Sadly, the last chapter for this, but it is pretty long, so get comfy.

Ch. 6 He's Helping Me Live Life Again

(CLARE)

Drew and I wake suddenly Wednesday morning to simultaneous text alerts on our phones. I was actually sleeping quite well, naked in Drew's arms after making love last night. I didn't have a nightmare or wake us up at a terrible time. Being jarred awake by our phones going off at once was not much better than being woken from a nightmare. Drew reaches over me to grab his phone, I reach out for mine and we look at the text. It's from the school saying that school is closed, and classes are canceled but doesn't give a reason.

"That's strange, it doesn't say why school was canceled," I yawn.

"Yeah, let's see if Mom and Dad got the same alert," Drew comments, getting up slowly.

We both get pajamas on before leaving his room at the same time Adam opens his door. When we get downstairs Dallas comes up from the basement. The alert went out to the entire student body, but I think we're all wondering why the school is closed and if the parents have more information.

"Did you get the alert that the school was closed?" Adam questions.

"Yes, but it should be open again tomorrow," Audra replies.

"Why is it closed? Our alert didn't say, it just said school was closed and classes are canceled," Dallas comments. The adults exchange a look before answering.

"Asher's body was found inside the school this morning," Omar tells us.

"What?" I exclaim feeling the blood draining from my face.

"Why would his body be found in the school?" Dallas asks.

"He was trying to get at Clare," Drew says, instantly putting his arm around me. I turn into him, clinging to his shirt, feeling safety in his embrace.

"It's still being investigated however that is the most likely reason," Omar nods solemnly.

"Why don't you four go down to the basement and I'll start some breakfast.

"Are you okay?" Adam questions when we're in the basement.

"He's dead, that's good right?" Dallas questions.

"I guess so. He can't kill me now, or physically hurt me anymore, but he won't ever go to trial and have to face anything he did. It doesn't take away the memories and he's still in my mind," I reply.

Drew pulls me to sit next to him on the sofa and Adam turns on the TV. Audra calls us up for breakfast about half an hour later, she made pancakes. Omar has already gone to work when we get upstairs. While we're eating Alli calls Dallas asking if she and Jenna can come over. Audra says fine, and I'll feel better with more people here. All I can think right now is that Saturday Asher called me and threatened to kill me. A few days later he broke into the school at night, the only reason he would do so would be to get at me. He got himself killed because of it, but if he'd succeeded in whatever his plan was, I could be the one dead.

Alli and Jenna come over and we spend all day in the basement watching movies. Audra goes to meet with the school board, but she's only gone a few hours and brings us lunch when she gets back. Alli and Jenna have to be home for dinner and leave a little before five. Omar gets home just after they leave and just as we're getting ready to eat the doorbell rings. Dallas answers the door allowing Officer Turner and a woman in a pantsuit into the kitchen.

"Good evening everyone, sorry to interrupt your dinner. This is D.C. Acevedo," Officer Turner says motioning to the woman. "This is Omar and Audra Torres, their sons Drew and Adam, their billet son Dallas, and this is Clare Edwards."

"As you were told school was canceled this morning," D.C. Acevedo says.

"I did tell Clare that it was because Asher was in the school," Omar speaks up.

"Yes, it appears he broke in very late last night or early this morning. He was able to get a ladder and get to the roof, but he slipped or tripped on the cement steps and fell to the bottom. He hit his head on the steps and bled out. A teacher found him after seeing the pool of blood. His belongings are still being sorted through at the station, but it does look like he was going to lie in wait for you and attack. It's possible he was going to plant something to do you harm. We're searching Asher's residence and office; we've seized his home and work computers and we will find out his plan. He can't harm you anymore Clare," D.C. Acevedo says.

I nod, but honestly none of this is making me feel better. Asher might be dead, but the threat of him is still out there.

"Principal Simpson and The Interpreter agree that this should be kept quiet. The school closure will be blamed on a gas leak. Asher's death will be reported as an accident in his home. Even his family agreed to that one, for everyone's sake it's better kept out of the press," Officer Turner says.

I nod again, I think I'm in shock, I don't really have a reaction for any of this. It feels so unreal, all of it, and a little overwhelming. Audra and Omar thank Officer Turner and D.C. Acevedo. They leave and we sit down to eat, only I don't have much of an appetite. I eat a little, I also eat slowly, and when the boys are done, and I've eaten all I can we return to the basement. We watch movies until it's time for bed, the movies are at least a little distracting. Something to focus on, but when we're upstairs in Drew's bed, in the silent dark, my mind can do nothing but think.

"How was he going to kill me in the school?" I question after a few silent minutes.

"Don't think about it Clare," Drew says. He reaches out and begins stroking my arm, his touch comforting.

I can't help thinking about it, unless I'm distracted, and the best distraction recently has been Drew. I roll over and grab him, crushing my lips to his desperately. That's all the convincing Drew needs, his hands go to my waist and pull me to him as his lips part for me. Drew's hands work their way under my pajama top as I reach into his boxers. The sex is hot, hurried and hushed, but it's keeping me from thinking or stressing and that's what's important to me right now. I release and fall asleep in his arms, but Asher doesn't enter my mind the rest of the night.

Thursday is a different story, arriving at school, knowing Asher was here to kill me I feel sick. It takes Drew, Adam, and Dallas to pull me into the school. The story of the gas leak went out last night, and again this morning with reassurances that the school was once again safe. Only, I was having trouble feeling safe in the school knowing that Asher had been here. Not just been here but planning to kill me.

"I don't want to be here," I tell Drew. I'm gripping his hand and Adam's so tightly it must be painful to them. My own hands are starting to ache, yet I can't let go.

"Asher isn't here, he's dead Clare," Drew says in a low calm voice. This does nothing to soothe my nerves.

"He was here to kill me, he broke into the school to get to me," I say and my voice trembles. "What if he managed to do something and fell going back up the stairs?" I question. I hadn't thought of it before, but it just occurred to me, maybe he did accomplish what he set out to do.

"I'll call Officer Turner," Adam says.

"Looks like he's on duty today, I'll talk to him, you two stay with her," Dallas comments. I watch Dallas go talk to Officer Turner and a moment later the two of them come to us.

"Hi Clare, the school was thoroughly checked yesterday for anything that could harm anyone. Nothing was found, we even opened your locker to be sure that no device was put in there. We've checked all your classrooms and the girl's washrooms and the cafeteria. We were unable to find anything which is why we believe Asher was unable to complete whatever plan he had and fell when he first entered. If you would feel more comfortable, I can escort you to your locker and classes," Officer Turner offers. It's almost tempting but that will just draw attention to me and then questions.

"No, that's okay, thank you Officer Turner," I reply.

He gives me a kind smile and the five of us walk to the entrance. Officer Turner stays at his post, I take a deep breath and ready myself to walk to my locker.

(DREW)

"Let's call off student council, it can all wait until Monday. We'll go back to my place after school," I tell Clare as we leave last period Friday afternoon.

She got through school yesterday, but barely. The knowledge that Asher was dead paled to the knowledge that he'd come into the school to kill her and there was a possibility he'd left something in wait for her. She was nervous all day and didn't eat. We held student council at lunch and went right home after school. Clare and I did attend group last night, though she didn't talk and I think was too caught in her head to hear anything. Today really wasn't much better, despite nothing happening yesterday Clare was still fairly nervous all day.

"You can go to the hockey game if you want. I'm sure your mom will come get me," Clare says. She tries to smile but I know she'd rather have me at the house with her than the game.

"Nah, I don't need to see the game, I'm sure we'll get a play by play later," I reply.

Clare smiles with relief and we go to our lockers. Adam is at his and I tell him student council is called off, to let the others know, and that I'm taking the car. Adam says he'll see us at home later and he's going to the hockey game. I'm not so surprised to see Mom home when we get home, but we are surprised to see Helen's car.

"What's my mom doing here?" Clare asks with a mix of anger and worry in her tone.

"Let's find out," I say, getting out of the car.

"You're home earlier than I thought," Mom smiles when we come in.

"Called off student council, everyone else went to the game," I comment.

"What are you doing here Mom?" Clare inquires.

"It's over Honey, you can come home now," Helen says. She has a big smile on her face, it's clear she doesn't understand.

"What?" Clare squeaks. The thought of going home again makes her go rigid and she grips my hand.

"Breathe Clare," I remind her as I pull her into my arms. "Breathe," I whisper, rubbing her arm. Clare takes a couple of deep breaths while Helen watches her daughter with confusion.

"Asher is dead now, he's no longer a threat, you can come home," Helen reasserts.

"Mom," Clare seethes through clenched teeth and her body tightens up as she moves in closer to me. She's about as buried in my chest as she can be and still speak. "Just because Asher is dead doesn't mean he's no longer a threat. He can no longer kill me or attack me or even threaten me, but his death did not obliterate the memories. It doesn't just make the fear and the PTSD suddenly vanish it's still something I have to deal with every single day. I am not ready to do that at home." With that she turns out of my arms, takes my hand, and leads us right back out the front door. I know Mom will deal with Helen and explain why Clare can't go back home yet. "Drive," Clare demands, releasing my hand when we're in my car.

"Where am I going?"

"I don't know," she sighs, "somewhere secluded, I don't want to be quiet."

Knowing what she has in mind my cock gets hard, a lecherous smile draws my lips, "I know somewhere we can go."

It's snowing lightly, but just a light dusting. I take us to a secluded spot in Crother Woods, a dirt road takes you there and it's mostly used in the summer. Actually, Bianca showed it to me, when we escaped to do similar activities, but I don't plan on telling Clare that. I park and get a blanket from the trunk, setting it in the backseat and we move the front seats forward. Clare climbs back to join me, taking off her coat. I take off mine, we help each other out of our clothes while kissing almost frantically as we get naked as fast as we can in the backseat.

When we're naked I lean her back and dive my tongue into her warm, wet folds. Licking and savoring the wonderful flavor of her. I bring her to orgasm before moving up her body, I attach my lips to hers as I stroke myself a few times to get completely hard. Clare's lips, both upper and lower sets, open up to me. My tongue slides into her mouth, her tongue caresses it, welcomes it as she seems to savor her taste on top of mine. As my cock enters her, she tightens around me, forcing a moan from my lips to hers.

We can't move very much in this position, but it almost makes things better. Forces us to go slow, to revel in every sensation. Our lips stay locked most of the time, but when she breaks the kiss to moan in orgasmic bliss, she does not try to smother it as we usually have to do. When her breathing begins to steady, she pushes at me, I worry that we're done even though I haven't released yet. When I'm up she moves until I'm sitting, and she's straddled over me.

Taking my cock in her hand she begins to guide herself down with a sultry smile. I think she's relishing the control she has in this position. I put my hands on her hips as she braces herself on my shoulders. She lowers herself slowly, making the most wonderful moan and leaning her head back as she does. She looks so wonderfully beautiful and sexy in this position. I watch her intently, wanting to burn this image into my mind for eternity. She orgasms once more like this and then I lie on my back bringing her with me.

Slow, sensuous, and passionate I get her to orgasm for a fourth time in this position before I finally allow myself the release. As we're recovering and our temperatures are beginning to come down, especially with the snow outside, I grab the blanket. It fell to the floor long ago, and there's probably a stain or two I need to clean from the back seat. I hold her naked body against mine, enjoying the feel of her. I can tell she's thinking again when she starts to draw designs on my chest with her fingers.

"You think your mom will force me to go home now that Asher is dead?" She asks suddenly with so much fear in her voice it trembles.

"No," I assure her, tightening my arms around her, "no, she knows it's not just suddenly over and you still need to be with us."

"I hope so, because when my mom said I could come home I just wanted to scream and run. When I think of being back in that house, I just freeze up."

"I understand Clare, I couldn't go back to the street where I got beat up for months and I still can't go alone. That's a public street, you were attacked in your own home, a place where you should feel safe. It's going to take a while before you can attempt to go home, until then you stay with us."

"I hope your parents feel the same way. Some of the girls in the group were never able to go home again."

"Then you live with us until we graduate, somehow I don't think anyone in my family will complain."

"I'm hungry now and we should probably get back to your house and talk to your parents," Clare says with a deep sigh after a moment.

I kiss her temple and we find our clothes, doing our best to get dressed in the cramped space and not open the doors. I swing through a fast-food drive thru and we eat in the parking lot before going home. I see Dad's car when we get home, and when we come in the door Mom hugs Clare tightly.

"I talked to your mom at length Clare and tried to explain that you were not ready to go home. That you feel safe here and in order to heal you need to be where you feel safe. We want you to know Clare that both Omar and I understand that Asher being dead doesn't eradicate the fear he left behind. We know how hard it will be to go home and face that. Until you are ready to do that you are more than welcome here," Mom tells Clare.

"I came home while they were…talking," Dad says slowly which makes me think they were arguing. "I explained that PTSD was deep psychological trauma and you needed time. That we all enjoyed having you here and it wasn't a burden. I don't know if your mother truly understood, but she did finally relent. She's agreed you can stay here until you are ready to come home."

"I assured her I would be in touch and keep her apprised of you and your progress, but you needed space to heal," Mom adds. Clare smiles, a visible weight has come off her. Seeing it I release a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"Thank you both so much," Clare says, tearing up a little. "I am so incredibly grateful to have met Adam and become his friend. I gained not only an incredible best friend, but it brought you all into my life and without all of you I'm certain I would have broken down just as Darcy did."

"Oh Honey," Mom smiles, hugging her tightly again, "we're also very grateful you became friends with Adam."

Dad hugs Clare too and then we go down to the basement. We watch movies until Adam and Dallas get home. They tell us about the game, we tell them about Helen's visit and what Mom and Dad said. We watch another movie before going to bed. We make love again in my bed, slower and we have to be quiet, still amazing though. Afterwards as she's lying in my arms and I'm idly caressing her skin I broach a subject I've been worried about bringing up.

"Look, I know you're going through a lot. I know the sex is just your way of trying not to breakdown the way MMA was for me. I hope that you know that I care about you Clare, a lot. I think we should make this official and you should be my girlfriend."

"If we're dating our parents will never let me continue to stay here in your bed," Clare says with anxiety in her tone as her fingers curl onto my chest. I hold her tighter, silently assuring her that I'm not letting her go.

"We'll convince them, or we just won't tell them yet. They don't need to know we're dating just yet," I reply. She's silent for a minute and my heart starts to pound as I worry she's going to say no.

"I don't think we should tell the parents yet, but we should probably tell Adam and the others."

"Does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?" I ask hopefully. She kisses my chest lightly and I can't help the tingling shiver it sends through me.

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend Andrew Torres."

"Good, then no more seducing Luke Baker," I remark.

She turns her head to look at me with a scowl on her face, "You did not ask me to be your girlfriend so I wouldn't sleep with another boy."

I take her chin and kiss her hard and passionately before answering. "I asked you to be my girlfriend because I care about you deeply, but no more sleeping with other guys."

She giggles and kisses me again, then nuzzles into my arms and chest and we fall asleep happily that way. We sleep late the next morning and eat breakfast with Adam and Drew in the basement. They tell us Alli and Jenna are coming over to hang out, which is good because we can tell them all together.

"We wanted to tell you that we're dating, officially as of last night. We haven't told the parents yet though, we don't want them to know until Clare's doing better. We're afraid they won't let her stay, especially sleeping with me in my bed if they know we're dating," I announce when everyone's there.

"Told you," Adam comments.

"Hey, they only became official last night," Dallas shoots back.

"Official-shmiffel, they've been attached at the hip for weeks, we were just waiting for them to say it," Alli remarks.

Clare and I smile and settle in for a day with our friends. It's snowing pretty bad outside and Mom and Dad come home by lunch. Not wanting Alli to drive her car in all the snow her dad comes to pick her and Jenna up. That night when everyone's in bed Clare says she wants to shower. As always, I go into the washroom with her and watch the door.

"Drew," she says after a minute.

"Yeah?"

"Would you like to get in with me?" She asks.

I grin and get undressed in about a tenth of a second. Getting in the shower and marveling at the gorgeous sexiness of my girlfriend's body before I crush my lips to hers.

(CLARE)

"That's it, enjoy your break everyone and we'll see you in January," I say, concluding our final student council meeting before winter break.

We gather our things, everyone excited for the break, and to see family. Jenna flies out tomorrow to spend all of break with her family. Dallas' parents are coming up to drive him back to Guelph tomorrow. He has to return a little early for hockey practice, but Guelph isn't too far. Alli plans to go down on Boxing Day, spend a couple days with him there and drive him back. It's a good thing for me that the Torres family isn't going anywhere for the holidays, or I'd probably be going with them. The thought of going home or seeing my house again petrifies me.

"Clare, your mom's here," Adam says as we start descending the outside steps. I tense up and instinctually take Drew and Adam's hands. It's not seeing my mom causing this reaction, it's knowing what she's going to say and why she's here.

"Hi Honey," Mom smiles at me and then nods to Adam and Drew, "Hi boys. Honey, I really think you need to come home, at least try. It's been weeks, Asher is dead. Christmas is coming up and I would very much like my daughter home for Christmas."

I really don't want to go home again; I don't want to see the place where I was attacked. I don't want to think about it or relive it. At the same time, I know my mom misses me, and I miss her and Glen. I feel bad for staying away so long, worried that my mom thinks it's her I'm staying away from. I also feel bad for staying so long at the Torres house, I need it and all of them, but I am feeling like a burden. Despite all that, the thought of going back to that house has me so petrified I can't seem to move or speak. Adam squeezes my hand a little and I look at him.

"Drew and I can come with you Clare. If we go to your house and you can't stay, then we'll get in our car and go straight home. If you can stay then I'll take the car, pack your stuff and Drew can stay with you," Adam says, and I nod. I'm still reluctant, but I won't ever know if I'm ready if I don't try.

"We'll follow you over Mrs. Martin," Drew tells her.

Mom nods slowly, I guess she was hoping or expecting me to go with her. She goes to her car and we follow her to the house. It's hard to even look at the house, Drew and Adam have to practically pull me out of the car, and I take their hands as we approach the door. I have to release Adam's hand to get through the front door however. I release a breath when I'm through the front door, looking around at the house. I'm doing okay, but not great, inside of me an anxious fear is beginning to build. Mom however is grinning triumphantly because I am in the house.

"Let's go upstairs, you won't know until you face the room where it happened," Drew speaks up.

Still holding tightly to my hand, and with Adam just behind us and my mom just behind him, we slowly make our way up the stairs. The closer we get to the top of the stairs the slower I go. As soon as I see the washroom I start shaking. The washroom has of course been cleaned and put back together, yet when I look at it all I see is blood and a mess. Worst of all I see Asher, I see his face in the mirror looking at me with menacing, malicious eyes just as he did that day. My heart pounds, I don't even know if I'm breathing anymore. I look away from the washroom at Drew.

"I can't…I can't do this, get me out of here," I plead with him.

"Okay, we're getting out of here," Drew says. He puts his arm around me and when I'm shaking too hard to walk, he picks me up. I hear Adam following us, but my mom still seems to be at the top of the stairs.

"Clare, you hardly even looked at the room," Mom calls after me.

When we're at the bottom of the stairs I tap Drew's shoulder and he puts me down. Pulling Adam to me, so that the brothers are shielding me I turn to my mom angrily. I know she misses me, but I tried, and I can't, and she needs to understand that I'm not ready.

"I can't do this Mom, I can't be here, not right now, maybe not ever. Asher is dead but when I looked in that washroom all I saw was Asher waiting for me. His face in the mirror, all the blood, the disorder, and the destruction from his attack. He broke into two places where I should feel safe with the intent to kill me. I love you Mom, and I miss you too, but that washroom is only a constant reminder at how close I came to death. I can't stay here," I tell her firmly. Then pulling at Drew and Adam's sleeves we go through the door and get in the car again.

Seeing the Torres house, I smile, the weight and fear that I felt at home is lifted. This is my haven, where I feel safe. We go inside and Audra is home, Omar is still at work and Dallas has hockey practice. We tell Audra what happened, and she says I'm welcome to stay as long as I need and I'm not a burden. I hug her tightly and tell her again how very grateful I am for the entire Torres family.

I spend all of winter break with the Torres family. We spend most of it indoors, and I help out a lot with chores. With Dallas gone Drew and I make use of the basement after everyone has gone to bed. As I don't want to be at my house Audra and Omar invite my parents over for Christmas. They arrive for breakfast with all the presents from our house, which get added to the rather large pile under the tree. We have a wonderful Christmas, I'm even able to enjoy the time with my parents because we're not at the house.

"We have one last gift for you Clare," Mom says as we're sitting down to Christmas dinner.

"We understand that you can't come home because being in that washroom again is hard for you. We thought if the washroom was no longer there it might help, at least enough for you to come home and stay for a night or two at first. If you can do that then you can build up. We're going to tear out the wall between your room and Jake's room. Extend your room to his and add in a nice, but simple three-piece bath at the back of the room. Then you'll have your very own ensuite washroom, a washroom Asher has never seen or set foot in. What is currently your washroom will be converted into a small home office for me. There will be no trace of your washroom at all," Glen explains.

Thinking that the washroom will soon be totally gone somehow does make me feel better. "Thanks, both of you, that sounds really good."

We have a lovely Christmas dinner; my parents help clean up but go home after dessert. Drew, Adam, and I stay up late watching movies. Drew and I shower together before bed, with much kissing and touching as we do. The rest of the break is nice and calm, we mostly stay at the house but go out a little. Everyone returns just in time for New Year's and we have a small party here.

"I think," I venture as we are lying in Drew's bed that night, "that we should tell our parents we're dating. I don't like hiding it, we just have to be very convincing to let me continue sleeping here. At least until the remodel is done and I can maybe go home again."

"You think your parents can come to dinner tomorrow?"

"I'll text Mom in the morning."

"Whatever they think we'll convince them you need to be here," Drew assures me.

I roll over, kiss him, and fall asleep happily in his arms. The next morning, after checking with Audra, I text Mom. She says she and Glen will be here for dinner. Dallas chose to stay out after practice, but Adam is with us.

"We asked you to dinner to tell you that we're dating. Before you explode and tell us Clare can't stay here anymore, we've been dating for weeks. Feelings developed after weeks of spending almost every moment together. Clare feels safe here, with me, sleeping in my bed," Drew says.

"You cannot stay here and share a bed with your boyfriend Clare," Mom snaps.

"Mom, I haven't been a virgin in a long time, I've been on birth control forever. Sleeping here and needing Drew with me was not about having sex. It was about feeling safe, even with him in the bed it didn't keep the nightmares away. At least having him there with me when I woke up after a vivid dream of Asher killing me, I didn't feel alone. Drew understood, and still understands better than most what I'm going through, what I'm feeling. Without him, without the entire Torres family I may have lost it just like Darcy. We are telling you because we didn't want to keep it from you any longer, but I am not ready to go home. Maybe when the remodel is finished, but even then, I won't know until I try. I couldn't even shower in the washroom here my first few weeks without Drew with me. I made him watch the door, and Asher was never in that washroom. You need to understand the feelings developed over time, but is it any surprise they did with all the time we've been together?"

"You all may not have seen it developing, but when they told us no one at all was surprised they were together. We saw how close they were, how much they needed each other, and still need each other," Adam speaks up.

Our mom's exchange looks and release simultaneous sighs. Omar and Glen have pretty placid poker faces on. Both of them seem to be deferring to the moms on this.

"Nothing needs to change until Clare is ready, but if I become a grandma, I'll kill you both," Audra says.

"I suppose this really doesn't change anything, but if you get pregnant…" Mom is saying when I cut her off.

"I won't Mom," I reply. We haven't actually admitted to having sex yet and I'd like to keep it that way.

Mom and Audra seem to relax a little and conversation veers away from Drew and me. After dinner Glen shows me the plans for the remodel before my parents leave. Now that our relationship is public Drew and I can kiss in front of his parents and it feels good not to have to hide anymore.

"You know, now that my mom knows about us, I'm a little afraid she's going to burst in the room at any moment," Drew comments when we're in his bed that night.

I giggle and crush my lips to his.

(DREW)

"This room is beautiful Drew," Clare grins happily as she links her arms around my neck.

"Happy one-year anniversary," I smile back before ensnaring her lips for a kiss.

What a year it's been too.

Shortly after returning to school after winter break, we were told Asher had in his possession a poison when he broke into the school. One that at the strength he had was deadly through skin absorption or ingestion. What his exact plan was we'll never know, he never left anything outlying an exact murder plan. We do know that he had the poison, a blueprint of the school and Clare's locker number. With that the police put together that he was going to leave the poison at her locker. Whether he was going to place it on the locker or in it we're not sure. The police never told us what the poison was, they said it was for legal reasons. I'm glad they didn't though, I'm sure Clare, and probably even Adam would have researched the poison and found out exactly what it would have done. Even with Asher dead and having opened her locker prior to this knowledge, it was three weeks before Clare would open her locker or touch anything in it. For weeks she kept her things in my locker, Adam's, Alli's and Jenna's. It was just before her birthday that she was able to keep her things in her locker again.

Clare had her eighteenth birthday at our house, a small party with her friends but she was happy and that was all I cared about. Because her mom missed her so much, and as a first step for Clare to be back in the house we started going to dinner once a week at her parent's. We did it on Thursday nights before group, that way if she needed to talk about being where the attack happened, she could do it in group. We've continued to attend group pretty much every week for the last year, and it's really been helping her.

Even though we had dinner with her parents every Thursday we usually stayed less than an hour. She wouldn't go upstairs, not for anything, not even to see how the remodel was coming along. It wasn't until the remodel was finished in late April that Clare felt she could go upstairs. The washroom was gone and even her room looked very different. This helped but her first night home she needed me and Adam to sleep over. Even with us there she wasn't able to sleep, her first night home none of us slept.

It was a slow transition, one night a week with both me and Adam there until she was able to sleep for at least four hours. Then two nights a week, then three by the end of May. By the time we all graduated from DeGrassi she was spending five nights a week at home, but still needed me with her. It took all summer before she was sleeping at home most of the week without me there. As we had already been sharing a bed, the parents were okay with either me sleeping at her house or her at my house.

Clare and Adam both got scholarships to Ryerson, while I was attending Centennial. Currently we were all still living at home, but we have discussed getting our own two-bedroom apartment and are going to start looking in the spring. Clare and Adam both got part time jobs at the bookstore on campus, and usually have the same shifts. I got a part time job at a daycare. I really like working with little kids and am going to pursue that with a degree in education. I'm thinking of being a kindergarten or first grade teacher. Adam was getting a degree in broadcast journalism and Clare was getting a degree in psychology. She planned to help victims of PTSD, especially those of violent crimes.

Adam is still dating Jenna, they are quite happy together and she'll be moving in with us when we get an apartment. Jenna goes to U of T for music and works full time at a music store. She and Adam don't get a lot of time to see each other with their schedules. Dallas got a hockey scholarship to Seattle Pacific University. We hear from him by email or chat program every so often. Alli went to University of Calgary for a chemistry degree. She's still friends with Clare and Jenna but she and Dallas broke up after a month of trying to make long distance work.

"I love you Andrew," Clare whispers, breaking the kiss.

I smile and pick her up in my arms, placing her on the bed. My lips find hers again as my hand lifts her shirt and drifts up her skin. Her stomach muscles tighten under my hand, her lips opening to me. I lift her bra and caress her breast, squeezing gently and evoking a moan from her.

I break the kiss and pull her up so I can get her top off. Her milky white skin is revealed and I grin. Unable to help myself I lean down and kiss her soft skin, making a trail to her breast where my lips encase her nipple. I suck lightly and get rewarded by yet another moan from Clare's lovely cherub lips. When I break the kiss she grips my shirt and I lift my arms so she can take it off. Her lips lightly touching to my chest when my shirt is off.

The rest of our clothes come off quickly and I kiss my way up her body to her lips again. Her legs open for me and I open her lower lips, thrusting in slowly. Her core welcomes me, gripping my cock and almost pulling me in. I moan when I'm all the way in, it's an incredible feeling to be inside of Clare and I will always enjoy the sensation. I thrust slowly, reveling in each sensation and feeling that it gives me.

I kiss her lips and her neck as I thrust. Her knees draw up and her legs open a little more. Her hips begin to buck, seeking me out when I draw away and meeting my rhythm. It isn't long before she's moaning endlessly and my name is dropping from her lips with every baited breath.

I feel when she's getting close as her core tightens around me and I moan her name. Reaching climax together we each moan the other's name as our bodies tremble and shake in unimaginable bliss. I thrust a few more times as we ride out our orgasms. Slowly withdrawing from her and bringing Clare into my arms and kissing her temple.

"I love you Clare Edwards, more than you could ever know."

That's all this story has to tell. Replacing this will be "Mixed Signals They're Killing Me, I Don't Know What You Want" but I'll be premiering another new story before that.