Starlight, Star Bright

By: dontwaitupxx

Chapter Twelve: Age Seventeen


-Friday-


It was prom night and the entirety of Degrassi High was buzzing with laughter and excitement that the night's festivities would bring. It was senior year, and despite all of the ups and downs and the struggles through life that Clare and Eli had endured, they were going to end their high school careers right with a night that neither of them were ever going to forget.

Jake and his father had swiftly relocated to the States following Jake's graduation (needless to say, he barely graduated). Clare hadn't heard from either of them since the situation the year prior, and quite frankly, she wasn't complaining. She would, however, be moving to the States herself. She practically screamed when she got her acceptance letter to New York University, and then screamed again when the financial aid letter came in saying that the university would pay for over half of her tuition. Her dreams of majoring in creative writing were actually coming true. As it turned out, many of her dreams were coming true that year.

Eli had applied for much smaller schools in New York City and was accepted to a few of them. He wasn't sure what he wanted his major to be, if he were quite frank, but he did know that he wanted Clare. Even though they would be in the same city as each other, they might as well have been miles apart from each other, considering how big and how many people resided in the Big Apple. However, they each knew that the other was going to be a simple subway ride away.

They were in it for the long run. Clare knew that Eli was planning on proposing to her – Adam had let the cat out of the bag weeks ago. Eli was just trying to find the perfect moment to do so. Clare, on her end, had been dropping hints like a dub-step remix drops the bass, and she knew that there was no doubt that he would be proposing extremely soon.

It was funny, in a way. Her mom and Cece had been basically planning hers and Eli's marriage since they were children. Of course they were best friends and then found love in each other, but their parents only ever joked about the marriage; they never thought that it would actually happen.

Oh, how teenagers had a nag for proving grown-ups wrong.

And sure, it was a little soon. They were only seventeen, after all. It was the May of their senior year and they were so close to graduating that they could taste it. But what came after? After you have spent your entire life in the same town, with the same neighbors, with the same friends, and in the same school system, what do you do? Going out of the country for school was going to change both Clare's and Eli's life for good or for bad, or both. Such a drastic change, moving from a small, suburban town with quite the history, to a huge, urban city, not to mention one of the major cities in the entire world, and given a clean slate, could surely make or break them. Their relationship. The two of them were ready for that change. They were ready to take the risks, leave behind everything and everyone to start their lives together.

Clare was sure that they wouldn't get married until after they graduated from their undergraduate schools. That's why these next four years of her life would truly be the test of time. But hadn't they already passed that test? If eleven years together meant nothing, then surely they wouldn't last four more years. Eleven years meant everything to them. What's another four more years?

Clare and Alli had gone prom dress shopping, and boy, did Alli look stunning in her hot pink dress. Then again, she always wore pink, but it was like her trademark. She practically had to wear pink. Clare found herself in a purple lilac dress, which truly was out of the ordinary for her, considering that her favorite color was a light blue. She had put on the lilac dress just to appease Alli, since she insisted that it would go amazing with her skin tone and eyes.

And when Clare looked at herself for the first time with that dress on, she glowed. She knew then that it was the dress for her, and quickly shot a text to Eli with the change of plans, since prior to she was so adamant on wearing light blue. She could have only hoped that he hadn't bought his tie and the corsages yet.

So she got the lilac dress with shoes to match, along with her friendship bracelet that she had gotten from Eli for her ninth birthday, and had a gut feeling about that night. She knew about the rumors that went around about her and Jake from last year, and she ignored them, and her and Eli went on their happy way through senior year, not letting anything or anyone stop them. This night was all about them, not the rest of Degrassi. Sure, they could make their nights' special at the prom, and they could make it a night to remember, but when it came down to it, the rest of Degrassi didn't matter to the love-struck couple.

They were going to have pictures, and then go to dinner with their prom group. Their group consisted of themselves, Alli and Drew, and Adam and Fiona, and everyone was so damn happy that Adam got up the nerves to ask Fiona to prom, because they were way too cute to be legal. Eli managed to convince everyone to have prom pictures take place in the little clearing that Eli had taken Clare to on their first actual date, all the while managing to keep the pictures destination a secret from Clare. When they had arrived outside the woods where the clearing was at, Clare knew exactly where she was, but she didn't actually think that they were going to get their prom pictures where she had had her first kiss with Eli. To say she was elated would be an understatement.

In the last three years since their first date, a small stone cobble pathway had been made through the woods, and the clearing in the woods had been turned into some neighborhood park. Benches were put in and trashcans and a small picnic area over by a tree was there when they arrived, but Clare still remembered the giddiness that the place had for her. As if on cue, Eli came up to her from behind and held her close, putting a big one on her cheek. She couldn't help but laugh; he always found a way to make her laugh.

The group congregated in the center where a cedar, higher than the rest, spread like a plane, fast by a brook, and provided the perfect background scenery for pictures. As the pictures were being took, Clare couldn't help but notice out of the corner of her eyes that Cece and Bullfrog were smiling in a way that suggested that they knew something that perhaps she or other people didn't know. Clare's stomach did a somersault.

He was going to propose.

He was going to propose.

Eli. Was going. To Propose.

She could have died a happy life right there.

However, Eli did not propose right there in the field, even though it would have had extremely strong connotation for the both of them. They sat at dinner with the other two couples and even after all was eaten and they stood up to go to the prom, Eli did not propose there.

It was during the final couple's song of the night. The last song of the night, in fact. Eli was holding Clare close as they rocked back and forth to the harmonious music that Eli whispered in her ear, "You mean everything to me."

"Right back at ya, Elijah!" Clare said, nuzzling his nose with her own.

Eli smirked, "Clare, I wanted to ask you..."

Butterflies erupted from her stomach, up her throat and into her mouth that produced the words, "What is it?"

Eli bit his lip, before meeting her eyes and saying, "What's your favorite color?"

Clare inwardly sighed. He was toying with her, "Blue, you know that!"

Eli laughed, "Oh good, cause you know, I just wanted to make sure I got it right."

Eli reached into his right hand pocket, and, holding her gaze, pulled out a diamond right, surrounded by little tiny sapphires. Clare gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth as Eli separated himself from her and went down on one knee, holding the ring between two fingers, "Clara Diana Edwards, would you do me the most humble honor of marrying me?"

She was laughing. She was crying and laughing and smiling so brightly and hysterically that it took a couple of seconds for her to exclaim "yes", so loudly, so gladly, that everyone in the gymnasium of Degrassi High looked over and saw Eli on his knee and Clare practically jumping up and down and knew exactly what had just happened. Instantly, the crowd of students began clapping and cheering for the newly engaged couple. A few of the teachers that weren't familiar with their relationship shook their heads and silently judged the young couple, but they didn't care. They had been best friends since they were six years old, and they knew that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

The prom DJ, being quite moved by this prom spectacle, leaned into the microphone and announced one more song for all the couples out there, and "especially this one, right here. You don't find love like that everyday, now do you?"

Eli slid the ring on her ring finger and stood up, marveling in his new fiancée. Clare closed the gap between them and kissed him, with his face in her hands. He had his arms wrapped around her, and from all around them, more cheering induced.

It really was their prom. It was the best way that they could have ended their high school careers, and it truly was a night that neither of them would ever forget.


-Sunday-


Clare, as valedictorian, was given the opportunity to give the "turning of the tassels" speech at the Degrassi High graduation. She, just like how Julie Andrews was the only Tony Award nominee to turn down her nomination, was the first valedictorian of Degrassi High to turn down giving the speech. She stood on stage with the top ten while Alli, the salutatorian, gave the speech. Personally, Clare didn't think herself to be representative of her entire graduating class, and she believed that Alli was a much better candidate to deliver that speech, and to reach out to more students than Clare would be able to.

Eli had come out number nine in his class, and thus stood on the stage with her on the clear other side. The rest of her class stood in the first few rows of chairs on the lawn outside of Degrassi High and perpendicular to De Grassi Street, having already walked across the stage to receive their diplomas. It was a tranquil day outside, the sun shining, birds chirping. Clare could scan the audience and find her mom sitting next to Cece and Bullfrog.

And then a man caught her eyes. A man standing in the way back by a tree. She knew that he looked familiar, but she couldn't place it. Naturally, Alli ended her speech with a, "Let's all change the positions of our tassels to signify that each one of us has completed their secondary education! Congratulations to the graduates of Degrassi High!"

Graduation hats were thrown in the air by some, more students cheered. The parents were clapping and crying, and Clare suddenly found herself in the arms of Eli, being swept off her feet and kissed. They had done it. They finally had graduated high school. But what came next? College. The States. They had an entirely unpredictable future ahead of them. Well, that's how they both tended to be.

Eli broke apart from her and laughed, "Time for the rest of our lives!"

They walked over to where Clare's mom and Eli's parents were standing, Cece nearly squealing with glee and a few tears down Clare's mom's face. Clare immediately went to hug her mom, grinning as she saw her bracelet from Eli on her right wrist and her engagement ring on her left hand. Over her mom's shoulder, she saw the man again, standing over by the tree, staring right at her. He began to walk over.

He looked incredibly familiar, Clare knew that it was just on the tip of her tongue. It wasn't until she ended her hug with her mother that the man was right behind them, cleared his throat and said, "Clara."

Startled, Clare's mom turned around and stared, blank face, "Randall, what are you doing here?"

Randal.

Randal.

Randal.

Her father.

She gripped Eli's arm and he went around to hold her steady, as she was staring at him like a deer in headlights. Her father tried to come in for a hug but Clare shied back, her fears of this man coming back from the depths of her mind. How long had it been since she had last seen this man? Nine years? She was eight when he left and never came back. She was nine when he sent her the only birthday card she would receive from the man.

"Clara… it's good to see you," Her father said, keeping his distance.

Clare reiterated the question, "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you graduate… you never did call me… sweetheart," He tried coming in to hug her.

"Don't touch me!" Clare all but screamed, Eli moving in as though to intimidate him.

"Clara-"

"It's Clare now, thank you," Clare said shortly, "But you wouldn't have known that, would you, considering that you left and didn't return."

"I know sweetheart, and I'm so sorry-"

"Why did you just leave us like that?" Clare finally screamed, tears rolling down her face. Any realization she had of her being in a public place was gone. People were staring. She didn't care.

"Why would you do that?" Clare whispered, energy drained from her, "You know nothing about me. You have been gone for the last nine years. You've missed nine birthdays. You've missed me growing up. I'm engaged now – huh – would you have ever known about that? Would you have ever cared? I have barely seen Darcy in four years, aside from a few phone calls and a letter or two. I never called you because I didn't want to have you in my life. Had you have not left mom wouldn't have remarried. I wouldn't have gotten a stepbrother. I wouldn't have been…" She trailed off, sobbing, words hanging in the air like stars.

When it came down to it, everything truly could have been traced back to the divorce. Her name change, her mother's remarriage, her situation with Jake… all of it.

She was in Eli's arms, sobbing. She heard, "I'm sorry Clara… Clare," and then he was gone. As quickly as he had came. If she pretended, she could imagine that he was never here. But he was. He had the audacity to come to her graduation after not seeing her in nine years. Nine years where she could say that the only good thing that came out of it was getting Eli.

It was around four pm. They had been planning on going to an early dinner, but Clare's mom suggested they put it off for a late dinner, seeing as how Clare was doing. They had discarded their caps and gowns in the car. Eli pulled her to the side once they reached her house, "Let's get some hot chocolate."

She nodded. Hot chocolate sounded splendid. They went straight from the outside of her house to Eli's hearse, both piling in. They headed towards The Dot, driving in silence for the first part of the ride.

"That was a really brave thing you did back there, you know," Eli said as he drove.

Clare snorted, "I don't see how that could be defined as brave."

"Well, you stood your ground and knew what you wanted. Or rather, what you didn't want. You knew that you didn't want him. That you didn't want him in your life-"

"Eli, for once, that's where you're completely wrong," Clare said, pushing her hair back, "I wish that he could have been there for me in these past few years. I wish so hard that he was there and that Jake and his father weren't. Clearly, there's no way to change the way things have happened, but I wanted… I wanted him to feel the pain that I have felt in the last few years. I want him in my life… But it's too late for that now, now is it?"

Eli pulled into a parking spot outside of The Dot. He turned the ignition and turned towards her, really looking at her, "You are one of the most extraordinary people that I know. I love you Clare."

Clare couldn't help but laugh, "I love you too… isn't it funny how you have been in my life for more years than my own father? I've known you for almost twelve years. I mean, how messed up is that?"

"Well," Eli went suave, "I'm a pretty messed up guy."

"Shut up," He did with a kiss.

They both left their car to get their hot chocolate, only to find that the door was locked. The Dot was closed due to graduation. How convenient.


They went to the grocery store to get some powdered hot chocolate. In line to check out, Clare couldn't help but giggle.

"Elijah, you came on my radar for the first time here almost twelve years ago." Clare giggled.

Eli sighed, "Ah yes, I remember. You were shy and I was shy and our mothers knew each other and basically arranged our wedding that day!"

"It's funny," Clare said, grabbing the bag with the hot chocolate and heading towards the door, "how things were going to turn out."

"Don't get corny on me, Edwards!" Eli laughed.

"Your fault – you thought it would be a good idea to marry me!" Clare laughed, running towards the car, Eli running fast behind her, grabbing her around the waist and twirling her in the air.

The sun was just beginning to set.


Clare's mother decided on home cooking for them that night, and invited over Eli's parents to eat with them. Dinner would be late, around nine o'clock. Both Eli and Clare were out on a blanket in the backyard, looking up at the stars beginning to appear. The sky was a beautiful dark blue and grey, the sun's rays nearly gone, and the stars were clearly visible in the cloudless sky. Eli was holding her around the waist. Clare was playing with his belly button.

"It's these kind of nights that make me realize just how much of a lucky guy I am, Clare Edwards."

"It's times like these when I realize just how weird outie belly buttons are," Clare said in response.

"Clare, that's just weird."

"You're just weird."

"You're the one that proposed."

"A genius idea on my part if I do say so myself."

"Cocky."

"Beautiful."

"I know."

He kissed her.

It would be nights like these that would be the most memorable of their relationship. Nights like their first date, chasing each other that recess, their first sleepover – memories that would be with them forever.

Clare broke the kiss, looked up at the sky, and smiled:

Starlight, Star Bright,
The brightest star in front of me tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
I have all the wishes I've wished tonight.

The brightest star would be Eli. He had always been there for her, day and night. He always shined bright and showed her the way. He was the path that she wanted to take. She had silently prayed that Eli would be her friend forever, back when she had first met him, and that nothing would ever come between them. Because forever is a bound agreement that truly means forever.


-End of Chapter Twelve-

Fin