One Shot Month was fun and I knocked several one shots off my list, of course I plotted five new ones but that's besides the point. Next year though I think I'll have One Shot Month in September instead of a One Shot Week that month. That way there won't be a two month gap for long stories.
So I realized today that I left out a story in the poll. If you go back to the poll on my page on the DeGrassi Saviors site you'll notice that Go & Hide & Runaway has been added to the poll. There is already a 2nd chapter of Go & Hide & Runaway planned for March but if you want more than a single follow up chapter you should vote for it. The poll itself will come down on Sunday.
Tonight is not as short as last night but it's still pretty short. We got the office all packed up today and it took all day which didn't leave me much time to write. But now it's the weekend and that means more time to write.
Ch. 2 Can't Tell a Note From a Symphony
(ADAM)
"Tell me I'm seeing things just tell me I'm seeing things, tell me the guy that shot me is not talking to my best friend," I exclaim.
Drew, Dallas, Alli and Jenna, who are all on the steps with me, look over and see Vince not just talking to Clare but handing her flowers and then kissing her cheek! When Drew sees this he begins storming over and we follow him. Clare turns around and sees us coming; she looks worried and bites her lip.
"STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Drew yells pushing Vince away from Clare.
"Chill Pretty Boy I was just thanking Clare for being my New Year's date," Vince says and we all freeze from shock.
"You went out with him?" I question.
"You weren't a rebound Pretty Boy but she had no problem rebounding with me," Vince smiles and takes Clare's waist. Vince turns Clare back to face him then placing his fingers under Clare's chin and begins tipping her chin up to kiss him Drew loses it. My brother clenches his fist and throws a punch hitting Vince in the face and keeping him from kissing Clare. Vince is knocked back a bit and then clenches his own fist and Clare grabs his arm.
"Don't fight you shouldn't be here anyway unless you're here for your brother," Clare says to Vince.
"I'll call you later Spicy," Vince grins at her brushing his fingers along her cheek and then he turns around to walk to his car. Drew starts to follow him but Clare puts her hand on Drew's chest.
"Drew stop," she tells him.
"Spicy?" Alli questions.
"It's what he calls me," Clare shrugs.
"We got that but how could you be hanging out with Vince?" I demand.
"If you're doing this to hurt me it's succeeding," Drew says.
"I'm not doing it to hurt you but if you hadn't decided you were a rebound Drew I'd never have met Vince. I left the hoe down upset and Vince found me and when I realized who he was I slapped him and yelled at him for shooting Adam."
"If you slapped him and yelled at him then why did you spend New Year's with him and why did he bring you flowers?" I inquire as the bell rings.
"You had better fill us in later," Alli asserts as we walk into the school. Drew, Clare and I all have a spare this period so we take her into the student council office.
"How could you be dating him?" Drew growls at her and she glares at him.
"We're not dating Drew we've hung out a few times and mostly talked on the phone. I was going to spend New Year's Eve alone but Vince called and invited me to a party and it was fun."
"Vince is not fun Clare Vince is dangerous he brought a gun to prom, he had me beat up, he abused and raped Bianca," Drew snarls.
"I know that Drew and I told him if he raped me I'd castrate him and if I caught him with drugs I'd turn him into the cops myself. He calls me Spicy because I stand up to him. He's not that juvenile delinquent anymore he did his time and he's changed."
"Oh brother not this again I've heard this before and it ends with you getting cyber stalked and Fitz showing up at your house," I comment.
"Vince is not Fitz and Fitz did change too his…"
"Obsession Clare Vince had an obsession," I speak up.
"Fine but Vince was just a nice guy and a person to talk to when I needed one."
"You could have talked to me," I point out and Clare looks at Drew.
"No I couldn't, not the night of the hoe down and I didn't even see you until just before New Year's. Vince is not cruel or bad to me he's been nice and he's not the guy that brought a gun to prom and I can hang out with whomever I like," Clare says and walks away from us.
"What is it with her and bad boys? Aside from Jake and maybe you she's like a bad boy magnet. What is it about her that attracts the bad boys? Is it because she seems so innocent because she's really not she's been through and done a lot of stuff," I exclaim now that Clare's gone.
"Stuff like what? What has she done?"
"Why do you care so much if you think you were nothing but a rebound?"
"Maybe I was wrong about that and I shouldn't have listened to Dallas."
"Yeah and if you'd stood up to Eli and told him to leave and told Clare how you feel she never would have run out and run into that psycho," I comment.
"So we won't let her hang out with Vince," Drew says.
"If you think you can stop her you don't know Clare at all," I reply shaking my head and walking away from my brother.
I spend the rest of my spare doing homework in the library. We all have chemistry last period but since we're concentrating on an experiment no one can ask Clare about Vince. There's no student council today so we all leave school together. Vince is waiting by his car just off school property and when Drew sees this he grabs Clare's arm and stops her from walking.
"You can't hang out with him," Drew tells her.
"Excuse me?!" Clare demands.
"You pig you can't tell her what to do," Alli snaps at Drew.
I decide it's better to just not get involved in this argument I start walking toward the minivan.
"Hey Adam," Vince calls to me but I ignore him. "Adam come here a minute I want to talk to you," he calls again.
I look back at the steps to see Clare arguing with Drew. Dallas seems to be taking Drew's side; Alli and Jenna are taking Clare's and Connor well he's probably saying whatever comes to mind. I doubt Vince is going to shoot me or anything in front of Clare so I walk over to him to see what he wants.
"What?"
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for shooting you. I wasn't trying to shoot you," he tells me. He looks ashamed and even sounds remorseful but that doesn't mean I believe him.
"No you intended on shooting my brother and the bullet found me instead," I reply.
"Fair enough but I was angry back then, my pride got the better of me and I was angry when Drew thought he could tell me what to do with B."
"If you hurt Clare I swear you will pay for it," I warn him.
"She told me the same thing and I believe her and you. I'm not the guy that shot you and I'm not here to cause trouble with you or Drew I just came to pick Clare up."
"I don't know what your agenda is with her but I will be watching."
"Hey what the hell are you doing with my brother?" Drew growls appearing suddenly and Clare runs over getting between Vince and Drew to keep them from fighting.
"We were just talking it's alright Drew, let's go home," I say to Drew and look at Clare, "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Adam," she smiles.
"What the hell did he want?" Drew asks when we're in the minivan.
"He apologized for shooting me, I think he was trying to get on my good side because wants to be with Clare. I told him I'd be watching him and if he hurt Clare he'd regret it."
"What's she even doing with him?"
"I think she's trying to hurt you," Dallas speaks up from the backseat.
"Shut up Dallas! Considering your record with Clare you are no longer aloud to conjecture on anything that has to with you."
"If she is trying to hurt me it's succeeding," Drew sighs.
(CLARE)
"Come on I'll take you home," Vince tells me when Adam and Drew walk away.
"I don't think you should come to the school anymore it just pisses Drew off," I reply after getting in his car.
"You don't like seeing Drew angry after what he did to you?"
I bite my lip and look out the window, "When I ran into you the night of the hoe down and I went with you a lot of it had to do with wanting to make Drew angry and hurt him. However if all I cared about was making Drew angry I would have had angry sex with you that night. I like hanging out with you and spending time with you has nothing to do with how it makes Drew feel."
"And I like being with you, which is why I keep coming to the school so I can see you."
"Which is sweet but you flare Drew's temper and I don't want you two to fight. What did you say to Adam?"
"I said I was sorry for shooting him and I liked you," Vince grins and it makes me smile.
"What are you doing?" I question when he parks at my house and gets out of the car.
"Hanging out with you while you do your homework," he replies.
"Don't you have something better to do than to watch me do homework? Shouldn't you have a job or something now that you're out of prison and not going to school," I comment unlocking my front door. "Wait you're not still running a gang are you? If I find out you're in a gang I'm going to turn you in that has to be a violation of your parole."
"I told you Spicy I learned my lesson and I don't sell drugs or run a gang and I got a job but I'm off today and I want to spend it with you," Vince replies and I smile.
"You should still probably be gone before my mom gets home. I'd rather not have her ask you a billion questions."
"When does she usually get home?"
"You should be gone by 5:30," I reply sitting on the sofa to start my homework.
"What about your stepdad?"
"He almost never gets home before six and even if he does he'll just say hi to you. He doesn't like to get too involved when it comes to me."
Vince grins and sits on the sofa with me; he actually does sit and watch me do homework. When I shift on the sofa and put the laptop in my lap Vince puts my feet on his. I continue doing homework for about ten minutes before Vince starts stroking my legs.
"What are you doing?"
"You have soft skin," he replies with a grin.
"Do you remember what happens if you try and rape me?" I question without looking up from my laptop.
"Easy Spicy I'm just stroking your leg, if you want me to stop just tell me to stop."
"Stop I need to concentrate on my homework," I tell him and he takes his hand away. "You don't have to stay you know you must be dying of boredom."
"I want to be here with you, I like watching you do just about anything," he grins.
"Which means you don't want to watch me do some things and yet homework is on the list of things you do want to watch me do?"
"Well I don't want to watch you go to the bathroom or kiss another guy," he says and I peek up from my laptop, "but watching you do homework I don't mind. You're cute when you're concentrating."
"I still think you learned how to sweet talk in juvie," I respond setting down my laptop and Vince grins.
"Does this mean it's sexy time?" He asks leaning forward to kiss me and I stop him by putting my foot in his crotch.
"No it means you're making it hard to concentrate and I'm taking a break," I reply.
"So what are we going to do on your break?" He asks.
"I'm getting a snack you can make out with the sofa," I reply getting up.
Vince follows me to the kitchen and we both get something to eat. I sit at the table instead of sitting back on the sofa.
"I think you should be my girlfriend and make us official. If you want to be of course," he says.
"You remember the rules?"
"Yeah if you catch me with drugs you'll turn me into the cops, if I try to rape you you'll castrate me and if I bruise you you'll…" Vince pauses trying to remember what I said. "You'll have Adam and Drew kill me?"
"Close enough. One last thing if I agree to be your girlfriend, and I haven't agreed to it yet, we're dating because we like each other not to make Drew angry and I don't want you to rub it in his face that we're dating or even tell him. I'll tell them," I insist.
"Whatever you want Spicy, so does this mean you're my girlfriend?"
"I'll be your girlfriend just remember the rules," I tell him.
"You want me to tattoo it on my arm?"
"No just remember them and know that I am not Bianca and if you try to pull any crap with me it will be the last stupid decision you ever make," I assert.
"That's why I like you Spicy you stand up to me," Vince smiles leaning over and giving me a gentle kiss.
"Now that we're dating will you go home so I can finish my homework?"
"Okay I'll leave as soon as I finish eating," he replies. "See you tomorrow Spicy Girlfriend," Vince smiles when he's done eating and steals a kiss from me. "Shall I pick you up tomorrow?" Vince inquires when I walk him to the door.
"I have student council tomorrow but maybe we can get together after," I reply.
"Okay call me after student council," he replies kissing me again.
I close the door and go back to doing my homework. Mom gets home just after I finish and I help her with dinner but don't say anything about Vince. When I get to school the next morning the Torres brothers are on the steps with Dallas and Alli.
"This better not be another lecture about me and Vince," I comment.
"I don't trust him and I don't want you around him," Drew states.
"It doesn't matter what you think Drew you're not the one dating him," I respond.
"You're dating now? Are you sure about this Clare it seems a little like trying to plant pictures on Asher's computer. Have you really thought this through?" Adam asks.
"Who the fuck is Asher?" Drew demands.
"I'll fill you in later," Dallas tells him.
"How do you know about Asher?" Alli questions her boyfriend.
"You going to fill her in too?" I ask Dallas and he scratches the back of his head with a sheepish look.
"Uh excuse us a second," Dallas replies pulling Alli away. We watch them a moment then Alli looks angry and slaps Dallas but he apologizes and they kiss.
"Clare Vince is going to hurt you," Drew says.
"If he does then I'll knee him and if he does it's not your problem Drew you were nothing but a rebound," I reply before walking inside.
(DREW)
"She said that to hurt you," Adam comments when Clare goes inside.
"Yeah I know and it worked. I never should have listened to Dallas or left Clare with Eli. I don't care what she says Vince is bad and he's going to hurt her," I remark as Adam and I go inside.
"I know but like I said you can't tell Clare anything," Adam replies.
"Yeah it's very annoying but I don't trust him and I'm going to keep an eye on her whether she likes it or not," I assert.
"Good luck with that," Adam replies patting my shoulder.
I go to my locker and then to class and Clare is at her desk. Dallas and Alli come in and Alli starts talking to Clare. I want to talk to Clare but I'm not sure she'll talk to me. It's not like we have the opportunity in class anyway and she's not in my second period class. I look for her at lunch but don't find her, after lunch however we have a spare and I find her with Adam.
"Clare Vince is playing you, he's not a good guy and he's going to hurt you it's all he's ever done," I tell her interrupting whatever conversation she was having with my brother.
"Is it just impossible for you to believe that people change?" Clare asks with her hand on her hip and an annoyed tone.
"Not everyone just Vince," I reply.
"When I stormed out of the dance with a broken heart that night I would have given anything to see you be this jealous. But now Drew it's just petty and it's not attractive," Clare snaps at me leaves quickly.
"You really should have told her how you feel at the hoe down," Adam admonishes me.
"Yeah I know and I'll be regretting not saying anything for a long time. Now who the hell is Asher and what pictures?" I ask my brother.
"Asher Shostak her co-op boss last year he assaulted her and she got fired because he told his boss she came onto him. So she very nearly planted naked pictures on his computer to make sure he was arrested."
"She really isn't innocent is she?"
"Nope and that's just the tip of the ice berg with her."
"Did you talk to her about Vince?"
"I don't want her with him but I already know telling her that is just going to piss her off. Unless or until he does something I'm staying out of it, all of it."
"I'm not going to let him hurt her, I'll make sure he doesn't."
The update will be Wednesday the 16th picking up probably after school and we might have some Vince pov.