Welcome to my latest short story!

Legal: I do not own or am no way associated with DeGrassi (even if I was I don't think I'd admit it at this point)

Important things to know before reading:

Clare and Eli did not get back together at prom and most certainly did not sleep together.

Clare did not find a lump on prom night.

Adam will not die.

Imogen graduated and Fimogen is still together (even though they aren't in the story but c'mon Fimogen should have been endgame!)

There was no summer Paris trip.

That should do it the rest will be explained in the chapter so now please do enjoy tonight's premier!

Ch. 1 Working All Summer

(CLARE)

Locking up my house I curse the humid evening so early in June, getting into my new car thanks to Dad's guilt. He had driven it over three weeks ago and told me it was mine, even Jake was jealous, of course then dad told me he'd married that whore he left mom for and they were moving to Bali of all places! So I lost a dad but gained an awesome car at least, and it's not as though Dad had been much of a dad since leaving my mom, so much as I hate to say it I barely noticed he was gone.

Mom and Glen were taking a European river cruise for the next two months, Glen had sold his contracting business and inherited some money after his uncle passed, and I honestly wasn't sure they'd ever come home. Jake was driving Katie to Stanford and then he wasn't sure what he was going to do but he had the freedom and money to figure it out. Mom and Glen had left this morning and I hadn't heard from them yet, not that I was surprised. Jake and Katie had also left this morning but they had stopped for the night in Chicago and Jake had called me to say they were stopping for the night and were safe.

With everyone gone it left me home alone for the summer, a little fact that was only known to my family and the Torres family, I told Adam and he told his mom so she of course said that she'd be looking in on me and I could go to their place any time I wanted. Jenna was in Tennessee visiting her brother, Alli and her parents were in Montreal visiting Sav at Concordia. K.C. had already moved to Vancouver and Eli was thankfully gone at NYU already. But everyone else was here for the summer, including Owen who had been accepted at Simon Fraser in B.C., however he wouldn't be leaving until the second week of August. I only knew this because Owen hung out at the Torres house a lot and I had been too since after the student council elections.

I parked in the parking lot for the community pool and got out of my car. I was here for my summer job as a lifeguard. It wasn't an easy job to get since you had to pass a swimming test, a first aid/CPR test and a fitness test. The pool officially opened tomorrow and all the lifeguards working here for the summer were here tonight for a mandatory course on how to clean the pool, test the water, opening procedures and closing procedures. Walking in I saw a few other lifeguards, only six of us were working here this summer and I only saw one other girl and three guys, so we were still missing one person and I hoped it was another girl to make it even. I didn't know any of the other lifeguards so they must all be from other schools.

"Hi I'm Clare Edwards, I'm one of the new lifeguards," I tell the man at the table.

"Sign in and take a name badge," he instructs pointing to a clipboard with a sign in sheet on it.

I sign my name on the clipboard and write my name on the sticker name badge when I get bumped into from behind.

"Sorry but I have to sign in," says the person and it's a voice I recognize but not one I'm happy to hear. The voice belongs to Luke Baker, Becky's brother, an Ice Hound and everything I knew about him was bad.

"Tell me you aren't working here for the summer," I comment peeling off the sticker name badge and putting it on my shirt.

"Watching hot girls in bikinis and you in a red swimsuit all summer, it's my dream job," Luke smirks and I roll my eyes.

Pushing Luke out of the way I find an empty chair surrounded by other people and sit down. Once Luke sits down the guy behind the desk introduces himself as Kurt and starts the class. It all takes about two hours and then we're given our schedule for the next month.

"Man I have to be here at eight tomorrow morning," Luke gripes.

"Me too, we got opening shifts," I remark with a heavy sigh that I'll be forced to work with Luke on my first day.

Luke grins and I almost vomit in my mouth when no one else is working the opening shift, of course only two of us will be on duty at a time, one lifeguard for each end of the pool.

"You want to get some food?" Luke asks when we leave.

"I promised Adam I'd come over and shouldn't you be in Florida like Becky this summer?" I question.

"Only Mom and Becks went to Florida for the summer, Dad and I stayed and now I get to work with you all summer," Luke smiles.

"Great," I reply sardonically rolling my eyes and getting in my car.

I didn't actually promise Adam I'd come over but I know they won't mind, especially since Audra told me to come over whenever. When I get to Adam's house I see that Owen is here as his car is in the front. I go in through the basement and all four boys nod to me when I come in, they're all caught up in some video game so they only look at me for a second.

"How was your first day?" Adam questions.

"Technically my first day is tomorrow and I get to open with Luke," I tell them with a sigh and roll of my eyes as I sink down next to Adam.

"Luke who?" Drew inquires.

"Baker," I huff.

"You're working all summer with Baker?! That should be entertaining I'll be spending time at the pool this summer," Owen smirks and I glare at him.

"Just ignore Luke, he just likes to talk and run his mouth," Adam advises.

"It's true Luke is mostly talk but he's not really a bad guy," Dallas agrees.

"Not from what I've seen, Owen's done some stupid things but he's apologized and he's not a creep anymore. He didn't help wreck my party or the garden with the rest of the team. You did but at least you apologized for it all in that rap, you even apologized for the kiss later," I comment and Adam pauses the video game as he, Owen and Drew all look at Dallas.

"What kiss?!" Adam exclaims

"When did you kiss Clare?" Drew inquires but he's kind of snickering.

"She was pissed over A…Eli," Dallas catches himself before saying Asher since neither Drew nor Owen know, Adam does but I only told him a couple of weeks ago. "I offered her a beer and she got tipsy after one and I kissed her. She slapped me and then wrote that article about the team," Dallas explains.

"Dude that was pretty low," Owen scolds him.

"Yeah I know but I did apologize," Dallas reminds him.

"It's all in the past my point is I've never seen Luke be anything but a jerk, he doesn't even seem to be all that nice to Becky. And Luke's never apologized for anything, all the other Ice Hounds that helped wreck my party have apologized. Luke only seems to be interested in pestering people and being a jerk and now I have to work with him all summer!"

"We'll all go to the pool tomorrow and make sure he behaves," Owen says, "plus I get to lounge poolside, show off my muscles and watch girls in bikinis all day," he grins and Drew laughs.

"Yeah sounds like a good summer too bad we have DeGrassi day camp during the week," Dallas comments resuming their video game.

I watch them play for a while but they turn it off after the next level and Drew puts on a movie. Audra comes down and says she'll order pizzas when she sees all of us here and I decide to grab a soda from the fridge down here. Dallas follows me to the kitchenette and I assume he's also getting a soda.

"Hey whatever happened with Asher?" Dallas whispers after I have the fridge open.

"Nothing, I pressed charges with another girl and the case got thrown out," I tell him.

"You're fucking kidding me! Why?" Dallas questions but he does keep his voice down.

"The statute of limitations was up on her case and Asher had already filed a complaint about me harassing him," I inform Dallas.

"That's bullshit!" He growls not so quiet this time and the others look over at us.

"Everything okay?" Adam inquires.

"Just filling Dallas in on the outcome of Asher," I tell Adam.

"Huh?" Drew and Owen ask.

"Don't worry about it," I reply grabbing a soda and sitting on the sofa again.

"You want to sleep over?" Adam offers.

"Yeah no one's at your house anyway might as well sleep here," Drew nods.

"Sure thanks," I reply opening my soda.

For the rest of the night we watch movies and eat pizza, at about 1am we all go to bed. I sleep in Drew's bed and he and Owen sleep in opposite directions on the basement sofa. I wake up at 6:30 to go home, shower and dress for the pool which consist of my red swimsuit, white shorts that are a little short for my taste but it's part of the uniform, and a red hoodie. I make it to the pool just before eight and Luke is already there, Kurt lets us in and gives us each keys. He introduces us to Connie who runs the snack stand and Pete the office manager then Luke and I get to work, I really hope Adam and the others show up and this day goes by fast.

(OWEN)

"Clare left rather early this morning," Audra says when the four of us are sitting at breakfast with her and Omar.

"She had to get to work," Adam informs her.

"Yeah and we told her we'd all spend the day at the pool on her first day," Drew announces.

"Okay your father and I will be running errand most of the day just be home by curfew and don't pester Clare at work," Audra says.

We finish breakfast and get ready to go, I borrow some board shorts from Drew, we pack up towels and Audra makes us take sunscreen. Drew drives us all in his car and we get to the pool at 11, it's been open for two hours and we can see Clare perched in her lifeguard chair looking out over the pool. We pay the fee and find a spot near Luke's chair to lay out our towels.

"What are you guys doing here?" Luke questions when he sees us.

"We promised Clare we'd help keep you in line," I inform him and he twists his face.

"What does she think I'm going to do?!" He gripes in a hurt voice and he really looks wounded.

"Be your usual charming self," Drew replies and Luke grimaces again.

We lie on our towels and Clare waves, then she takes off her red hoodie that I can't believe she was still wearing and starts putting sunscreen on her arms and chest.

"Clare does look hot in a swimsuit," I comment and then get smacked in the back of the head by Adam.

"Dude no hitting on my best friend," he warns me.

"I wasn't hitting on her I was making an astute observation that she looks good in a swimsuit," I counter.

"Yes she does," Luke says under his breath, only I hear him but by the inflection in his voice I'm beginning to think he likes her.

After about an hour of watching the hot girls we finally decide to get in the pool and swim for a while. Even Adam swims although he has a shirt on and his compression vest. When we get out Clare is gone and some older dude is sitting in her chair.

"Where's Clare?" Adam questions Luke as we're drying off.

"She went on break, Kurt's covering for her, I'll be taking mine in a few minutes," Luke tells us.

We nod, dry off and start to lie down again but my stomach grumbles and I tell them I'm getting some food. I grab my wallet and of course everyone else wants something too so Drew and Dallas give me cash. Another older guy dressed in a white polo and red lifeguard shorts comes over and tells Luke to go on break.

"Thanks Pete," Luke smiles hopping down. Luke walks with me to the snack stand and I see Clare in the shade reapplying her sunscreen.

"Maybe you should go help her get it on her back," I tell Luke nudging him with my elbow he grins and walks over to her.

"I'll put it on your back," he says taking the bottle of sunscreen from her.

"That's okay," Clare shakes her head taking the bottle back.

"C'mon unless you're really double jointed you can't get your back," Luke argues.

Clare looks over at me and sees me watching then looks back at Luke, "fine but watch your hands."

Luke takes the bottle putting some in his hands and then rubbing it on her back, shoulders and neck.

"Okay now do my back," he grins handing her back the bottle.

She narrows her eyes just slightly at him but takes the bottle and puts sunscreen on his back. She takes the bottle with her back to her chair and Luke goes inside the building and by the time I've gotten food and drinks for everyone Luke comes back out and helps me carry it to where we're sitting. Luke sits behind us and the four of us start eating. I'm chowing down on my hotdog and sort of absentmindedly watching the people in the pool until I hear a wolf-whistle and see Clare's cheeks are nearly as red as her swimsuit. Then some skinny guy with dark hair gets out of the pool sauntering over to her and I'm sure I know him.

"Fuck no way!" I exclaim, with a mouth full of hot dog, when I realize it's Reese and I haven't seen him since he was expelled from DeGrassi.

"Gross dude you just spit hot dog all over me," Dallas complains wiping it off him.

"Sorry but I know him," I apologize and nod to Reese who is now standing below Clare's chair. Clare is looking out at the pool and doing her job but she doesn't look happy.

"Who is he?" Adam questions.

"Reese Delancey, he was in grade nine with Clare until he was expelled for setting off fireworks in the school," I explain.

"Oh yeah I've heard about Reese, he had a crush on Clare, she almost went out with him too until she and K.C. started dating," Adam comments.

"You know for Clare being all good and saintly she sure likes the bad boys," Drew remarks.

"Clare is not saintly," Adam and I argue at the same time and then we all chuckle.

"Think maybe we should go help her?" Dallas questions as we're all now watching Reese and Clare.

"Yeah I think we better or Reese may not leave," I reply, we set down our food and the five of us walk over. Clare notices that we're walking over and gives us a grateful look.

"When is your shift over I'll take you for ice cream," Reese is saying to her.

"Hey Reese been a long time," I announce that we're here and Reese turns around to look at.

"Oh hey Owen, yeah well I don't hang around the ravine anymore. How ya been?" Reese asks.

"Good, leaving for University at the end of the summer. Stop hitting on Clare and let her do her job," I assert.

"I was just asking her out," Reese says.

"Well stop because she has a boyfriend," Adam tells him.

"Like that ever stopped me," Reese scoffs and then looks a little worried, "he's not here is he?"

"Yes he is, it's me, Clare's taken get lost," Drew growls being rather menacing, he truly looks angry you'd think they were really dating.

Reese looks Drew over, I glance up at Clare but she's looking out at the pool like none of us are here. Reese seems to decide that he doesn't want to mess with Drew and the rest of us so he walks away mumbling something. I look back up at Clare and she's looking at the pool still but I see her close her eyes and laugh for a few seconds.

"Thanks guys but Drew why are you the fake boyfriend you have a fiancé who will be home on Monday," Clare points out. Bianca had gone to Waterloo for early orientation; she'd be gone all weekend but back on Monday. She'd be leaving again in two weeks for the summer program but Waterloo was only an hour away and she'd be home most weekends.

"Bianca won't mind, especially if I'm saving you from a creep," Drew says sticking out his chest as he boasts.

"You didn't even know who Reese was until I pointed him out," I comment.

"You all saved me and I appreciate it, Luke you better get back to your post," Clare points out and we walk back to his chair.

Luke gets back to his post and the four of us go back to eating, I look around the pool but don't see Reese so maybe he left. We stay at the pool until four when Luke and Clare are off, Clare is already gone by the time we're out of the locker room but she texted Adam that she was going home and would call him tomorrow. After we get back to the Torres house I say goodbye to the others and drive home.

(CLARE)

I was so enjoying the early Sunday afternoon in my house with it's marvelous air conditioning, I had the closing shift today which meant 3 to 11 because the pool closed at 9 and apparently it takes two hours to close up. I had woken late this morning, called Adam because I promised I would and had a lazy breakfast in my empty house. I even checked e-mail today, nothing from mom or dad but Jake e-mailed pictures of their drive, Jenna and Alli both e-mailed to say hi and even Eli e-mailed to say he was loving NYU and working as P.A. which he described as the studio slave but said he still loved it. After spending most of our prom night talking Eli and I had parted that night as friends and I wished him luck in New York. I couldn't get back together with him and he understood but I'd never regret either of my relationships with Eli, still it was time for them to be over and me to move on, and Eli to move on. I was sure his e-mails would slowly taper off as he began to forget about me but I was happy for him that he was loving New York.

Now however I had to face the heat, the kids at the pool and possibly Luke as my partner for the day again. In all fairness he hadn't been awful yesterday but I'd also had Adam, Drew, Owen and Dallas there to keep an eye on him. I wouldn't have that today, I didn't think so anyway as Adam hadn't said anything and I was sure they had better things to do than hang around the pool all day again. Besides Adam, Drew and Dallas had DeGrassi day camp starting on Monday and I was sure Drew was doing something to prepare for it. I changed into my red swimsuit and shorts, bringing my hoodie for tonight but I didn't need it at this hour. I made the drive to the pool singing along to my favorite CD and when I get there I see Reese sitting at the water's edge close to my chair. Of course I'm not in my chair yet Jordan is but Reese seems to waiting for me, or maybe I'm just being paranoid.

"Hey Clare," Luke smiles walking up behind me.

"Hi," I respond with a small smile so that I'm not being rude. Then I walk to the employee lounge with him to put away our stuff and we walk out to the pool together.

"Oh good you're here," Jordan says with relief hopping down from his chair. "He's been waiting for you but it's been pretty calm otherwise and Mick just checked the water a half hour ago," Jordan informs me, Mick being the lifeguard that Luke is relieving.

"Hi Clare, don't see the boyfriend here today," Reese grins as I start climbing into my chair.

"Yeah uh he had to work," I mumble.

"Then I can hit on you," he grins.

"Reese either swim or get out!" I assert.

"It's a public pool Babe they don't say anything about having to swim so long as you pay the fee," he smirks leaning against my chair and he starts talking.

I roll my eyes and scream in frustration internally but he's right. I do my best to ignore him and watch the pool, after a while it becomes easy as Reese's talking sort of fades to the background. After about an hour of me ignoring him he finally goes swimming and I finally smile. Luke gets his break first and walks over to my chair even though Reese is no longer standing here.

"Do you want anything Clare?" Luke asks very politely.

"No thanks Luke I'll have my break in a few minutes you should go enjoy yours," I tell him.

He gives me a small smile and walks toward the lounge and I go back to my duties. When Kurt comes to relieve me for my break I pass Luke on his way back to his post. I didn't bring anything to eat so I get an energy bar from the snack stand and sit in the employee lounge. As I'm leaving I almost bump into Reese and he intentionally blocks my path back to the pool.

"Reese move I need to get back to work," I demand.

"Not until you agree to go out with me," he responds.

"Reese I have a boyfriend remember?" I counter. Of course I really don't but Drew told Reese he was my boyfriend yesterday so I'm just going to go along with that.

"A boyfriend who isn't here, I won't tell him if you won't," Reese smirks.

I huff in disgust and push my way past Reese to go back to my post. When I get out I see two girls in tiny little bikinis sitting under Luke's chair and very obviously flirting with him. Only he doesn't seem to be paying any attention to them which isn't the Luke I remember from school. For the first time since I've been aware of his existence Luke Baker just became the tiniest bit interesting. Instead of being a big headed, sexist, bigot, bull headed jock I see that he might actually have some depth. I still think he's a terrible person but I'm starting to thin there might be some hope that he's more than the idiot close minded jock I saw in school.

I get back in my chair and resume watching the pool, Kurt relieves me for lunch and I drive down the street to the deli to get a sandwich. Adam calls to tell me they're having a party next Friday because his parents are going out of town. I tell him I'll be there and when I get back I see Luke is eating lunch in the shade with those same two girls. This time he's not ignoring them and seems to be bragging about hockey. Apparently I was wrong and he is that shallow and small minded, I guess he was just being professional on the job and while there is something to be said for that I'm admittedly disappointed that he's still giving into anything with breasts.

"Can I rub sunscreen on your back?" Reese offers when I get back to my chair.

"No and what are you still doing here?" I inquire climbing the ladder to the chair again.

"Oh I'll be here all day Babe just you wait I'll wear you down, I don't take no for an answer," Reese responds before sauntering away.

"Awesome," I grumble sardonically.

Luke comes back from lunch half an hour later with those two girls following him like lost puppies and I gag internally. They're about 15 or 16 and all giggly and flirty and I want to throw up. At the very least Luke is professional and when he climbs back on his chair to work he doesn't look at the girls. The day drags on and other than blowing our whistle at running kids, telling people not to splash or dive into the shallow end, neither me nor Luke has to do very much. By 8:30 we're looking forward to closing and the pool is all but empty, there are 3 women in their early 20's swimming laps, those two girls that are drooling over Luke, and Reese still.

I'm watching the clock and waiting until we can close when Reese dives in near the shallow end, hits the bottom and doesn't come up! He's closer to me and I jump down from the chair making a shallow dive into the pool grabbing Reese and getting him up with some help from Luke. We lay Reese on the cement and check for a pulse, he has a pulse but he's not breathing so I prepare to do mouth to mouth to when Luke stops me. I look at him and he moves in position for mouth to mouth, pinching Reese's nose and bending down Luke starts mouth to mouth. And then Reese starts moving and I realize he's kissing Luke! Reese must have thought it was me but he realizes it's Luke instantly and pushes Luke away coughing and gagging!

"Oh gross you're not Clare! Yuck I just kissed a boy!" Reese says wiping off his tongue and I have to laugh.

"And you didn't really drown; you weren't really in trouble you just wanted to trick Clare into kissing you so I stopped you. Since you put us in danger and faked a drowning you're banned from the pool for two weeks, you can't pull stupid stuff like that here," Luke tells Reese.

Reese gets up grumbling and storms off and I giggle as I stand up. The two lost puppy dog girls that have been fawning over Luke all day are now looking at him like he's Superman and I gag again.

"Luke you are so brave," gushes one, "here's some water I'm sure you need it after that." The girl offers Luke her water bottle and he takes it.

"And so strong, it was so gallant of you to keep that creep from kissing your co-worker," the other cajoles.

"It was nothing for a guy like me, I've lifted guys four times his size before," Luke brags and I roll my eyes again.

At least we're only open for twenty more minutes and then we shoo out the remaining girls so we can begin our closing duties. Clean and cover the pool, pick up left behind clothing, sunglasses, towels, sunscreen and trash. Luke checks the boys locker room and I check the girls, for stray people and anything left behind. We have to sweep them out and clean them a bit, check the showers and lock up. It's very close to eleven when we're done and the only left is Kurt.

"Now that you've done closing procedures and have your keys you'll be closing on your own. It never takes us long to close the office and snack stand, you have my cell number just call if there's a problem and the alarm code for the building is 556492. You two have closing shift tomorrow goodnight," Kurt says showing us the alarm as he arms it and then locking up. We say goodnight and I start walking to my car, Luke follows me but his car is next to mine.

"We keep getting the same shift," Luke says with a grin.

"Yeah lucky me," I reply sardonically rolling my eyes and then feel bad when Luke looks hurt by this comment. "I can't believe you kissed a boy for me," I comment smiling when I think about it again.

"Well I didn't want him kissing you and I could tell what he had planned, he'd been hanging around and staring at you all day," Luke replies and we're both at our cars now.

"I guess you're not all bad," I say and he smiles a bit. "I'm surprised you figured out Reese's plan considering those two girls didn't leave your side all day," I remark and find it coming from my mouth more bitterly than intended.

"You mean Rosemary and Sarah? They're just kids, they're sweet but very uninteresting and too airheaded for my liking," Luke says and I find myself smiling.

"So I'll see you tomorrow then," I comment after we're both silent a few seconds.

"You want to go get a coffee or something?" He asks.

"No I don't think that's a good idea, I'll see you tomorrow Luke," I respond and get in my car, he watches me drive off before getting into his car.

Luke did one good thing but he's still a jerk, and a bigot, and a close minded jock. Despite telling me those girls weren't interesting he was flirting with them whenever he could. He's shallow, egotistical and all wrong for me. And yet I find myself intrigued by him, I find that I deeply want there to be more to Luke Baker than what you see on the surface. I find that just maybe there's some little part of me that might actually sort of maybe like him! Oh boy this is going to be an interesting summer!

I hope you all enjoyed chapter one, chapter two will be up on Thursday June 12th and will have more with Cluke of course, as well as the Torres brothers, Owen, Dallas and Bianca.