Drew's Point of View:
"You're released, Mr. Torres. Hopefully you'll remember our techniques when you get urges to use drugs yeah?" Tammy, the woman who worked at the front desk of Fairchild Rehabilitation Center said as she began filling out forms and I nodded.
"I do, Tammy. Thanks for all you guys have done here. I'm happy to be clean." I said with a smile and Tammy mirrored the smile.
"Do you have someone picking you up today? Is it your friend who admitted you here? Elijah?" Tammy asked as she filed away some papers. I nodded at her words.
"Yeah he's suppose to come pick me up and take us back to his house." I informed Tammy and she softly smiled.
"Well I hope you have a great day, Mr. Torres. It was a pleasure." Tammy told me as she held her hand out and I gladly shook it before leaving the center.
I couldn't believe I had actually made it, I was sure that day a month ago that I wouldn't make it here anymore, but then Alli came.
Alli came and told me that there was still an 'us' and that changed everything.
If 'us' still existed, that meant I still had a chance and I didn't lose her yet, I just needed to give up drugs.
It wasn't easy, I had urges all the time and I had scars on my upper arm from injections that'll haunt me forever and cigarette burnt marks on my arms as well from when I'd stuff my blunt up my shirt sleeve so Eli wouldn't catch me.
But now, I can barely notice the urge and if I do, I simply ignore it and start the techniques the facility had taught me, just to say my surroundings and what I'm doing.
I'm walking down a sidewalk, there's yellow flowers high and tall by the gate, its hot and sunny, there's a pretty brown girl who I love waiting for me.
There's a pretty brown girl who I love waiting for me.
Waiting for me.
Sure enough, Alli was standing there, spinning my car keys around on her small finger as she leaned against my red truck, my red truck which had been confiscated from me by Eli once he admitted me here, saying I'd get it back once I was better.
"Alli?" I asked bewildered. "What are you-" before I could even finish my sentence I felt Alli pounce on me and press her lips against mine feverishly.
It was like heaven all over again, Alli's arms wound around my neck, I dropped my bags so I could hold her by her lower back and press deeper into the kiss, Alli's lips tasted faintly of caramel and that only made me even more elated to have her in my arms at this moment.
Alli slowly pulled away and looked up at me with big brown eyes that I adored and smiled.
"I've had time to think - I've had all freaking summer to think about you, about me, about us and.. Even Fiona and Adam. I've thought.. That they would want us to be happy, Drew. Even though I feel like I'm betraying Fiona, I'm not, I'm making myself happy with you and I know Adam would want you to be happy too now considering you're clean." Alli explained as she grabbed my hand and lightly squeezed it.
"So.. What does this mean then?" I asked her softly as I tried to studied Alli's face, her facial expression showing that she was nervous, yet extremely happy at the same time.
"It means.. It means we're together again - only if you want too." Alli quickly said as her cheeks blushed and I chuckled.
"I'd love for us to be together again gorgeous." I murmured as I pressed my lips against hers once more, before pulling away and snatching my keys from her as I looked around once more, expecting to see Eli around.
"Where's Eli? He's suppose to pick me up." I asked Alli as I threw my bags in the back of my truck and made my way to the passenger door to open it up for Alli and Alli shrugged and sighed, I could tell there was something on her mind.
"Eli called me saying I'd have to come get you today since Clare isn't feeling too good right now." Alli murmured as she bit her lip and got into the car rather quickly not wanting to discuss it any further.
I remember Eli telling me one time how Clare had gotten extremely sick and it scared him half to death considering that the dude loves her, but of course he doesn't even admit that to himself, but she was sick again? I could only feel bad for both Eli and Clare considering that they are pretty much all the other has at times, but Alli knew something.
I knew she knew something.
As I climbed into the drivers seat I looked over at Alli who was texting on her phone and I snatched her phone from her once I saw the huge black letters Clare at the top.
"Hey! Drew, you can't just - don't go through it!" Alli exclaimed flustered and afraid as she tried to reach for the phone, but I turned my back to her and could only feel her clawing at my back to get to her phone as I read the messages between Clare and Alli.
Alli Bhandari:
Ur sick again? :[
Clare Edwards:
It sprung on me this morning. I feel awful.
Alli Bhandari:
Does eli even kno wats wrong with u?
Clare Edwards:
…
Alli Bhandari:
Clare.. U haven't told him huh?
Clare Edwards:
No.. I can't tell him.
Alli Bhandari:
U need 2 before he finds out sum other way. Hes gunna be heart broken clare.
Clare Edwards:
I know.. He's over right now since Darcy had asked him for some help in taking care of me and now he's just worried all over again.
I turned my back slowly and looked at Alli sternly as I saw her sink into her seat.
"What is Clare keeping from Eli, Alli?" I asked her slowly.
Whatever this was, it was serious and if they were keeping it from Eli? Eli of all people who's told Clare everything and she's keeping something from him?
"Alli.. Tell me now or I'll tell Eli, Clare is keeping something from him." I threatened Alli sighed and faced me.
"Clare's dying, Drew. Okay?" Alli murmured as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes.
I looked at Alli incredulous and in utter shock by her words.
"Dying? What.. Alli what are you saying?" I asked her confused.
Alli sighed and wiped her tear that was running down her face.
"Clare was born with HIV when she was a baby. Now she has six years to live and Eli doesn't know. Clare doesn't have the heart to tell him and she needs to because Drew that's why she's always "sick", she's just getting worst and its freaking Eli out." Alli explained briefly.
We sat there in silence as I leaned back into my seat, Clare was the only thing that brought the old Eli back in a long time and now she was dying? That couldn't even be remotely true, at times she seemed so healthy, so glowing, especially with Eli and now.. She wasn't even gonna live to be 22? 23? She'll never live to be in her thirties or forties.
"Holy shit." I muttered as I started ahead, I had gotten use to liking Clare, she was easy to get along with and had a caring and sweet personality and she made my now girlfriend and best friend very happy people, but she's dying.
"Don't tell Eli, Drew. Please." Alli pleaded with me. "Clare needs to tell him herself. That's how it should be." Alli murmured and I sighed and looked at her.
"Alright, I understand that. I won't tell Eli. I just.. Can't believe it. How long have you known for?" I asked Alli quietly and she bit her lip.
"For almost a year, Clare spilled the beans to me and Fiona one night in Fi's condo." Alli murmured.
"Fi knew?" I asked Alli with wide eyes and Alli nodded.
"Fi knew and Fi accepted her for who she was, we both did. Do you?" Alli asked me and I sighed.
"I don't know her that well, Alli. But I'm not gonna stop talking to her because she has some terminal illness, she's still Clare." I informed Alli and Alli slowly smiled before taking my hand and squeezing my fingers.
"That's good, Drew. Now lets go have some fun and celebrate you being released." Alli suggested, trying to change topics, which I was happy to do.
"As you wish baby." I murmured as I put the key in the ignition and began driving with Alli, despite hearing her horrible singing voice singing along with a Selena Gomez song, I couldn't help, but think of Clare and Eli.. I couldn't help but think of how in a few years, everything will be ruined.
Clare's Point of View:
"Shh. Shh baby, it'll be okay." Eli crooned as I laid my head on his chest, feeling the pounding in my head and how sweaty and clammy my whole body was starting to get.
"No.. No it won't be okay." I breathed out truthfully, it was the truth, this won't ever be okay, this illness, it was starting to get the best of me, especially as I'm getting older as well, I just turned sixteen not even a week ago and I'm already dealing with a low day at its ultimate worse and not even that, I didn't want Eli finding out, I didn't want him worried, but of course Darcy needed help since Helen visiting with our aunt, Linda in Ajax and Darcy couldn't deal with me on her own while she was trying to read a selection of books she had to read before returning for the term at college.
But I couldn't help but love the feeling of being in Eli's arms again while he ran a hand through my curls and would occasionally reach down to kiss my forehead.
"Clare.. I'm getting more and more worried, maybe we should go to a doctor or something, get you checked out and see if you're alright." Eli murmured as he ran a hand through my curls.
I groaned and turned around so I was facing him, I could tell I was a mess, and I knew Eli knew I wasn't at my absolute best in the attractive group at the moment, but Eli kept his hands around my body like vices.
"No no. Lay down, don't' sit up or you'll pass out again, you can talk to me while laying down, just don't sit up and pass out again.. Please." Eli begged with me and I noticed how much desperation he had in his voice and I slowly nodded for his benefit as I slowly got under my covers with the help of Eli pulling them back and placing them over my body as he looked down at me with scared frightened green orbs.
"I don't.. I don't need to see a doctor when I'm fine." I croaked out as I closed my eyes as I felt the headache pound harder in my head.
"Yeah you're totally 'fine', Clare, sweetheart, you're a mess right now, I'm scared to even leave you alone right now, I'm afraid something bad is gonna happen to you baby." Eli murmured as he continued to sit next to me and he had a hand on my forehead as he pushed my bangs back and out of my face. I knew he wanted to tell me more, I knew he wanted to force me to go, I knew my temperature was probably scaring him, I knew my whole mess of a body was scaring him even more.
"I am fine. I'll be better by tomorrow and then we can go out and do something with Drew and Alli.. That sounds good.." I murmured as I began to feel drowsy, but Eli was still stroking my hair.
"I don't think you'll be able to double with Drew and Alli, we'll just stay here and let them have the fun alright?" Eli asked softly and I sighed heavily, nodding for his benefit and the fact I was too tired to even respond to him, but I needed to ask him one more thing before I fall asleep.
"Eli.." I whispered.
"Yeah baby?" Eli asked as I felt his fingertips on my cheeks.
"Will you.. Will you be here when I wake up?" I said barely audible and Eli sighed before placing a kiss on my cheek."Of course. Now get some sleep." Eli murmured as I felt him pull the covers higher up on my body.
Eli muttered something else, but soon sleep overcame me and I never heard what he said.
Eli's Point of View:
I looked down at the sickly mess of my beautiful girlfriend who was laying asleep next to me, I felt like a horrible boyfriend, a horrible boyfriend for believing that she was okay again, but she wasn't.
Her fever was already high and she was getting the chills and all I wanted to do was to get her to cooperate and go to the doctors. Just have a doctor check her out, see if she's carrying a virus or an infection - whatever it is, I'll take care of her and make it all go away.
I just wanted it to go away and make my girl smile again and be happy, that's all I wanted.
I sighed and hopped off her bed, making my way to her side before placing a gentle kiss against her scorching hot forehead careful not to awaken her and have her think I'm leaving her, I'd be back in a few minutes, I just needed to talk to Darcy for a bit.
I needed to talk to Darcy about Clare. About what's wrong with Clare, because if Clare refuses to go to the doctor and its obvious Darcy and Clare are both keeping something from me, I'll just have to get it out of Darcy since I don't have the heart to interrogate my sick girlfriend.
As I made my way to Clare's door, I continued to look over my shoulder and bite my lip nervously, I hated leaving her alone in her room when she's sick, she'll think I left her or something. I sighed and quietly exited Clare's room and made my way down stairs and quickly walked into the kitchen where Darcy was having her eyes glued to a book, she looked up at me and threw her book on the table as she stood up and started to leave the kitchen.
"Is Clare okay? Does she need something? What's wrong?" Darcy asked rapidly and I sighed, grabbing her wrist and yanking her back into the kitchen.
"Clare fell asleep right now. I just need to talk to you." I told Darcy seriously and Darcy's body tensed up as she sat down at the table and picked her book up with shaky hands.
"I..I can't talk to you right now. I'm reading." Darcy stammered as she began to read with her hands shaking the book, I'd never seen Darcy so tensed up and nervous, but since this had to do with Clare.. I knew she knew something.
I sat down across from Darcy and plucked the book from her hands, slamming it shut and throwing it on the kitchen counter.
"Hey! I was reading that asshole!" Darcy exclaimed and I groaned and rubbed the bridge of my nose, from having to deal with Darcy and her sketchiness and then with Clare's sickness, I felt like passing out from exhaustion.
"You're not anymore okay? We're gonna talk and we're gonna talk now." I said sternly as I pounded my fist on the kitchen table and Darcy jumped in her chair at my sudden anger burst.
"Sorry.. Sorry.. I'm just.." I tried to explain what I was feeling, but how I could I even begin there? I felt like a million emotions and I had no idea how to even express them.
"Eli.. Hon are you okay?" Darcy crooned as she reached across the table to grab my hand, but I pulled it back as I felt tears stinging in my eyes.
"I don't know what's wrong with her, Darce. I don't know and it makes me feel like a horrible boyfriend." I murmured as I looked up at Darcy and she immediately noticed my tears and her eyes melted into sadness.
"Oh Eli.. Don't beat yourself up over this. You're a great boyfriend to Clare. She's gonna be alright with you here taking care of her and being with her in her time of need okay? Clare's gonna get better and then everything will be alright." Darcy murmured soothingly but I shook my head.
"No, Darce. No. Nothing is gonna be okay. I want her to go to the doctors. Now. I want her to go there and get checked out." I demanded as I felt anger towards Darcy.
Darcy gulped and started nervously picking at her nails.
"We.. We can't." Darcy mumbled.
"Why not? Can you guys not afford it or something, because if you can't - I'll pay!" I exclaimed as I started to fish through my pockets for my wallet and Darcy sighed and shook her head.
"No, Eli. We could afford it. We just.. We can't go okay?" Darcy simply said as her own eyes started to look tired.
"Why not?' I exclaimed once more, aggravated and frustrated with Darcy's simple explanations.
"Why does this bother you so much, Eli? She's just sick." Darcy said with narrowed eyes and I looked at her incredulous.
"The girl I fucking love is sick, Darcy okay? She's not even sick, she's.. its like she's slowly dying and its making me upset and I.. I hate it!" I said flustered and Darcy widened her eyes at my words.
"You.. You love Clare?" Darcy asked with a gape mouth.
I sighed and nodded."I've always loved her. Just.. Just don't tell her right now, I'll tell her when the time is right." I murmured as I twisted the skull ring around my thumb and looked up at Darcy's guilty eyes.
"If only she'll tell you." Darcy mumbled and my head shot up and I looked at Darcy.
"What? Tell me what? Who Clare?" I asked rapidly, not sure if Darcy caught all that I was saying.
"Eli.. Maybe its time you know." Darcy murmured nervously as she looked up at me sadly.
I could only feel my heart drop to my stomach at her words.
KC's Point of View:
"This is just dumb now guys. Literally - look at us now, sitting around, drinking beers and smoking some blunts and now even coming up with anything decent to do to those losers. Its just like.. Fuck." Owen grumbled as she tapped the end of his cigarette on the ash tray and let the ash fall into the tray and I frustratingly pulled my beanie off my hand and threw it at the ground.
"Milligan is right guys. We've wasted a fuckin' summer in my dirty ass apartment coming up with nothing - nothing!" I exclaimed angrily as I took a swig from my beer can and I noticed how Jake who was sitting next to Dave set his barely drunken beer down on the coffee table.
"What about you, Jake. You never have any ideas for this little revenge scheme, tell us what you're little pizza boy delivery mind can tell us." I etched him on as I set my can down and noticed how he looked around at us nervously.
"Uhm.. Yeah I have no ideas guys.. I really don't." Jake mumbled nervously as he began fumbling with his long lanky fingers and I groaned.
"This is shit, this is absolute shit guys." I cursed.
"Why don't we try to hurt them in a different way?" Fitz suggested from his position in the armchair and automatically all of us turned our heads Fitz's way, even Jenna who was too busy filing her nails.
"How bro?" Dave asked as he took a swig from his can.
"Well, I was thinking lately how that chick, Clare is always sick man. Like at school I'd notice her looking weak and I remember when the chick collapsed in the cafeteria her first week and then towards the last days of school, she collapsed again - both times Eli being there. I've also seen her taking pills sometimes too. I think the chick has some disease or something." Fitz informed us as he suckled in some smoke from his cigarette.
I looked at Fitz blankly and blinked my eyes slowly.
"So..? She could have some illness like diabetes or something, how can that help us get revenge on her and her boyfriend?" I asked Fitz and Fitz shrugged.
"I was thinking Eli maybe didn't know, because when he caught her in the hall that one time dude, he looked scared man, like he didn't know what to do." Fitz mentioned and I cocked an eyebrow at him.
"I say we break into Degrassi and steal her records - steal Eli and Drew's too, get some dirt off of those two as well. Maybe we can find out what Clare has and maybe.. Just maybe we can use it against those two or we can tell the whole school." Owen suggested with a devilish smile and I smirked at my respected clique.
"Now this is something interesting." Jenna murmured, but no one really paid attention to her words.
"Boys. This is how revenge is served - sneaky with a side of deep dark secrets." I said with a smirk as I leaned back into my couch, taking a long hefty swig from my beer can before thinking of how everything can somehow be better now.
Eli's Point of View:
My heart beat was quickening as I noticed Darcy was about to finally tell me what I needed to know, what I had to know.
But before Darcy could even utter the words, faint footsteps entered to the doorway of the kitchen, I turned around to see Clare had awakened and was rubbing her eyes drowsily as she looked at me with a bit of happiness in her eyes.
"I.. I woke up and you weren't there, but you said you were gonna be there and you weren't, so I came downstairs and hoped you were.. Were downstairs and you were." Clare whispered hoarsely as I noticed how her alarmingly red face was now not so alarmingly red.
As I leaped from my chair, I could hear Darcy let out a huge air of relief from behind me as I approached Clare and placed my hands on her face."You're still warm.. Not as much as before, but at least its starting to go down." I murmured as I softly kissed her forehead. "Now lets go back upstairs and get you some more sleep, this time I promise I'll stay there okay?" I promised Clare and Clare nodded as she leaned into my frame drowsily and I sighed, picking her up in my arms, one arm locking under her leg and the other under her head as she snuggled into my chest.
I slowly made my way up the stairs and back into Clare's room where I noticed that Clare had 'The Notebook' or as we called it 'The Folder' laying on her bed and as I gently set Clare down on her side and tucked the covers around her, I saw as she noticed that I had the DVD now in my hand and she smiled.
"Can we watch it while I try to fall back asleep?" Clare murmured and I nodded.
"Yeah baby. Of course." I said with a smirk as I approached her DVD player and popped the disc into her player once more, as the movie began playing, I was sure Clare knew the movie, line for line, but it always somewhat soothed her into sleep.
As I climbed into what I considered my side of the bed, I felt Clare move closer to me and then lazily lay herself on my lap, her face looking up at my face and I smiled, liking this seating arrangement better now that I could see her face better.
"Baby.. I'm gonna be fine alright? Don't harbor Darcy for questions when I'm fine okay? I'm fine.." Clare whispered as she grabbed onto my hand weakly and I sighed, nodding along to her words for her benefit when I knew exactly that Clare wasn't fine.
Clare was sick - definitely sick and I didn't know what was wrong with her, but I almost got the information from Darcy, hopefully I could get it from her or Clare, or anyone else I suspects know it too.
I just wanted to know what is wrong with my girl.
A/N: Hey guys! I notice the questions in the reviews again, and if you wanna ask those questions, please ask them there at l u n r u s t i n. t u m b l r . c o m. I'm always on there and will always answer questions hah. Anyways! Big stuff in this story is coming up! So please review! I'm close to 400 reviews! THAT'S CRAZY! Please review!