I didn't call Jake right away, figuring that I'd be explaining the afternoon's goings-on one way or another, and this would save my pride some sliver, not having to own up to being ejected straight away. Instead, utilizing the opportunity to reflect on things, away from home, school, Jake, and most importantly, the pejorative Eli, I made my way into the main part of town, where at least with the bustling foot traffic there, I would be lonely but not alone. I had no game plan, no finish line in mind and certainly no intention to end up in front of the too familiar bodega halfway back to my house. But such as things were going as of late, that didn't turn out quite like I'd expected. Slowing my speed, I kept a steady pace as I neared the last piece of furniture I needed -or wanted, for that matter- to see. The bench came into my line of vision, followed by the pair situated on it. They looked uncomfortable, and I nosily wondered if it was simple jitters, or something worse that I myself had experienced on the very same bench. I couldn't place their names, though I vaguely recognized their faces from the halls of Degrassi. They were younger, maybe a grade or two behind me, and it was a weird moment of deja vu as though I was watching myself in their place way back when. The jitters were daunting at the time, but down the road I'd have traded it in an instant for the detrimental "worse" that it ultimately become. I didn't let myself dwell any deeper on the turns I took on the seat, but for their sake hoped that their path would differ from ours, and they wouldn't suffer the curse we cast on it. Realizing how long I'd been inspecting the two, I shuffled off the other side of the walkway heading home. That Jake was picking me up had slipped my mind entirely until I was back at home, walking into the kitchen where a puzzled Jake was sat. "Did Eli drive you home?"

I knew it was such an easy out to say yes, but I couldn't lie to Jake if I tried, instead offering a tight lipped smile and a blundering thumbs up, which immediately earned me a cocked head and raised eyebrow. "How did you get home?"

"Walked," I admitted, my guilty thumbs hooking behind my back.
"Why didn't you call me? I said I'd come grab you," he reminded, more perplexed than anything.

The gentle line of questioning was totally warranted, but only served to remind me over and over that Eli had banished me from his company and I was too ashamed to say so. The reminder of that, coupled with Jake's cautious eyes, put me in a limelight I couldn't stomach. "I just... wanted to get some sun," I fibbed, my throat closing at the untruth. Jake had the unrivaled ability to see through me at any given moment, and he didn't need to hear the waver in my voice now to know that something had gone wrong with Eli. He pushed himself up from the table, slinging an arm around my back to lead me out of the kitchen and towards the couch where he promptly plopped, patting the spot beside him.

"So things didn't go well," he confirmed, propping his feet atop the coffee table.
"Intuitive deduction," I grumbled, hesitating for a moment before joining beside his smirking form.
With a gentle laugh, Jake shuffled to make more room for me as I scuttled in.

"Why didn't things go well?" He attempted, turning his attention towards me.
"I just can't say or do anything right," I shrugged, picking my brain for a suitable explanation.
"It's like just being around me is enough to be the end of the world for him. I've apologized, I've reached out to him, I don't know what else I'm supposed to do to fix this."

"Why do you have to fix anything?" He asked curiously, his question throwing me off. Words didn't find my tongue for a long few moments, and I could only stare at my brother, dumbfounded. I'd been so worried about making things right for so long that I'd never asked myself why I was doing it.

"We have the project," I answered lightly, "it won't be over for another two and a half months, are we just supposed to be at each other's throats the whole time?"
"Of course not," he chuckled, softly shaking his head. "What I mean is, you can finish the project and be civil without getting all serious and Clare about it."
That one got him a glare, my arms crossing over my chest.
"You always want to fix everybody's problems and for once you can't and that's just something you have to get over. The guy is sick, you can't cure him and the more you push it, the more likely you're both just gonna end up killing each other over it. Uh, so to speak..."

I wanted to be mad. I wanted to dispute his advice and shake it off, but his oddly appropriate advice was true.

I couldn't help but to smirk. "When did you get so worldly?"
"Call me Columbia."
"Columbia?"
"...Columbus. I meant Columbus. The traveler. Worldly."
"Right..."
"Yes..."

We both burst into a moment of laughter, and I was grateful for the break from the seriousness. Standing to my feet, I leaned in to give Jake an appreciative peck on the cheek before turning towards the stairs. "Thanks, Columbia," I teased on my way up to my room, spotting a teasingly dismissive wave.

I let out a breath of relief as I walked through the threshold of my bedroom, more than ready to get a calm rest in before having to see Eli in the morning. I changed into my coziest pajamas, flicking the light switch off and crawling into my made bed, curling up in wait for a good night's sleep.