Ch..Ch..Changes

For some the first day of school is torture for others it's what they live for. For Clare it was going to be a new experience because this year Clare had made some changes and not just in her class schedule.

As she walked up the steps of Degrassi High she couldn't help but hear people whisper. Not just whispering, guys turn their heads and nodding at her. Saying things like "Who's that chick? I haven't seen her around here before." And "Wow that girl looks a lot like that science geek from freshman year" She rolled her eyes at their ignorance.

However, there was one guy she couldn't help but notice. He was wearing all black clothing and smirking at her. He was leaning against the bathroom door. He was tall, dark haired, and had a piercing on his left ear. Clare blushed as he continued to smile at her. She brushed past him smiling to herself along the way.


KC was no smiles this morning. He had just gotten into another fight with Jenna this time over not caring about her power squad. How he longed for the days where he could talk about his love for robots with Clare and not feel like dork while doing it. All Jenna seemed to talk about was her appearance, the power squad, and making out. The last part he didn't mind as much.

Sighing he began to shove his new books into his locker. He had just gotten to his geometry book when he felt a girl pull up beside him.

She was medium height and had short wavy brown hair. She was slender and was wearing form fitting jeans and gray tank top that hugged her curves. She was hot, KC couldn't help but think. However, when she lifted her head, KC's mind went blank.

The girl that stood beside him, opening her locker, was none other than Clare Edwards: The girl whom his mind often wandered to these last couple of months.

"Clare?" he said finally.

"Hey KC," she said kindly. He looked her up and down, she really had changed. She now wore contacts and her hair was much shorter and flattering. Call him crazy but is she actually wearing form fitting clothing?

"H-How was your summer?" he sputtered out.

"It was great, I had a blast. Met some cool people, learned a new skill. It was quite enjoyable," she said.

"I'm glad to hear that." After a few moments of silence, KC tried to break it up by asking her a question.

However he didn't get the chance. At that moment Clare put her last book in her locker, "Well… I'll see you around. Later." she said walking away.

KC stood there stunned. He couldn't believe how much she had changed.


Clare began to feel a bit strange after that. She expected herself to melt when she saw KC but she did nothing of the sort. It was almost like… she was over him? She hadn't expected that at all today. She had expected herself to be putty in his palms but when she saw him she didn't see the KC she had once fallen for. The boy who stood before her was no man at all but a child. He had dark circles under his eyes (lack of sleep, Clare predicted). He was broken and had a surly air about him. He wasn't the KC she knew a year ago. He was someone else entirely, someone not worth mentioning. If he hadn't ripped her heart into pieces, she may have even felt bad for the guy.

She felt rejuvenated by this discovery. No longer did KC hold this super human power over her. She could finally be free, be free to love and care about someone. Be free to be whomever she wanted. "No holding back," she murmured quietly to herself.

"Clare! Baby! Where have you been?" cooed a sly male voice from behind her. She didn't even have to ask who it was. She knew from the pervy come-on exactly who it was.

"What do you want Reese?" she said turning around.

"You," he winked. Reese hadn't changed much over the summer. He still wore that wavy brown hair and mischievous grin. He was still a player and Clare wasn't going to have any of that today.

"Dream on, boy wonder." She snapped before walking away.

"Come on Clare, you don't think we'd have fun?" He said reaching in front of her blocking her path.

"Only if by fun, you mean me beating you senseless. Then yes we'd have fun."

"I might like that," Reese winked again.

"Gross." She said pushing him aside and walking away from him.

"I'll catch up with you later sweetie!" She rolled her eyes beginning to head to her first class, Biology.


Clare had entered the class room and began to search for her usual spot. Middle row center, close enough to hear the teacher but not so close that it's overbearing. She took out a book out of her bag. Lately she'd been reading up on Greek mythology. One story in particular caught her eye. "Oedipus the King." It was a tragic story about a narcisstic man who loses everything including his sight.

As she began to read she heard someone pull up behind her. She turned around to see who it was, and recognized this as the dark haired boy from this morning.

The boy smiled at her as she looked back. Feeling her cheeks turn bright red, Clare focused her attention to the front of the room. Still feeling his eyes on her, she was determined not to look back.

A few moments passed and more students filled the classroom and Mr. Little began. "Class we are going to do something different this year with lab partners. First and third row look to the person behind you, that person will be your lab partner for the rest of the term. Introduce yourselves as I locate the syllabus."

Clare felt her cheeks turn bright red as she looked her partner in the eye. "Hi, I'm Clare." She said friendly taking out her right hand.

The boy smiled. "Eli," he said taking her hand in both of his. "It's nice to meet you, Clare."

Her cheeks were getting warm; nervously she pulled her hand from his grasp. "So, are you new here? I haven't seen you around here before."

"Yeah…I just moved here from Port Franks. It's a lot different from my other school, much bigger."

"Yeah Degrassi's pretty big. I remember last year when I first started here. I was so nervous and for the first few months I wore nothing but my private school uniform. My sister used to give me so much flack and yeah it was really embarrassing but thankfully I made some good friend-and I'm babbling like an idiot." Clare somehow wish she had a roll of duct tape maybe then she'd stop spewing off word vomit.

Eli laughed. "I don't think you're an idiot, quite the opposite actually."

Before Clare could respond Mr. Little was back with syllabus. Clare turned back into her chair staring at the writing before her. As he went on Clare could have almost swore she felt Eli's eyes on her but she knew she must have been mistaken. No way would he be looking at a girl like her.

Somehow throughout the lecture a folded piece of paper fell into her lap. She eyed the note suspiciously and began to unfold it:

I think you're cute.

She looked back and Eli was smiling at her but then looked away once he realized he'd been staring too long. She turned back and began smiling to herself.


A/N: There you have it the first part of the fic. Sorry if it's a little rough, like I said I'm new at this so bare with me. I'll try and update this as often as I can. Thanks for reading thus far! Feedback is appreciated :)

-LS