Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.

Author's note: Thank YOU for giving my "happy" story a chance. Well, my attempt at a happier story, I'm usually so angsty, hehe. You are all so so amazing.

Also: Thanks again to V. and M., the couple who inspired this story. I bothered them again with questions and they replied to them with infinite patience, not sad about reliving the past but quite the opposite. I want to share with you something that V. told me the other day:

"I can't be sad or upset about what happened. M and I have been married for almost 18 years now, it was just something we had to go through, something that tested our relationship. Our children also became stronger people because of it (A/N: Their kids were in the car when the accident happened as well).We had to go through it to be the people who we are now, to be the parents we are now. It made me realize how fragile life is and how important M and my children are to me. If could turn back time, I wouldn't change a thing. Not even an accident, not even memory loss were able to destroy my relationship with M. She is the love of my life, no doubt about it. All I can say is that our story shouldn't be considered a tragedy. Plus, I get to use a cane now and my students find it delightful, haha."

What can I say? I'm grateful to have this couple in my life. Now, back to the story! Sorry if I have mistakes, my aunt kept yelling at the TV while I was writing and I couldn't concentrate :P

-Two weeks later-

Eli

Metal crashing against metal…

Clare's screams…

His body hitting the steering wheel, a scream of pain escaping his lips…

The car kept flipping and there was nothing he could do about it.

Clare!

Eli opened his eyes and sat on his bed quickly, his body drenched in cold sweat. He was breathing hard, the images of the accident still too vivid and real… He looked around the room and realized that he wasn't in the car anymore, and he buried his face in his hands sorrowfully.

He started to get nauseous and jumped out of bed, running to the bathroom. He kneeled down next to the toilet and threw up, his head aching, his eyes burning.

"Eli? Are you okay?" asked Adam anxiously, standing at the doorway.

Eli wiped his mouth with his sleeve, gasping for breath. He retched again, and his throat started burning as his knee started aching under his weight.

"I'm fine," gasped Eli. "I just… had a nightmare about the accident."

"Sorry, dude," said Adam. "Let me bring you some water."

Eli flushed the toilet as Adam left, and stood up. His leg started hurting, but Eli tried to ignore the pain as he brushed his teeth. He glanced at his reflection and saw the dark circles under his eyes. Adam walked in, holding a cup and Eli noticed the worry in his best friend's eyes.

"I'm okay, Adam," said Eli, taking the cup from Adam's hand. "Maybe I'm just anxious."

"About your date tonight?" asked Adam, raising his eyebrows. "Oh, come on. It's not your first date with Clare, and you guys have pretty much seen each other every single day for the past two weeks."

Eli drank from the cup and the cold water provided relief to his aching throat. Eli smiled weakly, remembering those brief talks with Clare at the Dot where she asked him all sorts of questions. He had had to explain the whole Julia ordeal again, just to find that Clare was still sympathetic and understanding. When they discussed Vegas night, Clare was a little upset, but seemed relieved that nothing had happened to Eli that night.

It was strange having to answer Clare's questions about her own life, but Eli didn't care. He felt happy just spending time with her, and she seemed to be more confident every time they met.

The last time they had met at the Dot, after briefly discussing his struggles with hoarding, Eli had gathered enough courage to ask her out on an official date. Clare had looked at him curiously, and Eli's heart had dropped at the thought that maybe she didn't see him that way anymore. But she agreed, and Eli felt warm just remembering her nervous smile, her red cheeks.

"Well, it is our first date… at least to her," said Eli, putting the glass down. "I'm kind of freaking out. I know it sounds ridiculous."

"As long as you guys don't get matching tattoos," winked Adam.

"Hey, who knows?" mocked Eli. "Come on, go back to sleep. You have work early tomorrow."

"Okay, Dad," pouted Adam sardonically. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine," nodded Eli. "Get out of here."

Adam patted him awkwardly on the shoulder and walked away. Eli turned off the bathroom light and walked back to his bedroom, a dull pain lingering in his head. He sat on his bed, trying to relax, but he knew that he wouldn't be able to fall asleep. He glanced at his alarm clock and grimaced when he saw that it was four in the morning.

"Awesome," he muttered bitterly, and lay on his back, staring at the ceiling.

Later

"A hearse."

"His name is Morty, don't hurt his feelings," chuckled Eli as Clare stared at the hearse, her eyes wide in surprise.

"You have never mentioned it- him," said Clare as Eli opened the passenger door for her. "I never saw, um, Morty, parked around the Dot."

"Because I always park far away… parking spots are difficult to find for my old man," said Eli pragmatically.

"Well… it's interesting," said Clare finally, and got in. Eli walked around and opened his door, still feeling nervous.

"What are we doing?" asked Clare curiously as Eli started driving.

"We are going to watch a movie at the old theatre," said Eli, focusing on the road ahead. "We're going to watch the first movie we ever saw together."

"Oh, really? Which one?"

Eli smiled, glancing at her. "Trainspotting."

He could almost see Clare's confused expression, trying to remember if she had seen or heard about that movie before.

"I let you borrow the book years ago, we had just started dating… it's by Irvine Welsh," explained Eli. "Then, when we were discussing the book, I casually mentioned that the film adaptation was one of my favorite movies. You wanted to see it badly, so we went to the old theatre when they were having a 'Movie night with Ewan McGregor.' You made me stay to watch Moulin Rouge; I still haven't forgiven you for that one."

"Oh, I love Moulin Rouge!" squealed Clare.

"I am aware of that," mocked Eli. "Sadly."

"Did I like the book? Did I like the movie?" inquired Clare.

Eli was about to answer her, but caught himself. "Well… you'll have to wait and see."

"You're such a tease," pouted Clare, and Eli stopped at a red light.

Clare's hand was on the seat, and Eli reached out for it, clutching it softly. Clare looked at him and their eyes met for what seemed an eternity, and Clare blushed.

"You look so beautiful tonight," said Eli. "I mean, you always do, but…"

"Thanks," mumbled Clare, and she looked away. "Oh, green light."

Eli cursed traffic lights under his breath as he let go of Clare's hand, and started driving again.

Clare

"It was so… wow! I mean, I never expected a movie about drugs to be so haunting, so deep, so… wow!"

Clare absolutely loved the movie, even if the subject matter was a bit out of her comfort zone and some of the graphic scenes made her squirm. At a crucial scene during the film, she had freaked out slightly and hid her face in Eli's shoulder, and he just held her hand in the darkness. She felt safe at his touch, and when she raised her head to look at him, their faces had been way too close.

Clare wanted to kiss him then and there, but it didn't seem appropriate.

"So, you really liked it, huh?" asked Eli, looking amused.

"Yes, it was so good!" said Clare as they walked down the street, surrounded by the people who were exiting the nearby stores.

"This is really funny," chuckled Eli as they walked side by side. He dug his hands in his pockets and continued to chuckle, and Clare grabbed him by the arm.

"What's so funny?" she asked.

"Well… the first time we saw it, you hated it," grinned Eli. "Wait, hate is an understatement. You loathed it."

"What?" gasped Clare. "That's not possible!"

"You kept going on and on that it was nothing like the book, that it was the worst adaptation ever," continued Eli, entertained by Clare's reaction. "Oh, you ranted about that one for days."

"That is so weird," said Clare, and Eli suddenly stopped.

"Look," he said, pointing at a tattoo parlor. "That's where we got the matching piercings."

Clare walked over to the display window, touching the glass gently with her fingers. Eli stood next to her, silent, and she was amazed at the person she had been.

"I can't believe I did that," said Clare quietly.

"I still wear mine," said Eli, and Clare looked over at him. He pushed his hair behind his ear and Clare noticed the earring.

"I'm not," she said absentmindedly, touching her own ear. "Why?"

"You did until the day of the accident," shrugged Eli. "I guess… it got lost? Maybe at the hospital?"

"Maybe," said Clare, and returned her attention to the display window.

"Everything got lost that day, huh," stated Clare after a few seconds of silence.

"You could say that," said Eli in a serious tone.

Clare turned to face him again, feeling immensely sad. "You lost me, and yet, I didn't lose you."

"It's not like you died, Clare," sighed Eli. "Even if you never remember me, even if you never love me again, you're still here. That's enough for me."

But Clare noticed the hesitation in his eyes, his quivering lip, and she felt her heart starting to beat faster.

"Eli… did I kiss you on our first date?"

She didn't know where she got the nerve to ask him that question, and blushed almost at once. But she had wondered about it for days, and every second they had spent at the Dot she had thought about it.

Eli seemed surprised at her question, and smiled wryly. "To be honest, we kissed before that. For the Romeo and Juliet project. Remember when I told you about it?"

"Oh, right," said Clare, feeling stupid. "Right."

"Why?" asked Eli, trying to remain serious.

"I just wanted to know," she said as he moved closer to her.

"I see."

She looked up to him even though he wasn't much taller than her, and looking into his eyes was like looking into his soul. He seemed a bit scared and nervous, just like her, and this amused her.

"But to answer your question, yes," said Eli, his lips too close to hers. "You did kiss me on our first date. It was contraband kissing."

"Contraband kissing?" gulped Clare as Eli's nose brushed against hers.

"Mhm," said Eli, and pressed his lips softly against hers.

Clare's lips started burning as Eli started to kiss her slowly, and she quickly wrapped her arms around him. She felt dizzy, light-headed, thrilled, confused and many other emotions she couldn't name. Kissing Eli felt new and intense, and she wondered why she couldn't remember his kisses.

They kissed for a long minute, and Clare truly enjoyed the sensation of his lips on hers. Eli pulled away slowly, as if not wanting to stop, and he chuckled. "The contraband kissing is still amazing," he said, clearing his throat.

"You have to explain this contraband kissing thing, you know," smiled Clare, her arms still around Eli. Eli rubbed the small of her back, his eyes exploring Clare's face hungrily. They were so different, and even though Eli had opened up to her several times, he was still a mystery to her. And she couldn't wait to know more about him.

"Maybe on our second date," said Eli, and Clare felt elated.

She kissed him again, and they both held on to each other, kissing in front of a place she didn't remember, after watching a movie she loved but apparently hated before the accident. Clare was kissing the guy who everybody said was the love of her life, and she was starting to think that maybe they were right.

She was already falling for him.