Okay this is the 2nd last chapter! I loved all your reviews!

Chapter 8

Tonight was the Winter Dance. Alli came by to help me get ready. My dress was a strapless, white gown that hit the floor. The top part was a corset that hugged my waist, and the bottom was like a tutu skirt but it hit the floor. The dress had sky blue lace designs to accentuate it.

"You look gorgeous, Clare. You're not Saint Clare, anymore. You're growing up." She gave me a hug. She wouldn't be attending tonight since she went to an all girls school, but she still wanted to know all the details after.

"Oh come on, Alli, it's not prom."

Alli took out her makeup kit. She drew a thin line of brown eyeliner. Then she brushed light blue, almost transparent, glitter eyeshadow on my eyelids. She put on two coats of mascara, a few sweeps of blush and then my personal favorite - lip gloss.

"Eli's eyes will be popping out when he sees you. I just wish I could attend. I love dances." Of course she did. She loved the dressing up and the dress shopping. She was there to pick out mine.

"Come on, Clare! Make a choice!" Alli whined. We were at a fancy dress store in the mall. I was looking through my dress size section. I couldn't choose one. I was so indecisive.

"No, Alli! Look, this one is too short, this one too long, this one too thin and skimpy and this one is just ugly." I made a face as each dress wasn't the right one.

"You're too picky!" Alli closed her eyes. "By the power invested in me, I command thee to pick this dress!" She picked out a dress, without even knowing what it was. But as she held it up in the light, it was beautiful. Not too revealing, but it was perfect.

"Alli, you're a fashion genius!" I squeezed her into a hug.

And here I was wearing the most beautiful dress ever. The doorbell rang. My parents weren't home. Alli skipped down the stairs and answered the door.

"Hello, Elijah." Alli said.

"Alli." Eli acknowledged her.

"You better treat her right. I don't want her coming home with a broken heart." Alli warned.

"Yes mother." Eli said sarcastically. I giggled. Eli's eyes looked up at the stairs, waiting for my grand arrival. I slowly stepped down the stairs, with the pace of a bride walking down the aisle. Eli's eyes were wide.

"You look beautiful, Blue Eyes." He said softly. He lightly pecked my lips.

"Don't smudge her lip gloss." Alli warned. "And have fun."

"Bye mom." I laughed. Eli drove us to the dance in Morty. Classic.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look?" Eli whispered in my ear, nuzzling my cheek.

"Only about five times." I laughed.

My love for Eli was slowly dwindling. I don't love him, I care about him. I enjoy his company. But I really like Jayce and I wish I could spend the night with him.

Eli noticed the silence. "Something wrong, Blue Eyes?"

"Huh? No, I'm fine."

We walked into the doors of Degrassi and entered the gym. I was blasted by loud music and dancing. The gym was decorated nicely.

"I'm going to run to the bathroom." I shouted in Eli's ear. He nodded.

There were many girls in the bathroom, fixing their hair and makeup. I spotted Jenna.

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked. Her belly was swollen with K.C.'s child.

"Yeah, but I'm due anytime soon."

"And you're here?" I asked, concerned.

"I'll be fine. You look beautiful, by the way." Jenna commented.

"Thanks, you too." I lied. She didn't. She had bags under her eyes. Her usually happy self was replaced by a sluggish behavior. She looked tired.

"If you need anyone to talk to, I'll be here." I said.

"Thanks, and I hope you figured out your Eli thing." I had completely forgotten that she saw me kissing Jayce. Jayce. Oh how I wanted to kiss him again.

The night went on. I danced with Eli. I grinded my hips with his during the fast songs. I guess they were saving the slow songs for later. I hadn't seen Jayce yet either.

The dance ended at eleven. It was almost ten and I went to get some punch. I heard a scream. All eyes were turned to Jenna. My heart beat fast; was she okay?

"Someone call the ambulance! Her water broke!" My eyes were wide. I had just talked to her not an hour ago about her baby. Jenna was hypervenilating and having a spasm on the floor, gasping. I pushed through the crowd and kneeled beside her.

"Jenna, it's going to be okay. The ambulance is coming."

"Clare. My. Water. Broke. It hurts." She moaned.

"I know, it'll be okay."

The ambulance came in five minutes. Jenna was carried away. I offered to stay with her, but she told me to enjoy my night.

"You handled that very well." A voice whispered in my ear. Eli.

"Thanks, Eli." I was sure to tell this to Alli.

A slow song came on. Eli led me to the dance floor. I put my arm around his neck and he put mine around his waist. We swayed our hips together. I liked his embrace, but like lately, I didn't feel any emotion.

However, I hid it well. I kept a smile on my face.

"It's a nice night." I said.

"Besides the whole surprise with the baby." Eli laughed.

And then I noticed him. I didn't think he was coming.