Welcome to this brand new story and my first ever Flew story!

Legal: I own nothing but the idea.

Important things to know before reading:

*We start with Vegas Night and everything is pretty much cannon up to Vegas Night. I've changed a little for the story about that night, mainly that Audra doesn't find Drew and Alli in the boiler room.

*Spinner is still in town and running The Dot and is engaged to Paige whom is also still in town.

The rest is in the story so enjoy!

Ch. 1 From One Little Dance

(CLARE)

I watch as Fitz is led away in handcuffs, the colored lights of the police car dancing over my face and the DeGrassi entrance. Even knowing how this all started this is not at all the way I thought the night would end up.

"I have to go give a statement; will you get home okay?" Eli asks me.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I assure him.

"I'll call you tomorrow," Eli says giving me a soft kiss.

I try to smile, but I just can't get my lips to form a smile right now. Eli goes with the officer to another car; he is put in the back, but this car doesn't have lights on. I watch them pull away and go inside to get my purse from my locker.

"GO TO HELL DREW YOU ARE SUCH A PIG I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVER LIKED YOU. I CAN'T BELIEVE I EVER LET THOSE DISGUSTING LIPS TOUCH ME. I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I ALMOST DID WITH OWEN TO GET BACK AT YOU! YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME ANDREW TORRES," Alli screams pushing Drew with all the angry strength in her body. Drew stumbles back into me while Alli runs out the front door in tears.

"Sorry Clare, are you okay?" Drew asks straightening up before we both end up on the ground.

"Not at all, but you didn't hurt me," I reply.

"Some night huh?" Drew says rocking back on his heels.

"Yeah," I sigh looking out at the police cars, "why is Alli so mad at you?"

"I screwed up and was tempted by Bianca, I let her blow me in the boiler room, how low does that make me?" Drew asks. I don't know how to respond so I just shrug. "Not as low as I feel right now. I messed up big by letting Alli find out, by ever going to the boiler room with Bianca in the first place. Alli almost did something with Owen to get back at me, but I stopped her, and we started fighting, you saw the end of it. What's with the cop cars?"

"Fitz got arrested for threatening Eli with a knife, after Eli poisoned Fitz with ipecac," I enlighten Drew and his mouth drops open.

"Fuck, I knew Eli wouldn't be happy that you were going with Fitz tonight, but I didn't think he'd poison him. Not sure which of us had a worse night," Drew remarks.

"Yeah," I sigh watching as the last cop car leaves the parking lot, "I'm gonna go get my purse from my locker and walk home."

"Oh Clare," Audra says suddenly from behind me. I had no idea she was there or when she showed up and I jump, stifling a shriek into a gasp. Drew bites back a laugh and puts his hand on my arm. "You can't walk home alone at this hour, we'll give you a ride," Audra asserts.

"Okay, thanks," I nod.

"Drew I was looking for you, where have you been?" Audra asks and Drew opens his mouth to answer, but she keeps talking. "Adam is in the washroom go take Clare to get her purse and come right back here," Audra tells him.

"Yes Ma'am", Drew puts a hand at my back and we start walking down the hall.

"She does realize we're in the school and I'm just going to my locker right?" I question when we're away from Audra.

"Yeah, but she's overprotective, and there were cop cars out front," Drew says. He comes with me to my locker and I grab my purse. When we get back to the foyer Audra is waiting with Adam.

"Where's Eli?" Adam asks.

"At the police station giving a statement," I tell him as we begin walking out.

"Giving a statement?" Audra questions.

"Eli poisoned Fitz with ipecac and made him sick so Fitz threatened Eli with a knife," I tell them.

"You mean Eli was involved in the reason for the lockdown? Poisoning, knife threats, what is that principal doing to this school?" Audra huffs with exasperation.

I don't say anything as we get in the minivan. Drew sits up front with his mom while Adam and I sit in the middle. No one says anything, it's a very silent ride to my house.

"Your house looks awfully dark Clare," Audra comments when she pulls into my driveway.

"Yeah, guess my parents went out," I comment pulling out my phone. "I don't have any messages or missed calls from them, but I'm sure they'll be home soon."

"No, I think you should come home with us and they can pick you up later. I don't want to leave you in a dark house alone, not after tonight," Audra says.

I don't feel like arguing so I don't, I also don't feel like being alone tonight after what happened. Audra pulls away from my house turning in the other direction driving to their house. It's another silent drive, but I do remember to text Mom and tell her that I'm going to Adam's.

When we get to the Torres house we say hi to Omar and then Adam says we'll be in the basement. It's not even nine yet, all of our evenings ended early. Adam and I sit on the sectional sofa and Drew gets some drinks from the fridge down here.

"So, was Eli arrested?" Adam questions.

"No, but Fitz was. I like Eli, but his behavior can be pretty frightening. How many guys would poison a another guy because I accepted a date with him? Anger I expected, but intentionally making Fitz sick? He really could have hurt Fitz. Of course, Fitz really could have hurt Eli with the knife too, but Fitz never would have threatened Eli if Eli had never poisoned him. Before Eli intentionally sabotaged it I was having a pretty good time with Fitz."

"Yeah, that's pretty extreme. What do you see in Eli?" Drew asks.

"Just now I'm having trouble remembering," I sigh.

"Yeah," Drew sighs in nearly the same way, "I'm trying to remember what I like about Alli. You know, besides the fact that she's hot."

"Is that what you liked about Bianca? Or did that matter at all when she offered to give you a blow job?" Adam provokes his brother.

"I was weak, I know that Adam," Drew says his head flopping back onto the cushions.

"Let's put on a movie, this talk is starting to depress me," Adam comments leaning forward to grab the remote from the coffee table.

Adam turns on the TV and we spend the next couple of hours watching a movie. Around eleven my mom calls and I tell her I'm still at Adam's so she says she'll come pick me up. When I hear the doorbell I know Mom is here and I grab my purse.

"Later Clare," Drew says.

"Bye Drew," I call as Adam and I go upstairs.

"Thanks for having her Audra I didn't know Randall was going to be gone tonight," Mom is saying when I get upstairs.

"No problem, she's welcome any time," Audra replies.

"Come on Honey, let's go home," Mom smiles stroking my hair.

"I'll call you this weekend," Adam says pulling me into a tight hug.

"Bye Adam," I wave leaving through the door with mom and going to her car.

"I was helping Father Michael at church, I didn't expect it to go this late," Mom says as soon as we're in the car and on the way home. "I did expect your father to be home, where on earth could he be so late on a Friday night? He knew I was going out. He couldn't possibly be working this late on a Friday."

I'm sure my mom is right, but if Dad isn't working then what could he be doing? I'm sure I don't want to think about the alternatives.

"He probably went for a drink with Brad and the guys," I try to assure Mom and myself.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it, but I wish he'd left a note," Mom comments.

We're silent for the rest of the drive, and Dad still isn't home when we get there. Mom goes straight to her room, she doesn't even turn on the porch light for Dad. I go to my room and take off my dress for the dance, after tonight I don't ever want to wear this again. After I wash these clothes they're going straight to the donation pile.

I start to change into my pajamas and Alli calls. She spends the next hour sobbing over how much of a stupid horny teenage guy jerk Drew is. How stupid she almost was with Owen, and how gross Owen is. When she finds out about Eli and Fitz she claims that every male in existence is an ass and she wishes she was a lesbian. She finally gets off the phone when her dad tells her to.

I look at my phone, it's eight minutes after midnight now and my dad still isn't home. He's never stayed out this late that I can remember. Except for when he got stuck in the snow coming home from my grandma's and didn't get in until nearly four in the morning. He hasn't been to my grandma's though, and if he had to go out of town suddenly he would have called or at least left a note.

I stay up all night wondering where my dad is, why he isn't home. When I'm not thinking about that I'm thinking about Eli and his behavior. I can't sleep all night, I get up at dawn and take a shower, my dad still isn't home. It wasn't even snowing last night, but I'm starting to fear that he got in an accident. When I get out of the shower I hear my parents arguing downstairs. I lean in the hallway listening to their argument, as painful as it is.

"AT THE OFFICE ALL NIGHT, REALLY RANDALL?" Mom yells.

"I told you Helen I had to work late and fell asleep on the sofa in my office," Dad says in a loud voice.

"Lower your voice, Clare will hear us," Mom snaps at him.

"I'm not the one yelling," Dad snaps back.

"If you had to work why didn't you call? You didn't even leave a note."

"I didn't think I'd be out that long, and you were already going to be gone late at your church thing," Dad growls.

I can't listen anymore and I go into my room. I hate the way my parents are fighting and it's happening more and more. Even with my door closed I can still hear their muffled angry voices. I don't want to be here so I get dressed and walk to The Dot, they don't even notice I'm leaving. I order a large mocha and a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast. I eat as slowly as I can, I really don't want to go home. As I'm contemplating walking to Adam's house my phone rings, I look at the display and see that it's Eli.

"Hi, how was the police station last night?"

"Sucked, but Fitz isn't pressing charges I got off with a warning and Officer Turner warning me about the dangers of hurting others. Simpson called my parents and I've got a week's suspension when school is back. I'm fine with that, it just means I get a longer break. My parents are not happy though, I have a whole list of chores at my grandma's house."

"It could be worse, you're lucky Fitz isn't pressing charges. A list of chores and a longer break doesn't sound so bad."

"Yeah, but we leave for my grandma's in an hour and I'm pretty much on lockdown when I get back. I'm not sure when I'll see you," Eli tells me.

"I'll miss you over break, have a good time at your grandma's. It still sounds better than my break," I sigh.

"Everything okay?" Eli asks.

"Yeah, just my parents."

"Still fighting?"

"Yeah, my dad was out all night. He says he fell asleep at the office," I tell him and hear his dad calling for him in the background.

"I gotta go, I'm sorry about your parents Clare. I'll call you tonight," Eli says and hangs up.

I order another coffee and avoid home for a little longer. I'm happy to see Adam walk through the doors when I'm nearly done with my coffee. He orders and sits with me, he tells me Drew tried to apologize to Alli this morning. She called him a disgusting neanderthal and said she never wanted to see him again and they are definitely done. Drew is upset but Audra is happy about it, she never really liked Alli. I tell Adam about my dad being out all night and my parents fighting, then about what Eli told me.

"Eli's gone, Alli's going to be wallowing in her breakup and I don't want to go home," I lament.

"Yeah, I don't want to go home either. Mom is on a tirade over what happened at school last night and Drew is in a funk over Alli. So, let's not go home, I say we take the bus to Queen Street and spend all Saturday away from home and our problems until our moms call us and demand we come home."

"Adam, that is the best idea I've heard in a long time," I smile standing up, "let's get out of here, I feel like running away for the day."

(FITZ)

"You got lucky Fitz, the judge may not have been so lenient if we hadn't had Mr. Goldsworthy's statement substantiating the feud. Along with the evidence of the abusive home, you are very lucky you didn't get any time in a juvenile facility," Frank says. Frank is my appointed council and I just got out of seeing the judge. It was just me, my council and the judge with written statements from others. It's been five days since Vegas Night.

"I know," I nod. I got a year's probation and fifty hours of community service, plus two weeks suspension when school is back. Of course, that came from Simpson not the judge.

"Hank Harper is your parole officer, he'll be in touch about meeting with him. Fitz, the judge is right you need to get out of your home. I suggest you look for a job and when you're back in school keep your grades up," Frank tells me.

"Yeah, I will," I nod.

"I don't want to see you in the courtroom again Fitz, stay out of trouble," Frank says.

"I will, thanks Frank," I say shaking his hand.

I leave the courthouse and go out to my car, I take off the suit jacket and tie and change from the dress shirt putting on a T-shirt. I know the judge and Frank are right about me getting out of the house. I'd never cause so much trouble or be such a bully if my stepdad and stepbrother weren't total fucking losers that think I'm their personal punching bag. I need a job, but I've been arrested twice, who's going to hire a sixteen-year-old loser like me?

I start driving with no particular destination in mind. After deciding that I need a caffeine fix I drive to The Dot. I park and get out, noticing a sign in the window that says Help Wanted and I see a spark of hope. Spinner knows me, which might work against me, but he spent his fair share of time in the ravine too.

"Hey Fitz, what can I get you?" Spinner asks.

"A large cinnamon latte," I say taking out my wallet as he rings me up. "You still looking for help?" I ask nodding to the sign in the window.

"Yeah, I'll get you an application," Spin tells me. He gives me my change and starts making my latte, he hands it to me with a piece of paper. "Fill this out and come back tomorrow for an interview, let's say eleven."

"Thanks Spin, I'll be here at eleven," I smile taking the application and my coffee out to my car. I need to fill out the application if I take it home then Steve or Rudy could find it and destroy it. I get out my phone and call Owen, I was going to spend Christmas with him and his family anyway, as I usually do. Hopefully, they won't mind me coming over a couple of days early.

"Hey Fitz, how'd it go with the judge?" Owen asks upon answering the phone.

"Pretty good actually, can I come over?"

"Yeah, I'm just hanging out come on over. I have to warn you though Tris has some friends over. They're watching some musical and singing along to it."

"That's okay, we can stay in your room. I'm just at The Dot I'll be there soon," I tell him and hang up. I drive to Owen's and knock on the door, Tris opens it and lets me in. I go up to Owen's room and knock on his bedroom door, he's got music on to help drown out his brother and his friends.

"So, what did the judge say?" Owen asks.

"That given the extenuating circumstances and evidence of my abusive household he was giving me a chance to make a better life. A years probation and fifty hours of community service, plus the two weeks suspension from Simpson. Both the judge and my council told me to get out of the house and on my own. To do that though I need a job, that's what this is," I tell him holding up the piece of paper, "a job application to work at The Dot. Spinner said to fill it out and come in for an interview at eleven tomorrow."

"Hey, that's great, I bet Spin will give you the job and you definitely need to get out of that house. You're lucky the judge listened and went easy on you, threatening a kid with a knife could have put you in juvie."

"Yeah, but all the statements from people helped, including Eli's where he admitted to poisoning me with ipecac. I gotta fill this out though, you want to help me? Never filled out a job application before."

"Sure, but neither have I, how hard can it be though?" Owen shrugs.

We start filling out the application and while doing so I get a call from my parole officer. He wants to meet at noon tomorrow. I tell him I have a job interview at eleven, so he tells me to call him after the interview and wishes me luck. We get the application filled out and Owen orders a pizza, and we watch a movie in his room. I eat dinner with his family and his parents say I should sleep there and stay through Christmas as I'll be with them for Christmas anyway. Owen's parents, Connie and Simon, and even Tris are happy to hear the judge went easy on me, and that I'm working on steps to get out of my house.

Owen and I stay up kind of late but I'm up plenty early the next morning. I shower and get into the clothes I wore to court yesterday. I figure it's appropriate for both the interview and meeting with my parole officer. I'm too nervous to eat and leave early to get to The Dot. Spinner is serving customers and says he'll be with me in a moment. When he's done he tells the other employee behind the counter that we'll be in back. Then he brings me into the back, past the kitchen and into what seems to be the employee lounge. In the back is a small office and that's where we go, it must be Spin's office, it's kind of a mess.

"Sorry about the mess, Paige helps me keep it organized usually, but she's been so busy at work. Have a seat," Spinner says motioning to the chair on one side of the desk. I sit down and Spin looks over my application. "You got arrested after the trouble at Vegas Night and you were arrested once before?" Spinner asks and I feel a pit in my stomach.

"Yes, but they were both Eli's fault…sort of, I mean he put ipecac into my drink at the dance and I was angry. I know threatening him with a knife was bad b…"

"Relax Fitz," Spinner says calmly, "I'm not accusing you of anything it's just a question. You had to fill out that part of the application. I got into trouble at your age too, and it ended much worse than scaring a kid with a knife. It ended with my best friend at the time in a wheelchair, probably for the rest of his life. I was young, bull-headed and not thinking about repercussions."

"Yeah, I'm definitely guilty of that. I know it was bad and a lot of times I react with anger or use fear. It has a lot to do with my home life. I'm not saying it wasn't my fault, I went after Eli and Adam and I made the decision to scare Eli with the knife. Forcing Clare to go with me to Vegas Night I knew would provoke Eli, it was intentional."

"She didn't tell me she went to Vegas Night with you," Spinner says half under his breath, and I wonder why Clare would have mentioned it to Spinner at all. Then he kind of shakes his head as though shaking away the thought to get back to the interview. "Things bad at home?"

"My stepdad and stepbrother make it pretty miserable for me, and my mom always takes their side. That's why I need the job though, I want to take the steps to get out of my home. Which means a job and raising my grades when I'm back at DeGrassi. I've thought about it before, but seeing the judge yesterday he really encouraged me to do so."

"What did happen with the judge yesterday?"

"A year's probation and fifty hours of community service, and Simpson gave me two weeks suspension."

"I believe you're serious about making a change and the job is yours. We're closed the next two days for Christmas and Christmas Eve, but I'd need you to start the 26th."

"I can do that," I smile feeling a swell of pride that I have the job, "thank you Spin you won't regret this. I'll work really hard, and take any shifts, well that won't conflict with school."

"I was thinking full time until you're back at DeGrassi, after that three after school shifts a week and at least one weekend day. If you think you can handle more than that we can add more shifts, but I don't want your grades to slip."

"Thanks Spin, I'll keep up my grades I promise."

"One more thing before we get to the new hire paperwork. Clare, Eli and Adam and anyone else you've bullied at DeGrassi are going to come in here, everyone from DeGrassi does. You're going to have to be okay serving them, taking their orders, being humble to them," Spinner warns me.

"I know," I nod, "I can do that. Customer is always right, right?"

"Not always, but most of the time. If you've got some time now there's a bunch of paperwork to fill out."

I spend the next hour filling out paperwork and Spinner shows me around when I'm done. He shows me how to log into the computer to clock in and out. He wants me to open with him on the 26th which means getting here at 5:30AM. I've never been awake that early without staying up all night, but I tell him I'll do it and I'm determined to. I'm not looking forward to getting up so early, but I have a job and I feel good.

When I get back to my car I call my parole office and he asks if I got the job. I tell him I did and that I don't have the complete schedule but tell him the proposed schedule Spinner gave me. I talk to the parole officer for about twenty minutes. He says the job is good and getting out of my house is good and he can help with that. Tells me my grades need to be kept up and I have to check in with him once a week by phone and we'll meet once a month in person. If I miss one check in then it will be every day until he can trust me again. I tell him it won't be a problem and he tells me to check in with him next Wednesday any time before four. When I hang up with him I make sure to put a reminder in my phone to check in with him.

"How'd it go?" Owen asks when I get back to his place.

"Great, Spin gave me the job, I start on Boxing Day at 5:30AM."

"Ouch, that's early," Owen says making a face.

"Yeah, but I need the job and I'm determined to do it. Spinner seems like he's going to be a good boss. My parole officer was happy I got the job too, and I just need to make sure I check in with him by phone once a week, in person once a month. He even said he'll help me move out on my own if I need it."

"Sweet, seems like everything is working out for you," Owen comments.

"Yeah, there's just one thing I gotta do first."

"What's that?"

"If I'm going to be serving Clare, Adam and Eli at The Dot then I need to apologize, at least try."

"Yeah," Owen nods, "I have some apologizing to do as well. So does Bianca, maybe we can go together."

(CLARE)

My boots kick through the snow leading down to the Torres basement. I took a chance that The Torres boys were home on Christmas Eve, or that at least Adam was. When I reach the basement door I see both brothers sitting on the sofa watching a movie. When they notice me at the door Adam waves me in, I open the door and kick the snow from my boots as I step inside.

"Hey Clare," both brothers say at nearly the same time.

"Hi, is it alright if I hang out for a while? I had to escape my house and The Dot is closed today," I huff taking off my coat and walking to the sofa to sit down.

"Yeah, of course," Adam smiles.

"Things not so good at home?" Drew questions.

"My parents have been fighting constantly, I couldn't take it. Not today, we're supposed to be spending today together as a family. I don't think they even realize I'm gone. Instead of a happy family Christmas I foresee a depressing lonely holiday," I lament.

"I'm sorry Clare," Adam says patting my back lightly, "it's just the four of us for Christmas and you're always welcome here."

"Yeah, you can hang out here any time," Drew nods.

"Of course, you'll have to put up with Drew whining over Alli and then questioning why he was ever with her," Adam comments.

"Hey, I don't whine over Alli that much," Drew grimaces smacking his brother with a pillow. "I do question what I ever saw in Alli. I swear I'll never fall for just a pretty face again," Drew sighs. Adam rolls his eyes as we hear the door to upstairs open and Audra comes down.

"Drew the clinic called, you're clean, you're very lucky," Audra says and then seems to notice me. "Hello Clare, when did you get here Dear?"

"She came over a few minutes ago, her parents are fighting a lot. I told her she could hang out here if she needed to, since we're not going anywhere for Christmas," Adam says. The last part is said with unmistakable bitterness in his tone.

"Yes, of course that's fine, you're welcome over any time Clare. I'm sorry your parents have been fighting so much," Audra smiles kindly and returns upstairs closing the door behind her.

"Clinic?" I ask Drew and he responds by groaning, his head falling back and his eyes closing.

"Mom made him go to the clinic to get tested for STIs," Adam laughs.

"So, why aren't you guys going anywhere for Christmas?" I question.

"Because Mom doesn't want the rest of the family to meet me as Adam over the holidays," Adam sighs.

"Sorry Adam, but at least I have you guys this Christmas, since I don't have my family," I comment and Adam hugs me.

We fall silent for a few minutes watching the movie, I have no idea what's going on in the movie as I came in halfway through it. It's not a movie I'd normally watch, but it's still better than being at home with my parents fighting. When I see figures at the sliding glass door from the corner of my eye I look over. I'm a little surprised to see Owen and Fitz on the other side of the door. Apparently so are Adam and Drew.

"What are they doing here?" Adam asks as he pauses the movie.

"Not sure," Drew says getting up. Adam and I get up as well following Drew to the sliding glass door as he opens it. "What do you guys want?" Drew asks standing stiff and tall, ready to fight. By Adam's body language I can tell that he's also ready to fight.

"Easy Drew, we're not here to fight, can we come in?" Owen asks. Drew looks them over a second before reluctantly stepping aside to let them in.

"Thanks," Fitz smiles and his smile widens a little when he sees I'm here. "It's good you're here Clare, we came to apologize and I need to apologize to you as well. Adam I'm sorry for hassling you, it was dumb. I can't say understand the whole…thing," Fitz says cautiously, "but that doesn't excuse my behavior. Not understanding and giving you shit for being who you are two different things and one of them I have no excuse for. I meant what I said, I'm over it if you are?"

"Thanks Fitz," Adam nods.

"Drew I'm sorry for fighting with you after hassling your brother. It was dumb, I don't always think," Fitz tells him apologetically.

"It's cool, I've been guilty of the same," Drew replies.

"Clare I'm sorry for feuding with Eli, and for forcing you into Vegas Night to get back at him. I never would have hurt him with the knife, I just wanted to scare him. I was angry after the ipecac and throwing up in front of everyone. Like I said I don't always think, if I had I would have thought better of doing something so stupid. I really am sorry," Fitz says with a remorseful tone and penance in his eyes.

"Thanks Fitz, that means a lot," I smile.

"I don't know if Eli will actually listen, but will you tell him I'm sorry when you talk to him?" Fitz requests.

"I will," I nod. I hope Eli will listen, but I have to agree with Fitz, I don't know that Eli will.

"Drew I'm sorry for hazing you with Riley, I don't always think either. Adam we never should have hassled you, Bianca wanted us to and we did it because a friend asked. It was stupid and juvenile and never should have happened. I'm sorry to both of you, for everything we did, I did. You're a great football player Drew, I'm glad you were on the team this year. Adam, you seem like a cool guy, what we did was so stupid an apology doesn't seem adequate. My…I…" Owen stumbles like he wants to say something else but isn't sure how to. He rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably and then clears his throat, "Anyway, I'm really sorry."

"Thanks Owen," Drew nods.

"Yeah, thanks," Adam smiles.

"I'm also sorry for what happened with Alli on Vegas Night, she was vulnerable and I swooped in. I shouldn't have, it was low, and stupid and I'm glad you stopped us," Owen tells Drew.

"Yeah, me too," Drew says.

"Clare, I've barely spoken to you so I have nothing to apologize to you for. Bianca wanted us to express her apologies for her Adam, she's very sorry for everything she did to you, and asked us to do. She would have come, but she was sure that Drew wouldn't want to see her," Owen says.

"She was right," Drew grumbles.

"You guys feeling especially apologetic on Christmas Eve or did the judge come down on you pretty hard Fitz?" Adam questions.

"Actually, the judge went pretty easy on me because of extenuating circumstances. Eli confessed to poisoning me in his statement. Plus my council showed overwhelming evidence of an abusive household," Fitz says and Owen interjects.

"Yeah, because his stepdad and stepbrother treat him like a punching bag and his mom looks the other way," Owen tells us.

"Oh, Fitz," I exhale and bite my lip.

"Yeah, well the judge recommended I get out of my house, my council agreed, so does my parole officer. I'm old enough now to live on my own and I'm taking steps to do just that. In fact, I got a job, I start on the 26th at The Dot. Spinner was willing to give me a chance, but knowing that I'd be serving you guys I knew I had to apologize. It still might be awkward but it's a step in the right direction, I hope?"

"Yes Fitz, a big step," I smile.

"When Fitz said he was apologizing I realized I need to as well," Owen says.

"Thanks, it's been a long time coming, but better late than never I guess. Congrats on the job Fitz, I hope getting out the house helps," Drew says shaking Fitz's hand and then Owen's.

"Yeah, thanks for apologizing finally. I can put it all behind me if you guys can," Adam says shaking their hands.

"Forgotten," Owen says.

"Yeah, water under the bridge," Fitz nods.

"Guess I'll see you at The Dot over break then," I smile at Fitz.

"Probably the only place you'll see me for the next few weeks, Simpson suspended me for two weeks. Anyway, we should get going, see you guys around," Fitz says and then he and Owen leave.

"You think Eli will listen to Fitz's apology?" Drew asks as we sit back on the sofa.

Adam and I exchange a look before we both say, "Doubtful."