So DeGrassi as a High school for supernatural beings and creatures won the story poll. Now you guys need to vote on what kind of supernatural/mythic beings all the main and secondary characters will be. This week you get to vote on what you'd like Clare, Maya and Jay to be. All the character polls will be up for one week.

Sorry for the short chapter guys but I hope you enjoy it.

Ch. 21 A Song ain't a Song until the Song Starts Singing

(CLARE)

"What are you doing here? Don't you have a game tonight?" I question but with a happy smile when I see Owen sitting on my bed.

He's been there for the last few days when I've returned from group and it's been the bright spot in my day. Even when he stays the night he's out by 5:30 to get to hockey practice. My mornings are a depressing mix of chemo which then makes me feel like dying and just when I'm started to feel okay again it's time for group. It's supposed to be helpful and I suppose for some people seeing what other people are going through and knowing you're not alone is helpful but for me it's just depressing. We go through guided meditations to visualize the cancer being cured but I can never concentrate, mind of a writer a suppose but I'm constantly thinking about a million different things and questioning if it will even work.

Worse however is watching the other patients most of whom have been longer than I have. Every day I watch as they seem to get worse and look more ill and I see some of it in myself. It's really just frightening to me and I end up spending the better part of group wondering if I'm going to look that bad, if I'll ever leave the hospital and if I'm going to get better to see my friends again. I always come back to my room slowly and depressed and then I see Owen and I grin.

"My games not for a couple of hours I'm on my spare, I'll be at the rink in plenty of time for the game," Owen grumbles before lifting me onto the bed and into his lap. His arms envelop me, his eyes lock with mine and his lips smile before being gently pressed against mine. I smile, link my arms around his neck and part my lips for him. "How was group?" He questions when he pulls out of the kiss.

"Depressing as always, they're visualizations are nothing compared to yours," I reply.

"Well I think we should cheer some people up," Owen says gently taking me from his lap and standing me on my feet. "Coach gave me a bunch of these, he thought it would be good promotion," Owen comments holding up four bags of Ice Hounds stuffed dogs, "they don't say Jeremy and Peggy but they were free."

"They're great but are we going to leave them at everyone's doors?" I question.

"I think we should leave them random places for people to find, shall we Jeremy?" Owen says holding his arm out to me and I smile linking my arm with his.

I have to drag my IV pole behind me but we still try and sneak around the hallways. Darting in and out of rooms, we leave plush Ice Hound dogs all throughout the oncology ward including the nurse's station. People's beds but only when they're not in the room so they'll find it when they return. We leave one on every chair in the group room and even leave a couple on sleeping patients. We have a few left to give out but I start feeling dizzy, I grip my IV poll and place my hand on the wall to brace myself as Owen is a stuffed animal on top of the vending machine.

"Clare?"

"I'm okay just a little dizzy," I reply trying to move but everything is black and the next thing I feel is Owen catching me. He lets the bags fall to the ground to do so and then picks me up.

"You don't need to carry me I'm okay, just dizzy it's the chemo, really I'm okay," I assert but Owen doesn't look like he believes me.

"You nearly passed out, I'm taking you back to your room," he insists.

"I can walk," I remind him.

"Just sit here a second," he instructs putting me in a chair. The world is clear again and I no longer feel dizzy but Owen doesn't let me stand. He places three more stuffed dogs on seats in the lounge area we're in and then tosses the bags.

"I really can walk," I assert again when he tries to pick me up.

"Fine but if you falter again I will pick you up," he tells me. He helps me to stand and then gives me his arm and we walk slowly back to my room. When we return to my room Adam is there but he gives me a worried look.

"Where were you guys? Is she okay?"

"We were brining cheer to people with Ice Hound stuffed animals but she almost passed out," Owen tells him.

"I'm okay it's just the chemo making me dizzy," I tell Adam letting go of Owen's arm to hug my best friend and then Owen picks me up and lifts me to the bed.

"Well I brought you something, another wig for the collection," Adam says pulling a wig from the bag. Not just any wig however it's every bad tie Jeremy and Peggy bought and they've been sewn together into a wig. They have even been fitted on a wig cap so it will stay on. The small ends make bangs and the long ends extend to the small of my back. There's a couple of layers and they've been trimmed and shaped in places so it looks a lot like a wig.

"Awesome!" Owen grins.

"Adam it's perfect I love it," I smile taking off the rainbow wig I had on and putting on this one. "How's it look?"

"Perfectly Jeremy style," Owen says kissing my cheek. "I have to get to the rink for warm up but Ace here will keep you company until I get back to stay with you tonight," Owen tells me before capturing my lips for a passionate kiss.

"Good luck," I tell him when he releases my lips.

"Thanks Jeremy we'll kill the other team Cam has been doing awesome," he replies sardonically before leaving.

"I brought movies we can just chill until Owen gets back. Alli said you need to check your e-mail, she and Jenna have both e-mailed you," Adam informs me.

"My laptop is somewhere, uh check the washroom," I tell Adam.

"Why would it be in the washroom?"

"I was doing homework in there after chemo this morning," I explain.

"Next time rest after chemo there's time to do homework later," Adam admonishes lightly as he goes into the washroom. He returns a moment with my laptop and gives it to me.

Adam puts on a movie and I e-mail Alli, Jenna and even K.C. that Africa is hot and I'm doing fine. After e-mailing them I set the laptop down and watch the movie with Adam. He stays through dinner which is when my mom shows up and I watch them eat as I pick at my food. I don't feel hungry; I can barely get myself to eat anything. At eight I get hooked up to chemo again, I make Mom go home but Adam puts in another movie. He watches from a chair at the side of my bed and when the movie is nearly over Owen walks in.

"Hey Good-Looking have a good night with Ace?" Owen asks coming over to kiss my forehead.

"I did, Ace is always great company. How was the game?" I question.

"We won of course between my awesomeness and Cam's the other team didn't stand a chance," Owen grins. I smile and pull him to me for another kiss.

"That's great, Dallas must be in a good mood then," Adam comments.

"Yeah thrilled and out with the guys but I came straight here," Owen replies.

"What do you tell them when you take off right after?" I inquire.

"That I have better things to do," Owen tells me and I grin.

"Well Peggy I'll leave Jeremy in your hands, I should get home but I will be back tomorrow," Adam says getting up from the chair. He hugs me and waves goodbye to Owen before grabbing his stuff and leaving my hospital room.

"So it's been about an hour since your chemo right? How are you feeling any nausea?" Owen asks.

"Not really a little weak, a little shaky and tired," I reply.

"That just means I need to hold you," Owen says and takes off his shoes and Ice Hounds jacket before getting in the bed and wrapping his arms around me.

I smile and relax into his arms falling asleep before the end of the movie even. Only to wake up a few hours later to a lurching feeling in my stomach, churning and I know I'm about to throw up. I get out of Owen's arms grab my IV pole and run for the washroom. As soon as I get off the bed it wakes Owen up and he follows me to the washroom. I barely get my ugly tie wig off before I vomit into the toilet before he even turns the light on. I kneel down to throw up again and Owen sits behind me rubbing my back gently as I lose what very little is in my stomach. Most of what comes out is bile and after being violently ill so many times I can't even see straight I collapse against the wall shaking so vigorously it rattles the IV pole. This is the worst; these are the moment when I have to question if dying would not be better. I certainly feel like it right now. There's nothing left in my stomach, no bile, no stomach acid, I think I might have vomited my stomach up. I curl my legs behind me leaning my head against the wall; I close my eyes since I can't see anything anyway. I feel Owen sit next to me and put a glass in my hand.

"You need to drink some water," he tells me but my hand is shaking so badly that water is sloshing out of it.

"I can't," I cry laying my head on Owen's shoulder.

He holds the glass to my lips and I take a couple of sips. He sets the glass down and picks me up taking me and my IV pole back to the bed. He sets me down, strips to his boxers and gets in with me.

"I'm here," he whispers in my ear holding me close.

"I hate this, I feel like dying I can't do this Owen."

"Yes you can, this is just one moment it will pass and I'm here with you. You're going to get through this. Close your eyes don't think about the hospital or the cancer. Close your eyes and picture us, it's summer and we're tied together with a truly ugly tie. A brand new one since Adam used the others to make you such an awesome wig. Our wrists are tied together and we're at the beach playing bad tie volleyball with Ace, Drew and Bianca. You know those two need names," Owen comments and I nod.

"Yeah they do."

"After bad tie volleyball we take an oversized beach ball into water. After a full day of playing in the sand we hit a karaoke bar where the five of us completely take over. Can you see it?"

"Tell me more, I want to hear more. I need to picture getting better to feel better because right now I feel like dying."

"You aren't going to die; you're going to be fine. You're strong and except for these few moments you've been feeling pretty good and you've been smiling," Owen says.

"Because of you, only because of you, I'm glad you're here, I'm grateful that I have you. You're amazing you know that?"

"Well I always thought so" Owen replies with a cocky voice before placing a gentle kiss on my temple, "but I'm better with you."

(OWEN)

"Dude how long have you been sitting out here?" Drew questions coming out of his basement.

"What time is it?" I inquire looking up.

"A little after noon," Drew replies.

"An hour," I answer.

"Why didn't you come in?"

"Just needed some air, I left the hospital when Clare went to group or therapy or something. She had an MRI this morning, yesterday she almost passed out while we were walking the hospital. She was totally fine and then I look over and she's completely pale and nearly just collapses. Last night she got sicker than I'd ever seen, throwing up so much and shaking so hard afterward. I know she's sick but it's only those moments when she truly looks sick you know. It's scary and she looks scary, as beautiful as she is to me she looks terrible but I have to tell her she's beautiful. She was scared last night and crying, she wanted to give up and it took everything I had to keep it together myself. I don't know how to get her through this for the next five weeks."

"You're doing it already you are helping her. The worst thing I ever went through was getting beat up by Vince's gang. Laying in the hospital that afternoon barely able to move or breathe, on a ventilator and coughing up blood I felt like dying. If I had to feel that way twice a day every day for several weeks I'd want to give up in those moments too. She doesn't need you to heal her because you can't she needs you to be her strength, to make her smile and to hold her when she feels like dying. I've only known about all this for a couple of days but I know you've been doing all that."

"What do I do when I feel like breaking down if she needs me to be strong?"

"You break down. She's not alone in this and neither are you. If you need to break down call Jake, call Adam, call me or Bianca. We all know and we can all be there to sit with her when you can't. Then you leave and break down and you go back and be with her. Don't you think my family did that when I was in the hospital? You d…"

"Hey," Dallas calls coming out of the basement and over to us, "what are you two ladies gabbing about?"

"Nothing," I shake my head and Dallas gives me a look obviously he doesn't believe me.

"Yeah so what's the plan today?" Dallas questions.

"Hey we going to see Jeremy?" Adam inquires coming out of the basement and putting his jacket on at the same time.

"Yeah just got grab B," I reply standing up.

"Who's Jeremy?" Dallas queries.

"Someone that is way too cool to hang out with you," Drew responds lightly patting Dallas on the chest as he walks past him.

"Hey where are you guys going? I'll just follow you," Dallas calls.

"You're not dressed," Adam calls back and we run to my car.

"You know that's the second time we've had to ditch someone from your house to go see Jeremy," I comment to Adam as I speed away.

"Yep but I doubt Dallas will be one of us, he probably won't find out about Jeremy and Peggy until Jeremy returns to school and everyone finds out about you," Adam responds.

"Yes speaking of Jeremy and Peggy Drew and Bianca must be initiated and get names," I remark.

"Well what did Adam do to get initiated and get his name?" Drew asks.

"I saw them kissing and they thought of a name for me," Adam shrugs.

"Yeah but Adam's Jeremy's best friend which makes him special, you and B will have to accomplish a Jeremy and Peggy type task. Clare and I got our names after sneaking into the museum and picking tour guide coats for each other with names for the opposite sex."

"So what's our task?" Drew questions as I pull up the apartment complex where Bianca lives and Drew gets out his phone to send her a text that we're here.

"I'll think about it," I reply. Bianca comes downstairs and gets in the car, says hi to me and Adam before crushing her lips to Drew's. I drive us to the hospital and we go in but I stop them as soon as the elevator doors open. "Okay kids initiation time, to be one of the Jeremy and Peggy crew and get your names you must find the supply room or doctors break room. Sneak in and get doctor's coats or nurse's scrubs with name tags, the names have to be for the opposite sex though. Then go to the eating disorder ward or pediatrics, somewhere that you can's cause any harm and pretend to know what you're doing. Adam and I will watch and film," I inform them.

Bianca grins and claps, this is probably the least illegal thing she's ever done, Drew looks a little scared though. We search the hospital a little before finding rooms with doctor coats and scrubs. Adam and I find a doctor's white lab coat for Drew with a name tag that reads Dr. Susan Harper.

"Excellent Drew is now Susan," Adam smiles putting the coat onto his brother. Then we find nurse's scrubs for Bianca with a name tag that reads Patrick Murdock. "And Bianca is now Patrick," Adam says handing her the scrubs.

Bianca puts them on and we find some other scrubs for Drew without a nametag. He puts them on with the coat and we go down to the eating disorder ward. Adam and I follow at a distance filming Drew and Bianca on my phone as they sneak around the halls. I film them with a teenage girl who has anorexia and keeps giving Drew flirty eyes. Bianca tells her to eat but that's about it, then we film them in another patients room, this one has some intestinal disorder something I can't pronounce but it's funny to watch Drew try. We told them not to give any actual medical advice or anything just try to be official.

"Okay that's enough you two are terrible for the medical profession let's go see Jeremy," I tell them when they leave his room.

"Can we take these off now?" Drew asks as we get in the elevator.

"Not until Clare sees them," I reply. We walk to Clare's room; she's in her bed looking at her laptop but closes it and smiles when she sees us come in.

"What are you two wearing?" She giggles.

"They've been initiated," I tell her going over and clasping her lips before I sit on the bed with her.

"Yeah they got names now," Adam grins coming over to hug her.

"I'm Nurse Patrick and Drew is Dr. Susan," Bianca informs her and Clare giggles. She laughs even more when I show her the video.

After showing her the video Drew and Bianca start taking off the scrubs and then they leave to covertly place them somewhere. Clare is wearing her dark purple wig today and she's fully dressed instead of being in pajamas. Tonight her family is coming for dinner and I'm joining them which is probably why she's dressed now. We spend the afternoon just hanging out watching movies and talking. It's almost like hanging out in the Torres basement, only we're in a hospital and Clare's got an IV in. It's low key and not very Jeremy and Peggy style but it's what Clare needs right now, what we both need.

"Your family will be here for dinner soon so I should get them home. I'll be back, don't go anywhere," I tell Clare and she smiles.

"We'll come visit tomorrow Jeremy," Bianca says hugging Clare. Drew and Adam do the same and we go down to my car so I can drive them all back to Drew and Adam's.

"Where in the hell have you guys been? No one was answering their phone and I'm bored," Dallas complains.

"Dude don't you have anything better to do than wait around the house all day?" I question.

"You know your parents are still gone I think we should play doctor Dr. Susan," Bianca comments dragging Drew inside by his shirt and he's just wearing a goofy and lecherous grin.

"Who the hell is Dr. Susan?" Dallas demands.

"Yeah uh I have Whisper Hug rehearsal soon, tell Drew I took the car," Adam says running inside probably to get his bass and Dallas looks at me.

"I gotta go," I wave and drive off. When I get back to the hospital Clare seems to be napping but she opens her eyes when I come in the room. "Didn't mean to wake you," I apologize.

"I wasn't really sleeping just tired," she says.

"Anything I should know before dinner with your parents?" I question.

"No I think you're pretty safe, my parents don't know your past reputation and Jake isn't big on the big brother stuff," she says.

"Jake wouldn't dare stand up to me," I reply and Clare smiles.

"My mom can be a little intense sometimes but Glen is laid back," she says.

"Is your mom going to ask me a bunch of questions?"

"Probably," Clare nods.

"Is there anything I shouldn't talk about?"

Sorry for the short chapter but it's almost one and I should get some sleep or try to anyway. Update next Monday will pick up from here, include the dinner and a little Jeremy and Peggy craziness.