A/N: This is my second fan fic, and I am really excited about it. I don't know how the whole thing will be going, but I do know it makes me happy to write it. That has to count for something right? I'm not done with the other one, and I will still update it from time to time. I'm just kind of bored with it. This story on the other hand, is a lot better.

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi

I got out of my mother's silver SUV, and walked to her window. I may have been miserable at home with her, Glen, and Jake, but I had to admit I would miss her. Tears started to blur my vision, but I wiped them away before they fell.

I grabbed my three suitcases from the trunk, and walked to her open car window.

"I love you mom, I'll miss you." I said hesitating whether or not to keep going.

"Sweetie, I know you're nervous, but it'll be okay. I love you so much, and if you really miss me, I'm just a phone call away." My mom said.

"Bye mom." I smiled as I walked over to my father.

"Bye Clare" I heard her say faintly from the car after I had turned my back already.

I walked over to my father's car. We had to cross the border to get to my dad's new house. He moved to a city in Pennsylvania on the southern side of Lake Erie. Surprise, Surprise that city was called Erie.

"Hey dad, how are you?" I said nicely as I put my bags into my dad's car.

"I'm great. I'm so excited to spend a year with my favorite Clarebear". He said cheerfully, as I sat down in the passenger seat.

I shoot him a fake smile. Don't get me wrong I'm happy to spend time with my dad, but I am nervous about having to go to a new school, and live in a new house, and live in a new country.

He seems to notice the fake smile, and is saddened by it.

"Hey dad, I just don't like being called Clarebear that's all. I say smiling way more genuinely.

His smile came back, and he said "just a two hour drive till we are home."

We crossed the border fairly quickly, and were back on the road.

My father and I make small talk on the car ride, but nothing too serious. He tells me about my new home, my new school, and about the city.

He had only been living here for about 2 years, and seemed to be very knowledgeable on the place.

I learned that my new school "Lake View Academy" was one of the most highly ranked schools in the State, and that I would be "challenged immensely". He also told me that Erie was a small city, but that it had great beaches. The beaches will be little use to me since it is about three weeks till school starts. He told me about his next door neighbors, and how they have a daughter that is going to be in grade ten like me. Her name is Lucy, and dad says she is a lot like me.

"She goes to your new school, and she is the only person in that neighborhood that I want you hanging out with." Dad said seriously.

"Do you live in a bad neighborhood?" I asked nervously.

"Not bad, just not the best." He said hesitantly.

"Oh?" I ask in a light mood.

We get off of the highway, and I start looking around at all of the short buildings. This place is a lot smaller than Toronto, but I suppose I can deal.

"What do people my age do around here for fun?" I ask wondering how this small city could be fun.

"Well I suppose you will have to ask Lucy. I don't keep up with the kids." He said trying to think of something.

We turn into a drive way that I assume belongs to us. I get out of the car. The house is bungalow style, and brick. It looks almost identical to the one next door. They are both pretty nice, and a lot bigger than our townhouse in Toronto. I notice that the street is a lot busier than what I'm used to, but that's nothing too bad. Down the street there is a big 6 way intersection with a convenient store, and a thrift shop.

After spending a few minutes looking around I walk up the stairs to the house, and help my dad bring in my bags.

I walk in the door, and see that the living room is pretty old fashioned. There are old hardwood floors, and it was absolutely nothing like what I had pictured before coming.

I bit my lip, and continued through the home glancing around at everything. I assessed that either my dad bought this placed pre-furnished or got a decorator; because there is no way my dad would have made these choices himself. I walked into a short hallway with three doors, and saw the bathroom. It was surprisingly tidy for my father. He wasn't one to clean up after himself, but I suppose he'd gotten used to it after the divorce, and all.

The other two doors off of the hallway were closed, so I turned around and look back into the remainder of the home. There was a stair case next to the start of the hall way, and the kitchen door was next to that. I walked into the kitchen, and saw that it too was old fashioned. I was all right with that though. It gave the house a homey feeling. Off the kitchen there was a mud room equipped with a pantry, and a staircase down to a dark and dingy basement. I could tell already I wouldn't be spending much time down there.

"Clare" I heard my dad call my name from the living room.

"I'm in the kitchen" I say, and walk toward the living room.

"Taking a look around I see… What do you think?" he asks trying to make me feel at home.

"It's really nice dad, but it's not very… you?" I say questioning his décor.

"Well, I got some help with the decorating. The old couple who lived here before me left a lot of stuff, and I am using a lot of that, and I got a decorator to help with the rest" he said jokingly.

"That is exactly what I figured" I said with a small grin that made my lips disappear.

"Oh Clare, follow me. I'll take you to your room". He said excitedly.

I followed him back into the narrow hall off of the dining room, and through the door on the left. I looked around. The room was smaller than my old room, but not by more than a foot or two. The walls were a light shade of blue, and the single bed had a yellow and white floral comforter. There were two white dressers on the left wall of the room, and the bed with a tall white headboard was nuzzled in the corner. The closet was on the same wall as the door, and was a good enough size. Next to the closet was an empty white bookshelf. The floor was the same medium brown hardwood that went through the majority of the home. The walls were bare, but I can always fix that.

My dad looked at my reaction. "Well, what do you think?" he asked enthusiastically.

I turned around and smiled."I like it dad… I don't even know what to say."

"I'm really glad you like it, Clare."

"I'm going to start with dinner. You could start unpacking or you could introduce yourself to Lucy, or…"

I cut him off. "That sounds good… Which house does she live in?" I ask. I figure I should probably try to make friends before school starts, so that I'm not forced to sit alone on the first day.

"The one right next door. It looks just like this one." He said with the same enthusiasm he had had since we got here. I had never seen my dad so happy. It was actually really refreshing.

I made my way to the front door and walked to the front door of my new neighbor's house. I hesitated for a moment scared that I would make a bad first impression, and then rang the door bell.

A girl about my age answered the door. She was about my height maybe an inch or two taller, which put her at 5"3 or 5"4. She had really long, wavy brown hair with bangs to the side, and large plastic, black framed glasses. Her face was round, and she was a wearing a burnt orange high low dress, cowgirl boots, and a dark denim jacket. I could see why my father said she reminded him of me. Her style was kind of similar to mine.

She smiled at me, and stepped outside. "Hello" she said politely.

"Hi, I'm Clare…" I said extending my hand.

She shook my hand and said "Oh…Mr. Edwards's daughter right?" she said welcomingly

"Yeah … that's me". I smiled.

"I've heard so much about you… "She said sweetly.

"All good things I hope" I said jokingly.

"Well of course" she laughed a little."Oh how rude of me. Would you like to come in?" she said.

"Sure" I said timidly.

She led me into her living room which was set up very similar to my fathers.

"Oh… and I'm Lucy by the way… I'm sorry I didn't start with that." she said.

She led me to the couch, and gestured for me to sit while she sat on a chair within speaking range.

"So…Clare, are you excited to be living with your dad?"

"Yeah, it should be a fun time." I said. "That reminds me. What kind of things are there to do around here?" I asked curiously.

"Well… let me think… we have an amusement park where most kids our age spend almost their entire summer. We have the beach, and that's always fun. We have average things like the mall and the movies. There are more things I'm sure, but that's how I spend most of my time." She says jokingly.

"There is an amusement park?" I asked Lucy.

"Yeah, it's nothing special. It's just somewhere to hang out… we could go sometime if you want. It would probably be good for you to meet some more people" Lucy said smiling.

"That would be great, thanks."I say smiling back at her.

"Clare, we should go online and check your schedule."

Before I could say anything she got up, grabbed my arm and pulled me into the room that was mine in my dad's house. She stops at a white desk that sits down. She logs on to her computer, and goes on to the internet.

She asks me my birthday, and somehow gets to my schedule. I watch as she scans it over.

"Wow, did you choose your schedule?" she asked surprised.

"Um, yeah I think I did a couple months ago why?" I asked curiously

"You took on quite a big work load". She said

"Two Advanced placement classes?"

"I guess, why?"

Those are hard classes, Clare." She said looking at me with wide eyes.

"But hey, we have a lot of classes together, two on A day, and 3 on B day."

"Aren't there only like four classes a day?" I ask.

"Yes… Four on A and four on B, We have the block schedule so we have classes every other day."

"So, what do we have together?" I ask anxiously.

"Chemistry, AP history, Journalism, Geometry, and French"

I looked at her and smiled. I was really happy to have someone that I would know on the first day. I suck at making new friends by myself, but maybe with Lucy's help I can be friends with her friend.

"Hey Lucy, you have a cell phone right?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, you want to exchange numbers?" she asks.

I nod, and we switch phones. I type my name into her phone, and she does the same with mine.

We switch phones back, and I notice that my dad is calling. I answer the phone.

"Hey dad. What's up?"

"Hey Clare, the food is done, it's time to come home. I have a surprise". He said excitedly.

"K, be there in a few."

"Hey Lucy, I have to get going. Thanks so much. It was really great meeting you. "

She walked me to the door, and said "text me if you've got any questions or if you want to make plans to hang." She said sincerely.

I walked back over to my dad's house, and walked in the door. I saw that there was a boy sitting at the dining room table. I thought for a moment I was in the wrong house, but then I saw my dad coming out of the kitchen behind a woman that I don't know.

"Dad? What's going on?" I said confused.