The next day was weird, really weird. People kept giving me weird looks, and I guess the same thing was happening to Alli. She ran up to me during lunch with a pained look on her face, face burning.
"You will never guess what's up on the Anti-Grapevine! Chantay said that we're gay!" She exclaimed, shoving her phone in my face.
I snatched the phone from her, scrolling down the page and reading the latest 'Degrassi Gossip'. Chantay said that an anonymous source revealed that Alli and I had been seen dancing with each other at Above the Dot. And that I had gotten protective of Alli when a guy went after her.
I felt mortified, as had Alli. We glanced at the people around us, giving us disgusted looks. My blood boiled and I growled. Eli just sat down on the picnic table with me, eyeing me worriedly as I clutched Alli's phone.
"What's wrong?" He asked, leaning into me.
"Everyone in Degrassi thinks Alli and I are gay. Together. Can you believe that?" I exclaimed, growling.
Suddenly, I heard a stifled grunt from Eli. I looked over to see him biting his lip, trying to stop a smile. Then, giving up, he started to laugh. Like a tear-inducing fit which caused me to get up and stomp away with Alli.
"Clare! Wait! I'm sorry." He said, catching up with me at the stairs of Degrassi. "I have an idea."
"For what?" I asked, confused.
"To prove to people you aren't gay." He said, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"And what's your plan?" I asked, blushing as he suddenly lifted me up.
"Well, I have two. One, we could start another vicious rumor that tops your 'gay' one. Two, we could be like every other teenager and start to seriously make-out right here." He said, smiling. "I prefer the latter."
"Why not both?" I smiled, kissing his nose.
"Ugh. Okay. This isn't helping our problem or my stomach. But I do like Eli's first idea." Said Alli, her words making me blush.
"Well, how about you take care of the rumor and we can work on the second idea." He said, stepping back until his legs hit the ledge near the stairs.
"Or you two can not make-out and help me with the rumor." She said, tugging my arm.
"You know what; let them think what they want. I don't care. I know I'm not gay. I know you aren't gay. And I know we aren't together, so who cares." I stated, wrapping my arms around Eli's neck.
I turned my head to look at Alli, who seemed to be contemplating on that idea. Then she smiled, nodding her head.
"And, if anyone asks, just don't talk to them." I said, turning my head back to Eli.
He had been burying his face in my hair, chuckling softly as Alli and I discussed our dilemma. I hugged him tighter, nuzzling his neck and giggling. Everything seemed alright for the most part so I ignored the stares and carried on my cuddling with Eli.
"Adam, you're so gross." Commented Fiona, scrunching her nose in disgust.
"We've gone over this about ten times. I like my fries dipped in shakes, deal." He teased while flashing a shake coated fry in her face.
"Whatever. So, I was thinking, would you maybe want to go to the movies or something this weekend?" She asked, biting her lip cautiously.
Adam gulped, and not because of the fry he popped in his mouth. He glanced nervously at the table, not sure what to say. After his lunch with Fiona, they had been near in-seperatable. During school, they'd spend as much free-time with each other as possible. She even sat with Eli and Clare. After school, they'd meet at the Dot and even the park. He went to her house once so she could grab something for the park – her pig.
She never confronted him about his transgender. Either she didn't know or she didn't want to bother him about it. Besides that, he knew there was romantic tension – he felt it. When they casually held hands in the park, or when they had sat incredibly close to each other.
"Fiona," he started. "I…Well, I don't know how to say this but you do know about my secret. Right?"
"What secret might that be?" She asked, leaning across the table with her bluish grey eyes sparkling.
"That I'm, well, FTM transgender." She tensed, not like 'ohmygod, you're what?' but a 'here it comes' jerk.
It seemed forever before she replied. "I know."
"And you aren't weirded out? Or disgusted?" He asked, eyes looking away.
"Well, when I first found out I was shocked. But, honestly, who cares." She said, reaching a hand to him. "When I see you, I see a very cute guy. Who's sweet and dorky. That seems to care about me. And who I care for."
Adam sucked in a breath, eyes shooting to meet hers. Her soft hand tightened around his, fingers sliding into his grip. Before they realized it, they were leaning across the table, eyes drooping.
Then, their lips grazed just slightly. Adam gripped her fingers tighter as she tilted her head and pushed forward slightly. After what seemed to be hours, they parted just slightly and rested their foreheads against each other.
"Pick you up at eight?" He asked, she giggled happily.
"Of course." She said, pecking his cheek before settling back in her seat.
Adam blushed, a goofy smile on his lips. Their hands stayed touching, Adam gripping Fiona's fingers loosely.
I sat cross-legged on the grass in the park, eyes scanning across the English paper Eli had me review. Although, I had a hard time concentrating as Eli kept nibbling on my ear as I sat between his legs with his arms around my waist.
We sat comfortably near a tree, which Eli was using to prop himself up. I kept smiling as I read his paper – mostly scanning because that's all my mind could seem to handle. I gave a sigh of defeat and dropped his paper on my bag and snuggled back against him.
I rested my head against his shoulder, tilting it to face him and closed my eyes. This was a perfect moment, this was my happy place. Where I belonged, in his arms.
Everything in the world seemed right. And I looked up at Eli who rested his head against the tree trunk.
"I love you," I said.
He looked down, grinning at me. "I love you, too."
I gave a content sigh, closing my eyes - slowly falling asleep from the lullaby his heart gave me. Thump, thump. Thump. Thump, thump.
Did I know it would end soon? Did I know this peace and perfection would shatter? The answer was no, I didn't.