A/N: Well, hello! Sorry for all of these late updates, but I am taking AP classes next year—which means that I get summer assignments. So it's like I'm not even on vacation, since I have so much homework.

I REALLY want to finish this story before July 18th, because I have a feeling that Jake's character is going to be the complete opposite of this Jake. I think he will be a sweet guy! That is why I want to finish this before we actually meet his character on the show. I feel that if I don't finish it by then and you all get to know his real personality that it shall ruin the type of vibe you get from this story. Imagine if I wrote Clare as someone horribly evil, when we know her to be this sweet girl? Doesn't make much sense, right?

So, HEADS UP: UPDATES WILL BE REALLY FREQUENT. Like every 2 or 3 days, I'm pushing myself to do so.

And most importantly: Thank you for the reviews, they mean so much to me. I do anticipate and wait by my e-mail to receive them. The alerts and favorites also mean a lot. But, hearing your thoughts is what really makes me happy and motivates me to write. I thank you (L)

Shout-out to "FlybyNoon": I LOVE it when people predict and are right on what will happen. Respect points for you! :D

.

Love-Fool

.

He couldn't sleep at times. There were those nightmares where he saw Clare dressed in white, a veil on her face, and with the biggest smile he had ever seen upon her. And he was sitting in the aisle as he watched from an up-close view, her and Jake about to say "I do". But, before it had gotten to that point, he had woken up. And when he did, he could feel his heart rate rushing with adrenaline and him panting from loss of words. He didn't want to lose Clare, because there was a part of him which doubted her and believed she would accept Jake's proposal.

Eli didn't call her; he didn't want to speak with her. It was too painful for him and he wanted to act as if all of this wasn't real. Because, he was sure he wasn't going to let it happen, no matter what.

It was on his mind all the time for a couple of days now, ever since Jake decided to "inform" the entire family of what he planned to do with Clare. And the worst part was that he had every right to and Eli didn't. Eli didn't deserve to feel angry or anything about the situation; it wasn't meant for him to do so.

He saw Jake passing by him and he was smiling like a true idiot, he didn't acknowledge Eli's presence with the joy that kept him busy. Eli grew envious and before he could stop himself, he bitterly spat, "So happy, eh?"

Jake turned around and glared at him, "For so many reasons," Jake's grin grew bigger and he took in a deep breath before he spoke again, "as soon as I marry Clare we'll find a place to live far away from you. Then you won't have to be such a pain in the ass, you should be glad too." His voice was feebly taunting him.

Eli's vein was popping out of his neck and he didn't dare to meet Jake's gaze, "Yeah, sure." He simply replied and walked away.

"I'm telling you, it was outrageous." Randall said.

"I'm sure it was," Margaret playfully rolled her eyes.

Clare giggled, "Dad, don't exaggerate. I'm sure that-"

The phone rang and her aunt looked at them, "I bet it's Jake, Clare. No one ever calls here."

Clare stood up and walked to the other side of the room and grabbed the phone, "Hello?"

She deliberately glanced back at her aunt and father and walked upstairs.

Her father turned back to his sister and said in a low voice, "She's in love isn't she?"

Her aunt made a face and shook her head, "Of course not. Not with Jacob; I just think it's nice that our Clare is in a decent relationship."

"No, she is." Randall persuaded, "The other day…" He scooted closer to her and looked around to check if the coast was clear, "The other day, I saw her speaking on the phone—you should have seen her. She was so happy and all giggly. I never saw that side of her, and I heard her say such sweet things to him."

Her aunt still shook her head, "That's impossible. Clare told me this morning she hasn't spoken to him for more than a week, until now that is."

Randall furrowed his eyebrows, "She must have been talking to a friend of hers, then."

"No." Her aunt grinned, "You're just getting to old, and are starting to imagine things."

Randall chuckled, "I guess so. I just hope that Jake guy treats her right, there's always been something about him that doesn't quite settle with me."

"Are you kidding? He treats her like a princess. He paid for your medical bill, don't forget that."

"See, that's the thing. He did it behind our backs, I just don't like that. Why would he do such a thing if my daughter isn't married to him or giving him other things in return. You and I are both against those types of gestures. Clare is still working, so she can pay him back."

"I know. It upsets me as well." Margaret raised her head a bit and reluctantly said, "Maybe he does plan to marry her."

Randall scoffed, "And you deny that she's in love."

"She's not; I could see it in her. But that doesn't mean he is."

Randall was about to reply, but Clare walked downstairs and she seemed a bit content—if not—apathetic.

"What did he want, dear?" Her aunt asked.

Clare smiled at them, "He says that he'll be coming this weekend to see me, he misses me."

The mouthed back an 'oh' and Clare asked, "What did I miss?"

Her father and aunt knowingly looked at each other and answered, "Nothing."

Moments later, Clare stepped outside and held her phone close to her. She was about to call Eli and tell him that Jake was going to visit her sometime this week, so he would know. It was something he told her that she should inform him.

Clare took in a deep breath and began to dial. However, something unlike many other times had began to happen, Eli did not answer. Clare dialed many times, and stopped after a while. She realized that perhaps he had misplaced his phone or wasn't in a good mood.

A part of her was disappointed, because she wished to speak with him and have him say sweet things to her. Even though it was immorally wrong.

All she had to really think about was meeting up with Jake for the weekend.

Days Later

Jake looked at Clare for quite awhile. His eyes wandered across her face and he admired her blue eyes that glanced back at him repeatedly with a bit of discomfort and curiosity. He held her hand with security as they walked towards a bench and sat down on it.

"I like this—being with you alone." Jake grinned at her.

Clare smiled back at him and said with sincerity, "Me too."

Jake had his heart beating and dug his hands in his pocket, "Where do you…" He paused for a couple of seconds and let out a nervous breath of air, "where do you see yourself in five years, Clare?"

The weather was cold; the trees were swaying its leaves with the timid force of the wind grazing upon them. The sky was pitch-black, there were no stars found in the sky, and the only light around were the huge lampposts at every corner of the streets. Many people were walking by and others were inside of restaurants, shops, and other places. Some people looked lost and confused, others seemed in a hurry, and most were enjoying the moment.

Clare—although sitting down on a bench—looked lost and confused.

She sighed and thought for a moment. Her eyes blinked into realization and she answered, "To be honest, I don't know."

Jake gripped her hand tighter and put his other arm around her, "What if…what if you and I were still together by then, what do you think of that?"

Clare averted her gaze and she felt so guilty speaking about the future with Jake, she became frightened. She felt constrained by the desires of being with Eli instead of Jake in the next five years, and forever after. Her heart ached with the rapid beating it gave and her stomach grew nauseous.

"Don't be silly, Jake." Clare solemnly said, "You'll grow tired of me, soon enough. Wait and see."

Jake chuckled, "Tired? Of you? Each day feels like a new beginning—you're wonderful."

The need to stand up and walk away was urgent as ever for Clare. She still didn't meet his eyes and fiddled with her thumbs.

"No, no I'm not." Clare whispered, "I don't deserve to be with someone like you, I'm not this perfect person you believe me to be."

Jake quirked an eyebrow and reached over to kiss her cheek, "Nonsense." He continued, "I'm really happy when I'm around you. So much, you have no idea."

Clare looked up and finally stared into his eyes, "You really do love me?" Her voice whimpered, and she felt a pang of bitter sorrow strike her.

"Of course, I do." He stated and began to say, "And because I love you, I want to be with you every day. I want you to wait for me at home when I come back from work, when I go to sleep, when I wake up, when I need someone to make me feel better. I want that so much, Clare."

Clare began to feel tears rising as she was hurting.

Jake continued, "Don't cry. It's the truth."

Clare breathed, "I don't deserve you." You should hate me, she wanted to scream at him and scooted a bit away from him.

Jake got up from his seat, walked over to her side, and knelt down, "I do deserve you and I want you with me all the time." He said and he grabbed her palm, almost pleading, "I want you to marry me."

She stiffened at his words and in a quick moment—Eli flashed before her mind. The dreadful pain which provoked her shame was beginning to make her lose breath, she was dying inside and she could picture herself with unhappiness which she honestly deserved. The look in Jake's eyes were apprehensive and anxious, he soon began to reach in his coat. Clare didn't want to look. Her eyes soon enough, deceived her, and from the corner of them, she saw a small box being held between his fingers.

"See." His voice earnestly continued, "I'm serious, and I bought this for you—for us." Jake opened the box and he revealed a diamond ring.

She didn't wish to know how many carats it had embedded, nor the cost, or the beauty it bestowed. She wanted to know why on Earth she got herself in this mess. She was the one to blame, not Eli, and certainly not Jake. It was her and her selfish desires which brought her to that situation. Clare was beginning to feel the burning consequences of playing with fire.

She didn't realize how long she was contemplating about the decision, and Jake gave a worried whisper, "Clare?"

He pulled away and that grin that was on his face was already disappearing, his brows were furrowed, and he seemed despaired.

Clare said in the smallest voice she could, "I don't know…what to say."

"Say yes." Jake quickly replied, "Isn't this what we always wanted from the beginning?"

"From the beginning?" Clare delicately echoed.

Jake gradually nodded, "You said that you wanted to get married someday, and have kids-"

With the person I fall in love with.

Clare remained taken aback and quickly yelped, "I do!" She grabbed his hands and held them with security, "Believe me, I do. I just need time to think. This is so sudden to me right now,"

"To think about what?" Jake worriedly groaned.

"To think if this is what I really want. I want a forever with you, because I deserve you. And I don't." She cried.

The emotions surging through Jake were more bitter than heartbroken. He had never received rejection, and a 'maybe' was not acceptable for him either. He swallowed his feelings and embraced his pride.

"Take all the time then." Jake indignantly said.

"Jake, this isn-"

Jake interrupted her and through eyes that were glistening with anger, he smiled as if nothing happened, "I'll just take you home, alright."

Clare looked at him apprehensively, and stood up. She reached to grab his hand, but he had already kept it in his pocket and walked ahead, as she trailed behind him like a lost and confused person.

.

The drive was the most awkward moment she had ever lived in her life. She wanted to speak, but words were trapped inside. Everything had a hesitation added to it. If she wanted to move her leg a bit, look in another direction, tap her foot, she always had to do it carefully. She was afraid that any movement would ruin everything.

At one point the thought of Eli made her want to scream and open the car door and jump out into the moving road.

Jake reached a stop at her house, and he didn't spare a glance at her, nor a word.

Clare began to speak, "What if-"

Jake raised his hand and silenced her, "Let's just act as if this never happened, alright?"

Clare blinked her eyes and nodded, part of her hoping to end things right then. However, a part of her knew Jake took her words for granted of her thinking things over, and that gave him some hope. She didn't want to upset him anymore and agreed.

"Of course." She answered.

"You need time to think, and I just need time, got it?" His gaze focused on the steering wheel, "I'll call you." He dismissed in a stern voice, as he impatiently waited for Clare to leave his car.

Clare still watched him and worried.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" Jake gravely yelled at her and she left his sight as quickly as she could.

She looked at him drive away in speed. His car's engine made a crying vroom which ferociously echoed in the neighborhood. Her father and aunt stepped out of their homes and watched the red car drive down the road, anger trailing behind it.

"Clare?" Her aunt neared her.

She bit back a cry and gently replied, "It's nothing."

Her father walked over and made a comment, "It better be nothing. Honestly, it's late and he doesn't have the decency to respect people who are sleeping."

Clare watched as the red backlights of the car disappeared into the distance, she was shocked at everything that had happened. She never knew he would be angry and it didn't appeal to her on bit.

"Your father's right, it is late. Come on, let's go inside." Her aunt replied, as she tugged on her shoulder.

Clare nodded and turned around, her heart slowly being anguished with problems she created.

Jake didn't want to go home. He couldn't handle facing his father walking up to him, "How'd it go, sport? When's the wedding?"

It was what Ted thought that really mattered. Cece grew on him as the years went by, because he never met his mother and he always held an open mind for someone to come one day and take care of him. All of his friends would make fun of him and tease him that he had a father who neglected him for work and a woman who left his father who died years later.

So when Cece came along, he welcomed her with open arms, seeing that he had it as an advantage. However, it was Eli who ruined it; he wanted a mother for him alone—not to share. The fact that Eli existed spoiled everything for him every single time. Eli always annoyed him and bothered him, he tried to make friends with his and fit in. But, Jake claimed everything as his own.

And he knew that Eli would make a half-assed remark about being rejected.

Rejected!

Well not really, Clare did say she would think about it.

The words lingered in his mind and he felt resentment. After months of being patient with her, takings risks for her, everything—she replied with an "I don't know."

He drove to a motel and spent the rest of the night and day there, his phone beeped and he replied to his father that he was taking care of some personal business and not to bother him.

The words that he spoke came off in a neutral tone, and it raised no question for Ted to ask him.

That is until he carefully asked, "Did you see Clare?"

Jake took his time and through a deceiving joy he replied, "Yeah, yesterday. Everything went great."

He could hear his father surpassing a grin, "Does this mean-"

Jake interrupted, "No, I chickened out. I haven't asked her yet…the moment didn't feel right."

Ted took in a deep breath and assured, "That's alright, son. But don't worry; when you ask her, I'm sure she'll say yes."

Jake firmly replied, "She will. I know it."

He hung up and saw that he had to leave if he wanted to arrive at home by nighttime.

He wanted to take his anger out on something and felt bile rising in his throat as he held back the need to express it. One thing rest assured though, that he couldn't handle the thought of losing Clare. He was going to have her be his wife, no matter what. And when they did get married, they would be together with nothing and no one in their way. The thought relieved him a bit and enraged him more at most. He clenched his fists on the steering wheel after he paid for his stay and was driving away from the motel.

Nothing mattered to him; he had his music blaring through the speakers as he drove into town, with indifferent patience.

Once he passed through the city, he solemnly thought of not yet wanting to go home. When he drove by, a bunch of emotions rushed within him. Jake held back a somber mood and drove to a place that he knew he could be alone, with no interruptions, unless he said so.

When he arrived there, some windows high above were still dimmed with lights. He figured that there were a few working or about to leave. He entered through the reception area and the desk was empty. As he headed into the elevator, he ran into people, and they greeted him with respect. He ignored them all.

Once he reached his office, he closed the door and watched through his window as more people left. He sighed, lied back against his huge leather chair, and looked through the side of his cabinets. There, he found that there was a bottle of whisky.

It came in handy when he closed a deal and offered a glass for celebration to those who he had spoken with.

He didn't bother to reach for a cup and chugged down from the tip of the bottle. The cold glass pressed against his lips and drained the soothing liquid down his throat as he let out frustrated groans.

He looked around his desk and saw the picture-frame of Clare.

Jake grabbed it and glared at it, as he crossly choked out, "You will marry me, dammit."

Before he could think of anything else, the alcohol began to manipulate his mind with intoxicated feelings. Jake tossed the frame afar the room and it shattered into various blades of glass. He didn't flinch at the sound or gave a care in the world about who would have to clean that up.

He heard his door open and someone entered. Whoever it was, they stopped their movements for a while as they stared at the broken glass on the floor. They soon began to pick it up, bit by bit, with a broom and left the office to throw it away.

Not moments after, they entered once again.

Jake lifted his head and saw that it was Bianca.

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" Jake lowly snapped at her, Bianca saw that he was drunk and smiled back at him.

"My shift isn't over. I still have to make those copies for you and everyone else, Mr. Martin." She replied.

"Well, you could leave." Jake answered and waved his hand to the door.

Bianca grabbed—from her pocket—the photograph that was freed from the frame and replied to Jake, as her fingers toyed with the photo, "Do you want this back?"

Jake scoffed at it and took another sip from the bottle as he said with bitterness, "I don't care what the hell you do with it. Throw it away, for all I care."

"As you wish." Bianca gave a small smile and walked over to the paper-shredder in his office and passed it through it.

She stared back at Jake with hungry eyes and he suddenly said, not meeting her gaze, "She says she wants to not have sex. I don't have sex with her. She wants to get married and have kids, I propose. She wants to spend more time, I drive six fucking hours each month to see her."

Bianca took closer steps to his side and replied, "She sounds like she doesn't deserve you."

"She doesn't." Jake agreed and threw his head back against his chair.

Bianca walked to the other side, behind him and she laid her hands across his rigid shoulders, "You're too good for her."

"I am." Jake chuckled.

Her hands began to move against his shoulders in a soothing pace, "You've been under too much stress, Mr. Martin. You've been working too hard and now this horrible woman does all of this to you." She cooed as she massaged his shoulders.

Jake drank more and said, "She's a prude. A dumb prude, I've dealt with for months. Fuck her."

Bianca continued her ministrations and began to comb her fingers through his hair. Jake smiled and quickly frowned, "But I love her."

"Maybe you're confused." Bianca whispered.

"No." Jake groaned and pulled away from Bianca's touch, "I love her too much. She doesn't deserve me, no one does. But I need her, fuck, I can't live without her." He slammed a fist on the table and said, "I was such an asshole to her. I yelled at her, I never yell at her."

"She deserved it." Bianca said with a sultry gaze.

"Not her. The look on her face when I yelled at her…I want her for me, dammit. I want her to marry me." Jake clenched his jaw.

"Mr. Martin, it's alright. You deserve a woman who understands you and treats you like the true man you are." Bianca neared him once again, and cupped his cheek.

Jake grinned at her, "Call me Jake. Mr. Martin is my father."

Bianca smiled at him and crouched down by his side, "I could be that woman." She said, "I'll treat you like the way you deserve."

Jake laughed, "You!" He continued to bark a couple more laughs and Bianca trailed her fingers on his lips.

"Yes—as silly as that sounds to you—I am that ideal woman." She replied, "I could show you."

Jake's gaze traveled to her every movement. Bianca neared closer to him and she pecked a soft kiss on his jaw. Her lips worked towards his lips and she breathed against him.

He kissed her back and she began to progress the kiss into something faster and passionate.

"What about your fiancé." Bianca asked out of breath.

Jake grinned, "You kiss me and ask?"

"I like to make sure that no one regrets anything after being with me. No strings attached." She carefully said.

Jake rolled his eyes, "Trust me, that's not happening."

Bianca kissed his neck and she began to unbuckle the belt around his pants, "It's been a while." Jake groaned.

Bianca began to unbutton her own shirt and caressed his face as she kissed him harder, "Let's make up for that lost time, then." Jake grabbed her by the hips and continued to kiss her.

Every touch was kindled by desire and lust which built no guilt or regret.

A/N: Jake joined the dark side too! Except it wasn't in the boiler room, but his office…What do you think about this, tell me? Just to make it clear: Jake and Clare are still together...

Oh! And follow me on tumblr, if you wish! It's Degrassi related of course. My tumblr-name is: takessolong