Yay for relaxing weekends and longer chapters!
Ch. 17 Guess it Was Never Understood
(DREW)
"Happy Birthday Sexy Girlfriend," I grin kissing Bianca's neck after my alarm goes off waking us up Tuesday morning.
"Thank you Sexy Boyfriend," she smiles turning her head to kiss my lips. We keep kissing until I hear my brother hollering to get us all up.
"MASON BROOD UP," Spinner yells. He's always been our second alarm clock, our phones usually wake us up but he makes sure we all get out of bed. I hear a couple of other doors opening so my younger sibs are out of bed. "Hey," Spin calls into my room banging on the door, "have birthday sex later time to get ready for school now."
"You think he'd actually come in if we didn't get out of bed?" Bianca asks pushing me off her so she can get up.
"Knowing him he'd probably send Clare in, Adam would never come in but my sister likes trouble and she'd come in," I reply and Bianca laughs.
We get dressed and both go into the washroom to get ready. Spin is making pancakes for breakfast, it's just the kind where you add water to the mix since it's a weekday but it's still good. Paige cuts up fruit and Clare is getting out everything any of us uses to top our pancakes, whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate sauce, peanut butter, honey and maple syrup we all like something different on our pancakes. Owen slept over again, I know it was my idea but I didn't think he'd be sleeping over and in Clare's room, quite so much.
"Happy Birthday Bianca," everyone says when Spin gives her a plate of pancakes.
"Thanks," she smiles and I kiss her before she takes her first bite.
"Everyone will be here at six for dinner and celebration," Clare says and Bianca smiles.
We eat breakfast and the five of us finish getting ready for school, we take two cars. Bianca and I go in mine and Owen takes Clare and Adam in his. Bianca will bring Clare and Adam home in my car and I'll ride back with Owen tonight. We all walk in together and find Tris, Zig, Maya, Jenna and K.C. in the foyer. Adam greets Maya with a kiss and Owen tousles his brother's hair. Everyone says Happy Birthday to B and she smiles.
"Can I bring Zane and Riley to dinner tonight?" Tris asks.
"Zane and Riley? You're going to bring your boyfriend and his ex to dinner?" Owen questions.
"Uh yeah about that when I said I was dating Zane well…" Tris pauses thinking about how to say whatever he's about to say.
"Hey Tris," Zane calls to him before Tris can finish, Zane is standing with Riley and both are waving Tris over.
"Gotta go boyfriends are beckoning," Tris comments and pretty much runs over to Riley and Zane.
"Did he just say boyfriends?" Owen inquires cocking an eyebrow and looking at his brother walking with Zane and Riley. "Gotta go," Owen tells us and starts running after them, "Tris get back here."
"Oh dear Tris is in trouble," Clare comments and then Eli walks by grinning at Clare. "See you later," she says trying to walk away and I grab her waistband.
"Stay," I order.
"What do you think I'm going to do at school ten minutes before the bell?" Clare questions.
"Oh I'm sure you can get into plenty of trouble in ten minutes," I reply.
"Let her go she really can't do much in ten minutes and I doubt that she's ever had as much fun with Eli as with Owen," Bianca comments taking my hand from my sister's clothing so that I release her.
Clare grins at Bianca and walks off, the rest of us hang out until the bell and then part to go to class. My homeroom is English, a class I had with Fitz but as he's in juvie right now he won't be in class. I know everyone else in the class but I'm not friends with them. Fitz is also my only friend in second period class, my morning classes have been pretty lonely without Fitz. At lunch I find my girlfriend, sibs and our friends and we all go have lunch at The Dot since Spin is working. Everyone is here but Owen and Tris, Bianca says Owen is eating with Tris, Zane and Riley off campus. Apparently Tris is dating them both and Owen is not too happy about that. After lunch we say goodbye to Spin and walk back to school but Bianca freezes before we get to the parking lot. I look over to see a woman getting out of a car and walking to us. I've never actually seen Bianca's mom before but I know this is her.
"Bianca get in the car we're leaving," her mom says.
"Go to hell Mom you're not my guardian anymore and I can choose where to live. I'm staying at the Mason's."
"I am your mother, leaving you with your auntie was a bad idea but…"
"A bad idea you abandoned me and you haven't cared for ten years and I don't believe for a second that you're starting now. And for the record you were never any kind of mother," Bianca says walking toward school.
"Stay away from us, if you come to my house again or anywhere near Bianca we'll take legal action and she's not a kid anymore you can't take her," I say in a growling tone and our group walks back to school. Bianca's waiting for us on the steps and I put my arms around her kissing her softly. "She won't come near you again, she can't do anything anyway you're seventeen."
"I know I just wish she'd never have come back," Bianca sighs.
"Just don't think about her it's your birthday," Clare tells her and Bianca nods.
We go into school and to our lockers, when the bell rings I kiss Bianca and walk to auto shop. Owen is in class when I get there.
"How was lunch with Tris and his boyfriends?" I question.
"Odd, not sure what to think about that. Tris says he's happy and they like him. I told Zane and Riley if they broke his heart I'd rip their heads off. They got the message and if Tris is happy it's cool but it is his first relationship, and it's with two older guys not one I'm just worried."
"Two older boyfriends on his first relationship he might end up being more trouble than Clare," I remark.
"I don't think anyone can be more trouble than Clare," Owen replies and I laugh just as Eli walks in.
"Speaking of Clare and trouble," I comment quietly.
"Worried about their date on Saturday?" Owen asks.
"Constantly worried about her and I don't know Eli the way I know you."
"Don't worry I'm sure if he has any ideas about touching her Jay and the others will scare them right out of his head," Owen says and I smile.
We stop talking when the teacher comes in and begins class. After auto shop Owen and I walk to media studies with Eli following us since he's in the class too. My sibs are already in the class with B and Owen and I sit at our table with her. I spend most of the class either sneaking kisses from Bianca while Miss Oh isn't looking or watching Eli who spends most of class watching my sister. Before I head to football I kiss Bianca and tell my sibs I'll see them at home. Owen, K.C. and I walk to the locker room to get ready for practice. It's a standard football practice; we warm up and play a scrimmage game to prepare for Friday. After practice we shower and change then three of us go in Owen's car to my place. It's almost six and pretty much everyone is here already only Jay and Sean aren't here but they'll be here soon.
Spin already ordered pizza and it arrives just after Jay and Sean do, just about everyone chips in for pizza. There's so many of us we eat in the living room. Bianca opens presents after pizza and then we have cake. As it's a school night and people have work or school tomorrow, I have both, so people go home at ten. Actually Tris goes home with Zane and Maya and Owen are sleeping over but everyone else goes home except Lucas who goes to work. I still have all my homework to do so I go into my room and Bianca comes with me. She did all her homework earlier but she usually helps me.
"So did you have a good birthday?" I ask my girlfriend.
"Yeah I did and I won't think about my mom anymore. I love you Drew," she grins kissing me softly.
"I love you too and I'm glad you're living with us."
(JOHNNY)
I park at DeGrassi Friday evening and walk toward the bleachers at the football field. I'm here for the game of course but before I get to the bleachers I see a woman hanging around near the bleachers. Not that it's odd to see a woman near the bleachers at the school on game day, but she's not looking at the field she's watching someone in the bleachers and she looks a little familiar.
"Hey Johnny," Adam says walking over with his arm around Maya.
"Hey guys," I nod to them, "do you know that woman?"
"Shit it's Bianca's mom. I'm going to tell Simpson can you take Maya to the bleachers? And keep an eye on B but don't tell her that her mom is here," Adam requests.
"Yeah no problem come on Maya."
Adam lets go of her, I put my arm loosely around her shoulders and we walk to the bleachers. It's not hard to find our group since we take up a couple of rows. Clare, B, Jenna, Zig and Tris are in the first row with room for Adam and Maya. Lucas, Jay, Spin, Paige, Emma and Sean are in the second row.
"Where's Adam?" Spin asks.
"Had something he had to do he'll be here in a minute," I reply while Maya sits in the first row and I sit next to Jay in the second row.
Adam comes after a moment and sits down but doesn't say anything to B about her mom being here. DeGrassi is playing Bardell and both sides are hyped to win because the two schools hate each other. The Bardell side of the stands is yelling and hooting at their team in excitement while yelling insults at ours but we're doing the same. I scan the Bardell side mostly just killing time until the game actually starts but I stop when I see a familiar face. I hit Jay's arm and nod over to the person I'm looking at.
"Dean's here," I whisper in his ear to be sure that Paige doesn't hear me.
"He better fucking stay on that side," Jay says in a low voice. Dean must sense that we're watching him because all of a sudden he looks right at us. He smirks and then looks at Paige with a lewd grin and Jay and I both clench our fists. "This should be an interesting game," Jay says quietly turning his head to me but without taking his eyes from Dean.
"No kidding when I got here I saw Bianca's mom," I inform him in a whisper.
"Great, like I said this game should be interesting," Jay replies as the DeGrassi band begins playing the national anthem.
After the anthem the game begins, we yell and cheer for the whole team but mostly for Owen, K.C. and Drew of course. Bardell starts with the ball and scores the first goal. By halftime Bardell is leading by six points but DeGrassi has scored and we're not too far behind. All the girls go to the washroom in a group, knowing that Dean is here and Bianca's mom has been lurking Jay and I follow them. Clare is first out of the washroom and we grab her by the arm.
"Can I go back to the stands now?" She questions.
"Not alone," Jay tells her.
"What's going on?" She asks pinching her eyebrows together.
"Hey Zig," Jay calls to the boy just coming out of the boy's washroom and avoiding Clare's question.
"What's up?"
"Take Clare to the bleachers," I tell him.
"Are you two going to tell me what's going on?" She asks.
"Nope," we both reply. Clare rolls her eyes and walks off with Zig. Paige and Emma are next out of the washroom.
"I'll walk you guys back to the stands," Jay tells them and they both give him a look. After what Dean did to Paige and knowing he's here we're definitely not letting her walk back to the stands alone.
Jay walks off with Paige and Emma and I watch the girl's washroom again. Jenna and Maya come out next and I tell them to walk back to the stand together so I can walk Bianca back, not too sure that her mom will actually try anything but I'm not taking any chances. When Bianca comes out she sees me and gives me a look.
"I assume you're not waiting for the girl's washroom so why are you waiting for me?" Bianca questions walking over to me.
"Saw your mom earlier just being cautious," I tell her.
"She spent ten years ignoring me why the fuck is she back now and why the fuck won't she leave me alone?"
"I don't know but Adam told Simpson she was hanging around before the game and I haven't seen her since. Come on let's get back to the bleachers the game will start again soon," I say putting my arm around her shoulders loosely and we walk back to the bleachers. Everyone is here but Maya and Jenna and they left before we did. "Sit down I'm going to go find Maya and Jenna," I tell Bianca.
"What do you mean you're going to find them?" Adam asks.
"They should have been back by now I'm going to look for them," I reply.
"I'm coming with you," Adam says but I already knew he was going to say that.
We walk back towards the washroom but don't see them so we go back outside and look under the bleachers and start walking toward the Bardell bleachers. I see Jenna struggling with a boy, a boy I've never seen so he must be with Bardell, I point it out to Adam and we start running over.
"Get away from us," Jenna shrieks.
"We both have boyfriends and you two are gross," Maya says.
"Come on don't you want to be with guys from a winning team," one of the boys says grabbing Maya.
"GET AWAY FROM MY GIRLFRIEND," Adam growls hitting the guy. When Adam hits the one guy it distracts the other two and I run over knocking their heads together.
"Stay away from them, stay away from all DeGrassi girls they're too high class for you slobs," I spit at the Bardell boys.
Adam puts his arm around Maya, I put my hand at Jenna's back and we all walk back to the bleachers and sit down again. DeGrassi seems to be determined to win, between Owen, K.C. and Drew Bardell hardly gets the ball. Julian scores two touchdowns, Drew scores three and we end up winning by four points. We all cheer, Jenna, Bianca and Tris all run onto the field to congratulate their boyfriends. Clare runs onto the field too, she jumps on Owen to kiss him, and probably make Drew's blood boil just a bit as she seems to enjoy that.
"The team will probably go to celebrate we're going to head out. Adam tell your sister, when she stops sucking Owen's tongue off, that Paige and I are going out with Sean and Emma. We'll be home late," Spin says.
"Will do have fun," Adam grins.
"I'll meet you at the car I'm gonna use the washroom," Paige says to Spin. She kisses him and I exchange a look with Jay. He nods and we follow Paige to the school and to the washroom. We wait against the wall for Paige to come out and we see Dean lingering at the end of the hall. So we calmly walk over before we violently pin him against the wall.
"I thought you got the message years ago," Jay growls.
"I just came to watch my old school play a football game," Dean replies.
"And watch Paige we saw you watching her," I comment.
"She was at the game too that's not my fault," he responds.
"And we told you never to look at her again," Jay reminds him.
"You can't always watch her," Dean responds.
"Was that a threat?" I snarl.
"Just an observation," Dean smirks.
"Jay, Johnny what are you doing?" Paige exclaims rushing over. We have Dean blocked so she can't see him but when she does see that's who we have pinned against the wall she freezes. "Dean?" Paige gasps.
"Hey there Spirit," Dean grins.
"Shut up," Jay hisses.
"Go find Spin we'll take care of this piece of trash," I tell Paige.
She just nods and pretty much runs out the door. We wait a few minutes to be sure Paige is gone with Spinner and then we grab Dean by the arms and escort him out of the school. We walk him to the parking lot and off school grounds taking him into the woods at the edge of the ravine. We start beating the crap out of him and just manage to get him to the ground when Jay and I are grabbed from behind and each of us are hit. It's the three guys that were bugging Maya and Jenna earlier. Jay and I are no strangers to fist fights and we just clench our fists and begin throwing punches. Dean is down and between me and Jay we manage to beat the other three and they take off running after a few minutes.
"I could use a beer you want a beer?" Jay asks.
"Yeah let's go I definitely need a drink after that," I nod as Dean groans and starts coming around.
(CLARE)
"I'll get it," Adam says when the doorbell rings Saturday night.
"Can't I just sneak out the window and take Eli and flee?" I ask while fixing my hair in the washroom.
"And deprive everyone in the living room of grilling Eli? Not likely," Bianca comments helping me put up part of my hair.
"Think of it as a test, if Eli survives he's earned the right to date you," Emma comments.
"Spin, Sean, Adam, Drew and K.C didn't have to go through this," I point out as Paige hands me my coat.
"They're one of us, Eli is not," Paige replies.
I shake my head and go out to the living room; it looks like Adam got Eli a glass of water. Lucas, Jay, Johnny, Sean, K.C. and even Zig are sitting on the sofa and all are giving Eli a harsh look. Adam is just standing next to Eli and patting his shoulder.
"Are you a virgin?" Jay asks Eli.
"That's your first question?" I ask with a slightly indignant tone.
"No that's our third question," Lucas replies.
"No I'm not a virgin and I don't plan on having sex with Clare tonight or anytime soon," Eli says but his voice quivers a little. Not that I can blame him half the guys I know look like they want to kill him.
"It's none of your business what we're going to do tonight," I reply. Drew and Spin are at work tonight so they sent all the other guys to do their job. All except Owen who is spending the night spying on his brother.
"Yes it is our business we can keep you two from going out if we don't like his answers," Lucas replies and I roll my eyes while Paige pats my back.
"We're having dinner and a movie at my place but both my parents will be home the whole time," Eli tells them.
"That won't necessarily stop you from doing anything to Clare," Johnny comments.
"I've only had sex with one other girl, my longtime girlfriend at my last school. I won't do anything Clare doesn't want to do, I'd never do anything she didn't want to do," Eli assures them.
"Can we go now?" I request.
"No we're not done yet," Lucas says.
They spend the next several minutes rapidly firing questions at Eli. They ask about his parents, his old girlfriend, his old school, how many girlfriends he's had, his driving record, if he's ever done drugs and had alcohol, but when they ask if he's ever been to an adult store I decide that's enough.
"Okay we're leaving now, the Spanish Inquisition better be satisfied you've asked him everything but his blood type," I comment.
"What is your blood type?" Zig questions and I roll my eyes again.
"B positive," Eli replies.
"You can go now just make sure she's back by midnight that's curfew," Adam tells him.
"I'll have her home by 11:30," Eli says standing up and I take his hand pulling him out the door.
"I'm really sorry about that," I apologize to Eli once we're in his car and driving to his place.
"I was warned asking you out was putting my life in my hands but I figured it was worth the risk," Eli smirks and I smile. We're silent on the rest of the drive to his house.
"This is your house?" I question when we pull up to a very large three story home with a large yard.
"Yeah," Eli nods parking and he comes around opening my door. I get out and follow him to the front door, he unlocks it and we go in. The palatial house is even grander inside. "My parents are in the living room if you'd like to meet them," Eli tells me.
"Yeah that would be nice," I smile. Eli takes my hand and we walk into the living room. His dad looks like an aging rock star and his mom looks like a former biker chick. He introduces me to his parents then we get the dinner his personal chef made and we go into their private home theatre to watch a movie.
"Wow the best we can do is the living room TV and all of us piled onto the sofa and chairs, and lounging on the floor," I comment sitting down in the cushy private theatre.
"I like your living room it's cozy," Eli grins.
"Yeah sometimes too cozy we always have people over and it's hard to be alone," I remark.
Eli just smiles and the movie begins, after watching the movie he takes me on a tour of the house. Turns out his dad is an aging rock star, he has gold albums and everything. He had a few hits in the 80's and worked with many well-known artists and now he's the late night DJ on the classic rock station in Toronto. Eli and his parents moved this summer when his dad was offered the job. Between that and the royalties his dad gets it affords them a comfortable lifestyle.
"So you have lots of money and you still drive around in an old hearse?" I comment when we end the tour in his room.
"Antique hearse actually and I like Morty he expresses my personality," Eli replies.
"What morbid?"
"Yeah sort of. We have two hours before I have to get you home do you want dessert?" Eli asks.
"Yeah sure," I nod looking around Eli's room. Eli leaves and I sit on his bed looking at the room. The whole thing has been painted black and he has black bedding. Black light posters are on his walls and posters of bands I don't like, although Adam, Zig and Bianca listen to Dead Hand and Eli apparently loves them. He also has pictures of him and his ex on his wall; at least I assume it's his ex. He has pictures of him and his parents in locations all around the world too. "Here chocolate soufflé, Suzanne makes the best," Eli says handing me the dessert.
"I've always wanted to go to most of the places on your wall," I remark sitting on his bed again. "Is there anywhere you haven't been?" I question.
"Oh sure lots of places but we always go somewhere new every year and sometimes dad will play a concert or something somewhere. He was a lot more popular in Germany and Japan than North America."
"I've never been out of Ontario, I've barely been out of Toronto," I comment a little quietly.
"You could go to college somewhere else; you're really smart I bet you could get in almost anywhere."
"Maybe but that doesn't mean I could anywhere I wanted. Uh why do you have pictures of your ex still up? That is the girl in all the pictures right?"
"Yeah that's Julia," he nods.
"Isn't it customary to take pictures down when you break up?"
"We didn't break up, she was killed last year," Eli replies.
"Oh I'm sorry," I say remorsefully and feel stupid for making the remark.
"It's okay you couldn't have known," he shrugs. "I could take you," Eli says after a moment and I look at him, "to one of the places you wanted to go. We could go this summer or maybe during March break."
"Yeah that would be nice," I reply slowly. I eat my dessert quickly and we're silent for several minutes. "Umm would you mind taking me home now?" I ask after eating my dessert.
"Yeah sure, are you okay?" Eli asks with a worried look.
"I'm fine I'm just getting a headache and I should probably get home. I had a nice time though."
"You want some aspirin or something?" Eli offers.
"No I just need to lie down and I'd like to be in my own bed. I'm sorry can we raincheck?"
"No problem," Eli smiles sweetly.
He takes my hand and we walk downstairs and back to his car. I really don't have a headache but I felt funny and I didn't want to be on the date anymore. Eli drives me home and I look at my little house still full of people, more people now since Drew is home.
"Thanks tonight was fun, you probably shouldn't walk me to the door they're all still there," I say to Eli and kiss his cheek before getting out of the car. When I open the front door everyone is in the living room and they all look at me.
"What happened?"
"What's wrong?"
"Did Eli do something?"
"Are you okay?"
Drew, Lucas, Sean and Zig's questions overlap each other and it takes me a second to sort them out in my head. Adam's not asking any questions just giving me his worried and curious look.
"Eli didn't do anything, I have a headache I'm going to lie down and the date was nice," I reply.
Again I don't have a headache but I'm not in the mood for questions and telling them I felt funny will just lead to more questions. I walk back to my room and get my shoes off, I didn't turn on the light but when the door opens I know it's Adam.
"You don't have a headache I'm pretty sure of that so what's going on Sis?"
"Nothing," I respond lying down.
"Clare I'm your twin you can't fool me."
"Eli and I are very different it won't ever work. It just didn't feel right. He's rich did you know he's rich?"
"No," Adam shakes his head.
"Yeah his dad was a rock star. Eli likes black and death which probably has something to do with the fact that his ex died and yet he still has pictures of her on the wall. He's been all over the world; he offered to take me away for March break. He's got a private chef and a home theatre and a mansion and we live in a tiny house we keep cramming with more people."
"So you think you're not good enough for him?" Adam questions.
"I think I don't want to be a kept woman, I think Eli and I are from two different worlds and it will never work. We're nothing alike Adam it would just lead to disaster."
"You don't know that Clare."
"I know I'm doomed to spend the rest of my life here."
"What are you talking about?"
"Never mind, I just want to be alone right now."
I hear Adam sigh and he leaves my room. I can still hear everyone in the living room so I go shower. When I get out I can still hear everyone, they're loud and it's annoying. Very very annoying at the moment, so I get dressed and go out my window. I need to be alone and that's virtually impossible at my house so I'll go find somewhere I can be alone.
Update next Saturday will pick up from around here. It might also include Thanksgiving but that all depends on what happens in the chapter.