A/N: We are sorry for the late late update, we both have been quite busy! Since Degrassi has come back now, we realize our original storyline doesn't quite match up, so we have revised it. There will be certain aspects from the show in the story, and the rest will be things we originally planned. Also, thanks for all the story favorites/alerts and thanks to GoldsworthyEdwards24 for being our first reviewer! Enjoy~

Eli's POV

Eli walked into the large office that he'd been spending so much time in lately. It was decorated with the same false cheer as the rest of the institution. Dr. Cain sat in a large desk chair, and gestured for Eli to take the one opposite him. He sat in the seat as the nurse left the room, shutting the door behind her.

"I have some important news to tell you," the doctor said.

Eli became aware that something was different. The doctor wasn't scribbling notes like he usually was. Something was wrong. He sat on his hands to hide their shaking as he asked, "What is it?"

The doctor hesitated a moment to clear his throat. "Do you know why you're here, Eli?"

"You called me in."

"Well yes. In a more general sense?"

Eli sighed. This doctor was always persistent, and definitely his least favorite of his numerous therapists. He looked down at his still-healing broken leg and various cuts and bruises from the accident. "I crashed Morty," he replied bitterly.

"Again, yes. Do you know what Borderline Personality Disorder is?"

Eli felt his heart drop. They had found something wrong with him. He was crazy. Relief that there was a reason he was the way he was and fear of what this diagnosis meant comingled in his mind. He tried his hardest to hide his conflicting emotions from the doctor. "Not off the top of my head, no. I have a feeling you're going to tell me though."

Dr. Cain looked him over for a moment, analyzing him. "It's a mental disorder that has many symptoms, most of which you show. People with this disorder often times have intense, but stormy relationships, usually caused by a fear of abandonment that is also common amongst patients with BPD. It usually is accompanied by other disorders, such as Obsessive compulsive disorder and severe anxiety, as we believe you have."

He could tell that the older man tried to break the news in the gentlest way possible, but it still felt like he was hit with a freight train. There was something wrong with him, something that would never go away. He would push people away again and again, just like he pushed away Clare and Julia, it was a part of who he was. He wished that they had made a mistake, that they had his file mixed up with someone else's. The truth was that he couldn't deny that he fit the profile. Clare, Julia, both relationships had been intense. Clare had even said it herself, and no one could pretend like either relationship wasn't without problems.

The doctor continued, "Now, I know that sounds like a lot and I'm not going to lie, it won't be easy. But there is medication that will help to control your anxiety, and through therapy you can learn more healthy ways to deal with your OCD and BPD."

Eli stared at him, this calm old man telling him that he was crazy without even flinching. What did it matter to him? He wasn't the one who was going to live the rest of his life with medications and therapy and never be normal. All he was to this man was another patient, another problem to be solved and then tossed away. It took a few moments for Eli to realize that the doctor was waiting for a response from him, so he just nodded and hoped it was the right thing to do. Clearly it was, because the doctor resumed talking.

"You'll be checking out of Oak Meadows next week and returning home. Unfortunately, you can't return to school until your medications are prescribed and your prescriptions are filled, so you'll be attending regular outpatient therapy sessions here until then. Once you begin school again, you'll have your parents have decided to enroll you in the group therapy sessions that your school offers. Of course, you'll still have a once a week session here until you seem to have adjusted to living with BPD. Do you have any questions?"

Eli just stared vaguely at the doctor. Medication for the rest of his life, therapy after school. As if all the students at Degrassi didn't already think he was insane after hearing about the crash, now they would all know it for sure. The worst part was that they'd be right. No one would treat him the same way again, they would all be scared of him. Or worse, pity him. Suddenly, a thought struck him. "My parents know?"

The doctor smiled, glad that Eli had been listening somewhat. "Yes, they were in here shortly before you. They're still out in the hall, you're free to go see them."

Without saying goodbye, Eli got up and left. There were few people in the all white hallway, so picking out CeCe and Bullfrog was relatively easy. They were sitting on a small gray bench up against the wall. As soon as they saw him, they both jumped up. Before he knew what hit him, CeCe had wrapped him in her arms.

"Baby boy, everything is going to be just fine. You're going to be fine," she said as they embraced. Bullfrog walked over and joined in the little family hug.

Eli found a little peace now that he knew nothing had changed with his parents, and that they wouldn't be treating him as if he was made of glass.

"We're going to get you the best therapist, anything you need. Don't worry."

The moment was ruined instantly. Things wouldn't be the same anymore. He started to feel panic setting in, as the gravity of the situation hit him. He'd never be himself again, always a patient or someone to worry about. His hands started trembling, something that both his parents immediately noticed.

The hug separated. "I know it's a lot to take in," CeCe said with concern. "We're going to fight this though, you'll be okay."

"I won't be okay, I'm going to be like this for the rest of my life. I'm always going to be crazy."

CeCe sighed. "Baby boy, you aren't crazy. It's a condition you'll have to live with, but things will get better with time. The doctor said that most patients are able to live normal lives, once they learn the right coping techniques."

"That doesn't mean people won't think I'm crazy or treat me like I am."

Bullfrog and CeCe both gave him a look. "Since when do you care what people think?"

The only person he cared about what they thought of him probably hated him anyways, and was out living a normal life. Neither of his parents had been thrilled with Clare since the accident, so Eli just kept these thoughts to himself. "I don't. I just want to be treated like a normal person."

CeCe hugged him again. "When you get out of here, things will be more normal. I promise."

Eli doubted it, but hugged her back anyways. "Thanks." He could only hope that Adam would take it as well.

Adam's POV

Adam rushed into his last period chemistry class just as the bell rang. It seemed like no matter how hard he tried or how fast he ran, he always ended up barely making it into class. Today just hadn't been his day. He'd seen Clare talking to one of the new guys, and he knew he'd have to hide it from Eli next time he visited him. He looked around for an empty seat, realizing that the only one that wasn't taken was next to the pretty new girl in the last row, who turned and smiled at him. Things were starting to look up. He sat down as the teacher began explaining the lab, and returned the smile to his new lab partner. Once the teacher finished up a rather long and boring explanation, he turned to Katie.

"So, do you know what we're doing, or are we going to wing it?" he asked, not really understanding the lab himself.

"I think we're supposed to light the burner, and boil this," as she gestured to a clear liquid, "Mixed with this," as she pointed to some yellow powder, "and boil it. After we just have to combine it with water and record the reaction."

"Well, you definitely do a much better job at explaining it then Mr. Avery did," Adam said as he lit the burner. "You must be a genius to have figured it out."

Katie laughed. "I think anyone could explain it better than he did. We did this lab at my old school, so ingenuity wasn't a factor." She poured the powder into the liquid, and watched as the whole thing began to bubble and turned yellow. "We've just got to wait for this to stop bubbling before we boil it."

"Lucky me, I have the partner with the inside info. So what was your old school like?"

"Like any other high school, I guess. It wasn't anything special. Degrassi seems like a pretty nice place though."

This time it was Adam's turn to laugh. "It can be, but things get more than a little crazy at times. People here can't seem to stay away from drama." Such as his two best friends, where one was in a mental institution and neither were talking, or his step-brother who was meeting with a lawyer for accidentally killing someone. This information was kept to himself though, as it seemed a little too much to throw at someone he was just meeting. He looked at the liquid, which was slowly bubbling over. "Shouldn't that have stopped bubbling by now?"

"Crap!" Katie looked around to find some paper towels, spotting some across the table. She and Adam both reached for them at the same time, knocking over the beaker in the process and spilling the yellow liquid all over themselves.

"I am so sorry!" Adam apologized as he handed her some paper towels and picked up the half empty beaker.

"It's alright, I'm the one who didn't measure it out right." Katie said as she blotted at her shirt and a blush spread across her face. "I was a little distracted."

Adam couldn't help but smile, and blush a little himself. "Well you look awesome in yellow, and I think we can salvage our lab, even if we're wearing most of it." He set up the beaker above the Bunsen burner. "Now we wait."

"Thanks. So what is there to do around here?"

Adam laughed as he finished mopping up the last of the spill. "Nothing at all. Well, there's the Dot where people usually hang out." Things had been going so well, he just decided to go for it. "Would you wanna meet me there after school?"

Katie smiled. "It's a date."

Adam decided that today actually was actually looking pretty good. All his earlier friend problems were the furthest thing from his mind as he thought about his date.

••••

Adam walked down the crowded street, making his way to The Dot after school. He was excited at the prospect of seeing Katie outside of school, but couldn't help his insecurities from seeping in. Katie and himself had hit it off now, but that's how it always started out. It was similar to how things began with Bianca and Fiona; Completely fine until they found out the truth about him which complicated everything.

The door chimed as Adam strutted through, choosing to sit at a back table. Katie had yet to arrive, so he had a few moments to clear his thoughts. He glanced around the small room dejected until he heard a familiar laugh nearby. Turning in his seat, Adam spotted Clare sitting at a table by his with the tall boy in a red Degrassi polo and dirty blonde hair he had seen her speaking with earlier.

Peter had come over to ask him what he wanted to order, but Adam had turned a deaf ear. All he could see was this new guy leaning in closer to Clare, making her giggle, and she seemed to be enjoying it. They... they couldn't be dating could they?

Anger prickled in the pit of his stomach. It didn't seem right, or fair in any way that Eli was stuck in a therapy center while Clare was off with another guy without a care. It made Adam angrier thinking how Eli had asked about Clare during his last visit; He sounded hopeful and obviously still in love with her. With all these jumbled thoughts clouding Adam's brain, he didn't process himself marching over to where Clare was situated, coughing loudly to make himself known.

"Oh... h-hey Adam," Clare stuttered on her words.

Adam ignored her awkward greeting, and cut right to the chance. "You know, I alway thought you were an understanding person, Clare. But this? You and broke up less than two weeks ago, and your already out with Pretty Boy over here?"

"Hey-" The boy interrupted, but Adam cut him across.

"But you don't give a rats ass about Eli, do you? As soon as things got tough, you wanted out! You don't care what he's going through now that you have some new guy- but it won't work Clare, because you and I know he's just a rebound-"

"Adam!" Clare said sharply, looking hurt at his outburst. "Jake and I have been friends since we were kids, and he just moved back to town so we were catching up."

"Oh," Adam felt instantly guilty. "Clare, I didn't mean-"

"Hey, I'm ready to go now,"Alli appeared and glanced at Adam. "Oh...hi Adam..."

"I'm... I'm just going to go..." Adam said edging away slowly feeling the awkward tension sink in. "See you at school..."

Clare's POV

Clare bustled around the kitchen, grabbing plates and placing them around the dinning table. Jake and his father had been invited to the Edwards' for dinner, welcoming the two back to Toronto. The dinner itself didn't worry Clare, it was the prospect of both her parents eating a meal in the same room that bothered her. The divorce had been fine for a while, until recently,when other things of the divorce had to be finalized which had caused more arguments than Clare would like.

Just as Clare finished setting the table, the door bell rang causing Helen to unnecessarily scream at her daughter to open it. Jake entered with his dad, who grinned widely at the sight of Clare.

"Clare Edwards!" He greeted loudly. "Is that you? I barely recognize you! What happen to your glasses? And you hair?"

Clare smiled coyly, tucking a curl behind her ear. "I cut my hair during the summer, and got laser eye surgery earlier in the year."

"You look very grown up,"Glen commented, removing his jacket along with Jake. "And your mother also tells me your in the gifted program at Degrassi? And in advanced Grade 11 English?" A blush crosses Clare's face as she blushes, with a nod. Paul claps Jake on the shoulder. "See, son? That's the kind of girl you need. Brains and beauty, not the ditzy girls up by the cabin!"

"Dad," Jake hisses, sending an apologetic look to Clare. She merely shrugs; It's not like her mom hadn't been implying the same thing to her when they were cleaning the house earlier.

"Ah, Glen you made it!" Helen said as she entered the room. "And Jake too, you've grown so much!" Helen lead them into the dining room, instructing Clare to bring the salad to the table. As Clare exiting the kitchen, she could hear her mother muttering under her breath about her dad's absence, and always being late.

It was going to be a long evening.

Randall has shown about half way through dinner, and Clare could tell by the way her mother's lips thinned as he sat down, she was less then pleased. Feeling the tension growing in the room, Mr. Martin drew Clare into conversation. " So Clare, I hear you very involved with extra couricular activities. Are you into cheerleading like Darcy was?"

"Oh, no, I joined the yearbook staff, and I am... or I was assisting with the play this year.."

"Why aren't you doing the play anymore, honey?" Clare's dad inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh... uhm, well the two leads broke up a while a go... and I don't really know..." She trailed off. Clare had no idea what would happen with the play this year. She doubted Adam would want to be apart of it after the way him and Fiona ended, and there was the fact that Eli was no longer at school... and probably did want to direct a play with his ex girlfriend.

"Is it because of that boy, Clare?" Helen said. "You can't let one bad breakup control your life, sweetie."

Jake and his dad gave Clare a confused look, while her dad asked, "Breakup? What breakup?"

Helen shot her ex husband a look of disgust. "If you ever paid attention to your daughter's life, you will know that she and that boy she was seeing broke up."

"Mom!"

"Excuse me?" Randell shot back, raising his voice.

"I know for a fact you always work late during your week with Clare, and you allowed that boy to come over too- are you aware that our daughter is always dating delinquents?" Helen started shouting.

"How is that my fault?" Her father began shouting.

As Clare predicted, the dinner had turned into a nightmare. She ignored her parents back and fourth bickering and Glen trying to calm them down. Silently, she brought her plate and went into the kitchen with Jake following her from behind. "Sorry about this..." Clare apologized. Jake looked at her with sad eyes and asked, "Is it always like this?"

Biting her lip, " Lets go to my room, it'll be easier to talk up there." The two quietly made there way up the stairs into Clare's room, unnoticed by their parents. Clare sat down on her bed, while Jake settled himself down on her desk chair. "So... has it been hard?" He questioned. Clare raised her eyebrows. "I mean, " He explained. "Dealing with your parents divorce...?"

"Oh, it was hard in the beginning..." Said Clare, looking down at her hands. "I rebelled at first, but my parents were trying to make it easier for me. They take turns staying with me at the house. It's been getting worse though, because since the divorce is being finalized, they have to come on a agreement of the terms... they can never agree on anything."

"I'm sorry, Clare." Jake told her. She looked up at him, and blurted out. "Did your parents get divorced too? I haven't seen your mom..." Jake released a huge sigh, and lowered his head into his hands. "Uh, Jake?"

"Uh...yeah." He replied, not saying anything else about the matter. He looked around Clare's room for something to distract them from the voices heard from downstairs "So... ugh... what are these?" Jake said, picking up a pile of photos Clare had on her desk. Clare hesitated as Jake shuffled through the photo's of her and Eli which she had planned on removing from her room. "Is this the ex boyfriend your mom was talking about?"

"Yeah," was all Clare said. Seeing how happy she looked with Eli in each picture made her heart hurt. It was almost hard to believe how things has ended with the photos as constant reminders of what their relationship was.

"So... earlier to day... thats what your friend was talking about? He doesn't want you to move on?"

"It just... he is both of our friends... so its hard on him. He doesn't want Eli to get hurt. But, in all honesty, I don't think I'll date for a while... it just never works out for me." Clare confessed, glancing down at her and Eli's smiling faces in a glossy photo.

"You can't let a few bad times get you down," Jake told her. "I've dating quite a bit, as my dad may have said, and sometimes it doesn't work out, and you get hurt, but there are fun times, and those are really the time that count right. You just gotta take a risk." Clare glanced up into Jake's eyes, his words echoing in her head. Take a risk. She could only remember a few months previously, when another boy was telling her something along the same lines.

A/N II: How will Eli deal with having Borderline Personallity disorder? Will something happen between Adam and Katie? Clare and Jake? Next chapter will include someone coming back to Degrassi... and possibly a date :o Review please!