Author's Note: Wow amazing how much I'm updating. For nearly every update I write two chapters. I hope you guys enjoy this story. I can't wait for Degrassi this friday. Adam vs Drew for Fiona's heart. I hope it's Adam. I've read a lot of fics about him and Fi but I really like them together just because Adam deserves someone too.

Anyways enjoy and review

~PenBrook

Her parents were separating. After years and years of marriage they were no longer going to be together. What was worse was that her home was being sold. It truly seemed that her life was falling apart and all she could do was wallow in self pity while she cried on her boyfriend's shoulder. She tried to keep them together by having them fight about her. She tried to be the good girl yet nothing was working. She was weak. Millions of kid's parents split so what made hers hurt so much?

Hell even Drew and Adam's parents were separated before their parents remarried and she didn't see them wallowing about it. So again, what made her's so special?

And Adam, he had to deal with so much more than just divorced parents. In fact that was the least of his problems. He had to deal with people like Fitz, Owen and Bianca. He had to deal with the body of a girl and the mind of a guy. He had to deal with the fact that only Drew truly accepted him in his family. Not even his own parents really did accept him, besides his immediate family no one really knew about Adam. His aunts, uncles, his parents friends, even his grandmother didn't know Adam existed. As if his mother was ashamed to introduce Adam to the family, like an unwanted son or daughter in law.

How he did it she'd never know.

She admired his strength and courage, to be who he was and never let anyone tell him what he's not. She felt bad that he had to suffer just because he didn't fit the status quo. All of her life Clare grew up thinking that God would damn anyone that didn't fit plan, the gays, bisexuals, sexually active, people like Adam. And yet she couldn't hate Adam. After knowing him and just learning about why he lives the way he lives, how could she hate him?

The most memorable moments she had of him was when he had reverted back to Gracie for that one day after everyone just wanted him to be who he was not. It was shocking seeing him in those clothes. It was shocking calling him by his girl name but more shocking was the fact she saw him hurting himself, burning himself.

It was mid day and Clare was looking for Eli to see if he had finished his homework yet. She crossed the back lot to find Adam, no Gracie in tears. She being the concerned friend she was decided to check on him only to find him burning himself.

"What are you doing?" she gasped he quickly put the clip down and grasped his wrist. She picked up the object and dropped it for its' intense heat. She then saw the numerous burn marks sprawled across his arm. She gently touched it. "Oh Adam."

Adam sniffed. "If I'm Gracie everything's easier right, for everyone." he stated as a tear fell. "When I was her I used to burn myself." he admitted. "It's how I let the anger out."

"But you're not her!" she argued, tears spilling from her own eyes.

"but I have to be her!" he burst. "For my mom, my family, for everyone!" he cried. "I'm trying so hard."

She shock her head. "You don't have to change who you are." she said with conviction, like she was saying God was real. "everyone else does." The light that shown through his eyes were a sight to see. She knew that she had gotten through to him. She knew that Adam was back. "Here, let me help you get you home, okay?."

"Not in these clothes." He darkly chuckled as she smiled sympathetically.

"Come inside, I'll find you something."

As they walked out, her arm around Adam holding him up, she knew that everything would be alright.

Since that day so much has happened. Fights, learning the truth about Eli's past, stink bombs, lock downs, changes. So many changes and yet Clare never regretted getting involved in any of it. She needed them now more than ever.

"What will I do?" She asked Adam, her best guy friend, for advice. She would have asked Allie but she now attended an all girl's school after the fight with Bianca and Drew cheating on her.

Adam sighed. "Keep loving them." She looked up at him in confusion. "just because they don't love each other doesn't mean that they don't love you which means you have to keep loving them." he said like it was the most simple thing in the world. "It's going to be hard, I'm not going to lie, but it will be better. I promise." he gave her one of his Adam smiles, a half grin.

She half smiled back but sadness still reached her eyes. "If you don't mind..." she said hesitantly. "What happened to your mom and Drew's biological dad?"

He sucked in a breath but answered her. "Drew's dad left them when he was only two or so. He saw his mother getting hit and couldn't do a thing." he said sadly. "It's a reason why he's so protective of me though he doesn't need to be." he chuckled humorlessly. "As for Valery, she and dad separated after she cheated on him." he said sadly as Clare placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm okay. It happened when I was only like two or three. I still keep in contact and stuff well that was before Gracie left." he said. Very rarely did Adam ever mention Gracie. "when I told her about Adam well, she hanged up on me. Dad even tried to drive me up to talk to her but she refused to speak to me." he said sadly.

"Oh Adam..." How a parent could not love their child was beyond her.

"It's okay. I have mom, dad, Drew and you guys. I don't need anyone else." he said reassuringly but she knew that he was still hurting. All she could do was hug him tightly. "Your parents still love you Clare. They didn't split on account of you. Don't hate them forever." he said quietly as he separated himself for her leaving her to her own thoughts.

Oh Adam...