Due to demand (and the fact that I was sort of thinking about it anyway) For a Couple of Nights You Could Say You're My Wife will be getting at least another 2 chapters. When they'll actually go up I have no idea but I have it on my plotting list.

Ch. 12 There's No Wrong & No Right

(CLARE)

My alarm goes off and I hit the snooze button rolling over and cuddling into a warm body. I nuzzle into Owen and he puts his arm around me.

"Doesn't that mean we have to get up for school?" Owen yawns and I respond with groan. "Okay if we don't get up won't one of your brothers come into your room?" He asks but starts stroking my back.

"Only Adam walks into my room without knocking and not when there's a boy in my room. But I suppose we should get up, if you want the washroom you better grab it now," I tell Owen. He grins and gets out of bed; I roll over and smack his ass as he gets out my bed naked.

"Trying to tempt me back into your bed?" Owen questions cocking an eyebrow as he gets his boxers and jeans on to leave my room.

"I would have ordered you to stay in bed if that's what I had wanted," I tell him getting out of bed and sashaying over to him. I glide my hand over his boxers, put my hands on his shoulders and capture his lips. I nip his bottom lip as I pull away and he makes a noise. I grin and walk away from Owen grabbing my fluffy purple robe and putting it on before I leave my room. "Where's Spin?" I ask Drew when I don't see my oldest brother in the kitchen drinking coffee. Of course he could be sleeping since he closed last night but I look out the kitchen window and I don't see Spinner's car.

"Slept at Paige's last night," Drew informs me.

"I'm not feeling well," I tell my second oldest brother.

"You look fine to me," Drew says.

"Menstrual cramps," I lie. Actually my period isn't for a couple of weeks; Adam and I are on the same cycle. Really I just don't want to go to school, not to ditch school I actually like school but I need time to think. With Fitz in juvie and the letter I got from Jeff, what I've been doing with Owen and now Eli's interest in me I have a lot to think about. I need time and space to do that and that's not easy with three older brothers and a bunch of friends that are always at the house or with me at school. I love them all but getting away for some time to think is not easy. Drew pays no attention to when I have my period and doesn't want to think about such things so it won't occur to him that it's not time for my period.

"Have Spinner call the school I don't think they'll take a note from me," Drew replies scrunching his face at the thought of me on my period.

I return to my room and get my cell phone; Owen comes back in and gets his shirt on then sits on my bed to get his shoes on. I lie on my stomach and call Spin.

"Mmmorning," he yawns into the phone.

"Drew says you need to call the school and tell them I won't be in," I tell Spinner and Owen gives me a look.

"Why?" Spinner yawns.

"I'm on my period and I'm cramping," I reply.

"I'll call the school, take it easy," Spin says and hangs up.

"You are not on your period," Owen argues.

"No but I need a day it's not easy to be alone in this house you know," I comment.

"I didn't have to sleep over last night," Owen says as he finishes getting his shoes on. I set down my phone and get up straddling over Owen's lap and linking my arms around his neck.

"Last night was fun and I wanted you here," I tell him and seize his lips for a deep and passionate kiss. The kiss turns Owen on and when I feel the bulge in his jeans I get off his lap.

"You're evil you know that," Owen complains standing up and adjusting his jeans so it hides his erection.

"I know," I grin as he leaves my room with a grumble.

I start to get dressed and Adam comes into my room, Drew and Spinner would never walk right in but Adam and I are twins it's just never bothered us. Adam knows I'm not on my period but doesn't ask why I'm staying home he just tells me to be careful and says he'll bring me my homework. I finish getting dressed and wait until everyone is gone, there's something I need to do today, something to help me figure out what I want and clear my head. When everyone is gone I grab my purse and leave the house walking to the bus station down the street. I take that to the central bus station and take a bus out to TJCS, actually the bus doesn't go directly there it stops half a mile away and I walk. The school is fairly secluded to discourage escapes. I know I can't go in the school, I'm not family they won't let me visit but Fitz has told me enough that I know they have a yard out back surrounded by a chain link fence. I'm hoping the guys are in the yard and not in class. In fact when I get through the woods and approach the yard I see them all out there. I walk up the hill and use our gangs whistle to get Fitz's attention. He's sitting with a few other boys and looks up when he hears the whistle. Dressed in dark jeans and a dark grey t-shirt like every other boy here Fitz comes running to the fence when he sees me.

"Clare what the hell are you doing here? How did you get here? What are doing here alone? Some of these guys haven't seen a girl in over a year," Fitz scolds as I approach the fence.

"I had to know."

"Had to know what?" Fitz questions.

"If I could do this. I like you Fitz, a lot but I can't come out here to see you and you could be in here for three months. You can't stay out of here either; if you're not doing something to impress Sean then you're acting on instinct and anger. I know that bastard deserved what he got for what he did to Bianca but you ran off alone and just attacked him and now you're here for at least six weeks. Maybe when you get out it will be different but when you do get out how long will it be before you're sent back? I can't do this Fitz I'm sorry as much as I like you I can't do this," I tell him gripping the fence where his hands are and kiss his lips through the fence before running off.

I run through the woods again, back to the street and walk to the bus stop. My heart is pounding and I almost feel like crying. As I walk back to the bus stop I have nothing to do but think. Having just left Fitz he's all I can think about, I start to picture a future with him. He'd be caring and sweet, loving and attentive, know what I need better than I do and know just how to get to me. But his temper, I know he'd never hurt me but if someone else did he'd snap, not just me if someone hurt anyone in our group he'd snap and then he'd be back in juvie or possibly be sent to prison. If I let myself fall in love with him then I'm left without him every time he goes off to juvie. And what sort of future could I have with him if he can't stay out of trouble now?

By the time the bus comes I'm thinking about Owen. I don't see a future with Owen either but I don't really see any sort of relationship with Owen. He's a very close friend and he's fun but that's all I think he and I could ever be, good friends and sexy fun. Really the only reason I went after him was the challenge, I wanted to know if I could get him to see me as more than the Mason sister, more than Drew's little sister and I did. He's been great for…things and I know him well; we have lots of sexy fun together. It's quite convenient that Drew trusts him now since we don't have to hide any longer. I really can't see us dating though and neither of us wants that, as far as I know anyway.

Then there's Eli, a new prospect. Eli is intriguing, he's mysterious and intelligent, he's attractive and I do like him. I don't know that much about him but we can fix that. I do get lost in those deep green eyes.

By the time I get home I'm thinking of Jeff, handsome, forward, confident and with a sexy smile that makes me tingle. He writes good love letters. He's Anya's cousin, he'll be back at Thanksgiving but Guelph is an hour away. I'm not allowed to drive and no one will take me to Guelph to hookup with Jeff, well Bianca might but still. If he lived here I could most certainly see a relationship with him, there's something very exciting about him, something that reminds me of Fitz. Yet the fact that he does live an hour away is titillating in it's own right. Exchanging letters for a few weeks until he's back could be quite fun and I have to admit very romantic. I arrive home a little after one and I'm famished I only had a granola bar this morning. So I make myself some lunch and go into my room to write back to Jeff.

Hello Sexy Smile,

I loved your letter. It caused quite a commotion here, no one else saw it but Drew tried to take it from me. Brothers can be so obnoxious sometimes!

I like the idea of only exchanging letters until you return. Clandestine communication is very sexy. I've missed your kisses, your touch; even thinking about it now has me tingling. I can think of so many things for us to do when you're here for Thanksgiving. Six weeks seems like an incredibly long time right now so I want lots of letters in those six weeks until I'm back in your arms.

I have to warn you before you come back if you plan on sneaking in again I've switched rooms with Drew. I'll show you when you get here.

I didn't even know you played hockey. I'd love to see you in a game one day but I don't think the DeGrassi team will ever play against a team in Guelph.

Dreaming of your return and anticipating your kiss,

Clare

I fold the paper and get an envelope from the kitchen, addressing it and putting on a stamp; I walk it out to the mailbox and return to the house. I spend the rest of the afternoon watching TV and take a shower before everyone gets home.

"Did you figure things out?" Adam asks coming in my room when everyone is home from school.

"Not really, things are a little clearer I guess. How was school?"

"It was fine, Eli's on his way over to work on our project. I figured you be up for it seeing as you didn't really have cramps," Adam says.

"Good we can we work in my room," I smile.

"Might as well Drew, Owen and Bianca are working in the living room. Tris and Maya are here working on homework and Jenna and K.C. might come by later."

"Eli's here," Drew calls into the house.

"Hi Eli we'll be working in my room," I tell him going out into the hall. Drew and Owen both watch as Eli comes back to my room but neither says anything.

"Feeling better?" Eli questions sitting next to me on my bed.

"Yeah," I smile.

"My ex used to get cramps and she always liked it when I rubbed her neck," Eli tells me and then demonstrates by rubbing my neck, at least until Adam hits him on the head with a pencil. "Ow I thought you were the brother I didn't have to watch out for?" Eli grouses rubbing his head.

"I'm not but we have to work on our project. I'm going to get a snack do you want anything?"

"Yeah I haven't eaten much today," I nod.

"Yeah anything is good I'm not picky," Eli says. Adam leaves the room and I look at Eli. "There's just one thing I've been thinking about doing all day," Eli tells me.

"What's that?" I inquire.

Eli puts his fingers under my chin and places his lips on mine, I grip his shirt and deepen the kiss. His lips begin to part just slightly and I pull away, never hurts to leave them wanting more. Besides which I hear Adam coming, not that he'll necessarily care that we're kissing but it's still better not to be doing so when my brother comes in the room.

(ADAM)

I return to the room with snacks and we begin working on the project again. It's due on Friday and we work pretty fast together, even with Eli and Clare flirting every few minutes. We work on the project for an hour and stay in Clare's room to do the rest of our homework. Eli leaves just after five, we walk him out and see Lisa driving up with K.C. and Jenna in the car. They all get out and come into the house, Jenna and K.C. are smiling so it must be good news.

"How'd it go?" Maya asks.

"Great we didn't even really have a decision. Joey and Caitlin are looking to adopt and saw our names and we already know them so it was an easy decision. They want to be involved for everything and asked us to be the Godparents," Jenna tells us excitedly.

"Hey that's great it couldn't have worked out better," Clare smiles.

"I know it's perfect and we're very happy. We just wanted to come by to tell you guys and also to pick up my sister," K.C. says.

"Guess that means I have to sleep at home tonight," Maya comments gathering her stuff. She says goodbye to the others, kisses me and the four of them leave together.

"We should probably get going too Tris," Owen speaks up when the Guthries and Jenna leave.

"Don't want to spend the night again?" Clare teases him.

"Need to rest up first," Owen replies and Drew shoots him a look and then Clare a look which makes her giggle.

"I'd better see what we have for dinner, Spin will be home soon," Clare says before Drew can say anything.

Owen leaves with Tris and I follow Clare into the kitchen while Drew and Bianca go back to their room. We make a salad and cook some chicken and rice, dinners ready by the time Spin gets home. We make some small talk about our days and Clare telling Spin she feels fine and will go to school tomorrow, and we tell him about Joey and Caitlin adopting Jenna and K.C.'s baby.

"I asked Paige to move in last night," Spinner tells us.

"What'd she say?" I question. The three of us, and Bianca I'm sure along with everyone else, figured this was coming for a while. In fact if Dad hadn't died I think Spinner was getting ready to ask Paige to move into his apartment.

"She said she'd love to but she wanted to be sure you were all okay with it," Spin replies.

"Duh we're okay with it, she's over here all the time anyway and we figured she'd move in soon," Clare replies.

"Yeah I thought you'd ask her months ago," Drew says and I nod in agreement.

"I thought that's what you'd all say and so did she but she wanted to be sure. She'll have to see about breaking her lease early but if it's not too bad she thought she'd move in this weekend," Spinner tells us.

"Good another female in the house," Clare smiles.

"I can ask Maya to move in," I tease.

"That's not going to happen, Lisa and K.C. won't allow it," Drew comments.

"I was joking," I reply sticking my tongue out at my brother.

"If you all have girls move in then I get to have a guy move in," Clare remarks.

"Wouldn't that require you to pick one boy?" I tease her and now Clare sticks her tongue out at me.

Since Clare and I made dinner Spin, Drew and Bianca clean up. Clare and I get ourselves dessert and watch TV in the living room. Spinner showers when he's done cleaning but Drew and Bianca join us to watch TV. On a commercial Clare gets up to take her plate and glass back to the kitchen.

"Aagghh!" She screams suddenly and then we here the breaking of glass. The three of us get up and run to the kitchen, Clare's glass and plate have fallen to the floor and she's standing there looking at it.

"What happened?" I question.

"I…" she pauses and looks out the kitchen window, she's got an odd look on her face and I know she's scared. "I slipped," she finally says walking to the pantry to get a broom. Drew and Bianca look at her another second before going back to the living room.

"You got that frightened after slipping?"

"I've got a lot on my mind I wasn't paying attention," she replies but I know she's lying.

"You want help cleaning up?"

"No I got it."

I turn and walk back to the living room; after Clare cleans up she watches TV with us but she's a little on edge. She takes a shower and goes to bed early. I go to bed a little after midnight and get woken up when I feel someone getting into my bed. Without Maya here there's only one other person that would get into my bed in the middle of the night.

"Clare are you okay?"

"Bad dream," she says quietly.

"You want to talk about it?"

"No," she replies and curls up.

Ever since we were really little we'd crawl into the other's bed when one of us had a nightmare. It became habit and we still do it. It's not as though we'd get into bed with Drew or Spinner if we had a bad dream but Clare and I are twins, we shared a womb before birth and a room after birth for over ten years. We're very close and it's just comforting after a nightmare. She falls asleep so I fall back asleep and we stay asleep until my alarm goes off. We leave my room as Drew and Bianca are leaving his.

"How bad was the nightmare?" Drew asks Clare, knowing the only reason she'd be coming out of my room at this hour is that she had a bad dream.

"Bad," Clare says before going into the washroom.

"She didn't tell me about it," I shrug when they look at me.

Spinner has to be at work at eight so he's already awake and getting ready to leave. When the four of us are ready we leave for school, we all take Drew's car to school, he has football after school but Bianca can drive us home and Drew will get a ride with Owen. When the four of us walk up the steps to the school I see Reese and his cronies lurking on the other side of the steps. He's leering at Clare and I glare at him moving Clare to my other side and she gives me a look.

"Reese is glaring at you," I whisper to her.

"Let him glare he won't get anywhere near me again," she replies putting her arm around my shoulders.

We walk in and to our lockers, parting from Drew and Bianca since their lockers are in a different hallway. Zig is at his locker and we say hi. I start getting out my books when Maya comes and puts her hands over my eyes, when I turn around she greets me with a kiss.

"I'll walk you to class, Zig keep an eye on my sister," I order.

"I can walk to class alone Drew," Clare retorts with a snarky tone, calling me Drew since he's usually more protective than I am.

"Not with Reese and his friends out there," I respond.

"Jenna did say he threatened you yesterday," Maya comments and Clare rolls her eyes.

"I'll get her to class," Zig says as Clare closes her locker.

"Zig could have walked me we do share the same homeroom," Maya comments.

"I know but I like walking my girlfriend to class," I grin.

I take her to art and wave to Eli who's already in class. I kiss Maya and begin walking to English which is my homeroom. I'm thinking about Maya and then I'm pulled into a classroom, an empty classroom and it's completely dark. I turn and push away whoever has ahold of me but then I'm punched and I fall into a desk. Before I can find my footing I get kicked from behind, I try to get up but there's two of them and they won't stop. Every time I try to get up I get kicked or hit again and then I get kicked in the head, I feel dizzy and then I feel nothing.

(FITZ)

Clare kisses me and runs off while I'm still in shock that she was even up here. I watch her until she disappears into the woods.

"Fitzgerald away from the fence," a guard yells.

Clare's lucky she wasn't spotted, not that they would have done anything to her but I would have gotten in trouble and they would have called Spin. If Spin found out she came up here all the way on her own to see me he probably would have killed us both.

"Who was the babe?" Elias asks when I return to the guys I was hanging with. Most of them I consider friends and a few of them have been in here almost a year.

"Doesn't matter she's off limits," I reply.

The guys tease me a minute about the hot mystery girl but I'm thinking about what Clare said and don't pay attention. The bell rings after a couple of minutes and we have to go in for class. After classes, chores and dinner we get two hours of free time until bed. Usually we wander the dorm talking to people or play cards, read or something. Today though I just lie in my bunk, I'm stuck on what Clare was saying and it replays in my head on an endless loop.

"I like you Fitz, a lot but I can't come out here and you could be in here for three months. You can't stay out of here either; if you're not doing something to impress Sean then you're acting on instinct and anger." Is that really what she thinks about me? I guess she isn't wrong I've been in here a lot, sometimes for stealing things for Mom. Of course I got six months when I stole a car to show Sean that I could. I was twelve. Okay I've been in here a lot and I don't think before doing things but I could stay out of here if I really wanted. I think.

"Maybe when you get out it will be different but when you do get out how long will it be before you're sent back? I can't do this Fitz I'm sorry as much as I like you I can't do this." What did she mean it might be different when I'm out? She doesn't think I can keep out of trouble. But she wants me to stay out of trouble right? That's what she meant by it. Of course when I am out I'm back to competing for her. Sort of, haven't really been competing for her so far but I don't really have to I've known her her entire life.

Just as I'm beginning to wonder how close she'll get to Owen in the next few weeks I get smacked in the face with a pillow. I take it and throw it back at Elias who laughs.

"You are far too deep in thought, no one thinks here," Elias says.

"Must be that girl," Cliff comments.

"Hey I'd be thinking about a girl too if she was that hot and came out here just to see me," Elias says.

"She came out to tell me she can't be with me, not while I'm in here. If that's what it takes then this will be the last time I'm in here," I state.

"Man you have it bad but you have as much chance of keeping out of here as I do," Elias remarks. He's been in here about as much as I have still I'm determined to make this the last time I'm away from Clare for so long.

I don't sleep much that night, still thinking of Clare, wondering what she's doing tonight. I picture her lying in her bed and think about the nights I've stayed in her room with her. We're woken up at five, we have calisthenics then shower and classes and lunch. At lunch I go to the headmaster's office, he's really the warden but since this is a school he's called the head master.

"What can I do for you Fitz?"

"I want to be out of here in six weeks so what do I need to do?"

"You need to behave, not get into trouble and fights. Be a model student and volunteering for extra duties or helping your teachers and guards will help. You've been in here enough you shouldn't have any trouble getting out after the minimum good luck son."

"Thanks," I nod and leave his office.

"Sucking up to the headmaster?" Elias teases when I get back to my room.

"I have to get out of here as soon as I can."

"She must be some girl," he responds.

"She is but more than that I need to stay out of here, this can't be the rest of my life."

"Good luck, you know most kids go from here to prison."

"Not me, this is my last time and I'm not going to prison," I tell him and go down to the cafeteria to eat. I want to call Sean but he'll be at work, at least I know he'll come visit on Saturday he always does when I'm in here.

After lunch, classes and chores I sign up for laundry duty. I hate laundry duty but I'll do anything to get out of here as soon as I can. I've never cared before, I don't like being in here and I'm always happy to go home but I've never had this sort of determination to get home before and to stay out of here.

Technically I didn't end it on a really bad cliffhanger I just left a really awful one in the middle. The update next Saturday will pick up shortly after Adam's beating.