Ch. 4 So Much Hides Behind My Smile

"Well, good morning, Sunshine," Adam teases when I come down the stairs Sunday morning. I slump at the table, and he brings me coffee.

"Thanks, where is everyone?" I ask noting that the house is very quiet.

"Mom and Dad are running errands. Drew told me he had some things to take care of for tonight and told me to watch you. How are you feeling? I looked up some hangover cures," Adam comments.

"My stomach is protesting; my head is pounding, and I want to go back to bed."

"Drink the coffee it will help, or you can have an electrolyte drink. Then you can take a nice long shower and I'll make you some food."

"I think I'd prefer an electrolyte drink," I comment. Adam gets up and grabs me a bottle of red stuff from the fridge. He takes the coffee and makes it the way he likes it.

"How'd I end up in your bed?" I question. I remember the party, but after leaving the party everything is a bit of a blur.

"After puking your guts out in the bushes, we brought you inside. Drew got you on the sofa and got you some water he forced you to drink. He was worried about you and asked if you could sleep in my bed so that he'd be next door if you needed him. So, while he forced some water into you, and helped you brush your teeth I changed the sheets on my bed. You passed out as soon as you were in it, so we just covered you up," Adam explains. Which is why I woke up fully dressed in Adam's bed.

"Thanks Adam. Your parents don't know I was drunk do they?"

"No, we just told them you were upset over your parents and had a bad night. Everyone's been gone almost three hours; I've been waiting for you to get up for a while now."

"What did Drew say he was doing for tonight?" I query taking the last few sips of my drink.

"Didn't," Adam shrugs, "he did ask about your dates with Eli, and I said you never really had any. Not true dates anyway, school assignments, homework at The Dot, TV at your place. Drew said you'd have a wonderful and real date tonight then, that part of him showing he could be a good boyfriend was also to show you what a good boyfriend should be."

The small flutter of my heart, the gentle smile on my lips, and the gentle bite on my lower lip when Adam tells me this are totally involuntary. Something inside me swells with the knowledge that Drew cares enough to really make this date special. I've never actually been on a real date, never. K.C. and I were too young, dates were coffee at The Dot or watching him play sports and going for pizza after, and school dances.

Adam is right, Eli and I never really had dates. We walked a tightrope of friends/more than friends for so long that hanging out blurred into dates. Our first date was supposed to be Vegas Night, and well, that turned into a disaster. The closest I've ever come to an actual typical date is after Darcy tried to kill herself. Spinner wanted to cheer me up, so he, Jane and Jay took me to dinner at a very nice restaurant, and we went to a movie, even got dessert at a coffee shop afterward. So, my only actual date was when I was thirteen, with a man that's eight or nine years older than me and had no romantic interest in me whatsoever. How pathetic is that?

"I'm going to shower," I tell Adam.

He nods and I go upstairs to their washroom. I take a long shower, by the end of the shower I'm feeling better, more like a human. When I get out of the shower and come downstairs Adam has breakfast for me. Adam doesn't lecture me on drinking, and we spend a pretty lazy day in his basement. By the time Drew returns just after four I'm feeling fine and wondering what he has planned for our date.

"Hey, how you feeling?" Drew asks when he comes into the basement.

"I'm fine, thanks for taking care of me last night," I tell him, and he grins.

"I'm going to take a quick shower, we'll leave in about half an hour," Drew says.

"What are we doing?" I question.

"That's a surprise," Drew replies with a smirk.

"Then how will I know what to wear?"

"Jeans," Drew responds and then runs up the stairs before I can ask any other questions.

Adam snickers and I hit him with a pillow. I do get up and go up to Adam's room to get dressed. I put on the jeans I was wearing when I came over yesterday, and find Mom packed me my favorite deep emerald colored scoop neck. It's soft and comfy, but a little bit dressy with jeweled beading along the collar. I'll wear a winter coat while we're outside of course, but this will at least be dressy for a date. When Drew gets out of the washroom I go in and brush my hair.

"Ready?" Drew asks coming out of his room. He has on black jeans and a pink shirt; we don't look very dressy, and I wonder if this is going to be like my other dates. Although, I suppose you don't have to be dressed very formal to have a good date.

"Just need my purse," I reply retrieving it from Adam's room.

"Get your bags too, I better drop you off at home after the date," Drew comments.

"Good thinking," I smile.

I grab all my bags and Drew takes them from me. We call goodbye to Adam, and he calls back to have fun. Drew puts my bags in the trunk as I'm getting in the car. The realization that I'll be going home after the date, to a house without my father, is sobering. We're silent on the drive, I'm gazing out the window and not paying attention to where we're driving. When we park it knocks me out of my head and I look around.

"This is where DeGrassi hockey games take place. There's no game today is there? I don't remember there being games on Sundays," I remark very confused. I do get out of the car though.

"No game or practice, and I owe Owen a favor now," Drew replies. I look at him confused but follow him to the front door. Drew takes a key from his pocket and a slip of paper. He uses the key to open the door and the paper has a code on it he uses to turn off the alarm.

"We're having our date at the rink? Alone?"

"Just the first part of the date. We have dinner reservations at seven. Adam mentioned once that you did ice skating and dance as kid, said you competed and everything. That you had some awards for it in your room but stopped when your sister started having her issues. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about a public rink, besides they're loud and crowded with lots of screaming kids and adults who don't remember how to skate. So, I asked Owen if we could borrow the rink. He's the captain and had keys and the alarm code."

My smile couldn't be any bigger, my heart couldn't be fluttering anymore and if anymore butterflies come to my stomach, I'm pretty sure one will fly out of my mouth if I open it. The fact that Drew Torres listened to Adam while he was talking about me, and most importantly remembered this bit of information for who knows how long makes me feel amazing. Drew really put thought into this date, thought about me!

"Drew," I exhale, "I can't believe you did this. No one has ever put this much thought into any excursion with me, date or not. I love ice skating, but I don't have skates."

"I thought of that too," he replies taking my hand and pulling me to one of the bleacher benches where a box waits. Inside are a pair of white skates in my size. Next to them a pair of skates for Drew.

"You really did think of everything," I grin. I stand on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek unable to contain my glee. Drew responds with that wonderfully charming, sexy grin.

"You get your skates on and I'll go start the music," Drew says.

Drew disappears from view to go into the announcer's booth. Not wanting to walk down all the stairs in skates I leave my purse here and take both our skates down to where we can get on the ice. Soon I hear music playing over the speakers, not just music but one of my favorite songs. He must have talked to Adam to find out what music and songs I like. I can't believe he went through all this work and trouble and we're not actually dating. I would have been happy with dinner and a movie, but this, this is beyond anything I could have imagined, and the date has hardly begun.

Just as I'm lacing up my second skate Drew joins me to get his skates on. I finish first and go out to the ice, immediately skating around the rink and doing a jump. I'm a bit shaky when I land, but I haven't been skating in over four years. Doesn't matter once I'm on the ice and skating around I feel free. Drew soon joins me, he's a bit shaky on the ice, but he skates around, watching me, trying not to fall. We spend the next couple of hours skating, well it's mostly me skating around, spinning, doing jumps and Drew watching. We do skate around the rink together, and he does chase me around once. Drew put together a whole playlist of my favorite bands and songs which plays the whole time. I don't think it's Drew's taste, but if he doesn't like it, he never complains.

"We should get our shoes back on and lock up, we have reservations soon and after all that you must be hungry," Drew comments after checking the time on his phone.

"Very," I agree.

We skate back to the seats and sit down to get our shoes on. We take the skates with us; they're rentals and we have to get them back to the rental place. Drew turns off the music and retrieves his phone from the booth. We return the skates and Drew takes us to my favorite Thai restaurant for dinner. Once again, he must have asked Adam, but again it means he cares enough to put in the effort. We spend a lot of time talking about Adam over dinner, probably because he's about the only thing we have in common.

"I was thinking that we'd go to The Dot for coffee and dessert," Drew tells me as he signs the bill. "There's always a chance that Eli will be there, but even if he's not we can give everyone that is there plenty to talk about while we're there. Eli will hear about it by Monday, and I'll make sure we show him just how happy and cute we are together Monday."

"Sounds good," I smile.

We leave the restaurant and drive to The Dot. For a Sunday night The Dot is pretty busy, seems like it's the place to be tonight. Among the large crowd is Owen, Dave, Fiona, Marisol, Jess and best of all Eli. Drew takes my hand before we go inside, and snakes his arm around my waist as soon as we're in. We order at the counter and look for a place to sit but the café is full.

"Sit here," Owen says kicking out the one empty chair at their table. He sits with two of the hockey players. "That is of course as long as Clare doesn't mind sitting on your lap."

"Of course, I don't mind sitting in my boyfriend's lap," I smile back. Drew grins sitting down and pulling me into his lap. I can't help but notice the glare Eli is giving us from his table.

"You two know Drew and this is his girlfriend Clare, also known as Drew's brother's best friend," Owen remarks and the two guys we are with make "Oooh," sounds like we're in trouble. "This is Dex and Tommy, my starting goalie and right winger. They were at the party last night, but I don't think you guys saw them."

"Nice to meet you," I smile as our coffee and dessert is brought to us.

"Dating the younger brother's bestie huh? That's hot," Dex comments wriggling his eyebrows.

"You two have a good time at the rink?" Owen questions.

"Yeah, it was great, I've got your key," Drew replies.

"What were you two doing at the rink?" Tommy asks.

"Took my girl on a date, she loves to skate, and we had the whole place to ourselves. You look incredibly gorgeous when you skate. I should have gotten pictures, but then we wouldn't have had any music," Drew replies. I don't know if he means it or he's just saying so because Eli is watching. Whatever the reason he accentuates the point by dragging his nose along my jawline gently. It's a small gesture, the nose should not be a sexy part of the body, but it sends a jolt down my jaw straight to the spot between my legs. My breath hitches, I bite my lip inadvertently.

Lots of people are watching us, Jess, and Eli most intently. I decide to play into this, for once I've got Eli's full attention, this may be all I get out of this deal so let's make the best of it. This will help Drew's chances with Jess as well. I twist just a little, resting a hand on Drew's shoulder and comb my other hand into his hair. My lips touch Drew's gently, kissing him softly, mouth open and I even pull his lower lip a bit as our lips part.

"It was the best date I've ever been on, thank you," I reply. I don't even have to fake the happy purr in my voice because it truly is the best date I've ever been on.

"Yeah, well your last two boyfriends were totally unworthy of you and didn't think about your needs at all. Not really hard to top when people don't put in any effort, and you are worth everything," Drew says.

He kisses the corner of my jaw; my jawline is quickly becoming one of the favorite places on my body. I smile and we actually begin eating our dessert. Eli leaves after a few minutes, but he looks livid and that makes me smile. Jess is here the whole time and keeps glancing in our direction with what seems to me to be envious longing. This plan of Adam's is finally working.

We stay about forty-five minutes at the café, talking with Owen, Dex and Tommy. I don't have much to add to their conversation, but the guys are nice. Jess does leave before we do, but flashes Drew a smile when she does. I feel his chest puff out when he catches her smiling at him, and I bite my lip.

"I better get you home before your curfew. I highly doubt your mom will let you sleep at our place again," Drew comments getting me off his lap. Owen shoots us a look; Tommy whistles and Dex starts choking on his food. All the reactions make me giggle.

"Clare, you slept at your boyfriend's last night?" Owen questions in a disbelieving tone, his hands over his heart.

"Gotta go, see you at school tomorrow," Drew calls rushing me to the door and leaving the three hockey players stunned.

"Well, that will definitely give them all something to talk about," I laugh as we get in Drew's car.

"Yeah, we may have to clear up a few rumors, so you should probably think about how much of the family drama you want people to know."

"Yeah," I nod with a sigh. My magical night is over, it's back to the cold reality of a house where my father walked out on us.

"Adam and I will pick you up tomorrow morning. I'll have Adam text when we're on our way."

"Thanks Drew, tonight really was the best date I've ever had," I tell him before kissing his cheek.

"Yeah, well whoever your next real boyfriend is I'll make sure to have a talk with them about what a proper date is," Drew replies and I smile. Drew pops the trunk and I grab my bags, he waits until I'm inside before driving away.

"Hi Honey, did you have a good time at Adam's?"

"Yeah, it was nice to be with my best friend, and boyfriend. Drew took me on a wonderful date tonight, ice skating and my favorite restaurant and dessert at The Dot."

"Sounds wonderful, Drew seems like a nice boy, and he really seems to care about you," Mom smiles.

"He is and he does," I reply but I have to keep the smile painted on my lips when I feel a pang in my chest. It's a pang of future foreboding because I know that this will end, in a couple weeks, a month at best we'll fake a breakup and go back to where we were. I'll probably be watching him with Jess, who knows if any guy will even be interested in me. The thought that this will end, that I won't have Drew Torres this way is painful.

"I'm glad Honey, you deserve that. I know these last few days have been difficult for you, but we'll make the best of this I promise you," Mom says with determination in her tone as she hugs me.

I nod and return the embrace before going up to my room. I set my bags down, unpack, and spend a while on my laptop before getting ready for bed. I'm restless though, Dad is gone, and I feel that loss. It takes hours before I fall asleep, and my alarm seems to go off far too early. I get up and get ready for school, getting a text from Adam just as I'm leaving the washroom. I don't eat breakfast, but I wasn't very hungry anyway. Mom's already gone, and I wait in the kitchen for Drew's car, going outside when I see it pull up. Adam gets out of the passenger seat and gets in back when I come out.

"You don't look like you slept much," Adam comments as Drew begins driving.

"I didn't, even though all Dad took was his laptop and toiletries and some of his clothes the house feels weird, emptier."

Adam pats my shoulder from the backseat while Drew gives me a sympathetic look. We're silent during the remainder of the short drive. When Drew parks and we start walking into school he puts his arm around me. Adam leaves us to find Jenna, Drew walks me to my locker and then I go with him to his before he takes me to class.

"Owen said you slept at Drew's Saturday night," K.C. remarks when I come into class.

"She did," Adam replies for me. Neither of us elaborate on the why.

"Your moms let that happen?" Hannah questions.

"It was their idea, but before you jump to conclusions I was in Adam's bed, and he slept in the basement."

"What's going on that your mom's let you sleep at your boyfriend's house? My parents wouldn't ever let a girl sleep over, not since I was ten anyway. Not counting Chantay, but she's my cousin," Dave says.

"I'd rather not talk about it," I respond and can't help the falter in my voice when I do so. Adam hugs me from the side and the others let it pass.

Adam, Jenna, Drew, and I all eat lunch together in the memorial garden, alone but visible. Drew makes sure to have his arm around me or otherwise be holding me. Whenever we see Jess or Eli pass, he'll be especially affectionate. Drew walks me to third period, I don't see Eli in the room, but just as I'm about to step in Drew grabs my hand and pins me to the wall. His hand rests on my hip as his lips attach to mine in a scorchingly passionate kiss! It only lasts a few seconds and when he takes his lips from mine his head stays close. His breath ghosting over my lips which are still wet and swollen from the kiss.

"Eli looks like he wants to rip my tongue off right now, I believe it's working," Drew whispers and then straightens up. "You should watch my practice and I'll drive you home after, well after we do some making out," Drew grins and says loud enough for others, including Eli, to hear.

I walk into class with a smile on my face and Eli looks away from me. He ignores me for all of class and hightails it out of the room as soon as the bell rings. I really don't know if this is working or not, I didn't see Eli glaring at Drew. Adam comes with me to Drew's practice since we have a project to work on. When Drew's out of practice he drives me home and says he'll pick up in the morning. I say goodnight to the brothers and go inside, my homework is done so I watch TV until dinner.

Tuesday and Wednesday are pretty much the same except that I don't stay for Drew's practice. Tuesday, I accept a ride home from Sav who is also dropping Anya and Holly J at Anya's. Wednesday, I go home with Adam because we need to finish our project, I stay for dinner and Drew drives me home after. Thursday, I do stay and watch Drew's practice, well I'm at the practice, but not paying attention, really, I just get my homework done.

"Hey," Drew says running over all sweaty and glistening. I get two warring thoughts at exactly the same time when I see him. One, he needs to shower. Two, I wonder what his chest looks like all glistening with sweat? "We're done, I just have to shower. Armstrong is going to close up the gym you can wait in the car, get it going and the heat on if you want," Drew says, handing me his keys.

"Okay, sure," I nod. I take his keys and go out to the car, getting in the driver's seat and starting it. Since the car is in park with the parking break on I don't need to sit in the driver's seat, so I move around to the passenger seat. Just as the car is beginning to warm up, I see Drew coming. Only he's not alone, he has Jess with him, his hand somewhere on her back. They're smiling as they walk, talking animatedly, and then she gets in the car behind Drew.

"Jess needed a ride home, you don't mind, do you?" Drew asks when we're in the car.

I feel my stomach drop and my jaw clench, but what am I supposed to say? She's already in the car, besides, we're trying to get Drew and Jess together. I force myself to relax and draw a smile over my lips.

"No, of course not."

"Jess is closer to us, so I'll drop you off first," Drew says, and I nod. It's a short silent drive to my house, Drew parks in the driveway and actually walks me to the door. I find this odd, until I realize Jess is watching and he's doing it for her. At my door he cups my face and couples our lips into one of those scorching kisses that heats me all the way from my lips to the tips of my toes. "We'll pick you up in the morning," Drew smiles going back to his car.

He gets in, Jess has moved into the passenger seat, and I watch them drive away together. I unlock my door and go up to my room, the feel of Drew's lips still on mine as I think about the kiss. Then I remember Drew and Jess driving away alone together and my stomach sinks again. I know it shouldn't, that we aren't even dating, that the whole point of this for Drew is to get him together with Jess. I'm sure I don't even have real feelings for Drew, but the boy does know how to kiss, and took me on an incredible date.

"It's a fake relationship Clare, don't start thinking it's anything more than that to Drew. You have nothing in common with him, it's all just a show," I scold myself.

I sink down on my bed, notice a text from Mom that she's going out with girlfriends after work, she's been doing that a lot this week with Dad out of the house. I order a pizza and call Adam, spending the rest of the evening on the phone with him. Mom doesn't get home until after ten and goes straight to bed. Friday, morning Drew and Adam pick me up for school, Adam moving into the passenger seat when I come out. Drew walks me to my locker, and then class, but without Eli or Jess watching he doesn't kiss me at the door. Drew eats lunch with me, Jenna, and Adam, I leave a little early to use the washroom and go to my locker afterward.

"Clare, can we talk?" Eli's voice behind me is a little startling as I close my locker.

I turn around to face those emerald green eyes that I fell so hard for. He hasn't spoken to me for days, and when I turn around, I find myself biting my lip out of habit. I open my mouth to respond but suddenly Drew's arm is tightly around my waist, and he puts me behind him a little.

"Get lost Eli," Drew growls stalking off with me.

"You do know I have third period with him," I comment as Drew walks me toward class.

"What did he want?"

"He asked if we could talk."

"Would you have talked to him?" Drew questions. We're outside the classroom now, Eli walks past us to go into class, Drew glares at him and pulls me to the side a bit. My only response is to shrug. I really don't know if I would have talked to Eli or not. "I thought you said you weren't doing this to get back together with Eli?"

"I'm not, he only asked to talk. I think you're overreacting."

"He's dangerous Clare, stay away from him," Drew demands and then storms off.

I scrunch my face and watch him go, marveling at his reaction.