I Do Not Own DeGrassi

Ch.14 Breakdown

(BIANCA)

Bianca was sitting at an outside picnic table at lunch, she didn't normally eat out here but Drew had come to eat lunch with her before going to work. Owen had joined them as well, usually he ate with his hockey team but he seemed to be annoyed with them today. She didn't mind though, she and Owen had been friends since fifth grade and Drew and Owen had become friends when they were both on the football team. Football being the current topic of conversation, a topic Bianca had no interest in. She was absentmindedly picking her nails and people watching when something caught her eye. Clare was walking across to the edge of the parking lot to where a small orange car, that kinda reminded her of her own car, was parked. Leaning against said car was a tall guy wearing a baseball cap. He had dark hair and brooding face. He was at least five years older than Clare and he looked like he could be a brooding vampire from one of Clare's fan fictions.

Bianca elbowed Drew lightly to get him to stop talking, he looked at Bianca and she pointed toward Clare. Drew and Owen followed Bianca's gaze and her pointing in time to see Clare walk right up to the guy.

"That's not one of her Stepbrothers is it?" Owen asked.

"No he's too old, Adam said they were 17." Bianca said.

"So who is he then?" Owen asked and they watched as the guy cupped her chin in his fingers forcing her to look at him.

"No idea," Drew said, "I've never seen him before and I'm pretty sure Adam's never mentioned him.

Bianca got up from the table, quickly followed by Drew and Owen they had to know who this person was.

(CLARE)

She walked over to him, looking at her feet the whole way, she stopped when she could see his boots next to her ballet flats. "What are you doing here?" She asked quietly.

"Well someone wasn't answering her phone or facerange messages, and since everyone else isn't in town at present I figured I'd come over on my lunch. We were all going crazy with no information." He informed her.

"Sorry I turned off my phone and haven't been on facerange in several days." She said still looking at her feet.

He stroked her bruised arms gently and she bit her lip and shifted her weight. He cupped her chin in his hand making her look him in the face, she still managed to not look him in the eye however. But she did see the look of horror that crossed his face when he took in her appearance for the first time.

"Fuck Clare!" He exclaimed still cupping her chin in his hand.

"It looks worse than it is really." She tried to assure him.

"I doubt that. How many more are there? Your arms and face are covered, how bad is the rest of you?" He asked his voice angry but concerned.

"Ummm it's...not good, my legs aren't very bruised but the rest of me...I have cuts on my back and welts from being whipped with a belt." She confessed slowly. Her voice was terribly low and he had to lean in close to hear her.

"Did he…were you…" He didn't want to ask the question.

"No not really…that is not…just ummm fingers." She said uncomfortably.

He let go of her chin and punched his car. "I'm going to kill him! Where is he?"

Clare jumped a little at the sudden outburst of anger. "They," She said quietly and he looked back at her, "My new stepbrothers did this."

"They're fucking dead when Spinner and Peter get in this weekend we're going to go rip their heads off, beat them to a bloody pulp and castrate them for even thinking about doing this to you." He was beyond livid.

Clare grabbed his now swelling hand, "That's sweet Jay but you'll have to get in line, there's at least five other people that want to kill them."

"Fine they can come too." He said still seething.

"Their Mom took them to the police station to turn themselves in and I won't have to go anywhere near them again." Clare tried to assure him but he didn't look any happier so she changed the subject. "Did you say Peter and Spinner were coming out this weekend?"

"Yeah Emma too, and they all want to see you so expect a visit this weekend." Jay told her.

Clare smiled and suddenly felt an arm around her shoulders, pulling her tightly into another body, it was Eli. She could see Adam, Drew, Bianca and Owen as well. She realized she was still holding Jay's hand and let go of it. Eli and the others were looking at Jay with menacing looks and Clare realized that none of them knew who he was, and that their exchange must have looked curious to outside eyes. After all he was nearly seven years older than her, he had cupped her chin, she had held his hand and they were standing very close together.

Clare put her hand on Eli's chest and reached up to peck him on the cheek to get him to calm down, before he decided to punch Jay. "Everyone this is Jay he's a friend of Darcy's, my sister and he was just checking up on me." She explained, she felt Eli and saw the others relax a little.

"She wasn't answering her phone or facerange messages from any of us and we were worried. She insists it isn't necessary to kill those bastards but if you all decide to anyway give me a call, there's at least 3 more of us in town this weekend that'll gladly help." Jay told them looking directly at Eli.

"Thanks we'll be sure to let you know." Eli said a little tensely.

"Clare you got our numbers yes?" Jay asked ignoring Eli now, Clare nodded, "Good, we'll see you this weekend but if you wanna talk or just getaway for a bit before that give me a call."

"I will, thanks Jay." She said she slipped out of Eli's arms just enough to give Jay a hug. Jay got in his car, waved to Clare and drove away, the others looked at Clare. She of course was looking at the ground but could feel their eyes on her. "What?" She questioned.

"How old is he?" Adam asked.

"Ummm 24 now why?" She asked.

"Twenty four!" Eli exclaimed.

"For heaven's sake he's like an older brother we never dated get your minds out of the gutter will you?" She said a little peeved they all thought anything like that.

The whole group walked back into the school where they were met by Alli, Dave and Jenna. "What happened?" Alli asked looking at all their faces.

Clare sighed, "Jay came by to check on me, since I guess he and the others have been trying to reach me. And they all thought, well I'm not sure exactly what they thought but ummm it was interesting."

Alli looked thoughtful for a minute, "Jay which one is he?"

"You remember he's friends with Spinner and engaged to Manny." Clare said.

"Oh right the mechanic."

Clare nodded, "Yep and Emma, Spin and Peter will be out this weekend to visit he said."

"Wow they must really be worried, but it's good that they're coming to visit." Alli said.

The sudden sound of the bell made them all jump. "I need my backpack from the library." Clare said starting to walk away from the group.

Eli didn't let go of her. "You can't carry your backpack and I'm walking you to class."

Clare sighed, "Eli you're not really jealous of Jay are you?"

"No I just don't want you to carry your bag and hurt yourself. Is it so wrong to care about my girlfriend?" He asked and he sounded hurt.

"No of course not." Clare said reaching up to squeeze his hand that rested on his shoulder.

(ADAM)

School was out and he, Eli, Clare and Jake had just arrived at the Martin-Edwards home in Jake's truck. They all piled out and went inside, as soon as they entered they heard Mrs. Martin speaking with someone. The four of them stepped through the entry and saw Clare's Mom sitting at the kitchen table with a dark haired woman in a pants suit. Both women turned to look at the group but their eyes were focused on Clare.

"Clare honey this is Constable Callaghan she needs to talk to you about what happened with Ben and Trevor." Helen said in a calm voice.

All three boys looked at Clare she looked simultaneously terrified and furious, her face was beet red, her fists clenched, her mouth drawn into a straight line and her narrowed eyes had tears spilling out of them.

"NO!" She screamed in terribly shrill voice, "I am not talking I will not repeat it ever to anyone!" Clare ran upstairs very fast and they heard her door slam.

"Here's my card Mrs. Martin I'll come back at a later time." Constable Callaghan said.

Helen thanked her and she left and Helen and the boys went upstairs, Helen tried to open Clare's bedroom door but it was locked, so she began knocking. "Clare open the door we need to talk about this."

"No I'm not talking to you or anyone leave me alone all of you!" Clare yelled from the other side of the door, and they could hear her crying.

"Clare…"

"Go away Mom just leave me alone!" Clare sounded like she was nearly in hysterics.

Helen sighed and looked at the three boys, "I'm going to talk to a lawyer friend of mine please try and talk to her."

Adam nodded as did Eli and Jake, Helen smiled weakly and went down the stairs, grabbing her purse by the door and left. Adam knocked on Clare's bedroom door.

"Clare it's just us, your Mom and the Constable left." Adam said in a calm soothing voice.

"Go away I don't want to talk just leave me alone!" She screamed.

"Clare you don't have to talk just open the door." Eli tried.

"No just leave me alone, all of you! None of you understand, just leave me alone! Eli and Adam go home, go sleep in your own bed." Clare was getting more and more hysterical.

"Clare you know we're not going to do that. Adam and I will stay here as long as you need us. We…" Eli was cut off by Clare screaming again.

"I don't need you Eli! I don't need anyone I just need to be left alone. Why won't everyone just leave me alone?!" Clare screamed and then there was the sudden and very loud sound of breaking glass.

"CLARE?" Jake yelled banging on the door.

"Clare what was that are you okay?" Adam yelled through the door terrified about that she was doing in there.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Clare screamed back in reply.

"Adam can I see your phone?" Eli asked. Adam handed his phone to his best friend without a second thought. Eli thumbed through it for a minute and then called someone, "Hey it's Eli, can you come to Clare's? She's hysterical she won't talk to any of us, she says we don't understand but she might talk to you, you're the only one who can even begin to grasp what she went through." Eli was silent for a minute as the person replied, and then said, "Okay thanks and please hurry we heard breaking glass and I'm afraid she's going to hurt herself."

Eli hung up and gave the phone back to Adam. Jake knocked on the door softly. "Clare we're going downstairs okay, we'll give you some space just please don't do anything stupid okay?"

There was no reply from behind the door but they could hear her crying. Adam looked at Eli and Jake, they all had about the same expression on their face. Adam sighed and went downstairs followed closely by Eli and Jake.

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