Sorry this is up so late my Saturday got rather busy. Now let's join Clare for some more trouble.
Ch. 5 Tell You in a Stage Whisper
(CLARE)
"What did you do with Owen Clare?" Fitz inquires and I wrinkle my nose at both of them. Huffing in annoyance I step down and run around to the front. I run in and everyone looks over at me. Fitz and Adam run in just behind me and get on either side of me. "What did you do with Owen? Answer the question," Fitz presses.
Now everyone looks from me to Owen, he looks frightened and he's looking at me. He's not frightened of Fitz alone I'm sure but as everyone, most particularly my brothers, are sort of glaring at him he's afraid they're going to kill him.
"I didn't do anything with Owen," I respond. I'm not about to throw Owen under the bus I'm not cruel and I like Owen. Not to mention if my brothers, or anyone, think I've done anything with him they'll be watching closely and I won't be able to do anything else with him. "We didn't do anything I just wanted to scare you," I tell Adam putting my arm around his shoulders.
"You do, quite frequently," Adam says aloud and then leans in to whisper in my ear, "I know you did something with Owen. I know it was more than kissing."
I twist my mouth at him, sometimes being a twin sucks. At least Adam won't attack Owen, or tell Drew and Spinner unless he thinks it's necessary. We sit down again and Maya hands me my latte. Jeff gets a coffee and winks at me as he leaves.
"I'm going to walk home a…"
"Sit," Drew asserts pulling me back into my chair.
I twist my face at him but stay seated, won't do me any good to slip out now. Still I'm sad that I won't see him again until Thanksgiving. We stay at The Dot for a couple of hours before going home. Everyone that didn't have to stay at work or go to work comes back to the house with us. All of us either have school or work tomorrow but it's early yet. Everyone sits in the living room or on the back porch, hanging out and talking. Paige and Maya go into the kitchen to make snacks and I go to the washroom. When I get out Owen is just inside my room so I go in closing my door.
"Why didn't you tell them?" Owen inquires.
"And have you killed? Now that wouldn't have been any fun. Don't you think if they knew the trouble I got up to they would keep a tighter rein on me?"
"Adam knows what trouble you get into," Owen points out.
"He also understands me better than anyone else but if you don't get out there they'll realize you're missing and find you in here," I remind him.
Owen gives me a look I can't quite place and then leaves my room. I intend to wait a few seconds before following him out so I start looking through my closet like I came in to change but notice another figure in my doorway.
"What's that look for?" I question Fitz as he walks in and closes the door.
"I saw Owen coming out of your room," Fitz responds.
"Jealous?" I tease him strutting over to him.
"Is there something to be jealous of?"
"That means you are jealous," I grin trying to walk to past him but he's blocking my door.
"Clare," Fitz sort of sighs half annoyed and half hurt.
"Does it really matter?"
"Yes it does," he responds.
"Why?"
Fitz opens his mouth but there's a knock on my door and Fitz opens it. Sean is on the other side; he's giving us an odd look which I can only imagine is because we're alone in my bedroom.
"We need to get home and check on Mom she's not answering her cell," Sean tells his brother.
"Yeah, see you tomorrow Clare," Fitz waves following his brother out of my room and I follow them out to the living room. No one says anything of Fitz being in my room but we get some looks. Fitz and Sean say goodbye and Drew turns on the gaming system.
Drew, Adam, Owen and K.C. play video games for a couple of hours and then people begin going home since we all have school or work tomorrow. Paige is the last to leave, after she's sure everything is clean and we're all fine. Bianca gets a ride home from Paige and now it's just me, Drew and Adam since Spinner won't be home until after midnight. I get ready for bed and then go into my room after saying goodnight to my brothers. I start to change for bed when I hear tapping at my window; I peek through the curtains expecting Fitz but smile when I see Jeff. I pull back the curtain more and open the window. Jeff crawls in and looks at me with a cocked eyebrow, I'd gotten as far as taking off my top and bra. I'm currently holding my nightshirt over my breasts to cover them.
"I thought you went home," I comment as he pulls my nightshirt away from my breasts.
"Not without saying goodbye," he grins looking up from my breasts to my eyes. Jeff reaches out taking my hand and pulls me to him. Keeping hold of my hand he puts his arm around my lower back, locks his eyes with mine and conjoins our lips for a sultry kiss. I loop my arms around his neck and part my lips a little, his tongue slips out and snakes around my tongue. His arm tightens around me and he then he pulls away, tugging my lower lip as he does. "I gotta drive home now but I'll be back at Thanksgiving don't forget me now," he tells me as he releases me.
I just smile, shake my head and bite my lip watching him go through my window. I get my nightshirt on, close my window and the curtains again and get in bed with my laptop. I write in my journal and count the days to Thanksgiving before going to sleep. When my alarm goes off I get up with a groan to get ready for school. I like the first day of school though, new classes, new students and potentially new friends, seeing old friends you haven't seen since last year. Drew dreads the first day, he hates school and always has but Dad and Spinner won't let him drop out, neither would me, Adam or Bianca.
After looking through my closet a while I decide on a denim skirt, black flats and a black and white striped top that zips down the front. Spinner is still asleep but he doesn't have to be at work until ten, Drew and Adam are awake and eating breakfast when I come into the kitchen. I'm not all that hungry so I just make some toast and have juice.
"I have football after school and work right after that so I won't be home until late. Spin will be at work too so you'll both need to find your own way home. And not walking alone, or riding with boys you don't know," Drew says directing the last part of the comment at me and not Adam.
"We'll probably come home with Maya and Jenna anyway," Adam shrugs.
We finish breakfast and Drew drives us to school. We see Owen's car when we pull into the parking lot and K.C.'s on the steps with Maya and Jenna. Maya is sitting on the steps looking bored while Jenna and K.C. are kissing. Maya perks up when she sees us, coming over to greet Adam with a kiss. Adam puts his arm around her and we walk up the steps together, Jenna and K.C. pull apart to greet us as a fancy car with a driver in uniform pulls up to the school.
"Who comes in a ritzy car like that to this school?" K.C. asks.
"Apparently they do," I respond in a snarky tone as two boys get out of the car. One is Asian, skinny with glasses, the other has dark hair is tall and smiles at Maya. She smiles back, which Adam doesn't notice but his arm does tighten around her.
"Let's go find our lockers," K.C. comments and we turn going inside.
Maya's locker is in another hallway so Adam walks her; Drew's locker is also in another hallway so he leaves us. Jenna and K.C.'s lockers are only two apart, my locker is on the other side of the hall next to a tall thin kid with dark hair. He looks familiar, I've seen him around the ravine but I don't know his name. I start opening my locker and he looks over at me, looks me and down and smiles at me.
"I know you don't I?" He asks.
"Yeah she's the Mason's baby sister so keep your eyes in your head," K.C. chimes in.
"I'm exactly the same age as Adam and Drew's only a year older than us I'm not a baby and I have a name," I shoot back
"I know your older brothers see them at the ravine sometimes. I'm Reese, I went to Bardell last year but I got expelled so now I'm at DeGrassi," Reese explains with a grin.
"Expelled? You must really be bad boy," I smile. Hey I can't help it if I'm attracted to the bad boys I grew up with a bunch of them including my two older brothers. "I'm Clare by the way."
"See you around Clare," he smirks and walks away.
"Reese is bad news Clare you can't go out with him," K.C. tells me.
"Butt out K.C. it's not up to you who I date," I shoot back.
"Maybe not but your brothers will have something to say about it. What do you guys have for homeroom?" K.C. questions.
"English," I respond.
"Us too come on," K.C. says pulling at my arm and putting his arm around my shoulders as the three of us walk to class.
"Jenna, Clare we have the same homeroom! Hey K.C.," Alli says as a sort of afterthought as we enter the classroom and he takes his arm from my shoulders. "Did you see the hearse in the parking lot? It's old so it can't be here because someone died but that means someone actually drove it to school. What kind of freak drives a hearse to school?"
Jenna and I met Alli last year, she and her brother Sav who is two years older than her. Alli's okay, a little selfish and boy crazy and she doesn't really hang with our crowd but Jenna and I became friends with her last year although we don't hang out with her much outside of school.
Adam walks into class a few minutes later, along with Connor and Wes; they like Alli are mostly school friends. Miss Dawes comes in and class begins. After English Adam, Alli and I have History when we get to the class Zig smiles happy to have his friends in class. Dave is here too, and I smile when I see Reese sitting at a desk. He smiles at me too but doesn't say anything. I sit at a desk next to Adam and Mr. Perino comes in, he begins writing things on the blackboard and then turns around to talk as soon as the bell rings. At lunch I go to my locker to put away my books and Adam goes to get Maya. We always eat lunch either in the back of school or at The Dot, today we're eating at The Dot and I can walk there on my own. I stash my books and walk quickly down the hall to get to The Dot, but I stop in my tracks when he a pair of green eyes comes around the corner. The dark haired boy smirks at me walks past.
"So many boys to have fun with this year," I think to myself as I start walking again, "now which to play with first?"
(ADAM)
"I'm not very hungry; actually I'm not very hungry at all. I think I'll just go back to school," Jenna comments almost as soon as we're in the café.
"I'll walk you," K.C. says standing up to go with her.
"No that's okay I can go on my own you stay and have lunch," Jenna insists. She kisses K.C. and gets up leaving The Dot. She doesn't go straight back to school though she goes to the pharmacy across the street. She must not being feeling well.
"Where's Tris and Clare? I saw Jenna walking back to school on my way in," Owen remarks when he walks in.
"Tris said he'd meet us here when I picked Maya up from class not sure where Clare is though," I reply getting out my phone to text Clare.
Adam: Where are you? And have you seen Tris?
Clare: Tris is sitting with Riley and Zane I think he's eating with them. Was there an LGBT thing at lunch?
Adam: Not that I know of and you didn't tell me where you are.
Clare: The three of them are eating alone so I guess not. I'm making new friends. :)
"Clare says Tris is eating with Riley and Zane, and she's eating with Alli and them so they won't be coming," I respond.
Owen shrugs and sits down and Spin brings our food. I know Clare's not eating with Alli she's flirting with some boy but since most of the boys in school know they'll die if they hurt her I'm not too worried. Knowing my sister like I do I'm still a little worried. I still won't tell Spin and Drew that's what she's doing though, I know how they'll react and then Clare will get angry and do something really stupid behind their backs because she hates the double standard.
We start talking about our classes that morning; Maya and Zig tell us about the new boy Eli in their art class. Reese Delancey is apparently in the class too which means he goes to the school now. Owen and Bianca have chemistry with Eli second period, he's the one that drove the hearse to school and Bianca has nicknamed him Dr. Doom. While we're eating and talking about school the other new boys walk in and the dark haired one smiles at Maya again. I grit my teeth and tighten my arm around her, Maya's talking to K.C. and doesn't notice that he smiles at her but I know he likes her. Thankfully they order and leave without Maya noticing them.
We finish lunch, say goodbye to Spin and go back to school, I take Maya to her locker and go looking for my sister. She's not at her locker, the caf or memorial garden and I'm about to text her when I feel her hands covering my eyes.
"You worry too much Adam," Clare scolds me.
"I worry because I know you better than anyone else," I reply and her only response is to kiss my cheek.
We go to our lockers and I stash books while she gets hers out. She waves to me before walking to class, she has communications technology this period and I have drama, it's an open elective and the only class Maya and I have together. Miss Dawes teaches drama, she's kooky but I like her as a teacher. We get paired up to do scenes and I get paired with Maya which is good. It's only a two minute scene and we get half an hour to rehearse and then preform at the end of class. After class I kiss Maya and head to Media Studies another elective but only for grades ten and eleven. Clare, Drew and I all have the class together, Owen, Fitz and Bianca also have the class with us and we all sit at the two back tables, Drew, Fitz and Bianca at one and Me, Clare and Owen at the other. Fiona comes in with a new boy who must be Eli by the description I heard. Clare smiles, biting her lip when she sees him and he smiles at her. Miss Oh comes in and starts the class with a movie; Clare decides it's a good opportunity to stretch out. She puts her legs on my lap and leans against Owen's arm. He moves his arm and puts it around her instead; it just proves to me that they did do something more than kissing. At least I can trust him with her.
"I have to go check on Mom I'll see you guys later," Fitz says when school is out.
"We've got football," Drew reminds us before he and Owen run off for the locker room.
"I should go home, get some fresh clothes," Bianca sighs heavily.
"I'll give you guys a lift it's on my way," Fitz offers as we leave the school.
When we get out to the steps K.C. is there with Maya, Tris, Zig and Jenna. K.C. has football and then has to go to work just like Drew, Zig has to go home to help in his family's store but Jenna, Tris and Maya are coming home with us. We all pile into Fitz's car and he drives us to our house. Clare sits up front with Fitz and Maya sits on my lap in the back, it's a short drive to our house.
"I'll probably be back after I make sure my mom's still alive and all, unless I go hang out at the garage," Fitz tells us when he drops us off.
"You should come back here we're much more fun than a garage that smells like oil anyway," Clare says giving Fitz a flirtatious smile.
He grins back and I roll my eyes. We wave to Fitz and go inside; Maya and Tris sit at the kitchen table and start doing homework. Jenna takes her backpack and disappears into the washroom while Clare and I sit on the sofa to do our homework. I start on my homework but realize I need my laptop so I go back to my room to get it and notice that Jenna is still in the washroom.
"Jenna are you okay?" I question knocking on the door.
I hear the faucet turn on as soon as I know and a second later she opens the door. She smiles at me but I can see she's been crying.
"I think I'm just going to go home," she tells me lifting her backpack onto her shoulder but I take it from her.
"Jenna what's wrong?" I inquire. I don't even finish the words before Clare's at my side.
"Jenna you're not going home we can see you've been crying what is it?" Clare asks.
"I think I'm pregnant," she barely whispers and pulls a positive pregnancy test from her backpack.
"Jenna those things can be wrong we should take you to the clinic and have them do a blood test. I'll call Bianca," Clare tells her and Jenna nods. Clare goes to get her phone but takes it in her room to call Bianca. "She's on her way, she'll be here in a few minutes, you can lie down in my room until then if you want to," Clare offers and Jenna nods.
"Stay in touch, I'll tell Maya and Tris you guys are going to meet Fitz. I don't think Jenna wants anyone to know," I comment to Clare after Jenna goes into her room and shuts the door.
"Yeah good idea, I'll stay in touch, if she is pregnant she may not want to come back and she definitely won't want to go home," Clare says.
"Promise me you won't get pregnant as long as we're in school," I plead with her.
"Of course not, I'm already on birth control," she informs me.
"When did you…never mind I don't think I want to know."
(CLARE)
"We have the test results Jenna, you are pregnant," the nurse tells her and Jenna sinks back. Bianca and I put our arms around her.
"You have options of course. I'll send you home with all the information you need for every option, look at it when you're ready."
The nurse hands Bianca a stack of information and we sign Jenna out. She starts crying when we get back in Bianca's car. Bianca decides it's better if we don't go home so she drives to the park.
"Are you going to tell K.C.?" Bianca asks after a while.
"I don't know, I don't know if I'm even going to keep it. I'm only fifteen, we used a condom, we only did it once."
"You should tell K.C., it's his decision too even if you decide not to keep it," I comment.
"I can't tell him, please not yet, I can't even think. My parents are gone visiting my brother, I don't want to be alone but I don't want to go back to your house Clare. Everyone goes there and I don't want anyone else to know, not yet," Jenna cries.
"You could go to Paige's apartment, she'll keep your secret and you won't be alone," I suggest.
Jenna nods so I call Paige, she says Jenna can come to her apartment and Bianca starts driving. Paige is still at work but she says we can hang out with Jenna until she's there. I didn't tell her why Jenna needed to come her place but Paige didn't ask. I have a key to Paige's apartment, so do Drew, Adam and Spin of course. We go in and Jenna lies down on the sofa, I start the kettle for tea and Bianca sits at the kitchen table. I send a text to Adam just saying that Jenna is and we're taking her to Paige's place. I make some tea and put it on the coffee table near Jenna before sitting at the table with Bianca. We sip at the tea and listen to Jenna cry, she stops after a bit and sips at the tea but she doesn't say anything.
"Hey girls," Paige says when she gets home.
"We'll go by her apartment and get clothes and stuff for her. Thanks for letting her stay," Bianca tells Paige.
"No problem, we'll have a quiet girls night. So what is drama?" Paige asks.
"She's pregnant, she doesn't know what to do and she doesn't want anyone to know," I explain.
"Oh my, well don't worry I'll take good care of her," Paige assures us.
We thank Paige and hug her then hug Jenna and take her keys so we can get into her apartment. Bianca and I go to the apartment packing a bag for Jenna and drop it off. Jenna still looks blank and lost in her head but I can't blame her. Paige says Jenna just needs time and we hug Jenna again.
"I think I'll stay over again, if I go home now my auntie will have another date," Bianca comments as she drives us back to my house.
"You know you should just move in. I'm sure Spinner would be okay with it and you spend ninety percent of the time at our house anyway, usually sleeping in Drew's room," I tell her.
"I'm sure my auntie wouldn't notice even if I did," Bianca huffs.
"So just do it, Drew will make room for you and Spinner will be okay with it. He'll probably just be happy that there's someone else at the house to keep an eye on me," I reply and Bianca laughs.
"I should probably ask your brothers first but I would be a lot happier living with you guys."
She parks at our house and I see Owen and Spinner's cars so Spinner is home from work and probably making dinner. Drew is closing so he won't be home until after ten. Fitz's car isn't here so either his mom was drunk or he went to the garage to be with his brother. Just as we get out of the car Owen comes out of the house with Maya and Tris.
"See you guys tomorrow, I'm dropping Maya at home on our way," Owen says as they walk down the steps. Maya and Tris get in Owen's car when he unlocks it. I smile at Owen as I start to walk past him and he grabs my arm. Bianca notices and she stops walking too. "We're you flirting with Reese Delancey today?" He questions.
"Did K.C. tell Drew too?" I question knowing K.C. must have told them during football.
"No Drew left first. Reese is dangerous Clare, he's bad news," Owen says repeating nearly exactly what K.C. said this morning.
"You know telling a girl, especially a girl like Clare, that a guy is dangerous or bad news is like telling her to go flirt with him and see if she can tame him. You just gave her an open invitation to trouble," Bianca comments before going inside.
"You don't need Reese there's plenty of guys that we trust that will go out with you, and do other things," Owen says.
"So that means I should call Lucas the next time I'm horny?" I tease him and he grimaces at me.
"Don't worry I'll come find you next time I need a release," I whisper hooking a finger into the belt loop on his jeans.
"Your brothers are going to smash my face in aren't they?"
"Only if they find out," I grin and saunter inside.
I was only teasing Owen of course, not that I won't seek out Owen if I need a release but I'm more interested in the new boys and Jeff's still on my mind. I expect Bianca to bring up moving in over dinner but she never says anything. She must be waiting for Drew to be home too. After dinner I do my homework on the sofa, Bianca does hers too but Adam's already done. Drew gets home as we're finishing, Bianca sits at him with the table while he eats and does his homework. Drew always struggles with his schoolwork but Bianca helps him. Spinner is taking a shower and Adam and I are watching TV only Adam seems down.
"What's up?" I ask poking him in the side.
"There's a new boy at school in Maya's grad and he likes her," Adam sighs.
"Adam don't be worried Maya really likes you and she's known you pretty much her whole life. She doesn't know this new guy," I assure him.
"He kept looking at her, smiling a…"
"Adam I know how much you like Maya. I know how hard it is for you to meet girls and how they react to you. I know how much Maya likes you, she might smile at the new boy but she really likes you. If you're that worried go call her," I advise my brother.
"Thanks Sis," Adam smiles and kisses my cheek before disappearing into his room.
I say goodnight to Drew and Bianca and get ready for bed. As I'm changing for bed I expect there to be a knock on my window and Jeff to be there. I never hear a knock and of course Jeff is back in Guelph. After getting into bed I get on my laptop for a while, I hear everyone else go to bed and I yawn turning off my laptop. Just as I'm sliding down into bed I hear a knock on my window. At first I think I'm hearing things but I hear it again and get up going to the window. I pull back my curtain and look out the window to see Reese standing there smiling at me.
"What on earth are you doing here?" I question sliding the window open just a bit.
Reese leans on the window sill and grins at me, "Came to see you of course. Want to come to a party?"
Update next Saturday picking up from here, Jenna drops the baby news to K.C. and the others and Bianca talks to the Mason's about moving in.