UPDATE: Upon reviewing this chapter a few times, I'm really unhappy with it. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to update a forth chapter and fix this one. Not sure if the plot of this chapter will change or if it just needs some retouches. Something just feels off. But I'd like to say thank you to everyone whose left a review, I really appreciate the feedback!


The day passed with the swift movement of a dying tortoise. When lunch finally came, I nearly sprinted out of my math classroom. The hunger and excitement high school students experience at lunchtime distracted my peers from their insult hurling, giving me some peace as I made my way to the cafeteria with the rest of the mob.

Clare was already at our table toward the back of the cafeteria when I got there.

"Edwards." I said, dropping my backpack down.

"Hey, Eli," She smiled, looking up from her apple and sandwich as I sat down in the seat across from her. Clare and I began speaking about simple things-the weather, cafeteria food, homework, etc. But every conversation with her always felt fast paced, like a rushed exchange of wits. It kept things interesting, and I liked that.

Adam eventually sat down too, making the scene feel even more like old times. Like things before that night. The only thing missing was Alli, but Adam had filled me in on that whole deal. I'd never really had a full conversation with Alli, but she was Clare's best friend. I knew it made Clare sad, and that tended to make me sad.

Everyone else stayed interested in their own lunchtime conversations and I only got maybe four rude comments the whole time, so that was nice.

Lunch passed with the slow mosey of a 747, and before I knew it, I was back in a classroom. But I was in English class, sitting in front of Clare, so I was fine with that. And anyways, I'd kind of missed Miss Dawes. She was an odd one, there was no denying that, but she was good teacher. (The fact she'd pretty much set Clare and I up didn't exactly hurt my view of her either.)

After that class came another. And although the clock swears it only lasted for 50 minutes, I still maintain that I was in History class for at least four hours that day. The bell finally gave its mercy call, and I hurried out to front steps of Degrassi. Clare was waiting for me again, sitting on the steps with a book in hand.

"You ready?" I said as I approached her.

"Yep." She said and gathered her things. We headed to the parking lot where Morty sat.

The traffic block of an entire student body trying to escape school campus made the ride to The Dot take twice as long as it would've had we walked there. But it gave Clare and I even more time to talk.

"I've missed good ol' Morty," Clare said during the ride.

"I'm sure he's missed you too, Clare."

"Oh yeah?" She said, her lips curling into a flirty grin.

I smirked, "Absolutely. Between you and me, I think he's got a little bit of a crush."

Right as the words left my lips, Morty's engine stalled, sputtered and then restarted. I jumped, but Clare just laughed at the coincidence.

When we finally did get to The Dot, I told Clare she could go pick a table, and I'd get the coffee.

"Okay, but I have mone-"

"I've got it."

"Are you sure? Thanks," She said as she headed to the table near the window.

"No problem," I said but I don't think she heard me. You know how in almost every teen movie, there's always that one really awkward guy who spends the duration of the movie sweating and trying too hard to impress the girl of his dreams? I was slowly but surely turning into him, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a weird feeling.

After I finally made my way through the long line, I set our coffees down on the table along with two chocolate chip scones.

"Thank you." Clare said. She picked up the scone and took a big bite, leaning over the plate with an embarrassed expression as pieces crumbled off onto the table.

"So, how does it feel to be back at Degrassi?" She said once she swallowed the first bite.

"Weird. It feels like its been a lot longer than it has."

"I know what you mean. Thanks for calling by the way."

"I trie-hey, you could've called me, you know. "

"Touché, touché."

Not thinking, I lifted my coffee cup up to my lips and took a rather large sip. Searing liquid etched its way into my throat. I tried to keep my face stoic. I was not going to react. I was going to keep still until the pain passed. I was not this lame. I did not just burn my mouth on a steaming hot cup of coffee. Poker face, Eli. Poker face.

Clare raised one eyebrow, "Are you okay?"

"Fine." My voice came out hoarse. I reached for my scone and took a big bite, the frosting cooling off my tongue.

"You sure?" She muttered before taking another bite of her scone.

"So what do you think of Miss Dawes' new assignment?"

"It sounds fun, but I'm not sure what to write about. I mean, she said to 'pick an event and describe it.' That's so broad. Like, an event about what? Not to mention the fact it's an assignment we've done about a hundred times."

"I have no idea what to write about either. That's always the hardest part for me, picking the topic. Once I actually commit to an idea, I'm fine. I can sit down and write and write and write until it's done. But picking the topic, that usually takes up most of the allotted time for the assignment," I said, finishing off the scone but still avoiding the coffee. Not like I'd be able to taste it now anyways.

"Same here," She nodded and then took a small sip of her coffee. See dumbass, that's how you drink coffee. Wait for it to cool. Small sips. Not that difficult a concept.

I had two main ideas for my event. At first, I thought the night Julia died might be a good choice, but that was a little too personal even for me. Things with Fitz would be an obvious choice but revealing too much about what actually happened might lead to further disciplinary action against me. I mean, telling your teacher about the time you poisoned a guy with ipecac is generally not a good idea.