Sorry so many chapters were missed last week but I am feeling better. Please note that this week I have family visiting. I will not skip any chapters but they might be short, especially next Saturday and Sunday.

Tonight is a little short.

Ch. 3 We Didn't Add Up

(OWEN)

"Hey guys," I greet Julian and some of the hockey team as I sit down at Above the Dot.

"Hey, where'd you go after practice?" Julian asks.

"Home," I reply.

"You disappeared really fast," Julian comments.

"Had to get home," I shrug and then my attention is captured by Clare walking in.

She's not alone however she's with a tall lanky guy in a plaid shirt. She drags the boy over to the table with her friends and introduces him but I can't hear what they're saying. And then she sees Eli by the stage with Adam. She drags the lanky boy over and has a few words with Eli that I can't hear because of the music, and then Clare snaps!

"DID THREE MONTHS MEAN NOTHING?! DID YOU FLIP A SWITCH AND ERASE ME FROM YOUR MEMORY? IT TOOK YOU A YEAR! A YEAR TO GET OVER YOUR EX! DID YOU EVER LOVE ME AT ALL?!"

She's loud enough that we hear her over the music and everyone gapes at her. Lanky boy says something and Clare runs out of the club with lanky boy following her.

"I thought Eli was the crazy one," Julian remarks.

"I'm gonna get some air," I say after a few seconds and stand up.

I go outside hoping to find Clare, I see her outside talking with lanky boy. I'm watching them from the bannister when Jenna comes up with baby Tyson and goes into the club. When lanky boy kisses Clare I feel knot in stomach and a sinking feeling in my chest. I realize that I like her, really like her and I'm jealous this boy is kissing her. She smiles after the kiss and I watch them walk off together. Realizing just how strong my feelings are for Clare I decide I'll ask her out. Before I do that there's one thing I must do and I hope Fitz is working tonight. When I get down to the café I find it basically deserted and Fitz is behind the counter like I was hoping.

"Hey Fitz can I talk to you a moment?"

"Yeah what's up?"

"I like Clare," I admit.

"Uh okay, that's kinda weird I didn't think you even knew her but I get why you would so why are you telling me?" Fitz asks.

"Because you do get it. Because I know how much you like her and how much she means to you and I don't want to step on your toes," I confess and he smiles.

"I appreciate that and she does mean a lot to me but I overstepped. I pushed too far too fast and pretty much ruined my chances. I actually met a really nice girl at my church right after I ruined things with Clare. Just take care of Clare if she does agree to go out with you," Fitz tells me and now I grin.

"I will be great to her. Now I just have to ask her out."

"When did you even notice Clare?" Fitz asks as I turn to leave and I turn back.

"I started teaching a Krav Maga class and Clare is taking it."

"Cool," Fitz grins, "can you do something for me?"

"Yeah anything," I nod.

"Apologize to Clare for me?"

"Yeah I will," I grin.

I wave to Fitz and leave getting into my car and deciding not to go back to Above the Dot. I drive home and take a shower, I still have some homework to do since I went straight from school to hockey practice and then did a little homework while eating dinner in my room. It's almost two in the morning by the time I'm done with homework. I get ready for bed quickly but still only get about four hours of sleep because I'm wondering how I'll ask Clare out and if she'll say yes.

I arrive at school early waiting for Clare just inside the foyer. A lot of people come in before Clare finally does but she's with Adam and Drew, well she's talking with Adam Drew is just walking in with them. I decide it's not the best time to ask her out. I watch her all morning but she's always with Adam or Alli and I don't exactly have a good standing with either one so I decide it's not a good time to ask Clare out. When I get to second period I see lanky boy in the class, he wasn't here yesterday and the teacher introduces him as Jake Martin. I don't get a chance to talk to Clare that morning but I do see her walking alone at lunch however and I take her arm pulling her into an empty classroom.

"That wasn't very disciplined of you last night," I scold her lightly.

"I know I was just confused and angry, he crashes his car for me and then won't even look at me. I thought if he saw Jake I'd see jealousy and at least know he still cared. It was not my finest moment last night; I did feel better after Jake kissed me. I also apologized to Eli this morning, and I found out that he's on medications to stabilize his moods which is why nothing seemed to affect him."

"So Jake, he was in my biology class this morning."

"Yeah he started today because he works with his dad, they've been remodeling our downstairs," Clare tells me and the bell rings so I can't ask her out right now. "I have to get to science but I'll see you at class tomorrow evening," she smiles before escaping out the door.

Kids start filing into the classroom and giving me a strange look for being in here so I leave to go to class. I won't see her after school with practice and all but I become determined to ask Clare out after class tomorrow night. Something just tells me school is not the place to do it.

(CLARE)

"I'm going to try out for the paper," I tell Alli at lunch on Tuesday. Adam is eating with Eli he already told me he was because Eli is working on a new play and wanted Adam's help with ideas.

"Katie's running the paper she seems a little high strung," Alli remarks.

"Yes well I want to keep my distance from Eli and I'm not going out for cheerleading or any sport and yearbook was kind of boring."

"Good luck, I think I'll stay out of clubs but maybe I'll join the dance committee, I love throwing parties," Alli grins and I laugh.

"Katie?" I ask approaching the older girl with confidence.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to try out for the paper. I'm a good writer I'd be a good edition."

"It takes more than a good writer to work on the paper. Five hundred words on the nutritional diversity of the cafeteria food by four today. If I like it you're in," Katie says before turning away from me. I walk away and join Alli at the dance committee table.

"How'd it go?" Alli asks.

"I have to write five hundred words on the nutritional value of our cafeteria food," I sigh.

"You don't look very happy that she's giving you a chance," Alli remarks.

"It's a puff piece blurb," I grumble.

"Clare it's an audition, besides you didn't think writing for the school paper would be uncovering hard-hitting stories did you?"

"I guess not but writing a blurb on the cafeteria food? No I'm going to do more, a thousand words, no two thousand and before the deadline," I state.

"Are you sure that's wise? That's not what Katie asked for," Alli remarks.

"A small blurb on nutrition will not show Katie what I can I do so I'll show her."

Alli doesn't say anything and I spend the rest of lunch working on the article, except for when Owen pulls me into an empty classroom to talk about my blowout last night. As soon as fourth period is over I finish the article and take it to Katie.

"This isn't what I asked for," Katie says handing it back to me.

"It's more than you asked for I…"

"Didn't listen to what I told you. If you can't follow instruction you can't be on the paper," Katie says dismissing me and I deflate. I leave the newspaper office and find Alli in the student council office with her brother.

"I guess she didn't like the article?" Alli asks.

"She didn't even read it. I'm a good writer, I'd be good on the paper, I gave her a great article and she didn't even read it. I know I'd be good on the paper but she didn't deny me because I'm not a good writer she denied me because the article I gave her was too long," I grumble.

"Do you want me to talk to her?" Sav offers.

"I want her to look at my article," I reply and Alli gives me a comforting hug.

"Why don't you come over and stay the night, we'll have girls night," Alli says and I smile at my friend.

Sav finishes and drives us back to the Bhandari house. I text my mom that I'm staying the night at Alli's and she tells her parents when we get there. Of course Alli and I do spend some time doing homework but we also watch movies and talk most of the night. Sav drives us to school the next morning, nothing much happens during first and second period it's just another day.

"Clare," Katie calls to me at lunch and I look over, "you have some powerful friends. Our president gave me grief over the fact that there were no grade ten reporters."

"I didn't ask Sav to say anything."

"Your article, while not what I asked for and a little wordy, was good so you're in."

"Thank you so much you won't regret this," I grin.

"I'm making you the exclusive reporter for the play," she tells me and my heart sinks as my smile drops, "I believe you know the director Eli Goldsworthy."

"Yes I do but…" I begin when Katie butts in.

"Good that's your sole assignment I want you to cover everything from the conception to the closing performance. I believe they're meeting after school, since this is your sole assignment it really isn't necessary for you to attend the DeGrassi Daily staff meetings just get me the articles when you finish them, at least two a week of at least a thousand words."

Katie walks away and I'm left there stunned. I got what I wanted but at what price? Two or three months of working side by side with Eli, I'm not sure I can do it. I go to find Eli to tell him, if he's not okay with it then I can't do my job. Eli is eating outside with Adam and I approach cautiously.

"Eli," I say his name and he looks up.

"Edwards," he nods.

"I made the school paper…"

"That's awesome Clare," Adam says with a smile cutting me off.

"Yeah it's great but Katie has me covering the play which means we'll be working closely together. I hope that despite our history we can be professional?"

"Of course Clare I will give you an amazing article, months of amazing articles," Eli grins.

"Thanks Eli I appreciate it; I need to start today I hope you don't mind me sitting in on the meeting?"

"Not at all I'll see you after school," he smiles.

"Great," I smile a little.

"The bells going to ring soon and we have science together. See you at the meeting Eli," Adam comments getting up and standing with me. We wave to Eli and begin walking into school. "Are you sure about this?" Adam questions.

"Not at all but it's the only assignment Katie gave me and she made it clear I'm only getting this chance because Sav spoke up for me. You'll be there anyway it shouldn't be that bad. I'll just sit in the back and observe, do a few interviews when necessary. I can do this; how bad can it be?"

"He crashed his car and you exploded in front of everyone at Above the Dot I'm guessing it could go nuclear with the right conditions," Adam replies.

"Thanks for your vote of confidence," I reply with a snarky tone.

"Maybe it will good thing if you can work together then maybe you can be friends again," Adam says as we walk into class.

"Yeah I certainly hope so," I sigh sitting at my desk.

I spend most of science and most of my fourth period introduction to business class fretting over what will happen at the meeting this afternoon. When fourth period does end the bell startles me and Adam gives me a look.

"Are you really sure you're okay with this?" Adam inquires.

"I have to be, if I can't do this I'm off the paper not a good start to a journalism career. Anyway journalists have assignments they aren't fond of all the time, although they don't usually last a month. I can do this I'll just avoid Eli as much as I can…doing an article on his play," I sigh.

"I'm sure it will be fine," Adam says putting an arm around my shoulders and we walk to the auditorium together.

"Good you're here," Eli smiles when I walk in.

"Yeah I'll just sit here in the back and…"

"No stay here," Eli says taking my arm and I look at Adam. "Stay with me so I can introduce you to everyone and tell them what you're doing here," Eli insists.

"Okay," I say slowly taking my arm from Eli but standing near him. More people begin to file into the room including Fiona. I'm glad she and Adam have become friends.

"Everyone this Clare Edwards our own exclusive DeGrassi Daily reporter. She'll be covering the play all the way through which means she'll often be here to observe and if she asks you for an interview please cooperate," Eli tells everyone.

"Thanks Eli, I'm just going to be observing from the back of the room," I reply sitting at the back of the room.

"So we were discussing what play to do," Eli says clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention. I sit in the back with my laptop and take some notes as they discuss what play to do. Someone suggests a musical but Eli nixes that idea straight away. Fiona wants drama, someone else wants comedy, Adam suggests something not every other high school has done. "No," Eli says suddenly leaping up and slamming his hand on the table, "I think we should do an original play."

"Yes an original play is great and I think Eli should write it," a girl with glasses says.

"Thank you Imogen, exactly what I was thinking," Eli smirks and looks at me briefly. "I will start working on a script immediately. Fiona will you direct?"

"Yeah I'd love to," she smiles.

"Great you and Adam start working on posters for auditions and stage crew. I must think and begin on the script meeting adjourned," Eli says.

"Well at least it was brief," I comment to myself as I begin putting my things away.

"I know what you're doing," Imogen remarks appearing in front of me suddenly.

"I'm writing a series of articles for the school paper," I respond.

"You're trying to get back together with Eli, we all saw your desperate grab for his attention at Above the Dot the other night," Imogen says.

"That was terrible and I've apologized for that but I don't want to get back together with Eli. I didn't even want this assignment, now excuse me I have somewhere else to be," I tell her and walk past her.

"Not all the meetings are that brief," Adam says.

"It's okay I have to go anyway. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I'll have to leave a little early I have something to do."

"Mysterious, well I'll see you tomorrow," Adam grins before walking off.

I wave to Adam and take the bus to the gym, I change and put my stuff in a locker. I'm early but I can warmup and practice what I've learned. I change and go out to the gym floor, in one corner is one of those practice dummies so I decide to practice on that, at least it seems like a good idea. I start punching it and my punches become harder and harder as the dummy begins to become Katie. I stop punching the way Owen taught me and just start hitting out of anger, at least until I pound one in and it stings my entire hand.

"Ow," I yelp shaking my hand and cradling it.

"You okay?" Owen asks running over and looking at my hand, I didn't even know he was here.

"I think so, I started practicing what you taught me and then just started hitting it out of anger."

"I'll go get some ice, don't move," Owen tells me leaving the gym but he returns a moment later with an ice pack in a paper towel. "I thought you weren't that angry at Eli anymore," Owen comments putting the ice on my hand.

"Actually I was picturing the dummy as Katie. She let me onto the paper because Sav talked to her but instead of giving me a real assignment she's made me the school correspondent for the play. The one not only directed by Eli but is now being written by Eli."

"That's awkward," Owen remarks.

"No that brings awkward to a whole new level," I shoot back and Owen chuckles a bit.

"How's your hand?"

"It's better, I hit it too hard but it's not broken or even sprained just a little bruised like my ego."

"Good now why don't we start warming up and rest your hand a bit," Owen says and I nod.

Owen brings me out to the center of the floor and just as his two fan girls come out of the locker room and glare at me out jealousy. I ignore them and begin warmup with Owen, he continues until the rest of the class is here and then he starts class. We do elbow work this class and after it's done and I've changed I find Owen waiting to give me a ride home as he always does.

"Clare hang on," Owen says when he pulls up to my house, "would you go out with me this weekend?"

"You want to go out on a date? With me?" I question slowly in a dubious tone because I can't even fathom that Owen Milligan would want to go out with me.

"Yes I do, very much. So will you go out with me?"

"Yeah I'd love to," I smile and Owen grins.

"Great Saturday night then I'll pick you up at seven," Owen says.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I smile and get out of the car excited for Saturday and my date.

The update next Monday will either pick up from the following day at school or with their date.