I hope you've all been to the DeGrassi Saviors site and cast your votes. In case you have not we are voting on which story should replace "Why Do I Want Him Still?". There are four options, three of which are crossovers and the last is a Slare story.

Ch. 13 It Ain't Milk And Honey We're Moving 'Round

(CLARE)

"Hey Beautiful, you ready to be picked up?"

It's Monday afternoon and I was just finishing my co-op shift. My second shift as I spent the morning spacing out and thinking about Eli. I had told Caitlin this morning that the bruise on my arm was from my angry ex. I told her a little more this afternoon, and that's when she asked me to come have dinner with her, Joey, Angela and Craig who was in town for the week. So, now I was calling Drew to let him know he didn't have to pick me up.

"Actually, I'm having dinner with Caitlin and her family, they'll get me home," I tell him.

"Dinner at your co-op boss' house?"

"It's nothing like Asher, the whole family will be there."

"I know, just worried I guess, and you can't blame me for that. I know Caitlin isn't Asher, and she's been really good to you. Call me when you're home tonight?"

"Of course," I smile.

I hang up with Drew and gather my stuff going to Caitlin's office. She tells me to wait a moment while she's finishing something up. When she's done, she shuts down her computer and I follow her out to her car.

"Did you ever meet Craig?" Caitlin asks me as she begins driving.

"No, but I've heard Spinner talk about him before."

"He had some struggles, but he's a good kid, and he's doing great now."

"Yeah, sounds kind of like Darcy," I nod.

"How's school going?" Caitlin questions.

"Good, I have good classes this semester, although even university track English isn't very challenging for me."

"You sound like me," Caitlin smiles and it makes me smile. We talk about our favorite authors until she parks outside of a house. I wonder if she told them I was coming to dinner, but figure that she must have. "You can hang your coat in the closet there," she says after we enter the house.

I take off my coat and hang it in the closet just as a man, that must be Joey, comes to the entry. He greets Caitlin with a kiss and then smiles at me.

"Hi Clare, it's nice to meet you, I'm Joey," he says extending his hand, "I've heard Snake talk about you, Connor too."

"It's nice to meet you too," I smile back and shake his hand.

"Craig, Angela, this is Clare. She's doing her co-op internship with me," Caitlin introduces me.

"Good to meet you," Craig grins shaking my hand while Angela smiles at me.

"Dinner's ready," Joey tells us and I follow everyone into the kitchen.

"So, do you go to DeGrassi Clare?" Craig asks.

"Yeah, I was in the gifted program in grade nine. If they hadn't offered the gifted program I'm sure I'd still be in private school. Even though my sister Darcy went to DeGrassi."

"I'm in private school, it's a good school, but I hate having to wear the uniform," Angela says.

"I went to DeGrassi, made some good friends there, and a lot of mistakes," Craig comments.

"Didn't we all," Caitlin remarks giving Joey a look. It's a look that says he made some very big mistakes in high school. "One of my biggest mistakes was Claude," Caitlin says looking down at her food now.

"Claude, he was messed up and I never understood what you saw in him," Joey shakes his head.

"I was young, he was older, dark and mysterious. He had ideals, he stood up for things, made a difference, or at least wanted to make a difference."

"Sounds like Eli," I huff.

"Yes, from what you've told me Eli and Claude seem to be very similar. That's partly why I asked you to come to dinner. When you were talking about Eli and your relationship I saw a lot of similarities in my relationship with Claude, and their behavior. Not that Claude showed the same extreme behaviors as Eli b…"

"What kinds of extreme behavior?" Craig asks interrupting Caitlin.

"Well, when we were barely official I got blackmailed into a date with a boy that had been feuding with Eli all semester. Eli's solution was to poison him with ipecac at the dance. A few months later I found out he was a hoarder. His girlfriend from the previous year had spent a lot of time at his house because she had issues with her family. One night she and Eli fought and she ran out of the house, got hit by a car and died. That's when Eli began hoarding, also when he began dressing all in black and driving an old hearse."

"That's creepy," Joey speaks up.

"I helped him clean out his room, he helped me through my parent's divorce. For a while things were good, and then Fitz came back. He was the boy that had been feuding with Eli and blackmailed me into a date."

"The one Eli poisoned," Caitlin says.

"Right, and at the same dance Fitz threatened Eli with a knife, he was subsequently sent to juvie. Just before March break Fitz was released. He found religion in juvie and came out a different person. He apologized to me, and Adam, and tried to apologize to Eli, but Eli wouldn't hear it. Eli became extremely jealous and possessive, which I hate. He'd stand outside of school waiting for Fitz to come by. Fitz did like me, and he was a little aggressive about it, but I could have handled him. Eli didn't think I could, and even after Fitz backed off Eli was still possessive. He wrote a story about us, well based the main characters on us. It was a good story and got published in a graphic novel. In the story the main character based on him wants to be with his love forever, based on me. He believes the only way he can do that is to kill her and drink her blood."

"Again, creepy," Joey says shivering a little and then looks at Caitlin, "he really does remind me of Claude."

"And, you were still dating this guy even after he wrote a story where he kills you and drinks your blood?" Angela asks.

"It was concerning, and I told him we needed some space. He took that to mean we needed more time together. Around his birthday he went behind my back and arranged for a weekend at a writer's convention. He and his dad went to my mom to get permission, for me to go away with them for the weekend. Told her I'd be sharing a room with Eli's mom, though I'm sure he would have found a way to get us alone. I told him that I wasn't going, that I needed space and we needed time apart. Instead of going with him I went to a dance at school, and so he called me and crashed his car into a wall that night. Thankfully, all he got was a broken foot and minor injuries, but he did it just to get me to come see him. He thought somehow that would keep me from breaking up with him."

"And, you're still dating this nut case?" Joey asks.

"Dated again actually, I did break up with him after the car crash. Only, Eli wasn't quite done with me, he wrote a play about us and villainized me, eventually changed the ending and then lit the script of fire on stage. He's been seeing a therapist, was put on mood stabilizers, after that he seemed to be doing better. We were pretty much keeping our distance from each other though, dating other people. My life went through some more turmoil and just before winter break last year, when it looked like that spark was back, even after everything it felt right. Even with all he put me through I still wanted to be with him again."

"Ups and downs with his moods, obsessive behavior, fixation on one thing, sounds like bipolar depression to me. I should know," Craig speaks up.

"Craig's bipolar," Angela says for him.

"You think Eli is bipolar?" I question slowly.

"It sure sounds like it, they'd have to test him to be sure," Craig tells me.

"He's seeing a therapist; she did put him on mood stabilizers. He's never mentioned that they even suspected bipolar depression."

"The hoarding and the death of his ex may have thrown them off. It took me thrashing a hotel room, proposing to my girlfriend and beating on Joey before I was diagnosed. I never hoarded, but I did do the extremes in behavior, moods, and when I got an idea in my head I became fixated, totally and completely obsessed," Craig says.

"That does sound like Eli," I nod biting my lip. "Was Claude bipolar?" I question Caitlin.

"He may have been, we'll never know, he killed himself in the boy's washroom at DeGrassi. He tried to talk to me before he did it, and sent me roses and a letter essentially blaming me for his death. Saying it was my fault because I broke up with him," Caitlin tells me.

"He killed himself?" I exhale remembering Eli driving into a wall. Then my mind begins playing out all these scenarios of Eli killing himself because I won't talk to him.

"He needed help and he didn't get any, if Eli gets the help he needs he'll be okay. Joey and I can call Eli's parents after dinner if you give us their number. I'm sure Craig can take you home," Caitlin volunteers him.

"Yeah, no problem," Craig smiles.

"So Clare, is Caitlin a good boss?" Joey asks changing the subject to something lighter. I spend the rest of dinner talking about how wonderful it is to work with Caitlin. Then Joey and Caitlin talk about themselves, Snake and his wife in high school. Craig talks about Spinner in high school, and then Angela talks a little about her school. I help clean up after dinner and all together I'm at their house for almost two hours.

"Thanks for dinner, and for the advice. Here is Eli's mom's cell phone number, good luck," I tell Joey and Caitlin. Angela decides to come with Craig to drop me off and talks the whole way about her friends at school. "Thanks for bringing me home Craig," I smile before getting out of the car.

"No problem Clare, I hope it goes well with Eli."

"Bye Clare," Angela waves.

I say goodbye and head inside, Mom asks how dinner was and I tell her it was nice before going up to my room. Getting my phone out before I set my purse down I find Drew's name and click on it. I hear it ringing and sit on my bed kicking off my shoes.

"How was dinner?" Drew asks.

"It was very informative," I reply.

"What do you mean?" Drew questions.

"I was telling them about Eli's behavior, well, actually, I had told some of it to Caitlin earlier. She had a motive for asking me to come to dinner. Eli reminded her of a boy she dated in a high school a boy that killed himself."

"Eli's angry that we're together but he w…" Drew begins to argue and then cuts himself off.

"Drive into a wall? It was more than that though, I pretty much went through all the extreme behavior I've ever seen or heard of Eli doing. Caitlin's stepson is bipolar and he thought it sounded like Eli was bipolar. Caitlin and Joey were going to call Eli's parents and talk to them. I hope they listen, that Eli's therapist does what is necessary to find out if he's bipolar."

"I'm sure Eli's parents will get him the help he needs. How's your arm?"

"It's fine, it's just a bruise. How was work?"

"Good, until I saw Asher."

"You didn't do anything did you?"

"Just glared at him any time I had to walk past his office," Drew tells me just as my phone buzzes.

"Caitlin's calling, let me call you back."

"Okay, call me back when you're done," Drew says before hanging up.

"Hi Caitlin."

"We spoke to Eli's parents; they are going to call his therapist tomorrow and talk about the possibility and what they need to do to for a proper diagnosis. I gave them our numbers if they needed to talk, and told them about Craig and our concerns," Caitlin tells me.

"Good, I'm glad they're going to get him the help he needs. Thanks for doing that Caitlin."

"Of course Clare. I'll see you at co-op tomorrow."

I hang up with Caitlin and call Drew back. I tell him what Caitlin told me, we talk for over an hour before hanging up to get ready for bed. Of course when I can't sleep I call Drew back so he can put me to sleep with sports stories and statistics. I fall asleep with a smile on my lips listening to my Drew's voice.

(ADAM)

"Eli better stay away from Clare today," Drew growls as we walk into school Tuesday morning.

"You're not going to fight Eli," I remind my brother.

"Not so long as he stays away from Clare," he replies with gritted teeth.

"Clare's probably at her locker, or waiting at your locker to kiss you before she goes to co-op," I comment.

"Good point, I'm going to my locker first, if she's at hers text me," he says.

"Yeah," I nod as Drew goes down the hall. I walk to my locker and don't see Clare, Jake's truck was in the parking lot, so she's not at co-op yet. I open my locker and put in some books. From the corner of my eye I see a figure approaching, but it's not Clare.

"We have to break them apart, she can't be with that idiotic, pretty-boy, muscles-for-brains, jock," Eli growls.

"You know that's my brother you're talking about," I respond shutting my locker.

"I know, and I'm sure he's a fine brother, but Clare deserves so much better than him."

"Like you I suppose, you cheated on her Eli, took drugs and cheated on her. Even before that she was falling in love with Drew, th…"

"SHE'S NOT IN LOVE WITH HIM," Eli yells slamming his hand on the locker next to mine. He turns and storms off, I watch him go before walking in the direction of Drew's locker. I see him talking with Owen, but I don't see Clare anywhere, of course I don't see Eli anywhere either.

"You find Clare?" I ask Drew.

"Yeah, she was waiting for me, I kissed her and told her to have a good time at co-op."

"Good, saw Eli already, don't fight him Drew."

"What'd Eli do?" Drew asks with a growl.

"Yelled, said a few things, that was it. Just stay away from him Drew, as much as you can, don't provoke him," I warn my brother.

"As long as he doesn't hurt Clare again, or get in my face," Drew responds.

"If Eli tries anything I'll help you beat the crap out of him," Owen offers.

I shake my head and walk away, there's no use in trying to talk them out of fighting. I just hope Eli is smart enough to keep his distance. At this point I'm hoping Eli tries to make Clare jealous by rebounding. I doubt Clare would get jealous, but at least that way Eli wouldn't get beat up.

"You look worried," Dave comments when I get to class.

"Eli wants to break up Clare and Drew, my brother is all too happy to pound Eli's face in if he tries anything, and Owen is all too happy to help him."

"What about Clare?" Dave questions.

"She hates violence and doesn't want anyone fighting, and she's in love with Drew, I know she won't get back together with Eli. I'm not worried about Clare; I'm worried about what Eli will try. And, worried that my brother thinking it's a good idea to fight him."

"I'm sure Clare will keep him from fighting," Dave says just Armstrong clears his throat and calls us to attention. I sit down and look at the chalkboard while Armstrong starts writing a problem on the board.

I'm sure Clare will keep my brother from fighting, I'm more worried about what Eli will try. Also, worried what might happen next period when Drew and Eli have class together. When first period lets out I send a text to Drew reminding him not to fight or provoke Eli in any way. He doesn't reply, not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm thinking about it all through second period. Not that I have to think all that much in music class.

"You okay?" Jenna asks after class.

"I'm going to go wait for Clare," I tell her.

"What happened?"

"Nothing yet, but I don't want Eli to find her first."

I walk out to the front with my backpack, I don't even go to my locker. Although, I do text Drew to stay away from Eli and come wait for Clare. I sit on the picnic table waiting to see Jake's truck, I see it pull in a moment later and walk over to where she's parking.

"What's wrong?" She asks getting out of the truck.

"Eli's determined to get you back, wanted me to help break up you and Drew," I tell her.

"Another scheme?"

"I don't know, probably. I tried talking to him, but he didn't listen of course. I told Drew to stay away from him, but I have no idea what Eli has planned."

"I didn't get anywhere near Eli," Drew says coming up and wrapping his arms around Clare. "As long as he stays away from us I'll stay away from him. Maya's looking for you little bro."

"Oh, we were going to have lunch," I exclaim realizing I forgot about my girlfriend while worried about what Eli might be scheming.

"I'm in good hands Adam, go find Maya," Clare tells me.

"I'll bring her to class after lunch," Drew says.

I smile at them and run back inside, I find Maya at her locker and greet her with a kiss. I buy us lunch from the caf and we eat in the garden. After lunch I walk Maya to her locker and then to class. When I get to English class Drew is dropping Clare off, they share a kiss, Drew grins at me and walks off to get to his own class.

"How was lunch with Maya?" Clare asks.

"Good, we had a nice time. How was lunch with my brother?"

"Nice, we ate off campus so we didn't see Eli. You and Drew are still coming over for dinner aren't you?"

"Of course we are, if you don't have co-op this afternoon I can come over right after school."

"No co-op, I did everything this morning," she smiles.

"Cool, I'll ride home with you and Jake then. You think Drew will stay away from Eli in class?"

"I hope so," she sighs.

When school is out we walk to our lockers where Drew finds us. He kisses Clare and says he'll meet us at Clare's when he's off work. I say goodbye to Maya before leaving with Clare and riding in Jake's truck to their house. Jake goes straight to the kitchen for a snack while I follow Clare up to her room to do homework. We have it all done by the time her mom gets home and starts on dinner. Clare and I go down and help her mom with dinner. Drew arrives at almost the same time as Glen and just as we're finishing dinner. Drew helps Jake set the table and we all sit down.

"So, Drew you're a year older than Clare aren't you?" Helen asks as soon as we begin eating.

"Mom," Clare snaps at her, "Eli and Jake are both a year older than me."

"I'm just asking a question Dear," Helen replies.

"Yes ma'am, I'm in grade 12 with Jake," Drew nods.

"So, you'll be graduating this summer then?" Helen questions.

"I hope so, Adam got the brains in the family," Drew says looking down.

"Don't listen to him, Drew is great at lots of things, he struggles in some school subjects, but he's not dumb. He's doing great at his job," I speak up for my brother.

"That's right you work at the Interpreter," Jake says.

"Yeah, in marketing under Martin Christensen. I was worried about Asher's behavior long before Clare saw it."

"I'm glad someone saw it," Helen remarks.

"So, how do you like marketing?" Glen questions.

"I love marketing, not that I've done very much marketing mostly grunt work. Martin is a good boss and I've learned a lot from him. I think I'd be pretty good at marketing," Drew says.

"I think you'd be great at marketing," Clare smiles.

"Yeah, you've always been good at knowing what people want, and charming people," I remark and Drew smiles.

"Do you have plans for after graduation Drew?" Helen inquires.

"I'll probably go to Centennial for a couple years, see about getting my grades up and what's involved in a marketing degree."

"That's a very wise decision Drew," Glen says, and both Clare and Drew smile.

"Thanks Glen, anyway I'd like to be here for Clare during all the pre-trial stuff. And, of course be here for the trial as well," Drew says taking Clare's hand on the table. This small act of supportive affection makes Helen give my brother an approving smile.

"If there even is a trial," Clare huffs.

"There will be a trial, I'm sure that slime has sexually harassed others. There's no way he started with you," I comment.

"I sure hope so, we haven't heard a thing," Helen comments.

"It could be months Mom, they have to do a full investigation and see if there's even enough to go to trial. Then it could be a year or more before it gets to trial. Until there is a trial, if there is a trial, Asher is out there free," Clare grumbles and Drew squeezes her hand.

"Yeah, but he won't get anywhere near you again, and I'll be here with you for all of it," Drew assures her. Clare smiles and kisses his cheek, and my brother gets that goofy grin on his face.

Jake changes the subject of the dinner conversation and Helen seems to be out of questions for Drew. We stay for dessert, but Helen won't let us help clean up.

"I'm going to walk Drew and Adam out," Clare says as we get our coats. "Thanks for coming to dinner, both of you," Clare grins hugging me and then kissing Drew. "I'll see you both at school tomorrow," she smiles as we get in the car.

"You sure charmed her mom, she was smiling pretty big by the time we left," I comment as Drew starts driving home.

"Guess I am good at charming people, anyway as long as Clare was happy so am I," Drew says and I grin.

(CLARE)

"I have to get to co-op, see you at lunch," I tell Drew when I catch him at his locker Wednesday morning.

"Have a good co-op shift," Drew says ensnaring my lips for a quick kiss.

I leave Drew and start walking for the front doors, but feel like I'm being watched. I look around, but the hallway is filled with kids, and it doesn't seem as though any of them are watching me. I shake the feeling and go out to the truck, but as I'm pulling out the parking lot I see Eli watching me from the steps.

It's not so much that he's watching me drive off that gives me a worried feeling. It's the look in his eyes, that look he gets when he's scheming. I've seen that look too many times, and I worry what his scheme may be. Adam already told me Eli wanted to break me and Drew up. As soon as I park at the station I send a text to both Torres brothers.

Clare: Eli was watching me from the steps, I think he's scheming something. Be careful both of you, and Drew no confrontations unless absolutely necessary.

I didn't want to alarm Drew, but they have second period together and I want Drew to be on alert. At least, I know Adam will be pragmatic about it. They should also be getting into class, so I doubt either will reply right now.

As much as I'm worried about it once I'm in the office and greeting everyone I push Eli from my mind. Caitlin has me editing copy today, which I much prefer over filing and other grunt work. I send it off when I'm done and with nothing else to do Caitlin says I can sign out a few minutes early. I'm able to get back to school and stow my books before the bell even rings for lunch. I would go wait for Drew at his second period classroom, but he has the class with Eli. So I decide to walk to his locker and wait for him there.

"Hey Beautiful, how was co-op?" Drew questions.

"It was good, I got to edit the copy today, that was fun," I comment as Drew is stashing his backpack in his locker.

"Good, come on, let's go have lunch at The Dot," Drew says putting his arm around me and walking quickly for the front door.

"Is there a reason you're rushing me out the front door?" I question.

"I'm not rushing you, I just don't want to give Eli tome to find you and watch you again. I'm glad you don't have any classes with him."

"Did something happen in class?" I query as we exit the front doors.

"Just the usual dirty looks, but I don't like that he was watching you before he left."

"I just don't like that he looks like he was scheming," I sigh.

"I'm sure he was scheming, and he wants to break us up, and given what he's done in the past, I like it even less," Drew responds.

I take Drew's hand but I don't respond, I'd like to say there's no reason to worry, but there is. I know there is, and I can't argue that there isn't. I can however hope that either Eli drops it or decides trying a scheme isn't going to work.

Drew holds the door for me when we get to The Dot, and we order. He pays while I get us a table, and joins me with our drinks a moment later.

"So, I've been thinking that I need to take you on a date. A real one, I don't think us getting coffee, and staying out all night because you can't sleep counts as a date," Drew comments.

"A date would be nice, how about Friday? You could pick me up after work, even if I'm working that afternoon too."

"Perfect," Drew grins reaching across the table to take my hand.

I grin and rub his thumb with mine, we stay like that until the waiter brings our food. We don't talk very much over lunch, and we don't linger at the café. We do walk back to school slowly though.

"Maybe, we should go around to the garden entrance," I remark when I see Eli waiting on the front steps.

"I'm not going to let him intimidate me," Drew growls.

"And, I don't want the two of you fighting, I don't even want to walk past him, let's just go to the garden entrance," I request tugging Drew that way.

He tightens his arm around me, but he listens and we go in through the garden. Drew walks me to my locker and then to class, kissing me at the door. We pull away from the kiss just as Adam walks up, and Drew musses his brother's hair before leaving.

"Seen Eli again?" Adam questions as we sit at our desks.

"He was on the steps when Drew and I came back from lunch. Has he said anything to you today?"

"I think after he realized I wasn't going to help him he's been avoiding me. He hasn't said a word to me, or looked at me all day. If he is scheming something I have no idea what it is."

"I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse," I huff sinking down in my desk. Adam pats my arm, but doesn't say anything else.

I make it through school without seeing Eli or even hearing about him. Drew steals me for a kiss before he leaves for work, I meet Jake at the truck and he drives us home. Then leaves almost immediately when his dad calls and asks him to join him at the job site. Jake calls that he's leaving, I hear him lock the door, and almost as soon as he's gone I hear the doorbell ring.

This story has one more chapter in it, so the next chapter will be the last. Replacing this will be "You Ought to Have Me On Your Mind" and when that end it will be replaced by "This is Life & I'm Wondering If We Should Play it a Different Way."