Welcome back! I don't know about you all but I missed these stories. Two months is a long time without the long stories which is why One Shot Month will be in September this year. Short Story Month will still be in July and December. Since I didn't get around to Christmas shots in December I will probably do a Christmas themed One Shot Week at the end of June or beginning of July.
In case you didn't notice the list on my profile page got a bit longer as I was actually able to do some plotting during the break. A lot of which were requests from my wonderful readers.
Now onto tonight's story! Unlike the rest of the long stories returning this week I am not going to recap this one. Why? Well because there's just too damn much to recap.
Anyway I hope you enjoy tonight's chapter.
Ch. 22 Still Waters Rising in My Mind
(CLARE)
I couldn't sleep last night; every time I fell asleep I was disturbed by agonizing dreams. Because I couldn't sleep I'm up with the sun, I go out to the kitchen and make coffee. I can't sit still though, my mind is racing and I feel like I need air. So I leave a note that I went to school and leave the house. I walk slowly to school diverting through the ravine and going to the bonfire lot where all the "bad" kids from DeGrassi hang out. Since it was Thanksgiving last night and it's rather early the ravine is pretty empty. I sit down on the torn out back car seat and stare at the empty fire pit until my cell rings. I look at the display and see that it's Spin so I answer before he gets everyone out searching for me.
"Hi Spin."
"Where are you?"
"I came to school," I reply.
"No I'm at the school and it's closed and I do not see you."
"I'm at the ravine; it's close to the school."
"I'm going to work come and get breakfast," Spinner tells me.
"I'm not hungry."
"That wasn't a request, I expect you at The Dot in ten minutes."
He hangs up and I sigh, putting my phone in my backpack I stand up and walk to The Dot. It's not open yet as it's only 5:30 but I go to the back and Spinner lets me in. He gives me coffee and a freshly baked muffin while he begins opening procedures.
"Doesn't look like you slept," he comments after opening the curtains.
"I didn't," I reply.
"Reese and his friends jumping Fitz was not your fault Clare," Spinner says hugging me from the side.
"Yes it was. If Reese didn't like me, if I didn't have feelings for Fitz, if I'd never broken up with Reese, if…"
"Clare stop, Reese is crazy and so are his friends. He beat up Fitz to make himself feel big, the only thing I want you to worry about is what happens when Reese gets out. Right now I gotta open, the school should be open and Drew should be there for football practice if you want to go to school. You know you're welcome to hang out here until it's time for school," Spin tells me.
"I'll go to school, thanks for breakfast big brother," I grin kissing his cheek.
"Okay, hey don't make plans this weekend you're going camping with Drew," Spinner tells me.
"What? Why am I being punished?"
"It's not a punishment Clare you're spending time with your brother."
"Alone in the woods with Drew for a weekend sounds like a punishment to me. Why not send Bianca they'd love to be alone in the woods for the weekend," I retort.
"Get to school," Spinner demands shooting me a look.
Spin opens the front and I go out the back. I walk to school and watch the guys at football practice for a few minutes before going inside. I sit in the memorial garden and play on my phone but soon the lack of sleep begins to wear on me. I drift to sleep without realizing it and wakeup to a soft kiss; my eyes shoot open as I was just dreaming about Reese. In the haze of my sleep deprivation and being awoken in the midst of my dream about Reese I see him for a moment. I gasp and push him away but my eyes focus and I see Owen standing in front of me not Reese.
"Sorry didn't mean to scare you; did you get any sleep last night?" Owen asks as I sit up.
"It's okay you just woke me in the middle of a dream and no not really," I yawn.
"I heard Fitz is out of juvie," Owen comments.
"Yeah and Reese beat him up."
"Yeah I heard that too but Fitz'll be back at school on Thursday," Owen says.
"I need to go to my locker," I tell Owen excusing myself and walk out of the garden. I'm trying to avoid the subject of Fitz or Reese but Owen follows me.
When I get to my locker Adam is at his with Maya. He sees that I haven't slept but he doesn't say anything. School seems to drag on and it's hard to concentrate. When school finally lets out I ride home with Bianca and go to my room, I fall asleep as soon as I lie down on my bed. I sleep for three hours and only wake up because boys are loud and several of them are in my house.
"Feel better after getting some sleep?" Drew asks cautiously. Since my confrontation with him yesterday morning we've pretty much been avoiding each other.
"Yeah a little," I nod.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Drew says.
"I'm not hungry I want to go see Fitz," I reply.
"You want a ride?" Drew offers.
"No I'll walk it's only a couple of blocks."
"Spin and Paige are eating out tonight but they'll be home by ten. Call if you need a ride," Drew tells me.
I say I will and leave the house. It's just starting to become dusk, the late evening is still pretty warm and it's an easy walk to the Fitzgerald house. I knock on the door, Emma answers and smiles at me as she lets me in.
"Fitz is resting in bed, we were just about to have dinner if you're hungry," Emma offers.
"No thanks I just came to see how Fitz is," I reply before walking back to his room.
"Hey," he grins when I come in.
"Hi, I wanted to see how you are," I tell him wincing at the sight of his face. I didn't see him much last night or look at him much I didn't remember how bad it was.
"I'm fine and I'll be back at school on Thursday. Really Clare I'm okay I've had worse don't worry about me," he insists.
"But I knew something would happen with both of you in there. I knew it and then Sunday night after I lo…" I pause before I spill what I was doing Sunday, "Reese was attacking you. Attacking you because he's angry at me and he's thinks he owns me."
"Because he's psychotic but he's also in juvie for the next several weeks so don't worry about Reese right now. I have some cracked ribs and bruises and a fractured wrist and I've had worse. Don't blame yourself for Reese being an egotistical psycho and thinking that beating me up would keep me away from you or threaten anyone."
"I should go Emma said you guys were about to eat. I'll see you at school on Thursday," I tell him kissing his cheek before quickly leaving his room.
I say a hasty goodnight to Emma and Sean and leave the house. I start walking home but when a car pulls up next to me I look over. I recognize the four guys in the car from school; one of them was on the hockey team with Owen last year.
"Hey Clare you want to come to a party?" One of them offers.
I don't even think about it just walk to the car, one of the guys in the back gets out and I get in the middle. He gets back in the car and it begins driving again. It doesn't even occur to me to be worried about where we're going or what they might do. It doesn't occur to me because they go to my school and they all know my brothers, and my brother's friends and what my brothers and our friends will do if something happens to me.
The party is at Keith's house, he's a senior and on the lacrosse and wrestling team. I walk in with the four boys I came with; as soon as we're out of the car the driver puts his arm around me. As soon as he sees Lucas at the party he takes his arm away. Lucas appears to be the only one here who will pay any attention to what I'm doing and Lucas hasn't seen me yet so I plan to keep it that way. I duck into the kitchen and find the wet bar. I grab a bottle of black cherry vodka and go outside sitting on a bench as I begin drinking the whole bottle.
"Who wants to play Stripster?" Some guy calls as he walks outside with another boy.
"I'll play," I smile holding up the half empty bottle of vodka. Stripster is just Twister with different rules so while they get the mat set up I chug a few more sips of the vodka.
"We're ready but you'll have to leave the bottle here," a boy tells me helping me up from my seat and taking the bottle from me. "Aren't you the Drew's sister?" He asks.
"That's me," I giggle.
"You'll be playing with me, Darin and Valerie," the boy tells me. I recognize him from the hockey team but can't recall his name just now.
"Okaely-Dokely hockey boy," I giggle.
"It's Vaughn," he tells me walking me over to the mat.
"Everyone get your shoes off," says the boy in charge of the spinner thing. The other 3 bend over or sit down to get their shoes off but I kick my flats off. "Okay right hand green."
I see a green dot, even though it's moving, and bend down putting my right hand on it. Half the dots have an X through them meaning they are out of play. Vaughn doesn't have his right hand on green so he's penalized by losing his shirt. Next is left leg on red, Darin misses that one and loses a sock. Next he calls left leg blue I try to make it to blue but the others get the open dots first and I fall on my butt knocking Vaughn down with me.
"Clare missed and went down I think her top and pants should come off for that one," says Vaughn who I'm still lying on top of.
"I think you just want to get me naked," I comment and have yet to move off of him.
"I'd like to see you naked," Darin remarks from behind us.
"Darin get her arms, I'll get her pants off and you get her top off," Vaughn instructs.
Valerie and Darin help me sit up and then Darin gets my top off. As soon as my shirt is off Vaughn unzips my jeans and starts pulling them off. While he's doing that Darin starts kissing my neck which I find it hilarious at the moment.
"HEY WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING WITH HER?!" Lucas yells making Darin and Vaughn jump and back away from me.
"Lucas why are there two of you and why are the two of you dressed differently?" I laugh feeling the effects of that half bottle of vodka I've had.
"Because there's only one of me the other one is Owen," Lucas replies.
"You two look the same when I'm this drunk," I comment as I start trying to wriggle out of my jeans since Vaughn stopped pulling them down at my knees.
(OWEN)
"Then don't be this drunk," I tell her moving Vaughn away from her and pulling Clare up.
"Hey she wanted to play Stripster," Vaughn complains as I toss Clare over my shoulder.
"She's drunk and you're lucky you aren't dead," Lucas growls and then he tosses Clare's shirt to me. I catch it and take Clare inside whisking her into a bedroom and locking the door.
"Owen you naughty boy if all you wanted was me naked in a bedroom you should have said something when you got here," she laughs.
"I didn't know you were here until I saw them undressing you," I reply setting her down. "Your brothers have no idea where you are do they?" I question. Instead of replying she circles her arms around my neck and smashes her lips to mine. She tugs at my bottom lip and I start to open my mouth but then come to my senses and pull out of the kiss. "This is isn't right, you are very drunk and I can't do this anymore. It was fun and you are sexy but this isn't right. Besides I think you have your hands full enough with Fitz and Jeff," I tell her as I pull her jeans up her legs. I try to zip them up but she pushes me away.
"If I was so much fun then why don't you want to make love to me?" Clare pouts.
"I didn't say I didn't want to but I'm not taking your virginity and definitely not while you're so drunk," I assert.
"I'm not a virgin anymore so you wouldn't be taking not a thing," she responds reaching back to take off her bra.
"When and with who?" I demand grabbing her hands so she won't take off her bra. As much as I'd love to see her beautiful breasts they will be too distracting and I won't be able to think sensibly.
"Sunday with Jeff," she informs me, "I was making love to Jeff and Reese was beating Fitz."
"Is that why you got so drunk? Fitz will be okay and it was not your fault. Get dressed I'm taking you home," I inform her.
"It is my fault Reese thinks I'm his and he beat up Fitz so he'd stay away. I knew something would happen with both of them in juvie school together, I knew it was going to end badly. I didn't even once think about Fitz last weekend, Jeff was here and he was all I cared about," she says tossing her shirt back at me.
"Reese is a possessive moron and nothing would keep Fitz away from you. It's not your fault that Reese is a prick or that Fitz got beat up. Thinking about Fitz this weekend would not have kept Reese and his idiot cronies from beating up Fitz. Now get dressed dammit so I can take you home," I command tossing her shirt back at Clare.
"No I don't want to go home," she pouts throwing the shirt back at me.
"You know you turn into a child when you're this drunk on whatever you drank," I remark taking her shirt and sitting on the bed so I can get her dressed.
"Half a bottle of black cherry vodka and I'm not getting dressed," she shakes her head twisting away from me while I try to get her shirt on over her head. "No, no clothes bad Owen," she says and then slaps me across the face. She actually hits me pretty hard.
"Okay you want to play rough we'll play rough then," I comment. I grab her and quickly turn her over.
"Hey what are you doing?" She whines.
I get her on her back and pull her arms behind her, sitting on her back to pin her in place. I take off my DeGrassi letterman's jacket and zip it up before pulling it over her head. I grab her shirt, pick Clare up and toss her over my shoulder again before leaving the room.
"Own put me down you big brute," she shrieks trying to kick me but I have her legs pinned down. Her arms are pinned in my jacket so she can't really do much of anything. I ignore her and look around for Lucas spotting him back inside and flirting with a cheerleader.
"I'm taking her home, see you if you can find her shoes before you leave," I tell Lucas.
"No I want to stay at the party," Clare complains with a whining tone as she tries to wriggle free.
"Hush," I respond and spank her.
"Hey! I'm telling my brothers," she says and blows a raspberry at me. Then she keeps blowing raspberries to the tune of "Itsy Bitsy Spider" which is actually kind of funny.
"Get her home I'll see if I can find her shoes," Lucas nods.
Clare argues about staying at the party all the way to my car, I get her in and buckle her so that the seat belt is over the coat and she's locked in tight. Then I get in and make the short drive to her house.
"You're no fun," she glowers when I pull up to her house.
"I'm not trying to be fun I'm trying to be practical and keep me or your brothers from needing to murder anyone," I reply as I get out.
I go around to the passenger side getting her out of the car and tossing her over my shoulder again. I walk up the path and through the front door, Drew is in the living room watching TV with Bianca and they both arch their eyebrows at me when I walk in.
"Do I want to know?" Drew questions.
"Probably not," I reply putting Clare down.
"Come on Clare I'll help you get ready for bed," Bianca tells her getting up.
"Drew he spanked me," Clare says before sticking her tongue out at me.
"I get the feeling you deserved it," Drew counters and she sticks her tongue out at him.
"Come on Clare let's go get ready for bed and you can tell me all about how mean Owen was tonight," Bianca says indulging Clare and the two girls go down the hall.
"So how bad was it? I'm assuming she didn't get that drunk at Fitz's place," Drew comments.
"No she didn't found her at Keith's party. Lucas was there too and we found her out back playing Stripster with Vaughn from the hockey team and Darin from our chemistry class."
"So two people need to die tomorrow," Drew says with gritted teeth.
"Yep and they were both undressing her when we found her. They had her shirt off and were getting her pants off. She drank half a bottle of flavored vodka so she was just giggling. Here's her shirt," I say taking it from my pocket. "Did you know she had sex with Jeff on Sunday?"
"I figured out she'd lost her virginity when she was walking funny yesterday morning. She bit my head off for being concerned and I didn't get any details like who it was. At least it was someone she likes," Drew sort of sighs.
"I have a feeling if it wasn't and she'd been forced you would have heard about it from her. Anyway she's home, I should probably get home too I have to be up early tomorrow."
"What for there's no football practice," Drew replies.
"No hockey tryouts, don't say anything but DeGrassi acquired a junior pro hockey team. They're recruiting from all over Canada so I have to tryout for the new coach. I was the only one asked from the school team."
"Awesome I'm sure you'll make it you've been MVP the last two years," Drew says.
"Thanks, look don't go too hard on her it was stupid but she's pretty upset over Fitz and she's blaming herself. Pretty sure that's why she was there and why she chugged a half bottle of vodka."
"Yep sounds like my sister. Thanks for getting her home Owen."
I smile and say goodnight going back out to my car. I had intended to go to the party tonight, drink a beer at most and just hang out with my friends to bolster my confidence for tomorrow morning. Instead I was wrestling with Clare and keeping her from being any more stupid. So now I go home and get some sleep but I am feeling pretty confident about the tryout tomorrow.
(FITZ)
"Take it easy today little bro," Sean tells me as he pulls up to DeGrassi Thursday morning. "If you don't feel well or you're in too much pain go to the nurse. Simpson will let me, Emma, Jay, Spin, Paige, Lucas or Johnny to pick you up."
"I'll be okay," I assure my brother.
"I'm off at 6 and I'll pick you up from the Mason's."
I nod and grab my backpack from the back waving to Sean as he drives away. I start walking to the steps when someone runs over to me and takes my backpack. I look over to see Owen and Tris, they both grin at me the same way. They look nothing alike but there are times when you can tell they're brothers.
"You shouldn't be carrying your books," Owen says.
"Thanks," I smile.
"So happy to be back at school?" Owen asks.
"Happy to be out of TJCS but I've never been fond of school. Of course it has it's perks," I smile when we walk through the doors and I see Clare with Jenna and K.C. on the steps.
"Hey Fitz welcome back," Jenna grins getting up to hug me and I'm able to feel her pregnant belly when she hugs me.
"Thanks you got bigger in the last few weeks," I comment.
"Yeah 15 weeks already," she says.
"Welcome back Buddy," K.C. says before giving me a hug.
"Hi Fitz," Clare smiles softly but doesn't move from where she was sitting. She doesn't get up to hug me or anything.
"Morning Clare," I grin at her but she looks at her hands.
"Excuse me I need to go find Adam," Clare says getting up quickly and rushing down the hall.
"That was weird," Tris remarks as we all watch Clare disappear around the corner.
"Hey Tris," his boyfriends call to him and Tris leaves us to be with Riley and Zane.
"I'm hungry again," Jenna says.
"That kids sure eats a lot, you had a huge breakfast less than an hour ago," K.C. responds putting his arm around her and they walk off toward the caf.
"I guess I should get to my locker," I remark when everyone else is gone.
"Yeah me too," Owen nods and we begin walking to our lockers. I'm still moving pretty slowly because of the cracked ribs.
"So what's with Clare? She couldn't seem to get away fast enough and she did the same thing at Thanksgiving dinner, and Tuesday night when she came to see me," I tell him.
"Don't worry about it she feels guilty on account of Reese beatin' up that pretty face of yours," Owen replies with a slightly sarcastic tone and impish smile.
"Is that it? I told her I was fine and it wasn't her fault."
"Yeah well she…" Owen pauses as he's opening my locker and I cock an eyebrow. "She's stubborn, you know that. She'll stop feeling guilty about it don't worry."
I nod and Owen gets my books. I lean against the lockers as he gets his books and then he walks me to homeroom setting my backpack on the desk. Miss Dawes already got the work I did at TJCS and she tells me what the class is working on. Drew comes in after the bell rings and smiles at me. Drew welcomes me back and the late bell rings then Miss Dawes begins class. Since Drew and I have 2nd period together he takes my backpack, I swear Sean called everyone and told them not to let me carry my backpack. When the lunch bell rings we stash our backpacks in our lockers and go out to the football bleachers to eat. Tris isn't here but he's probably eating with Riley and Zane, the only other person missing is Clare.
"Where's Clare?" Drew asks the same thing I'm wondering.
"She's working on an extra credit project in the library," Adam says slowly so that I know he's lying.
"Right," I comment rolling my eyes. I sit down, Owen hands me a sandwich and I start to eat but I'm not hungry I'm just thinking about Clare. "I'll be back," I tell them getting up.
I go to the library but she's not in there, I find Tris, Riley and Zane in the caf and they tell me she's out back. So I go out to the back and find her at the lacrosse field watching some of the players practice. She doesn't know I'm there until I put my hand on her shoulder. She jumps slightly, looks at me, smiles and bites her lip then looks away from me.
"Clare look at me," I insist sitting down next to her and she looks up at me. "This wasn't your fault you shouldn't feel guilty," I assert pointing to the bruises on my face.
"Yes it is Reese wouldn't have a reason to beat you up if I'd never gotten involved with him. He hurt you because of me and…" she stops suddenly and looks away again a lot like Owen did earlier. They both seem to be keeping something from me. "It is my fault and every time I see how hurt you are I feel awful," she says after a few seconds.
"But you shouldn't Clare it's not that bad and it was Reese's decision to beat me up. He did it for his own idiotic reasons; he knew nothing would keep me away from you. It's not your fault but the way you're avoiding me makes me feel a lot worse than a few bruises."
"I'm sorry I don't mean to be avoiding you or making you feel bad. I am glad you're out," she tells me and then turns her head pressing her lips to mine. She doesn't pull out of the kiss; she grips the back of my neck and deepens the kiss as I start kissing her back. After a long time she pulls out of the kiss for a breath.
"Do you want to go eat with everyone else?" I ask her.
"No I'm not really hungry, let's stay here alone. Unless you're hungry then I can go get you something," she offers.
"No I'm fine, more than happy to just be here with you," I smile putting my arm around her. She puts her head on my shoulder and reaches up taking my hand and we stay like that until the bell rings.
"I have to go camping with Drew this weekend," Clare huffs when we're inside, "Spinner swears it's not a punishment but says I need to spend some time alone with Drew."
"You don't like spending time with Drew?"
"Honestly I've never really spent that much time alone with him. Some at the house but usually watching TV or eating, or when he's given me rides places and stuff but never two days and a night in the woods just the two of us. Anyway I'm busy this weekend but maybe next weekend we can do something? Alone together," she says.
"You mean you want to go on a date?"
"Yeah a date, just us and my brothers actually trust you so they won't object."
"Next weekend then, I'll think of something good."
"I'll see you next period," she replies with a gently smile then she gives me a soft kiss before walking off.
"How was lunch with Clare?" Owen asks when I get to auto shop.
"Good once I got her to stop thinking it was her fault. I got the feeling she was holding something back from me though. I got the same feeling from you earlier so what are you not telling me?"
"She spent a lot of time with Jeff when you were locked up, they got pretty close," Owen informs me.
"Oh," I breathe out.
"Don't worry about it man he lives in Guelph they've been writing letters and stuff and he was here for Thanksgiving that's it really," Owen assures me putting a hand on my shoulder.
"Yeah sure. And you and her?"
"Just hookups, I spent a few nights in her room we didn't go very far really. She was mostly doing it to piss Drew off," Owen replies but does look a little guilty.
"What was pissing me off?" Drew asks coming over to us.
"Me and Clare hooking up," Owen replies.
"Hey at least you were keeping her from other guys, for the most part anyway," Drew shrugs.
Class starts and we stop talking. I can't do too much because it still hurts to move. We all have media studies next and walk there together; stopping at my locker to get my backpack which Owen carries.
"Sit here Fitz," Clare insists reaching over the table to take my backpack from Owen.
I go around the table and sit down next to her; she reaches over and takes my hand under the table. She holds my hand all through class. When school is over I ride in Bianca's car with Clare, Maya and Adam back to the Mason house.
"I'm going to take a shower," Bianca says as soon as we walk in the door.
"Let's do homework in my room Fitz I can help you," Clare says taking my hand and pulling me back to her room.
I lie on her bed and get out my homework; she sits next to me and gets out hers. I stay that way for a while but when I feel my stomach grumble because I'm hungry I start to get up.
"What are you doing?" Clare asks.
"I'm hungry."
"I'll get you a snack? What do you want?"
"I can get it Clare, I should get up and move a little anyway or I'll get too stiff," I assert and get off the bed.
Adam is in the living room when I get out there but I don't see Maya so she must be in the washroom. Owen, Drew and K.C. are still at football and Jenna is out with Caitlin. Bianca got out of the shower a while ago and the door to her and Drew's room was closed so she's in there. I start getting a snack from the kitchen when Adam comes in.
"What's with your sister?" I inquire.
"You'll need to be a little more specific," Adam replies.
"Well since I got out she's barely been able to look at me because she blamed herself for what Reese did. And now, not that I'm complaining really, she's lavishing me with attention and like coddling me. Kind of over doing it like she's still guilty about something only she's not avoiding me anymore because I told her that it hurt me the way she was avoiding me."
"I think it might be all the time she was spending with Jeff. They were writing letters to each other and they got pretty hot. Then he was here for Thanksgiving weekend and they were together a lot. He even took her to Guelph on Sunday and they spent the day there."
"He took her to his house?"
"Yeah, she met some of his friends and everything."
"Excuse me," I say to Adam and walk back to Clare's room. "We don't have to go out next weekend," I tell her and she looks up at me.
"You don't want to go on a date?" She asks with a voice that's wounded and yet ashamed.
"Do you? From what I hear you and Jeff got pretty close."
"You were locked up and I like Jeff but I like you too. You weren't here, you in TJCS again and I told you I couldn't do it but you're here now. I do like you Fitz you know how much I care about you."
"I'm not sure I do," I shake my head.
"I do," she says coming over to me and gripping my shirt before pulling me into passionate kiss.
"I'm never going back to TJCS Clare," I assure her when our lips part, "I'm going to stay out of there for you no matter what it takes."
"You should sit down, you never did get something to eat I'll get you something," she says quickly turning away from me. I catch her arm and turn her back to me.
"Clare you're holding back again what is it you're not tell me?"
She looks down biting her lip and pulling her arm away from me, "You were gone, locked up and I wanted…" she stops again taking a few more steps from me. "Jeff and I were writing letters, they became very steamy and he was here and I was ready. I told him I was ready and I wanted it to be him so on Sunday we went to his house since it was empty and w…"
"You had sex with him," I exclaim as the pieces finally fall into place and I realize what she's trying to say. "You lost your virginity to him," I barely whisper and my voice cracks in pain at the thought. "I have to go," I say turning and opening her door.
"Fitz wait," she says but I'm already through her door, "Mark," she calls her own voice broken with tears but I keep walking.
"Tell Bianca I borrowed her car," I say to Adam and Maya as I grab Bianca's keys. I hop in and speed off to my house, I park in the driveway and call Sean telling him I'm home, took Bianca's car and my stuff is still at Clare's. He's not supposed to be off work for almost two hours so when Sean comes in less than twenty minutes later I'm surprised.
"Adam called the shop and then I heard your message so what happened?" Sean asks.
"I found out Clare lost her virginity to Jeff on Sunday and I couldn't be there anymore. I knew she was hooking up with Owen but I always thought I'd be the one she lost her virginity too. I always thought it would be here and me together," I admit.
"We all did, you guys have sort of been paired forever just like me and Em, Spin and Paige, Jenna and K.C., Maya and Adam. Of course Clare's always gone down her own road."
"Yeah I just wish it had been me. I'm jealous and I'm angry and I hate that I wasn't around. I lost it and did something stupid and got sent to juvie and she found someone else so I'm just as angry at myself," I confess.
"I know but…" Sean starts but there's a knock at the door and he gets up to answer it. He steps aside and Clare comes in.
"Can we talk?"
It's not an awful cliffhanger, the update next Saturday will pick up from slightly before this in Clare's pov. It will include at least some Clare and Drew camping and some Maya pov as she finds herself in some danger.