Happy New Years! Thanks for the encouragement it totally made my day haha. Another chapter… btw I'm not so much an emogin (Eli and Imogen) or whatever you call it fan. I don't ship the couple so… yeah it may show. Reviews make me SUPER happy… . Enjoy!

Lies

Clare awoke the next day with puffy eyes and a sore body from crying. It was her new routine to falling asleep. She got up slowly and took a shower trying to wash away the memories from yesterday. She went to get dressed and put a long sleeve shirt under her Degrassi polo. She couldn't let anyone see the marks.

"Clare are you almost ready? I have breakfast waiting downstairs!" she heard her mother yell. She didn't respond but walked down to the kitchen.

"I'm not hungry," she mumbled. Her mother's brow furrowed.

"Clare you need to eat something or you're going to be brain dead for your morning classes," she replied sternly. Clare rolled her eyes as she took one bite out of her toast. She almost gagged when she saw Jake heading down the stairs with his book bag. He smiled at her as if nothing had happened. She put down her toast and started for the door.

"Wait; let me give you a ride. I'm leaving now anyway," Jake offered. Clare felt her stomach churning, "It's okay, I'd rather walk," she answered cautiously. Jake shook his head, "No, let me drive you".

"Clare take his offer. Have some bonding time with your new brother," her mother added with a smile. Clare clenched her arms around her body. She followed Jake out the door and into his car. She kept her eyes straight ahead as he backed out of the driveway.

"Clare, I'm sorry," Jake said while keeping his eyes on the road. Clare ignored him. She felt tears stinging her eyes. She didn't want to talk about last night.

"Clare, please talk to me," Jake tried again. She turned her head slowly to look at him.

"Why did you push me?" was all she could manage to say. Jake looked like he was going to fall apart at any second.

"I was angry… not at you. At my dad. Even though I know I shouldn't be. I should be happy for him. I just felt like my old life was slipping away and I didn't want you to also".

"So you hurt me?" Clare practically yelled. She couldn't wrap her mind around his answer. He didn't want her to slip away so he hurt her? How did his mind work exactly?

"I couldn't control myself! My anger just channeled through to you and I'm sorry!" They were parked in the Degrassi lot now. Clare saw tears rolling down her step-brother's face.

"I'm so sorry," he continued as more and more tears flooded his eyes. Clare was hurt too but she couldn't deny his apology. He was hurting and he regretted what he did. Clare had to forgive him. It was the right thing to do. One thought was ringing at the back of her mind though. Wasn't this type of relationship all too familiar? Wasn't this the exact same way Eli had acted before she ended things with him. Clingy, desperate, and broken. Clare shook her head. Eli had bipolar disorder, Jake was perfectly fine. She shut her mind off as she pulled him in for a hug and whispered reassuring words into his ear.

Eli got out of his car and walked towards Adam who was waiting for him by the main entrance.

"Whoa nice ride! Whose car is that?" was the first thing Adam said when Eli reached him.

"It was my dad's, but he said it would be mine on the week days for school. No more riding my crappy bike," Eli said happily.

"Nice! So you got your permit back and everything?" Adam questioned.

"Yeah, everything's finally getting back to normal," Eli answered. Adam gave his friend a proud look and they strolled into Degrassi greeting Fiona.

"Hey guys have you seen Imogen?" Fiona questioned. Eli and Adam shook their heads. Fiona just sighed but looked at them with a happy face,

"I think there may be something between me and Imogen! We had a sleepover and if I'm not mistaken I think she gave me some signs…" Fiona said dreamily. Eli's eyebrows shot up, "Really? I didn't know she was into girls…" he questioned.

"Well she didn't exactly say she was but I can just feel it you know?" Fiona responded. Eli chuckled, "No I don't but whatever makes you happy".

"If you really want to make me happy you'll escort me to the dance on Friday," she suggested.

"Why don't you ask Imogen?" he said. His friend had a thoughtful look,

"Do you think that would be too straight forward?" Fiona contemplated.

Eli shrugged, "If you really like her why not take a risk?" Eli said. Fiona smiled at him,

"You're right. But if she's busy or something you'll be my back up date right?" she presumed. Eli rolled his eyes,

"If it means that much to you-"

"Thank you!" and with that she was off.

"Dude! If you're stuck going to the dance I'll be all alone on Friday night!" Adam complained.

"Why don't you come? You could tag along with us… we'll all go as friends," Eli suggested, trying to make his friend feel better. Adam rolled his eyes,

"No thanks. It's awkward enough that you're all BFF with my ex," Adam commented. Eli just shrugged.

Drew sat in his first period class alone dreading when Katie walked into the room. He felt completely guilty of what happened last night but he couldn't ignore that it felt so right. He debated telling Katie, would she break up with him? She had been paranoid from the beginning. He rubbed his temples as his girlfriend walked in.

"Hey," Katie greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. Drew forced a smile and looked down. Her eyebrows furrowed,

"Everything okay?" she asked. Drew nodded and looked up at her slowly,

"Fine… just a little tired". Katie didn't seem convinced but she let it go as the class started to fill up.

The bell rang and Katie looked back at Drew, who was still avoiding her eyes.

"Walk me to class?" Katie asked sweetly. Drew took a breath,

"I can't, I have to… talk to Adam," Drew lied smoothly as he saw his brother stroll by in the hallway with Eli. He got up from his desk and jogged to meet up with Adam.

"Hey man, can we talk," Drew asked once he reached Adam. His younger brother looked confused but said he'd see Eli at lunch,

"What's up?"

"Swear you won't tell anyone," Drew began. Adam looked even more confused but agreed, "I swear". Drew sighed and started,

"Last night Bianca and I might have hooked up". His little brother's eyes widened,

"You cheated on Katie? With Bianca of all people," Adam lectured.

"Look, I know it was wrong and I don't know if I should tell Katie or just pretend like it never happened," Drew defended.

"And you're positive it was just a one time thing," Adam questioned. Drew sighed,

"I don't know. Bianca offered to keep it a secret and stuff but she also said I could meet her again and…" he trailed off.

"You can't have two women at the same time! How low can you get!" Adam spit in disgust. It wasn't fair that Drew got to date Katie when Adam liked her first, and it wasn't fair that he was ungrateful and cheated on her first chance he got. Drew flinched,

"You're right, I'll end it with Bianca," Drew finished. Adam didn't look him in the eye and just walked away. He loved his brother but seriously, sometimes Drew was the biggest jerk he knew.

Fiona skipped up to Imogen, "Hey!" she greeted happily.

"Whoa, someone's happy," Imogen smiled lightly. Fiona stopped Imogen from walking,

"So the back to school dance is on Friday," Imogen nodded her head, "Would you want to go to the dance… together?" Fiona asked unsurely. Imogen's eyes widened.

"I uh- can't. I'm busy that night. Sorry," Imogen said quickly. Fiona's heart dropped,

"Oh, with what?"

"Um… I have to babysit my younger brother…" Imogen replied. Fiona sighed,

"Oh okay. See you at lunch?" Imogen just nodded and speed walked away. Fiona walked sadly to her other class. She saw Eli sitting at a desk with no one around him. She sighed as she trudged over. Why couldn't Imogen find someone else to babysit her sibling?

"Hey Eli," Fiona huffed as she sat in the seat next to him. He quirked his eyebrow,

"What's wrong with you?" he questioned. Fiona pouted,

"I'm not going to the dance with Imogen," she started.

"Why not?" he asked. Fiona shrugged she didn't feel like explaining. The point was that she wasn't going to have the date she wanted to the dance. She thought this year was going to be her year.

"Well you have me," Eli said, trying to cheer her up. Fiona shook her head,

"You don't have to go with me. I just won't go," she didn't want to force Eli to go with her.

"It's really no problem Fiona," Eli tried again.

"No. It's fine. I'd rather wallow in self pity," Fiona joke, cracking a smile. Eli chuckled and turned his attention towards the class as the teacher walked in. He quickly lost focus as Mr. Perino started to drown on about the history of Egypt. Eli heard a click of the door being open and shut. He turned his head and saw Clare walking in.

"And what is your excuse for being late to my class?" the teacher questioned. Clare sighed, "I'm sorry… I uh- got held up at my locker," Clare stumbled upon her words. Mr. Perino tapped his fingers together, "I'll have to give you a detention. Come here after school". Clare nodded and walked to a seat. Eli watched as she walked past him. She had tired eyes and her lips were chapped from Clare biting them. Or maybe it was because she couldn't stop kissing her boyfriend, Eli thought bitterly. He dropped his eyes as she caught him looking at her. Something caught his attention though. She had a grey blemish on her wrist in the shape of a finger. Eli kept looking to make sure he wasn't imagining this. Clare noticed what he was looking at and quickly pulled down her sleeves.