Next Sunday the poll for which story should replace Swirling Storm Inside will come down, so get those votes in now!
Currently, it's a close race between the Cold Case inspired story and the Dawson's Creek inspired story.
Don't forget that whichever comes in second will end up replacing Supernatural High.
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Ch. 5 Like She Has a Thousand Times
(DREW)
"Hey Drew," Clare calls. It's Monday at lunch, I'm at my locker with Owen, Bianca and Dallas. We already ate and I'm assuming Clare just returned from co-op.
"Hi Clare, how was co-op?" I question.
"Good thanks, I'm going back this afternoon. Martin actually asked me to come in, after discussing it with Asher. I'm going to be helping you with a project," Clare enlightens us.
"Cool, I'll wait for you after classes then," I smile.
"I'll see you after school, I'm going to go find Eli and Adam, and get something to eat."
"Sounds like Martin is making your first day back as easy as possible," Bianca comments after Clare walks away.
"Yeah, I feel okay, but I'm sure Mom talked to him," I reply. I don't really care about my first day back at work being easy, the work isn't that hard anyway. What I mostly care about is that I'll be able to keep a better eye on Clare if we're working together.
B and I stay with Owen and Dallas until the bell rings. She and I have geography this period and walk together. When we get into class Eli is already at his desk and gives me a look.
"So, Clare's riding to school with you again this afternoon," Eli states.
"Yep."
"And working with you?" He asks.
"Yeah, guess Martin put us together on a project," I shrug. He looks like he has more to say, but he turns around when Mr. Perino comes in.
"Is he actually jealous that you're working with Clare? That she's riding with you?" Bianca whispers to me.
"It's Eli, so probably," I reply.
Bianca shakes her head but doesn't reply as Mr. Perino is now talking. After class I walk B to her last class, which is also Eli's last class. He gives me another look but doesn't say anything. I kiss B before heading to auto shop, Owen is already in here. I get my coveralls on and go to my station.
"Still worried about Clare and her boss?" Owen asks. He does make sure to keep his voice low. I'm also glad he didn't ask at lunch around Bianca and Dallas.
"Yeah, Adam's worried now too."
"Why's Adam worried?"
"He found out some of the things Asher has done, like taking her to lunch just the two of them, bringing her home really late. Some of the things Asher has said, which on their own don't sound bad or unprofessional, but when taken with everything else just seems creepy."
"He took her to lunch?"
"Technically, a working lunch I guess. It still just doesn't sit well with me or Adam. He also picked her up from school Friday, and they talked more after her shift. It just doesn't seem right. I texted Friday to ask about co-op, she said it was good, didn't seem to be bothered by a lunch alone with her boss. She's not worried that he calls her Newsie either, which has both me and Adam worried."
"The guy does seem like a creep. At least she's working with you this afternoon and you can keep her away from him," Owen comments.
"Yeah, and I will. I wish I was there in the mornings with her. I keep feeling like he's going to do something to her, cross that line and she won't see it. She's so thrilled to be working with him I'm not sure he could do anything wrong in her eyes."
Owen doesn't have time to respond as Mr. Ehl begins talking. When class is over I clean up, grab my backpack and go out to the foyer where Clare is waiting. We go out to my car and I drive us to the Interpreter building, we're silent the whole way. I want to ask about Asher, but I don't know how to do it without making her angry.
"Thanks for coming back this afternoon Clare. Welcome back Drew, it's good to have you back. How are you feeling?" Martin asks when Clare and I get up to the office.
"I feel good, ready to be back," I reply.
"Good, well I have a pretty easy, but also a pretty large project for you. It's going to take a lot of research and looking at our archives. Which is why I thought it would be good for you to have Clare with you. The Ontario Journalism Awards are in a few weeks and The Interpreter is being honored for 150 years of journalism. The marketing department is charged with putting together a presentation for this honor. We need pictures and articles both about our founders as well as some of the best stories covered in the last 150 years. Pictures and headlines mostly, they don't necessarily need to be the biggest or most famous ones. You two decide which ones you think show the best of the last 150 years. As I said it's a big project, I think it will take at least all of this week and maybe next week. Clare you already work in the mornings, so if you don't want to return every afternoon I understand."
"I don't mind at all, I love working here and it's easy to get a ride with Drew," Clare smiles. Her response makes me grin.
"Wonderful, let me take you down to the archives," Martin says. To get to the archives we pass Asher's desk and it doesn't escape my attention that he glances over at us. "Well, this is it, it's mostly in chronological order, older stuff at the back. Every copy we ever put out is organized in the file drawers over there. Rejected articles and photos in those cabinets, when you're done down here I'll show you how to get to the archives from the server for the newer stuff, start with this first though. Come get me if you have any questions, otherwise have fun," Martin tells us before leaving the room.
"Well, I guess we should start at the back, find the first issue," Clare comments.
"Sounds good to me, I hardly know where to get started there's so much stuff in here," I reply.
We walk to the back, look in the file cabinets, Clare coughs a little pulling out one of the older papers. We take a stack and sit down at the table in here. It's a small table with two chairs and we're forced to sit very close together or one of us would be on the floor. We spend a long time looking through the papers, it's interesting to see the old articles, very few pictures in these old additions from the 1860s, mostly illustrations. We start a pile of the things we think would be good for the presentation. Clare runs back upstairs to get a notebook and sticky tabs, so she knows which articles we're looking at. After a couple of hours we haven't even been through the first six months of the papers, I don't mind though, the longer this takes the longer Clare works with me in the afternoons.
When I hear the door open I expect it to be Martin checking on us, instead it's Asher. He happens to come in while Clare and I are looking at the same article and talking about it. We're sitting really close, our heads are close together, and Asher I swear looks jealous and angry that we're so close. Just to piss him off a little more I put my arm on the back of Clare's chair. I lean in a little closer, practically breathing on her neck, she doesn't seem to mind, but Asher does.
"How are you two doing down here?" Asher asks.
"Oh hi Asher," Clare smiles. "We're doing great, Drew and I are finding a lot, but it's going to be a big project. As long as you don't need me in the afternoons I'll be down here helping Drew."
"Yes," Asher says slowly with a tone like he doesn't approve, but then he quickly smiles. "Good, this an important task. I'm just leaving for an interview, just wanted to check on you before I left."
"Thanks Asher we're fine, I'll see you tomorrow for co-op," she smiles.
She looks back at the paper, Asher stays for another few seconds watching her, I watch him. He shoots me a look before leaving. I watch him go, I don't like him, and I don't trust him at all. I want to talk to Clare about it, but before I can say anything she speaks up.
"I think this article is good, it shows how even back then they were reporting on the global community, and not just the stories that all the papers were reporting on," Clare comments.
"Yeah, yeah that's a good one," I nod.
She makes a note of the article headline, edition and page number, puts a sticky on the paper and sets it in the pile containing stuff we think should be used. We spend a couple more hours going through papers before my shift is over. I clock out and Martin signs her out then I drive her home.
"It was fun working with you, see you tomorrow," she grins getting out of my car.
I tell her I'll see her tomorrow and drive home. For the rest of the week she rides to work with me after school and we spend the whole time alone in the archive room. We do our jobs of course, but with so much time together we also spend a long time talking. We talk about all kinds of things, by the end of our shift Friday I feel like I know Clare almost as much as Adam does.
As much as I like keeping her away from Asher in the afternoons I was very worried all week about what he might be doing in the mornings. He always came down at least once in the afternoons to check in on us. Always with the excuse of seeing if Clare needed anything, even though the project we were doing was for Martin and the marketing team. Clare didn't seem to notice or think anything of it, I did though. Especially, because Asher would glare at me every time he came down. He seemed to be jealous of the time I was spending with Clare, which only made me more worried about the time I wasn't here. I always asked her about her mornings at co-op as we were driving together in the afternoons. She always said it was fine, that she did fact checking and that was about all she ever told me. It's possible she just didn't have much interaction with Asher in the mornings. I felt like it was more likely that she did, and she just didn't see that he was a sleaze ball. I wondered how much longer she could be blind to it.
(CLARE)
"Walk before you can run Newsie," Asher censures me after I tried pitching an idea for a story at the staff meeting.
It's Monday, February 4th, my 17th birthday is Friday, and I was at co-op very early this morning. Asher had called me yesterday and asked if I could come in early, he had a lot of fact checking he needed me to do. And then he asked me to run for coffee just before their staff meeting started. After I brought the coffee I asked Asher if I could stay for the rest of the meeting, and he let me.
"You have that fact checking for me?" Asher inquires before I can say anything else.
"Yeah, I'll send it over now. Eli's on his way to come get me."
I return to my desk, the fact checking is done and ready it just needs to be e-mailed. I prepare the e-mail for Asher, attach the fact checking and then attach some ideas I've had for articles. I ask Asher to take a look at them, that I think they would make good stories, but I am here to learn and get guidance from a professional. I'm a little nervous when I hit the send button, but I grab my purse and go downstairs. Wrapping up in my coat, scarf and gloves just as I see Eli pull up.
"How was co-op?" Eli asks after I'm in the car and he begins driving us back to school.
"Good, Asher let me stay for the end of the staff meeting, it was exciting to watch. I tried to pitch an idea for a story though and they didn't even listen. I e-mailed some ideas to Asher with the fact checking, I hope he reads them."
"I brought you lunch, I wasn't sure you would eat, and I knew we wouldn't get back to school in time," Eli smiles.
"Thanks Eli," I smile kissing my boyfriend's cheek. I eat on the way to school just finishing as Eli parks in the student lot. "Even to have Asher look at my ideas would be amazing, he knows so much," I grin getting out of the car.
"Asher again?" Alli questions joining us as we walk to the steps. "Oh, Asher I love you," Alli teases.
"Oh, Asher marry me," Eli taunts.
"Okay, okay I know I have Asher mentionitis, but this is kind of a big deal," I defend. Before either of them can say anything my phone rings in my purse and it's Asher's office line. "It's him," I comment taking Eli's hand as I answer. "Hi Asher."
"Hi Clare, I saw your ideas. Let's have lunch tomorrow and discuss these pitches," he says, and I feel my hear flutter.
"Okay, great I'll see you tomorrow," I grin as I hang up.
"Good news?" Eli asks as I put my phone back.
"We're having lunch tomorrow to discuss my ideas," I squeal!
"Lunch? Alone? Is that normal?" Eli questions.
"Oh, sure we've had working lunches before," I shrug.
"Well, hopefully, this is the start to your brilliant journalism career," Alli comments slowly.
We go inside, and I go straight to my locker since I haven't been here all morning. Eli comes with me, but Alli leaves us to get to the washroom before class.
"Hey, how was co-op?" Adam questions.
"Great, I got to sit in on the staff meeting, but that wasn't the best part. When I e-mailed Asher the fact checking I e-mailed him ideas for articles, we're going have lunch tomorrow to discuss them," I enlighten Adam.
"Great, congrats," he replies.
"Between early mornings and returning after school to help Drew, now lunches you seem to be spending all your time at co-op," Eli comments.
"I know, I've been really busy, I'm sorry."
"Just save me some time on the weekends," Eli comments snatching my lips for a tender kiss. Adam waves to Eli before we walk to English class.
"You're still working with Drew in the afternoons this week, right?" Adam inquires as we sit down.
"Yep, probably for the next few weeks, it's a big project."
Adam grins, more kids come into class, and Miss Dawes starts talking. After class Adam and I walk to physics together, Wes and Connor are already here talking about some project with Wesley's uncle. Adam and I sit at our desks and Alli comes in a few minutes later.
"So, what are we doing for your birthday?" Alli inquires.
"I don't know, I've been so busy I hadn't really thought about it," I reply.
"I'm sure Eli will want to take you out that night, unless you have a party," Adam comments.
"Our house is only good for parties when we can utilize the outside, too cold for that."
"I'm sure Mom would let you have a party at our place," Adam offers.
"Thanks Adam, I'll think about it."
Mr. Bettenkamp puts us in groups to work on the days assignment. Alli, Connor, Wes, Adam and I are all in one group, and we finish first. We still have half an hour until the bell, so we go to the memorial garden and get a start on our homework. When the bell rings we pack up our stuff, Alli leaves to meet Jenna, Adam heads to the auditorium for the play and I wait in the foyer for Drew.
"Sorry, were you waiting long?" Drew asks when he does show up. The bell rang almost ten minutes ago, we both get our coats on and start walking to the car.
"A little bit, but we got out of class early too," I reply.
"Sorry, I was talking with Owen," Drew apologizes as he unlocks the car.
"It's okay."
"How was co-op this morning? I heard from Eli that you went in a little early, he made a big point over the fact that he picked you up. I don't think he likes that you ride to and from work with me in the afternoons."
"I hope he's not getting jealous and possessive again, that's what drove us apart last time. Not to mention you're crazy about Bianca," I huff.
"Yeah, it's silly, but it's Eli," Drew responds.
"Co-op was good, I got to sit in on the staff meeting, well at least the end of it. The best thing though is I e-mailed Asher ideas for stories and we're going to have lunch tomorrow to talk about them."
"Another lunch with the boss," Drew comments.
"Yeah, I'm so lucky that Asher is going above and beyond like this," I grin.
"Yeah," Drew says slowly, "above and beyond."
We fall into a silence until we get to the building, Drew parks, we go upstairs and Drew clocks in while Martin signs my sheet. Then Drew and I go downstairs to the archives and get to work. We spend the whole time down here, aside from getting water or using the washroom. We look through articles, photos, unused articles, and we talk a lot while we're doing it. After all last week working with Drew we've become good friends, not that we really spend time together away from work. We don't exactly eat lunch together at school or anything. Although, I suppose nothing's really stopping us from eating lunch together or hanging out outside of work.
When Drew's shift ends we return upstairs, he clocks out and Martin signs my sheet again. Asher left already or is out on assignment because I don't see him in his office. We bundle up in the elevator and go out to Drew's car. It's dark and snowing, he drives home very carefully.
"Thanks Drew, I'll see you tomorrow. Drive safe," I smile as I get out of the car.
"See you tomorrow Clare," he grins.
Mom has dinner for me when I come in, Jake is watching TV and doing homework. I sit down to eat and finish my homework in my room, shower and go to bed. It's hard to sleep though, I'm too excited about tomorrow, anticipating my lunch with Asher and all the potential it could bring. I wake up early and Glen takes me to co-op, I text Miss Oh that I came in early.
"You're here bright and early Newsie," Asher comments when he comes in.
"I couldn't sleep, I was too excited about today," I grin.
"It's refreshing to see your enthusiasm. I hope you haven't been too bored, I'll send some fact checking over to you as soon as I've got my laptop booted up."
He goes into his office and a few minutes later I have fact checking to look over. I'm done early because I got here so early, and we leave for lunch.
"So, what did you think of my ideas? Do they have potential?" I ask as soon as we're sitting down. Before Asher can answer a waiter comes over and asks us what we want to drink. I get iced tea and Asher gets wine.
"You have a head for news, that's obvious, but your ideas for stories anyone could have thought of. What makes you unique? Pitch me a story that no one else could come up with," Asher challenges.
I bite the corner of my lower lip, rolling it between my teeth as I think about this. Just as Asher cocks an eyebrow awaiting my answer, and I'm feeling like I don't have one I get struck with inspiration!
"My school is putting on this play. A well-known play, but with a very modern twist."
I tell him all about the play and how Eli turned it into Romeo and Jules. I tell him why I think it's a good story and why people need to hear about it.
"You've convinced me Clare, we're going to write your article. I'll come to the school for a rehearsal this afternoon. Of course, you won't be able to help Drew this afternoon if we're going to do this," Asher remarks.
"I'm sure Drew will understand, Martin too. I'll talk to Eli when I get back to school!"
"Excellent," Asher smiles picking up his wine glass, "let's celebrate your foray into the world of professional journalism." He pours a little bit of his wine into his empty water glass and hands it to me. "Don't worry, it will be our secret," he says as he takes the glass.
I drink the wine down fast, afraid that someone will see. We finish lunch, Asher pays and then drops me off at school. He says he'll talk to Martin when he gets back to the office, to let him know I won't be helping Drew this afternoon.
"Thank you for everything Asher, I'll see you this afternoon," I grin as I get out of his car.
I go inside so happy I almost feel like I'm floating! Finding my boyfriend at his locker I grip his collar and snatch his lips for a heated kiss. He was talking to Adam and Fiona, but none of them seem to mind.
"Must have been a good lunch," Eli smirks when we break from the kiss.
"Amazing! Asher is coming to the school this afternoon to watch a rehearsal, we're going to write an article about the play. My very first byline and it will be about my boyfriend's play," I tell them excitedly.
"That's incredible," Eli grins kissing me again.
"That's great," Fiona smiles.
"Congratulations Clare, you'll soon be a published journalist," Adam smiles. "Does that mean you won't be helping Drew this afternoon?"
"Yeah, Asher is going to tell Martin when he returns to the office. I'd better go find Drew and tell him," I remark.
"I'll come with you," Adam offers.
I kiss Eli again, wave to Fiona then Adam and I go to find Drew. He's easy to find as he's at his locker with Owen and Dallas.
"How was lunch?" Drew asks.
"Great, I'm going to write an article for Eli's play, but it's happening this afternoon. Asher's coming to the school to watch rehearsal and help me write the article, which means I won't be able to help you today, sorry. Asher is going to talk to Martin when he's back at the office."
For a second Drew doesn't say anything, he seems to be clenching his jaw or something. Owen sort of knocks into him from behind, which seems to snap Drew out of it.
"Uh, great, I mean not great that you won't be helping me, but great that you get this opportunity," Drew says scratching the back of his head. He looks slightly uncomfortable for some reason I can't fathom.
"Yeah, it's incredible to even think that my name would be in a byline this young," I smile just as the bell rings.
"I'll be at practice this afternoon, I'll see you at home," Adam tells his brother before we turn to walk to English.
I feel like my afternoon classes drag on, probably because I'm so excited for this opportunity. As soon as the last bell rings Adam and I leave for the auditorium. I tell Eli to be professional and not my boyfriend, but then of course, Asher walks in while we're kissing. I'm a little stunned and hurt when after introducing Eli to Asher he sends me for coffee. By the time I get back Asher says he has everything he needs, I feel hurt again. Asher said we were going to write this article and he's completely taken it. After talking with Eli though I run after Asher and convince him to let me write it.
If I'd had any indication that the night would end with him kissing me I never would have chased after him.
(DREW)
When my phone rings just after nine on Tuesday night I expect it to be Bianca, so I'm surprised to see it's Clare. As I answer I expect her to ask for Adam, that his phone was off or something.
"Hey," I answer.
"Drew, can you come pick me up?" She asks. I can hear that she's very upset.
"Sure, where are you?"
"At The Interpreter, don't tell Adam please?" She begs desperately and seems to get even more upset at the thought that I'll tell Adam.
"I won't, I'll be there soon," I tell her and I hang up.
"Who was that?" Adam asks.
"Uh…Bianca, her car broke down. I'm going to pick her up and take her home," I reply. Dallas is back in his room on the phone with a girl. "Tell Mom and Dad I'll be back by curfew," I request as I get my jacket on.
He nods and I go out to my car, knowing she's upset I drive as fast as I legally can. Pulling up to the building I see Clare on the steps and she runs down to me. She's not crying anymore she just looks ill and sort of in shock.
"Take me home please," she requests in a soft voice.
"Clare what happened?" I question as I begin driving home.
"Asher came to the school, but he sent me for coffee and when I came back he was done. I knew I should write the article because Asher didn't know about Becky or the struggle Eli went through to put on the play. Asher didn't know about Eli teaching Dave how to act like he was in love with a guy. I ran out and convinced Asher to let me write the article. He gave me his notes and Eli took me home to write the article. I only had three hours, so I wrote quickly, I read through it and sent it to Asher. As Eli was reading through it I noticed a mistake and Eli drove me to The Interpreter, I went into Asher and he'd already found the mistake. I felt kind of stupid, he'd found others too and I was beginning to doubt myself. Asher encouraged me and we sat down to work on the article. By the end I felt great, with Asher's help the article was so much better. He was telling me that I was good at this, giving me encouragement to keep going and he suddenly kissed me!"
"He did what?! I'm taking you home and I'm going back to kill him," I growl. Every fear and instinct I had about this guy was just proven right.
"Drew no," she responds wiping some fresh tears from her eyes.
"No?! What do you mean no? That pedophile ass kissed you!"
"It was a mistake, it had to be a mistake."
"You don't kiss someone, especially someone half your age, by mistake Clare."
"No, no it must have been a mistake. I can't lose my internship over a split second that I'm sure was never meant to happen. I have to talk to him, tomorrow at co-op I'll talk to him," she says with a pleading tone.
I don't like it, I don't want her to talk to him at all, I think we should just go kill him. She's upset though, very upset, kind of shaking and the angrier I'm getting the more upset she's getting, so I force myself to calm down. Kind of giving in, at least for the moment.
"Fine, talk to him in the morning. What if he says it wasn't a mistake? I won't be there in the morning," I remind her.
"I'll go straight to his boss. Please don't tell anyone about tonight Drew, please? Don't tell anyone anything until I've had a chance to talk to Asher," she pleads with me.
"Okay, I promise. You going to be okay tonight?" I question as I pull up to her house.
"I don't know, I kind of just want a very long shower," she replies.
"Call me if you need me okay?"
"I will, thanks for picking me up Drew," she smiles. Her soft smile fills my stomach with butterflies. She's looked at me and smiled at me dozens of times before and never brought butterflies to my stomach.
"No problem, I'll see you tomorrow," I grin back.
She gets out of the car and I watch her go inside. As I start driving home I call Bianca.
"Hey Baby," Bianca answers.
"Hey, I need a favor, if anyone asks your car broke down and I picked you up and brought you home."
"Oookay," Bianca replies slowly. "Are you going to tell me what you were really doing?"
"Picking up Clare from work and taking her home."
"And, you're not telling anyone that's where you were because?"
"Something happened tonight and she needed me to pick her up. I promised I wouldn't tell anyone, yet, which includes you."
"Something happened while Clare was at work?"
"Yeah, and I can't tell anyone at least until Clare talks to her boss tomorrow."
"Is Clare okay?"
"Not really."
"Okay, I'll tell everyone you were with me."
"Thanks, I'll see you tomorrow," I reply and hang up. I park at the house and go in through the basement.
"How's Bianca?" Adam inquires.
"Upset about her car, but otherwise okay. She's getting it towed to Tony's garage."
"That's good," Adam replies.
"I'm surprised you're back so soon, I'd think you'd still be with your girlfriend," Dallas remarks.
"She was tired. I'm going to shower," I tell them going upstairs.
I go into my room taking off my shoes, jacket and everything out of my pockets. I take a long shower and the whole time find myself thinking about Clare. Especially, the moment that she smiled at me in the car and the feeling it gave me. In fact, she stays on my mind all night, I think about her, I think about Asher's lips on her, I think about her grateful and gorgeous smile. I dream about it all night and she's still on my mind when I wake up the next morning. I want to call her and ask if she's spoken to Asher, but she's not at co-op yet it's too early. I get ready for school, drive me, Adam and Dallas to school, still thinking about Clare. We go inside and find most of the Ice Hounds in the foyer, so of course Dallas leaves us. Adam leaves me to go to his locker and I go to mine. Clare is still on my mind, at least until Bianca puts her hand on my shoulder and spins me around crushing her lips to mine. Kissing my girlfriend I convince myself that my feelings for Clare are only a crush and I love Bianca.
Update soon will pick up the same morning in Clare's pov. Next story to be updated is Alone on a School Night.