ECLARE FAN FOREVER BABY!

Thanks for the reviews and everything guys! This is my thanks to you . . .

My sister told me that members of the Black Veil Brides (best band EVER) get hurt on occasion, but that doesn't stop them from touring. And she's right (seriously, 3 members were seriously injured in less than a year I don't think they've stopped touring once as a group). I guess what I'm trying to say is that just because EClare is kaput on the show doesn't mean it should stop me from writing about this AMAZING couple and how I think they should be! Long story short, I'm going back on what I've been saying and I won't wait until the new episodes are done airing! Hopefully I'll be able to update once a week if all my writer's blocks are defeated. Read, review, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Person: Do you own Degrassi? Me: No, but thanks for reminding me (then I run away crying like a little girl).


Chapter Twenty-Eight

Change

The first week of December arrived at Degrassi. The temperatures dropped and all students were anticipating winter break. It was approaching at a fast pace, so mid-semester exams were coming up along with the Drama Club's presentation of Romeo and Juliet.

The students were staying after school for two hours every day now to do work and finish the sets. It was taking a toll on all the students who had to juggle homework, studying, Drama, and more. Thankfully for Eli and Clare, they didn't have to worry about memorizing lines; their main concern for the play now was finish painting the sets with the rest of the crew.

"I seriously never want to look at another paintbrush ever, ever again," Eli stated tiredly as he and Clare entered the Dot after the meeting on Tuesday.

"Just another three days and then we're done," she reminded as they slid into a booth.

"Then we can sit back and watch the performances while everyone admires our handiwork."

"Exactly," Clare agreed before a waiter took their orders.

They both ordered some coffee; the snow was coming down outside, so they needed something warm inside their bodies. They watched the white precipitation cover the outdoors while they waited for their beverages to arrive.

"So have any plans over winter break?" Clare asked him as they pulled out their books to get started on some studying and homework.

"I'm probably just going to stay home and spend some time with the parentals. What about you?"

"Well, Darcy is coming home for Christmas in a week or so, and then she, my mom, and I are going to Brantford to visit that side of the family. Then Darcy and I are going with my dad to Peterborough to see the Edwards side."

"Sounds like a lot of traveling," Eli said. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah," Clare sighed as she continued to gaze out the window. "This is just going to be the first time that we haven't had Christmas together as a family, so it's a bit sad, but I'll be fine."

Eli saw passed the charade Clare was putting on and took her hand. At his touch, Clare turned her head to face him and she knew that he saw the pain in her eyes.

"If you ever need to talk about it, call me okay?"

Clare gave him a small grin.

"I would, but I don't think you'd want to be on the phone with me every single day for two whole weeks."

"Try me," he dared.

"Thank you," Clare smiled at him before leaning across the table to plant a gentle kiss on his cheek.

Their coffees came a few minutes later and they attempted to do some homework.

"I think teachers intentionally put on a bigger workload just before a big break just so they can feel satisfied about ruining our lives," Eli complained as he struggled to do his Calculus homework.

Clare rolled her eyes at him as she did her French homework.

"I promise I won't become one of those teachers," she reassured; Clare was planning being a writer after she graduated university, but until then she was going to teach English.

Eli looked up at her and grinned as she worked. He soon began to think about something that had been on his mind for a while but he never brought up. Two weeks had passed since he and Clare vowed to not fight anymore and he wanted nothing more than to keep that promise. As the days went by, however, he noticed a change in Clare that was disturbing him. Every time she was close to Kate or whenever he mentioned her, he noticed that his girlfriend seemed fairly uncomfortable. Eli also took into account that she avoided Kate's eyes and she tried to not include herself in any conversations with her.

It was difficult to fathom that weeks ago they all got along, now Clare couldn't hear Kate's name without venom rushing through her veins. He understood that Clare didn't particularly like Kate because of the so-called flirting she was doing with him, but he didn't want her to feel upset all the time; he was with Kate in classes most of the day and he and Clare barely had a moment together alone outside Degrassi. Even though he didn't see what Kate was doing, he saw that it was affecting Clare and he didn't want to put her through that.

Unfortunately he was afraid of getting into an argument about it with Clare that he kept his mouth closed. But he realized that everything could get worse if he didn't do anything to sort out this problem now.

"Can I talk to you about something?" he finally asked.

"Uh-oh, you're using your serious voice," Clare noted.

"I tend to use my serious voice when I need to talk about something serious."

"What's wrong?" she said while she looked at him.

"Do you still think Kate is flirting with me?" he asked bluntly.

"That's completely random, don't you think?" Clare asked when all she really wanted to do was avoid the subject of Kate.

"Oh I know it. But do you honestly still think that?"

Clare thought for a second before answering. Since Eli and Clare's last fight, she tried to keep all conversations about Kate to a minimum. However, she was noticing Kate's flirts more and more every day. She wasn't sure if she was just being paranoid because Eli told Clare about the past or if Kate was actually increasing her amorous advances.

"How angry would you be at me if I said that I am?"

"I wouldn't be, but can we talk about it? I don't want us getting into a fight about it later on down the road, so let's just nip it in the bud."

Clare, who also didn't have any desires to get into any kind of disagreement, let alone one about Kate, closed her French book and put it to the side.

"Alright, but what do you want me to say?"

"Just tell me why you think she's flirting with me," he requested of her. "I promise I'll listen and I won't get mad."

"It's just . . . the way she acts around you and the way she always wants to be by your side. When she's with you she just acts like you two are the ones in a relationship and she can care less that you're already seeing someone. She gives you these looks, she touches you in a too playful manner, and she bats her eyelashes at you and everything. I know it all seems harmless and it was at first, but I can only watch it for so long until I feel . . ." she trailed off, not quite sure what to say. "Remember how I felt about Julia a few months ago? How I felt kind of threatened and stuff?"

"Yeah," Eli recalled.

"It's kind of like that, but it's not because I think she can make you happier or anything."

"Then why? I don't understand."

Clare bit her bottom lip as she tried to find a way to give her explanation.

"This whole situation just feels too familiar for me," she confessed.

Idiot, Eli groaned in his head. He should've known that her past experience with her ex was going to still affect her.

"Because of what happened with K.C?" he assumed.

She simply nodded.

"I know it shouldn't worry me, but it does. I can't help it; I just see her with you and I feel like that same girl from grade nine who got kicked out of her boyfriend's life because some innocent flirts escalated to actual feelings that couldn't be ignored."

Eli looked down at his almost empty cup of coffee and began to contemplate about what should be done. He refused to let Clare feel this way anymore; he understood why she felt that way so he knew he should do something to cease those horrid emotions. He lifted his head until he was looking her straight in the eye.

"Alright, this is obviously upsetting you more than I thought and I hate seeing you like this, so I'll just tell Kate that she and I can't hang-out as much anymore. In class I'll sit somewhere else and I'll ask her to sit someplace else at lunch."

"Eli, I told you before that I don't want you to sacrifice a friendship for me."

"You're happiness more important; I don't want to put on fake smiles or anything so I'll talk to her."

Clare shook her head with sad eyes. Eli was being so kind to consider doing this for her, but it made her feel relieved yet horrible.

"If you shove away your oldest friend, who was a huge part of your life as a kid, all because of me, that just shows that I'm a selfish girlfriend who doesn't deserve you."

"You're not selfish, but if I keep things going as they are while knowing that you're uncomfortable around Kate, then I'll feel like I'm inconsiderate and I don't deserve you."

Clare took in a few breaths of air before looking back out the window.

"I guess neither of us is going to be happy no matter what we do."

Eli's stomach churned as his heart began to pound to harder against his chest. He had a feeling that something was about to take place . . . something that he never wanted to happen between him and Clare.

"What should we do?" he asked in a low voice.

Clare turned back to him and tried to not let the tears form in her eyes.

"I don't want us to, but maybe we should . . . we should take some time apart so we could try and figure out how to handle this."

She grabbed her belongings and slid out of the booth. Eli's instincts quickly took over and he stood up and pulled Clare's body into his; he was appeased when she didn't protest or pull away. A tear was able to leak out of her eye, but the rest of them dissolved as he held her.

"You realize that is absolutely crazy, right?" he said to her.

"I know," Clare replied. "But I don't know what else to do."

"We could talk about this. Let's just sit down, talk, and not decide anything until we're done," he suggested. "Okay?"

The idea registered to Clare instantaneously; she pulled out of the embrace and she sat back down. Eli sighed in relief and he slid in the booth again. He took Clare's hand out of fear that she might try and walk away again.

"What if I do something prove to you that Kate doesn't like me?"

"And how are you going to do that?"

"In case you've forgotten, I'm Eli Goldsworthy. I'll think of something."

Clare smiled a little while letting out a small laugh.

"I don't know Eli," she said once her face turned somber once again.

"Please," he said. "One chance and if you still see her flirting with me after that, I'll cut off all ties to her."

"I just told you that I didn't want you to leave her behind for my sake."

"But I can't just stand by and let you feel this way. If I at least do something to figure out how she really feels about me, we'll know that whatever we do is the right thing. For instance, if she does like me, we'll both know it and I won't have to feel bad about leaving her in the dust. And if she doesn't like me, you wouldn't have a reason to feel uncomfortable when she's around. See?"

To Clare, the idea seemed almost genius and practical; she just hoped that it would work and she and Eli could move on with their lives without living in fear.

"If you do this and she still clings to you every second she gets . . .?"

"I'll kick her out of my life faster than you can say Megadeth."

"And you won't blame me if you do?"

"No, because I'll know that I did it for good reason."

Clare thought about it one last time before reaching her decision.

"One chance," she said warningly.

"That's all I need," Eli grinned. "Now I just to think of the plan."

"Don't put too much strain on yourself to think of one right now; we have exams in less than a week and you still have to bring up that Physics grade," Clare reminded with a miniscule smile.

()()

Eli raced down the hall the next morning until he was at Clare's side.

"Clare, do you know what the beauty of leftover pizza is?"

"Um . . . it's better than how it is the first day?" she guessed although she was taken aback by this odd question.

"Yes, but it also gives me brilliant ideas."

"I take it you thought that plan?"

"Indeed I did."

"Well, are you going to tell me or is top secret?" she urged enthusiastically.

"Alright . . . how about . . ." he paused for emphasis and to build-up the anticipation, "a double date?"

"Care to elaborate?" Clare asked when she had no clue where this was going.

"You see, you, me, Kate, and Adam can go to the movies or dinner or something like that. You and I go as a couple, Kate and Adam go together, the two of them have sparks, boom, they get together," Eli prophesized. "What do you think?"

"You think that's going to work?"

"I'm positive."

"Do you really think Adam would go for it? Or Kate for that matter?" Clare asked.

"I'll convince them to come. You know I can be very persuasive," he added with a smirk. Clare overlooked it and continued pressing the matter of this double date.

"But what if they don't have any chemistry?" she inquired.

"I've thought about that. Let's say that you're right and Kate does like me, she'll see us on the date, see that we're inseparable and nothing that can break us up then she'll ease off. It's that simple."

Clare reviewed this in her head; she saw no flaw in the plan so she nodded in approval at Eli.

"Okay, if they both agree to it, I'm in," she obtained.

"Yes," he hollered before crushing his lips to Clare's.

"This plan better work," she apprised once the kiss was over.

"Just you wait, young Edwards," Eli bantered before the bell rang overhead.

"I'll see you in English," Clare smiled at him before she strode down the hall.

"Good," Eli sighed to himself as he made his way towards his Calculus class. "I just have to ask Kate and Adam if they want to go . . . no problem."

()()

"You have a problem," Adam stated bluntly an hour later in the hall.

"What?" Eli asked. He'd just told Adam about the double date plan, but he intentionally left out the part about Adam being Kate's companion.

"You seriously think a double date is going to make Kate stop liking you?" Adam asked as he closed his locker.

"She doesn't like me," he repeated for the umpteenth time since Kate came to Degrassi. "But I'm doing this to prove that to Clare."

"Right, let's say, hypothetically, that she does like you in that way," Adam debated. "Do you honestly think one date will sway her or make Clare less suspicious if Kate and this guy don't hit it off?"

"If the right person goes on this date with us, I'm sure everything will be calm again and we'll be able to move on with our lives."

"I hope so for you and Clare's sake. So what guy are you thinking of . . .?" Adam began, but he trailed off when he saw Eli giving him the puppy pout. "No! No, no, no!"

"Come on Adam, please," he begged as he followed Adam down the hall.

"I'm not getting involved in one of your insane schemes," he refused.

"Why not?"

"Because there is no way Kate will be interested in me when she likes you as much as she does."

"She doesn't –," Eli began to protest again.

"Yes she does, you moron!" Adam shouted when he stopped in his tracks and turned around to face Eli. "And if you deny it again I'm going to slap you!"

"Alright," he surrendered. "Just do this so Clare doesn't feel intimidated every time Kate is around."

"But why me? Why not someone else?" he demanded.

"Everyone other decent guy in Degrassi is seeing someone. This is really important, Adam; I wouldn't be asking you otherwise."

"Why can't you just accept that Kate likes you, talk to her, then continue on with your life like a normal person?"

"Because you know I won't accept that since I don't believe it."

"Look, I'm not going! Okay?"

"Please! I need to do this for Clare."

"Or are you doing this for yourself so you don't feel like you're doing anything wrong?"

"What?"

"I'm just going to say this, I think you like her."

"Why would I like her when I love Clare?"

"I was hoping you could tell me. You have something going that millions of people would die for, so don't screw it up by liking and flirting with this other girl who wants nothing more than to tear the love of your life away from you!"

"I'm not doing this stupid double date thing for myself, alright?" Eli retorted. "If I had it my way, I'd let us all move on with our lives and be happy, but that isn't the case. Once we go on this date, she'll see how close Clare and I are or she'll start feeling something for you."

"I don't want her to feel anything for me! I don't want this to become my problem! Remember what happened at that party a few months ago? There was that girl Kelsey there who liked me and I didn't go talk to her and I told you that I wasn't ready to date again," he almost yelled. "I know that Fiona and I broke-up seven months ago, but I'm still not ready to get back on that horse yet."

Eli shook his head in disappointment; he couldn't believe he was so insensitive about this. He knew that Adam didn't want to date and he knew he shouldn't have put him in this position. He was walking a fine line with Adam at this point so he knew better than to ask such favors such as this, but he was in extreme need now.

"I'm not asking you to become her boyfriend. Just please go on one date with her so Clare isn't so distracted by the fact that Kate might like me. Adam, I swear I'll do anything and I'll never ask anything of you ever again."

Adam rolled his eyes before giving this idea a bit of thought.

"How concerned is Clare about this Kate thing?"

"Very," Eli answered.

Eli wasn't exactly in Adam's good books right now because of all the misfortunes that have been happening with Kate, but Clare was the one who was suffering. She was one of his best friends, so he was more than willing to put his emotions on the backburner for one night for her especially when she was feeling so much anguish.

"Fine, I'll go for Clare," Adam accepted. "But you owe me big time."

Eli smiled and clasped his hands together.

"Thank you so much Adam!" he exclaimed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"You're welcome," Adam replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't want to be late for French."

Adam made his way down the hall as Eli tried not to shriek in delight. His plot was beginning to unfold perfectly. Now all he had to do was convince Kate. He walked down the hall and found her rummaging through her locker.

"Hey," Eli greeted happily.

"Hi," she replied. "You seem happy today even though exams are approaching."

"I'm trying to be optimistic," he responded. "Will you be interested on going on a double date?"

Kate grinned before turning to Eli.

"What about your girlfriend?" she asked.

"Well, I was thinking that Clare and I would go as a couple and you and Adam could go together."

Kate's grin slowly faded.

"Uh . . . me and Adam?" she questioned.

"You never know," Eli said. "Stranger things have happened."

"You're trying to set-up me and Adam? Do you really think we'll work?"

"Don't knock it until you try it. I just thought it'd be cool to double-up and all of us do something together," he explained. "Look, if you're not interested –."

"No, it actually sounds like it could be fun."

"Even if you and Adam don't work out?"

"I'll be hanging-out with my best friend," she grinned at him. "Along with his girlfriend and his friend; I'm in."

"Great," Eli said. "Friday work?"

"Looking forward to it," Kate grinned before she closed her locker. "I'll see you around."

"Bye," he disclosed as she walked down the hall. Eli grinned victoriously as he went to find Clare and tell her the good news. He located her sitting in the library; he walked behind her and gently put his hands on her shoulders.

"Great news," he noted when she looked up at him.

"You finally realized that you're in denial?" she teased with a smirk.

"Ha-ha," he laughed blankly before he took a seat next to her. "No, but Kate and Adam both agreed to go on the date with us."

"Seriously?" she exclaimed.

"Yep. Kate's looking forward to it. Just wait, by the end of Friday night everything will be back to normal."

"Normal for our group, you mean," she corrected.

"Precisely," he grinned. "Do you think this'll work?"

"I hope so. What exactly are we going to be doing on this date?" Clare wondered.

"I was thinking we could all go bowling. I know it's not the most romantic date in the world, but it's going to be fun. Then we could eat and have some conversations so Kate and Adam can connect."

"Bowling actually sounds pretty good," Clare commended.

"Then I guess on Friday night we'll be able to go, have some fun, bond, and this mixed-up universe will mellow out once again."


"You know it's all the same

Another time and place

Repeating history and you're getting sick of it

But I believe in whatever you do

And I'll do anything to see it through"

~"Change" by Taylor Swift


Eli and Clare are moving on or are going to on the show, we should accept that, but what's the worst that could happen other than that? The only way things get worse between them is that Eli snaps completely and murders Clare (yeah, that's not gonna happen, so we're good). I can't wait to write the double date! Who's looking forward to it? I'll try and update it by Friday or Saturday so we can get over the Imogen crap that's coming! REVIEWS PLEASE!