Ch. 7 Make Me Wanna Die

After the final bell rang signaling the end of the day I rushed out of class to find Clare already at her locker. "So, are you ready to deal with Fitz?"

"Don't remind me," I sighed covering my face with one hand leaning against my locker.

"Doesn't look like you're cleaning to me," Eli said appearing seemingly out of nowhere

"Ack!" I yelped slamming my hand onto the locker to my right. "Owwww…."

"We're just about to get started. Right Harper?"

"Right," I chimed in.

"Okay, well I'm gonna go get the supplies we need for tonight."

"Okay, cool. I'll see you at 4:30 right?"

"4:30, he repeated while walking backwards towards the exit. He once again gave me that crooked smile I'd grown to love in a ridiculously short amount of time, then turned to leave. I watched his back retreat further outside till he disappeared around the corner.

"Wow."

"What?" I asked turning to Clare.

"Really?"

"Really what?"

"You've got it bad."

"Got what bad? Clare, please stop talking in riddles. Fitz is going to be difficult enough."

"I'm talking about Eli! It's so obvious."

"No! Eli is annoying and makes me want to strangle him! Okay, I've never wanted to strangle him. But, I don't like him, I think. I mean, yeah he's annoying but he's also charming and smart, and funny, and…oh my god I'm rambling."

"Why don't you tell him?"

"Are you insane? I haven't even known him that long. I'm not gonna ruin our friendship over something stupid like that."

"If you say so… oh and it's almost 3. Don't you have somewhere to be?" She asked clearly amused at my pain.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm going mom."

"See you tomorrow!"

"Hopefully!" I yelled back to her. I walked into the dot at 2:58 and Fitz was nowhere in sight. Well he still has two minutes… I sat at a table for two in the corner by the window and pulled out my math book. You know…I may have a good grade in this class but I don't even LIKE math. I looked down at my watch again. 2:59. I turned to the window and watched the cars pass by.

"Oh my gosh is that a hearse?" asked a lady at a table in front of me.

"Yeah, I think it is!" I began to hear murmurs as people stared out the window. There's only one person in this town with a hearse…oh, crap! If Eli sees me I'm screwed! I dove under the table to hide from the window, ignoring all the strange looks I was getting.

"Did they drop an atomic missile or something?" I looked up from the floor and saw Fitz offering me a hand. I stared at it then finally accepted. He pulled me up and I dusted myself off.

"Atomic bomb."

"What?"

"You said- oh, nevermind. You're late."

"Yeah sorry about that. I had some stuff to do."

"Right. Well, let's get started. I have to meet someone at 4:30."

"Is it Eli?" he asked.

"That's none of your business," I said sitting down. "Hey, where did this coffee come from?"

"I bought it for you."

"You did?"

"Yeah, I know you don't really want to do this and you're helping me out so…yeah," he said rubbing the back of his neck. I smiled at him.

"Thank you Fitz. That was really nice of you," I said taking a sip. "It's perfect! How did you know how I like it?" I asked suddenly getting creeped out. Was he…

"Calm down. I don't stalk you or anything, I just asked the guy who works here how you liked it. Almost everyone that goes to Degrassi is a regular here." Oh, well…I feel stupid now.

"Oh ok. Anyway, ready to get started?"

"Yeah."

"Ok so we're on chapter 6. Where did Mr. Santos lose you?"

"Umm, what was chapter 3 about?"

"Are you serious? Chapter 3? I started coming to Degrassi during chapter 5!"

"Sorry! I just don't get what he's teaching!"

"Okay," I sighed. "We can do this. Just pay attention care-ful-ly?" I stared at Fitz who had scooted his chair over so that he was uncomfortably close. "Err?"

"Sorry, I can see what you're talking about better if we share books."

"Um, ok."

An hour later Fitz stretched and yawned. "Oh, I'm sorry. Am I boring you?"

"What? No! I just-"

"Relax! I laughed. "I'm boring myself actually. Do you want to call it a day? We got through 2 chapters, so you're almost caught up. Do you understand everything?"

"I do, thanks for everything. I think I can figure out chapter six on my own."

"What? Fitz opening a textbook on his own accord?" I asked in a shocked voice.

"Hey! And I mean it. Thanks Harper. You're a lot less annoying one on one."

"Well you are too Fitz!" I said laughing. Our laughter died down and he stared at me intently. I noticed he had a strange look in his eye. It unnerved me. It was as if he was looking into my soul. There was something deep down in his eyes and I couldn't place it. Maybe Fitz really is just misunderstood. He leaned in a little but I didn't take too much notice because I was still entrapped in his eyes. His eyes that held their grip on my very being…until the bell rang signaling someone walked in the dot. I looked up past Fitz to see Adam.

"Hey Harper!" He waved walking over.

"Hey Adam." He frowned looking at the space between Fitz and me. I cleared my throat and scooted my chair away from Fitz's.

"Hey idiot! Do you need something or are you just going to stand there like the waste of space you are?"

"Hey! Maybe you should shut up loser!"

"Loser? You're calling ME a loser?" Fitz asked standing up and getting in Adam's face.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I just did. Maybe you should get your ears checked!"

"How about I make it so you have to go get your FACE checked?"

"Guys, stop it!" I yelled standing up and standing between them. "Look, we're causing a scene." I said looking at all the eyes on us three. Adam finally backed up.

"Don't you have somewhere to be Harper?" He asked obviously upset that I interrupted him and Fitz. I looked at my watch.

"Oh crap! 4:15, and my house is a mess!" I quickly gathered my books and shoved them into my bag. "Fitz thanks for the coffee! Study tonight and I'll see you tomorrow! Bye Adam!" I yelled running out the door. Please let me get there before Eli!