Ch. 3 The Day Starts Like the Rest I've Seen
(CLARE)
I hadn't slept at all New Year's Eve, my mind was too occupied with boys, three in particular. I hadn't heard from a single one New Year's Day, though I slept until two myself. I was awake all night again, thankfully it was the weekend and I wasn't back at school until Monday, so I had some time. I do wish that my mind would stop thinking about Drew, Eli and Fitz however, I hated that they consumed my mind so much. I hadn't slept again and thus I found myself at The Dot on this chilly second morning of January, before the café was even open.
"I thought I was the only one up this early," Spinner comments letting me inside the café. Paige is here too, and she smiles at me.
"Uh oh, you have thinky boy face," Paige remarks.
"What?" Spinner questions.
"It's fine Hun, we're going to go back to your office for girl talk," Paige says taking my hand.
"You know, neither of you are actually employees," Spinner points out. Paige doesn't say anything, just gives him a grin and a wink as we go into the back.
"Okay, so do tell all about the boy that has your mind so consumed. What's he like? How do you feel about him? Does he feel the same way about you?" Paige asks when we're in Spinner's office.
"There's three boys actually," I confess.
"Ooh, three boys, even better, tell me about each of them," Paige encourages.
"Well, there's Drew, he's a year older than me, he's also my best friend's brother. He and my female best friend broke up recently, so that would be one obstacle. Of course, the fact that he's Adam's older brother could be another obstacle. I don't really know how I feel about him, I really hadn't ever thought of him that way before. That is until New Year's Eve, we were alone at midnight and he kissed me, not a peck either, a true kiss. It was passionate and gave me butterflies."
"Sounds hot," Paige grins.
"It was, very hot, but like I said I've never thought about him that way before. I really have no idea how he feels about me, other than thinking of me as Adam's best friend. I don't know if he kissed me because he wanted to or because we were alone at midnight. I have no idea what he thought of the kiss or if he felt the same way. Even though I'm not sure how I feel about him, I can't stop thinking of the kiss."
"Sounds like there may be some obstacles in being with Drew, but if you really like each other don't let that stop you. Both your best friends should be understanding and only care that it's what you both want and you're both happy. Of course, then there's the matter of how he feels. You can always ask him, but if you're too scared to do that feel him out," Paige suggests.
"What do you mean?"
"When you're back at school Monday see if he smiles at you, finds reasons to be around you, goes out of his way to greet you or do things for you. It may not be as obvious as flirting or asking you out, but if he's finding reasons to be around you or make you notice him then he definitely has feelings for you. Okay, next boy?" Paige asks.
"Fitz, much like Drew I never really thought about Fitz that way. I did go to Vegas Night with him, but only because he said he wouldn't hurt Eli or Adam if I did. I did have a good time with him though, for the amount of time we had anyway. He was sweet and cute, I saw a different side to him, his real side I guess, it seems like the bully was his defense mechanism. In the few times I've seen him since the dance he's been sweet, genuine, he even apologized for everything. He seems to be doing good working here."
"He definitely is, Spin says he's one of his hardest workers, Fitz is cute too, so what's the problem?"
"The problem is he was feuding with Eli for most of the semester, and Eli refuses to hear Fitz's apology. Despite asking me to Vegas Night I don't know that he has any real interest in me. I was certain that he only asked me to Vegas Night to get back at Eli. Drew on the other hand thinks Fitz had other motives in asking me to Vegas Night."
"Sounds like you need to feel out Fitz the same way you do Drew. I'm betting the other boy is Eli?"
"Yeah, and I know that he does have feelings for me, and I have feelings for him. So, you'd think the choice would be simple, but it's not that easy."
"Never is Hun, so tell me all about Eli. What do you like about him? What's making it complicated?"
"I like how we can talk, have these deep conversations, of course I can have those with Adam too. Eli and I have a lot of things in common, we like so much of the same literature, art and movies. He's really cute, with captivating green eyes, and he can be really sweet and thoughtful. He can also be scary, like poisoning Fitz with ipecac. Then there's Julia, his dead ex-girlfriend that I hope he's over now. How's that for complicated?"
"That does sound pretty complicated. I think you should feel out Drew and Fitz, see if there's something there. You already know you have feelings for Eli, and that he has feelings for you. Which is good, but I think you need to feel him out too, you can go on some dates with him, see how deep your feelings are. Also, test out his behavior, poisoning someone is pretty extreme, even if it was just ipecac. You'll have to test the waters and see if your feelings for Eli are strong enough to withstand his behavior or help him with it. You might be the inspiration he needs to change, or you may decide you're better as friends and he still needs time to get over Julia."
"Thanks Paige, this talk helped a lot," I smile.
"Anytime Sweetie Pie, now let's go out front and get some coffee from Spin."
We go out front and both order coffee, Paige stays a few minutes before leaving. I also order some breakfast and I spend a couple of hours at the café. So, I'm here when Fitz gets in for his shift. He smiles at me and I smile back, maybe Drew was right. A smile is all I get as he spends the rest of the time working.
Alli and Sav come in just after eight and I leave with them, returning to the Bhandari house where I spend the day. I stay for dinner and then Sav and Alli take me home. My house is empty, my parents are gone, there's no note or anything. Although, they did both know I was staying at Alli's for dinner.
Dad is out early Sunday, says he has to work, Mom and I go to church and spend the day running errands. As much as I like school and am generally looking forward to it, I've never been so happy for Monday morning to come. Monday means the distraction of school and not wallowing in my parents current misery. I'm out of the house and away from my parents and can probably stay away until dinner or even longer.
I walk into school, waving to Alli and Jenna, then I see Drew talking with K.C. and Dave. I blush and bite my lip, thinking of our kiss. He doesn't see me though; he's got his back to me and I almost run into Adam.
"Sorry Adam, I was a little distracted," I apologize.
"That's okay, you headed to your locker?" Adam questions and I nod. "I'll go with you," he smiles.
I'm happy to have Adam and my friends in my homeroom class. In second period I don't really know anyone in the class, though there is an empty desk today. I eat lunch with Adam, Alli and the others in the caf. Alli spends most of lunch glaring at Drew or complaining about him. We have science after lunch, it's always a good class, one I enjoy and one that Mr. Bettenkamp tries very hard to make engaging for us. I'm quite happy to see Drew in my fourth period class. Broadcast and print production doesn't seem like a class Drew would take, but I'm glad to see him in here.
I take the desk next to his and he smiles at me. The class is good, but Drew doesn't look at me again all through class, and never mentions the kiss. He never flirts or goes out of his way to touch me or spend time with me. So, by the end of the class I'm convinced he's not interested and only kissed me because I was with him at midnight. I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed that Drew is off the table, so to speak. I guess I'll have to feel out Fitz and Eli when they return to school.
I don't want to walk home or take the bus but am happy to see Eli waiting in Morty. I know he's here for me, so I smile and walk over.
"I thought you might want a lift home," Eli smiles getting out of the car to open my door.
"Thanks, I was just thinking how I didn't want to walk home, or take the bus," I smile kissing his cheek before I slide into the car.
"Happy to be your chariot any time my lady," Eli smirks as he gets into the driver's side. "If you're not too anxious to get home I thought we could go down to Queen Street? Get some coffee, something to eat, you can tell me how awful your first day back at school was."
"I'm in no rush to get home, going down to Queen Street sounds great. Today wasn't awful though," I tell Eli as he begins driving.
"Must have been nice without Fitz," Eli remarks.
"Eli, Fitz is not that bad, he's changed, and he apologized. He'd apologize to you as well if you'd give him half a chance."
"I don't want to give him half a chance," Eli says, and I huff. I really don't want the two of them to be feuding again this semester.
"Are you getting your homework for all your classes? You're not going to be a week behind are you?"
"No, I get the work emailed to me, what to read and all the work to turn in. Not much today since it was the first day back though. I have a spare third period, math is the only thing I have trouble with. That will be my hardest class, I don't have a head for numbers. I've got media studies and drama as my other two classes. I have a project and reading for media studies and reading and writing a scene for drama, since I'm not in class to act. How are your classes?"
I spend the rest of the drive telling him about my classes and the first day of school. Eli parks on Queen Street and we walk around a little, stopping in the bookstores of course. Then we go to our favorite Indian restaurant for an early dinner.
"I had fun tonight Eli," I smile when we get back in the car on the way to my house.
"Me too, I always have a good time with you Blue Eyes. Will you be my girlfriend?"
"I really do like you Eli, and I want to say yes, but if I do you have to let this silly feud with Fitz go. Please Eli let it die, I don't want to be in the middle or watch you fighting. All that energy you expend not liking Fitz, fighting with him, coming up with ways to hurt him, put that into our relationship. At least put it into something creative, a story, a play, anything Eli. I can't be with you if you can't do that. If you're not capable of getting along with Fitz at least ignore him and let this feud die."
"Okay, I'll let it go for you Edwards," Eli smirks and I smile.
"Then yes, I'll be your girlfriend Eli," I tell him.
"I'd kiss you right now, but I'm driving," Eli says.
I giggle and take his hand interlacing our fingers. He parks at my house and as soon as we're parked, he combs his fingers into my hair. Our lips smashing together in a happy kiss, and my stomach fills with butterflies.
(DREW)
"I hate math," I grumble tossing down my book. It was our first day back at school since winter break and Armstrong gave us too much homework for the first day back. I did all my other homework before dinner, and Adam was done with his homework, but I'd avoided math as long as I could.
"What are you having problems with?" Adam questions. Before I can answer his phone makes a noise, playing part of a Dead Hand song. I already know that's Eli's text sound and glance at Adam's phone when he looks at the text.
Eli: She said yes! His text is accompanied by a heart emoji and a happy smiling emoji.
"What's he so happy about?" I question although by the heart emoji I'm guessing it has something to do with Clare.
"He asked Clare to be his girlfriend," Adam tells me while typing back congrats to Eli.
I don't reply, and even though I already guessed it had to do with Clare I feel this twinge in my stomach. Not jealous exactly, just unhappy, I told her on New Year's Eve she had other options. There's just something about the thought of her with Eli that sets me off, maybe it's because he'll go to such extremes like tricking someone into getting arrested and poisoning them. The thought of them together just doesn't sit right with me, it makes me think of me and Alli, and how very toxic we were. It also makes me think I need to find someone new; I've never been without a girlfriend long, not since I was five. The hunt begins tomorrow.
"Okay, what are you having trouble with?" Adam asks.
I show Adam my homework and he spends the next hour helping me finish my math homework and understand it. I hate math, I never understand it and it's embarrassing to have kids younger than me help me with math. Alli helped me last semester, and K.C. helped me before the test. Alli won't be helping me this semester obviously, maybe Clare can help me.
I shower and go to bed, mentally going over in my mind all the available girls at school. Thinking about who I should flirt with tomorrow. I even dream about flirting with girls at school. I smile at them, talk about sports and they giggle.
Reality on the other hand is not as nice as my dream. I spend all day flirting with most of the girls, smiling at them and they do giggle. Not because I'm smiling at them though, they are laughing at me. I hear whispering, lost of it, everyone talking about me, Alli and Bianca, the boiler room, and Vegas Night. Giving into my horny teenage male wants has ruined everything. None of the girls even want to look at me anymore, they think I'm not boyfriend material, that I'll cheat on them and give into every girl that flirts with me.
It hurts knowing that this is my reputation now, but I can't even be mad because I brought it on myself. If I'd had the strength to resist Bianca, I wouldn't have this problem right now. I'm sure that Alli and I would have broken up soon, but I wouldn't feel like the dirtiest guy in the school every time a girl looked at me and giggled with her friends.
It's like that all day Wednesday too, and by the end of the day I've given up. No girl at the school is going to take me seriously, not for a while anyway. I try to tell myself it's fine and I should be single, throw myself into getting ready for basketball season. It works, for a few days, it gets me through Thursday and Friday. The weather sucks this weekend, so Adam and I stay in and play video games and do chores.
I'm even fine Monday morning when I get to school, set on not paying attention to girls and focusing on basketball. That is until I see Eli with Clare at his locker, he's leaning over her, grinning at her, their faces close and lips swollen you can tell they were just kissing. I feel this twinge, this pang of missing that flirty, happiness. I can tell myself I'll throw myself into sports all I want, but I miss being in a relationship.
I'm also not enjoying seeing Clare with Eli, it makes me angry in this odd way, I'm afraid he's going to hurt her. I don't like the way he looks at her or she smiles at him and can't help but think of our kiss on New Year's Eve.
"When did that happen?" Owen asks joining me and looking at Clare and Eli.
"Last week, he asked her to be his girlfriend Monday night," I enlighten him. Owen cocks an eyebrow wondering how I have so much inside information. "Eli texted Adam when Clare said yes, I saw the text."
"Oh," Owen nods, "why in the hell did she take him back after what he did to Fitz?"
"No idea," I shrug walking to my locker and Owen comes with me. "Fitz is back next week, right?"
"Yeah, he's been working a lot, and doing all his schoolwork in his spare time to not be behind. He's working hard to change. I better tell him Clare and Eli are together," Owen remarks.
I knew Fitz liked her and his motives for blackmailing her into Vegas Night were more than just wanting to get at Eli. If Eli had just let his jealousy and vindictiveness simmer down for a night Clare might have had a really nice with Fitz. Maybe they would they would have gotten together that night. My night still would have sucked, but at least Clare would have had a good time.
By lunch I can't take it anymore, the girls laughing at me and the stupid smirk on Eli's face. He keeps talking about him and Clare being back together to anyone that would listen. I decide to eat lunch alone, the only place I know in the school where other people don't really go is the boiler room. I sit on the steps and start eating my lunch, when I hear the door open, I stand up.
"Remembering our fun time?" Bianca coos as she comes into the dimly lit room.
"Leave Bianca I want to be alone; no other girl will look at me without laughing thanks to you," I hiss.
"Hey, no one held a gun to your head and forced you in here. I know you had a good time," she says dragging her finger down my chest.
"It was my decision to come, and it was a stupid one, now please get out."
"Why don't we have some more fun," Bianca smiles leaning in to kiss me and I lean away.
Since she won't leave, I do leave. I'll have to find a new lunch spot, somewhere Bianca won't find me, somewhere other girls can't point and laugh, somewhere that I won't have to watch Clare and Eli. Of course, she's in both of my morning classes so it's impossible to avoid her all together. At least, I get through the rest of Monday without seeing her, and Mom picks us up right after school.
I avoid my math homework again until I have no choice but to get it done, with Adam's help. I shower and go to bed and have awful dreams all night long. Tuesday and Wednesday are pretty much the same. I do my best to avoid Bianca even in class, don't look at Eli with Clare, I even avoid Clare in the one class we have together. I eat at The Dot both days and Bianca doesn't come in. Neither do Clare and Eli thankfully. Fitz is working both days, he comes back to school next week so he won't be working as much.
Thursday however, just as I'm finishing my lunch, I see Bianca headed to the café. I leave my half-eaten lunch and go to the counter.
"Tell me there's a back way I can leave through?" I beg Fitz with pleading eyes. He looks over my shoulder and sees Bianca coming.
"You plannin' on runnin' from her forever?" Fitz questions.
"Not forever, just a while," I reply.
Fitz lets me go through the back and I come out in the alley near Above the Dot. I look cautiously from the side of the building and when I don't see Bianca run across the woods to the ravine. I walk through the trees; I know there must be a way to get from the ravine to the school.
"You know," Bianca says suddenly appearing from behind a tree, "running from me just makes the chase more fun."
"Bianca, please just leave me alone," I request stuffing my hands in my pockets and putting my head down. Instead of turning away she gets closer to me, standing in front of me with her hand on my arm.
"Fun Drew, that's all we have to be is fun. We don't need to make it a relationship, and Alli's no longer an issue. I know you had fun in the boiler room. All the other girls laugh at you or hate you, but not me. All I want to do is this," she says crushing her lips to mine.
I manage to resist for about two seconds, my anger keeping me from responding to the kiss. Eventually, though my hormones take over and I give in. I respond to the kiss and my arms slowly embrace Bianca. We spend the rest of lunch making out under the bleachers. I don't feel better necessarily, I don't feel worse, but it does feel nice to be kissing someone again. It feels nice to be wanted again, desired by a girl and not laughed at. Is this a relationship? I don't know, maybe it is just fun. Whatever it is I'm in it now.
(FITZ)
"You ready for your first day back at DeGrassi?" Owen asks as we eat breakfast Monday morning.
"Oddly, I've never been so happy to be going back. After Vegas Night I might not have been welcomed back. I will prove myself to everyone this semester, keep my grades up and work hard at The Dot. Maybe I can have my own place by March break."
"You'll do it, I'm sure of it. Spin says you're doing great at The Dot, the challenge for you will be keeping up in school."
"Yeah, never been fond of school but I'll pay attention this time. Biology and introduction to business will be the hardest to keep up with. I did my projects with some help," I comment. Most of my classes gave me homework or projects that would cover the base of work in the class I was missing. Some of it was just reading from text books, but others were independent projects. Owen, Spin, and Paige all helped me with some of it, and I was grateful for that help.
"No shame in getting help, keeping up your grades is what's important. I have to ask Coach Armstrong for help with math."
Owen and I take his car to school, it's nicer than mine. Owen has hockey practice after school and I have work until six which is just about when he's out of practice. The first thing I see when I walk into school is Eli and Clare in the hall. He has his arm around her and she's smiling. Owen told me they were together, I knew it was a possibility after seeing them at New Year's Eve. It still sucks, I have a bad feeling about Eli. Not saying I'm not partially responsible for the feud. The worst I did though was damage Eli's car, he got me arrested and poisoned me. It worries me what he might do to Clare or someone around her if things in the relationship go bad.
"Don't stare, Eli might start up with you again," Owen says slapping my back lightly.
"Yeah, I know," I sigh looking away.
We start walking to our lockers when we see Drew with Bianca. For all the running he did from her she still caught him. I tried to warn him, Bianca usually catches the guy she wants. They aren't official or anything, as Bianca put it they're just having fun. They sure look together with him leaning against the wall and her fingering his collar as they make flirty eyes at each other.
"Last week they were sneaking around, looks like they decided to not sneak around so much," Owen comments.
"Looks like we're not the only ones to notice," I comment nodding towards Alli. She's watching from down the hall and her eyes are narrowed at Drew and Bianca.
No sooner have I said something than Alli storms over and smacks Drew hard. So hard it disrupts his flirting with Bianca, they both look back and Bianca snarls.
"What are you doing with her?" Alli growls at Drew. "She's the reason we broke up," Alli growls.
"Excuse me?" Bianca snaps turning around and pushing at Alli. "You broke up because your boyfriend couldn't keep his pants up!"
Drew gets a guilty look on his face and looks down. He opens his mouth to say something but Alli speaks first.
"Maybe because you're such a skank you couldn't keep your claws off someone else's boyfriend Boiler Room Bianca, Dirty DeSousa, Bianca the B…" Alli is saying when Bianca cold cocks her!
Alli stumbles back but recovers surprisingly quickly and lunges for Bianca. B is ready to catch the smaller girl but Alli fights dirty and goes low, she gets Bianca in the stomach. Bianca wasn't prepared and she gets the wind knocked out of her. Bianca's been in a lot of fights though and she kicks Alli getting her away. Alli stumbles back and nearly stumbles over a trash can, but Alli catches her footing and picks up a trash can.
It's not just me, Drew and Owen watching, Clare, Eli, Adam, Jenna, K.C. and about ten other people have gathered around the fight as well. One of us probably should have stepped in when they started fighting, but Owen and I know better than to get in the way of Bianca when she's fighting.
"ALLI!" Clare shouts as Alli gets ready to hurl the trashcan at Bianca. Clare starts to run forward like she's going to stop Alli from throwing the trashcan. Thankfully Eli actually does something right and keeps a tight hold of Clare keeping her from running into the fray.
Alli throws the trashcan, Bianca ducks and the trashcan hits the display case behind her. Glass crashes down and the trophies in the case, none of the glass hits anyone but it makes a lot of noise. All of us freeze, Alli and Bianca included, but the noise brings a lot of other people running, including teachers and Simpson.
"What happened?" Simpson demands.
"Alli and Bianca were cat fighting over Drew. Alli picked up the trashcan and threw it, Bianca ducked and the trashcan hit the trophy case instead," Eli informs Simpson.
"Bianca, Alli my office now," Simpson says in an angry tone. "Dominic, get the janitor to clean up this mess," Simpson orders Mr. Perino and he nods. "Everyone else out of this hallway and away from the broken glass," Simpson says motioning for Alli and Bianca to follow him to his office.
Slowly we all begin to disperse out of the hallway, going our separate ways to get to our lockers or class or other destinations. I do manage to get to my locker before Owen and I head to media studies. Drew comes in a moment later, and he's followed shortly by Eli. I already knew from Owen that we all had the same homeroom. Bianca has it with us, but of course she won't be in class today, after that fight this morning I'm sure she'll get a few days suspension at least.
Miss Oh welcomes me back to class and then jumps right in. Miss Oh was good when she gave me the work to cover on my suspension, I'm not lost at all and am able to follow along with class. Not that media studies is much of a hard class. I leave media studies and walk to my introduction to business class, Owen isn't in this class so I have no idea who else is in this class with me. I'm very happily surprised to see Clare in my class.
"Hi Clare," I grin taking the desk next to her. If it belonged to someone else it's mine now.
"Hi Fitz, welcome back to school," Clare grins.
"Thanks, it's good to be back, never thought I'd say that, but I am."
"It's a new year, you've turned a new leaf. Apologizing and working hard at The Dot, trying to get out on your own," she says smiling softly. It's that soft smile that sends butterflies to my stomach and I can't help but smile back. I like her a lot, my crush on Clare is major, but she's with Eli and I can't break that up.
"I'm hoping to have my own place by March break."
"That's great Fitz, I'm sure you'll do it," she replies still smiling softly.
We don't have time for more conversation as the bell rings and the teacher begins class. I'm a little lost in this class, but not too bad, I might need to ask Clare for some help though. I walk out with Clare and she waves to me before we part ways. I eat lunch with Owen and Drew, while we're eating Owen and I get the same text from Bianca.
B: Got a week's suspension thanks to that bitch. At least, I'm not on the hook for the damage to school property, that's all on Bitch Bhandari and her family. See you boys in a week.
"What's up?" Drew asks when we both look at our phones.
"Bianca got a week's suspension," we tell Drew and he takes his phone from his pocket.
"Yeah, so I see," Drew says after looking at his phone. He shows it to us so we can read the text.
Bianca: Your ex-girlfriend is a real tight ass bitch. I got a week's suspension thanks to her and my auntie went ballistic. Total lockdown until I'm back at school, I'm getting my books from my locker and then straight home. When my auntie is at work I have to stay with our landlady Mrs. Crenshaw, she smells like moth balls. I can't do anything for the next week but schoolwork and chores. Alli is in there with her parents now. See you next week. If I see Alli again I'm going to kill her.
"This sucks," Drew says slipping his phone back into his pocket.
"Bianca might not cool down after a week, I hope she doesn't fight with Alli again when she comes back," I remark.
"I make the worst mistakes when it comes to girls," Drew sighs.
"I think the three of us are all guilty of that," Owen says and I nod.
Drew and I have personal fitness together after lunch. I like this class and Coach Armstrong is a good teacher. Wrestling season is in a couple months and I need to be in good shape for it, this class will help with strength training. My last class is biology, it's my hardest class, even though Bettenkamp is a good teacher there's a lot of big words and concepts. I kept up with the school work on suspension, but mostly with help from Paige and Owen's parents. I kept up with it, but I didn't do great, and I know struggling with this class is going to be the hardest.
"Fitz, can I see you a moment?" Bettenkamp says when class is over.
"I'll come to the café when I'm out of practice," Owen tells me patting my back as he leaves.
"I know you've been struggling in this class. If you need help with the class I can arrange a tutor for you. I'm sure Wesley could do it," Bettenkamp tells me.
"Thanks Sir, I'll consider it. I have to get work now," I tell him leaving class.
I have nothing against Wesley necessarily, but I don't particularly want to get tutored by him. I might just scrape by in this class but if I can keep up with my other ones I should be okay. I grab my books from locker and run over to the café, getting my uniform t-shirt on and out front just in time.
"Sorry Spin, Mr. Bettenkamp asked me to stay after class, offered me tutoring help," I tell him as I tie my apron on.
"Are you struggling with science Fitz?" Clare's voice startles me. I didn't know she was there, and I turn to look at her, feeling my cheeks redden.
"Well, I…" I reply rubbing the back of my neck uncomfortably. Something about looking into those clear blue eyes that makes my heart jump and my tongue get tied. "I uh…just don't always understand the words and science talk. It's biology, but I hardly understand a thing."
"I can help you, I'm really good with all sciences," Clare offers giving me that soft smile again.
"She's good with all the subjects," Spinner speaks up.
"Yeah, I know," I grin, "I'd love your help."
"Good, we'll set up a schedule tomorrow," she grins taking her coffee and walking out the door.
"With Clare's help you're sure to pass that class," Spin comments.
"Yeah," I smile big, "I know." I'm happy I'll pass biology, but I'm even more happy about all the time I'll be spending with Clare. I just hope Eli doesn't get the wrong idea and start something again.