Greetings fellow Degrassians! Anyone else excited for the season finale at the end of the month? I know i am! Ok so this chapter is a bit longer than the past ones. I promise that the chapters will be longer from now on. I wasn't going to update today but i felt the need to since its almost the end of the year and i don't have any homework. Is my fanfiction good? Because to me, it feels like no one really cares and I'm writing this for no one. Will someone please review!? And can someone PLEASE recommend me to others so i can get more views. I will love you 5-ever if you do. Well enough chit-chat. Enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I in no way whatsoever claim Degrassi as my own. (Maybe)

ChapterFive

Im all out of faith, this is how I feel
Im cold and I am shamed lying broken on the floor
Illusion never changed into something real
Im wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn
Youre a little late, Im already torn

Eli's P.O.V

I was angry that my mother would interrupt something like this. I've been in love with Clare since the day I laid eyes on her and this was finally the day I've been waiting for, but my mother had to come in and destroy the one chance I had.

WHY?! Why? Why? Why? Is all I could think of. I gave my mother a dirty stare that if looks could kill, she would be melted by now.

"Don't look at me that way. Thee knows why I had to do that." She snapped as if reading my mind.

"Why? Thou knows how much I like Clare. Thee ruined the moment!" I retorted with a whisper. Her face softened and I sensed some sympathy in her expression.

"Eli, honey, I'm worried about thee. Thou knows that a princess must wed royalty. Even if she does feel the same way about thou, she cannot be with thee. And methinks that she's starting to get feelings for thee, which concerns me even more because I just do not want to see thou hurt." My mother's eyes began to water and soon enough a tear slipped down her cheek before she quickly wiped it away.

I felt terrible for talking to her the way that I did. All she wanted was for me to be happy and not see me heartbroken. I walk over and give her a tight hug.

"I love thee. But I need to fight my own fights. Thank thou for caring but I need to do this myself." I whisper into my mother's ear. I gave her one last tight squeeze and a warm smile before heading out the door in search of Clare.

Clare's P.O.V

That was so embarrassing. What was I thinking? Does Eli even like me that way? Do I even like him that way? Ugh! I can't like him because my mother expects me to marry a prince from a far away land. What do I do?

I was wandering around the garden. I strolled through the mazes; searching for an answer.

"Miss Clare? Miss Clare! Where art thou?" I heard a distant voice call my name. It came from an older lady. Nurse Marie.

"I'm over here, Nurse." I respond. I hear the rustling of feet.

"Miss Clare thy mother is looking for thou. She's in the main hall." The nurse said out of breath. I made my way to the castle, mentally preparing myself for the following conversation. We rarely talk and when we do, it's always something I don't look forward to.

I found her sitting on her throne and admiring it.

"Mother? Thou wanted to talketh to me?" I asked getting closer to her and the throne.

"Clare, darling, where have thou been all morning? I needeth to speak with thee." She said. Before I could reply, she began to speak again.

"I have exciting news! With thy birthday coming up next week, thee will finally be old enough to marry a suitor and take over the kingdom!" My mother cheered excitedly.

"WHAT?!" I responded in shock. I knew that I would soon enough have to be forced into marriage but I never would have guessed that it would happen next week!

"Why mother? I'm too young to get married and to rule an entire kingdom. Why can't Jake be the next king? Isn't it his father's kingdom? Why is it my responsibility?" I ask demanding answers.

"Clare, honey, calm down. When I married Randall, I was fourteen. I think it's fair that you wed at sixteen. And Jacob isn't taking over the kingdom because… because he doesn't want to take over." My mother finished with a softer voice.

What? Jake doesn't want to be king? And his father is alright with that?!

"Then why am I being forced to get married and rule the kingdom?!" I yell in an irritated voice.

"Clare, don't raise thy voice at me! Thou will do as I say because I am thy mother."

"It's not fair! How come I am forced into this and Jake gets off the hook so easily?!"

"Thee is a princess. And a princess has to fulfill her duties. It's thy responsibility. Jake isn't my son and I can't tell him what to do, but since Glenn gave him the freedom to choose, which isn't right to me, I need thee to be the responsible one of the family. We are counting on thou. Besides, I believe thou art the better one for the job. Thou art smart and a good leader. It's thy responsibility, Clare." I let out a frustrated laugh. I cannot believe she has the nerve to say this to me right now. Anger began to boil inside of me. I was going to explode soon. At this point, I knew that I was going to say something I would later regret but right now, I didn't care.

"Mother! I never wanted to be a princess! No one ever asked ME if I wanted to be royalty! I saw what wealth did to Darcy. She abandoned our family and took off with a rich landlord and she never looked back. She became snotty and too good for her family that loved her so much. I was only five or six when it all happened; Daddy's passing, Darcy's departure, the marriage. But I understood EVERYTHING! People thought I was just a naïve little girl whose only wish was to be a little princess and live in the big castle. Everyone was wrong, including thou. I did NOT want to become a stuck-up rich child that everybody hated. Somehow I've succeeded at not letting all of this go to my head, unlike thee." I said in a very harsh tone. I saw the hurt in my mother's eyes but I decided to continue.

"And now I'm being forced to rule a huge kingdom which technically isn't even ours. It's our step-family's kingdom. I don't want to be forced into marriage with some stuck- up prince that I don't know, let alone love. Thou got to marry, BOTH times if I might add, because thou were in love, while I don't even have the option of falling in love once. Thee once told me that I was ALWAYS going to be the most important person in thy life. That all thou wanted was to see thy little girl happy." I began to sob and tear after tear spilled onto my hot red cheeks.

"I would have never thought that the same person that I looked up to so much and admired became the person that would completely destroy my life." I tried to fight back the salty droplets of water as much as I could to show to my mother that I will not crumble under her tyranny. She seemed to be doing the same thing, but all that proved to me is that she was a cold- hearted woman who only cared about herself and her husband.

"What if I fall in love with someone else? Maybe a peasant. Then what? I am denied of my freedom as a person just because I need to fulfill duties that weren't originally meant for me anyways! I wasn't born royalty, so why should I apply to the same rules? I would much rather, be a poor peasant than be what I am now; a princess whose heartless mother is FORCING her into marriage while she might actually have a chance to be happy." I finish with a soft but stern tone and storm off without even letting her get a word in. I need to escape to a peaceful environment. And I know just the place.

Eli's P.O.V

Where could she be?

I walk back to the garden. I wander over to the bench we sat at earlier and I see a small, fragile figure kneeling on the floor. She was bent over the bench and her head was resting on her crossed arms, her face buried in between her arms. She appeared to be crying. Wait a minute….

"Clare?" I ask the frail figure before me. She looks up at me and her eyes are red and swollen. One glance at her makes my heart break. Oh god. Why on earth did I come seeking for Clare? I should probably stay away from her as much as possible. I know I'm going to end up hurt and broken again. Something drags me back to Clare, though. She's different than….

"Clare what's the matter. Why art thou crying?" I sat down beside her and took hold of her hands even though my mind scolded me for doing so. I felt sadness that this angel sent from heaven was suffering. I also felt anger towards whoever caused her this awful heartache. Clare looked down at our linked hands and smiled. My heart fluttered with joy. But as she looked up to me, her smile faded away and another tear slithered down her pale, angelic face. I, as if by impulse, wiped the tear with my thumb and held her face in my hand.

"Tell me, what's wrong, Blue Eyes?" I whisper huskily and I feel her shiver against my hand. I retreat it and place it back on her shaking hands. She takes in a shaky breath and stares me straight into my emerald eyes as I stare into her ocean blue ones.

"I went to talk to my mother. And she told me that I was the next one in line for the throne." Clare's voice cracked.

"Aaaaand that's bad because…." I said not finding the downside to ruling an entire kingdom all by yourself without any help whatsoever. Oh….

"Because I never wanted to be part of the high social life, but I didn't say a word for the sake of my mother's happiness. And now…" She sighed. "…and now I'm lucky enough to rule the kingdom and marry some arrogant prince. Hurray." She said sarcastically which made me smile.

"Clare, I would be more than happy to take thy place. I've always wanted to be a princess and marry a very handsome and rich prince!" I said in a high pitch voice, mocking the beauty sitting before me.

I noticed a small hint of a blush forming on her face. I smirked, making her blush a darker shade of crimson. She pushed me softly.

"Eli!" She whined, which I thought was adorable.

"Well when thou put it that way, I sound like an ungrateful brat. But it's true, I would much rather be poor and marry the love of my life…" Clare took a glimpse of me before blushing and turning back to our connected hands.

Wait. Does she…like me? Did she just imply that I was the love of her life?

I stared at Clare with a confused expression, waiting for her to continue.

"Ugh…Eli. Why do things have to be so…so…so complicated?" She finally let out the breath I presume she was holding in.

I so badly wanted to just kiss her and confess my love for her. I wanted to tell her to run away with me. We could live happily ever after in each other's arms and create a family together and live a simple and joyful life.

Eli knock it off! Pull thyself together! Thou know that life is impossible, so get away. Get far away as fast as possible!

I sigh and close my eyes shut to block out the voices in my head. When I open my eyes I see Clare looking up at me and straightening her posture. With a glint of hope in her eyes, she leans closer to me as if she's going to…

Noooo! Yessss! She's going to kiss me! Clare Martin is leaning in closer! No Eli stop! Thou will regret it later!

The voices in my head are arguing. My conscience against my desire. Apparently, my desire is winning because I'm leaning in as well. Clare closed her eyes.

What am I doing? This isn't right.

I cleared my throat and tilted back to my original position. I felt terrible for leading her on like that, but I know she'll thank me later.

Clare's P.O.V

I felt hurt that Eli didn't want to kiss me. Do I have bad breath? Is there something in my teeth? Or is he just not interested in me at all? I sighed in frustration and tried not to look broken or disappointed.

"What just happened?" I asked Eli. My voice cracked as I spoke.

Damn it. I'm trying not to sound so innocent and fragile.

Eli sighed.

"I um...I have to go." He said looking at me straight in the eye before he stood up and left. I could have sworn I caught a look of longing and regret but I dismiss it because at the moment, I am broken.

The one person that I thought could never hurt me, proved me wrong and left me alone to dwell on my own confused thoughts. I scared away the one possible normal friend I could have had. All because of my little crush.

Ok so i would be SO grateful if you guys and gals would review and follow my story. I would love you. BTW i think i know where i'm going with this story. I'm not just writing this to fill pages, all of these little details have a meaning later in the story so PLEASE tell your friends of my awesome story *wink* and I will give you a shout out. i'm going into summer vacation next week, so I'll have more time to write. Yay! I'll update more often. BYE! Love ya'll 3