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Ch. 3 Heal My Aching Heart
(ADAM)
The alarm wakes me and I go into Drew's room to wake him up. He's always been bad at getting up for school, unless he has football practice first. Only when I get to his room it's empty. Clare fell asleep on the sofa last night so we let her sleep there, Mom called Helen and told her Clare was sleeping here. I really doubt that Drew went walking alone late at night, it's something he might have done last week but he's still sore and he's afraid a lot since the attack. I did hear him wake from a nightmare last night though, and he usually calls or texts Clare after those but she was here last night.
"I'm going to wake up Clare," I tell my parents as I walk through the kitchen.
Mom just nods and I go down to the basement. Drew and Clare are both asleep on the sofa, not on each other this time, Clare is where she fell asleep last night and Drew fell asleep a next to her with his head on the back of the sofa. Looks like they fell asleep watching a movie. I'm about to wake them up but both their eyes shoot open at once and look at me.
"Guess we did get back to sleep," Drew yawns.
"I need to get home and get ready for school," Clare says rubbing her eyes.
"Dad can drop you off he'll be leaving for work in a few minutes," I tell Clare.
Drew tries to get up and groans holding his ribs. He's still really bruised there with cracked ribs and got hit and kicked so many times in the abdomen that he's still really sore and stiff especially at his ribs. It makes moving, particularly getting up and sitting down, really hard on him. I grab his arm and help him up as Clare stands up. Clare gets her shoes and purse and comes with us upstairs. Our parents exchange a look when Drew also emerges from the basement but I'm sure that they know Drew had a nightmare and went down to talk to Clare about it.
"Dad can you drop Clare at her house so she can get ready for school?" I ask when we come into the kitchen.
"Yeah I'll be leaving in ten minutes," Dad nods.
"I'm ready now," Clare says sitting down at the table.
"We'll see you at school Clare," I tell her as Drew and I start going up the stairs. "Bad nightmares?" I ask my brother just before we go into our rooms.
"Yeah for both of us, when I went down to the basement I woke Clare from hers," Drew tells me before going into his room to get dressed. It's another hour before we're both ready, have eaten breakfast and Mom is dropping us off at school.
"I'm going to put my backpack in my locker and sit down," Drew tells me as soon as we're through the front doors.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just sore and it's not comfortable to carry this," he replies taking his backpack from his back.
"Okay just take it easy, remember Mom said to call her and go home if you need to," I remind Drew and he nods.
I watch him walk down the hall and follow about ten paces behind him. I don't mean to spy but I'm worried about my brother and I'm keeping an eye on him. I lean on the wall and watch Drew at his locker, mostly just to make sure that he's not in too much pain or doesn't need my help.
"Hey Adam," Eli's voice behind me is startling but I turn and smile at him.
"Hi Eli, you're looking better. Nice cane," I comment. He's got a cane with a skull head at the top.
"Yeah I thought so, I had the skull on Morty's gear shift, it's the only piece of him I have left," Eli says with a remorseful voice. Whether the remorse is because of his car or what he did I'm not too sure.
"How was your break? Besides therapy and the hospital?" I question.
"It sucked, I could barely move, hobbling around on crutches is hard and when I wasn't at therapy my parents had me on total lockdown. They even had me doing chores with my broken foot. Even hobbling with a broken foot I'm very glad to be back at school. How was…" Eli begins and then stops. He furrows his brow and narrows his eyes. "When did Clare and your brother become such good friends?" Eli asks his voice dripping with jealousy and almost rage.
I look over to my brother and see Clare talking with him at his locker, "Over break. Drew got beat up by that Vince guy and his gang and Clare saw it. She ran over to get them to stop, and they did eventually. Well Clare went to the hospital with him and after watching him get beat up and thinking he was going to die she spent almost all of break at our house. They both have nightmares, pretty much every night and then they call or text each other afterward."
Eli doesn't say anything just watches them. They're standing at least a foot apart and are just talking, they aren't even smiling, not really they each make one small grin that aren't flirty at all but Eli still looks jealous.
"How much of that time did she spend with him?" Eli questions.
"Okay I don't think you glaring jealously at my brother is the way you want to see Clare after the last time. Come on," I insist grabbing Eli's sleeve and turning him. He hobbles a little slowly with his cane but we get around the corner.
"My therapist says I need something to focus on this semester besides Clare so I'm going to join drama club. You want to join with me?" Eli asks.
"Maybe but this looks more my speed," I remark pointing to a flyer for the DeGrassi radio station.
"I can see you as a DJ, we could definitely use someone good tunes on the radio station. I'd hate for Alli to be a DJ and play nothing but Drake or something," Eli comments and I laugh.
"I'll make sure there's cool tunes played if we're allowed to play music," I remark just as Clare comes around the corner. Everything kind of stops as the two exes look at each other after over a week of not seeing each other and the way things ended.
"Hi Adam," Clare smiles at me and then looks at Eli biting her lip, "Hi Eli. You…look better," Clare says slowly.
"Thanks, feeling better. Except for my foot anyway. So I hear you had an eventful break," Eli says looking at me briefly.
Clare bites her lip and brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, "Yeah Sunday was not a good day but aside from some nightmares it was pretty quiet after that."
"Well I need to get to my locker, see you around," Eli tells her walking off. Considering his earlier reaction to talking to my brother he's now being aloof and I find it odd.
"Yeah see you around Eli," Clare says but Eli's already turning and hobbling off. As he leaves Clare starts chewing on her lower lip again.
"I think he's just embarrassed about what he did. I'll see you in class I'm going to go talk to Sav about trying out for the radio station," I tell Clare pointing to the flyer again.
"Good luck Adam I'm sure you'll be great," she grins.
I smile and walk to student council, Sav is in here and so is Dave.
"Hey Sav I wanted to ask about trying out for the radio station."
"Hi Adam, Dave was asking the same thing. You can both try out at lunch together," he tells us.
"Cool," Dave and I reply together.
"You'll need half an hour of original material so start thinking. You'll go on during the second part of lunch so be ready," Sav tells us.
"So what should we do?" Dave asks as we start walking to class.
"Not sure, let's think in class, civics is always lectures anyway if we miss it I'm sure Clare will lend us her notes," I comment since the three of us have the same homeroom.
"Yeah how's she doing and how's your brother?" Dave asks. I'm sure he heard from his dad.
"Drew's still sore mostly on his ribs, mostly he's scared though. He wakes up after a nightmare every night, a lot of times I hear him yelling in his sleep. The first couple of times I went in but he almost hit me and it's scary to watch. Clare has one almost every night too but at least they're talking to each other afterward. It's good that they have each other to talk to or I feel like Drew would probably implode."
(DREW)
"Hey you came today," Clare smiles greeting me at my locker.
"Yeah I hate school but it's better than lying around home all day again. Although this is more than I've moved in the last week and carrying this backpack sucks, it keeps hitting my bruises, I'll probably have to carry it in my hands all day. But Mom said to call her if I need to leave early."
"Just take it easy today," Clare says with a sweet smile.
"Yeah I'll try, it would be easier if I didn't have to think in class," I comment and she grins.
"This is the one time you could probably get away with not thinking. If you're not ready for school I'm sure your mom would understand I wasn't sure I wanted to come back," she says looking a little scared and a little sad.
"I've been lying around the house all week it's good to get out even if it is school."
"I should probably get to my locker," Clare says after a few seconds.
"Yeah I'll see you around," I nod.
Clare walks off and I put some books in my locker and then walk slowly to homeroom. I sit carefully at my desk and just sort of stare at the board spacing out. The next one into class is Eli and he gives me an interesting look as he sits down at his desk.
"I hear you and Clare got very close over break," he comments while his voice oozes of jealousy. So that's what the look was for he's jealous of my friendship with Clare. He must have heard it all from Adam.
"She was there and saw it happen, she made them stop and she hung out over break, what of it?"
"She's m…" Eli begins but is interrupted when other students walk into class.
"Hey Drew right? I'm Jake," he says holding out his hand and I shake it.
"Yeah I've heard about you, it's good to meet you. So how's work going at Clare's house?" I ask and now Eli glares at Jake. I'm starting to wonder why Clare ever went out with him at all. I mean I understand why he and Adam are friends they have a lot in a common but what did Clare see in him?
"Pretty good, a little demo left to do and then we'll start the remodel. Another couple of months of work at her house," Jake grins.
"Yeah and more kisses?" I laugh and notice the death glare Eli gives him.
"We'll see, I mean I will be there every afternoon working with my shirt off," Jake smirks and Eli breaks the pencil in his hand. He can't say anything though because the bell rings and the teacher starts class.
Mrs. Dawes reads to us and then has us read for the whole class, some really old poems in old English that I don't understand. I wouldn't even be in University track English if my mom didn't force me, the only reason I've been passing since the beginning of this class is because of Bianca but I won't have her help anymore. Maybe Adam can help me, or Clare even, from what Adam's told me she's really great at English. I start to get up slowly and Jake grabs my backpack for me.
"Thanks," I smile taking it from him.
"No problem. Hey what was with that guy? The one with the black hair, he got all red in the face and snapped his pencil in two when I talked about working at Clare's house," Jake comments as we leave class.
"Eli, they broke up just before March break. He was getting possessive and jealous and she broke up with him. He didn't want it to end and he intentionally wrecked his car so she would come see him in the hospital. That's why he's a got a broken foot now, from the car wreck. Apparently he's not over her, he got jealous that Clare and I became friends after what happened. You do know what happened?"
"Yeah heard from Helen, figured that's why you had a few fading bruises but I wasn't going to mention them. Hey I've got architectural design next any idea where that is?" Jake asks.
"Yeah room 324, down this hall and go left you'll see it," I tell him.
"Thanks," he grins and walks off. Jake seems nice maybe Clare will start dating him and Eli will back off. Although given his behavior that might not make him back off.
My next class is auto shop, another class I have with Eli but I'm partnered with Owen for the semester. Owen's already here when I get into class and his eyes widen a little when he sees me.
"Dude what happened to you?"
"Vince and his buddies beat the crap out of me," I tell him.
"Shit, B told me you guys were through is that why?"
"Part of it. I'll explain at lunch," I reply.
"Okay so why does Goth boy keep glaring at you?"
"Because Clare saw Vince and his boys beating me up. She made them stop, and came with me to the hospital. She was hanging at our place over break a lot, we got kind of close and I guess Eli doesn't like that."
"He does not know when to let go does he?" Owen shakes his head as Mr. Ehl begins class.
Eli might glare at me through the rest of class but I don't notice as we work on different sides of the garage. When the bell rings for lunch Owen and I wash up and walk out together, stashing our backpacks in our lockers and getting our lunches we go to the picnic tables outside. I tell him all of what happened last Sunday, he already knows about Anson and what happened at the concert but I tell him about Vince's threats and how Bianca slept with Vince so he would stop but it didn't help and they beat me up. How Clare saw it and got them to stop and how she and I have talked every night after our nightmares.
"Bianca said she only slept with him to save me but she didn't seem to have any problem with it. Worse she's still hanging with them, she found out they beat me up because she's still hanging with them. I like Bianca but she's been trouble from the minute she walked into my life. I probably should've seen that she was trouble when I went with my hormones and went to the boiler room with her while still dating Alli. Then she was the only one that would even look at me after that and as shallow as it makes me that's pretty much the only reason we got together. I know she's your friend but I can't be around her anymore she's just been trouble for me."
"She is my friend but she's always been trouble and I get it. Quite honestly I never thought you two should be together at all, I never got what you saw in each other, other than your hormones that is. I will have a talk with her though if she's still hanging out with Vince she's in deeper than she knows," Owen says.
I nod and take a bite of my sandwich, I worry about why Bianca is still with Vince and his gang too but I can't get involved. I've nearly been killed once already, I just want them to go to prison and stay out of my life. We finish lunch, go inside and I hear my brother and Dave over the PA system on DeGrassi radio. I saw flyers around school advertising try-outs for new DJ's so that must be what they're doing. Owen says he's going to look for Bianca and walks off while I go to my locker to get my backpack and start heading for class.
"They sound pretty good on the radio," K.C. comments helping me get my backpack out.
"Yeah they do," I grin.
"How you feeling? We heard what happened," K.C. comments.
"Okay I guess, my ribs are really starting to hurt but most of the bruises are healed."
"Cool. We're all going to Above the Dot tonight you should come. Adam's coming," K.C. says.
"I don't know, not really in the mood for loud crowds."
"Everyone's going, Clare said she would come, Owen too."
"Yeah I'll see how I feel tonight," I reply.
K.C. smiles and walks off and I walk to my photography and digital imaging class. Another class I have with Owen but also a class I have with Bianca. I sit at my table and look away from Bianca when she comes in. Owen follows her in but sits with me.
"Did you talk to her?"
"Yeah and she told me to butt out and she had her reasons for being with him. That was the end of it, never could give her advice," Owen remarks.
"Yeah so I've noticed," I agree.
When class starts the teacher has us watching a slideshow of various black and white photographs, explaining composition and such. There's a knock on the door fifteen minutes into class and Principal Simpson looks in.
"Drew I need to see you a moment," he says and I get up from my desk. I follow him out of the classroom to his office, Mom and Officer Turner are in his office and so is Clare.
"It's about Vince isn't it?" I question as I sit down next to Clare.
"Yes it is he went before the judge this morning and his lawyer got him released without bail," Officer Turner tells us.
"What? How? After what he did the judge didn't think he should be held?" I question angrily.
"His lawyer got him released on a technicality but the charges haven't been dropped he'll still have to stand trial," Mom says. I look at Clare and she's chewing her lower lip nervously, she looks worried although she mostly seems worried about me.
"Mom I want to go home I'm not feeling so well," I tell her holding my head to sell it. I really do feel sick after hearing that Vince is out but mostly I just want to be home and not at school now that I know.
"I'll sign you out," Mom says leaving the office.
"Do you want to go home Clare?" Principal Simpson asks.
"No I'm okay I'll return to class," she replies and looks at me. "Feel better Drew," she says smiling at me softly before getting up. I smile back at her and she leaves the room just as Mom comes back in.
"Okay Honey you're signed out, do you want to get your backpack?"
"No I'll text Owen to put it in my locker and Adam can get it after school," I tell her as I get up. We go out to her car and she starts driving home while I text Owen to put my backpack in my locker and give him the combo. I then text Adam that Mom's taking me home and ask him to get my backpack from my locker after school, he already knows the combo. He has class with Clare this period so I'm pretty sure she'll tell him why I left class early.
"It's not over yet Drew Vince will still stand trial," Mom says when we walk into the house.
"That's the problem it's not over yet. Vince is out there and his trial could be weeks or months away, what happens until then?" I question with an angry growl.
"The restraining order is still in effect."
"How is a piece of paper going to protect me," I snarl and run up to my room. Last time I ran into Vince he and his gang nearly killed me, what will happen the next time I see them?
(CLARE)
I return to class and Adam looks at me, so do K.C. and Alli. When the teacher resumes the demonstration on the board Adam leans over to my desk so I can tell him why I was pulled out of class.
"Vince is out, Drew went home," I whisper to Adam. A look of worry and terror flashes over his face at this thought but he quickly replaces it with a sympathetic smile. Probably so he won't worry me more than I am.
"Drew left without his backpack he says it'll be in his locker and wants me to bring it home," Adam tells me as we walk out of class when the bell rings.
"He's scared, I don't blame him," I reply.
"Me either, what about you? Are you scared that Vince is out?"
"Not happy about it but they didn't beat me up and they're not after me."
"No but Vince did threaten you."
"Sort of, it wasn't much of a threat," I argue as we reach our fourth period history class. Alli and K.C. who have the class with us have been walking behind us and heard everything.
"I'd call what Vince said a threat," Alli remarks as we sit at our desks.
I don't reply, I really just don't want to think about Vince being out and coming after Drew or me. Unfortunately it's all I can think about during class. When the bell rings I jump slightly and Adam looks at me but I smile at him to reassure him I'm okay.
"You still coming to Above the Dot tonight?" Adam asks as we walk to our lockers.
"Yeah I'll be there," I smile and he grins.
"Hey Clare you want a ride home? I'm headed over there anyway," Jake says walking over to us and nodding hello to Adam.
"Sure thanks," I grin and wave to Adam walking out with Jake. As we walk I feel like I'm being watched and see Eli watching me leave school with Jake. I look away from him and we go out to Jake's truck.
He drives us to my house where Glen is hard at work. Glen says hi to us and Jake takes his shirt off to start working, I like the sight of him shirtless but excuse myself to go to my to do homework. I get it all done and am watching TV from my laptop when there's a knock on my door and I call to come in.
"Dinner's ready, I asked Glen and Jake to stay," Mom tells me.
"Okay," I reply slowly and shut my laptop.
I follow Mom downstairs and help her set the table while Jake and Glen wash up. We all sit down and start eating, Mom asks how they're settling in and asks Jake how his first day of school was. He says it was fine and he met some cool people like Drew.
"Why don't the four of us go downtown for ice cream after this," Mom says.
"Actually Clare and I were invited to Above the Dot tonight," Jake informs them.
"That sounds like fun and probably a good way for you to meet some more kids from school," Glen remarks.
"Yeah exactly in fact I think I'll change so we can get going," Jake says. He's already scarfed down his full plate of food and goes out to his truck. He returns with a bag and goes into the downstairs washroom under the stairs.
I finish eating and decide to change myself since I wore a dress to school and it's cooler now that it's evening. I go upstairs changing into jeans and a purple blouse, I bring a sweater in case it gets too cold. Jake is ready when I get downstairs and we leave in his truck.
"You know you disappeared rather quickly when I took my shirt off this afternoon," Jake remarks.
"I wasn't going to sit in my living room and watch you work shirtless," I reply.
"Tempted to kiss me again were you?" Jake smirks with a cocked eyebrow as he parks at Above the Dot.
"No," I reply crossing my arms, "I just didn't w…"
I'm cut off when Jake leans over and crushes his lips to mine. A breath hitches in my throat, my eyes close, my hand grips the back of his neck. His tongue slides along my lower lip requesting access and my lips part as my tongue glides out. Our tongues tangle together and fight for dominance. I break the kiss when I hear a car honking, not at us but it breaks the mood so I break the kiss.
"We should probably go inside," I comment pushing Jake away and getting out of the truck. I walk around the front of the truck and Jake gets out but he grabs my hand turning me around and leaning me against the truck.
"I'd rather just make out with you in my truck all night," he smiles leaning down to kiss me.
I take his hand and duck under his arm, "Let's go inside and maybe we'll make out later."
He groans a little but comes with me, we only take a few steps before Eli steps out in front of us. I gasp as my ex appears from out of the shadows like a rat.
"You want something Eli?" Jake questions clenching his fist and stiffening up. Eli does the same and I'm worried they're going to fight.
"Let's get inside Jake," I assert stepping aside to get away from Eli and pulling Jake to the stairs. We go inside and Eli follows us but the boys behave.
"It's about time you two got here," Adam comments when he sees me and Eli.
"Hey Jake," Mo calls to him and I let go of Jake's hand so he can go talk to Mo.
"Here we're celebrating," Adam says handing me and Eli root beer floats.
"Celebrating what?" Eli asks.
"Dave and I are now DJs on DeGrassi radio, we get an hour after school and every other lunch we have the last half hour," Adam grins.
"Hey that's great Adam," I smile and the three of us clink glasses.
"Yeah about time we had some good stuff on the radio," Eli comments. I see Dave at a table with Alli, K.C. and Wes so I go over to congratulate Dave as well. Adam and Eli both follow me.
"Hey Dave I heard about the radio station congrats," I smile.
"Thanks Clare," Dave grins.
"So you and Jake seem close," Eli remarks and the whole table looks at him.
"Uh Clare come dance with me," Alli says getting up and taking my hand. She pulls me over to the dance floor in front of the stage before Eli can say anything else. "Guess the crash and a week apart did nothing to cool his jealousy," Alli comments as we begin dancing.
"Apparently not," I shake my head.
"Does he have any reason to be jealous of Jake?" Alli questions.
"We have kissed a couple times," I tell her with a smile and Alli grins.
"That's my girl, best way to get over an ex is to kiss someone else," Alli says and I laugh. "Eli's talking to Fiona and some girl with pigtails and a cat-ear headband, I think we can return to the table now," Alli comments after a minute.
I look over to see Eli at a table with Fiona and another grade eleven I've seen around but don't know the name of. I link arms with Alli and we sit back at the table with our friends. I spend most of the night with them talking and even dancing a little, Jake spends a lot of the night talking with Mo, Katie and Marisol. About an hour into the night Jenna shows up with Tyson forcing K.C. to take him home while she hangs out with us. She looks pretty tired but Dave and Adam fill her in with what happened to me and Drew over break. Then they tell her about being DeGrassi's newest DJs.
"It's eleven I think I better get you home," Jake says coming over to the table.
"Yeah especially because it's my curfew," I remark getting up.
The club is closing anyway and everyone else needs to go home. We get into his truck and he takes me home, the porch light is on but the house is dark, both Mom's car and Glen's truck are gone. Which means I'm definitely not in trouble for being late.
"Guess they went out for ice cream anyway," Jake comments.
"Yeah I guess so," I nod.
"I can stick around until your mom gets home," Jake offers.
"Thanks but I'll be okay, I'm pretty tired I'll probably just shower and go to bed," I reply.
"Sounds like fun to me," Jake smirks.
"Goodnight Jake," I laugh getting out of the truck.
I walk to the front door and wave to Jake before going inside. I lock the front door when I'm inside and find a note from Mom on the bulletin board, in the entry, that she went for a drink with Glen. After setting my purse in my room I go into my washroom and shower, get ready for bed and get in bed. I didn't sleep that great last night and it's been a long day so it doesn't take me long to get to sleep. I fall asleep only to fall into a terrible nightmare about Eli and Vince, his gang is there too. Just as I'm dreaming about Vince cutting Drew's throat and watching the blood spurt out I'm woken by the ringing of my phone. I sit up with a gasp, tears running down my face and I grab my phone hitting accept without seeing who it is.
"Drew? Is that you? Tell me you're okay?"
"Besides the nightmare I just had I'm fine. I guess you just had one too," Drew says and hearing his voice is very comforting.
"I was awoken by my phone just as you were getting your throat cut in my dream. I'm sorry I probably shouldn't have told you that," I apologize realizing how stupid blurting that out was as soon as it comes out.
"It's okay, it's actually better than my dream. You sound like you're crying," Drew says as I sniffle.
"It was a really bad dream," I reply wiping my eyes and then hear the front door open. I look at my phone to see that it's after one in the morning, could Mom really just be getting home. "Hang on but don't hang up," I tell Drew as I get out of bed and go to my door, I open it slowly just as the light in the hallway comes on and I see Mom.
"Are you okay?" Drew asks with a worried tone.
"Yeah it's just my mom. After the nightmare I just had would you mind if I came over?"
"No I'd feel better if you did," Drew replies.
"Mom seeing as you just got home and you don't work tomorrow you think you can take me to Adam's?" I ask and I know she sees that I was crying.
"More nightmares?" Mom asks and I nod.
"Sure Honey, why don't you get dressed and pack a bag and I'll get changed," she says.
"I'll be over soon," I tell Drew.
"I'll meet you in the basement," Drew responds.
We hang up and I go in my room. I stay in my pajamas of a silver grey tank top and pajama bottoms but put on shoes and a coat. I also pack a bag with everything I'll need for tomorrow and grab my backpack. Mom comes out of her room and drives me to the Torres house, I hug her and get out of the car going to the basement. The light is on down here and when he sees me Drew opens the basement door. Even though I heard his voice after my dream I'm so happy to see him alive I drop my bags and throw my arms around him.
Update soon picking up from here in Drew's pov.