I had heard some crazy ideas in my time. Hell, most were schemes I'd hatched myself but, this topped them all. When Adam cornered me in the hallway after school I figured his half-baked plan had finally begun to take form. However, when he laid out all of the details, I seriously considered having him committed.

"Obviously you have completely lost your mind."

Adam smirked. "Nope."

I gaped at him as if he were Gregor Samsa from The Metamorphosis. "Uh, yeah...I will not be doing that."

He threw me a sidelong glance as we headed to our lockers. "Eli, it's for Clare."

"I don't care if it's for the goddamn Dali Lama, lying on his death bed, suffering from a case of genital warts!" I bellowed, drawing the attention of a few nearby freshmen. "I am not, nor will I ever, be doing that...thank you."

He smirked. "Ah...is the great Eli scared?"

Narrowing my eyes, I growled. "Stop trying to bait me- it won't work!"

He sighed, adjusting the beanie on his head. "You were the one who came up with the idea," he proffered.

"No I didn't! You twisted my offer!" I countered. "Besides, we don't even know that she'll be there! What if they end up studying at the library?"

Adam stopped short and placed his hands on his hips. He looked decidedly effeminate every time he did that. It made me want to laugh.

"Look, I already told you, I suckered Alli into telling me where Clare's taking the nimrod," he replied.

"But-"

"No buts, Eli," he interrupted. "We know where she'll be and this is a great idea. There's no way Clare will stay mad at us after this!"

Running a hand through my hair, I closed my eyes. "Adam, I'm not really all the comfortable with, you know, crowds," I admitted as I spun the combination on my locker.

It was true, I couldn't stand getting up in front of people. I would do it for class but, subjecting myself to humiliation in front of Clare? I don't think so...

Adam leaned against the wall, a thoughtful look on his face. "You said you didn't care what other people thought of you," he challenged.

Frowning, I shook my head. The kid was really beginning to annoy. "I don't but...I don't even have any material!" I was grasping at straws- anything to get out of this charade he'd concocted.

"Eli, you have like, piles of notebooks!" he shot back. "Pick one and read it- simple enough."

Slamming my locker shut, I sighed. Adam was not going to let this go. I couldn't understand why he wanted me to be the one to do it. Why couldn't he do it?

"And what about you?" I asked, shouldering my bookbag. "As I recall, you have just as much making up to do as me."

Adam grinned. "Does this mean you'll consider doing it?" he asked.

"Gee, a question answered with another question, how convenient," I griped.

Rolling his eyes, Adam snickered. "You are totally considering it!" he ribbed, smacking me in the arm. "You love Clare!"

As he sang the last few words, my head snapped sideways and I glared at him. It was one thing to tease me about flirting or being a bit over involved with Clare's life but jumping right to love- that was unacceptable. Although I was a risk taker at heart, I found it difficult to do now, with Clare. I had done it before and got burned. Granted, it was family and not romantic, but it still hurt like hell. How could I even consider trying to love a girl like her when I couldn't even make it work with my mom and dad?

"Enough!" I hissed.

Leaning back, Adam wrinkled his brow. "I- I was just kidding, man," he replied, scurrying to keep up with me as I fled down the hall.

Huffing, I faced him. "Look Adam, you know how I feel about that," I said. "I can't-"

"Be with her," he cut in, shaking his head. "I know, I heard that part already. But it still doesn't change that you obviously feel something."

Looking up at the ceiling, I blew out a breath in aggravation. Adam just did not get it.

"Eli, I'm not suggesting you ask for her hand in marriage!" he continued, clearly on a mission from hell. "I'm just asking you to read her one of your damn poems! Pick one that's platonic and you can prolong this state of denial you're living in."

Raising a brow, I looked at him. "You have no tact, you know that right?"

A wide smile split his face and he threw an arm around my shoulders. "So you'll pick me up at seven then?"

I wrinkled my nose in irritation. "You still haven't told me what you'll be doing to make this up to her..."

Adam rushed ahead and spun around, walking backwards down the hall. "Don't worry about me, Eli," he said, "I'm all set. You just worry about what you'll be reading to Clare."

Before I could retort, he did a one eighty and shot around the corner. Shaking my head, I stood there for a moment, thinking about what I'd gotten myself into. Adam was right, I had a shitload of journals back at the house and every one was brimming with lyrics. The only problem was, every poem I'd written about Clare I was unwilling to share. Not because they were sappy or overly harlequin, but because they were raw. The girl was more than just a friend to me, more than just a lover- she was elemental. Like fire, she burned my raging sorrow; like water, she cleansed the soot and ash; like earth, she kept me grounded; and, like air, she kept me alive. For me, poetry was not something that was simple. It was hard, natural, and true. It made things difficult when it came to reciting the blasted crap.

Steadying my bag, I began to walk down the hall. I had to figure out what I could read to her that wouldn't make it sound like she was my living muse.

"So, I heard you've got yourself a new tutor." A crass, somewhat familiar drawl drifted down the corridor, distracting me from my thoughts.

"Yep, Simpson was putty in my hands..."

I gritted my teeth, recognizing Fitz's voice almost instantly.

"And now that sweet, little sophomore will be," the other voice replied. "I don't know how you do it, man."

I did not appreciate the cunning in his tone.

"Trust me, getting her alone has been damn near impossible," Fitz grunted. "She's always with the She-man or that freak, Eli."

Clenching my fists, I snarled. Fitz had set this whole thing up- he had purposely asked Simpson to have Clare as his tutor! I peered around the corner and saw him with one of his two henchmen. They were leaning up against Fitz's locker, smoking a couple of buts.

"So, where are you two going?"

"The Dot," Fitz replied. "I figure it's a good place to start. Clare's a-"

"Prude?" his friend cut in, a knowing grin on his face.

I had to force myself to remain calm. The idea of Fitz even thinking about Clare made me want to beat the bloody shit out of something. Preferably, him but it was two against one and, frankly, I would rather eavesdrop on the asshole and let Clare know what he was up to as opposed to engaging in a fight that could land me in the infirmary. It was completely out of character but, for once, I decided to listen to the inner voice telling me to hold back...a voice that had begun to sound a lot like Clare's.

Fitz pounded him in the arm. "Shut it."

Rubbing his bicep, the other guy grimaced. "I'm just saying, she's not usually what you go for."

"Yeah, well, what I usually go for doesn't hang around long, does it?" he shot back.

I wrinkled my brow. Was he serious? Did he actually...like Clare, for real? Shocked, I stumbled backwards, shaking my head. Fitz was a cruel bastard, there was no way he could possibly know what truly loving someone was like. Not that I was the expert but I knew that I could give Clare more than an affirmation in the form of physical dominance. Looking back, it actually made sense that he had kicked me in the nuts- it was a way to mark his claim, to show the female that he was the alpha. I rolled my eyes- Fitz was pure Id, nothing but hormone and instinct. In short, he was a modern day caveman. Turning tail, I hauled ass out of school and zipped over to Morty. I threw my stuff inside and jumped in with only one destination in mind.

Clare's house. Switching on the ignition, I turned the engine over...

Dead.

"SHIT!" I exclaimed.

Looking up, I saw Fitz and the other guy walking down the front steps. I threw my door open and took off, tearing through the parking lot as fast as my legs would carry me. I wasn't much of an athlete and my lungs were burning like hell but I pressed on. As I passed The Dot, I saw that it was boiling over with Degrassi students. I sidestepped Clare's on again friend, Alli, and her little blonde sidekick as they walked out the door.

"Jeez, look where you're going Eli!" she snapped, throwing her hands up.

I shot her a rude hand gesture and whipped around the corner. Hellion or not, she didn't own the road. I continued up the street, passing several blocks before I finally saw Clare's house. I ran up and began pounding on the door, not really thinking about what I was doing. A few seconds passed before it flew open, Clare standing on the other side of the jamb, a shocked expression on her face.

"Eli!" she cried. "What are you doing?"

Panting, I bent over, holding up a finger.

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. Clearly, she was still angry with me.

"Clare..." I rasped. "It's a-about...Fitz..."

Rolling her eyes, she leaned into the house and grabbed her book bag. "Mom, I'm headed to The Dot for tutoring!" she called and stepped outside, shutting the door behind her. I swallowed, noting that she had changed her clothes. She was wearing a pretty, floral dress- my favorite dress- and a bright, blue cardigan that accented her vibrant eyes.

She took a small step forward but I moved, blocking her path. "Clare, please."

Heaving a sigh, she looked away. "I'm going to be late, Eli."

"Can't you give me just one minute?" I pleaded.

Facing me, she raised a brow. "Fine, what is it?" she asked.

"Fitz set this whole thing up," I declared.

Clare stared at me, her expression indifferent. She didn't even blink. It was a little worrisome.

"So, you ran all the way here to tell me that Fitz set up our tutoring sessions?" she replied, a small line forming between her brows.

"Well, yeah," I said, surprised that she didn't seem to care. "I'd of thought that information would bother you."

"Why would it bother me?" she asked. "He went to Simpson to ask for tutoring, big deal." She stepped around me, hopping down the steps as if everything I'd just said was nothing at all.

Following her, I shook my head. "No, you don't understand," I explained. "Fitz asked for you specifically."

Clare threw me a skeptical glance. "And this surprises you because..."

"Because he's made it his mission to destroy the lives of two of the three people you hang out with!" I retorted, a little annoyed that she hadn't connected the dots.

Stopping, she turned to face me. "A planned attack at The Dot?" she inquired, giving me a pointed look. "Doesn't seem likely."

Clare resumed walking towards the busy coffee house but I grabbed her elbow. Pulling her back against my chest, she stiffened slightly. "He wants you," I whispered, "it's what all of this is about."

She turned her head and met my eyes. It was the closest we had been besides that day in front of The Dot when we'd skipped class. And I was lost. Lost in her magnetic gaze.

"You're mad," she breathed. I felt a small tremble run through her body and it made my stomach drop into my feet.

"No," I replied. "Fitz has this all planned out."

Clare faced forward and bent her head. "Please, jut let me go," she said.

I blinked. "What?"

"Let me go," she repeated.

"You still intend to go through with it?" I hissed, tighening my grip on her arm. "No, I won't let you!"

What happened next was something I never would have seen coming. Clare- sweet, innocent, timid little Clare- ripped her arm out of my grasp and whirled around. Her face was blotchy, cheeks warming quickly, and her lips were pressed together in fury. If I thought that her anger at school had been significant then this was paramount. She was positively seething.

"First you accuse me of setting up the tutoring thing and now you concoct some half-assed scheme to convince me that Fitz, of all people, wants to..." she paused, pushing her bangs out of her face in anger, "to, date me? I'm sorry Eli, I know that you're currently at war with Fitz but I refuse to be a pawn in your little game."

"I didn't make this up," I argued. "Clare, I'm telling you the truth!"

She threw her hands up. "Okay, so what?' she said. "Fitz wants me. Big deal. What, you think I'm too stupid to figure him out? You think you have to come along and save the day everytime? Control what everyone else does?" She whipped around and began walking towards the shop, ignoring the wounded look on my face. "This isn't Mafia Wars- I'm not a dame you can use as leverage to dick over the boss. I know you're embarrassed that Fitz attacked your manhood in front of half the school but it doesn't mean you get to move people around like they're pieces on a chess board, Eli!"

Stunned, I just stared at her. She thought this was just a game to me? That she was a game?

"Clare, I-"

"No," she said, holding up a hand. "I'm going to tutor Fitz and, if this is the truth, then I can handle it, okay?"

I frowned at her and shook my head. She couldn't possibly handle Fitz. I knew Clare was strong- in the brave, Austen heroine sense of the word- but she was not stronger than Fitz. All brawn, the guy was walking testosterone. If it came down to him and her, in some dark alleyway, Fitz wuld win, hands down.

Stepping in front of her, I put my hands on her shoulders. "I refuse to let you go," I stated, a resolved look on my face.

Clare bit her lip for a moment before looking up at me. "Tell me why, Eli," she whispered.

I knew what she was asking- I coud hear it in her voice. She wanted me to admit to...something. To tell her how I felt about her. For the first time, I could see the confusion in her face. It seemed that Clare was just as perplexed by our relationship as I was. The typical, sachrine expression she wore was now one of baffled hope. Fidgeting, I looked down at my feet in discomfort.

"Please," she asked, her voice thick with entreaty.

I looked up when I felt her hand clasping mine. Apprehension began to well in the pit of my stomach and, I swear, my heart was about to explode. I was also positive I'd begun to hyperventilate and every pore on my body was oozing with frigid sweat. I gazed at Clare, standing less than a foot away, her big blue eyes turned up in expectation. Nibbling her lower lip, I could see the gears turning in her head. She wanted me to tell her- I knew that- but, at the moment, I was finding it difficult to formulate even the simplest word. It was at least two minutes before I opened my mouth to say something and, when I did, Clare beat me to the punch.

"You know what," she said, tone flat and cold, "forget it. I'll see you around, Eli."

Dropping my hand, she spun on her heel. For the second time that day, I stood by as she ran away from me. Clare whipped around the corner, curls blowing in the breeze, the skirt of her dress billowing outward. I could just make out the angry flush to her cheeks. To me, she had never looked more beautiful and, it was at that moment that the answer to her question dawned on me...

Because you belong to me.