Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who's been responding to all the updates. I'm so happy people are actually taking the time to read this and leave their comments. It means a lot!

Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint :)

Chapter 7 – Day Seven

Monday

Clare

Eli's lips caught mine urgently and I felt my skin cover in goose bumps. He had led me to an empty corridor, quiet and distant from our peers and reality. I was at my locker when he tapped me on the shoulder and gestured for me to follow him until finally he slipped through a set of doors I had never even noticed.

"No PDA at school." I said breathlessly and Eli laughed, sliding his arms around my waist.

"Do you see any teachers?" he asked with one eyebrow raised.

I shook my head, still in disbelief of the situation and leaned in for another kiss. I felt his lips travel down to my neck and I gasped before wrapping my hands around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

A loud ringing made us both jump and my heart raced frantically.

"I guess it's time to get back to class?" I pouted and he laughed, placing a quick kiss to my forehead

"Don't worry; I'll see you at lunch somehow." He said with a smile and I knew that I made the right choice by saying yes when Eli had asked me to be his girlfriend. He made me feel special and I wanted to spend every second with him.

I nodded as I walked to the door, straightening my shirt before saying goodbye and leaving Eli in what would now be our "spot"

"What happened to you?" Adam asked accusingly as I sat down next to him in History.

"What do you mean?" I asked taking my books from my bag and settling into my seat.

"You're all flushed and smiley." He said with narrow eyes and I rolled mine in return.

"I need an excuse to be happy?" I shot back and he shook his head.

"No it's just weird. Nice, but weird."

I gave him a confused look and turned to my book as class started.

Was I being obvious about my relationship with Eli already? Maybe it wasn't the best idea to hide it from Adam of all people.

I heard he's sleeping with that catholic freak.

I saw him pull her into an empty corridor; I bet I know what they were doing

Why is he talking to her of all people?

I watched Eli walk out of that door this morning buttoning his shirt back up with Clare not far behind.

I heard. I saw. I watched.

I stood in a stall in the girls' washroom, my hands shaking at my sides as I heard each new piece of gossip slip from their tongues. How could this be happening, already? It had only been a couple of hours since I was with Eli in the seemingly hidden hallway. This whole morning was making me feel out of my own element. Why was everything moving so fast?

I felt as if I were going to throw up. I wasn't used to this kind of negative attention; people gossiping and twisting the truth for their entertainment. Nothing they were saying was even true and I felt ashamed of myself even though I knew I was really not at fault for anything. I was embarrassed, scared and unsure of what to do next.

Eli

I heard the whispers, saw the looks I was given as I walked through the hallway and I knew it had to have gotten back to her by now. I didn't know how Clare would take something like this; I imagined her to be embarrassed, humiliated maybe even mad at me for initiating what happened this morning. I mentally kicked myself. Why did I rush things? We were supposed to be keeping this to ourselves for now.

I made my way to the cafeteria and didn't even look to my usual table, my destination was Clare. I spotted her at a table with Adam, who was leaned in close to her saying something I couldn't hear as she held her hand to her forehead in frustration.

I could feel eyes on me as I sat down next to her. "I guess you heard?" I asked hesitantly.

"Heard what? That I'm pregnant with your child? That I was partaking in oral sex with you this morning? Or that you've turned me into some sex crazed freak?" she asked harshly and Adam let out a laugh, earning a death stare from his best friend.

"I guess you did. Don't worry. People just like to gossip. None of its true so don't let it get to you." I said and she finally turned to me, her blue eyes glassy and red-rimmed. I put a comforting hand on her back and she moved closer to me before catching me off guard, putting her arms around me in a hug.

"That's my cue to exit. I'll talk to you guys later" Adam said before dashing off quickly.

"I just don't like people talking about me negatively." She said, her voice muffled by my chest. I tightened my arms around her and she sighed.

"They'll stop talking…" I said trying to sound reassuring. "I guess the whole…secret relationship thing didn't work out so well" I said trying to lighten the mood.

I felt her shake underneath me and realized she had laughed. Good, I wasn't so bad at this "boyfriend" thing.

"Yeah I guess when people start talking about your supposed pregnancy the relationship just kind of comes out." She said with a laugh before pulling away to go back to her position sitting up.

Clare blushed, looking down at her hands. "Thanks. Sorry if I'm weird and emotional." She said meekly and I couldn't help but laugh.

I felt the polar opposite. I didn't think she was some strange emotional girl with overactive tear ducts seeking attention. She was Clare, a delicate flower but still strong willed. I love that about her and how she was willing to open up to me. It only made me feel worse about what I was doing.

If I could go back in time I would. I would erase the day I made that stupid bet and I would walk up to Clare first chance I got to start fresh. That way I wouldn't feel this guilty pang in my chest whenever I thought about her or watched her smile. I could just be with her. I knew I was a horrible person, but that was no surprise. I had been told that my entire life. I was just in too deep and couldn't find a way out.

"I don't think that. Be as emotional as you want. I'll be here for you whenever you need me." I said my eyes focused on her.

In turn I received possibly the sweetest smile I had ever been graced with. I could tell she didn't expect this side of me; sensitive.

She leaned in and placed her lips to mine for a chaste kiss. When she pulled away i could taste the cherry lip gloss I had recently come to associate with her. It was heaven. Even the smallest kiss, I now cherished.

"Thank you" she said with a small grin and I smiled back, taking her hand in mine.

A group of girls, two tables down exchanged glances with Clare and I watched as her face burned up and they looked down on her. "What's that all about?" I asked still watching as the girls whispered and giggled in unison as they continued to stare at her. I felt Clare shift uncomfortably beside me.

"Nothing…I just heard some of them talking about us this morning. They weren't exactly complimenting me as they called me 'Jesus freak'" she said sadly and I shook my head. Why did teenage girls have to be so caddy?
"Can we just go…I don't really want to deal with this right now." She pleaded her eyes on the verge of tears yet again.

I stood up, startling Clare and as he realized what I was about to do she looked up at me, tugging on my arm as she hissed at me to sit down.

I stared directly at the group of girls and they looked at me with confused expressions on all four of their faces. I looked around me and spotted others looking at me as well, my friends not the exception.

"Excuse me!" I shouted, halting every conversation being had in the room. It was quiet and people watched me, waiting for what I would do next.

"This is my fellow classmates is my girlfriend Clare Edwards. Yes I said girlfriend. So you can all stop whispering now about how strange it is and stop worrying about what we do in our spare time. No she is not pregnant. No I we're not engaged and I am most certainly not with having sex with her on school grounds. "I said loudly to the room full of students and I knew Clare was beyond embarrassed but I didn't care.

"Do you kiss your boyfriend in the hallway?" I asked one of the girls that laughed at Clare only moments ago. She nodded a scared look on her face.

"That's what I thought. So now everyone can stop acting like this is something out of the ordinary and leave us alone." I said looking down at Clare whose cheeks were redder than imaginable.

"Thanks." I said with a sarcastic smile before sitting back own.

It only took the mere seconds for voices to fill the cafeteria and Clare stared at me blankly.
"What?" I asked, taking one of Clare's cookies that sat in front of her.

"What?" she asked incredulously? "That was…humiliating!" she managed to spit out and I shook my head.

"No. Those people needed to know not to mess with you. So we're dating, big deal. You know how many other couples are a Degrassi? Why does it matter to everybody so much?" I asked shrugging my shoulders as I finished off her cookie.

"I guess. But I see where they're coming from. We're not the most conventional couple" she said with a giggle and I rolled my eyes.

"We're perfect." I said as a matter of fact-ly

"So maybe what you did was sweet. Maybe!" she said with a smile that sent my stomach fluttering.

"Just admit that you loved it and think I'm beyond the best boyfriend ever." I teased and she rolled her eyes in return.

"I'll admit that my boyfriend looked pretty hot announcing our relationship to the entire school. I loved it" she said with a wink.

I nearly choked as I took a sip of water. I never knew Clare to be so forward.
She was surprising me with every second.

"Hey, Eli!" I heard someone call from behind me. I was standing in the hallway with my usual group of friends. Jenna watched as Adam approached me with hatred in her eyes. Why despised Adam and Clare was beyond me, they were great people.
"Hey what's up?" I asked taking a step away from the group.

Adam stuck his hands in his nervously and I waited for him to speak. There was obviously a reason for this sudden conversation.

"Could we talk for a second…privately?" he said gesturing to a bench a few steps away.
I followed without hesitation. I assumed he wanted to talk about Clare, why else would he want to talk to me? We weren't exactly best friends.

I sat waiting for Adam to speak. It was clear he was having trouble transferring his thoughts to words, and I cleared my throat, urging him to go on.

"Okay… so I know this isn't my place but as Clare's best friend I feel like it is." He said finally.
"I know your relationship is new and all but I just wanted to ask that you please not hurt her. She's been through so much and if you just plan on fucking her over or are not in it 100% I think you just should quit while you're ahead."

I smiled and nodded. Did he know about the bet? Where was this coming from?

"Don't worry Adam. My intentions where Clare is involved are nothing but…honorable." I said with a slight laugh. Was I really having this conversation with Adam of all people? This felt like a conversation more suited for her father.

"But just so you know…if you do anything to hurt her I'll make it my personal business to find some way to pay you back" he said with a serious expression and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I don't have anything against you, you're a great guy she just deserves the best and I hope you can give that to her." He said with an unsure smile on his face.

Then it hit me. Adam's overprotective father like attitude, how much time he spent with her and how highly he thought of her.

"You like her don't you?" I asked in realization.

His cheeks burned bright red and he looked away.

"How could I not? I've known her for a while now and since day one I knew she was something special. But I'm her best friend…she could never look at me the way she looks at you. Just treat her right okay?" he asked finally and I nodded.

"Of course." I said in return as he stood up to leave.

"Thanks Eli!" he called out and I said goodbye as my friends watched on with curious eyes.

I watched as Adam rushed down the hallway, finally meeting Clare by her locker. His face lit up as she wrapped her arm through his and they walked away laughing about something I couldn't hear.

I understand Adam. There's no way I could be in Clare's life as only her friend.
Did she really have no clue that her best friend has been in love with her during the entirety of their relationship?

Clare Edwards. Naïve, charming and unknowing of the affect she has on people.