Only Place I Call Home

by eloquences

He's the boy who likes to write and spend his time alone. She's the girl whose favorite hobby was to watch him through his window. What happens when they finally meet?

4. You Make Me Feel

Only Place I Call Home Chapter Four

A/N from JDDCdancer1497: Hey everyone! Thanks so much for the reviews an alerts, I never thought that this story would be such a hit! It's all thanks to Degrassi-love3! She has worked hard with me and I am very grateful! I hope you enjoy~

A/N from Degrassi-love3: Hey guys. Sorry for the wait; things have just been kind of hectic for the both of us. Thank you for all of the reviews and support! I'm so glad that you guys like this story. Anyways, hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Summary:He's the boy who likes to write and spend his time alone. She's the girl whose favourite hobby was to watch him through his window. What happens when they finally meet?

Clare's POV

I sighed pathetically as I spun round and round in my computer chair, not even paying attention to the lesson that Ms. Oh was giving. Adam sat beside me, typing viciously with his eyes glued to the screen of his computer. I couldn't concentrate and it was so frustrating! My mind has been wrapped up around Eli ever since last night. I just couldn't control my excitement for being able to go back there without having to look through his window.

I sound like a psycho…

It's not like I am, though. I am just very intrigued about how he lives out his daily routine, and how this is even possible. And by that I mean his life and how I came to meet him. I mean, was it fate for my iPod to fall onto his lawn, or was it just a coincidence? I don't really believe in either of those things, so I really had no idea. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.

I turned my head to the side when I felt someone tap my shoulder, my eyes meeting Adam's.

"You know, if you don't pay attention we're both going to fail this class," Adam reminded me. I gave him an apologetic look, realizing that I wasn't even helping him with our project.

"You're right, I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind," I explained, sitting up straight in my chair before getting to work.

"When do you not?" Adam whispered quietly, making me look at him. "You think too much, Clare. Stop thinking and just go with the flow for once, okay? Just like the famous rapper Drake says… you only live once, that's the motto – YOLO!"

"Adam Torres! There is no rapping in my classroom," Ms. Oh said sternly, glaring at Adam. I placed my hand over my mouth to keep myself from laughing, which earned me a glare, as well.

Once Ms. Oh's attention was elsewhere, I turned to Adam. "Never do that again, Adam!"

Adam gave me a look, "Hey, don't diss my swag, okay?"

I raised my eyebrows, "Swag? So what, you're Justin Bieber now?"

Adam scoffed, "No, no, Bieber wishes he was me."

I laughed at Adam's smug grin before turning my attention back to my computer.

(LINE)

"What are you working on?" I asked as I slowly walked up behind Eli who sat at his desk.

He quickly picked up the paper he was writing on and crumbled it up before throwing it into the corner, muttering, "Nothing."

I sighed quietly before moving so I was sitting on his desk, looking down at him. His fingers were pinching the bridge of his nose as he breathed deeply, trying to calm himself down, from what, I wasn't quite sure.

"Are you okay? Do you want me to leave?" I asked, unable to hide the disappointment in my voice.

He looked up, "Yeah – no, you don't have to leave. I'm fine, I'm… fine." He let out a breath and covered his face again. Something was definitely bothering him, but just like yesterday, I knew that if I pushed the subject it would only make things worse.

I pursed my lips, "Okay, well, do you mind if I look around?"

He waved his hand in a do what you want kind of gesture and I hopped off of his desk, looked at him, and then made my way out of the room and down the hallway. I noticed that there were no family photos on the walls or any photos really. There wasn't a lot of furniture either; maybe they didn't have a lot of money…

I kept waking until I found the first room, pushing the door open slowly. I stood in the doorway and examined the room. It was empty, completely empty. No bed, no dresser, no desk, no couch…absolutely nothing.

"Hmm," I muttered before turning and making my way down the hallway. I came to the next door and twisted the knob, pushing it open. This one wasn't as empty. There was a bed in the middle of the room, pushed up against the wall. A dresser was placed against the far wall with a mirror placed above it. But that was it.

At least it had something in it.

I closed the door and turned to the end of the hallway. Right at the end was the last door, and it seemed the most far away. Each step I took felt like I was moving farther and farther away from it, and I wasn't too sure on why or how, but I just knew that this was Eli's room. And that made me all the more excited.

Finally, I made it to the door. I placed my hand on the doorknob, and just as I opened the door long enough to cast a glance inside the dark room, the door was pulled shut, making me jump. I swiftly spun around before I was pinned up against the door, my eyes finding Eli's dark ones.

"What do you think you're doing?" He asked harshly. I gazed into his eyes with parted lips, shocked that he could even look this dark.

"You said I could look around," I whispered, still awash in shock.

He growled as he spoke, "I didn't mean you could snoop through my room."

So I was right… it is his room.

"I'm sorry," I breathed out, "but to be fair I didn't know it was yours." His grip on me suddenly loosened as he backed up slightly. His eyes softened and examined me before he stepped back fully. He brought his hand up to his hair before running it through it, distress covering his features.

"No… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped like that. It's just… that's my room – the only place I feel safe. You say you need an escape, and that's why you come here, but my room is my escape. I hope you understand," Eli explained softly. Even though his voice was stern, he sounded so broken. Almost like I feel when I need to get away.

I nodded, "I do."

We finally moved from the door and I made my way back down the hallway. Feeling the tension in the air, I grabbed my stuff and made my way to the door. I told him that I had better get home before my so called parents do, and he nodded as I opened the front door.

Just as I was walking down the front steps, I heard him begin to speak, "Look, I promise next time I won't be so boring. I've just had a lot on my mind lately."

I raised my eyebrows at him, smiling, "Next time?"

Eli's eyes widened and he nervously fumbled with the pocket of his jeans. "Well, I-I just thought that you were going to come by tomorrow… I mean, I wouldn't mind if you did. It does get kind of lonely, here, but not saying you have to. I'm just, you know, saying." he laughed nervously, earning a grin to appear on my lips.

"Alrighty then, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" I stated like a question, but we both knew that I'd be here.

As I went to turn to leave he called out to me, "Clare?" I turned around and looked him straight in the eyes. "You didn't tell anyone about me, did you?"

"Eli, I haven't told anyone and I don't intend to. You asked me not to and I promised I wouldn't. I never break a promise." I told him with a slight frown threatening on my lips from hearing that question. It was a little saddening to think he would underestimate me like that.

Eli nodded and gave me a small soft smile, only saying, "Thank you."

I nodded, smiled politely at him and turned to make my way to my own personal living hell.

(LINE)

"Adam! Take that off!"

"What?" Adam asked innocently as he turned around to face me, revealing my black and white bra that he had wrapped around his chest over his shirt. "I'm sexy and I know it!"

I tossed my head back in laughter when he started thrusting into the air like LMFAO in the video, showing of his "junk". I threw a pillow at him and he suddenly switched to doing the wiggle. My eyes filled up with tears and my stomach hurt from laughing so hard.

Suddenly, the door to my bedroom had swung open and Jake, with a piece of chicken in his mouth, looked at Adam, who was frozen in place, then me, then Adam again. Jake shrugged and walked over beside Adam, dug around in my top drawer before pulling out another one of my bras and put it on over his shirt. He gave Adam a look and they both began to sing while doing the wiggle.

I cried harder and laughed louder, unable to control myself. I quickly pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of them, knowing that this would be one memory that I will never forget. Here was my best friend and my step-brother dancing around in my bras. This isn't something you see every day, people!

"Post to FaceRange? I think so!" I yelled at them, earning shocked and surprised looks from the two boys.

"AH!" I squealed when they both jumped on top of me, forcing me to the bottom of a doggy pile. The three of us laughed our heads off as we fought over my cell phone.

"CLARE!"

The laughter was cut off by my mother's screaming voice, and all three of us looked up to see her and Glen standing in my doorway. The boys both scrambled to their feet and Adam quickly threw my bra to the ground.

"Jake, unless you're about to tell me that you've realized something about your sexuality then I suggest you take that damn thing off! Now!" Glen yelled at Jake, who quickly complied and peeled the bra from himself. Jake cast a glance my way before scurrying out of my room and into his own.

"I think I should go. My mom is going to get worried if I'm late again." Adam said softly. He placed a hand on my shoulder before grabbing his things and making his way out of my room. All was quiet until the door downstairs was shut, and when Glen left the room, I knew I was in trouble.

"Clare Edwards! It is nearly nine o'clock and you're making a racket. I was trying to rest but I couldn't because you guys were acting like three year olds! You better smarten up young lady and start acting your own age!" My mother yelled at me before exiting the room, slamming my door as she did so.

I sunk into my bed and hugged the blanket around myself, feeling tears of sadness slipping from my eyes. Just when I thought my life would be getting better, it all just comes crashing down again. At least one thing in my life was going right… and I got to see that right thing again tomorrow.

(LINE)

"I swear this is not photo shopped! This actually happened! This is my best friend Adam and this is my douche bag of a brother," I explained to Eli as we sat in his living room while I showed him the picture I had taken last night. I had already explained what foolishness they had been doing, and he just looked at me like I had three heads. Like he'd never seen randomness or just flat out strange people before?

"Are they, you know, gay?" He asked with a small laugh and raised eyebrows.

"No!" I said a bit too loudly, before adding a small chuckle at the end of it. Eli stared at me as I put my phone back into its place in my right front pocket.

"You're sure about that?" Eli teased as he reached over and grabbed his glass of water from the table, bringing it up to his lips and taking a sip, his eyes peaking just above the brim of the glass.

"Yes, I'm sure!" I teased and, without thinking, I pushed him playfully, and his water spilt all over his upper half. I gasped and cupped my hands over my mouth, "I am so sorry!"

I frantically looked for some napkins and quickly tried to grab some from the coffee table and tried to clean up the mess I made. How could I have been so stupid? Pushing someone with a drink in their hand. Borderline stupidity, Clare!

"No, no, it's fine but uh… you look a little parched," Eli said with a challenging smirk. I got the message quickly and my eyes widened with fear that he would actually do it. His face looked determined and I saw him start to raise his arm. "Eli, don't!"

It was too late, though.

He brought his glass completely above my head and dumped the rest of his water on me. I shot up from the couch with a gasp, unable to believe that he would actually do that.

I smiled through the water dripping down my face though when I saw my full glass still sitting there. I picked it up, silently thanking myself for not drinking a lot of it. "Oh, it's on, pretty boy."

He shot up from the couch and ran out of living room and down the hallway, screaming, "Oh, so now you think I'm pretty? I see. Now, tell me Clare, how do you really feel?"

I gasped before running after him screaming back, "That's it!"

I laughed as I chased after him, following him into the backyard. We ran around the backyard for about ten minutes, some of the water from my cup spilling in the process before I was finally was close enough to spill my water on him. He squealed like a little girl and grabbed the sides of my waist, bringing me down with him. We both collapsed to the ground in a laughing fit. The glass was long forgotten and now laid somewhere comfortable on the grass. We just lied there, until he started laughing again. His laugh was just so contagious; I didn't know what to do when I was around that beautiful sound.

"Okay, okay…truce?" He asked as he rolled over and held his hand out. I smiled and nodded, shaking his hand. I wasn't able to form words right now, my adrenaline was running, and I couldn't do anything other than smile. Eli laughed, "Come on, I'll get you a change of clothes."

He got up and I smiled when he held his hand out for me. So gentlemen like. I gladly took it, and when he pulled me up I couldn't help but grip onto his arm, my eyes staring into his own. His hair was a tangle mess, and I'm sure mine was too, but he still looked like perfection to me.

Oh God…

I quickly stepped away from him, taking my hand off of him and he cleared his throat awkwardly. We both headed back inside and when we got to the sliding glass door, we both went in at the exact same time.

It was like a movie moment.

"After you, pretty lady." He said to me as he stepped back and placed a hand on my lower back pushing me slightly. The smile and now blush were very evident on my face and impossible to get rid of.

(LINE)

"You seem awfully chipper this morning," Jake mused as I entered the kitchen. I blushed as he handed me the cereal box, my mind re-running the memories of yesterday. The feeling of wearing Eli's clothes, which I still have by the way, just made me feel so warm and safe. So comfortable.

I don't think I will ever get his scent out of my mind.

"I just had a really good day yesterday, that's all," I answered as I began to eat my breakfast. Jake hummed as he eyed me. "Clare, I'm not stupid. I know you were with that guy last night."

My eyes widened. I asked, "What guy?"

"I don't know his name or what he looks like, all I know is that there's a guy. The clothes you wore home yesterday were kind of a dead give away," Jake teased as he brushed passed me. I let out a sigh of relief and placed my bowl down on the counter, deciding that I was finished with it.

I turned around and followed Jake, grabbing my bag in the process. "Don't tell Mom or Glen, okay? It's none of their business, and if they did know they would use it to their advantage. I don't need more on me that they could blame."

Jake gave me a look, "Clare, it hurts knowing that you don't trust me," he teased, "But I know, okay? I live here too, and they do the exact same shit to me. Why do you think I keep Katie a secret?"

I pushed my eyebrows together as we walked outside to his truck. I asked, "Katie? I thought you were with Jenna…"

We climbed into the truck and Jake laughed, "Fuck no. That whiny bitch is too much for me. I don't even understand how anyone can stand her, romantically or just passing her in the fucking hallway!"

"And yet you're up for being in a relationship with a druggie?" I asked with raised eyebrows. I knew that Katie wasn't completely a druggie, but she does have a problem. At least she's getting help…hopefully, maybe. You never know with Degrassi, anything and everything could be a lie.

Jake smirked, "What can I say? I like the wild ones."

I rolled my eyes but laughed nonetheless.

…

Walking into school, Jake and I parted ways and I made my way to my locker. Adam was already there sitting on the floor waiting for me, and when I approached him I gave him a smile. He returned it and stood up, leaning against the locker next to mine.

"Can you believe it's Friday? I'm so excited to get out of this hell hole for two days!" Adam sighed heavenly before turning to look at me. I laughed and nodded, agreeing with him.

"So did you sign up for any after school activities? You know you need the credits, and it'll give you time away from home," Adam said with a small smile.

I smiled back as I shut my locker door, "Actually, that might not be a bad idea. But you're doing them with me! No more of this suggesting stuff and then bailing on me because you want to eat, sleep, and play video games!"

I grinned while Adam frowned as I pulled him down the hallway. "You can make fun of me, but when you mess with my video games, it gets personal." He teased before continuing, "Curse my amazing best friendness!"

I giggled as we finally made it to the bulletin board. We both scanned the board, looking for any clubs we could join. Adam had suggested Drama, but I wrinkled my nose and shook my head. He gave me a puppy dog face, but when I still declined he sighed in defeat, knowing that there way absolutely no way that he'd win this one.

Suddenly, something caught my eye. It was covered by a bunch of other papers, and for some reason my fingers itches to see what it was. I lifted up all of the other papers that were covering it, and when I saw the full piece of paper and what it was, my heart sunk into my stomach.

My whole world was spinning and my head was pounding and my body was shaking. I felt nauseous. There has never been another moment in time where I have ever been more confused than I am right now.

I pulled the piece of paper off the board and took a closer look at it, unable to believe what it read.

Missing person: Elijah Goldsworthy

Height: 5'6 Weight: 130 lbs

Eye color: Green Hair: Dark brown/black

Please call the number below if you have seen him.

What.

The.

Fuck?

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Much love,

Degrassi-love3 and JDDCdancer1497. Xoxo