I Do Not Own DeGrassi

Ch.20 You Okay Honey?

(CLARE)

She was in science class sitting uncomfortably in her stool, made all the more uncomfortable because Luke was sitting at her table and Owen was late. She didn't like Luke or most of the hockey team for that matter. She wished that Owen would hurry up and get there, him she liked, well now anyway.

"The person sitting across from you is your lab partner for the day." Mr. Perino informed the class.

"Great I'm partners with Luke! Where is Owen and why won't my chest stop hurting?"

"You'll be classifying bacteria, put the slides and petri-dishes under the microscope and work together to identify and classify the bacteria from the list. The samples are at the back of the room each table get two slides and one petri-dish to begin with." Mr. Perino instructed.

Like the rest of the class Clare and Luke got up to get samples, unlike the rest of the class when Clare got up she got very dizzy and clutched at the table to keep from falling. Luke was at her side suddenly.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine I just stood up to fast and got dizzy." She said with a labored breath as her face contorted in pain.

Luke put an arm around her waist, she tried to swat him away but she didn't have much strength and he ignored her.

"Sir, Clare isn't feeling well I think I should take her to the nurse." Luke informed him.

Mr. Perino was quiet for a moment, "Okay go ahead."

Luke gently escorted Clare out of the class room, as soon as they were in the hall she got out of his hold.

"I'm fine I don't need to go to the nurse and I don't need you to escort me so just go back to class." She insisted just as her steps faltered as a sharp pain caused yet another wave of dizziness.

He grabbed her arm to steady her, "Yeah you look fine. Come on we're going to the nurse."

"NO!" She yanked her arm from him and began walking away but he stayed at her side none the less.

"Clare you're starting to look pale."

"Baker what's going on?" Dallas asked suddenly appearing in front of them.

"Great Dallas just what I need!" She thought as soon as she heard his voice. "I'm fine both of you go away and leave me alone."

"You don't look like your fine." Dallas commented.

"I'm telling you I'm f…MMMAAAAA!" She was cut off by her own painful scream as a horrendously sharp pain stabbed from her chest and wracked her body. Her face contorted, she clutched her chest and she fell against the lockers nearly doubling over.

Dallas and Luke came to her sides each grabbing an arm. "Clare you need to…"

"No." She squeaked out in wheezing sort of breath. "I just need to sit for a minute."

Next thing she knew she was being lifted by both arms, she took in a sharp breath and groaned a little but couldn't get enough air protest. A few seconds later she was being set down gently on a bench and they released her.

"Why won't you go to the nurse?" Dallas asked and she heard actual genuine concern in his voice which surprised her.

"I don't want anyone to see…everything they did." She explained between sharp slightly labored breathing.

"But you look kinda pale and you just looked like you were in terrible pain and…" Luke was starting to argue but Clare cut him off.

"I have badly bruised ribs I probably cracked a few it hurts to move or sit or breathe for that matter. The pain will pass in a minute and I'll be fine." She assured them, all though in the back of her mind she wondered if she would be okay. She was having trouble breathing, she still felt light headed and dizzy and while the pain had lessened some, she still felt a sharp aching stabbing in her chest.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Dallas and Luke never left her and she absentmindedly wondered why? Finally the pain subsided and she felt like she could stand again. Her breathing was still a little labored and she still felt a little dizzy and light headed but she stood up anyway.

"Clare?" Dallas questioned.

She closed her eyes and waited for a few seconds and when she didn't falter or fall, she took as deep a breath as she could manage at that moment. "I'm going back to class."

"Are you sure?" Luke asked.

She nodded her head so they came to her sides and each gently taking an arm walked her back to science class.

"What the hell is going on?" Owen demanded when they'd reach the classroom door.

Clare pulled out of Dallas and Luke's hands and went to Owen as she actually felt safe with him, still slightly dizzy she gripped onto his jacket. He looked down at her with a worried face and she smiled as brightly as she could and let go of his jacket. He lightly put an arm around her waist, for support, protective instinct or out of concern she wasn't really sure.

"She got dizzy in class so I was going to take her the nurse but she refused to go, Dallas saw us, she screamed in pain and clutched her chest but still refused to go to the nurse. So we sat on a bench until she wanted to come back to class but she's still breathing funny." Luke explained.

Owen looked at her again even more worried than before. "Clare maybe you should go home."

"No." She shook her head, "I've missed enough school and I'm fine now really. You know how my ribs and other injuries always hurt."

He studied her a minute, but even her breathing was starting to become even and normal again. "Fine come back into class but I'm telling Jake and Eli when class is over. Thanks for your help Dallas but you should get back to your own class."

Dallas nodded and left. Owen kept his light hold on Clare and helped her to sit in the high stools at the work table, Luke followed them.

"Feeling better Miss Edwards?" Mr. Perino inquired when she was sitting again.

"Yes sir." She nodded.

They got back to work; Owen had apparently been doing it on his own while they were gone. Both Owen, and Luke surprisingly, kept giving her concerned looks for the rest of class and they wouldn't let her do any of the work.

(ELI)

He met up with Adam and they walked to Mr. Perino's class to get Clare and carry her books to her next class. Owen had that class with her and he could have done it, but he hadn't been there when they dropped her off and Eli preferred that he and Adam escort her anyway. When they arrived Clare was leaning against the wall with Owen on one side of her and Luke Baker of all people on the other. Owen had her book bag and he looked concerned and had one arm protectively around Clare. Eli furrowed his brow at this sight, this couldn't be good. Owen handed him her bag as soon as they were close enough and quickly explained what had happened and why he was so worried.

"I'm fine really, I stood up too fast and got dizzy, my bruises hurt it was painful now I'm fine." She said with a bright smile.

Somehow this didn't comfort Eli and from the way Adam went up and put an arm around her he knew it didn't comfort Adam either. He looked at Luke and thanked him and then Owen.

"I have Jake in my next class so I'll tell him what happened." Owen said giving Clare one last worried look and a gentle sort of hug, then pulling Luke away by the jacket the two hockey players sauntered down the hall.

"Come on let's get you to your next class," Adam said to her.

Eli was worried; she was getting dizzy a lot, and out of breath, and almost always in some kind of pain. Yet she refused to go to a doctor or a hospital even the school nurse. She was so worried about anyone seeing her injuries that she didn't seem to care how bad they could actually be or what hidden injuries she may have because of them. He, her mother, Jake, Glen, Adam even Alli had pleaded with her to go to the hospital to get checked out thoroughly, x-rays and blood work and everything Natalie hadn't been able to do but she always became hysterical and they always gave in.

They reached her next class and she sat at her desk, he set her book bag down and kissed her softly. "If you get dizzy again text one of us right away, I don't even care which one." He pleaded with her.

Clare nodded and smiled at him, "Okay Eli."

Alli came in the classroom and sat next to Clare, "She got dizzy last period watch her okay?" He requested of Clare's other best friend.

"Of course I will." Alli assured him.

Eli felt a little better knowing that if Clare wouldn't bother to call anyone then Alli's big mouth would definitely spread the word.

(CLARE)

It was lunch and she'd made it through the rest of the morning without getting dizzy or out of breath, she was still in mild pain but at this point she could just about ignore it. She was walking toward the picnic tables with the other two misfits but the constant pain only made her feel nauseas not hungry.

"I'm not hungry Eli." She said quietly, softly touching his arm.

He stopped and turned to look at her as did Adam. "You barely ate anything at breakfast and you need to eat at least enough to take your meds." Eli said with a worried look.

She sighed, "Fine I'm going to the washroom first I'll meet you guys at the table in a few minutes."

Eli and Adam exchanged a look as though silently having a conversation as to whether to let her go or not, finally they both nodded and she turned around and went inside. She began walking slowly to the washroom but it became increasingly difficult to breathe with every step and as getting oxygen to her brain was getting harder she got light headed and dizzy. She'd just passed a row of lockers when she felt a sharp stabbing pain in her chest again. The pain was immense; she made a high pitch agonized screech involuntarily and collapsed against the end of the lockers. She sank to the floor clutching her chest and curling up into a sitting fetal position.

She wasn't sure how long she stayed like that it felt like forever, the pain finally dissipated but breathing was still hard and she still felt light headed and shaky so she remained sitting there her head on her knees. That is until she heard a gentle and familiar voice and she looked up.

"Clare you okay honey?" Bianca asked kneeling down next to her.

She tried to smile but wasn't sure she'd succeeded, "F…ine." She choked out between rasping breaths.

Bianca looked her over and squeezed her eyes together making a face that said she clearly didn't believe her. She put an arm around Clare's back and under her arms and helped her to stand. "Eli and Adam eating outside?" Bianca asked and Clare nodded.

They turned around to go back outside but Clare couldn't see straight and she was having trouble walking even with Bianca's help. She tried to take a deep breath but couldn't and the desperate attempt at getting in air only made her dizzier and she almost collapsed. Bianca managed to catch her but they stopped walking and Bianca set her on the floor gently. She got out her phone and called someone.

"Hey I need your help we're near the MI lab." She said into the phone.

Clare heard a deep male voice say something in reply and Bianca hung up. She kneeled down next to Clare again and put a hand on her shoulder.

"She get dizzy again?" Owen asked coming next to them and Clare realized he was who Bianca must have called.

"Dizzy, she can barely breathe, or talk or walk. I was trying to get her outside to Eli but she almost collapsed. I can pick her up but I don't think I can carry her all the way out to the picnic tables." Bianca told him her tone was both nervous and agitated.

Owen gave Clare a worried scowl before scooping her up. She put her arms around his neck for support and he began walking to the front of the school, Bianca following close behind. By the time they reached Eli and Adam she was almost breathing normally again. Owen set her in Eli's lap and he and Bianca sat down at the table.

"She got dizzy again and was breathing funny." Owen informed them.

"Clare you need to go home." Eli insisted sternly.

She shook her head which was nuzzled into the crook of his neck. "I can make it the rest of the day, I feel better now. Please Eli I don't want to miss any more classes. If I get dizzy again then you can take me home." Her voice was pleading but her breathing was once again even.

She felt him sigh heavily underneath her. "Okay baby, but if you get dizzy again straight home."

"I can make it the rest of the day." She assured them.

And she did, she still felt a little pain but when school let out she hadn't gotten dizzy or short of breath again. Now she was on the couch wrapped in Eli's arms, Adam at her other side and Jake in the chair watching TV.

"Kids could you please set the table for dinner." Her Mother requested.

The boys got up and Eli and Adam helped Clare to stand. "I'm not hungry." She said in a low voice.

"You ate half an apple at lunch how can you not be hungry?" Adam questioned.

"Everything hurts and the pain makes me queasy which in turn makes me not hungry. Anyway I want to shower." She told them.

"I'll eat later." Eli said as he always sat in the bathroom with her when she showered, both to help her get dressed and undressed and just in case she needed him.

Adam nodded and she and Eli walked upstairs to the bathroom. He turned the water on and helped her undress and she got in the shower. The water even at the luke warm temperature, stung her open cuts, welts and bite marks. She gingerly washed her body as best as she could manage. Eli would have helped but she was always to embarrassed to ask. Washing her hair was the worst, lifting her arms above her head caused a sharp aching in her bruised ribs and she was certain she'd cracked a few. She gasped and groaned in pain; Eli asking if she was okay and if she needed help and she always assured him she was alright. But soon she began to feel dizzy and weak and she turned the water off. Eli opened the curtain and wrapped her in a towel.

"I'm tired I want to lie down." She requested when he had finished helping her dry off and dress again. Eli took her to her bed and she lay down, holding on to Eli's arm. "Stay with me?"

"Of course beautiful." He smiled lying down next to her and wrapping her in his arms.

(ADAM)

He was sitting on Clare's bed next to her as she slept. She'd fallen asleep after her shower and he was staying with her now so that Eli could eat. He expected her to sleep through the night barring another nightmare of course, and he was fully engrossed in his 'Goon' comic when he heard a strange sort of noise. He looked around the room trying decipher what the noise was and where it was coming from. He listened intently and suddenly became aware of the fact that noise was coming from Clare, she was trying to breath but as her lips were turning blue she wasn't succeeding. He pulled her to a sitting position and shook her gently to wake her up.

"Clare! CLARE!" He knew his voice sounded squeaky and frightened but at the moment he didn't care.

Slowly her eyes fluttered opened she yawned and took another deep breath. "What's wrong?" It was barely above a whisper but her breathing seemed to be somewhat better.

"You weren't breathing." He said letting out a relieved sigh.

She took another deep breath, to appease him or because she needed more oxygen he wasn't sure, maybe both. "I'm fine now Adam don't worry. Where's Eli?"

"Eating dinner he'll be back up soon." He told her.

He must have looked worried still because she gently kissed his cheek, "Adam stop worrying I'm fine. I was probably just lying in a bad position."

She smiled a little turned on her side a bit so she was facing him and closed her eyes once more. Adam watched her, he knew she kept insisting that she was fine but he felt in his gut that she wasn't. He also knew that she refused to go the hospital, but he was sure that she needed to. "Maybe we can all trick her into going." As soon as Eli was done with dinner he decided to talk with him and Jake about how they could all get her to go the hospital whether she wanted to or not.

Update soon.