Hello! Long time since I updated, but school is still killing me. I'll try my best to update more frequently, but no promises.

Thank you for the reviews! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.

Challenge

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I was writing. Everything was coming out so effortlessly and flowing in the precise way I've been accustomed to for years. It was elating and relaxing that I could find my inner peace through writing again. Maybe I would be able to hand in my story next month. By the rate I'm going, its highly likely.

"Working hard, or hardly working?"

I jumped off the bench and clutched my heart at the sound of his voice. Eli was standing over me, smirking, and all I could think about is how he got over to my balcony without me noticing.

"How did you-"

"I have spidey-senses," he chuckled, gesturing his hands.

I shook my head and tried to gather my thoughts. "What are you doing here?"

"I see you're finally writing. I just wanted to see what of," he shrugged.

"So….you couldn't just call me instead? You had to come over to my balcony and give me a heart attack?"

"Pretty much," he said before kneeling down to my level. "There's also something else."

His lily pad eyes were close to mine and my breath hitched. Suddenly, my peaceful mood turned anxious and I had no idea why. Eli took my journal out of my hands before sweeping my bangs away from my forehead.

"You have really pretty eyes," he complimented.

"Thanks," I blushed.

He cupped my face with his hands and my eyes widened when he leaned in. His lips found mine and I froze. Was this really happening? I didn't know what to do but something deep inside of me wanted this, because I latched my hands around his neck and pulled him closer. I felt him struggle slightly, since he groaned in my mouth and tried to balance on his knees. He let go of face and I heard his hands place themselves on the cement on either side of me, but I wasn't going to let him have a hard time.

I started to lay down and pulled him with me. His lips felt warm and soft. I've imagined a few times how it would be if I kissed him. This was way better then imagination.

"Clare," Eli said after pulling away. "We have to go to the grocery store."

My eyes were still closed but what he was saying rung clear through my ears.

"What do you mean?"

"Clare. Clare! CLARE!"

"What?"

I jumped upright in my bed, damp and out of breath. My mom was standing at the foot end of my bed.

"Get up," she said. "We have to go to the grocery store."

"Are you serious?" I muttered to myself, referring to my extremely vivid dream.

"Yes, I am serious," she said sternly. "Get dressed."

She left my room, slamming the door a little after closing it behind her. I wasn't in my right mind to think of it as a bad sign because the dream was still haunting me. Oh goodness, what did this mean? Nothing. It was just a dream. But this dream…. did give me an idea. An idea to write down.

I pulled back my covers and quickly grabbed my journal before scribbling down the idea so I won't forget it.

"Clare, you better be getting ready!"

I put my journal back in my drawer and scurried to the bathroom. The ride to the store was quiet and tense, but I needed to talk to mom about dad. It probably wasn't the right time to talk about this in a grocery store, but I was tired of stalling.

"Mom, why don't you want dad to visit?"

She stopped the cart and wouldn't look at me. I watched as she picked up some vegetables, head still down, and hands gripping the cart tightly as she started to walk again. She was hiding something, I knew that much. But how bad was it?

"It's complicated, Clare. I don't want you to be disappointed," she smiled sadly. "You'll understand one day."

"I'm 15, mom! Stop treating me like a child," I said, confused and hurt. "Please stop keeping things from me."

She looked desperate, as if reading her eyes would have me understand. But I was only becoming more frustrated.

"Clare," she took in a deep breath. "Your father is getting married."

The whole store stood frozen. Well, that's how I imagined it in that moment. I couldn't speak, but I was begging with my eyes to have my mom tell me it was a joke. Anything, I just want it to be a lie. But my mom wasn't looking at me. She looked ashamed; her eyes fixated on the cart.

"When?" I choked out.

"Next month," she confirmed. "He wanted to tell you but I didn't think it was the right time-"

"You never do!"

Now, I was pretty certain people stopped and looked at the scene. I didn't care. I walked out the store as fast I could, and started to sprint went I hit the pavement. It would be a long run until I would reach my destination, but I needed to get away from that store. And my mom.

.

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"I'm sorry to just come in on such short notice," I apologized, taking a seat on the bed.

"It's fine," he said, sitting down in front of me.

Maybe it was because my house was right beside Eli's that led me here. Or it could be something else, but I wasn't in the mood to figure out what that was.

"Did I ever tell you, my parents divorced?" I asked abruptly, crossing my legs.

"No," he shook his head, a concerned look on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I nodded quickly. "My dad's going to get married next month, and I just wanted to tell someone."

I don't know why I was acting so calm. Maybe its because if I didn't, I'll breakdown and I didn't want to do that in front of Eli. I probably should've went to Alli's.

"I'm not really great with giving advice on this…. but we can talk about it?" he asked.

I smiled at how adorable he was being. He's usually so self-assured and always sarcastic, but he looked genuinely confused and sincere.

"I'm sorry," I realized how intruding and absurd I was being. I hastily started to get off the bed. "I didn't mean to come here - I should go-"

He softly grabbed my shoulders. "Clare, I might not know exactly what you're going through… but I know what it feels like when you need to talk to someone."

This was stupid. I couldn't push my problems on Eli. I should be talking to my mom about this. But he was understanding and a good listener. It also gives me an excuse to hang out with him more. What is happening to me?

"Can we talk about something else?" I asked hopefully.

"Sure, but if you ever want to talk about your parents, I'm always here," he smiled.

"Thanks. Umm… I've been thinking more of my story…. And I think I've found an appropriate topic."

"And what might that be?" the lightness in his voice became comforting.

"Teens go through a lot, right? School, parents, love? It could be from a teenager's point of view. It would relate to all teenagers."

Eli smirked. "I think you're onto something, Edwards."

My dream suddenly flashed through my mind and I knew my cheeks were red.

"Yeah, well its something easy to relate to," I said. "I think for love, I'll write something about the average teenage crush and how its usually unrequited… or something."

At that moment, I wasn't really talking about the story. Maybe I did like Eli. I wasn't too sure, but recently he has made an effect on me. Something ten times more then KC ever did. Which kind of scares me. But Eli could never like me. Its simply not meant to be.

"Not all crushes are unrequited, Clare," he said in a low voice, eyeing me in a way that was foreign. His eyes turned far away and a genuine smile reached his face. "You want to have concise information on teenagers, right?"

"Yeah…." I said, not too where he was going.

"Where's the perfect place to observe teenage behaviour?"

"Ummm… school?"

"No," he said, a little frustrated. "A party."

Another party? Yeah, definitely not what I was expecting.

"A party?" I thought about it for a second. It did sound pretty promising, and teenagers mostly do crazy things at a party. And Eli would be there…. "What did you have in mind?"

"A guy I know. He's having a party this weekend. You in?"

It was a challenge. I could see it in his face and eyes. A challenge I will not pass up.

"I'm in."