Hi it's me again! Here's the next chapter! Hope you like it and let me know what you think, so I know if I'm heading in a good direction with this story. And feel free to pitch any ideas! Thanks guys!

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi.

Chapter 4:

"Jake…" I choked out.

"Clare? Are you ok?" he asked concerned.

"Yea…no…I don't know," more tears started to flow down my face and Jake wrapped his arms around me. His hug was so comforting after that whole night; it was what I needed even if I didn't know it at the time. I felt Eli's stare burning holes in the back of my head, but I couldn't care less.

What he did to me tonight made me see the person he truly is. I don't think I could ever face him again.

I don't know how long we were standing there, but it felt so good to be in Jake's arms; held by someone who cared.

"What are you even doing here?" I sniffled and looked up at him.

"I have a gig here tomorrow night, so I just came by to drop some of my stuff off," he explained and smiled down at me, "Looks like it was a good idea, huh?" he added.

"Yea, I guess so," I agreed.

"Here, let me put my guitar inside and I'll drive you home," he was such a genuine guy.

"Sure, that sounds great," I responded.

Jake walked into a backstage door and I followed not wanting Eli to confront me. He quickly placed his guitar next to a drum set and took my hand to lead me to his car.

Not far from the restaurant was his silver Jeep wrangler in what seemed to be perfect condition. He opened the passenger side door for me and I hopped in. He swiftly closed the door and walked around the car, getting into the driver's seat.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but just so you know, I'll always listen," he told me as he started the car. I thought about it and decided to tell him.

"No, its ok I want to tell you," I said and he looked slightly happy that I was willing to open up to him. I didn't know what came over me, telling all my problems to a boy I just met, but I couldn't help but feel safe and comfortable around him. Something about him was so familiar, like I knew him for a while. Everything from his appearance to his personality reminded me of someone I once knew, yet I couldn't put my finger on it.

I told him everything from the day Eli and I met to what just happened not too long ago. I must have been talking for a while, before I noticed we were parked in front of my house. Then I realized, I never told him where I lived.

"Hey how did you know where I live?" I asked him curiously.

"Huh? Oh…" he sighed, "Come on, Clare, how long will it take for you to recognize me?"

"What?" I gave him a confused look that signaled for him to keep going.

"Think back to about 5th grade, where there was a young scrawny little boy, who used to get into trouble all the time. You would talk to him and comfort him; letting him know he wasn't all alone in the world. That is, until he left for military school," he explained, bringing me back to a time in my life that had felt like a lifetime ago.

Realization and recognition grew on my face, "Jacob?"

"Yes, Clare. Glad you remember," he said with a hint of sarcasm. Everything seemed to make so much sense now, how there was something oddly familiar about him.

"Wow you changed so much! But in a good way! I can't believe it's you! I've missed you!" I leaned to hug him.

Jacob's dad and mine were friends through their work. We've met on a couple occasions and holidays, but were never really close until the 4th grade. The two of us had Mrs. Leavenson as our teacher, and we both didn't have any other friends in the class. We became very close that year, and everything was perfect. Then a tragedy struck, when Jacob's mother past away due to and illness. He didn't take it too well. Before anyone knew it, he was a wreak, who started dealing with her death in terrible ways. Jacob started to pick fights and bully other kids; he was sent to the principal's office numerous times.

In 5th grade, he was slowly overcoming his mother's death, but still held onto his bullying habits. It was dreadful watching him go through all that pain and suffering. I tried to help him as much as possible.

That's when his dad had enough of his awful behavior and sent him to a military boarding school in the U.S. His dad didn't want him to go, but it was the only way to get him the discipline and help he desperately needed. It was heartbreaking watching him leave, but now he's back and I couldn't be more ecstatic.

"Well I would certainly hope I look different with all that training they had us go through," he teased.

"And that would explain why I didn't recognize you right away."

"Hey, let's be honest now, you would have never realized it was me if I didn't say anything," he joked and I became aware of how much I missed his humor.

I laughed, "Ok probably not," I admitted as he chimed in with my laughter. "Well now that I already told you all about me, anything interesting happen at military school?"

"Nah, it was an all boys school, so no girls to create all that drama. I mean there were some local girls my friends and I would meet out on the weekends, but nothing serious. There isn't really a lot to say; its military school, you can't get away with much there," he said.

"Sounds a lot less complicated than life at Degrassi…" I told him.

"Looks like I'll find out."

"Yeah, so anyway, what about the guitar? How did you learn to play? Because I definitely don't remember you playing before." I asked him fascinated.

"Right, I learned that at school. One of my friends taught me cause he thought it would be cool to start a band, but that didn't work out too well," he informed me.

"Oh and the gig? Is that for your band or something?" I questioned.

"No, actually, when I came back home a couple weeks before school started, I noticed flyers up around town for a band that was looking for people to audition so I did and they accepted me."

"Aw, well congrats! Who's in the band? Anyone from Degrassi?" I asked.

"Yeah, you might know them as a matter of fact. Sav plays the bass, and Drew plays the drums, and we don't have a singer. That's why we're the band for karaoke night at Expo Karaoke," he stated.

"Oh really? That's interesting. Drew and Sav, who would've thought." I whispered to myself just as my phone rang. I looked down and saw it was my mom, probably trying to find out where I was. Instead of answering it I just let it go to voice mail seeing that I was right in front of the house.

"I have to go; my mom was just calling me, but I'll see you at school tomorrow then?" I was upset that we had to end our conversation, but then remembered that we could just pick up tomorrow. I was so excited that he would be back in school with me again. I couldn't get used to the feeling of knowing he would be sitting beside me in English and Lunch everyday.

"Yup!" he chirped.

"And maybe if you're lucky, I'll come see you play tomorrow night too," I added while unbuckling my seat belt and sliding out of the car.

"I'll be praying that you do," he brought a smile to my face when he said those last few words. I waved goodbye as he did the same, and walked into my house with the goofiest grin imaginable on my face.

Out of the window I watched him drive away, and my mom came up next to me.

"Where have you been young lady? It is a school night and it's almost 10'oclock!" she scolded, however I wasn't going to let her ruin my good mode.

"Mom guess who's back!" I demanded enthusiastically.

"Who?" she sighed and crossed her arms knowing where this was going.

"Jacob!" I squealed.

"Really? He's back from military school? You know I've always liked him," she winked at me knowing that the reason for my late arrival was because of him. She continued, "I'll let you slide this time, but don't let it happen again. Now get to bed," she ordered me and I did as I told, knowing that the sooner I went to sleep, the faster I would be able to see Jake yet again.

It was a long day, although tomorrow couldn't come fast enough…