Happy Weekend everyone! I have posted my entire holiday writing schedule, November through January, on the DeGrassi Saviors website so check that out. Everything is subject to change of course, if I become ill or something but if there is a change I will let you know as soon as possible.

Ch. 7 A Split in Your Tongue

(OWEN)

I wake up early Sunday morning to the text message sound on my phone. I assume it'll be from Fitz or Bianca asking what I'm doing today, but it's a video message from anyone number. Usually these are invites to raves or something but I've never had one on Sunday morning. Still even at this early hour my curiosity is piqued and I open the video message only to become enraged. It's about five seconds long and it's of Clare giving a hand job to some guy in our hot tub! I can't see the guy but I can see her and I know it's our hot tub.

"CLARE!" I yell when my anger boils over.

I yell loud enough that it shakes the windows and wakes up Clare along with Maya and Tris. They all come out of their rooms and look at me, worried but tired.

"What'd she do?" Tris yawns.

"I got an interesting video message who was with you in the hot tub last night?" I question Clare.

"Umm let's go watch TV," Maya says to Tris taking his hand and pulling him downstairs. I watch them go downstairs and look at Clare she's looking away and biting her lip.

"Who is it Clare?" I ask her again. She turns around and starts heading back to her room and I follow her, closing the door.

"Forget it Owen," she replies.

"You're joking right? I'm supposed to forget that you were giving some guy a hand job in our hot tub while I slept?! Tell me who it is so I can kill him," I demand.

"No, it's not like he forced me I wanted to," she informs me.

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?! You shouldn't be doing anything with any guy! Is this Eli or is it Drew? Tell me or I'll kill them both!" I growl back in response.

"Owen I'm not a little kid anymore, I'm sixteen and I'm perfectly capable of making my own decisions and deciding who I want to date or do anything with. Eli didn't force me to do anything and he swore no one would see the video," she tells me and I explode, crushing my phone in my hand.

"AND YOU BELIEVED HIM?! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE SMART ONE! DON'T EVER TRUST A GUY CLARE! ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE HORNY! THEY WILL SAY AND DO ANYTHING TO GET YOU TO DO WHAT THEY WANT! HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID AS TO GIVE HIM A HAND JOB IN OUR HOT TUB AND LET HIM VIDEO TAPE YOU?!" I yell at her and then take a deep breath. "Stay here I'm going to take care of this and stay away from Eli and Drew I don't want you anywhere near them," I tell her and leave her room slamming the door behind me. I throw on some clothes and go downstairs.

"So what did she do?" Tris asks.

"Make sure she doesn't leave the house I have to go do something," I reply and walk out to my car driving to Fitz's place. His parents never lock the door so I just go in and up to his room shaking his shoulder, "Dude wake up we need to go kill a guy."

"It's like six on a Sunday morning do we have to kill him now?" Fitz groans.

"Yeah because Eli convinced Clare to give him a hand job in our hot tub and he videotaped it. He sent it to me this morning, I'd show you but I kind of broke my phone," I tell him.

"He did what? That fucking prick I knew I didn't like him for a reason," Fitz growls getting up and pulling on some clothes.

Fitz shares a room with his stepbrother, when his stepbrother bothers to sleep at home and that isn't too often. He didn't sleep at home last night obviously, not that I would have cared if he had. Once Fitz is dressed we get back in my car and I realize I don't actually know where Eli lives so I pull over and call Bianca from Fitz's phone.

"Hey you're up early," she answers.

"Actually it's Owen and I kinda broke my phone, Fitz is with me and we need to kill Eli can you find out where he lives," I request.

"Uh sure but I saw him driving toward the school about fifteen minutes ago," Bianca replies.

"You what? Wait how'd you see him? Where are you?" I ask her.

"The Dot, my aunt brought home some guy about an hour ago and I got the heck out of there. I haven't seen him drive out so he must still be at the school," Bianca tells me.

"Thanks," I say and hang up.

I drive us to the school and see not only Eli's in his car; he's counting a wad of cash and wearing a smug grin. I pull up behind him so he can't get out and we hop out of the car. Fitz goes to the passenger side of Eli's car so he can't get out that way and I go to the driver's side. He locks the door so Fitz opens the passenger side door and pulls Eli out that way.

"You're a dead man," Fitz tells him while I hope over the hood of the car.

"YOU FUCKING PRICK! YOU MESSED WITH MY SISTER AND NOW I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" I yell before punching him across the face and breaking his nose.

"She wanted to, maybe you're keeping such a tight rein on her she couldn't wait to break free," Eli taunts holding his broken nose.

"You took advantage of her, Fitz find his phone and take out the card," I command and hit Eli a few more times while Fitz gets Eli's phone. "If I find out that anyone else saw that video I will break one bone in your body for every person that saw video," I inform Eli dropping him to the ground in a bloody mess.

"I'm going to tell the cops you assaulted me, you'll both be arrested and then I can spend all the time around Clare that I want," He laughs and then starts choking.

"I don't know what you're talking about 'cause me and Fitz were at my place all morning," I respond while Fitz hands me the SIM and memory card from Eli's phone. Fitz kicks Eli a couple of times then we get back in my car and drive to my house. We take the cards to the garage, mash them with some hammers and then drown them in paint thinner to make sure they're gone. When we go inside Tris and Maya are eating cereal on the sofa and my parents are eating at the table. "Where's Clare?" I question the younger sibs.

"Still in her room," Tris says.

"Everything alright Honey?" Mom questions.

"It is now we took care of it," I reply and go upstairs with Fitz following me. Clare's door is locked and I knock on it but she doesn't say anything or open the door. "Clare it's me and Fitz open the door," I call to her.

"Go away Owen," she responds.

"Oh did you upset the princess?" Katie mocks coming out of her room.

"Shut up Katie," I snap at her and start banging on Clare's door again, "Clare come on let us in."

"You went and beat him up didn't you?" She snarls opening her door finally. Fitz and I go in and close the door behind us.

"He had video of you, he could have sent it to anyone we made sure that he didn't and why would you even do something like that?"

"Excuse me? It's not like we had sex and I wasn't drugged Eli isn't Reese, thanks for taking care of the video but you can't control my life," Clare hisses at me.

"I'm not trying to control your life Clare I'm trying to keep you from getting hurt. I will kill anyone that tries to hurt you, I'm your big brother it's what I do. Anyone that tried to hurt you, Maya or Tris I will kill them. What Eli did was take advantage of you and he had to learn a lesson. I slept in your hospital bed with you for a week wondering if you'd even survive and I swore to protect you and I will, as long as I can help it no one will hurt you," I remind her.

"I know Owen, I know why you're so protective and I love that you're protective but you have to let me grow up and you can't scare away all guys that want to date me," she responds.

"Hey I'm all good with you growing up just don't do it too fast and you can date anyone you want as long as I approve of them," I state.

"You never approve of anyone," she argues.

"No I don't approve of Eli especially after what he pulled last night," I shoot back.

"Name one guy I've ever gone out with that you've approved of," she says with an annoyed growl.

"I haven't approved of any of the guys you've dated so far," I comment and he makes an annoyed sort of shriek, "that doesn't mean I never will."

"You never will Owen, you don't like any guy that likes me," she disputes.

"That's not true I like Fitz and I approve of him," I counter, Fitz looks at me surprised and Clare looks even more shocked apparently she's totally blind to his affections.

"You know?" Fitz asks.

"Of course I knew it was obvious," I reply.

"Not to me, you like me Mark?" Clare questions using his first name which he hates but he doesn't say anything just scratches the back of his head uncomfortably.

"Yeah, kind of for a while," he admits.

Clare still just looks shocked and a little confused and then she walks out of her room.

"Where are you going?" I question.

"Downstairs to have breakfast or can't I do that without your permission?" She responds and trots downstairs.

"I think she's mad at us," Fitz remarks.

"Yeah very, we better give her some space you want to come to the mall with me and while I get a new phone?"

Fitz nods and we leave the house again, hopefully Clare will calm down and not hate us all day. I know I'm way over overly protective but it's only because I couldn't stand for her to be hurt or to lose her. I thought I did more than once before and I won't go through that again.

(KATIE)

"Who the fuck is texting us so early?" Jake groans when my phone goes off early Sunday morning.

"It's Eli, he says he won," I yawn.

"That was fast he's tricky," Jake grins.

"Yeah I wish I was home right now to hear that stupid troll yelling at the princess," I reply and text both Eli and Drew to meet us at the usual place in an hour.

"We'll go over after we meet our two pawns, we should have thought of this game last year it's hilarious," Jake smiles kissing my shoulder.

"I think we can drag this on all year, they'll keep fighting, the princess will get her heart ripped away and I'll be happy," I grin kissing Jake before we get up and get dressed.

After we're dressed Jake takes me to breakfast at our favorite spot and then we go to the greenhouse. Drew and Eli are already here, Eli shows us his phone with a long video of Clare giving him a hand job.

"I only sent a portion of it to Owen but I'm sure it was enough. I win so where's my money?" Eli demands.

"Getting greedy Eli," Jake mocks getting out his wallet and giving Eli the cash.

"New game, get her to give you a blow job we'll need video evidence again and I think an even $200 will be fair," I smile.

"I think you guys get off on this," Drew says turning and walking out.

"Does that mean you're dropping out?" Jake asks.

"Not a chance," Drew replies getting in his car and driving away.

"Let's go home I want to hear Owen yelling at Clare," I tell Jake.

We get back in his car and leave through the back entrance while Eli gets in his car. I don't see Owen's car when we get to my house, Mom and Dad are awake and making breakfast and the brats are watching cartoons. We ignore them all and go up to my room, making out on my bed until I hear Owen come home, he's not alone another guy is with him and I'm sure it's Fitz. Owen starts pounding on Clare's door and I get off Jake to open my door and lean in the doorway.

"Oh did you upset the princess?" I laugh making a mock crying motion.

"Shut up Katie," Owen barks at me.

He turns back around and I stick my tongue out at the back of his head. I go back to my room and cuddle up to Jake listening to them argue. I can't hear them when they go into Clare's room but she still comes out upset and I laugh. She goes downstairs and Owen and Fitz leave.

"Let's go back to your place I don't want to be here any longer than I have to and I doubt they'll fight when she gets back," I comment.

"Happily let's get the hell out of here," Jake says.

We go back to his house and spend the day swimming and doing naughty things in his room. Since I detest being at my house I keep extra clothes at Jake's house so I have everything I need to get ready for school Monday morning. His cook makes us breakfast and we drive to school in his Tesla, but when we arrive at school the cops are here. My best friend Marisol is in the yard and we go over to her.

"Why are the cops here?" I ask her.

"Apparently that Eli kid got mugged outside of the school on Sunday, he got beat up pretty bad and they took his phone," Marisol tells us. I don't reply just pull Jake's hand and bring him into the school.

"I guess my brawn for brains stepbrother did a number on Eli which probably means he's out of the game," I remark.

"Aw and I was having so much fun," Jake replies whining a little.

"Oh the game's not over we still have Drew to play with, talk about a goof. Let's go find him, this changes the game but we'll still have lots of fun," I smile taking Jake and pulling him down the hall, we find an empty classroom and I text Drew to meet us there. He comes in the door a few minutes later and locks it behind him. "Did you hear about Eli?" I ask.

"Yeah he's out of school today because he got beat up so bad," Drew replies.

"Eli's out of the game but you're still in and we're changing it up a bit. If you can publically get Clare to agree to be your girlfriend and you'll get $250 and a new game. That is unless you're chicken and you want to back out? You're not afraid of my idiot stepbrother are you?" I taunt him.

"No problem I think she likes me best anyway," Drew says and leaves the room.

"This year just keeps getting better and better," I laugh.

(CLARE)

I go downstairs to eat breakfast while Owen and Fitz leave to go get Owen a new phone. Mom and Dad are eating mushroom omelets but I opt for cereal and join the younger sibs on the sofa.

"So what's going on?" Tris questions.

"Oh you know our bulldog of a bullheaded brother he decided something was a problem and went to take care of it his way," I huff and they don't ask any further questions. After I eat breakfast I go upstairs and get dressed and ready to go out and then I call Bianca. "Hey I need a girls day what are you up to?" I ask her.

"I am on my tenth cup of coffee at The Dot I'll be right over," she says.

"Thanks," I reply hanging up.

I tell Mom and Dad I'm going out and wait for Bianca outside, when she pulls up I get in the car.

"So where to?" She asks.

"I don't know I just need to be out for a while," I respond.

"Too early for a movie and I assume you ate so how about some window shopping and looking at the vintage shops downtown?" Bianca suggests.

"Yeah retail therapy sounds good," I nod.

Bianca drives downtown and parks, we get out and start meandering looking in the shops and walking in silence for a few minutes.

"So what's wrong?" Bianca prods and I let out a heavy sigh.

"I had a nightmare last night, nothing really unusual about that but Eli was outside my window. I probably should have told him to leave but I couldn't, I kind of like him so I told him to get in the hot tub. It took my mind off of things, and I honestly didn't think anything of him being naked in the hot tub or getting horny when we were kissing. I didn't think it was wrong when he asked me to help," I'm saying and Bianca speaks up before I can go on.

"So blow job or hand job?" She asks.

"Hand job, it was interesting but exciting too and when he was videotaping it on his phone he told me it was just for him and I believed him," I admit biting my lip.

"Oh boy and let me guess Owen found out and that's why he wanted to know where Eli was."

"Owen found out because Eli sent him the video and Owen went ballistic as always. He went out and beat up Eli and then he came home to argue with me. I know why he's protective and normally I appreciate it but on occasion it drives me insane! Then while we were arguing I find out that Fitz likes me!" I tell her.

"Yeah well that last one was obvious," Bianca responds.

"You knew he liked me?"

"It's pretty obvious I don't know how you didn't," she comments.

"I…I don't know maybe I did, but Fitz?! I've known him forever I just…it's Fitz. We're close but he's almost like family it's just a little weird I guess."

"He likes you it doesn't mean you have to like him back. He'll still be your friend and he'll still care about you protect you just like he always has no matter what," Bianca advises.

I nod and we keep window shopping, we spend all morning downtown and I buy us lunch then we start heading home. When we're near Riverdale I ask Bianca to drop me at Eli's house, I know Owen beat him up, and probably Fitz too but I need to confront him myself.

"Can you wait this shouldn't take long," I tell her.

"Yeah no problem," Bianca nods. I smile at her and get out knocking on the door, Eli's mom answers.

"Is Eli home?" I ask her.

"He's on the sofa, he got mugged outside the school, he's pretty bruised up you can't stay for long," she tells me. I nod and go inside; Eli's lying on the sofa with a blanket and a bandage on his nose. He looks like some of his ribs are taped.

"Hey Clare," he says with a small grin.

"I'll just run to the market and pick some stuff up for dinner, be back in half an hour," his mom says grabbing her purse and leaving the house.

"Did you come to kiss me better after your brother beat me up?" Eli smirks as soon as his mom is gone.

"How could you send the video to Owen?! You lied to me Eli, you promised me no one else would even see the video and you sent it to Owen!"

"It was an accident Clare, I swear I never meant for him to see it," Eli pleads.

"I hope it was worth it, I hope you remember this pain because if you ever come near me again or I find out anyone else saw the video I will have Owen do worse. I trusted you Eli, I actually liked you and you just what? Wanted to see how far I'd go? Wanted to see how angry Owen would get?"

"No Clare listen…"

"No," I cut him off, "I liked you but you are a creep and I want nothing more to do with you!"

I leave Eli's house slamming the front door behind me and getting back in Bianca's car. She takes me home and we go up to my room, Owen and Fitz are back and they come to my room.

"I told Eli off, I can take care of myself you know," I inform Owen.

"I never said you couldn't doesn't mean I'm still not going to kill anyone that hurts you or even tries," Owen tells me.

"Yeah I know," I nod.

We spend the next few hours in my room watching TV and hanging out. We eat dinner as a family, minus Katie but no one really thinks of her as family, can't feel sorry for her she did it to herself. Bianca and Fitz stay over and we stay up late in the living room watching movies with Maya and Tris. Bianca sleeps in my room on the air mattress, I fall asleep pretty quickly but wake up after a nightmare, not screaming but crying. Bianca is still sound asleep and I don't want to disturb her so I go into Owen's room because I have no problems disturbing him.

"Owen," I say shaking his shoulder and he sits up.

"What? You okay? What's going on? Who needs to be killed?" Owen asks.

"Nightmare, I just didn't wake up screaming," I tell him.

"Oh, so pancakes then? It is Monday morning," Owen yawns.

"I know but I don't want to wake up Bianca, will you sit downstairs with me?"

"Yeah sure," he yawns.

"I'll come too," Fitz says sitting up, "if you want?"

"Thanks Fitz," I reply sniffling in a breath.

Owen puts his arm around me and we go downstairs, Owen starts making us hot chocolate and I sit on the sofa with Fitz. I start crying again the nightmare won't leave my mind. Fitz puts his arm around me stroking my arm softly.

"You want to talk about it?" Fitz asks and I shake my head.

"No I want to stop having nightmares," I reply wiping the tears from my eyes and look over at Owen. "So you really like me? For how long?"

"Since last year I guess," he replies.

"Why didn't ever say anything?" I inquire and now Fitz looks over at Owen.

"Honestly I thought Owen might castrate me," Fitz replies and I giggle.

"Maybe you and Bianca can come this year, to New York I mean I'd like to have you both there," I tell Fitz just as Owen hands us each a cup of hot chocolate.

"I'm sure Mom can arrange that," Owen says going back for his hot chocolate.

We sip our hot chocolate and watch TV, we have 2 cups each and then Owen puts on coffee just about the time our parents get up. Mom asks if everything's okay and I tell her it is. We get ready for school; eat breakfast and Mom takes the younger sibs while Owen drives the four of us. When we get to school Owen and Bianca walk ahead of us and I stop Fitz just before we go in.

"I've known you forever and you've always been kind of like a brother to me, I never realized you felt the way you did. I don't want to lose you as a friend but I don't know how I feel about you and I do like Drew. I know Owen doesn't approve of him but I can't let Owen decide who I date he'll start thinking he has some power," I comment and Fitz laughs.

"It's okay Clare you'll never lose," Fitz says kissing my cheek.

We walk into school and he goes to his locker while I go to find Drew.

This will next be updated Saturday November 1st and will include Drew trying to get close to Clare and jumping ahead to Thanksgiving. There will be no update next week, sorry but two of my oldest friends are coming to town for the weekend. I'll be spending my weekend visiting with them especially since I haven't seen them in years, so neither Dangerous Game nor Ghosts of Who We Were will be updated next week.