Hey guys! Alrightie, it looks like our long journey has come to an ALMOST end! I want to thank you for all the support on this story, the reviews/subscriptions/alerts! They really mean/meant a lot to me. Please Enjoy the Tenth/Second to Last Final Chapter of "RUMOR HAS IT"...
A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY BETA READER-SomeoneNamedLiz
RUMOR HAS IT-CHAPTER 10
Be mindful what you toss away, be careful what you push away, and think hard before walking away.
CLARE'S PERSPECTIVE
"Thank god he let us off the hook," I sighed out in relief as Eli smirked, "Why wouldn't he? We didn't do anything wrong, but whoever started those rumors needs to be put in that office."
"Eli," I grabbed his hand, "I really need you to just, be on my side through this. I know that we just started dating, and lucky for us, we have drama ahead. So, please just promise me that you won't leave me?"
He smirked, gripping my hand tightly in response and pulling me into a hug, "I love you Clare, and I'll always stand by your side."
"Y-You love me?" I asked in a whispered tone, as he smiled, "Do I have any reason not to?"
"Okay, so I've narrowed it down to two people," Alli informed me about her frantic search, as we took a seat in the computer room for lunch. I smiled, glancing at her when I said, "Honestly, I could care less about who started the rumors right now."
"And why is that?" Alli asked, taking a seat beside me. I smiled, a blush forming on my cheeks as I whispered, "Eli...he told me loved me this morning. Like, he actually looked me in the eyes and told me he loved me."
"Did he stutter?" She asked, as I shook my head, biting back my bottom lip, "He sounded confident, not cocky, but confident."
"Did you say it back?" Alli smiled, taking a bite out of her sandwich as I whispered, "I plan on telling him...after school. I chickened out before because we had to go to class, and it just wasn't the right time."
"The right time? Clare, he says it, you say it back. That's when the right time is," She scoffed as I said, "Yeah, but...I don't know, I know I love him too but I just want to tell him in a special way."
"I honestly think that if you told Eli you loved him near a garbage can that smelled like shit, with flies flying all over it, he'd still think it's special," I giggled, glancing at my FaceRange account.
"S-Should I go on it?" I asked, as Alli shook her head, "I wouldn't."
I shrugged my shoulders, not really caring what was going on in the internet world as I logged in, my eyes reading the comments and photos I was tagged in. I gulped, looking at the penises drawn near my face and a tear threatened to fall from my eyes.
"Clare, I told you not to-," I quickly pressed the "X" at the top of the page and sighed in relief, "W-Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. Eli and I are good together, and I'm happy, so that's all that matters to me."
"That's good Clare, don't let stupid people get to you," Alli placed a caring hand on my shoulder and my breathing hitched, my eyes blinking quickly when I felt or swear that I saw a flash go off.
"Someone just took a picture of me," I glanced around, standing up, and seeing that no one was even in the computer room.
"What are you talking about Clare?" She asked, looking around with me, and I then saw another flash. I gasped, quickly running out the door, looking around the hallway, and I saw a tall figure dressed in all black just turning the hallway.
"Gotcha," I mumbled, quickly making my way down the hallway and I smiled, noticing he went to the wrong end of the hallway, which meant that there was no way out.
I crossed my arms over my chest, laughing to myself as the figure stood still in his tracks, not even turning around. He had no other choice, so I said, "You've been caught, and you have no way out, so save yourself the embarrassment and just show yourself."
My eyes bulged, tears forming in my eyes, "Y-You?"
ALLI'S PERSPECTIVE
The whole plan...everything, it's ruined.
I quickly took out my phone, not hesitating before sending him a quick message, in hope that he gets it right away and gets out of class before his cover is completely blown.
We're so fucked! Clare caught him taking a picture for tonight's Facerange picture, she is cornering him down the left hallway on the third floor, near Dawes' room. Hurry, maybe you can get him out of there before she makes him turn around and take off his mask.
-Alli.
CLARE'S PERSPECTIVE
"I-I knew it," I stuttered, glancing up at KC, tears flowing down my face, "Y-You did this because I wouldn't get back with you, you did it because I wouldn't talk to you after we broke up. Why would you do this to me?"
"Clare, this isn't what it looks like-," I cut him off, "No KC, no more excuses...I'm going to find Eli and I'm going to tell him, I'll tell him that you started the rumors, you took the pictures."
He tried to talk, but I cut him off, "You're a creep, why would you be taking pictures of us?"
"Clare!" KC shouted, camera shaking in his hand, "Just fucking listen to me for one second and stop that motor mouth of yours!" I gulped, taking a step back, my legs going slightly numb as silence filled the hallway.
"I was being paid to take the pictures, to start the rumors," KC whispered as I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, "And who is the mastermind behind this diabolical plan KC? Because right now, you aren't looking too good."
"Eli," he said, "Eli paid me to take the pictures, start the rumors, and keep them moving. He paid me, and it's not like I couldn't deny the offer, I needed the money for Tyson, for Jenna."
For a moment, I actually believed him because of the caring tone in his voice.
"How could you blame Eli for what you're doing to me? Eli would never-," he cut me off, "Newsflash Clare, why do you think he put you in certain places where I could take the pictures perfectly? When was the last time he checked his Facerange, huh?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" I spat, as he continued to accuse Eli, "Eli was addicted, basically attached to Facerange and you know that! He used to check it every day when we were together! Then, all of a sudden, he starts dating you and then...he doesn't check it once."
"That's because he was paying more attention to his girlfriend than a stupid social networking site!" I hissed at him, getting close to throwing a punch until I heard Eli call out my name desperately, before wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me away from KC.
"He started the rumors Eli, he started them," I told him, not even bothering to know how Eli knew we were in the hallway. A tear streamed down my face as Eli shook his head slightly and I looked down, then back up at him, "I-Is it true?"
My heart nearly broke in half, listening to Eli ask, "He told you?"
"W-Why would you do this to me?" I whispered, tears streaming down my face as I ripped out of Eli's tight grip while he pleaded, "P-Please Clare, I can explain everything, just give me two minutes."
"No," I shook my head, "I trusted you, I even...I gave myself to you and you, you of all people!"
I couldn't even form sentences at this point, I couldn't even think straight as Eli stood next to KC and I smiled through my tears, "Y-You know what, you can keep the pictures that he took, put them online and everything. Just do me a favor Eli, and don't ever, ever talk to me again."
"Clare-," he tried to grab my hand and I hissed, "Do you even know how long it took me to trust you? And to think that I was going to tell you I loved you," I shook my head, scoffing, "I was wrong. You can't trust anybody, not even the person who I thought was my boyfriend, my best friend."
"Clare, just listen-," I cut Eli off, "I-I'm done listening Eli, we're over, don't ever talk to me again. Ever."
As my tears dripped onto my shirt, I didn't even care about going back to the computer room to get my stuff and I stormed down the Degrassi steps, quickly running out the front doors, not even bothering to explain myself to the security guards who were yelling at me to come back.
My chest heaved, my heart falling into my stomach as I slowly walked home, hugging myself, finally realizing that it was never the guys who had something wrong with them.
It was me all along, I was the fool, I was the stupid, naive idiot who trusted them.
"She hasn't eaten or slept in two days," I heard my mother whisper outside my bedroom door as I gulped, my throat dry and tears staining my puffy, slightly irritated cheeks.
When I got home from school two days ago, I locked myself in my room, only to be surrounded by the silence. Although I thought that the seclusion from everyone and everything would make me forget him...it didn't.
I've tried excessively to trick my mind into forgetting him, forgetting my best friend, the boy that I trusted with my whole heart and life. But, it was too hard. No matter what I did, no matter how hard I try, he doesn't disappear.
My home and cell phone ring constantly, and each time it does, my heart stops, knowing it's him.
"Honey," My mom knocks gently on the door, making me shake my head and bring my knees up to my chest. I gulp, listening to her soft, tender voice on the other side of the door, "Honey, please come out...you need to eat, please. You don't have to talk or anything, I just need you to eat."
I unsteadily stood to my feet, almost losing balance due to lack of sleep...and lack of everything.
My hand slowly gripped my bedroom doorknob, hesitating before turning it and only to reveal my mother's face, a relieved smile that I had finally listened to her. Tears continued to cascade down my face as she whispered, "Oh honey...come here."
For once, I didn't mind the comfort of my mother as I wrapped my arms around her, whimpering like a baby in her arms. Strange thing is, she even returned the hug, which made me realize that sometimes, family is all you've got.
I gasped, listening to the phone go off downstairs as my mother whispered, "It's probably E-."
"Don't say his name," I cut her off harshly, before stomping down the steps quickly, running to the home phone as I glared at the caller I.D. My lips parted slightly, not knowing what to do, but all I felt was pure anger and hatred looking at the "Goldsworthy" caller I.D.
"I can't take it anymore," I whispered, while ripping the phone off the wall and slamming it onto the ground, only to soon join the shattered phone on the floor. My chest heaved, tears falling down my face as my mom shook her head, not knowing what to do.
My mom continued to look at me, as I pulled my knees up to my chest and continued to cry. This was all I could do now, cry. I was hopeless, pathetic, and stupid to believe that I could trust him.
I buried my head in my knees, not knowing how to release the thick, emotional tension in my body besides crying.
What hurt the most out of all of this is trying...or learning to let him go.
END OF CHAPTER 10
So, Reviews? Were ya'll shocked that it was Eli? :)
Next Chapter Will Be The Last Chapter!
The Faith Of Eclare rests in your hands...well, technically my hands, but you know what I mean.
Love you guys,
Cliffhanger Girl
3
And OH! I'm not promising a happy ending either... ;)