Hello Readers! I have a couple of announcements, if you read Salvaged & Saved you've already read these.

#1 Due to the number of long stories on the upcoming stories list I'm going back to five long stories at a time. However, it will not happen until after the new year. Also bear in mind I don't suddenly have extra time on my hands, so it will still be several days between chapters. However, on average long story chapters will be longer.

#2 Starting now I will no longer be posting a one shot with each round of stories. Currently the order is:

Salvaged & Saved

Alone on a School Night

Swirling Storm Inside

Live in My House, I'll be Your Shelter

Two chapters of the same Short Story

One Shot

And then we go back to Salvaged and Saved. If you've looked at my profile page you know that there is quite a list of One Shots and are probably wondering why I'm stopping. Well, I'm not stopping all together. I will still post them, but will only work on them when I'm inspired to do so and will post when done. Essentially one shots will now be surprises. My main reason for this decision is that I have an absolutely terrible time deciding which One Shot to do each round. It ends up delaying the other stories and I have been (as I'm sure you've noticed) in general choosing the one shots I think will be the shortest just to get them out of the way. I don't want to do that, I want them to be good and I want you guys to enjoy reading them.

Really these two decisions go together, if I'm not doing a one shot each round it leaves time for a new long story

Okay enough of me talking, enjoy the chapter!

Ch. 7 The Truth Becomes so Humbling

(OWEN)

"Owen, can I speak to you in my office?" Coach Armstrong asks while I'm getting books from my locker.

"Yes Sir," I nod and close my locker. I follow Coach Armstrong to his office and he closes the door after we enter. There's only a few people in the locker room this early, so I find it odd that he closed the door.

"You've been an incredible asset to the DeGrassi hockey team these last three years. Our most valuable player every season and I know you carried the team to victory last year. What I'm about to tell you can't be repeated to anyone," Coach Armstrong says in a serious tone.

"Okay," I nod slowly.

"DeGrassi is forming a new junior pro team. We're recruiting from all over the country, even the states, we've even been looking at twins in Sweden."

"Is this your way of telling me that I don't have a hockey team this year?"

"Actually, this is my way of telling you that I think you should try out for the team. It will be a high caliber team, tough, more up to your speed and beyond. You'd have to try out Saturday, myself and Coach Hunt will work with you. Coach Hunt will meet with you this afternoon to go over a training schedule and get you ready. You'd be excused from football practice this afternoon."

"I'm in," I grin.

"Good, meet Coach Hunt in his office after school. And Owen, you can't tell anyone about the hockey team, for the moment this has to remain confidential. There is a possibility we won't be able to form the team."

"I understand Sir, I won't say anything to anyone," I reply.

I really won't say anything to anyone, but I leave Coach's office with a huge and excited grin decorating my lips. It's still there when I get to my homeroom biology class, the only other person in here is Eli. He's looking at his book, seems to be finishing his homework, but he looks up when I walk in.

"That's a happy smile, why the good…" Eli begins to ask then stops and narrows his eyes at me. "Wait you and Clare didn't…"

"No," I cut him off before he finishes., "no we didn't. She makes me happy, but this smile isn't about Clare. I just got some really awesome news, well potentially awesome anyway, assuming it all works out. That's why I'm excited and happy."

"Phew," he exhales with relief, "so, what's the good news."

"I…I can't talk about it, sorry I swore not too. I'm sure you'll find out soon."

Eli just smirks in response, he doesn't say anything else, although that could be because other people are coming into class now. I don't wear the smile all morning, but I am excited all morning. It shows when I pick Clare up for lunch and give her an extra passionate kiss.

"You're very happy this morning," she giggles, "what did I miss since I last saw you?"

"I wish I could tell you, it's exciting and potentially great news for me. I just can't tell you yet."

"Really wonderful secret news?" She questions.

"Secret for now, but anyway I'm taking you to lunch at The Dot to celebrate."

She smiles, I put my arm around her and we walk to The Dot, we're both happily surprised to see Peter behind the counter.

"So, are you owner now?" Clare asks.

"Not quite yet, Gamal's lawyer is drawing up the paperwork today and I'll have a lawyer look at them with me tomorrow. Just thought I'd get back into the swing of things here, so I'm helping out today. It's been a long time since I worked here," Peter tells us.

We tell him early congratulations and he rings up our order. After I pay Clare and I sit at the high café table near the window. Peter brings our drinks over almost as soon as we sit down.

"I have practice after school," I comment, "as usual," I add quickly. Keeping this secret may be harder than I thought.

"I know. I'm sleeping at Adam's tonight," Clare tells me.

"Why?"

"Peter's back, he needs his room," she replies.

"You can sleep in my room, if you don't want to sleep in the bed with me I'll sleep on the floor, or the sofa," I argue.

"I'm not going to kick you out of your room, or your bed. We both knew my staying at your place wasn't a permanent situation. Neither is me staying at Adam's," she admits.

"So, what are you going to do? You don't want to go home, you don't want to go to your dad's."

"I don't know," she admits.

The stubborn protective male in me wants to argue that she should just stay at my place, that we'll figure it out. We could find a way to move her in I'm sure of it. I don't say anything though, she's sure to see that as me trying to tell her what to do and she won't like it. She'll just argue with me more, possibly even go home tonight just to prove me wrong. So, I bite my tongue. At least I know Adam and Drew will take care of her.

"Just so long as neither of them sees you in your pajamas, or anything less," I remark which makes her giggle.

"I'm pretty sure they both see me as a sister."

"Doesn't matter, they're guys and you're not actually related to them."

"I'll be careful," she promises me just as the waitress brings our food.

We eat lunch and talk a little about what we might do this weekend, and about Thanksgiving on Monday. Waving to Peter before we leave to walk back to school.

"I may not see you after school, but I'll call you later," I tell her at her locker.

"Okay, have a good practice," she smiles. I snatch her lips for a quick kiss before going to my locker.

I use my spare period to get the biology homework done, less to do after school. Fourth period seems to last forever but that could be because I'm super anxious to get to practice with Coach Hunt. I meet him at his office and he takes me out to his car, we go to my house to get my skates first and then to the arena. Before he starts warming me up he shows me the proposed practice schedule, it's pretty grueling but tryouts are Saturday and I want to be ready. I'm determined to make this team!

(CLARE)

"Why wasn't your boyfriend at football practice?" Drew asks when he walks into the basement.

I came home with Adam after school, we asked Audra if I could stay and since she'd heard about the situation with Jake and my parents Audra said it was fine. Adam and I have been doing homework in the basement for most of the afternoon, but we're almost done.

"I don't know. Probably has something to do with his exciting but secret news," I reply.

"What exciting and secret news?" Drew questions.

"I don't know it was secret he couldn't tell me," I respond and Drew twists his face at me.

He sets down his stuff and then Audra tells us it's time for dinner. We wash up and go upstairs, Omar is home and has been told I'm staying the night. After we've sat down and started eating Audra asks us how school was, and we all answer fine. Drew starts talking about football practice, and again mentions that Owen wasn't there. After dinner I help Adam and Drew with the dishes before we return to the basement. Adam and I easily finish our homework, Adam turns on the TV and we watch while Drew works on his homework. Adam and I help him with his math homework. Drew volunteers to give me his room for the night, but I tell him I'll be fine on the sofa down here. Adam helps me get the sofa set up so I can sleep and then says goodnight. As I'm getting ready for bed Owen calls.

"Hi," I answer with a smile.

"Hey, the Torres' treating you okay?"

"Yeah, they've been great. Drew wanted to know why you weren't at football practice though."

"It had to do with the news I couldn't tell you today."

"I thought so, and tat's what I told him. He'll still probably want an explanation," I remark.

"Coach Armstrong must have told them something. It feels weird not having you here, it's nice to have Peter home, but I miss you," Owen tells me which makes me smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow, I'll have to talk to my mom, and Jake, at some point. I can't stay away forever," I sigh.

"And if nothing has changed? You're not going to be comfortable living in a house where you feel you're being cast out, or replaced, or not welcome," Owen comments.

"I know," I sigh heavily and feeling fairly defeated.

"We can make space for you here, I know my parents would agree."

"Thanks, and I know you mean it, and I appreciate it."

"But…" Owen prompts.

"But right now I'm just not sure, I'm a little…displaced I guess. Part of me feels like I need my family and I need to talk to them. Part of me wants to say the heck with it and move in with you, never speak to them again. But I know that part of me is angry, very angry and it's not good to listen to that part. I think I just need some time to figure out what I want, what I need, what's best for me."

"You take all the time you need, just know that I'm here for you."

"I know," I smile.

Owen and I talk for a while before I'm tired and I want to sleep. We say goodnight and I sleep surprisingly well. I eat breakfast with the brothers the next morning and Audra takes us to school. She pulls up to the front stairs and Jake is on them, waiting for Jenna I guess, he gives me an odd look when I get out of the van with Adam. I ignore Jake and walk into school with the brothers. Drew leaves us almost as soon as we're inside, Adam and I walk to our lockers. Which is where Owen finds me when he kisses me good morning. Alli glares at me in first period of course, at least Adam is with me in this class. Surprisingly in second period Jenna doesn't glare at me, she will barely even look at me.

"So, you're staying with Adam and Drew now?" Jake asks finding me at my locker at lunch.

"Not that it's any of your business, or that you care, but it was just for the night," I reply closing my locker.

"Fight with Owen?" Jake asks.

"No, and it's none of your business," I reply walking away.

Despite what I tell Jake I end up spending the next three nights at the Torres house. I don't talk to Jake or Mom all week, I do spend time with Owen at school and talk to him every night. Mom sends me a text to ask if I'll be joining them for Thanksgiving, because she needs to know how many people will be eating there. The way she says it makes me think that Jenna is eating there, so I'm extremely happy to be able to tell her I have plans for Thanksgiving. After texting her back that I'm having dinner, and spending the day, with Owen's family I don't hear back from my mom.

"You kids have a good day at school, your dad and I will both be at the game tonight," Audra tells us dropping us at school Friday morning.

"Bye Mom," Adam says as we get out of the van. When we walk into school we're greeted by the sight of Jake and Jenna kissing.

"Ignore them," Drew comments putting his arm around my shoulders.

"I'm getting better at that," I reply.

Drew comes with us to our lockers, Adam and I get our books, then we walk with Drew to his locker. Where we find Owen and Bianca, I greet Owen with a kiss and Drew does the same to Bianca. The day at school seems especially long, everyone is excited for the three day weekend. After school people begin snagging seats on the bleachers since the football game is at DeGrassi this afternoon. Adam, Bianca and I get seats in the first row, after a few minutes Fitz and Peter join us. Audra and Omar show up before the game starts, Daphne and Mitch arrive just as the games beginning. It's extremely close but DeGrassi wins in overtime. I jump up cheering with the rest of the DeGrassi fans. Bianca and I go out to the field to congratulate our men. The team is going to celebrate with pizza and then go to a party at the house of one of the guys on the team. Fitz and Peter have to work, parents are not invited, but the rest of us are. Audra says Adam and Drew can go as long as they're home by curfew.

Owen and Drew have to shower and change, so Adam and I go with Bianca in her car to the pizza place. There's a few cheerleaders and other girlfriends here. Bianca, Adam and I get a pizza to split and some drinks, by the time the football team arrives we've pretty much taken over the entire place. After a couple hours at the pizza place, and everyone's fill of pizza, we leave to go to the party. I go with Owen of course while Bianca takes the brothers and K.C. in her car. The party is fun, we stay even later than Drew, Adam, Bianca and K.C. since Owen and I don't have a curfew. It was never discussed where I would sleep tonight, but as I stayed at the party with Owen and didn't go home with Adam and Drew I don't have much of a choice.

"Peter was going to close tonight, he should be home any minute. You'll sleep in my room tonight," Owen says as we enter his house and he locks the front door.

"The sofa is fine," I reply.

"No, it's not. Unless you don't want to sleep in my bed. You know we won't do anything."

"I know, I just feel…like I'm in the way."

Owen looks at me and cups my chin gently so that our eyes will meet. "You are never in the way," he says before softly brushing my lips with his. "Besides I like having you in my bed, even when all we do is sleep."

I smile, and we go up to his room. I still have a toothbrush and some other toiletries here, which I retrieve from downstairs, but Owen gives me one of his shirts to sleep in because my stuff is still at the Torres house. While waiting for Owen to get ready for bed I put on the TV, and fall asleep to it.

(OWEN)

"Where are you going so early?" Clare yawns. It's just after seven on Saturday morning, I tried to slip out of bed without waking her, obviously it didn't work.

"Practice, I'll be back this afternoon," I reply kissing her temple.

I take my clothes into the washroom to get ready. After getting ready I grab a protein bar and drink, then get in my car and drive to the rink. It's open and I saw Coach Hunt's car, so I know at least he's here. After changing into all of my gear and taking a few gulps of the protein drink I go out to the ice. Coach Armstrong is also here and a man I don't know.

"Owen," Coach Armstrong calls to me as he waves me over. "This is Coach Carroll, he'll be the Ice Hounds head coach," Armstrong introduces us.

"Nice to meet you Owen, I saw some of your tapes from last year very impressive. We're waiting on a few more people, but you can warm up if you'd like," Coach Carroll tells me.

"Thank you, Sir," I grin.

Skating away from the bench I start warming up, after skating around a few times, practicing stopping and turns I grab a stick and puck. While waiting for the others to arrive I hit some pucks into the net using various techniques. When the other guys do arrive, five others to be exact, we're split into teams of three, we don't play a real game there's not enough people. Mostly the coaches are seeing what we can do, they have us do various drills for over an hour.

"You all did very well, I'm very impressed. We have other players to look at, but if you made the team we'll let you know by the end of the month," Coach Carroll says when we're done.

All of us head back to the locker room to shower and change. We were all introduced before they started us on drills. One guy is from Guelph and one came all the way from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. All the other guys are from everywhere in between. While changing and showering we talk a little, mostly about how we played and what we think our chances are. I wish them all good luck and say goodbye before leaving.

Tired and starving now the first thing I do is go to the kitchen when I get home. I make myself a giant sandwich and sit down to eat, I take a few bites before it occurs to me I haven't seen anyone else yet. It's a little after eleven now, Tris and Clare may be sleeping, Peter too and the parents are probably out running errands. I take a few more bites then go upstairs to check on Clare, but she's not in bed. She's not in the washroom and she's not outside, but I notice Peter is also gone. I return to eating my early lunch and just as I'm finishing Clare and Peter come in.

"How was practice?" Clare asks.

"Good, looks like you went home to get some more stuff?" I query seeing the bags in her hands.

"Yeah, I wanted some extra clothes and some other stuff. Something nicer to wear to Thanksgiving for sure. I guess I'll put these in your room?" Clare asks.

"Yeah, put them in my room," I nod. She goes upstairs, I get up to rinse my dish and Peter leans on the counter next to me.

"Clare wanted to stay the night at Adam's tonight. I told her she should stay for the weekend since she was joining us for Thanksgiving. I even offered for her to sleep in my room again, but she refused. At least, I got her to agree to stay the weekend," Peter tells me.

I'm about to respond, but I hear Clare coming down the stairs again so I close my mouth. Peter says he has to get ready for work, he tousles Clare's hair as he walks past her toward his room. I'm about to ask Clare what she wants to do today when my phone rings. It's Drew and he's asking if we want to hang at his house. I ask Clare and she says yes, so I tell Drew we'll be over in a few minutes. We spend most of the day at the Torres house hanging out, but return to my house in time for dinner. Clare sleeps in my room, in my bed with me. We spend all of Sunday at my house, watching TV in my room, swimming, and playing board games with Tris and Maya. Maya came over late in the morning after a fight with her family. Clare sleeps in my room with me again, and we wake late Thanksgiving morning.

Daphne is already up and cooking, my dad is helping, Peter looks like he just got up. He's on the sofa drinking coffee. Clare and I get some coffee and join Peter on the sofa. Once Dad and Daphne have the turkey in the oven we all get some breakfast and Tris comes downstairs with Maya. We watch a movie after breakfast and we all help make dinner. At some point we all take turns disappearing so that we can change for dinner. Clare, Tris, Maya and I set the table while Dad, Daphne and Peter get the food ready. There's lots of good food, it's nice to have my family all here, including Peter. If either Clare or Maya ever worries or stresses about being ousted from their own family Thanksgiving they never show it. They both smile and seem happy all day, after dinner and cleaning up we eat dessert while watching a movie. After the movie, and cleaning her dessert plate, Clare disappears and I find her in my room.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, just tired," she replies forcing a smile on her lips.

I'm sure she's thinking about her family, but if she wanted to talk about it she would have. I hug her, kiss the top of her head and we start getting ready for bed. We watch TV in my bed and I fall asleep to the TV. I sleep great, I dream about Clare, and making the junior pro hockey team. I'm sure I sleep all night with a huge smile on my face.

(CLARE)

I'd spent a wonderful Thanksgiving with Owen, his family and Maya. I hadn't really thought about my family all day, I was just happy to be with Owen and everyone. It wasn't until after I'd eaten dessert and we were watching the end of the movie that I thought of them. I don't even know what triggered it, but somehow my mind suddenly wondered what was going on at my house. And then I couldn't stop. I kept wondering what they'd talked about over dinner, had Jenna made a toast? When Mom said the prayer did she include me? It was all that was on my mind for the rest of the night.

Owen fell asleep fairly quickly while we were watching TV in his bed. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't get my mind off my house and what had happened there today. I wondered if Jenna was still there, if she was sleeping in my room despite me telling them I didn't want her to. I felt hurt, betrayed, and yet wished I had been there with them to celebrate. As hurt and as angry as I was I missed my family, and that hurt most of all.

Not wanting to disturb Owen, or to lie there awake next to him, I get up quietly and go downstairs. I turn the TV on low, I try to concentrate on it, to get my mind off my house and my family. It doesn't help, I begin thinking about my father as well. Neither of my parents so much as texted to say Happy Thanksgiving today, not that I reached out either, but it still hurts. So much that I begin crying, I cry silently and eventually cry myself to sleep. I wake early the next morning, not sure why I wake but it's early enough that I can slip upstairs and back to Owen's room without being seen.

"Mmm, what time is it?" Owen groans as I slip back into bed.

"Early, go back to sleep. I just got up to use the washroom," I tell him.

We both fall asleep again, though his alarm goes off what feels like a few minutes later and we both get up with a groan. While getting ready for school I force myself to push my family and the hurt out of my mind. Taking a deep breath and stoically pushing it all aside. Owen drives the four of us to school, we walk in together before Tris and Maya diverge to find their friends. Owen walks me to my locker and gives me a gentle kiss before he leaves. I open my locker and get out a book before I feel someone watching me. I turn around to find Jenna standing there, she's looking down and she looks remorseful. If she hadn't I would have turned and stormed away from her.

"Can we talk?" She asks in a soft voice but it has a hopeful edge to it.

If not for her tone and her remorseful eyes I'd probably walk away. Instead I let out a quiet sigh, standing firm on my ground in case this is somehow a trick. "Okay."

"Jake and I, it was never meant to hurt you, not on my part anyway. I didn't even know I liked him it just kind of happened. I know you and Alli are fighting because she kissed Jake at the cabin, but I shouldn't have taken sides, I'm sorry that I've been a pretty awful friend these last few weeks. I know you've been sleeping at Owen's a lot, and Adam's last week. I hope it's not because I've been at your house so much."

I don't really know where to begin, it takes me a moment to respond. "It wasn't just you that was keeping me from going home. Since Jake and I broke up things have been pretty tense at the house. After he and you started dating it got worse, I felt like you were taking over and replacing me, with Jake and with my mom."

"I never meant for you to feel that way Clare, I swear. I know our friendship has been tenuous but I've missed you and I know Jake, and especially your mom have missed you. She kept crying last night because you weren't there," Jenna tells me.

Now I'm just mixed with emotions; guilt, anger, worry, regret. "She was?"

"Yeah, she kept leaving the table or the room and sniffling, wiping her eyes. She would start to talk about you and had to stop. She misses you, they all do. No one likes that you feel displaced and like you can't go home. I would never try to replace you Clare, with anyone. I'm not telling you to work things out with Jake or make up with your mom, I just hope we can be friends again," Jenna says sincerely and with hope in her eyes.

"That would be nice," I smile. Jenna smiles back and we hug. It's not like we were ever best friends, and even when we hug there's a bit of tension with us. We can't erase or forget the last few weeks (not that I'd want to because it brought me Owen) but it's an olive branch and a step toward rebuilding the friendship. And maybe if Jenna and I can reconcile then so can my mom and I.

"Aww, does this mean you two have made amends?" Adam's voice breaks us from the hug.

"Yes, we have," I tell Adam with a smile.

He grins back and goes to his locker to get his books. Jenna waves before walking off, I smile at Adam, I feel lighter now. Of course the smile fades when I walk into homeroom and Alli glares at me. Adam puts his arm around me and we sit down at our desks. We get through homeroom and I say goodbye to Adam before heading to second period. No one glares at me this period, Jenna smiles at me when I come into class, even Dave smiles at me. When the bell rings after second period I walk to my locker to put away my books for lunch. I eat with Owen, Bianca, Adam and Drew. I tell them about Jenna's apology this morning and they're all happy about it.

"Can I have a word with my sister?" Jake requests as we finish eating. Owen tenses up, and everyone is giving Jake a look, probably for the same reason I am. He's never called me his sister before. Although the looks from the others could just be that he wants to talk to me after the way he's been treating me.

"You have something to say to her, you can say it in front of all of us," Owen comments.

"Don't trust me with my own sister Owen?"

"After the way you've been treating her, no I don't."

"Okay, I deserve that. That things have been tense and awkward is an understatement, but Thanksgiving was worse. Your mom was miserable, and it really was not the same without you. We've been through a lot, and it's probably going to be awkward, and I know I have a lot to make up for, but well…do you think we could make this sibling thing work if we both try?" Jake pleads and I know he's sincere.

"That would be nice," I smile.

"Now can I speak with her alone?" Jake requests. Owen relaxes, Jake offers me his hand and I go with him to the bleachers.

"You may not believe me but I never meant to hurt you Clare. You were my girlfriend, then you were my sister, either way you are important to me. Kissing Alli, flirting with Jenna, it was all to get over you, it's not easy to get over you I hope you know and I can understand part of Eli's extreme behavior now. I never thought Jenna and I would ever become anything, we began flirting and it was to get over you, for her to get over K.C., and then it became more. I really do like Jenna, and I like having her around but she was never meant to replace you, no one could do that. I've been a lousy brother, I know that but I was hoping you'd come home tonight?"

Update soon will pick up from right here. Next updated will be Swirling Storm Inside.

Sorry it's been so long since the last posting I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and New Year!