Hello, I know, a long time since I updated, but I have school and its pretty hectic but I ditched studying Biology to write this for you, so I hope you guys like it! Thank you so much for the reviews! Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.

Spark

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A couple of weeks have past and I was still in a slump for my story. Eli's idea of writing about my parents has been becoming more tempting each day. But as soon I'm a bout to write, I push the thought away when my mind starts to think rationally. I could never write about them! If they ever found out… And if I win the contest… The whole world will know! I can't risk that.

But the thought still lingers and its starting to irritate me.

My mom and I haven't really spoken since that little outburst I had. It was awkward to say the least. None of us could stay in the same room together for more then two minutes - as bad as it sounds - I liked it that way. But I knew I couldn't avoid mom forever. At one point, we're going to have to sit down and talk about this.

I can wait.

Just like how I can wait for Alli's 'emergency' phone call that she's about to address to me at any moment. I knew what these phone calls meant…. And most the time, it involved extreme measures taken from Alli and absolute discomfort on my part.

Yeah, I can definitely wait.

Ring! Ring!

Spoke too soon.

As soon as I answer the phone, Alli squeals in my ear and I keep reminding her that she'll be the reason I lose my hearing. Of course, she ignores me.

"OH MY GOD, CLARE. I HAVE A DATE WITH DREW."

"Drew as in the guy who threw the party Drew?" I inquired, cocking my head slightly as I tried to memorize his appearance.

"MHMM. THAT'S HIM. CLARE, I KNEW WE WERE MEANT TO BE," her voice is still really loud but her tone is full of admiration and adoration.

Great, Alli was in love. Again.

"Well, I'm happy for you, Alli. But just make sure to get to know the guy a little more before you start shouting your undying love to him," I laughed.

"Ha, ha," she said sarcastically. "Actually, I wanted to tell you something kind of related to that…. More like ask."

Uh, oh. I knew that voice. The slight hesitance to it. The low tone that made it barely audible but still willing to be heard. She wanted something.

"And what exactly would that be?" I said, a little fearful for one of her crazy ideas.

"I'm really nervous for my date with Drew, to be honest. And it would really mean the world to me if you came along and brought someone…. Like a double date," she begged in a hopeful voice and I could just see her pout on the other end of the phone.

"I don't know, Alli…." In honesty, the request was not as half as ridiculous as her usual ones; I was extremely grateful for that. But if I did go…. Who would I bring?

"What about Eli? You two have been hanging out a lot, right?"

It was true, I guess. Eli and I have been going to that abandoned church a few times over the past couple of weeks and I have been over to his house once or twice. He was very good company and he had a knack for making me laugh. It was really refreshing to have a drama free summer that I was having.

But I'm pretty sure Eli wouldn't be interested in going out with Drew and Alli. And wouldn't this be known as a double date? That would be awkward.

"I think it would be too awkward to ask Eli that, Alli," I said, chewing the pad of my thumb.

"Please, please, please, Clare! This is really important to me and I would be super grateful if you come. Please."

"Alright, fine!" I sighed in defeat, throwing a hand in the air. "I hope I don't regret this."

"You won't, I promise!"

Alli then told me what time the date was and where we were going. Since my summer house and Alli's house is planted in the suburbs, with no where to really go to, Alli decided we walk to the city where The Dot is. It sounded pretty causal and I for one missed the iced teas I used to get from there. Sounds decent enough.

"Okay, I'll see you later, bye."

I throw my phone on the bed and walk over to my balcony. I wasn't surprised to see Eli on his, reading a book.

"Good morning sunshine!" I said brightly and laugh when Eli's book falls out of his hands.

"Jeez, Clare," he grumbled before picking it up. "Was that really necessary?"

"Yes," I smiled.

He playfully rolls his eyes before leaning over his rail across from me.

"So what's up?" he asked.

I bit my lip and wring my hands nervously at what I'm about to ask him. I didn't know how he would respond and I didn't want things to become weird. You're stalling! Get to the point. I look up from my hands and Eli's giving me a curious look, eyebrows raised.

"You remember my friend Alli, right?" When he nods, I continue. "Well…she has a date with Drew Torres. He was the boy who-"

"Threw the party," Eli interrupted. "Yeah, I know. I'm friends with his brother."

That's right! He was the boy that Alli tried to set me up with…

"Okay, well her date is today and she kind of begged me to come along and bring someone…." I take a deep breath and stare directly into his eyes. "Do want to go?"

I was kind of startled by the steadiness and confidence in my voice because I was certain their was a blush burning my cheeks and my insides were turning violently. Eli ponders the idea, his eyes averted from mine. He always does this when he has a decision to make.

"So is this like a double date?" he asked.

"N-No…. It doesn't have to be," I shook my head quickly. "Its Drew and Alli's date but we're kind of like…wingmen, I guess?"

Eli smirks and I feel my heart flutter the tiniest bit which has me confused.

"I'm in. What time?" he asked.

"1:00."

.

.

To think this 'date' would be as easy and painless as possible was a complete and utter understatement.

Well, it was easy to reach our destination. Eli and I went to Alli's house before we went to Drew's and all left together. Not before Eli talked to Drew's brother, Adam for a few minutes, however. Adam was a pretty nice guy; completely different from Drew, but they were step brothers…

On the way there, Drew and Alli were hitting it off quite well and Eli and I would talk together behind the two love birds. See, I can handle flirting exchanges and shameless glances towards one another, but I couldn't handle being seated at The Dot beside Eli while Alli and Drew made out freely in front of us.

No, this was too much.

I glance over at Eli and he stares back, giving me an awkward smile. Just when I thought things wouldn't be awkward.

"SO….Drew, Alli says your dad's work together?"

Alli and Drew tear the lips apart, a suction sound being made from their action that made me grimace. At least it got them to stop attacking each other.

"Oh, yeah, been working together for awhile now," Drew smiled towards Alli while wrapping an arm around her.

"So, you'll be attending Degrassi too?" I asked, trying my best to keep the conversation going.

Alli was giving me a look to "shut up" as she leaned into Drew, but I wasn't going to watch them exchange saliva anymore.

"Yeah," Drew nodded.

"Well, what do you know? So will I."

I snap my head in Eli's direction in shock and he only smirks in return. It did make sense now that I thought about it but my mom and I will leave our summer house last week of August, and I live pretty far away from Degrassi, so I guess it never wrapped around my mind that Eli might go to the same school.

"That's cool. We can all-" I stopped mid sentence when I saw Alli and Drew sucking lips with each other, once again.

Before I could say anything, Eli stood up - rather hastily - and motioned me to follow. We went outside of the café and he took a seat on the bench out front.

"There. Now we can leave them two together without us completely leaving them," Eli stated as I took a seat beside him.

"Yeah," I agreed. "But I honestly don't get why Alli needed us, she's doing perfectly fine on her own…"

An epiphany ran through my mind, eyes widening and mouth parting. She did this on purpose! How could I be so stupid to not realize this? For the past couple weeks since she caught Eli and I hanging out, she's been teasing about how one day I'll admit my undying love for him and then we'll get married.

Yeah, Alli has a colourful imagination. And she was one little sneak….

"Clare?"

My thoughts dissolved and I looked at Eli.

"Yeah?"

"You kind of spaced out there. Did you hear what I said?" he asked.

"Sorry…what was it?"

"How's your story going?"

Ugh, I didn't want to answer that question. He would most definitely harass me until I take his advice about my parents because Eli doesn't really like to take no for an answer. And he was very stubborn.

You're one to talk.

"I haven't wrote anything," I said, biting my lip in fear of his reaction.

"Still caring about what people think I see," he frowned before averting his gaze across the street.

"I told you already - I don't care what people think," I stressed through gritted teeth.

He doesn't respond. He still stares into space and it gives me a chance to analyze his features. I admired his sharp angled jaw and two birth marks that resembled bite marks on the side of his neck, but his eyes were still my favourite physical trait of him…What am I saying?

"I got it!" he smiled in a way that had me scared. "I know how you're going to prove you don't care what people think."

His pronounced grin gave me chills and I suddenly remembered our conversation a couple weeks ago. I didn't think he'd still remember. Heck, I didn't even remember!

"What exactly is that?" I asked in a slightly snappy tone.

"Scream," he said bluntly. "At the top of your lungs."

I was a little startled by his request but he only raised his eyebrows - as if he were waiting. He was challenging me. No way I was going to pass up this. I jumped up and looked at him before returning my gaze straight ahead, determination displayed on my face as I closed my eyes and let my arms stretch out before I yelled with all my might.

When I was finished, I smiled in triumphant and was satisfied by the surprised look on Eli's face. It did feel really good to let that out, but I wasn't going to let him off that easy.

"Okay," I said, crossing my arms. "Your turn."

Eli looked smug as he stood up and scrunched his nose.

"Yeah, not my style," he said, backing away slowly.

I was baffled.

"What," I blurted before pointing a finger at him and walking towards him, laughing. "No, you have to do it!"

"It's not my style," he insisted, as I still come marching towards him.

We both laugh as his back hits a telephone pole and he grabs my wrists when I trip into him. We stop laughing and I get an extreme close up in his lily pad eyes and I find myself drowning in their beauty. My heart is pounding and my mind feels clouded as he looks back into mine with the same intensity. The bell from the door of The Dot brings me back to reality and I slowly pull out of Eli's grasp before turning away and giving us a bit of distance.

"They're still here!" Alli's voice chimed but she sounds so far away….

"Hey, sorry about that," Drew said as they come toward us. "You guys wanna go?"

"Yes," Eli and I said in unison, both staring at each other.

"…Okay," Alli's voice pulls my gaze towards her and she's giving me a look that freely says, "details later", and I feel light headed.

Of course she would want details on what happened, but the problem was…. I didn't even know what happened.