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Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi.

It was...awkward.

The people walking were giving her strange looks as she cruised by on her bike. Their gazes were ones of wonderment and surprise and some full of anger. A man had even shouted to the director of the walk, yelling that it wasn't fair because she was going to win. The director simply said that it was okay and smiled widely at Clare, and she blushed in response. It was obvious that Eli had spoken to him. But mostly, everyone's face was calm and excited, especially when they stared at her...

Her palms were sweating with anxiety and her breath was coming out shaky. And when the horn sounded, she took off, already first in the walk. And as she cruised by buildings, she felt a smile spread on her. Markers led everyone to where they needed to go. Clare didn't know where the trail was taking her and for the first time, she didn't care that she didn't know. In fact, she welcomed any surprise that came.

The other people in the race soon became distant history in her mind. Turning left, she rode onto a familiar street. The apple, papers, and coffee bounced dangerously around in her basket with ever bump she met. Riding past each building, Clare tried to figure out why the place had looked so familiar. Pedaling faster, she trudged up the slight hill. And with the top of the small hill, she saw the wall. This wall had been destroyed from the impact of Morty's crash. Pieces of it were still spread across the rich grass. She felt her heart tear a bit at the seams as she passed by it. She could almost hear Eli's panicked voice ringing in her head. And she could almost hear an ambulance in the distance...

She shook her head quickly, trying not to let the sight of the wall bring down the solid figure that she had so desperately wanted to become. But each turn of the wheel, each pebble that rolled beneath her showed her how soft and fragile that she was. And she could feel her breathing pick up and her nerves stand on end, and she was starting to slowly understand the purpose of this hunt. She had been so set on just moving on. She had wanted to forget about the screech of Morty and the whispered words that used to float in the air on those warm nights. But, slowly, Clare was realizing that she hadn't moved on. She was beginning to understand that a person could only lie to themselves for so long.

She turned to the right and rode onto Degrassi street. The people from the race were still right behind her, all curious as to what she was doing. And she was almost afraid that they could hear her thick sobs and ragged sniffles. She passed by her school and by the parking lot where they first met.

"You have pretty eyes."

"Thanks."

She had never felt to giddy with someone, she remembered that much. And she knew that it was because his eyes had this small shimmer that had looked like it was about to blow out with a small breeze. And she remembered how desperately she wanted to fix that broken shimmer. She wanted to change that shimmer into the whole goddamn sun and then some. And when he looked at her, she knew that he saw the difference in her. Even though that was the first time that they met.

A little past the school was the dot and Clare remembered that one day when Eli had blown Adam off. Before Adam had come, they had sat in the little corner and talked about Sam's and Frodo's journey to Mordor. They spoke in whispers about those Foreign films that they both enjoyed. And she remembered that as she was reaching for the sugar- their topic was Stephen King and his character, Annie Wilkes-and she brushed passed his hand. And it was in that little moment, the moment of the blush forming on her cheeks and the butterflies in her stomach, that she knew that she wouldn't feel that way about anyone else again.

Clare still heard the footsteps behind her and she was realizing how slow she was going. She passed by the tattoo parlor and didn't bother to look in. (Though she did hear voices from the crowd behind her yelp with recognition and delight, but she simply ignored it.) Her eyes were still a little red and she still didn't know where Eli was. And it felt odd because the road had been closed off because of the race, so there were no cars in sight. And there were only a few people. But she could tell that there were more people in the race now and she was wondering if people were slowly joining in. And she swore that she could almost hear her name being whispered.

She continued to follow the markers and she could feel herself becoming panicked again. It was a couple of minutes past three and she wasn't sure if Eli had just left. She didn't even know where he was.

The wind pushed against each walker(and the one rider). But, with one final breeze, one of the papers in the bike basket flew up into the air. It floated side-to-side and Clare watched it in fear. Eli had made it clear that she had to bring it. She hopped off her bike swiftly and watched the paper's every move. Every sharp turn it made and every moment it went farther away from her, her heart pumped even harder. But suddenly, as quickly as the wind started, it soon died down. And with the halting of the sharp wind, the paper started to flow down. Clare reached for it, noticing that it was going to fall onto a certain substance that would do more harm than good.

But, in the end, the paper sank into the small patch of mud on the side of the road. And with an irritated cry and a tug to her hair, she began to sob again. She knew that Eli was probably at his house right now, thinking that she was an idiot for not being able to solve it in time. She hid her face in her hands and forgot about that the people behind her were looking.

"Clare Edwards?" A voice said softly, the sound smooth and silky. Clare quickly wiped the tears off of her cheeks and turned around. A man was crouched behind her, far enough to not scare her.

"How do you know my name?" Clare whispered, and she felt rude asking that, but she had no clue who this guy was. But the man just chuckled softly and ran his fingers through his thinning hair.

"Everyone here knows your name, Clare Edwards. You're kind of famous with us. Your story with that boy has spread like wild-fire. My daughters think that it's so romantic," The man rolled his eyes, but smirked, "We just want to help."

Clare smiled briefly and slowly stood up with the man's help. Low cheers sounded from the crowd behind them and then it became silent again. "If you don't mind me asking, but how do you know...'my story with the boy'" Clare dusted herself off and looked at the man eagerly.

"Meredith."

"Pardon?"

"Meredith. The woman that works at the drugstore? Everyone who went in there, she told." The man shrugged and Clare snickered. She knew that woman was a gossip. It was always the quiet ones...

Clare and the man slowly walked over to the crowd of people and everyone's face brightened at the sight of Clare close-up. They whispered and pointed, smiles wide on their lips.

"We have to help her." The man announced, and looked to his two daughters and smiled, "She doesn't know where to go. We have to help. Any ideas?"

A buzz of talking sparked up in the turned to their neighbor and shared their ideas. Clare just listened intently to everyone, but with one suggestion, everything became clear.

She knew where to go.

One more chapter left I promise! :)Review, please!