Hi guys! Sorry it's been a while since I updated but here's the next chapter. Hope you like it and please review! I want to know if you love it, like it, hate it, or just put down an input. And again feel free to make any suggestions.

Disclaimer: I wish I owned Degrassi, but I don't.

Chapter 5

As I made my way to school the next morning, butterflies filled my stomach thinking about the previous night. A mixture of emotions filled me as memories flooded my head. I had already made a plan to avoid Eli as much as possible. I wouldn't let myself get lured into his web of lies, believing anything he says anymore. I made a vow that I won't let him manipulate me again. There was absolutely nothing he can say or do that would make what he did last night ok.

All of those thoughts left my mind when I saw the one boy that lingered throughout my dreams. He stood at the steps of Degrassi talking to Sav, and his face beamed when he saw me. I was about to approach him when Alli came rushing to my side.

"So I heard you had a pretty rough night," she hinted that she already knew all the details and that she was a little upset I hadn't called her.

"How'd you know?" I asked, curious to know how she found out, since I didn't call her, and she wasn't there to witness the monstrosity.

"Adam told me," she replied.

"Oh," I simply said. Of course Adam would be one the one to tell Alli; he tells her everything now days. Ever since he has became more distant toward Eli and hanging out with me more, him and Alli have gotten closer as well.

"Well, how are you felling?"

"Could be better. But you know….there's probably more to the story than what Adam told you," I said walking off to go into the school.

"Wait what?" she ran to catch up with me at the front entrance. "Spill!" she demanded and so I did. I told Alli all about my car ride with Jake and how we have a past together, as we walked to my locker. She kept squealing like a mouse non stop throughout the whole story. She mentioned how we would look so cute as a couple and a bunch of other mumbo gumbo. She even agreed to go to Jake's band's gig with me tonight despite the fact that Drew was also in the band. She said she could get Sav to take us too.

Soon enough it was homeroom and within a blink of an eye the school day was over.

Nothing extraordinary happened away from the normal. All my classes contained lectures and power point presentations which explained the course curriculum and basically everything we would be doing during the upcoming year.

In English, Jake and I past notes to one another that weren't really about anything, but an excuse to talk, I guess. When lunch came around, Alli kept staring at me and Jake with a grin of excitement displayed on her face. I had to constantly throw my grapes at her, so she would stop staring.

After that, the rest of my day was a breeze. Once the last bell of the day rang, I met up with Alli and we walked to her house to get ready for the gig. Jake told us they don't go on until 7 so we took our time getting dressed at Alli's. We got ready like any other teenaged girls would. We did each other's hair and make up; Alli curled my hair for me and I straightened Alli's for her. She wore a black pencil skirt with a gold sequin shirt topped off with black stilettos and golden jewelry. I wore a back laced dress with 5in white wedges, and silver jewelry to match. I had to admit we both looked amazing.

Near 6:30 we decided to leave, and just as Alli said, Sav swung by to pick us up and bring us to the restaurant. As we arrived, the place was more crowded than the other night. Signs all around were advertising their famous karaoke night featuring Sav Bhandari, Drew Torres, and Jake Martin.

We went in line and easily got a table for the two of us.

"Wow, this place is incredible, Clare!" Alli exclaimed while we sat down. It truly was, and it felt so much better being here with Alli than Eli and last night's fiasco. The whole place seemed to have transformed over night, as it was full of multicolored neon lights. There was an eccentric vibe and the place could have simply been mistaken for a club. Music blasted through the speakers making the building jump to the beat. Teens and college students filled the dance floor, moving to the rhythm of the song, waiting for the karaoke competition to begin.

A waitress came by our table and we ordered a soda each, an appetizer, and our meals. The clock struck 7, and the music stopped, as it was replaced by chatter. The DJ announced, "Alright everyone its time to start the competition and introduce our karaoke band!" Everyone cheered excitedly. "Welcome to the stage, Sav Bhandari, Drew Torres, and Jake Martin!" the DJ shouted and the cheers grew louder as each of them walked out onto the stage. They took their positions, getting ready to play. As they did, Jake caught my eye and immediately lit up.

"So who is going to be the first victim of the night?" the DJ questioned and copious hands shot up to the ceiling and people jumped up and down trying to get the DJ's attention. He picked a small petite girl near the front of the dance floor, who wore a pink dress and looked like she was my age. She walked up to the stage as the DJ asked, "So what song do you want to sing hun?"

"Mine by Taylor Swift," she replied and the band began to play. The girl had the softest voice I ever heard. To be honest, her performance was going to be hard to beat. Then people after people went up to sing their song choice. Just as Alli and I were finishing dinner, about an hour later, the DJ finally announced, "Ok so we are going to take a break from the competition and give these guys a little rest." The crowed booed, but the DJ then put on some music to fill the emptiness.

Sav, Jake, and Drew set down their instruments and made their way to sit with us at our table. After helping tutor Drew for the standardized test last year, Alli seemed to be on better terms with him; she didn't hate him as much.

"Hey! I'm glad you came! Wow you look fantastic!" Jake cried out as he pulled up a chair.

"I wouldn't have missed it and thanks," I told him honestly and blushing at his compliment.

As the waitress came back to collect our plates, the guys ordered something for themselves. We made small talk as they ate their meals before they would have to retreat back to the stage. Just when they were finishing up, Alli gasped and I looked at her confused.

"Don't look now, but Eli just walked in with Imogen," she whispered in my ear. Once she said that, I couldn't help but turn to see for myself. 'Just perfect' I thought. I spun back around in my seat and tried to forget that he walked in, which was hard to do considering he was seated only a couple tables away. I did my best to pretend that I never saw him.

Soon the bill came and we all pitched in to pay for it. Then the DJ spoke up, "Alright so if I can get our band members back on the stage, so we can finish up this competition that would be great."

Sav, Drew, and Jake steadily got up to headed back. Before Jake left, I grabbed his arm and told him to break a leg. He smiled down at me and planted a chaste kiss on my cheek that left a burning, tingling sensation as heat flowed through both my cheeks causing them to turn a deep pink.

The competition began once again and Alli and I decided to head over to the dance floor. As we left our table we past by Eli's, who grasped my attention when he said, "Hey Clare, I see you got yourself a real catch there." Sarcasm dripped from his voice, as he chuckled to himself.

Instead of replying to his immature comment, I ignored it and kept walking, although I felt his narrowed eyes staring on my back. I could tell he was secretly jealous; he always seemed to use sarcasm to cover his true feelings. And my appearance most likely didn't help.

We saw Connor, Dave, Sadie, Wesley, and Jenna dancing together, so Alli and I decided to join them. I was having a great time with all my friends. Before I knew it, it was almost 11 and the competition was over. The DJ was proud to announce that the winner was the first girl to have sung.

Alli and I went to go meet the guys, but Sav told us to meet them at the backstage door outside the restaurant. Assuming they were going to be a while packing their things, we took our time walking over there.

As we strolled near the little ally where the door was, there was circle of people hovering around cheering. It sounded like there was going to be a fight. Alli and I squeezed our way through the people to get in the front and sure enough there was definitely going to be a fight.

"Look, you really don't want to get into a fight with me," Jake calmly said to Eli, who stood there angrily, ready to attack.

"Oh and why is that?" he challenged.

"Because I'll crush you, along with your dignity. I mean, that is if you still have any left," Jake looked up and saw me staring at them shocked. I glanced at Alli who was just as shocked as I was. But Jake knew I wouldn't approve of them fighting. I would never want Jake to go back to his old ways.

Sorrow crossed his face as Eli tackled him to the ground. Eli threw punches, but only received failed attempts in return. Missing Jake, his fists pounded the cement underneath them. Jake didn't throw one punch and tried to avoid hurting Eli. Jake could easily break the bones in Eli's body based on his muscular body and the training he learned at school.

I could tell Jake didn't want to return to his past and truly changed since then. Jake let Eli ware himself down until he couldn't throw another punch. Breaking no sweat, Jake recoiled off the ground away from Eli.

He walked toward me and Alli grabbing our arms to pull us away from the scene with Sav and Drew following. Eli was left on the ground with only Imogen to comfort him.

When we reached a spot that was clear of other people, Jake turned to me and spoke, "Look, Clare, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for any of that to happen." He apologized, even though it wasn't his apology to be said.

"Jake, it's not your fault. Eli's a messed up person who has his own issues to deal with. You did the right thing by not fight back," I told him sincerely and he seemed to have calmed down a little. "So what happened exactly anyway," I asked.

"Eli came over and threatened Jake to stay away from you, however Jake didn't buy it. Then Eli's anger just built up and well, you know how he is," Sav informed me.

"I'm sorry, Jake, you didn't deserve that," I said. I felt bad dragging Jake into my problems. I didn't want him to get in trouble after being back for only a couple weeks.

"Its fine," he assured me, "but do you need a ride home? I could drive you?" I looked at Alli to make sure it would be ok if I left her.

"Go! Sav will drive me home," she said and practically pushed me into Jake.

"Of course I will," Sav muttered under his breath which caused me to slightly laugh.

"Well I'm going to go. I'll see you guys at practice tomorrow," Drew said as he left to his own car.

"Bye," we all chimed together as we parted our separate ways. But before we left, Alli whispered in my ear, "I better get a call, when you get home." I laughed then nodded and waved goodbye to her.

"This way," Jake pointed me to the right direction toward his car.

"Are you sure you're not mad at me?" Jake asked as he started driving to my house.

"Of course not!" I reassured him, "I'm surprised you're not mad at me for dragging you into all of this," I looked down at my hands evading eye contact.

"I could never be mad at you, Clare. And plus I want to be dragged into it," he said.

"You do?" I asked not believing him.

"Well, yeah, I mean how else would I be able to protect you?" I smiled. He always knew what to say.

"But you'd be risking so much. You just got out of military school," I argued. I couldn't let himself do this for me.

"Clare," he sighed, "I'd risk anything for you." I looked up at him as we parked in front of my house. He turned to me with sympathy in his eyes. He was telling the truth.

I looked back down at my hands, "But…" I started as he cut me off by placing his hands on my face making me turn my head, and closing the gap between us with a deep compassionate kiss.

As we broke apart, still only inches from my face, he whispered, "I have wanted to do that for a long time now."

"I'm glad you did," I whispered in return and kissed him again.