"Mr. Simpson?" Eli teased, breaking the awkward silence with a chuckle. Adam's eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

"Don't judge Elijah." He said evenly, shutting Eli up immediately.

"Touché." Adam had half-expected Eli to say something about Adam's real name being Gracie… He shouldn't have thought his friend would stoop that low.

"Anyway…" Adam mumbled when the awkward silence continued. He really didn't like awkward silences; it always made him think it was his fault… which it normally was. "What do you guys need?" he prodded, wanting to get to his locker and speed off to his class. Clare looked down and a blush crept up to her face at the memory of her crying on Adam's shoulder.

"Thanks…" she finally mumbled and Adam's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Eli's eyes lost their playful spark and softened instead.

"What for…?" Adam asked and Clare finally met his gaze.

"For listening when I was being an overdramatic brat." Clare explained. Eli opened his mouth to say something but Adam cut him off.

"You weren't being an overdramatic brat." He said instantly, shocking his two friends. "Everyone deserves a time to complain and you had every right to. You just found out your parents are getting a divorce and that can be earth shattering. It's kind of like everything you know is a lie." Eli's eyebrows rose at Adam's deep and meaningful speech.

"Is that what you felt like when your dad and real mom got a divorce?" Clare asked softly. Eli and Clare both tensed, wondering if that question was going over the line. To their surprise he just chuckled and shook his head.

"Nah; I welcomed it. That meant the fighting would finally be over. I just get where you're coming from," he glanced around at the dwindling students, wondering if he was going to be late again. "Is that it?" he continued, already edging toward his locker. Eli jumped into action and grabbed Adam's shoulder, preventing the boy to leave. If he wanted to make things right with Adam he'd have to do it while Adam was around. It was always hard to catch the little sophomore if he avoided them.

"No it's not." Eli said and Adam froze. He turned his gaze to his two friends. "We need to talk."

"Ok…" Adam said, trying to swallow the lump that rose in his throat. He knew this moment had been coming and had been trying to avoid it. He didn't really want to have a super emotional talk with his two friends; especially since they had every right to never want to talk to him again.

"I'm sorry." Eli finally blurted and Adam took a step back, shocked. Clare glanced at Eli then back at Adam.

"He means we're sorry." Clare corrected and Eli quickly nodded.

"Yeah; both of us are." He said quickly. Adam looked between his two best friends, still shocked speechless. Sincerity filled both of their eyes and he realized they weren't joking; they really were saying sorry for no reason. The minute bell rang overhead, making Adam jump and everyone else in the hallway scurry to their classes. Clare and Eli continued to wait for Adam's response.

"No…" Adam mumbled, looking down at his feet. Clare and Eli both visibly deflated, thinking he was still mad at the both of them. "You guys shouldn't apologize; I should." Clare and Eli exchanged a glance; both of them clearly not expecting that.

"What?" Clare finally stuttered.

"I was being clingy and stupid." Adam went on to explain. "I should've known better then to ditch real friends to hang out with people like Bianca and Fitz."

"It's not your fault; you were turning into a third wheel-" Clare spluttered but Adam cut her off, still staring at his converse.

"Still; I shouldn't have done something stupid like that." Adam continued, kicking himself on the inside for being so stupid. Before anyone could react; Eli's hands slammed down on Adam's shoulders, making the younger boys' head snap up in shock.

"It's not your fault." Eli said seriously, staring directly at Adam. "It's my fault for being the worst guy friend in the world. You had every right to hang out with other people and completely ignore me. I lied, ditched guys' night and completely treated you like dirt rather than a friend. What you said was true; guys don't ditch other guys, even if it is for their girlfriend." Clare and Adam both stared at Eli, shocked by his completely serious speech. He didn't even smirk once during it, instead he stared directly at Adam. Adam squirmed under his unwavering stare.

"Yeah but Fitz and Bianca were complete assholes; I shouldn't of been stupid enough to trust them." Eli shook his head.

"I get where you're coming from; they were the only people that never accepted you. When they finally started to it was like everyone else in the school did as well." Adam's eyebrows furrowed in confusion; wondering how Eli knew exactly what he felt like. A smirk finally settled on Eli's face; he knew he was right. "I went through the same thing before with an old bully of mine. He started to act like he wanted to be my friend instead of just pick on me. I was so ecstatic I didn't stop to think it might've been a way for him to get close so he could attack easier." Adam wondered how he could have a smirk on his face while he talked about an old bully.

"I guess…" Adam finally admitted and Eli smiled; a genuine smile. Clare was beaming as well, her shame and anxiety replaced with happiness.

"We cool?" Eli asked again and Adam smiled.

"Totally." The wrist bumped.

"I guess things are back to normal." Clare exclaimed brightly just as the late bell rang. Her eyes widened in realization and Eli smirked; Clare hated being late.

"Yep, things are back to normal." Adam agreed as Clare scurried off to class with Eli hot on her heels. Adam shook his head, not able to get the smile off his face. He knew things going back to normal meant Fitz, Bianca and Owen would be on his case again. But since he finally had his best friend's back he felt like he could take on anything.

Disclaimer:

I don't –sob- own Degrassi D=

Author's Notes:

I GOT IT UP ON TIME! 8D What now? I'm sooooooooo proud of myself right now it's not even funny 8D I just want to break down and dance as well as burst out in song I'm so friggin' excited~

I'm thinking of working on a little Degrassi crack!fic on the side that stars me and some of the Adam-loving friends I have made on this site xD I don't know if it would be that cool but it's an idea I've been toying with in my head xP I'd probably be the crazy girl that goes to therapy for over-obsessing about one of her classmates (the awesomeness that is Adam) xD I'm really liking this idea more and more, your ideas? Would you want to star in it? Or would it be too stupid? xP

I'm also thinking of ending this fic right here and just coming out with a sequel that goes more into the Adam/Clare/Eli friendship and Adam having to deal with more on his plate because of his aunt~ I'll probably post a little preview here before I get it out though…

So that means this one is over. 8D Holy guacamole! This is the first multi-chapter fanfic I have ever finished on this site. HOLY SHIZNITTLE I AM SO HAPPY ABOUT THAT! 8D

I'd like to thank the academy awards for being too petty to give me an award! 8D xD Just kidding~ But I would like to thank all the reviewers/story alerters and awesome people that I've talked to and stood by me as I wrote the fic 8D

Look out for the sequel xP In the preview (which will be the next chapter on this fic xD) I'll tell people what it's called~ I would tell everyone right now but I just decided to make a sequel a few seconds ago; that's how spontaneous the idea was XD

OCTOBER 8th IS THE DAY EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT IN THE WORLD!!

9 more days until Degrassi is back!

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