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Ch. 9 Try to Sleep but I'm too Upset

(CLARE)

"Did something happen today? Did you see Vince again?" Drew asks with worry and guilt in his tone.

I release my lower lip from my teeth with a sigh, "No nothing happened. I just feel better when you're with me."

"I'll take the van," Drew says and I smile knowing he's coming over.

"Are you sure? It's late, what about Vince?"

"The van's in the garage he won't be able to get to me. And if he follows me I won't go to your house."

"Tell me when you're here, I'll open the garage you can park next to my mom's car."

"I'm leaving now," Drew tells me and I hear some noises in the background.

"I'm sorry, this is pathetic I can't sleep one night without you," I apologize as I hear him driving. I go downstairs turning on the living room light and waiting for Drew.

"A lot has happened Clare, and I always feel better around you too," Drew replies.

"Yeah, a lot has happened. How was detention today?"

"I spent it helping Coach Armstrong so I didn't see Eli."

"That's good I don't want you and Eli fighting."

"He started it! He told me to stay away from you, he's a possessive creep," Drew says.

"Ignore him, Eli's not worth fighting with," I scold lightly.

"Tell him to stay away from me and we won't fight," Drew replies.

"I don't want to get anywhere near Eli," I say quietly.

"Something did happen, what happened Clare?" Drew asks.

"Nothing," I respond biting my lip again and I hear Drew sigh. "I'm here," he tells me.

I get up and go to the garage, unlocking the interior door, turning on the light and pressing the button to open the automatic garage door. I see Drew in the van, he drives in and gets out of the car as I close the outer garage door.

"Thanks for coming," I smile. He threw on shoes and a jacket but still has his pajama bottoms on.

"No problem, wasn't sure either of us would sleep otherwise," he says coming over to me. "What happened here?" He asks touching the bruise on my collarbone. His touch is gentle, I bite my lip habitually and my stomach fills with butterflies. "Did you see Vince again?"

"Not since yesterday," I reply moving so he can get by me. He walks past me into the house, I turn off the garage light and lock the garage door. I turn to walk to the living room but Drew catches my arm and gently pulls me back.

"Then why is the bruise on your back worse? It was Eli wasn't it? He did this, I'll kill him," Drew growls and turns punching the door.

"Drew," I censure him taking his hand. "Don't fight with Eli and don't punch things you're going to wake my mom." I pull him into the kitchen and get some ice putting it on his hand.

"What happened Clare?"

"Eli attacked me this afternoon when I went outside to call Jake to pick me up. Eli, was angry and pushed me against the wall hard, I pushed him away."

"That bruise looks terrible Clare."

"It just hit the old bruise, I'm okay."

"You're back is almost black, and he attacked you that's not okay. If you won't let me kill him then you should learn to fight with us. We're not meeting tomorrow, well today, but we will on Wednesday."

"I don't know about MMA fighting. I don't like violence," I shake my head.

"It helps, you feel powerful and I can't always be with you. At least you'd know how to defend yourself and keep Eli from making this any worse," Drew says tenderly touching the bruise on my back.

"Okay, I guess it couldn't hurt," I agree.

"Come on we should go to bed before your mom wakes up," Drew says putting the ice back in the freezer.

"I didn't actually think about where you'd sleep."

"I'll sleep on your floor," he shrugs.

We go upstairs and I grab some blankets for Drew, we go into my room and I turn on the light. I fold two blankets on the floor to make a bed for him and give him the extra quilt off my bed for a blanket. I also give him one of the extra pillows from my bed. Drew sets an alarm on his phone, I turn off the light and get into bed. It feels weird though, Drew's here and close but it still feels weird. Actually I realize that I didn't just want him here I want him to hold me.

"You know this is silly, we always end up on the same end of your sofa you should sleep in the bed with me," I comment after a few minutes.

"Really?"

"Yeah, after all if I wake up from another nightmare you'll be right here."

"Okay," Drew replies and gets up. I move over and he gets under the covers with me. I lie on my side, he lies on his and we face each other in the dim light of my room. "What about your mom? Will she freak if she finds us in bed?" Drew questions.

"She won't open my door in the morning. Will your mom freak if she finds the van gone?"

"I set an alarm for six, I'll be back before they notice," Drew replies.

"Good, that was smart. We should get to sleep," I comment and Drew nods.

I close my eyes and try to sleep but as soon as I do I see Eli's face when he attacked me this afternoon. Then it sort of blends with Vince's face from when he surrounded me and Jake the other night. I gasp and my eyes shoot open, Drew's eyes open and he looks at me.

"Are you okay?"

"No, I close my eyes and I see Eli and Vince morphing into one," I sigh.

"Now there's a terrifying thought. You're safe, I'm here and I won't let them hurt you, not ever again if I can help it," Drew assures me. It's not so much his words as the fact that he puts a hand on my arm and begins gently caressing my skin. Suddenly I feel safe, protected, his touch is comforting, very soothing and I realize just how tired I am.

"Thanks for coming over Drew," I grin kissing his cheek quickly.

"No problem Clare, get to sleep," he whispers.

I look at his boyish smile, feel my heart flutter, close my eyes and this time all I see is Drew's smile. I fall asleep and dream about being in his arms.

(DREW)

"Why are you just getting home?" Adam questions when I open my bedroom door at 6:15. I managed to leave Clare's house without being seen by her mom and get the car back and inside without being seen by Dad. But of course Adam came out of his room just as I was entering mine.

"I went to Clare's last night after we both had nightmares. Eli attacked her again yesterday and she didn't feel safe," I tell Adam before going into my room to change for school.

I know Adam won't tell Mom I was gone, although even if he did I don't think I'd get into trouble for going to Clare's at this point. After we eat breakfast Mom drives us to school and says she'll be back at lunch to take me to my appointment.

"What do you mean he attacked her? When? Where?" Adam inquires as we walk into school.

"Yesterday outside The Dot, she's got some pretty bad bruises."

"I want to say I can't believe Eli would do that but I've seen him get pretty extreme before," Adam shakes his head.

"Yeah and I know he's your friend but just be careful around him," I tell Adam putting a hand on his shoulder.

He nods before walking off to his locker and I head for my locker. I open it and put in the books for my last two classes since I won't need them until after lunch.

"Hey Drew," Julian greets me.

"Hey," I nod.

"I got permission from Armstrong to use the gym at lunch tomorrow," he tells me.

"Cool, Clare will be joining us," I inform him.

"That's cool I don't mind when she watches, I like showing off my moves," Julian grins.

"Yeah, I'm sure you do but she'll be participating," I tell Julian and close my locker.

"Huh cool," Julian shrugs, "if you get better you can participate in some of the amateur MMA fights."

"There's amateur fights around?" I question.

"Yeah mainly underground, there's one tonight I'm going to watch," Julian says.

"I want to go."

"Doesn't even start until eight can you get out? Isn't your mom pretty strict on school nights?"

"Yeah but I'll think of something," I reply and Julian grins.

I part from him and go into class, sitting at my desk and looking over what we'll be doing today. I see Eli come in but I don't look up, if I look up at him I'll want to hurt him for what he did to Clare so I keep looking at my book. I do look up to nod to Jake when he comes into class. Not that I generally pay much attention in class but today is particularly bad, I'm either thinking of protecting Clare from Eli and Vince or imagining myself in an MMA ring with them. I do pay enough attention to write down the homework and don't get startled when the bell rings at the end of class.

"Clare said you came over last night," Jake remarks as we leave class. A comment that Eli hears and bumps into the both of us as he walks between us, I'm sure it was intentional given how hard he did it. I clench my fist but keep myself from punching Eli in the hall.

"Yeah, she couldn't sleep and wanted me to come over. I don't blame her after what happened with Eli," I reply.

Jake grabs my arm and stops me from walking, "What do you mean? What happened with Eli?"

"Yesterday outside The Dot, he confronted her about sleeping at my place and hurt her, bruised her back some more and her collarbone," I enlighten Jake.

"She didn't tell me that," he says twisting his mouth, "maybe we can get a restraining order on Eli."

"Worth a shot, if Clare agrees to file a police report," I reply.

"Yeah that might be a problem," Jake comments. We stand there for a few seconds before parting to go to our different classes.

"Eli is glaring at you again," Owen remarks when he gets into auto shop.

"He overheard that I went to Clare's last night when she couldn't sleep," I shrug.

"You think if he finds another girl he'll stop obsessing over Clare?"

"I doubt it, from what I've seen and heard I think obsessive and over the top is his thing," I reply and Owen chuckles.

"So, Julian says we'll meet at lunch tomorrow."

"Yeah and Clare is joining us," I tell him just as Mr. Ehl begins class.

I feel Eli's eyes on me all through class but I never look at him. I'm sure it won't be long before he and I come to blows again. In fact if he hurts Clare again I know it won't. When the bell rings Owen and I wash up and leave class before Eli. I put my backpack in my locker and when I get out front Mom is waiting. She drives us to the neurologist for my appointment, the whole thing takes half an hour but he clears me for basketball, I do have to be careful and come back if I get frequent headaches. Mom picks me up a sandwich for lunch on the way back to school.

"Mom I'm staying at Owen's for dinner we need to get some work done on our project, the first part is due by the end of the week. He can drop me off and I'll be home by curfew," I tell her as I eat my sandwich.

"How are you getting to Owen's?"

"I'll ride with him after we're done with practice."

She says okay and takes me back to school, I've finished my lunch by the time we get there. I wave to Mom and go inside, I go looking for Coach Armstrong and find him in his office. I give him the note that says I'm cleared for basketball and he says he'll see me this afternoon for practice. I find Adam at his locker and Clare is with him.

"Hey bro, I got cleared for basketball."

"Good," Adam smiles.

"And I'm going home with Owen to work on our project, already told Mom so she'll just be picking you up after the radio station," I tell Adam.

"Cool, guess we'll see you tonight then. Clare's sleeping over," Adam informs me and I grin.

"Good then I don't have to come over in the middle of the night," I reply with some sarcasm in my tone and Clare twists her mouth at me.

"Don't overdo it at practice today," Adam says.

"I won't," I reply just as the bell rings. I wave to them and go to my locker to retrieve my backpack before heading to class. Owen is at his desk when I come in. "Hey," I say to him sitting at my desk, "if anyone asks I'm going home with you after practice and staying for dinner to work on our project."

"Okay and where will you really be? Out with Clare somewhere?" Owen questions.

"If I were going out with Clare I wouldn't need to lie about it. I'm going with Julian to watch an underground MMA fight."

"Cool," Owen nods.

Afternoon classes go by pretty quickly but I do notice Bianca is absent again and I'm starting to really get worried. As soon as the bell rings at the end of last period I go straight to the gym and start changing for basketball.

"Hey Drew," K.C. smiles, "Adam said you got cleared it's good to have you back."

"Thanks," I grin.

K.C. and I change and start warming up, Armstrong welcomes me back and has us run drills. After practice I shower and change before calling Julian, he picks me up from The Dot. We get dinner and do some homework before going to the fight. It's in a pretty rough part of town and we have to pay to get in. The two guys fighting do so in a cage, it's sort of brutal but all I can think while watching them is how good it must feel. I want to fight, I want Vince in the cage with me and Eli too and I want to be fighting them.

(ADAM)

"Yeah and I know he's your friend but just be careful around him," Drew says putting a hand on my shoulder. I nod and leave him to go to my locker but before I get to my locker I see Eli at his and I storm over to him.

"Hi Adam," Eli says barely looking away from his locker.

"What did you do to Clare yesterday?" I ask him bluntly he closes his locker and looks at me.

"She's sleeping with your brother, she's mine a…"

"Eli," I cut him off, "she's not you're anything anymore. The way you've been acting she's not even your friend. She's not having sex with Drew but even if she was that's up to them. Drew said she had a terrible bruise on her back from you is that true?"

"I didn't mean to but she snapped at me for fighting with Drew and I got mad."

"You seem to do that a lot Eli, especially when it comes to Clare. And that's another thing why are you fighting with my brother?"

"He stole Clare from me and Drew is no good for her. He's an imbecilic degenerate jock and he'll break her heart."

"Watch it Eli that's my brother and he didn't steal Clare she broke up with you Eli you have to let her go and mo…" I'm saying but get cut off when Eli shoves me into the lockers.

"I won't let her go she's mine," Eli snarls.

"Not anymore Eli," I respond pushing him away from me, "you lost her and you're going to lose her for good if you're not careful. You need help Eli."

"Yes Adam, yes you can help me get Clare back," he grins.

"No Eli you need professional help, you need to see a doctor or a psychiatrist this behavior isn't normal."

"I'm not crazy Adam," Eli hisses and goes red. I think he might hit me or push me into the lockers again but he turns on his heel and storms off. When I do get to my locker I see Clare at hers.

"Hi Adam," she smiles softly.

"Hey, you want to sleep over tonight? Save Drew the trouble of sneaking out in the middle of the night?"

She bites her lip and looks remorseful, "Did he get into trouble?"

"Our parents don't even know he snuck out, but even if they had they would have been okay with it knowing he was at your place," I assure her.

"It does make more sense for me to sleep there, at least then we're together if we wake up. And the last few days have been pretty intense," she says.

"Yeah I heard about Eli, and I talked to him this morning," I inform her.

"You did?"

"Yeah and I think obsessed is an appropriate word. He thinks you're still his and said some pretty nasty things about Drew. He even shoved me into the lockers. I told him he needed to get help and he got angry and walked off. I hate to say it but I think it's best for both of us to stay away from Eli, at least for now."

Clare nods sadly as the bell rings. I put an arm around her shoulders and we walk to class. Clare remains distracted for the first part of class but soon begins paying attention and seems to get Eli off her mind. By lunch she's smiling again and we eat together in the caf with Alli, Connor, Wes, K.C. and Dave. After eating we go to our lockers, getting our books and I'm telling her what Dave and I are going to talk about this afternoon on the radio show. Drew comes up and tells us he got cleared for basketball and I tell him Clare is staying the night before the bell rings. Our afternoon classes go by pretty quickly, of course we don't see Eli at all in the afternoon.

When school is out I meet Dave at the radio station and Clare goes home with Jake so she can pack some stuff. When Mom picks me up from school we go to Clare's house to pick her up, Jake and Glen are here but Clare's mom is at work. I text Clare that we're here and she comes out with her bag. Drew is at Owen's and Dad has a late meeting so Mom takes Clare and I out to dinner. When we get home we spend the evening in the basement, Clare has most of her homework done already but I need to finish my homework. So, we watch TV while finishing homework and Drew gets in just before curfew.

"You two must have been working hard on that project," I censure Drew when he does get in.

"Yeah we uh," Drew remarks scratching the back of his head, "we got distracted watching a fight."

(CLARE)

I wake up in Drew's arms and smile, my head against his chest I can hear his heartbeat and his deep rhythmic breathing. Drew and I started out on opposite ends of the sofa but we woke up at exactly the same time from terrible nightmares. We didn't talk about them, we knew what they were about but he moved over to me and I spent the rest of the night sleeping in his arms.

"Morning," he yawns when I move and my hair tickles his chest.

"Morning, we should get up. Adam will be down any moment and he'll tease us for falling asleep together again," I remark as I sit up.

"Yeah, he seems to like doing that," Drew nods sitting up with a yawn and scratching his head.

He goes upstairs to get dressed and ready for school, I get ready down here and then go up to the kitchen. Audra is at the table drinking some coffee and she smiles at me. I make some breakfast and sit down at the table. Adam is the next one down and then Drew comes down to get breakfast. Audra drives us to school when we're done with breakfast, reminds Drew and Adam what time she'll pick them up and says I'm welcome to sleep over again. Drew parts from us once we're inside to go to his locker, Adam and I go to ours and I start getting out books.

"Hey guys," Dave greets us.

"Hi Dave," I smile.

"Hey," Adam up-nods.

"Adam I was thinking about this afternoon's show," Dave says.

They begin talking about the show, it has something to do with sports and I have no interest. I do however have to pee so I leave the boys and go to the closest girl's washroom. After I leave the washroom and start walking for class Owen comes over to me.

"Hey Clare I hear you're joining us for lunch," Owen says with a wink.

"Yeah Drew thought it would be a good idea," I reply.

"Cool," Owen smiles putting an arm around my shoulder but he hits the bruise and I hiss. He immediately takes his arm away and opens my shirt to look at my back. "Holy crap did Eli do that?"

"Yes," I reply quietly.

"Okay I'm going to go kill him now," Owen says turning on his heel and I catch his hand.

"Owen if you fight with him it will just get you both in trouble. I told Drew I'd learn with you guys so I could defend myself," I remind Owen.

"Fine, but if he hurts you again then I want to hear about it," Owen asserts.

"Okay," I relent.

"Good, then I'll see you at lunch in the gym," Owen replies before walking away.

I watch Owen for a moment before walking off to homeroom. Adam and Dave still seem to be talking about the radio show this afternoon. They do stop when the teacher tells everyone to take their seats. Morning classes seem to drag on, I get rather bored in civics and find my mind wandering. First thinking of Eli's behavior and how violent he seems to have become. Then start wondering how I'm going to do in the MMA lesson at lunch. In math we have a pop quiz and I have to pay attention for that, but I finish early and go to my locker to stash my backpack. I didn't exactly bring a change of clothes but I'm wearing jeans and that should be okay, at least I hope. If I continue learning this I'll have to remember to keep a change of clothes in my locker. There's no one in the gym and no P.E. classes this period so I go in and sit on the bleachers. The first one in is Julian and he smiles at me.

"Hey Clare," he grins.

"Hi Julian, Drew thinks it's a good idea if I learn some with you guys."

"Yeah, he told me. It's cool. I'm going to change," he says before walking into the boy's locker room. Owen and Drew come into the gym together, greet me and then go into the locker room to change. All three boys come out together and I help them put a few mats down. "I'll start with Clare, you two can spar," Julian tells Owen and Drew.

For the next half hour Julian works with me while Drew and Owen spar, they're sparring gets increasingly real and violent. Thankfully Julian calls it to a stop so we can eat lunch and before they truly hurt each other. I feel like I didn't learn that much besides how to properly punch, I guess it was my first lesson though. Julian says we'll meet at lunch again tomorrow, the boys change and I clean up in the washroom a little before going to the caf to eat lunch.

"Where were you? I looked for you at lunch," Adam says when I get to our communications technology class.

"With Drew," I reply and Adam smiles. I knew that answer would be enough for him and I know Drew hasn't told Adam about the MMA fighting.

Afternoon classes go by pretty quickly and I have to admit even with the little I learned at lunch I am feeling better, a little more confident I suppose. When school is out for the day Adam and I go to our lockers, I start opening mine and Drew approaches.

"I have to get to basketball practice, are you sleeping over again Clare?" Drew questions.

"I'm going home with Jake, he and Glen will be there pretty late working on the house and my mom will be home early," I reply.

"Okay, we'll talk tonight then I guess. Are you coming to the game Friday?" Drew asks.

"Yeah I'll be there," I smile.

"Cool," Drew grins and then looks at Adam, "see you at home little bro." Drew tousles Adam's hair and walks off for the gym.

I wave to Adam and he walks away toward the radio station, I meet Jake on the front steps and he drives us to my house. Jake gets to work with his dad and I go upstairs to do homework in my room. Mom gets home about an hour later and it isn't long before I smell dinner cooking. Jake and Glen stay for dinner and leave soon after. I finish my homework, shower and spend the evening watching TV and on my laptop until going to bed. I wake from a disturbing dream some time later, instinctually grabbing my phone and calling Drew.

"You want to talk about it?" Drew asks with a yawn and I know I woke him up.

"I'm sorry, I woke you up," I apologize.

"No, you woke me from a bad dream too. So what was yours about?"

"I was at school and Eli was there, he was angry about us…" I'm telling Drew and then realize how that sounds so I quickly correct myself. "About me sleeping at your place I mean. He was yelling and grabbed my arm so I punched him. He disappeared when I punched him and for a moment I was relieved but then I saw you at the end of the hall. The hall got longer and longer, I saw Vince appear from the shadows and he grabbed you. He pulled you into the shadows with him and I heard you scream, and then I woke up."

"I'm okay Clare," Drew says and I nod.

"You want to talk about your nightmare?"

"Oh you know, Vince beating me up, Eli hurting you…" Drew says but his sentence trails off at the end.

"Owen saw my back and told me I should tell him if Eli hurts me again."

"Yeah he told me and Eli better not come anywhere near you again."

"Adam talked to him yesterday, about his behavior," I inform Drew.

"I'm sure that went well, if Eli hurt my brother I am going to kill him," Drew growls.

"Adam said it didn't go very well but he wasn't hurt."

"I think you and Adam should both stay away from Eli," Drew says flatly.

I don't want to talk about Eli anymore so I change the subject and ask Drew about basketball practice. He talks about basketball and asks me about my writing, we talk for a couple of hours before we start yawning again.

"My eyes keep closing, I think it's time to go to sleep," I tell Drew sleepily.

"Yeah me too. Goodnight Clare I'll see you tomorr-o-w," Drew says with a deep yawn that stretches out the end of tomorrow.

"Goodnight Drew," I reply and hang up. I fall asleep quickly and dream of Drew for the rest of the night.

(OWEN)

I woke up especially early on this Thursday morning but not for hockey practice. No I have a mission this morning; I haven't seen or heard from Bianca in days so I'm going to her aunt's apartment. I want some answers.

The apartment building is old and not very secure. You're supposed to get buzzed in but the door doesn't even close all the way. I go in and to the apartment banging on the door. No one answers so I bang again and again until finally Bianca's aunt answers the door. She's wearing a robe she's barely bothered to close, her hair is in disarray and she clearly just woke up.

"Fuck, what the hell are you doing here?"

"I want to see Bianca," I tell her pushing the door open.

"She's not here, she's living with her boyfriend," her aunt tells me.

"Then why hasn't she been at school? Why won't she return my calls?" I inquire looking around but I see no signs of Bianca being here in a long time.

"Bianca hated school, she's dumb it wouldn't surprise me if she dropped out. If she's not talking to you maybe you were never really friends, she uses people you know, maybe she just used you too."

"You are a horrible person," I spit at her before storming out of the apartment.

I get back in my car and drive to school but I feel worse not better. Something is wrong I'm sure of it, if Bianca took off she would have said something, sent a text or something just to tell me but I've heard nothing. Fitz hasn't heard from her either, I asked him already, he hasn't seen or heard from her in weeks. He thought it was because of his new found religion and that he was living and working at a church. When I told him she hasn't been in school and I haven't seen or heard from her either he got worried.

"You're here very early Owen," Principal Simpson comments when I walk into his office.

"I came to talk to you about Bianca Sir," I tell him and he motions for me to sit down. "She's been absent for days, she's not returning my calls and I just came from her aunt's apartment. Her aunt says she hasn't been there and she thinks Bianca dropped out. I'm worried Sir, she wouldn't just disappear not without at least telling me something."

"I called her aunt yesterday to find out about Bianca's absences and she told me Bianca was ill," Simpson says with a worried look on his face and then picks up the phone. "Doris get Officer Turner in here please," he says into the phone and then hangs up. "When was the last time you spoke with or saw Bianca?"

"It's been five days Sir, since I saw or heard from her," I tell him just as Officer Turner comes in.

"Bianca DeSousa has been missing for at least five days. Owen spoke to her aunt this morning, she told me Bianca had the flu, she told Owen she hasn't seen Bianca in days," Simpson tells Turner.

"I'll get an officer down here to file a missing person's report and we'll send a unit over to speak with her aunt. Owen myself or another officer may need to speak more with you later," Turner says and I nod.

I leave Simpson's office glad that something is being done and hoping they find Bianca and she's okay. It's still pretty early so I go to the caf to get something to eat and then head for my locker. I see Eli lurking in the hall and sneak over to see why he's snooping. When I'm a few feet behind him I can plainly see that he's watching Clare at her locker. Knowing he's hurt Clare before my fists clench, but if I punch him for just watching her I'm sure to get detention.

"GOLDSWORTHY," I bark at him attracting not only his attention but Clare's and everyone else in the hallway.

"What in the hell do you want?" Eli asks with his eyes narrowed.

"It's rude to spy on your ex-girlfriend."

He glares at me but he walks off, Clare smiles at me and closes her locker. I go to my locker and grab my math book then go out to the foyer. Julian is sitting on the steps and waves to me.

"Hey," I greet him.

"Hey, practice at lunch and I'm taking Drew to another fight tonight you want to come?" Julian asks.

"Cool," I reply.

I hang out with Julian until the bell rings and go to homeroom. Bianca doesn't come to class but I didn't think she would. When I get to second period auto shop Drew is already here. I consider telling him about Bianca but decide against it, he's worried enough as it is.

"Practice at lunch and I'm coming with you and Julian to the fight tonight," I tell Drew.

"Cool, why is Eli glaring at you more than me this morning?" Drew questions.

"I yelled at him in the hall for spying on Clare," I reply.

"If he's planning something I'm going to kill him," Drew comments.

"He was just watching her but we'll keep an eye on him."

Drew nods and Mr. Ehl begins class. When the bell rings for lunch we wash up and go to the gym. Julian is in the locker room changing and we nod to him. When we're changed we go out to the gym and Clare is waiting, she's wearing sweats this time so she came prepared. Julian teaches me and Drew a couple new moves, Drew wants to work on kicks so Julian asks me to show Clare how to break out of a hold.

"Thanks for this morning with Eli," Clare says.

"After seeing the bruise he gave you I didn't think him watching you was good. Now I'm going to hold you from behind so you can practice getting free," I tell her.

"Just watch your hands," Clare says looking at me over her shoulder as I wrap my arms around her.

"Perfect gentleman I swear," I assure her.

We spend about fifteen minutes with me teaching Clare how to break free and then Julian says we should stop for lunch. Clare thanks me for working with her and goes into the girl's locker room to change. The three of us change in the boy's locker room and then eat lunch in the caf. Drew and I have third and fourth period together, classes Bianca has with us but of course she doesn't show up to photography or business class. After school Drew goes to the gym for basketball practice and I go to the rink for hockey practice. I meet Drew back at the school and we go to Julian's, the three of us eat dinner at Little Miss Steaks and Julian tells me how to get to the underground fight.

Now I'm no stranger to fights, I've been in a lot, started most of them myself, seen a lot, even stopped a few. I've seen fights in alleys, the ravine even the school's boiler room but this place looks like the underground of the underground. All the men here look like biker gang rejects and they fight in a cage. I do enjoy watching the fight but I am a little worried about how Drew looks watching the fight. He looks eager and sort of envious.

"Wasn't that a great fight?" Drew says when we're back in my car. We had to leave early to get Drew home by curfew.

"You look like you want to fight in the cage with them," I comment.

"I do and I will," Drew replies with a tone and a look in his eyes that has me very worried.

Update soon probably starting with the basketball game and including some Clowen friendship. Next updated is Alone on a School Night.