Chapter 5A
Three days later
Ali stood on the front steps of Clare's house waiting for someone to answer the door. She had gotten the news about Eli and Clare from Jake and from what it sounded like Clare was a mess.
As she stood there waiting and silently hating Eli the door opened and a somber looking Jake greeted her, "it's not good," he stated worry in his voice.
Ali swallowed hard and walked into the house, "she still in her room?" Ali asked taking off her jacket as Jake closed the door behind her.
"Ya, she won't talk to anyone about any of it and it's like she lost more than just Eli you know," Jake explained shrugging and looking up the stairs.
Ali nodded, "well, the best friend is on the case," she said walking up the stairs towards Clare's room.
Jake watched her go up the stairs and he sighed heavily, hoping that Ali could put some life back in to Clare; even if it was only temporary.
Ali walked into Clare's room and couldn't believe what she was seeing. Instead of moping in bed with a box of tissues Clare was knelt down by her book shelf removing books and vigorously cleaning each book and each shelf. Ali then noticed how clean the room looked, nothing was out of place and the smell of disinfectant and cleaning supplies filled the room.
"Clare?" Ali called from the middle of the room
Clare stopped midway through her task at the sound of her name being called.
"I think I need to repaint…what do you think? Maybe a yellow or purple…or maybe I will use wall paper this time," Clare said not turning toward her friend.
"You weren't at school again today, I was starting to think you were deathly ill until Jake called me and told me about E…" Ali began
"I have clothes I need to give away, or throw out. My closet is filled to the rim, with things I don't wear," Clare interrupted not wanting to talk about Eli.
Ali got the hint and changed the subject, "do you want to get something to eat or go shopping?"
Clare stood up and turned towards her friend, her appearance worried Ali even more. Her eyes were puffy and red, like she had been crying for three days straight, dark circles from no sleep surrounded her once sparkling blue eyes and her complexion was paler then usual.
"No thank-you, I don't feel like going out anywhere," Clare replied softly
"Clare you can't just lock yourself in your room…lets go and drown ourselves in ice cream or spend money we don't have," Ali suggested.
Clare turned and went back to cleaning her bookshelf. Ali watched Clare, defeated about how to further help her friend. Jake walked in to the room and looked over to Ali who shook her head silently letting him know that she had failed in helping.
"Hey, Clare why don't I make you something to eat. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday sometime," Jake proposed
When Clare didn't reply he signaled to Ali to follow him into the hallway.
"So, now what?" Jake asked at a loss for what to do to help Clare.
"I honestly don't know," Ali shrugged concerned about how this breakup was affecting Clare.
Chapter 5B
Clare opened the doors to Degrassi High and stepped inside. She looked around her at the slow motion images of her fellow schoolmates talking, laughing and kissing and she swallowed hard. She timidly began her way down the hallway towards her locker and with every person she passed she could have sworn they were staring right through her. Like each individual could sense her pain, loss, anger and humiliation.
Clare sighed in relief as she made it to her locker and carefully opened it up, that's when she saw it…the picture of her and Eli that Ali had taken a couple of weeks ago. She bit her lip and held back her tears as she stared at the picture, her hands began to shake and her heart felt like it was about to burst. Jake had told her that he heard from Adam that Eli had left for New York like planned. It killed Clare that he didn't even say goodbye, but she guessed he had already said all he had to when he broke up with her. She quickly shook off her emotions and tossed the picture in the nearby trash can.
"Clare!" Katie called walking towards her
"Hey Katie," Clare greeted softly
"Jake told me, you were coming back today," Katie mentioned
"Ya, well my mom wasn't going to let me take another day off and my room was making me claustrophobic so…" Clare trailed off, grabbing her books and closing her locker.
"You ready for the news paper meeting today. I promise I will make it short and sweet," Katie said changing the subject
"Ya, sounds good," Clare replied her voice drenched in disinterest
Katie knew not to take it personally, Clare was hurting and talking about what article needed to be on page 8B of the Degrassi Daily wasn't what was on Clare's mind at the moment. Katie knew from personal experience that Clare just wanted to get through the day without hearing his name, seeing his picture, or remembering everything that made them 'them.'
Katie and Clare made it into the newsroom and sat at the small table in the middle of the room.
Katie went through her papers and stood up, "ok this isn't going to be a long meeting, we just have a few points to cover. I need to remind everybody that due dates are final and that means pictures need to be done and submitted when the story is due…" Katie began putting on her news director pants and going full force.
Clare sat there trying to focus but her mind wondered to the night that she thought cemented her and Eli forever…
"So, I guess now will be the time to ask you to prom," Eli joked breaking the content silence that hung in the room.
Clare giggled, "I suppose I can go with you," she replied back
Eli caressed her hand softly and thought for a moment, "Clare, promise me something," he began
"ya," she said softly
"that no matter what, you won't forget this moment. That whatever happens you remember how much I love you right now," he stated seriously
"Then that brings us to our final item on today's agenda, Simpson wants us to find a way to promote the Ice Hounds in a 'better light.' He wants us to find a way to put together some sort of project that helps our school spirit and also can be used as good way to bring in donations in to the school. So…if you have any ideas please, bring them to me and I will approve one. Any questions?" Katie asked as Clare snapped out of her flashback and clued back in to the present.
"No, no one…ok then meeting adjurned," Katie said grabbing her papers and walking from the table to her small director's table in the room. Everyone else hurried out of the room to make it to their first period classes while, Clare stayed behind and went up to Katie getting an idea.
"Hey Katie," Clare began
"That meeting went no where, I don't anyone even paid any attention whatsoever," Katie said not looking up from the stories on her desk.
"I was thinking about that Fundraiser idea that Simpson wants ask to come up with," Clare continued
"Ya, what is that about; like we don't have enough to do we have find a way to 'promote' those losers," Katie interrupted again still focused on her work.
"I actually thought I could take the reigns on this project," Clare stated
Katie looked up at Clare and thought about it for a moment, "you have an idea?" she asked now fully invested in the conversation.
"Well…a small one, what if we put together a magazine focusing on the each player. We could have their stats, and a profile on each guy. They have those for like the NHL and everything it could be a way to 'promote' the hockey players as more then just athletes We could ask them about books, hobbies, family etc." Clare explained
"hmmm…I am liking it and I doubt I will get any good ideas from the others, so ya…lets do it. Do you want me to put together a team to help you?" Katie asked standing up and going over to the computer table behind Clare.
Clare followed behind Katie, "well I was thinking…maybe I could do this on my own. I mean, I will follow up with you of course with deadlines and make sure it is known that this is a Degrassi Daily project and everything," Clare explained as Katie looked on the computer and turned back around to Clare.
"Clare that's a lot of work for one person. I mean there's the layout, interviews, pictures and then the whole fundraising aspect," Katie said facing Clare and reminding her how much work would be involved in this project.
"Ya, I mean I know…I just….it will be good for my portfolio and right now I feel if I don't focus on something other than…I just need a project to my mind off of things," Clare admitted sadly
Katie understood how Clare was feeling and sighed unsure if throwing all this work on Clare was such a good idea.
"Ok, but if you need any help and if I see you are having trouble I will step in," Katie said giving Clare permission to take full reigns on the project.
"Here is the list of all the players and their schedule so you can set up interviews," Katie said handing Clare a bunch of papers.
"Thanks," Clare said softly appreciating her friend giving her this task.
"Clare, take it easy ok," Katie said sincerely then moved back to her desk
Clare nodded and took a deep breath hoping that this project would be what she needed to recover from her heart break.