Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi or Munro Chambers' sweet ass. lol

Chapter Three

Helen Edwards ran around the entire house in her business outfit in a frantic search for her daughter. Her screams filled every room on ever floor of their home; but still she couldn't find her. Some enough she found Ms. Dawes, the nanny, on the third floor rearranging the flowers. Ms. Dawes practically raised her daughter throughout her daughter's childhood. Helen and her husband were busy 24/7 with business meetings, work, and conventions so they rarely had any time to take care of their children. That's where Ms. Dawes came in. She was hired a few days after Clare was born. Clare considered her as a second mother as well as a best friend.

"Ms. Dawes, where is my daughter?" Helen asked. She checked her watch. "Damn, I'm going to be late. When you find her can you tell her to meet me?"

"I swear I already did. Where is that girl? Clare!" Dawes yelled for her. Not even a second later, Clare threw open her bedroom door and came face-to-face with the two women, startling them.

Clare Diane Edwards was Helen and Randall's only daughter. The only one alive at least. Clare did have an older sister named Darcy- who went off to Kenya to build a school- but she died after catching a rapidly spreading virus. Her parents were very keen about her living a full and happy life. Unbeknownst to her, both planned for Clare to be engaged early to a suitor whom they approved of: Jake Martin.

"Is someone looking for me?" she stood at the doorway in nothing but her pink and white bathrobe drying her damp brown hair with a towel.

"Your mom." Ms. Dawes said.

Clare looked at her mom. "I'm here now. What do you want?"

"We need to talk." Helen gently grabbed her daughter's arm and lead her into the bedroom. She and Clare sat on the edge of the bed. Ms. Dawes took a seat in the desk chair.

"W…What is it? Did something happen?" Clare asked hesitantly.

"NO. Well…yes. Sort of…. Something will happen." She took Clare's hand in hers and took a deep breath.

"Spit it out, mom you're scaring me." Clare said.

"I want to talk with you about marriage. How do you feel about it?"

"Isn't it a little to early for that conversation.?"

"Please just answer. It's important."

"It would be great to get married. But right at this second? No. It's not really an honor."

"It's not really an honor?" Ms. Dawes mimicked her words. "Brace yourself, girlie."

"Well, start thinking about marriage now. There are girls in Toronto who are engaged at your age." Helen said.

"Girls who also have kids at fifteen." Clare's voice sounded worried.

"I know but…"

"But," Clare dragged the word. "What is the point? Where are you getting at?"

Helen paused hesitantly. She was totally unsure of how she wanted to say it; did she want to sound demanding? Hopeful? Ecstatic? She didn't have time to choose because the words easily flowed out like water.

"Jake Martin wants to marry you."

"Jake Martin?" Dawes said. "Now that's a good kid. His dad goes to my church. He's pretty suitable."

"He's perfect for you, Clare! So what do you say? He'll be at the party tonight. It'll be the perfect time for you and him to reconnect." Clare's mouth stood hanging. The truth had been shot out in her face and her brain still hadn't processed everything. He wants to marry me?

Helen looked down at her watch again. "Damn it, I'm running late. Clare I need a quick answer."

"Ok. I'll try to like him. But I can't promise I'll fall in love with him!" She gave a reassuring smile before her mother pulled her in for a hug. I love my mom, she thought. But she can't expect me to marry at fifteen.

Just then, Peter, Helen's assistant, appeared at the door. "Ms. Edwards, the guests are arriving. You're needed downstairs."

"Ok. I'll be down in a second." she turned to look at her daughter. "Get dressed. You have guests. Rachel, will you come with me?" she asked Ms. Rachel Dawes as she exited the room. Clare sat on her bed, completely dumbfounded. She had known Jake Martin since they were eight years old; but thought of him more as a brother rather than a lover. The fact that both her parents wanted her to marry him weird. She was only fifteen years old, not even sixteen. Other girls her age were freshman in high school who were getting the sex talk and taking drivers ed. But Clare? She was about to be engaged.

"Clare," Ms. Dawes began. She walked over to the bed and sat next to Clare. "Are you alright?"

"Um…I think so. Surprised actually."

"Well I just want to let you know that when you go to the party, see if Jake is the person that truly makes you happy."

"But what if he doesn't?"

Before Ms. Dawes could answer, Helen called her from the lower floor. She looked over at Clare and shrugged.

"I don't know."