Author's Note: Again, sorry it took a while! School. It involves work. Who knew? Not Degrassi watchers. Anyway, as a recap, Eli & Clare just jumped into a pool. Okay, you're pretty much caught up, then. And I'm babbling so I'm going to stop and you're going to read. :)

Adrenaline Rush

The sensation felt like plunging feet-first into a bed of broken icicles. Tiny, icy cold pricks jabbed at every part of my body. The water soaked through my sweater and the added weight from the water pulled me down lower. My body went completely numb for one, freezing moment. Then, I felt warmth. I recognized the hand in mine and clenched it tighter, not letting my one source of heat disappear.

I shot towards the top of the pool and gasped for air as my head rose above the water. Eli's head surfaced right after mine. "I have got to stop letting you talk me into situations like this." I said. My teeth chattered like crazy as the wind whipped at my face which I'm sure was turning an unattractive shade of blue.

He helped me out of the water and we stood on the pool's edge for a minute, soaked and just staring at each other. I wrapped my arms around my body as the wind whipped around me, slowly freezing me to death.

Eli's hair was plastered against his face and sopping wet. And his teeth were chattering just as fast as mine.

He opened his mouth to say something, but we both froze (forgive the pun) when we saw light turn on. We immediately both jerked our heads toward the pool house and saw a face staring right back at us through a window.

"Crap." Eli said, grabbing my hand. "Run."

Don't think, just do. I thought as he led me to the gate and lifted me up. We heard yelling behind us and he threw the picnic basket over the gate to me. I ran with it as Eli scrambled over the fence.

I kept running until I found a little willow tree to hide under. I ducked underneath the branches and sat down on the grass, leaning against the trunk. I sat there, panting and wondering if Eli had been caught. I was overwhelmed with everything. The pool, the chase, the night, Eli...just...the moment. Living in the moment, I thought, so this is what it's like.

I felt relief fall over me as I saw Eli's familiar soaking wet head poke through the willow branches. He walked over to the trunk and sat down next to me.

"I told you it'd be fun." He smirked.

"It's amazing." I said. "Exhilarating. The thrill of it all." I beamed. He looked back at me with an "I told you so" expression. And the pool's excitement may have ebbed, but a new sort of excitement was starting. In my stomach, of all places. It did cartwheels as we stared at each other. I figured, why stop it there, with another one of our staring contests? Let's push it further and see where we get...

I leaned in and kissed him. This one wasn't a mission statement. This was a celebration. This was victory.

We broke apart and Eli leaned back. "Wow. I wonder what would happen if I took you to an amusement park."

"Pig." I slapped him.

"Oink." He said, putting his arm around my waist and leaning back in.

"Eli, I do believe that you are a bad influence on me." I said, smiling, right before his lips found mine.

"Clare, I think Eli is a bad influence on you."

"Mom!" I could not believe her! She was stereotyping my...well, I still don't know what we are...

"Clare, he wears all black clothes and drives a hearse! You don't find him the least bit morbid? Didn't you ever tell him that Jesus died on the cross for us and..." I could not believe she was going there.

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, you're being unfair! He's really sweet and nice and smart, if you'd just try to get to know him, you'd like him!"

"Sweetie, it's not just his obsession with death that I'm worried about, it's you! I don't think he's a good influence for you to be around. You told me you would be home at ten and it's eleven! An hour, Clare! I had no idea where you were for one hour!" She put her hands on her hips.

"Mom, I was a little late, and we just got stuck in traffic. It's not like I was joining a motorcycle gang!" I threw my hands up in the air, exhausted with this argument. I knew I wasn't going to win, I knew my mom was going to give me a hard time about Eli. I just wish she'd ground me and get it over with.

My mom gasped. I froze. She was staring at me, or more specifically, my hand. I lowered it slowly and her eyes followed. I looked down at my hand to see what she was staring at.

And then I realized.

My purity ring was gone.