my arm back.

"I wanted to talk," he shrugs, "and you've been avoiding me."

"Then take the hint and leave me alone!" I bark at him.

"Now why would I want to do that?" Dallas asks taking a step closer to me.

I back up and bump into a desk, it slides a few inches and I am forced to sit on it. Mike leans on the desk one hand on it as he leans into me and I lean farther back. His breath ghosts along my neck, the heat from his body close enough to heat mine. Butterflies fill my stomach and I suck in breath before his lips abduct mine. I make a tiny involuntary whimper; the feel of his lips has me tingling and getting wet between my legs. I hate Mike Dallas, I hate him for this very reason, I lose control, I lose all sense and my sanity and often more when he's touching me or even around me. It's like he puts some sort of spell on me and my brain just stops all together. His tongue licks across my bottom lip and they part for him on their own. His tongue slips in and his hand slides along my leg and up my skirt.

"I don't like tights don't wear them anymore unless they're on a garter belt or stop at your thigh," he commands but he's broken the kiss and his words make me angry.

"Mike stop I have a boyfriend," I tell him.

"Then dump him," Mike responds pulling the neckline of my blouse down to kiss the top of my breast.

I whimper again wanting to push him away but my brain and body have turned to mush.

"No," I manage to whisper but just barely.

"Then cheat on him, I don't care everyone at this school thinks you're a straight laced saint. They don't know shit," Mike says as he kisses up to my lips again.

Eli starts to fade from my mind, any resolve I had begins to fade away as our lips seal together once again. I'm nearly ready to give in entirely and have sex here on the desk when the door suddenly opens.

"What the fuck is going on?"

Owen's voice brings me back; I push Mike away from me and run out of the classroom as fast as I can. It's going to be one long semester!

Hope you guys are liking the new story thus far. Update next Wednesday picking up from around here. And EClare fans remember this really is a Clowen fic.

Thanks to Christlove88 for her help with the church name and classes.