Very sorry I didn't update last week. You would not believe the stress that has been pounded on my life. It just really sucks. Really it does. Where would I be without my Beta: Frgtyou? ...probably somewhere in a ditch pleading for a help. lol.

So on to some comment/hints:

In the Name of Merlin: Thank you for asking, my competition went great! I even won a gold medal! And by the end of the story, you might like the turn out of the theater. :3

Ariel C. Rilmonn : Oh who knows what's going to happen at this point. And thank you.

Im-that-Degrassi-Chick AND xKayleelynnx: Eli will eventually meet Adam, and the reaction might or might not be so surprising. ;]

SixWS: LOL. Yes, the whole star-crossed lover thing is interpreted into the characters, but there is more to the Romeo and Juliet theme than that. Which surprises even myself how things happen to work out like that. It can mean a couple of things now. :3 Eli risking his past to save his future? Going to give a little hint here, there might be more chances for him to make things right, in any given situation. But will he do it? Who knows...

PullMeIntoTheDark: Aw! I can never be so cruel to end the story like that! I would burst into tears myself! lol. Nope, I think you will be ... satisfied with the ending of this story. Which is like many chapters away. I am guestimating around 20+ chapters now. lol

Avalon Lilith Lorelei: Kill themselves? ... interesting idea. But I don't think you have to worry about that so much. Death being involved in the story? Perhaps. Ahh Julia, Julia, where art thou Julia. lol.

As-We-Danced013: If you find a theater, tell me. I'd like to join you. :D


Some are dreamers and some are realists. This is the world as we know it...


Clare

For the first time in her life, Mrs. Edwards had given herself the responsibility of driving her youngest daughter to school. It was awkward to say the least, as Clare stared out the window trying to think of solutions for her problems: her parent's sudden attention on her, the theater's possible demise, and also her relationship with Eli.

It was all adding up by the second. As the thought occurred in her head, she noticed that the car had just passed the theater. She sighed.

"So, Clare." Her mother said trying to break the silence. "You sure took a liking to that boy in church."

"Huh?" Clare twisted her head in confusion. After a second of processing her words, she replied back with a blush. "He's just a new friend."

"Maybe you should hang out with him a little more." She said with a small smile on her exhausted face. "I heard that his mom is going to take over that theater we used to love so much."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Clare said with a hint of worry in her voice. It seemed like every place she turned, held a reminder to her problems. She couldn't even go to church without the constant thought of the theater, now her own mother was enforcing the dilemma. It was haunting.

"I'm just saying, maybe you're destined to have that theater…" Mother Edwards mentioned casually with a grin. "I remember the Goldsworthy's always wanted you to own the place with their son. And now you seem buddy-buddy with the new owner's son…" The mother chuckled at the thought, and memories that she once had with her family filled her head. In her mind, perhaps the theater could rekindle the lost happiness they once had.

Clare looked baffled at her mother. The adult in the car had a certain spark in her eyes, a form of joy; this was a quality that hardly surfaced her features. "I wouldn't consider us best friends. We just met."

"You two are going to the same school right? Get to know him there."

"He told me he's not attending until next year." In the pit of her stomach, it sickened her, the very thought of her parents trying set her up. Don't get her wrong, Adam was a great person to hang around with, but the very thought of her parents forcing the arrangement seemed bothersome. Either way, she had too many issues to resolve to pay any real consideration to her mother's suggestion. That and I already have Eli, at least I think I do...

"Then we'll have his family over for dinner in the summer."

"I gue-"

"It's agreed." Helen pulled the car to a sharp halt which made Clare's body push forward a bit. Recomposing herself, turning out the window, she saw the image of her school. Mrs. Edwards turned to her daughter and pointed at her. "Now can you handle walking home today? Your father and I can't make it."

Grabbing her backpack and exiting the car, Clare rolled her eyes and replied with a yes to the question. She was capable of walking by herself since seventh grade, nothing has changed. It was still an odd feeling of having her mother actually worry about her; Clare was not so sure how to react to this new attention on her. Although she did complain of her parent's lack of observations before, she now feels weird having a spotlight on her.

Shutting the door to the SUV, Clare waved to her mother hesitantly and turned her feet to the direction of the school. Faintly, Clare heard a 'have a nice day' from a woman who she assumed was her mother in the background. Clare stayed focused on the problems ahead of her.


"Principal Simpson?"

Timidly, Clare knocked on the door and peeked in to see if who she was looking for was present. As expected, the male was occupying a comfortable seat in front of an organized desk. The principal just smiled at the student and motioned for her to come in. Clare gave a sweet smile, and looked at the direction of the empty chair in the middle of the room. Taking her place, her posture was tense and straight as she took a deep breath.

"Clare you don't have to be stiff here," The principal said with a warm smile. He unfolded his hands and pointed his thumbs up. "I'm a cool principal, remember?"

Chuckling at the comment, Clare released her breath and relaxed her shoulders. "Good. Now what did you want to talk to me about, Clare? Finally come around to vent?"

Shaking her curls, Clare looked straight at the older man in front of her. "Not at all, my family has been…fine lately. What I want to discuss are the rumors circulating in this school."

"Rumors? What rumors are going around?" The adult mentioned with worry stressed in his voice. It was quiet often to hear vicious gossip spread the halls of Degrassi. It's all amazing how cruel they could sometimes be. There were times when horrible words would cause the school board to maintain situations. This always made the principal look bad.

"That the school is getting a new theater." Her face was completely blank when she said this.

Mr. Simpson's exterior let out a huge sigh, due to his previous assumption of something completely wrong. "Clare, you had me there for a second." Fanning his face with a flyer on his table, he continued to ask her about the subject. "Why do you want to know about the new theater?"

"Because I hear that the Goldsworthy Theater is going to be brought down." Clare said without any emotion to her voice. Meanwhile, the words said could have made her break down in tears.

The same grieving face appeared on the principal's face as the night of the dance. "I'm surprised anyone besides us old folks care about that place." He signed and took the appearance of that happy person again. "Don't worry; it's not going to be torn down. Just refurnished, fixed up even. Nothing more than that."

Gripping the edge of her seat, Clare tried to control her feelings. "Is there any way to prevent this? A petition? Protests?"

"Can I ask why you'd want to stop the production? I figured that you kids would be happy to get a new theater, seeing how the old one packs you in like sardines."

"I'm sorry, but I don't think that theater should be touched. That place is practically a historical landmark for this town, how could anyone tamper with it!"

A gentle smile made its way to his face. "It's nice to know you care deeply about that place…" Clapping his hands together he took the papers from the desk and hid them inside the cabinets. "If I can be honest with you, I don't like the circumstance either. In fact I think it's a horrible idea."

Clare's eyes looked hopeful to know someone was on their side. "Then you'll help me?"

"I'd love to, but I'm afraid my hands are tied here. I have no power; it's the school board's decision. Investors have already lined up to help, and the city signed the paper work for the construction. In two weeks production will start." The adult then took a deep sigh and lifted himself off of his seat. Pacing around the room, he eventually stopped in front of a tall collection of papers on his file cabinet. "By the time school starts again, it will be finished. All I can say is…to accept it." Carefully, his fingers trailed across the edges of many papers until he saw the desired one.

"Are you sure?"

"Believe me, I tried, but there is nothing we can do. Only one person can actually claim the theater for themselves, and I'm afraid this town has not heard from him in years." He said while softly pulling out the paper.

"I can't believe this. It's the famous Goldsworthy Theater! And now it's going to be …"

"They're keeping the name, Clare. That's the one thing I actually fought for." He turned around back to the girl sitting on the chair.

"It still doesn't make it right to take away a precious memorable sight. Even if it collects dust."

"My sentiments exactly, but you know what they say." The defeated principal walked up to Clare and handed her a blank sheet with lines. "If you can't beat them…" Taking the paper, and examining it more, Clare was able to read the print on the top center of the paper.

Degrassi Theater Drama Group.
SIGN UP SHEET

Clare was refusing to sign the paper, even with the principal's consent. She didn't like the idea of the 'new' theater being popular without the Goldsworthy family, it didn't seem right. Secretly Clare was hoping no one would sign up, so that the school board wouldn't want it, thus leaving it alone. She was hopeful, but she knew it wasn't the case. Students like Jenna Middleton have been suggesting an outlet for their 'talents' for some time. It was bound to have a few supporters.

The bell rang, interrupting her train of thought. Clare looked up at the sound and was disappointed from the lack of progress she developed out of the talk. Saying her goodbye to Mr. Simpson, she walked out of the office with a heavy heart. The plans were set in stone, and she couldn't fight the system, she was just one girl. One girl. Including one boy who was too afraid to leave his home. Not much of a dream team to take on the school.

Plans tried to formulate in her mind, but all conclusions turned into disasters. The only logical action to take was to hide.

If there was just some way Eli could be sheltered, things wouldn't be so bad.

But how is that possible?


Eli

Waiting anxiously for the arrival of Clare, Eli was walking around the theater. Passing by every little trinket and trying to memorize everything, it was hard to believe someone was going to take it all away.

He questioned what was to become of all his possessions. Would they save it? Or just throw it all away in the trash? The very thought of his items in the trash scared him, and he couldn't do anything about it. Absolutely nothing. Going up the stairs, he recalled the little theater doll house. The little theater replica that held all the dolls that he once made. Sighing, the boy opened the theater and saw all of his miniature figures were exactly where he left them. Parents at the balcony, Julia sitting in the audience, and him and Clare still holding hands.

He couldn't just give up everything he worked for. It was unfair. To think that his parents worked hard for the theater. To think that it was supposed to be his at one point. To think that society was going to take it all away.

Slamming his hands on the table, the furniture started to shake, making some tiny objects fall from the miniature theater house.

"Shit." Eli scrambled to collect the small objects in his hand. After grabbing them all, he looked around the doll house to try and see where each piece belonged in. In the middle of organizing, he saw that his parents were also moved, and the Eli doll rolled to the backstage far away from Clare. Rubbing his hand across his face, he placed his parents back, and was about to grab the little version of himself until he saw something unfamiliar. It was a door.

That door was within one of the top dressing rooms; surprisingly, it was the room Clare had picked out. He remembered the first night he messed around with the smaller scale of the theater, he was curious about the mysterious door. He saw that there was a lower level, but it confused him how it would even link to the dressing room. It was like it defied logic. Was there even a door like that?

Rushing out of the room, he made his way to that one specific dressing room. Once there, confusion struck him. There was no other door! Looking around, and moving furniture, he stood dumbfounded.

"Fuck, I don't have time for this!" With that he punched a wall. There was a faint noise that was created, and it sounded hollow. Hope filled in his heart, he felt the wall paper under his fingertips, and started clawing away the thin material, revealing a wooden material. Upon scraping away more and more paper, he saw the image start to clear up. It was the hidden door.

With nothing else to do, the desperate teenage boy pulled the handles to the door and forced it open. The boy held bright eyes at the sight in front of him.


Clare

Her walks to the theater had become more enjoyable due to the warm weather, a sure sign of summer approaching. While normally the idea of summer left her somewhat happy, the opposite could be said about it this year. Like Mr. Simpson said, construction plans were already in the process and scheduled in two weeks. Clare could kiss her hideout goodbye; she only hoped that she didn't have to leave her best friend behind as well.

Stepping on the stairs of the front entrance, Clare just stood there in a defeated manner.

Out of nowhere one of the double doors creaked open, and before Clare could question anything, a hand came out and grabbed her small wrist and dragged her inside the theater. At first she was terrified at the surprise and automatically held her breath. The theater was pitch black, even in daylight. The person who forced her in could be heard walking over to the door and locking it shut. Steps could then be heard approaching her from somewhere.

"Eli, this is really starting to freak me out now."

She felt a slight shiver as she felt hands creep their way to her shoulders, and breathing down her neck. "Why? You know it's me…"

"Just because I know it's you doesn't mean I feel any better." She said with a joking tone.

"And here I thought you actually liked me." He put his face in her hair, and took a deep breath. It was a strange having him do the action, but at the same time she thought it was sort of sweet. Clare's heart was racing as his lips brushed against her ear. "I missed you Edwards."

Clare blushed and had a little smirk on her face. "I've only been gone for two days, how could you possibly miss me?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm used to you." His arms moved to her waist and just hugged her, keeping his chin resting on her shoulders. "Your laugh…" He started to sway his body back and forth, making Clare do the same. "Your wit, your smile, your very presence…"

Clare was caught in the moment, as she started to felt a chaste kiss on her cheek from the boy that was holding her. Seeing no complaints from the young girl, Eli took the opportunity to leave another kiss. And then another, and another, trailing down her jaw. He was gentle and sweet as he reached her smooth neck, and continued to leave more kisses. Much like the last time they met, he could not believe what he was doing, it all felt so natural, and so right. It was impossible for him to describe the full amount of attraction he had for her.

Clare could say the same thing. Normally with KC, she would have never allowed this, but with him it felt easier. She didn't really know why, but the butterflies in her stomach told her so. She didn't even care that they weren't even official, and that she was letting herself go farther than usual with a guy. In a way it was as if she wasn't herself when she was with him.

It's like I'm desperate for his affection…

"No, Eli stop." Shaking herself from his hold, she turned around to try and see him through the darkness.

"What? Did I do something wrong?" His voice emphasized worry. "I'm sorry. I-"

Clare put her hands to her forehead trying to calm herself. "No, it's not you." She then mentally chuckled at the cliché she was going to make. "It's me."

Staying silent, Eli kept to himself as his jaw clenched. In his mind, he knew this was going to happen. She was rejecting him. He expected it, but at the same time he thought it wasn't going to happen, he thought it might have been different with her. Guess not.

A hand gently touched her cheek. "I'm a teenage boy who lives in a theater because of some fears from the past. To top it off, I happen to fall head over heels for a girl that is compassionate, sweet, and beautiful." Her cheeks heated up in flattery, and he could feel the warmth under his fingertips. "How the fuck can you say I'm not the problem?" Letting her go, the sudden squeaking of shoes could be heard in the room. He was exiting the lobby.

"Eli! I do like you." She reached out for any part of him in the darkness. Her fingertips sensed nothing, but her ears heard the sudden halt of his footsteps. "Whether or not it's the romantic type of emotion what confuses me." A long pause filled the air. For the first time in a while, the atmosphere was awkward for the two. To break the silence she tried explaining herself. "When I broke up with KC, I felt horrible and you know it. Even before he cheated, I felt like I was never enough for him, or anything special for that matter. The first opportunity he got, he cheated on me." Clare's head sunk lower as past feeling resurface. "I was crushed after that. To make myself feel better, I might have grown more attached to you than usual. You might be a rebound, but at the same time I don't think you are…"

"Then what does that mean for us?" Eli mentioned with a stutter meshed into his words.

Clare had no idea herself, she knew that they weren't meant to be together at that moment. Things were too chaotic for them; there was not time to put a relationship on top of that. Especially with the little fact that he still is afraid to mention his secrets to her, things just didn't fit right at the moment. "I think, we shouldn't rush into things."

"If we don't try anything, then how would you know?"

Clare blushed to hear his persistence. "Well, maybe we should just wait until I'm really over my break up. Then we could talk about this."

"How long would that take?"

"I don't know…" Quietly biting her lip, she stood. "Either way, I'm sure that our 'status' isn't the worst of our problems." She stated. Averting her direction to the darkness she spoke with a depressing tone. "They're planning remodeling in two weeks. We have to figure something out for you."

She was engulfed in complete darkness, and did not hear one response from him. "Eli, did you hear me? We don't have time to mess around."

"Clare I don't care about that. I already have a plan." This shocked her from her stance. How could he not be worried about the situation? "I just want to know how long it will take to-"

"What do you mean you have a plan? Eli, please don't tell me your going to scare them off. I have a feeling Mrs. Torres would not run off due to a hologram." Clare said while interrupting his sentence.

"I'm not, I'm planning to play underground."

"I don't follow."

"That lady came back on Saturday with a couple of guys in suits, I heard them say that this place has about seven dressing rooms, a lobby, theater, etc."

"And?"

"The blue prints they had were wrong there's another room no one knows about. "

"Don't tell me your plan is to live in a hidden room! Eli, living in a theater is one thing, but in a tiny room? It's not healthy!"

"First of all, it's not tiny. I have no idea why the Goldsworthy parents never bothered to tell anyone, but it looks like an old bomb shelter. Second, it's not like I have any other choice. And third, you haven't answered my question. How long will it take for you to get over your ex?"

Worried out her mind, Clare continued to avoid the question he was so obsessed with her answering. "Eli, they're going to be working in this place for months, they are bound to find you, and even if they don't how could you survive in there?"

"They won't find me. Hell, it took me years to barely find it now! No way are they going to bother me. As for living arrangements? It's a bomb shelter, it has the essential. Besides, I'll pack. It's like a trip or something. Plus, it will give you that space from me to clear your head."

"I still don't think this is a good idea."

"It's a perfect idea."

"You can't-"

"I will-"

"You shouldn't-"

"Still gonna do it-"

"Think about this logically-"

"Lalala, not going to listen.-"

"You are so arrogant!"

"And yet you're the one trying to deny any feelings towards me. Interesting…"

"Ugh! Alright. Do what you want."

"Good to know you approve." Even through dim lighting, she could tell he was smirking at her. It was just something she could tell was one of his characteristics.

Clare felt a sting in her persona. To think that her best friend was going to be trapped in a smaller room, without any contact. Sure, that was what his life style consisted of before she came along, but it hurt to know that he was turning back to that.

"Just don't go more mental than you already are, in there."

"I can't promise you that."


Entering the Edward's house, Clare tip-toed on the wooden floors, scared to awaken her parents. Much to her displeasure, the house was lit, and two adults were waiting patiently on the couch, much like the last time she came home late. It would seem as if she wasn't able to get away with anything anymore.

"Clare. Why are you so late?" Stated the father, with a stern voice.

Timidly, Clare gripped her wrists in fear. "I was caught up in some school work. I'm sorry I couldn't inform you." The father nodded his head, accepting the excuse and turned his attention back to the newspaper that was on his lap.

On the other side of the sofa, Mrs. Edward's eyes were squinting at her daughter in curiosity. Getting up from her seat, she approached her daughter. Clare was frightened at the serious grim face her mother had, and was shaking at the figure coming closer to her.

"Clare Edwards." The mother said rather loud. With two slim fingers, she got a hold of her daughter's ears and tightened it. "Is that a hickey I see?"

Clare's face went dead pale. You have got to be kidding me…

Randall's head swiftly turned to her direction in complete shock. Standing up, he marched over to his daughter and tilted her head to examine her exposed neck. Like his wife had mentioned earlier, there was a discoloration on her pale neck. His face turned slightly red. "Young lady, I can't believe you lied to us."

"No, I- I didn't, I mean I can expla-"

"Randall. Who cares about her lying, she was with a boy. Unsupervised!" The woman pressed her fingers tighter on Clare's reddened ear. "First you run off, then you lie to us about what you are doing, and now you're with a boy we never approved of? What is going on with our little Clare!"

"Nothing! I-"

"The girl has too much freedom, Helen. I knew I should have picked her up from school today…"

"And why didn't you? Oh that's right, your boss just had to invite you to lunch." She released her hold on Clare and put her hands on her hip. "Because of your selfishness, we are losing Clare!"

"Don't start with me, Helen."

"Then where should I start!"

"What about you? You just had to have your happy hour didn't you?" Mr. Edwards spat back.

"I wouldn't if I didn't have to live with you!"

"I thought we were talking about Clare here!"

Both parents faced their daughter who had just stood in the middle of their little dispute. Seeing her worried big blue eyes, the two calmed their nerves and relaxed their tension. After reducing the negative vibes down, the duo stared at each other and knew the conclusion of their daughter's punishment.

"Two weeks."

Gasping, Clare pleaded with them. "Please not two weeks! Ground me the entire summer if you want, just don't ground me now."

"Your father and I think it's a just sentence, Clare."

"Please!"

"Don't fight us on this."

Hysterical, Clare's eyes darted between the two for any given excuse. "But! I'm graduating in two weeks-"

"It's not that big of a deal Clare, you're just going to another grade." Mentioned the father, who was retrieving his newspaper meanwhile the wife nodded in agreement.

"It might not be important to you, but to me it is!" The parents stared at their little girl. Clare knew she was lying through her teeth, what she hoped was that her acting was good enough to convince them.

"Fine. You're not grounded on that day, but now it's up to three weeks."


Beep Beep Beep

"Hello?"

"Alli?"

"Clare! How was your little reunion with Morty?"

"About that… you think you can write him a letter tomorrow?"

"What? Clare, last time I went there I lost a battle with a door, and confronted a scary old lady!"

"Please Alli, I need you to do this for me."

"Alright, but can I ask why? Did you get grounded again?"

"Yes. For three weeks this time."

"Three? Clare, what did you do this time?"

"…"

"Clare come on, don't leave me hanging here! What did you do?"

"I came home late, that's all."

"I don't buy it. Last time you were late, they gave you only two days. There must be more to it."

"…"

"Clare? Clare!"

"..."

"You're making me assume the worst right now!"

"Alright, I got a hickey."

Laughter was heard from the other end of the phone line. At the mean time, Clare was blushing from the reaction.

"Never expected Saint Clare to be tainted. You must really like this boy."

"Something along those lines…tell him I'll be able to see him before he leaves."

"Before he leaves? Where is he going?"

"He's going camping with his family. He'll be gone the whole summer."

"Aw, no steamy romantic meetings in the summer for Clare Edwards? Poor thing."

"Alli! Just write the letter!"

"Okay, okay. You are so lucky I'm the best girlfriend anyone could possibly have."

"I never thought anything differently."

"Alright. Well, if that is all Ms. Edwards, good night."

"Good night, Alli."

Click


A rather lengthy chapter. Honestly this chapter is pretty bland for me, just… BLEH. I admit I just dragged it out. Like a lot.

Main points to know about it though:

One of the reasons for Romeo and Juliet?- Somewhere in the beginning of the story, she mentioned how she didn't believe in falling in love rapidly. That Romeo was desperate to find someone else to feel loved. Aaand that's why Clare doesn't want to jump into another relationship.

Two- Clare's parents are becoming aware of her because of little signs (to them) that show her rebelling. My reasoning is Darcy. She was a wreck, and her parents were too distracted on fixing her that they didn't fight as much.

Three- I'm kind of hinting something with the Adam and Clare relationship. You'll just have to read further to find out what I'm talking about.

Four- Don't think that the bomb shelter was a last minute thing. If you go back to chapter... ok I am to lazy to find it, but if you look back, you will find a small little hint of it. :D

Now I have to say one more thing. This is technically the last chapter for the first half of my story. The next chapter is a quick overview of the summer, the chapter after that is the beginning of the second half. The second half is where the drama is set. When I mean drama, I mean we finally get to see Eli's past, how Adam and Fitz play a huge part in the story, and much much more. And who knows, maybe someone is going to die. *shrugs* I'm not entirely sure myself.

Review! It's almost time for the show to start :D