Be sure to visit my page on the DeGrassi Saviors website to vote for which story will replace Waiting on a Spark that hasn't Happened Yet when that ends. You have three choices and there are brief descriptions for each story in the poll. The poll will remain up until the last chapter of Waiting on a Spark that hasn't Happened Yet goes up which might be as few as four weeks or as many as ten it all depends on how much goes into these last few chapters. Love Me Back to Life and The Girls Next Door continue to stay within a few votes of the other so make sure to get your votes in.
It's going to be a pretty busy week so chapters will likely be on the shorter side this week. Including tonight's chapter.
Ch. 2 On the Outskirts of a Sundown
(CLARE)
"Drew I don't want to be here when my parents get home. I can't face them, I don't think I can look them in the eye and not burst into tears," I tell Drew a few minutes after Adam leaves.
"Okay let's go to Owen's, we can hide out there from both sets of parents, at least until after dinner. Maybe we can even sleep there, you can tell your parents you're at Jenna's and I'll tell Mom I'm sleeping at Owen's."
"You don't think your mom will want to know why you're sleeping at Owen's?" I ask.
"I'll tell her he's helping with some event," Drew shrugs as he stands up. "Come one pack a bag let's go to Owen's," Drew insists.
"Shouldn't you call him first?" I question.
"Yeah I guess, you pack an overnight bag and I'll call Owen and see if we can come over," Drew says.
He leaves the room and calls Owen, coming back a moment later to tell me Owen says to come on over. I pack a change of clothes and some toiletries for tomorrow in my backpack and then we get in Drew's car he drives us to Owen's apartment.
"So what's the emergency?" Owen asks when he lets us in and I hit Drew's arm.
"Drew you told him it was an emergency," I snap at my boyfriend.
"Well it's sort of an emergency and we needed a place to hide out for a night," Drew replies.
"Hey you're welcome here but what's going on?"
"I'm pregnant," I blurt out and Owen's jaw hangs open.
"Holy fucking shit!" Owen exclaims.
"It wasn't planned obviously and we've always used condoms but apparently one broke. I was going to have an abortion," I explain as I sit on Owen's sofa with Drew.
"But you're not now?" Owen questions sitting in the arm chair.
"No I had Drew take me to the emergency room today because I was bleeding. I'm okay and so is the baby but the doctor said I was lucky to be pregnant. Apparently it's very likely I'll never get pregnant again because of my cancer and the treatment. After hearing that and seeing the blood I was so scared something was wrong with the baby I decided to keep it."
"I want to keep the baby too we'll work it out somehow, we'll figure it out together," Drew says reaching over and taking my hand.
"I just didn't want to be home, we told Adam but we have to tell our parents and I just couldn't face that today. I need some time to process," I comment.
"Well you're welcome to crash here but when are you going to tell your parents?" Owen queries.
"I don't know maybe after my appointments, we need to make one with an OB/GYN and my oncologist," I reply.
"Why do you need to see your oncologist?" Owen inquires.
"Because she has to go off her meds for the baby. If she doesn't she's sure to miscarry and that could also be very harmful to her. Even if she doesn't miscarry the meds will hurt the baby," Drew informs him putting his arm around me.
"Does that mean that your cancer will come back?" Owen asks.
"There's a greater chance of it," I nod.
"Wow that sucks and is pretty scary," Owen says.
"Yeah this whole situation is frightening I know I want to keep the baby but I'm so scared about so many things," I comment quietly as I lean on Drew.
"So how'd the interview at Columbia go?" Owen asks changing the subject.
"It went really well the admissions lady was impressed and I think I have a very good chance of getting in," I reply.
"Cool, what happened to your head?" Owen asks noticing the bump when I move my hair. "Did you pass out when you found out you were pregnant?"
"Yeah but that's not where the bump came from," I respond and go on to tell Owen about thinking I saw Eli in New York and hitting my head. Then having to call Eli and stay the night with him.
"Which I wasn't happy about at all," Drew grimaces and I shoot him a look. "But at least Eli was taking care of her," Drew admits.
"So if you get into Columbia what are you guys going to do?" Owen questions.
"I have no idea," I reply sinking down a little.
"I'll move to New York with her, we can find a little apartment and I'll watch the baby while she goes to school. It's not like I'm going to get into a great university like Columbia, I'd be lucky to get in anywhere besides Centennial. I'm a crap student but I'm great with kids I'd be an excellent stay at home dad," Drew remarks.
"I know you will," I smile kissing Drew's cheek before sinking down again, "it's about the only thing I'm sure of."
"We still have some time to be sure about everything," Drew assures me kissing my hand.
"I think we'd better make a list, I feel like there's a million things to think about and consider and decide a…"
"Breathe," Drew says holding his hand over my mouth so I'll stop talking.
I release a breath and Drew asks Owen if we can borrow his laptop so we can make a list of everything. We spend the next couple of hours doing so while Owen does homework, finally I feel like we have it all down and the list has over 100 things on it. Drew and I get in touch with our moms telling them we're sleeping at friend's houses and Owen orders pizza for the three of us.
"You two can sleep in my bed," Owen tells us while we're eating.
"No I don't want to kick you out of your bed," I argue.
"It's fine I'll take the sofa it's comfortable but it won't fit the two of you and I know Drew's not going to let go of you tonight," Owen says.
"Damn right," Drew nods.
"Thanks Owen," I smile. I'm finally feeling like there's actually a chance this whole thing could work. Maybe, just maybe Drew and I can do this.
(DREW)
"So we're going to the oncologist at lunch, we should be back by 3rd period but if not we'll tell them that we were caught up with student council stuff," I tell my brother when we walk into school Thursday morning.
We spent Tuesday night at Owen's place and made a long list, really several lists, of all the decisions we had to make and all the things we had to do before the baby was born. Clare felt better when we had everything down and she was organized and could check things off the list. We did go home yesterday after school but currently only Adam and Owen know that Clare is pregnant. We know we have to tell our parents and everyone else but we're just not ready yet.
"Cool I doubt you'll have too much in 3rd period anyway," Adam says and we both watch as Clare runs into the washroom. She's in there a few minutes and when she comes out she's wiping her mouth.
"You okay?" I ask her as she comes over to us.
"Yeah just morning sickness," Clare whispers. I put my arm around her and kiss her forehead.
Clare comes with us to our lockers and kisses my cheek before she goes to homeroom with Adam. Clare has both her morning classes with Adam and I'm not in either of the classes so I don't see her until lunch. We say goodbye to my brother and get in my car to go to her oncologist. Clare told them it was urgent and she was able to get a quick appointment and lunch today. We were not so lucky with the OB/GYN; Clare's first appointment isn't for two weeks.
"Welcome Clare Dr. Kennedy will be right with you," the nurse says when we come in, "you can wait in the office."
"Thanks," Clare replies taking my hand and pulling me down the hall into an office. We sit down in two chairs in front of a large dark wood desk. Clare's shaking just slightly and I squeeze her hand. After a few minutes a male doctor comes in. "Hi Dr. Kennedy this is my boyfriend Drew, I'm not with Eli anymore," Clare explains nervously.
"Hello Drew nice to meet you. So what brings you in today Clare?"
"Drew and I pregnant," Clare tells him.
"Oh," is all the doctor gives as a reply.
"They said I needed to go off my meds so I stopped taking them a couple of days ago when we found out. They said I should come in and see you though so here I am."
"Since you went off your medications early you'll need to come in frequently for blood tests since you're at a greater risk now of relapse. You'll continue to need frequent blood tests after the baby is born and it would behoove you to go back onto your maintenance meds as soon as you are able to. You should make an appoint for about a month from now for your first blood test. Do you have any other questions?"
Clare shakes her head and I can't think of any so we say goodbye to the doctor and get back in my car. I start driving us back to school, stopping at a store to pick snacks since we haven't eaten lunch and we'll be getting back to school just before the bell rings.
"So how'd it go?" Adam asks when he finds us at our lockers.
"I have to go in for lots of blood tests so they can test for relapse."
"It wasn't very encouraging but I wasn't really expecting it to be encouraging," I reply just as the bell rings.
Clare waves to Adam and I put my arm around her as we walk toward our TV and Movie production class. Clare's putting on a happy face at school, if she's stressed or worried she's not showing it. We have biology last period with Adam, Jenna and Connor and we all go to student council when biology is done.
"I think we should tell everyone on Monday," Clare says when it's just us and Adam after student council.
"I think if Jenna sees you throwing up in the washroom again she's going to guess," Adam responds sardonically and glower at him.
"Adam's right, we need to tell them Monday but let's make it through the weekend. And figure out when to tell our parents," Clare responds.
"Monday is good do you want to come over to do homework?" I ask Clare.
"No I should get home I've hardly been home at all since getting back from New York. I'll see you guys tomorrow," Clare replies.
We walk out together and I kiss her when she gets to her car. I drive Adam and I home but I can't get started on my homework I have too much else on my mind.
"I need to go run an errand, if Mom comes home tell her I had to run out and I'll be back soon," I request of my brother.
"Okay," he nods and continues on with his homework. I get in my car and drive to the mall, parking near the food court and walking to the cell phone kiosk where I used to work.
"Hey Max," I greet leaning on the kiosk.
"Drew Torres my favorite former employee what brings you here?"
"I was hoping I could get my job back, part time at least I really only have time on the weekends but maybe full time this summer," I tell him.
"Dude of course can you start this weekend? I still have all your info it won't take me very long to get you set up in the system again."
"Great thanks I need the money," I smile.
"See you Saturday at ten to open," Max says. I smile and drive home getting there just in time for dinner.
"I got my job back at the cell phone kiosk. Just weekends but I want to put more money away," I announce at dinner.
"That's a wonderful idea son," Dad smiles while Mom gives me a suspicious look. After dinner I have to finish my homework and then while Adam is watching TV I go back to Dallas' old room and call Clare.
"I got my job back at the cell phone kiosk today," I tell Clare when she answers.
"Drew you can't do that what about school?"
"I didn't drop out I'll be working weekends, which means I'm going to be very busy on weekends. I still have some in savings but we'll need all that we can get to live in New York. I can work full time during the summer before we move."
"Thank you Drew it means a lot to me that you took that step. It shows amazing maturity and shows me how much you really care and how serious you are about this."
"I love you Clare and we can do this," I remind her.
"I love you too," she says and I hear the smile on her lips.
We stay up talking and I end up falling asleep in Dallas' old bed still on the phone with Clare. On Friday we talk a little about Clare's birthday which is next Friday. Clare wants something low-key so we decide on dinner at her favorite restaurant and cake at our house. I decide that we don't need to have student council that afternoon and tell everyone to have a good weekend. Clare spends the afternoon at our house but not wanting to face my mom she goes home before dinner. Saturday morning, I eat breakfast and get ready for work, I still have the polo shirts we used as uniforms and when I get to work Max is there. He only stays long enough to give me the keys and then says he'll be back at noon to since he's closing tonight. It's a pretty calm morning but by the time Max arrives at noon it's quite busy. At two I get a lunch break and I'm happy to see my beautiful girlfriend waiting for me.
"Hi I brought you lunch," she says handing me a bag.
"Thanks Gorgeous," I grin.
"How are you feeling?" I ask Clare as we sit down in the food court.
"I was nauseas again this morning, thankfully my parents were gone. Since then I've been okay but I thought you might need something better than mall food for lunch."
"And I appreciate that," I smile. Clare stays for my lunch hour and we walk around the mall a bit looking at baby stuff before I return to work. Clare walks me back and I kiss her goodbye before she leaves.
"So what happened to the smoking hot girlfriend with all the curls?" Max asks when we have a lull in the customers.
"She became my fiancé, we almost got married then she went to college and decided being engaged was the worst thing she could do. I was already beginning to fall in love with Clare anyway. We started officially dating just before Christmas but we were already in love."
"So you lucky bastard went from a smokin' hot dark haired beauty to a smoking hot voluptuous beauty."
"Yeah pretty much," I nod.
"So why are you working here instead of spending your weekends with her?"
"Because she's pregnant and we need the money."
"Whoa! From being engaged to being a dad, you've had quite a year."
"You have no idea."
The update next Tuesday will begin with Clare and Drew telling their friends and probably include Clare's birthday and the return of Eli!
