Helllllllllo. So I realize this is an extremely late update but I will probably update again tomorrow. :D Thank you for the reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.

Trust

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"Let's go out today!"

I turned around and saw mom dancing towards the kitchen, a lively smile on her face. I raised an eyebrow at how energetic she was being; she used to be the kind of person that was more uptight then let-loose. So I found it even more odd when she grabbed my arms and brought me into her imaginary dance.

"Okay, what is going on here?" I laughed, as she spun me around, humming an unfamiliar beat.

"I don't know. I just feel in the mood to do something fun! Oooh, why don't we go to the beach?" she suggested, widening her eyes when something else popped in her mind. "You can invite Alli. Maybe Eli?"

"Sounds great," I responded slowly, watching as she took a seat with a pen and paper in her hand.

"I'm writing down the stuff we'll need to bring," she said, scratching down a few words. "You can call Alli now if you want. Then Eli since we'll be going soon."

Well this was pretty sudden but still exciting. Spending the day with mom, Alli and Eli was the definition of perfect. It's been a few weeks since the whole dinner fiasco with dad but things were starting to muddle along smoothly. Mom kept insisting for me to call dad but I wouldn't budge. The wedding was exactly in one week, as well as the entry for the writing contest, so I had to keep all of my attention on my story.

Eli's been helping me along with it. We've been spending almost everyday together and each day, my feelings grow. Alli basically took off my ear when I told her about Eli and I and didn't forget to give me a "told you so" statement. Either way though she was happy for me.

I swiped the phone off the charger and dialled Alli's number by heart. I walked to the living room, waiting patiently as the phone rung.

"Helllllllo?"

"Drop everything you're doing and grab your swimsuit," I demanded enthusiastically.

"We going for a swim at your house?"

"Better. We're going to the beach!"

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY. I'll be over soon!"

I smiled and hung up, returning back to the kitchen when the door knocked. I placed the phone back on the charger before running over to the door. My face turned to disbelief, when I saw my dad standing on the other side of it, then anger when I realized why he would be here.

"Why are you here?" I asked, not sounding too hostile but a smidge rude.

"Clare, who's at the door?" mom's voice hollered from the kitchen.

"Just some Avon sales person!" I yelled back before pushing myself outside and closing the door behind me. "If this your way of demanding me to come to your weeding, you can forget it."

His hands were in his pockets, and his head was slightly bowed, a tired expression on his face. That was usually a sign of defeat from him; something I learned when I was 6.

"Clare, I am really sorry for bringing Abby over. It was a very ridiculous thing for me to do," he said remorsefully, taking a seat on the steps in front of us.

I still wasn't convinced but decided to take a seat next to him; give him a chance to explain everything.

"Thanks. I'm sorry for yelling at you both, that was very immature of me," I sighed, digging my nails through my jeans at how frustrated I was over this. "It's just… I can't look at her or you two together without feeling sick. Is mom really that awful?"

"Of course not, Clare-bear," he soothed, rubbing my back gently. "Your mother is a wonderful woman. We just grew apart, we were always so different from each other."

What happened to opposites attract? Mom and dad made a lifetime commitment. They promise themselves and God that they loved each other forever. How could this all change? I just don't understand any of this. What is so great about Abby?

"How do you know Abby is 'the one'?" I accused, giving a side-ways glance. "Twenty years ago you thought mom was the one. How do you know things will be different?"

He smiled lazily. "I guess I don't. But right now, I know I love her. I know that I want her to be my wife."

I crossed my arms, looking straight ahead. "Well that's great and everything but I'm going to tell you now, I'll probably never get used to it."

"I understand," he sighed heavily. "I realized pressuring you to like Abby was not a good idea at all. She does really like you though."

I refrained from stating how much I didn't care. "Mom told me you'll always love Darcy and I, even if you don't love mom anymore. How do I know that's true? What if you and Abby decide to have kids and you forget about me," I sniffled, tears falling down my face as I finally looked at him.

"Oh, honey." He pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around me as I cried in his shoulder. "My love for you and your sister is unconditional. You are apart of me. I could never - under any circumstances - ever stop loving you."

"You promise?" I muffled against him, holding onto him as tightly as I could.

"Promise."

I pulled away and wiped the tears from my face, taking in slow breaths. "I have to go. We're going to the beach today."

We both stood up and dad pulled me to him once again, kissing the top of my head. "Take care of yourself, Clare-bear."

"Can I call you tomorrow?" I asked hesitantly.

"I'll be waiting," he smiled before taking off towards his car.

I went inside and felt a little better for patching things up. I went upstairs and straight to my balcony, relieved to see Eli already on his side.

"Hey."

"Hi."

We both smiled at each other and my heart fluttered, just being in his presence turned me to mush.

"Are you doing anything today?" I asked nonchalantly, but was nervous on the inside. I really wanted him to come today.

"No…" He shook his head. "You have something planned?"

"Yeah. My mom is awfully chipper today and decided for us to go to the beach. She said I could bring you and Alli." I bit my lip. "Do you want to?"

He contemplated while my palms started to sweat, knowing what this meant for us if he did say yes. We haven't really been on a 'date' so to speak so I guess this could count as one. It was going to be a little different then just a regular day at the beach. It will be a little nerve-wracking.

"Yeah," he nodded. "What time?"

"Mom's just getting some stuff ready. So you should get ready too and I'll call you when Alli's here," I explained, trying to hide the giddiness in my voice.

"Okay, see you later then," he smirked.

I smiled back and kept my eyes on the ground when I went back inside. I leant against the wall and couldn't let go of the smile on my face.

.

.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"Oh no, do you want us to stop the car?"

"…I don't know."

"We're almost there honey."

"I don't think she can wait that long."

"I have some water, it might help."

"No, no, no. Oh God…"

"Mom, stop the car!"

Slam!

Alli pushed herself out and I followed after her as she went to the side of the road and puked her guts out. Thank goodness there was barely any traffic since mom's car was in a compromising position. Thankfully, she was parked on the side.

I held onto Alli's hair while she finished, rubbing her back soothingly.

Alli let out a groan as she stood up, wiping tears from her eyes. "Why do I have to be car sick all the time? The ride isn't even that long!"

"Don't worry about it," I smiled, patting her arm. "Everyone gets sick at one point."

"It's still embarrassing!" she argued. "And now my breath smells bad! Ugh, can this day get any worse?"

"Here." I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a piece of gum. "It's mint. Just keep chewing for the rest of the day."

Alli attacked me in a huge hug. "You are the best! I honestly don't know what I would do without you."

"I'm not thaaaat amazing," I said sarcastically, both of us bursting out in laughter.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Eli asked behind us and I smiled.

"Yeah, thanks for checking." I turned back to Alli. "Ready to go?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," Alli smiled, popping the piece of gum in her mouth before looping her arm through mine.

We all went back in the car and mom took off down the road. I made sure to keep an eye on Alli for the rest of the ride. She seemed fine and I was glad that her nausea had subsided. On occasion for the remainder of the ride I would catch a few glances of Eli through the rear view mirror. Mom insisted Eli would sit in the front; her parental unit hasn't diminished. I didn't mind that much though, I was able to see his lily-pad eyes without any trouble.

Finally we arrived and all of us shuffled out of the car, mom gathering the stuff from the trunk. Alli pulled out this huge sun-hat out of her bag and grabbed her sunglasses.

"Time to soak up in the sun!" she squealed, running towards the sand.

She did realize she was already dark, right? I rolled my eyes playfully at her and offered mom if she needed any help.

"You two go on ahead. I'll set up a blanket near by," she said tenderly.

Eli and I started to walk away and I really wanted to hold his hand. Our hands brushed and we looked at each other quickly, before looking away again. I'll never get out of my shell.

"So… my dad came to see me this morning," I said, trying to make small talk.

He looked at me. "Really? Did things go okay?"

I nodded. "We talked and things are kind of okay between us now. I'm kind of contemplating on going to his wedding."

His fingers slid through mine abruptly and I looked down, Eli's fingers intertwining with mine. My insides spread with warmth and I couldn't stop the smile spreading. I looked up at him and my smiled died down when I noticed the faraway look in his eyes.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, stopping our walking,

"Umm… yeah. It's just," he cut himself off with a breath, eyes trained on the ground.

"Eli what's wrong?" I said, concerned, trying to catch his eyes.

He yanked his hand away and I felt upset but there was obviously something wrong with the way he was being. He ran his hands through his hair and still avoided my gaze.

"I can't… Not now… Just…" he mumbled, rubbing his hands over his eyes before finally looking at me. "I haven't been honest with you."

I was confused. "What are you talking about?"

"This whole thing with your dad's wedding, it just reminds me of some memories," he sputtered quietly. "Not… good ones."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I had an ex-girlfriend, and her mom was going to get remarried and she invited me to the wedding but we didn't end up going," he breathed in a sympathetic voice.

"Her mom called it off? She didn't want to go?" I offered, wanting him to open up to me.

"She died."

I didn't know what to say. Here he was, completely broken and vulnerable in front of me, and worst of all at a beach! Oh God, I just wanted to pull him away, and hold him. So I did. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he sucked me in, tightly wrapping his arms around my back, shaking violently.

"I'm sorry, Eli."

"God, I'm such a mess for doing this," he murmured on my neck. "I'm sorry for doing this to you. It's just the wedding… Please don't be mad at me."

"I would never be mad at you. I just wish you would've told me," I said sadly, pulling away but he still firmly held me. "I want you to trust me."

He looked ashamed. "I do trust you, Clare. I just didn't want to bring up something that I want to put behind."

"Good because I don't care if you think you'll burden me. If you're hurting, I want to know." I rested my head on his chest. "You're stuck with me."

"What have I done to get such an amazing girl?" he asked, more to himself.

"I don't know, maybe it was the eyes," I laughed when his mouth went agape.

"A little shallow, are we? I'm sure I have other amazing qualities. Like my charming personality." He lifted his chin smugly and placed a hand to his chest.

"Oh no, I'm sure it's your modesty." I stuck my tongue out and pushed him away. "But you know, there is one thing that I just can't get enough of you."

His eyebrows raised and he looked expectant. "Spit it out, Edwards."

I leaned up until we were nose to nose. "You'll have to catch me first."

Before he could comprehend, I took off running towards the sand, laughing when I heard his voice.

"You're gunna get it now!" his faint voice snarled playfully.

"Catch me if you can!" I called back and ran in the water towards Alli.