Eli's eyes snapped away from the TV and over to the door when he heard someone ring the bell. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion and he glanced over at Adam's sleeping form. The bell ringing didn't seem to bother him since he was still sprawled over the edge of the couch with his lips partly open. Peeling himself from the couch Eli made his way over to the door. When he opened it he was pleasantly surprised to see Clare on the other side.

"Clare?" he asked and the red head forced a tiny smile.

"Hey Eli." She shifted uncomfortably on his doorstep and they stood there awkwardly. "Can I-um-come in?"

"Oh-Oh yeah." He said, mentally kicking himself for being such a loser. He couldn't help himself; he didn't expect to see St. Clare on his doorstep at midnight. "Is everything alright?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Something had to be up. She wouldn't just randomly show up at his house.

"Just fighting." She admitted, feeling like an idiot for showing up at his house. It had been a spur of the moment thing. All the yelling hadn't helped her get to sleep so she slipped out the window instead of sitting on the computer. The only house she could think of going to was Eli's… or Adam's. Eli's was closer though and he always listened to her whenever she wanted to talk. Adam listened as well but he was probably up late watching horror movies and wouldn't be able to hear the door over Drew's terrified screams. Eli nodded in understanding, wondering what would be the best way to comfort her.

"Is it getting any better?" he said, mentally kicking himself for asking something so stupid. How could fighting get any better? Clare shook her head.

"Worse."

"I'm sorry." Eli said before pulling her into a hug. She seemed to freeze at the sudden touch, not really expecting it. Eli froze as well, not knowing why he had started to hug her. Before he could drop his arms though, Clare wrapped her own arms around his waist. The two just stayed like that. He knew she was holding back tears and didn't want to cry in front of him, which is why he never pulled away.

Adam lifted himself from the couch with a major case of (adorable) bed head and a cheesy smile on his face as he noticed his two best friends hugging each other.

"Well aren't you two cute." He teased, making the two jump apart.

"He was there the whole time?" Clare exclaimed; her eyes wide with embarrassment and a blush coating her cheeks.

"I thought he was sleeping!" Eli said defensively.

Disclaimer:

I don't –sob- own Degrassi D:

Author's Notes:

I know it's short! Don't judge D:

I actually wanted this to be some long, mushy conversation between Eli and Clare that would lead into a long hug like that but I'm not very good with the mushy, romantic stuff D: Sorry!

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