Chapter Six

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi, A Walk to Remember, Romeo and Juliet, or Your Guardian Angel by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Great song)

Clare was being silent towards him. Who's to say he didn't deserve it, but still, no one ignored Eli Goldsworthy. He sighed heavily as she silently walked through the door he held for her as they entered the school to begin another tutoring session. Why the hell did it bother him this much?

Eli shook his head, relieving his mind of any thoughts of anything and pulled out his guitar and began strumming the beat to Your Guardian Angel by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. He stopped strumming when Wesley hesitantly sat in front of him. He didn't exactly forgive Eli for humiliating him at their first encounter, but he was surprised that Eli had actually took it upon himself to bring his own guitar.

"You're really good," Wesley commented.

Eli settled his guitar in his lap and smirked. "One of my many talents."

When Wesley didn't say anything, Eli continued, "So why do you want to learn anyway? I don't really take you for the musical type."

Wesley blushed furiously. Eli grinned, "A girl? Enough said."

"Anya. She wouldn't notice me otherwise," Wesley said.

"When I'm done with you, she won't be the only girl to notice you."

Wesley grinned.

The session went by fairly smoothly with little embarrassment and surprisingly lots of laughter. So much so that Eli didn't even notice Clare softly smiling at their interaction.

The following week had been hell for Eli. He worked his ass off to get those lines memorized and the moves mastered. He even stayed late at rehearsals to get a better feel of the stage and studied his lines well into the night. However, no matter what he did or said, Clare refused to talk to him other than to do the play. They still seemed to have amazing chemistry, but the minute rehearsals were over, Clare ignored him like he had done to her since the first grade.

The day before opening night, Eli lay in his bed just thinking. Strangely enough, most of his thoughts seemed to move back to Clare. He really needed to forget about her. Clearly, she's done the same. His breathing picked up when he remembered how close he was to almost kissing those pink, full lips. He smiled to himself in anticipation just thinking about kissing Clare in the play. And no one could say anything because it was part of the play. Yeah, that was it.

He sat up when he remembered Clare talking about Dave that time on the bus. His conscious got the best of him and before he knew it, Eli was standing sheepishly in a hospital room doorway where Dave was lying in bed watching music videos.

Dave noticed Eli's presence and an immediate frown appeared on his face.

"Hey," Eli stuffed his hands in his pockets. He motioned to the TV. "Good song."

Eli stepped into the room and stood awkwardly by the side of Dave's bed.

"You need something?" Dave asked harshly.

"Just wanted to see how you were doing." Eli said sheepishly.

Dave motioned to the IV still attached to his arm and the cast around his leg. "I'm doing great."

Eli sighed, "I came to say I'm sorry."

"You did. Feel better now?"

Eli scowled to himself, "No."

"You know, I actually wanted to be your friend. Now I don't even know why I wanted that."

After a few moments of silence, Eli sat down and said, "I made that jump once. I thought I was a bad ass. I remember actually saying 'I meant to belly flop.'"

Dave turned to look at him, the frown slowly disappearing. "Did it hurt?"

"Like hell."

"Good."

Eli was about to curse himself for coming when he saw the smirk across Dave's face which elicited Eli's own smirk. The understanding between the two boys was mutual.

It was the opening night of the play and half the school came to see Elijah Goldsworthy either fail or see him in tights. Luckily, Eli was able to convince Ms. Dawes that his tightest pair of skinny jeans would suffice instead of actually wearing tights. Not only was half the school there, but so was half the town, and as promised, Adam was sitting in the front row already asleep. Jenna was sitting a couple of rows back snapping pictures of the entire production. His mother was front row centre, beaming, proud of her baby boy.

Eli wasn't nervous at all. That is until he saw Clare. He inhaled sharply trying to catch his breath as she removed her long jacket to show a beautiful white gown. Her hair was done in loose curls and she looked innocent and pure, everything that Juliet symbolized. Eli just about forgot all his lines then and there, and the play hadn't even started yet.

Several minutes into the first act, the highly anticipated kissing scene where Juliet and Romeo meet for the first time was slowly approaching.

Eli, as Romeo, approached his Juliet from behind and whispered his lines into her ear. The blush on Clare's face was evident, but she had managed to stay in character. She turned in his arms as Eli held her hands the way he did while practising at Clare's house. He looked deep into her eyes and said his lines as his heart beat erratically at what was next to come, "Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take."

His heart was beating so rapidly, he was sure she must have heard it. He lowered his head to kiss her, and it seemed as if the audience was holding their breath as well. Suddenly, Clare moved her head so Eli could only get her cheek as she placed a small peck on the corner of his jaw. He looked at her confused for a moment, but it was evident that the scene must go on. Disappointment sounded from Ms. Dawes and some muttering erupted from the audience, but Eli took her hint and continued on. "Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."

As soon as the scene ended, Declan and Ms. Dawes voiced their opinions about what happened. Clare just shrugged and continued to prepare herself for the next scene. Eli exhaled frustrated. Throughout that entire scene, Romeo had the opportunity to kiss Juliet at least twice, and Eli had failed to do so. His chance – excuse – to kiss Clare was up.

Other than the anti-climax of the kiss, the play went on without a hitch. The chemistry between Eli and Clare was indescribable, so Ms. Dawes was willing to not reprimand them for the lack of physical contact.

However, that was not Eli's plan.

The last scene was progressing, and Eli laid himself beside Clare in their prop tomb. Clare was meant to be dead to the world, so it's not like Clare could stop him . . .

Eli withdrew a vial of kool-aid, meant to be a poison, from his pocket and wrapped up his final speech, "Here's to my love!"

He drank the sweet tasting juice and lifted Clare's head into his arms. "O true apothecary. Thy drugs are quick. Thus, with a kiss, I die."

Diverting from the script, Eli leaned down and pressed his lips against Clare's in a tender kiss. Not only was this kiss surprising to the cast members and Clare, but Eli was also surprised when Clare subtly kissed him back. He felt like a boulder had been lifted from him and kissed her longer than necessary. He finally released her and feigned his death.

As the scene played out until the end of the play, no one noticed the small grin plastered on Eli's face.