Check my page on the DeGrassi Saviors website for news on the sequels you all voted on last week.
Ch. 14 Run from the Truth
(CLARE)
Owen parks at school Tuesday morning and walks in with his arm around me while he scans the courtyard for any sign of Eli. Because Bryce and Eli came to the house last night Owen's been more on his guard since seeing them at the house. He also feels bad for threatening them and bringing them to the house. He spent most of the night telling me he was sorry and that he loves me. Tris walks with us, parting when we get to the foyer and his friends are on the steps. Owen walks me to my locker and leans against the bank of lockers while I get out my books. Then we go to his locker and find Drew and Bianca.
"What's wrong?" Bianca questions.
"Owen threatened Eli and Bryce yesterday and they came to the house last night," I tell them.
"So that thing you were doing yesterday was something we should have been worried about," Bianca comments.
"I wanted them to stay away from Clare," Owen shrugs.
"And that worked so well," Bianca responds rolling her eyes and Owen shoots her a look.
Owen gets his books and we hang out with Drew and Bianca until the bell. Owen and I both have parenting this period; Dallas is already at the table when we get into class. Since finals are next week we spend all of class reviewing for finals. After class Owen walks me to math class and we see Eli lurking near the lockers.
"I can call in sick to work tonight," Owen offers.
"No we need the money, besides I'll have the alarm and Fitz will hang out in the cottage with me until you get home. I'll be okay, he's just trying to scare you," I assert.
"Yeah well it's working, I don't trust him or Bryce at all," Owen replies.
I grip Owen's shirt and pull him down for a kiss before going into the room. Adam remarks about Owen's hypervigilance today so I explain it to him too. Dave and Connor come into class while I'm explaining and hear the last part of it. Math class is more review for finals next week, I do concentrate but finals are the least of my worries. After math is lunch, Adam and I walk outside to meet Owen and the others and we have lunch at The Dot. Owen and I stay at The Dot since we have a spare after lunch walking back to school just before class is going to start.
"Just stay away from Eli in auto shop please," I insist to Owen when he drops me off at broadcast and print production.
"He threatened my family," Owen growls in a low voice.
"And threatening him back accomplishes nothing Owen, or do you not remember Eli's response to Fitz's threats and how that turned out?" I point out and Owen's face drops a little. "Be the bigger man, let him know you aren't scared, stand your ground but don't threaten back just ignore him," I advise kissing my husband again.
"Fine but I will protect you, if he or Bryce come near you I will protect you," Owen says and runs off when the bell rings.
"Has Eli bothered you at school today?" Bianca questions.
"No other than lurking around," I shake my head.
"What's Owen's shift tonight?" Adam questions.
"Five to ten, Fitz will hang out with me until Owen gets home and we have the alarm."
"Yeah well call us if you need more company," Bianca says and I smile at her.
Class is uneventful and we spend all of it working on our final projects. After class Adam and I walk to our lockers where Owen finds us. I wave to Adam and Owen tells me Tris is going to Maya's after school so it's just the two of us on the drive home. He unlocks the door and turns off the alarm, I sit on the bed and Owen gets a snack. With finals coming up we don't have much homework but we do need to study, we spend the afternoon studying and then Owen gets ready for work.
"You should go to the house, you'll eat dinner there anyway and maybe you should stay there until I get home from work. I know you're safe with Fitz but he can still barely move," Owen comments when he's about to leave.
"I won't let them scare me out of my own home, Fitz will be here and the alarm is on," I say in a resolute tone.
"They know where we live and they're psychotic, if anything were to happen to you I could never forgive myself," Owen begs sitting on the bed and taking my hands.
"I'll call Adam after dinner, I'm sure they'll come over until you get home but I'm waiting for you at our home," I insist.
"Okay but call Adam now and make sure they can come over, if they can't please wait at the house. When Fitz can fight again I won't be so worried about it," he tells me cupping my face and coupling our lips for a soft kiss.
I grab my phone from my purse and call Adam, he says the four of them will be over right after dinner. Owen is satisfied now and I get my shoes back on, grabbing my stuff and Owen walks me to the house. I kiss him goodbye and he leaves for work, I hate to admit it but the house is pretty empty and when Owen is gone I feel alone and spooked. Suddenly I feel like I'm being watched and Eli and Bryce are going to burst through the door. I know I'm being paranoid but I can't help it, and I think I have the right to be paranoid after all that's happened. Nick and Veronica are at work, Tris is at Maya's but Fitz is home so I go to his room and open the door without thinking. Fitz is asleep on the bed, no covers on him and he's clad only in boxers, which are askew and from this angle I can see everything! Either the sound of the door or my presence wakes Fitz up because his eyes open and my cheeks go red and hot.
"Sorry I…no one's home and…I didn't mean to…" I stumble over my words in utter embarrassment. It didn't bring up anything from the rape but of course all I ever saw of Bryce during the rape was his menacing expression in the moonlight, while Fitz was sleeping and I walked in on him so rather than trigger the rape it only served to embarrass me.
"It's fine, my meds knock me out," Fitz says sitting up a little and putting the blanket over his legs so that he's covered now. "What time is it?" He questions.
"About 4:30 Owen just left for work. Sorry I should have knocked, I wasn't even thinking it's just that Owen left and after last night I was feeling nervous be…"
"Clare," Fitz cuts off my nervous and flustered rambling, "it's fine. You came in because you were scared and saw a little more than you were expecting don't worry about it."
"Err yeah," I nod uncomfortably.
"I should get up anyway, I'll get dressed and we can watch TV in the living room, Veronica should be home soon," Fitz says.
"Yeah I'll just umm…I'll just go and find something on TV," I nod leaving the room.
My feelings of paranoia and anxious fear that Eli and Bryce are watching have been replaced by embarrassment. I sit on the sofa and flip channels on the TV until I find an old movie that looks like it's decent. It takes Fitz a while to come out and I hear him go into the washroom before he actually comes out to the living room. We watch the movie in silence while I study for my parenting final and Veronica gets home a little after 5:30, Nick comes in just after her and they start on dinner. Since Tris is staying at Maya's for dinner and getting dropped off by Katie afterward it's just the four of us tonight.
"Did you have any further problems with those boys?" Veronica asks as we begin eating.
"No," I shake my head.
"Good so how was everyone's day?" She questions.
"I spent the whole day in bed in and out sleep," Fitz replies.
"We're getting ready for finals at school," I respond.
She and Nick talk about work and after dinner I text Adam, he says they're on their way so Fitz and I clear our plates and walk to the cottage. I unlock the door and turn off the alarm, before we even go in I see Adam, Drew, Bianca and Dallas walking up. Since there are only so many places to sit in our living room Fitz takes the one armchair, Adam and I sit on the bed while Bianca and Drew sit at the breakfast counter and Dallas lies across the foot of our bed. Fitz is the only that doesn't need to study for finals so he plays on his phone while the rest of us study. Adam and I quiz each other in math, and then Dallas and I quiz each other for the parenting final. Owen gets home just after 10:30 and the Torres clan goes home. Fitz says goodnight and walks out with them to go to the house.
"How was work?" I ask as we start getting ready for bed.
"Good, pretty quiet. How was your night?"
"Fine," I answer quickly.
"Did Eli or Bryce try something?" Owen questions getting on the bed with his business leadership book.
"No but after you left I was feeling a little nervous and I went into Fitz's room."
"Okay, there's nothing wrong with that so why do you sound so nervous?" He inquires putting his fingers at my chin and making me look at him. I bite my lip and my cheeks go red as I remember walking into Fitz's room earlier.
"Because I didn't knock, Fitz was sleeping and I just walked in, he was only in boxers which were sort of askew and I could see everything," I admit to my husband, my cheeks get redder and redder as I speak and I expect Owen to yell. Instead my husband bursts out laughing and I cross my arms in a huff.
"You were worried about that? Did you think I'd be jealous or angry that you accidently saw Fitz?" Owen chuckles.
"Well frankly yeah," I respond.
"I'm not Eli Clare and it was an honest mistake. Are you okay? It didn't trigger anything from the rape did it?"
"No just lots of embarrassment," I reply.
"Well that's good, it's a big step and I know Fitz didn't care so stop worrying about it," Owen insists giving me a gentle kiss and opening his book to study.
"He didn't care at all, unless he was hiding his embarrassment," I remark.
"He didn't care, guys change in the locker room and compare," Owen says giving me a mental image I didn't need.
"That was information I could have gone without," I respond and he laughs again.
Owen spends a couple of hours studying, I study a little too but I did it all afternoon so I read instead. He finally turns off the light around one and kisses me goodnight, Owen falls asleep right away but when I can't get to sleep I move Owen's arm so that it's around me. Using his bicep as a pillow I'm able to fall asleep finally.
(OWEN)
"Go get yourself a nice dress," I tell Clare handing her a wad of cash.
"We shouldn't be spending money on a fancy dress I'll wear once to prom. I can wear the dress I wore at our wedding, maybe have it dyed a different color," Clare responds trying to give me back the money. Prom is next week and I was determined that Clare should get a new dress, after all we've been through that she would have a nice prom and a new dress for it, even if the dress is second hand.
"No that's your wedding dress not your prom dress, this all came from tips I've been saving them so you could get something for prom. It's just over $200 you can go to some of the second hand shops downtown, it's not much but you should have a nice dress for prom," I assert pushing the money back at her.
"I'll call Alli and Jenna," she finally grins before giving me a tender kiss. "Thanks Owen this was sweet, I love you," she grins.
"I love you too, I have to get to work set the alarm and I'll see you tonight," I tell her stealing another kiss before I leave.
"Hey Owen," Hector greets when I go into the employee lounge to stuff everything in my locker.
"Hey is it busy tonight?"
"Yeah really busy I've had to go behind the bar to get drinks a bunch of times. I'm on my break but I'll be back out there in 5," he says.
"Cool guess I should get out there," I nod grabbing an apron and going out to the floor.
I check in with Kelly our head waitress and then she tells me to clear table eight and see if anyone needs water. For a couple of hours I'm kept really busy just cleaning tables and getting drinks, it's Saturday night and we're packed. I go on my break and grab some food, when I get back from my break I'm asked to take a couple of milkshakes to table twelve. So I take the tray and walk to table twelve, and nearly dump the milkshakes on them.
"What are you two doing here?" I growl at Eli and Bryce but do it under my breath so no one else hears.
"We heard you were working here and had to come see," Bryce grins.
"Drink your milkshakes and get out," I demand in a low voice.
"We've already ordered dinner," Eli says as I put their milkshakes on the table.
"This is truly pathetic, how can you support Clare on the pathetic salary you make here?" Bryce taunts.
I have the urge to punch him but I choose to ignore him and walk back to the bar. Eli and Bryce sit there and eat slowly, they also watch me a lot, I do my best to ignore them but it isn't easy. At least I'm able to take my break now, I don't get a lunch however because I'm only working five hours.
"Oh bus boy," Eli calls in a taunting voice and I look over at him. "Clear our table," he orders and I walk back toward the kitchen to grab one of the tubs we use to get dirty dishes to the kitchen.
"Shouldn't you two be leaving?" I question as I begin clearing the table.
"I never said we were leaving we just wanted a clean table," Eli smirks.
"Look who just walked in, we'll definitely be staying now," Bryce grins and I look over to see Paula, the hostess, seating Clare, Alli and Jenna. I grab the tub of dirty dishes and leave their table half-cleared then rush over to Clare's table.
"You need to go," I say grabbing Clare's arm before she can sit down.
"Owen what's wrong with you?" She huffs in a scolding voice.
"Don't be embarrassed about your job Owen, K.C. worked as a dishwasher at Little Miss Steaks remember," Jenna speaks up.
"I'm not embarrassed but you three need to eat somewhere else," I insist again.
"Owen what is with you? Why are you insisting we go? Unless you do something at work you don't want me to see like hit on the waitresses," Clare says getting annoyed and angry.
"No I don't flirt with the waitresses and you should know that. Any other night would be fine but Eli and Bryce are here tonight," I tell her motioning to their table.
"Oh," she replies in a much softer tone and with a heavy sigh. "I want to eat here, I want to see where you work, I haven't seen it yet. I'm not going to let them scare me into leaving," she maintains getting out of my grasp and sitting down.
"Clare please, I don't want you all here together I can't stop them from coming to the table or following you out," I plead.
"If they come to the table we'll make them leave and if they follow us out I'll spray them with mace. I'm not backing down Owen, they're predators and predators can smell fear. If I leave now they'll know I'm afraid, we're staying and you should get back to work," she tells me grabbing my shirt and pulling me down for a kiss.
"Fine just be safe," I say when she breaks the kiss.
"Owen you better get back to work before the boss sees you," Kelly warns me. I leave Clare's table reluctantly and take the dirty dishes to the kitchen.
"I take it that's the wife?" Lee asks when I come out to the bar, he's one of our bartenders.
"Yeah that's Clare," I nod.
"She's hot," he says with a grin and I grin back. For about ten minutes everything is fine and then just as I finish clearing another table Eli calls me over again. "What?" I question through clenched teeth and he tips over his full water glass and half-full milkshake cup.
"Oops clean it up busboy," Eli says and Bryce starts laughing.
I really really really want to hit him but I refrain and use my towel to start mopping up the mess. Hector comes over with more towels and helps me clean it up, I stop when I see a pair of shoes that I know belong to Clare, looking up to see her standing there with a hand on her hip and angry look on her face.
"Eli that was rude, you can be such a jerk!" She hisses at him, I stand up and put myself between the two.
"Clare go back to your table I can handle this," I assert in a commanding tone.
"You should be so proud Clare, being married to a busboy it can't get much lower," Bryce teases in a very condescending tone. "You could still say yes to my offer," he tells her.
My fists clench and I'm ready to turn around and pop Bryce right in the mouth but Clare grabs my hand. She holds it tightly and looks at me with imploring eyes.
"Don't let them provoke you into getting fired," she whispers and then turns to look at Bryce. "I'm proud of Owen, at least he's a man, I can barely call either of you human let alone men," she says and walks back to her table. Hector and I quickly finish cleaning and take the dirty towels to the back.
"Alright who in the hell are those two asses?" Hector inquires.
"Clare's exes, well sort of. The one all in black is Clare's ex, they dated on and off for the last two years. The other one is…it's a long story, suffice it to say they're both psychotic and delight in pestering us. They're both mad in a way and I guess jealous that Clare's with me and we're married," I tell him.
"Yeah but she's pregnant with your kid, isn't she?"
"Yes the kid is mine but like I said those two are crazy," I reply.
"Well at least you're off in half an hour, not too much else can happen in half an hour," Hector comments.
"I certainly hope not," I say under my breath as we go back out to the dining room.
For the rest of my shift everything is actually fine, which is very surprising. Eli and Bryce remain at their table glaring at me, Clare and the girls leave when they're done eating and she blows me a kiss as she goes out the door. The last thing I do is a clear a table and Naomi, one of the waitresses, comes over to help me. She picks up the pitcher of beer that's still got maybe a glasses worth in it, trips and the beer ends up on my crotch along with Naomi or rather her breasts.
"Oh sorry Owen are you okay?"
"Yeah it's fine I'm off anyway," I reply helping her stand because she's still leaning over near my crotch.
"Such a gentleman, you know you really shouldn't be married at such a young age I mean aren't you ever tempted to stray?" Naomi asks in a cooing voice.
"Yeah sure I'm human but I love my wife and I'm not going to cheat on her," I respond as I go back to clearing the table.
"Well it's just not fair for one girl to have you all to herself," Naomi says taking a towel to my wet slacks.
"What are you doing?" I snap at her taking her hand away and then notice Eli and Bryce laughing.
I ignore them and take the dishes to the kitchen, when I come out Naomi is in the hall cleaning her breasts with a towel. I walk past her getting my stuff from the locker room and clock out. Walking out the back and find Naomi again, she's leaning on the wall and grins at me.
"I'm on my break," she tells me.
"Good for you I'm going home to my wife," I respond turning to walk to my car.
"We should hookup sometime," she comments following me.
"What part of married don't you understand?"
"Oh come on people cheat all the time, even married people. What your wife doesn't know won't hurt her," Naomi says.
We've reached my car now and I get the door, I get in and before I can close the door Naomi hops in and onto my lap! If that wasn't socking enough she's suddenly topless, not even a bra on, and then she kisses me! I'm totally stunned and yes I admit a little turned on, there's a half-naked girl on my lap kissing me I'm a guy I can't help it. When the shock wears off and I come back to my senses I push Naomi away and out of the car, without being too careful and she lands on the pavement with a thud.
"You crazy bitch what is wrong with you?! I'm married and I'm not going to cheat on Clare," I snarl and then I hear Eli and Bryce laughing from nearby.
"Wait until Clare finds out," Eli smirks.
"YOU FUCKERS BETTER NOT SAY ANYTHING," I yell trying to get to them but they take off running and Naomi blocks my path. "Get dressed and get back to work, you ever pull something like that again I'll go to management," I tell Naomi getting into my car, slamming the door and speeding off to get home, I do make sure not to run over Naomi however.
I race home worried that Eli and Bryce are already there and telling Clare I cheated on her. I park and run inside not even remembering to lock the car. I run to the cottage and hear voices inside, trying to open the door but it's locked. I begin to fumble with my keys but then Fitz opens the door giving me a look for my panic probably.
"Everything okay Owen?" He questions stepping aside so I can come in.
"Have Eli and Bryce been here?" I inquire looking at Clare who's sitting on the bed.
"No I haven't seen them since I left your work," she says squeezing her eyebrows together in confusion.
"They haven't called you are anything?"
"No, Owen what's going on?" She asks as her voice takes on a worried tone.
"Nothing, nothing I just was worried after the restaurant," I reply.
"Yeah she was just telling me about that, Alli and Jenna dropped her off about half an hour ago, I was hanging out to be safe but now that you're home I think I'll go to bed. Goodnight Clare, night Owen," Fitz says walking to the door again. We say goodnight and I lock the door behind him.
"I'm beat I'm going to get ready for bed," I tell Clare kissing her gently and walk back to the washroom. While I'm brushing my teeth I hear Clare's text sound go off.
"Owen," she calls in a slightly angry voice and I hear her walking back to the washroom. I spit and rinse my toothbrush opening the door to see Clare holding her phone up. On it is a picture of me and Naomi and she's drying my crotch. "What is this?" Clare asks.
"She was helping me clear a table and she tripped spilling beer on me and her. Who sent it?" I question.
"I don't know it came from an unknown number," she replies.
"It had to be Eli or Bryce they must have taken a picture. She spilled beer and she was cleaning it up, I pushed her away from me," I assure Clare.
"Sorry I shouldn't have doubted you," she apologizes giving me a tender kiss.
"Just don't let it happen again," I tease her.
She giggles and goes into the washroom closing the door; I go into the living room/our bedroom and strip to my boxers getting in bed. I hear the water in the washroom and then a moment later the washroom door opens and Clare comes storming out.
"That's all that happened huh? THEN WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" She shrieks and throws her phone at me! I duck and it hits the pillow next to me, I pick it up to see not a picture but a video of Naomi kissing me on my lap, in my car and topless.
"Clare this isn't what it looks like," I try but she's already grabbing her keys and running out the door. "Clare wait," I call after her trying to get out of bed. I trip on the blankets and by the time I run outside Clare is already in the car and she's locked the door. "Clare she jumped in the car a…"
"Don't even bother," Clare snaps rolling down the window, "I found the souvenirs she left behind you pig!"
Clare throws something at me through the window and then peels out, she drives away fast and I'm left standing in the driveway in my boxers. I don't know who sent her those but I'm sure Eli and Bryce had something to do with it. I'm going to kill them but first I need to find my wife. I run back inside picking up the stuff Clare threw at me and put on jeans and t-shirt then send a group text to Alli and Adam asking them to tell me if Clare shows up. I doubt she'd go to her mom's and Alli and Adam's are the only two places I can think she'd go. I look at what Clare threw at me from the car; one is a red lace bra that is too small to be Clare's. The other is a napkin from the restaurant with a lipstick kiss on it and Had fun tonight let's do it again sometime is written under the lipstick kiss. Naomi must have put them there when she hopped on my lap. I growl angrily as I start getting my shoes on, grabbing my wallet and keys and my text sound goes off.
Alli: Clare's at my place in tears, you better have a damn good explanation.
Owen: I'm on my way don't let her leave, it's all a mistake.
I put my phone in my pocket and leave the cottage, but not before turning on the alarm and locking the door. I'm not taking any chances that Eli and Bryce will show up and be here when we get back. Then I go to the house, unlocking the back door and going to Fitz's room, my old room, the light is on under the door so I knock lightly and Fitz calls to come in.
"So you two were having a fight," Fitz remarks.
"It's a long story that ends with me killing Eli and Bryce, Clare took my car and went to Alli's can I borrow yours I have to talk to her," I request.
"Yeah sure my keys are on the desk," he says.
"Thanks," I reply taking the keys.
"Good luck," Fitz calls as I close his door.
I go outside and get in Fitz's car driving to Alli's house; I park outside and ring the bell, Mr. Bhandari answers.
"I'd like to see my wife Sir."
"I'm sorry Owen Clare does not wish to see you and it's very late. You should go home and rest, you can talk to Clare tomorrow when you've both calmed down," he tells me.
"No I need to see her now, I won't leave until I talk to her," I assert.
"She's in tears and she doesn't want to speak to you. I'll tell her you came by but you should go home," Mr. Bhandari tells me and then closes the door.
There is no way in hell I'm going back home without talking to Clare tonight. I find my way to the back of the house and look up at the windows; I see one with a light on and pink shades drawn, the silhouette of a girl behind it. That must be Alli and Jenna's room, there's a trellis leading right to it which must be how Johnny got in and out back when he and Alli were dating. The easy part will be climbing up the trellis; the hard part will be getting Clare to talk to me, or getting Alli and Jenna to let me talk to her.
Update next Wednesday picking up right here and including prom.