Hello everyone! I think this is kind of a late update but I just couldn't write lately. I've been too engulfed with a lot of Degrassi drama on the show and just having my own issues in general. But I have the next chapter for you, I want to thank you guys for the reviews, seriously, they mean a lot. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.

Another Door

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What is he doing here? It's okay, Clare. It's not the end of the world, you can get through this. Just pull yourself together.

"Uhh, Alli, can we go get something to drink?" I asked clumsily as I pulled her back in the kitchen.

"Whoa there, speedy Gonzales, you're suddenly energetic. What was it? Adam got your attention," she grinned devilishly as she wrapped her arm around Drew's.

I blushed and awkwardly smiled at Drew, who smiled in return.

"Alli, I told you, I'm not interested at the moment," I stressed in a strained voice, hoping she finally got the message.

"Fine," she huffed in defeat. "But the night is still young and you have to dance."

She pulled Drew and I along until we made it to the living room. I felt my heart beat quicken as I kept a look out for Eli. I did not want to see him at the moment, or at all for that matter. Alli halted us inside a sea of people and I felt myself being tossed around the moving bodies. Of course my scattering would be looked as dancing from a viewers eye, but I felt like monkey in the middle and couldn't find a way out.

"WOOOOOOO!"

The teenagers were becoming more rowdy as a fast beat picked up through the loud speakers. I can barely manage to see Alli with the dim lighting, but from what I could make out, her and Drew were dancing. I turned around from the crowd and tried to push my way out. Once I finally found a gap, I jumped out but collided with a chest.

"Are you - Clare?"

I stood frozen when the familiar voice rung through my ears. A voice I did not want to hear ever again. I slowly lifted my head and my gaze locked with brown eyes. The same brown eyes that used to make me melt in my spot….The same brown eyes that held adoration and care…The same brown eyes that broke my heart.

KC.

"W-What are you doing here?" he asked awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

As I opened my mouth to speak, I was interpreted by a perky voice:

"Clare-bear! What a surprise," Jenna pranced her way towards us with a wide, taunting smile as she went to KC's side.

I stared as she wrapped her arm around his waist and placed the other on his chest.

"Excuse me, I have to go," I muttered with my head down as I turned away.

I felt unwanted tears well in my eyes and I almost went paralyzed when I saw Eli standing across from me, an unreadable expression on his face. I frantically looked for an escape and noticed the flight of stairs, beside me. I swung around the bar and climbed up them hurriedly as the tears fell down my cheeks.

I passed by the teenagers that were scattered along the wall and entered the first room on the right. I sighed in relief when I realized it was the bathroom but the tears fell rapidly and caused anger to take over.

I went to the other side of the bathroom and sat on the floor hastily as I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face in them.

I didn't want to be upset over this. KC was out of my life and a while after the break up, I was able to not cry myself to sleep. But seeing him with Jenna, it was still a sore spot for me. Especially when I thought she was my friend. I trusted her.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

My head shot up to the door and I quickly wiped my eyes and cleared my throat. "It's occupied. I'll be out in a minute."

"Clare, its Eli."

I blinked as I stared at the door, shocked and confused as to why Eli was…. looking for me? Before I could respond, the door opened and in he came, closing the door behind him before looking back at me.

"You don't just come in the bathroom when someone's in it!" I barked.

His expression was still unreadable and he didn't budge or flinch when I yelled. Ugh, couldn't he just leave me alone? Its obvious I'm not in the mood for his little games.

"So what? You're going to laugh at my face for crying? No smug remarks up your sleeve?" I spat as I wiped away more tears.

He didn't say anything. He plopped on the floor against the door as his eyes pierced through mine. His behaviour was making me feel uneasy and I just wanted to go home. Which reminds me why I didn't run for the door in the first place.

"You're crying. I wanted to see how you were," he finally spoke, his voice calm and soft.

I looked at him in confusion. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I don't know…I guess its because you looked so sad."

"Well, I'm fine," I responded stubbornly.

He raised and eyebrow and it made me realize he was waiting for me to explain what happened. First of all: It was none of his business. Second of all: Why does it matter? I wasn't used to someone instantly trying to comfort me. I was always the one who gave the comfort. Where as it went from, Alli….Darcy….my parents; this was all foreign to me. But something tells me, Eli will not go away until I say something.

I sighed. "My ex-boyfriend and girlfriend are here and we kind of had a confrontation." I looked up from my eyelashes to gauge his expression, and I saw his lips turn in a frown.

"Still a raw situation to approach," he said softly.

I nodded. "Its just…I was dating KC and Jenna came to our school and she befriended me - she even told me herself she was a boyfriend stealer…but naïve me thought nothing of it. Then, I ended up losing him right under my nose and I couldn't do anything to stop it. I was helpless."

My eyes widened as I realized I just spilled my relationship issues to my next door neighbour. It felt so weird….venting to someone whom was kind of a complete stranger…but not only that, for once, someone was listening. Alli would listen to my problems and she would try to be helpful, but sometimes I feel like she forces herself listen for my sake. It doesn't seem she's genuinely interested in what I say.

"This may not seem like much, but you could look at the loss at a different angle," he pressed gently and I looked up in curiosity. "'When one door closes, another one opens'."

The sincerity in his voice made my heart flutter and the expression he said made the wheels turn in my mind and actually consider.. Maybe this was the new door. This summer. Trying new things, learning different experiences, meeting new people….

"I think you're right," I agreed, pushing myself up. "I really don't want to be here anymore. Do you want to go for a walk?"

He pondered for a moment before shrugging and lifting himself off the ground. He opened the bathroom door and motioned me to exit first. I smiled as he flashed me a smirk as I walked out. A few teenagers looked in my direction and I instantly turned red when I realized how odd it was for a guy and a girl to exit a bathroom together.

When we finally left the house, I was happy to leave the suffocated environment and immediately took in the cool breeze that accompanied the night. We started walking down the street, towards our houses but our pace wasn't rushed.

"Do you have a split personality?" I blurted as I looked straight ahead, too relaxed to care how weird my question was.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice.

I looked towards him, "It's just…ever since I met you, you've been acting annoying and cocky - no offence. But now, you seem….normal?"

"First of all, normal is overrated. And also, I find it funny that I get a reaction from you so easily," he chuckled.

My mouth dropped. "That is not -" my lips formed in a tight line as I basically confirmed his statement.

Eli chuckled and I crossed my arms stubbornly. "You are so easy to torment."

"I'm glad I amuse you," I said sardonically.

"Aw, don't get upset now," Eli mocked in a child voice.

"Not upset, but I do want you to tell me something," I looked at him with my eyebrows raised.

"And what exactly do you want to know?" he arched an eyebrow of his own, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Anything. I told you about my ex. I think its only fair that you exchange the favour."

But truthfully, I just wanted to know something about him. The moment I saw him, I knew he was different. And not based on his looks - though they are not the average style - but his whole persona. He's collected. He doesn't share anything but yet again, I haven't made the effort to find out anything until now. But he in general is someone I find intersecting. Even if he does annoy me a lot.

Eli looked a little guarded at such a straight forward question but I wasn't going to have any of that. I urged him to reply with a look and he shoved his hands in his jean pockets as he let out a sigh.

"Well, as you know, I just moved here. And I was originally from Vancouver," he shrugged.

"Wow, I always heard Vancouver was interesting, and this may seem embarrassing but has anyone ever called Vancouver 'The Couve'?" I looked hesitantly at Eli and his lips twitched before he burst into laughter.

Dammnit, Alli!

"Oh, Edwards, never would have thought of you to come up with such crazy sayings," he said with a tint of laughter still in his voice.

"Maybe that's because you don't know me that well," I challenged as I took in the view of my house.

"I guess I should get to know you better then," his voice lowered and I suddenly felt a chill run up my spine.

"Is that an invitation?" I asked quietly.

"Do you want it to be?"

I stopped and checked to see any traces of mock or smugness. I saw none. Did he actually want to spend more time with me? The question was: did I want to spend more time with him?

I looked over his shoulder and noticed we were now in front of my house. I walked past him but turned around replying, "I'll be waiting on my balcony when you come up with an idea of what we'll be doing."

I smiled before turning back around and entering my house.