RED I owe you at least two replies I will get to them by Friday I promise.

Ch. 4 Things You Swore to be True

(CLARE)

I enter the auditorium quietly so I don't disturb Eli, although he seems to be arguing with Becky, Eli looks over when he hears the door open and smiles when he sees me.

"Sorry didn't mean to interrupt, we need to go soon," I tell Eli.

"We'll pick this up tomorrow, I'm taking my girlfriend to the game," Eli tells Becky.

Becky huffs storming out of the room, slamming the door with a resounding BANG as she leaves, the walls shake a little and I look at Eli.

"Not going well I take it?" I question Eli as he takes my overnight bag from my hand.

"I cannot work with that girl, she's impossible!" Eli responds coming over to put his arm around me.

"Find a way to make it your own Eli," I tell him.

"Come on let's go get Adam and get to this game," Eli sighs, he really doesn't want to go to this game, he might hate sports more than I do.

We walk to the music room, say hi to Imogen, Mo, Maya and Zig, the last two of which are in grade nine and I really don't know them but I've seen them hanging out with Owen's brother. Eli drives us to the game while we discuss what's on the agenda for movies tonight. The boys want horror but I veto that, Eli suggests foreign sci-fi but I want Owen to stay close by and I doubt he'll do that if he has to read subtitles, then again it might keep Mike at bay. Finally we decide on action thrillers as we we're walking into the arena. Our tickets are at the front row, and right behind the place where the Ice Hounds sit when they aren't on the ice. The screen above the ice is showing ads and player stats. I have no idea what the abbreviations mean but I'm guessing high numbers are good. Eventually music starts up and the Ice Hounds skate out led by Mike. He looks right at me and grins, giving me a cocky wave, it's a good thing Adam is sitting with us so we can pretend that Mike is waving to his billet brother. Luke skates out and Campbell Saunders, the youngest member of the team, Owen is one of the last ones to skate out he waves to me, I wave back and Eli puts an arm around me which makes me roll my eyes, his possessive side coming out always has that effect on me. Owen only gets to play for a few minutes in which time he smashes into three other people which allows Cam and Luke to make goals. The action is pretty exciting but there is a lot of violence, still I'm having fun, Mike spent most of his time on the ice and paying attention to the game so he wasn't able to watch me much. Every time he is in the box or skating back to the locker room at the end of the period he looks over at us, or rather me but Eli and Adam don't know that he's specifically looking at me. Owen waves to us as he goes off the ice and Eli always tightens his arm around me when Owen waves.

"I'm going to get a drink and some popcorn you guys want anything?" Adam questions standing up at the end of the second period.

"Some water please, thanks Adam," I smile.

"Soda and nachos too, can you carry all that?" Eli inquires taking out his wallet to give Adam some money.

"I got it, yeah I can carry it all," Adam says getting up.

Eli puts his wallet back and looks at me, "What's with you and Owen?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I mean he keeps looking over here and waving at you. You have never paid attention to Owen before a few days ago," Eli says, he's not directly accusing me of anything but it's in his tone.

"Eli we're just friends, he asked for some help with his University application essays and we became friends. He's one of Drew's closest friends and he's on the same team as Mike, both of whom live with Adam, we've spent time together and he's not a bad guy," I say in defense of Owen.

"He threw Adam into a door, name one thing Owen has ever done that's been good? And another thing why do you call Dallas Mike? I saw a girl call him Mike and Dallas got pissed off about it," Eli comments.

"Mike's his name, it's how I met him," I reply.

Eli looks like he's about to speak again but the music starts up and then Adam comes back with our food and drinks. We watch the third period without speaking; I snack a little on Eli's nachos and Adam's popcorn. The game ends, the Ice Hounds win 6-4 and our side of the bleachers erupts into cheers. I stand up and cheer as does Adam but Eli remains seated, then we fight our way through the crowd to get back to Eli's car and he drives us to Adam's.

"Mom and Dad are out tonight but Mom said she left us pizza money, I'll go order, you guys pick out the movies," Adam tells us after we go in through the basement.

Eli and I start picking out movies when Drew comes home, he's alone so either he and Bianca had a fight or she's in trouble.

"I thought you'd be out with Bianca tonight," Eli comments.

"Owen called before the game and said he wanted to hang out and Bianca wanted to go to some art show with Fi and Imogen. We can hang out upstairs if you guys are having movie night," Drew offers.

"Yeah that woul…" Eli starts but I cut him off.

"No you guys should hang out with us, we're watching action thrillers and Adam is ordering pizza," I tell Drew.

"Ok cool guess we'll hang out then," Drew shrugs, "I better make sure Adam ordered enough pizza."

"What's going on Clare?" Eli asks as soon as Drew is upstairs.

"What do you mean?" I ask back sitting on the sofa.

"First flirting with Owen at the game," Eli says and I speak up before he can go on.

"Eli we were not flirting he waved to me a couple of times because we're friends, you're being paranoid," I tell him crossing my arms over my chest.

"Then why invite them to stay at our movie night?" Eli inquires.

Telling him that I'm afraid to be alone with Mike just isn't going to happen but I hate lying to him, so I find a response that isn't a lie but doesn't betray my real reason for wanting them here.

"It's not a date Eli, we're hanging out with Adam and this way he won't be a third wheel. We've only been back together for a week and you're already getting jealous and possessive," I snap at him but it is true.

"I'm sorry, you're right I'm over reacting I guess I can't believe still that we're back together," Eli says with a smile instead of a smirk for once.

I smile too as Eli pulls me to the sofa, he sits down and sets me in his lap, I drape my arms around his neck and attach our lips.

"Sorry are we interrupting sexy time? Maybe we can join in," Mike says coming in the basement followed by Owen.

"Dude," Owen admonishes him smacking Mike's arm with the back of his hand.

I slide off Eli's lap and sit next to him as Drew and Adam come down the stairs, Eli puts an arm around me holding me tight, in other words marking his territory.

"Pizzas on it's way," Adam tells me sitting on my other side before either Owen or Mike can do it.

We put in a movie and Drew closes the curtains to make it darker. Eli keeps his arm around me until the pizzas get here, I wouldn't mind that he was holding me if he was holding me to cuddle and not to claim me. Then again with Mike here Eli staking his claim on me might not be so bad at the moment. When the doorbell rings Adam pauses the movie and he goes upstairs with Drew to pay and get plates.

"I'm going to use the washroom are you going to be okay?" Eli questions.

"I'll be fine," I assure him looking over his shoulder at Owen and he nods.

Eli gets up and goes into the basement washroom locking the door behind him and I look at Mike.

"Why did you put up that picture? You swore to me that no one would ever see them besides you," I remind him in a harsh but very low voice.

"You wouldn't come see me, I had to play with something," he shrugs.

"Take it down!" I demand.

"Now why would I do that?" He inquires.

"Mike if that picture leaks out my life would be ruined! My journalism career ended before it even began. You swore to me that no one else would see those pictures Mike! Owen found the picture that means that others could find it now take it down!"

"Nice picture isn't Owen? Doesn't she just look so deliciously sexy?" Mike grins standing up and walking around the sofa to lean over me. "Her plump breasts just…" Mike starts as he moves a hand down about to drag a finger over my breasts but Owen bats his hand away.

"Don't touch her!" Owen barks keeping his voice low.

Mike glares at Owen but Eli comes out of the washroom. "I'm going to see if Drew and Adam need any help," Mike says straightening up and walking upstairs.

Owen gives me a look as Eli sits next to me and puts his arm around me again. Adam, Drew and Mike come back down the stairs a minute later and Eli lets go of me to eat. We continue the movie as we eat and when it ends put in a second. Around midnight the Torres parents come home and Audra says I can spend the night and so can Owen. We finish a third movie before Eli has to get home.

"You sure you can't come home with me?" Eli questions kissing me softly, "We'll just sleep."

Eli's offer is tempting and I really would love a night in my boyfriend's arms but I'm hoping that I can look through Mike's stuff and get rid of everything else he has of me.

"It sounds tempting but you know I'm not ready for that," I lie and Mike scoffs. "Rain check? For some time soon I promise," I assure my boyfriend after getting a look from him for Mike's scoffing.

"Okay rain check, Adam take care of her I'll see you guys tomorrow," Eli says.

"You know I will," Adam replies.

Eli smirks and joins our lips for a sweetly passionate kiss while Mike glares at us, and then Eli leaves.

"Owen you can sleep down here on the sofa, Adam will sleep on my floor and Clare will take his room," Drew tells them.

"And that means that the only people allowed in my room are me and Clare," Adam says.

I say goodnight to the others and go upstairs with Adam taking my bag. Once Adam makes sure I have everything I need he goes to get ready for bed. I change into pajamas and wait for Adam to get out of the washroom so I can brush my teeth. Eli texts that he's home safe and I reply that I love him and go into the washroom when I hear Adam get out, Drew is just coming upstairs when I'm leaving the washroom and he grins at me. Drew has a disarming grin; it's goofy and boyish and makes you grin too no matter how bad you feel. I smile back, going into Adam's room and locking the door but I don't fall asleep right away. I'm waiting, waiting for what I'm not quite sure until Owen texts me.

Owen: Dallas is in the shower what am I looking for?

If Mike does have the other pictures down there somewhere I don't want Owen to find them. Not that I don't trust Owen with them but I really don't want Owen to see how bad they get. So I quietly leave Adam's room, tiptoeing past Drew's dark room but I can hear the brothers talking. Swiftly but silently I go downstairs to the basement, the light is still on, so is the TV and Owen looks over at me when I come down.

"What the hell are you doing? Get back to Adam's room!" Owen commands.

"I'm looking for the other pictures and videos and anything else he might have," I reply walking toward Mike's part of the basement.

"Clare you are wearing very thin pajamas and no bra if Dal…there are videos?" Owen asks and I twist my face at him.

"Do you want to argue with me or do you want to help me find them before Mike gets out of the shower?" I inquire.

Owen sighs and follows me through the curtain; I turn on Mike's laptop and begin searching through the files. Owen meanwhile is taking a more hands on approach as he tosses Dallas' mattress up and starts rifling through the drawers.

"They're not on his laptop and he's too stupid to have any encrypted files. Maybe he stashed them in the Ice Hounds locker room or his school locker," I remark standing up and closing Dallas' laptop.

"They're on a flash drive but you'll never figure out where that is," Mike comments appearing in his room and without wearing anything at all.

"Oh dude pants," Owen scolds him, covering his eyes and turning his head away.

"Clare always liked the sight of me naked," Mike says with a cocky grin. I want to move past him but I can't seem to move at all. Mike closes the gap between us in two strides; his arm glides around my waist and presses my body to his. I bite my lip stifling a gasp or possibly a moan; my hands pressed again his sculpted chest. Mike leans his head down, his hot breath ghosting over my chest and leaving a wake of goose flesh. "Don't you Clare?" He whispers against my flesh.

Sense memory fills me, sensations I've been squashing for months flood back and I'm over taken by a memory from last summer. …I lie on Mike's bed; we're escaping the early July heat in his air conditioned room. It's Canada Day and he promised to take me to fireworks later but a short time ago I gave him my virginity. Then he went to shower and now I lie on his bed recovering, I'm very tired and very sore, the scent of sex still lies heavy in the air and despite the AC I'm still beaded with sweat. Mike comes back in his room, still naked and wet from the shower. I roll over on my side to look at him, "I don't think I'll be able to walk tonight." "I can carry you, maybe I'll get you off again during the fireworks, actually if I carry you I think I should get a blow job during the fireworks. So maybe I should get you off again," Mike says sitting on the bed and brushing his handover my body, "maybe I should even get you off again right now." The last words leave his mouth on a husky whisper as he gets a hand between my legs… Suddenly Mike is pulled away from me and the memory goes with him.

"I told you not to touch her!" Owen growls at him. "Clare get back upstairs and lock Adam's door," Owen instructs.

I don't even think about it I just run up the steps to the kitchen, stopping in the kitchen for a couple deep breaths. I really wish I knew what it was about Mike Dallas that makes me lose everything when I'm around him.

"Clare?" Drew asks coming into the kitchen and turning on a light, "You okay?"

"Yeah fine," I tell him turning away to wipe away my tears, "just needed a glass of water."

Drew grabs me a water glass and fills it from the filtered water in the fridge. I take it, smile at Drew, go up to Adam's room and lock the door. I manage to get to sleep but I have disturbing dreams that mix with memories of last summer all night long.

(OWEN)

"They're on a flash drive but you'll never figure out where that is," Dallas says.

I look over to the doorway to see that he's totally naked, not even wearing a towel, "Oh dude pants," I gripe covering my eyes and turning away.

"Clare always liked the sight of me naked," I hear Dallas say and then Clare makes a stifled noise somewhere between a frightened gasp and an anticipating moan. "Don't you Clare?" Dallas whispers and I uncover my eyes to see what's going on.

Dallas has an arm around Clare's waist and his body pressed against hers. She has her eyes closed and head down so I can't see her face but she's not fighting him. Dallas is about to kiss her neck but I grab his arm and pull him away from her as hard as I can.

"I told you not to touch her!" I bark at him. "Clare get back upstairs and lock Adam's door," I command her.

She looks a little shocked but more guilty than anything else, she gives me a quick grateful look and then takes off running. Clare runs up stairs and Dallas looks at me, laughing a little as he walks to his dresser and gets out some boxers putting them on.

"I'm still curious as to just why you care so damn much Milligan? She's not your girlfriend; you're not fucking her, although I have to tell you that you're missing out. She is fantastic in the sack and she'll do anything you tell her t…"

"Shut up!" I snarl at him pushing him against the wall with arm across his neck. "She has a boyfriend, she's happy just leave the girl alone. Get to bed, I'll be watching you!"

I let go of him and walk back out to the main part of the basement. Drew already brought me pillows and blankets and helped me set up the sofa. I keep the TV on until I hear Dallas getting in bed and click it off. I do fall asleep but wake up again a few hours later when I hear Dallas on the steps. I leap up and grab his arm, shoving him to the wall again but without having my arm across his chest this time.

"Where the hell are you going?" I inquire.

"Just thought I'd check on Clare," he tells me and I can hear the grin on his lips.

"Stay away from her, let her sleep and go back to bed," I assert.

"And if I don't?" He questions.

"Well I'm pretty sure Audra will kill you if she finds you in Clare's room, not to mention Drew and Adam. Then when they're done with you I will personally turn you into a unich. Now get back to bed," I order.

He hesitates but finally moves back down the stairs and closes the curtain partitioning his room. I go back to the sofa and listen carefully but Dallas doesn't try and get up again that night so I fall asleep again. I wake up in the morning when I hear light footsteps on the stairs, I open my eyes and watch Clare come down the stairs, she's dressed this time but she still shouldn't be down here. She smiles at me when she sees my eyes open and I get up to follow her to Dallas' room cause I know that's where she's going. She pulls the curtain back and Dallas opens his eyes, grinning almost victoriously when he sees her. He notices me too but seems to be ignoring me.

"Come for a morning orgasm?" Dallas asks her.

"Dude watch your mouth," I warn him.

"The flash drive Mike please give it to me," Clare begs him.

"Sure," Dallas says putting his arms behind his head and looking at her, "as soon as you dump that Goth loser and be with me."

"No I love Eli and we never even dated," she counters.

"So then cheat on him with me, just so long as you never do anything more than kiss him. You know you miss it Clare," he taunts.

"Last summer destroyed me, I shattered almost beyond repair and you want me to go back to that?" She says on the verge of tears and I step a little closer to her.

"I could always release more pictures of you on the net," Dallas threatens.

"You do and I will break every bone in your body," I warn him.

"What's going on?" Drew queries appearing at the bottom of the steps.

"Nothing, we were just talking about breakfast," Clare tells him quickly and just about runs back upstairs.

"Okay so what's really going on?" Drew asks me when Clare is out of the basement.

"Clare was just yelling at Dallas for being a dumb ass," I tell Drew.

"Okay well Mom is making breakfast and Eli's on his way back over so you two get dressed," Drew says and goes upstairs.

I grab my clothes from yesterday, since I never went home for a change of clothes, and go into the washroom. When I get out I'm the only one in the basement so Dallas must be upstairs. Everyone is sitting around the kitchen table while Audra is making pancakes, I don't see Omar but he might be working. Eli arrives a few minutes later, coming up from the basement because we all come in that way. Clare gets up and hugs him but when he goes to kiss her she turns her head. He looks at her but she's already pulling him by the hand to the kitchen table. She keeps hold of his hand as they sit at the table, she's wearing a very good mask of happiness but she's not happy.

This is how she is all through breakfast, on the surface she appears happy but I can tell that she's not happy. That she's holding on by a thread and that thread is being pulled tighter and tighter, and it might just snap at any second. I know that Adam knows something is wrong too because he's watching her closely. Drew doesn't notice a thing and Dallas seems to be taking pleasure in it. The one thing Eli does notice is that she's less affectionate, more than that she's shrinking from his touch almost becoming reviled by it and she looks guilty every time she does.

"You guys want to go downtown after breakfast?" Adam asks Eli and Clare.

"Yeah sounds fun," she responds.

"Sure," Eli says cautiously.

"I have to meet Eleanor and Beth at noon Drew you do the dishes," Audra orders.

"Aww Mom!" Drew complains.

"I'll help," I offer.

"Why thank you Owen," Audra smiles and Drew grins at me.

"I'm going to hop in a shower, I'll be ready in fifteen minutes," Adam tells Eli and Clare.

"That's fine; can I speak to you outside Clare?" Eli requests.

"Yeah sure," she nods.

Dallas goes back down to the basement, Drew and I start gathering up dishes and Adam goes upstairs. Eli takes Clare by the hand and out the kitchen door to the back steps that lead down to the patio. They sit on the steps and the kitchen window is open a bit, just enough that I can hear everything they are saying.

"Are you regretting getting back together?" Eli asks her.

Drew puts some dishes in the sink and then stops; we both lean against the counter to hear what they're saying.

"No Eli why would you think that?" She asks him.

"Because we've been back together less than a week and I feel like you're pulling away from me. You'll barely touch me, kiss me or even look at me. What am I supposed to think Clare?"

"I'm sorry Eli, I love you and I'm happy that we're back together," she pleads with him.

"Then what is it? Why are you turning away when I try and kiss you or touch you at all?" Eli asks her.

"I don't mean to be, I'm just…tired," she tells him in a pitiful lie.

Drew and I watch from the window as she forces herself to kiss him. Eli seems to relax but she doesn't look happy, she forces herself to stay in the kiss though.

"Dude we shouldn't be watching," I whisper hitting Drew's arm.

He nods and we get back to cleaning up but I have to wonder how long Eli and Clare's relationship will last under the pressure of Dallas.

Update next Wednesday starting probably with Monday at school.