Hi! Sooooo I lied. :? SORRY! Don't kill me 'cuz i love you all. I know it should have been up like two weeks ago but being a sophomore is not as easy as people think it is. For example i should be doing my history homework but here I am updating this story. I want to thank all of the readers and the reviewers. I love that all of you are enjoying my fanfiction. I love to write and to have positive feedback is the best! :D I also want to thank my faithful reader and reviewer degrassipoison. Hon, you make my day with your posts!

So I might change the rating because of the topic discussed in this chapter. So yeah.

I hope you guys enjoy this chapter (:

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi or the song Brick by Boring Brick by Paramore. I wish i did though :/ Although i really recommend you to listen to this song because it describes this story perfectly :D

ChapterTen

So one day he found her crying

Coiled up on the dirty ground

Her prince finally came to save her

And the rest you can figure out

Clare's P.O.V.

Eli just looked at me with a blank expression. Did he hear me?

"Eli?" I asked anxiously as I took a step towards him. He took a step back.

"Clare, I…." he drifted off, looking away from me.

"I can't take you to the village with me." Eli answered still not making eye contact with me. I felt tears well up in my eyes. It's such a terrible feeling to be rejected. But soon, the sadness was replaced with anger.

"It wasn't a question, Eli. I'm telling you to take me to the village!" I spat out fiercely.

I took in a big breath and exhaled. "Just give me a reason as to why you don't want to take me." If he wasn't going to take me, I, at least want to know why.

"Clare, I want to take you to see the marketplace, and all the shops, and the school, but I just….can't." He released the breath that he must have been holding in. He kept looking at his feet as if to find some sort of explanation in them.

"Eli, look at me." I put a finger under his chin and lifted his head so we were looking into each other's eyes.

"Why?" I whisper softly. I spotted regret in those beautiful emerald eyes of his. He simply shook his head before walking away and climbing down the balcony the same way he came up.

I just stood there in shock, not knowing what to do.

Eli's P.O.V

As I walked away from Clare, I noticed the pain and the anger in her eyes. I hated being the reason for her pain and anger. I really do want to take her to my home and show her all the wonders I have discovered and kept a secret. I want to share my secrets and happiness with her, but I also want to ensure her safety and well-being and if I take her to the village, I would be putting her at risk.

I know the type of people that scour the streets. And there's a specific group who is the most dangerous of all. The Rats, as we call them, crawl in the shadows of the village. All they do is take. They take advantage of the weak maidens that travel all alone. But the worst part is that they are never seen. Those who see the rats, never come to see the daylight ever again.

If Clare is spotted, I can already imagine what they would do to her. That is not fair for a beautiful princess like her. She is fragile like a flower that fell from heaven. She wouldn't stand a chance here.

Clare's P.O.V

That's it! I've had it! I'm done with just sitting around and waiting for some miracle to happen. It's time to take things into my own hands.

And with that said I put on the simplest dress I own and it's also my favorite one: the green one. I took my brown cape, put it on my shoulders, and pulled the hood over my head. I took one last look at my reflection in the mirror before heading out of my bedroom.

Everyone was probably asleep by now so I tip-toed down the stairs. I noticed two guards at the front doors so I walked the opposite direction, into the kitchen and exited through the back door.

"Now, how am I going to get through this brick wall?!" I asked myself as I stared at it. It's like twice my height! I look to my left and I look to my right, searching for something that might help me.

"Need a hand?" I was startled by a voice behind me and I instantly knew I was busted. Well at least I tried. When I turned around, I saw a boy with light blue eyes and female-like features. He looked familiar.

"Phew. It's you. Adam, I'm so glad to see you." I sighed with relief and ran over to give him a hug. "What are you doing here?" I whispered to him.

"Well, you said that I was welcome whenever just to hang out. So I came." Adam said simply with a smirk and a shrug of his shoulders. I nodded but then confusion overcame me.

"How did you get past the guards?"

Adam laughed "When you're poor and you come from a place like the village, you learn a few things." He said vaguely.

"So do you need some help or not?" I nodded. Adam joined his hands and I placed my foot in between them. He gave me a boost and I stood on his shoulders as I reached for the top of the wall.

"Could you hurry up? You aren't the lightest person, you know." He said between clenched teeth. I scoffed.

"Uh are you calling me fat?" I asked, disbelief dripping from my tone.

"No but I'm not calling you super skinny either." He whispered fiercely. And I rolled my eyes. When I finally reached the top, I pulled myself up. Then, I turned around and pulled Adam up as well. He was actually lighter than I expected. We jumped off of the wall and onto the ground. I felt a weight off my shoulders and I took a step forward, away from the brick wall. I took in a deep breath and I stared off into the horizon, wondering about all the adventures that await me.

"You are probably the rudest person I've ever met. You don't bow down to me, you are disrespectful, you are extremely honest, and you treat me like a commoner." I turn around to face him with a huge grin on my face. "I really appreciate it, Adam." He seemed surprised at my response.

"You're welcome?" Confusion was etched across his face but he just shook it off. "So, where you headed?"

"I don't know. I guess where ever you are." I added.

"Then to the village we go!" He exclaimed as he threw a fist in the air and began to walk towards the direction of the village, I'm assuming.

I couldn't help but laugh at his silliness. I can already tell that a beautiful friendship is forming.

We have been walking for some time now and I was getting exhausted.

"Adam, can we please stop for a bit? I'm tired!" Clare complained.

"Ugh! Has anyone told you that you complain too much?!" Adam practically yelled at her.

"Geez. Has anyone told you that you are really rude?"

"Yeah. You did. And then you thanked me." He has a point there.

"Besides, we're almost there. I can see the marketplace from here." I looked up and saw a few structures in the distance.

Soon enough, we were walking through the streets of the village. I looked around and I saw a few tall buildings made of adobo here and there. There were little stands and people were selling items like fish, produce, antiques and so forth. This is exactly what I imagined the marketplace would be like: crowded with people. I loved it! At the castle, I always felt isolated because it's such a big place and so little people occupy it. Here, the commoners would socialize with each other and have a good time. I had forgotten what it was like to be a normal kid. It's such a thrill to be wondering around like this and looking at all the neat stuff.

Adam and I began to walk to a more secluded area. We were in, what I assumed was, an alley.

"Stay here ok? I need to take care of some business real quick." He said hesitantly. He looked kind of scared. I simply nodded.

After a few minutes of waiting, I began to get a tad worried. What if something happened to Adam? I hope he's alright.

"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" I turn to see a tall man with a grin plastered on his face and his arms crossed. There were two other men standing behind him looking mischievous as well. He got closer to me and I stepped back only to come in contact with a brick wall.

"Look boys, we got us a pretty lil' lady." The man caressed my face and I felt so uncomfortable.

"Leave me alone!" I tried to fight him off and escape from his grasp but I was unsuccessful. "Let me go! I am Princess Clare Martin! Let go of me!"

"The princess huh? Well then, all the more reason to make you mine. Owen, Luke, hold her down for me. I call first on the royal ride." The man said with a dark chuckle. I was so scared mostly because I know what they are going to do to me. I am not stupid; I know when someone is going to get raped. And that's me right now. A tear rolled down my cheek as I kept struggling to get away from these evil men. The two other men started to pin me on the floor with my arms over my head. The leader of the little group sat on top of me and he grinned.

"I haven't gotten any since last week. And now I get to do the princess. Haha this is gold. Best day of my life. Hold still this will only hurt a lot. But it will be extremely pleasant for me."

"NO! Get away from me! Adam! Someone, help me! HELP!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, hoping and praying that someone would hear me and come to my rescue.

As the man undid his pants, I heard something familiar.

"Clare? Clare! Fitz you rat! GET OFF OF HER!" And before I knew it, the male that was about to rape me, flew off of my body and he was slammed on the ground by someone. I had so many tears in my eyes that my vision was a little blurry and I couldn't tell who my savior was. He started to punch Fitz multiple times.

I noticed that Owen and Luke were still holding me down so I decided to surprise them. I stabbed my long nails into one of their hands and he let go of my left arm as he winced in pain. With my now free arm, I punched the other guy in the nose and he stumbled back holding his now broken nose, releasing my right arm. I stood up and turned around when I heard the first guy I injured come up behind me. Before he could capture me I kicked him in his lower region and he knelt down in pain, holding himself.

I turned back to where my savior and the Fitz guy where fighting. Fitz was winning. He pinned my rescuer to the wall. I began to panic so I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around, I punched him with as much force as I had in me. Fitz fell on the floor and I looked up to see the one who saved me.

"Eli! I'm so glad to see you! You saved me!" I cried out with joy as I embraced him. He didn't return the hug and when I looked into his eyes, I saw anger and hurt.

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

He shook his head disapprovingly. "This is why I told you that I couldn't bring you here. This is such a dangerous place. If I wasn't coincidentally walking by here on my way to the marketplace, you would have been raped, Clare. RAPED!" He yelled at me and I winced.

"Well you know what?! I needed to escape the castle! You can't keep me inside that place like a prisoner! And you can't make me go back!" I shouted. I was crying hysterically. I then sat on the floor and sobbed nonstop. I felt Eli sit down next to me. After a few minutes, I stopped crying and I just had a blank look on my face. I sighed.

"You don't understand what it's like to be trapped in one place for most of your life. I was so happy when I got out of that hell hole only to be abducted by these weirdoes. I'm so naïve." I said softly.

Eli sighed. "Why did you come alone? You should have at least told me so that I would have come with you." WHAT? I swear the nerve of this guy.

"Uh, I did tell you but you rejected me! And….I didn't come alone." I responded. Eli opened his mouth as if he was going to reply but he was cut off by Fitz starting to wake up.

"Come on let's get out of here." Eli suggested. So we went around the corner so we don't get into any more trouble.

"What do you mean you didn't come alone? Who are you here with?" He asked. He seemed jealous.

"Why do you want to know? Are you jealous?" I questioned, amused at his reaction. He seemed to get nervous all of the sudden.

"What? No. Of course not. I just want to make sure you aren't with some lunatic who wants to take advantage of you. Do I know him?" He inquired. I simply smiled at his envy.

"Yeah you do. I came here with…"

"Clare! There you are! I was looking all over the place for you!" A voice came from behind us.

"Adam?" Eli seemed baffled. "You brought Clare here?" He seemed pretty angry.

"Look Eli, she was planning on jumping the wall anyway. So I thought that if I accompanied her, she would be in less danger than if she came by herself." Adam said so innocently.

"Oh great thinking! You were such a good guardian that if it wasn't for me, she would have been raped! How can you be so stupid! Both of you!" Eli began to walk away. I was going to go after him but I felt a hand stop me.

"Let him blow off some steam." Adam said calmly.

"But…"

"Trust me. I've known him longer. If you go after him now, you both are going to say some stuff you're going to regret later." I sighed and left him alone…for now.

Eli's P.O.V

I can't believe Clare disobeyed me. I obviously refused to bring her to the village for a reason, but she decided that she didn't care what I thought and she came anyways. And Adam, out of all people, helped her escape. Are they into each other? No they can't be. Why would he do that to me? He knows how much Clare means to me. We have been best friends since we were in our mother's wombs. And I thought Clare liked me. She said she did. Didn't she? Maybe she was faking it. I can't be sure about anything anymore.

This is all my fault. Why didn't I listen to my mother when she told me to stay away from the Princess? I'll tell you why. Because I am stubborn and hard headed. I think I owe both Clare and Adam an apology. Adam was just trying to be a nice person and Clare just needed to escape and I denied her. I need to make things right.

So I hope you enjoyed it! I would love a belated birthday gift from you all. Reviews would be great {: I'll update as soon as I can. See ya soon! ;)