Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own it. Go ahead and shove it in my face some more, why don't you?

"See, here's the thing, Eli. Sav didn't invite me, and it's probably for a reason. Our break up wasn't exactly on the best of terms," Holly J tried explaining to the brunette boy currently leading the way along the path. The four days between their last meeting and this seemed like forever for both of them, especially because Holly J had yet to respond to the invitation, keeping Eli in suspense. It wasn't that she didn't want to go, it was just that Sav and her hadn't really spoken since the break up and she thought that if he wanted her there, he would invite her himself.

"Don't be ridiculous, Sav won't mind," Eli retorted as the path opened up to their statue and he took a seat near the hand again.

"And you know this for a fact?" she said as she sat near him. He looked away, taking a sudden interest in a stick on the ground.

"No, but…"

"See? It's his birthday and graduation party, he probably doesn't want any awkwardness with ex-girlfriends."

"It's only awkward if you make it awkward."

"Eli, we could barely get through the morning announcements by the end of the year. The break up wasn't mutual, by far. He was really hurt." Holly J tried to explain. She didn't think that Sav actually hated her or anything because he did extend sympathies when he heard the news about Declan, but she knew that she wasn't his first choice in a person to play Boggle with anymore.

"What if I handle it?" Eli slowly said after a moment.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll talk to him, ask him if it's okay if you come."

"Eli…" Holly J was really unsure about all of this. She never was one to crash parties or anything like that.

"If Sav said it was okay for you to come to his party, would you come?" Eli laid it out. He still didn't really know a whole lot of people from Degrassi well enough to be semi-social with them and he didn't want to be hanging on Sav all night. He was sure that a lot of them would ask about Clare and he just didn't want to face that alone. He would need an ally there.

"I mean, if I didn't have to work…"

"Ask for it off."

"The schedule comes out tomorrow. I'll text you if I have it off. But, you have to clear it with Sav first. I don't want to just show up unexpected," she said, smiling a bit. The party sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun and it would be nice to hang out with a lot of these people that Holly J hadn't seen since graduation. Knowing Sav's parents, it was going to be big, and grand, and a blast. Anyone would be crazy to miss it… if they were invited.

"Don't worry about it. I'll handle it," and he smiled at her, "I can drive, if you want." Holly J's smile slipped slightly, breaking her gaze.

"Uh, I don't think that's a good idea…"

"Why not? It's not a big deal."

"It's just that…" Holly J didn't really know how to lightly explain it to Eli without possibly hurting his feelings.

"Spit it out, Sinclair," he said softly. He already had an idea of what it was. It was the same reason they didn't go to the Dot today or why she told her mom that she was with Anya when she was with him. Holly J looked up at him with exasperation.

"We just… no one really knows about… us."

"… us?" he deadpanned.

"Just that, we've been hanging out, that we're friends now." Eli met her eyes with intensity.

"Why does that matter?"

"It doesn't, Eli. But, I know these people. They'll assume things."

"Like what? That we're together?" Holly J nodded lightly and Eli rolled his eyes, "So? I don't really care what people think."

"Well, I kind of do." Eli set his jaw and looked away, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "It's not like I'm saying that I'm embarrassed to be seen with you or anything, it's just that… we need to ease this whole thing into the public," Holly J could tell that he was a bit upset about her hesitation and felt horrible. She never meant to hurt him, "Look, talk to Sav, make sure he's okay with me being there, I'll get the night off somehow. We can hang out at the party and after if you want to," and she reached over and took his hand in hers. Eli's eyes fell upon their intertwined fingers. He didn't want to be mad at her. Holly J wasn't like Clare; she wasn't going to scream in the middle of the street to prove a point. The people who were going to be at the party were more her friends and she had every right to need to do this at her speed. To him, it was just a ride in the hearse, but to her, it was an arrival, a statement of who she was right now. He couldn't push that. It wouldn't be right. Eli nodded and genuinely smiled, meeting her gaze.

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Sav was okay with it. She had the night off work. Holly J had to go, and that was why she was currently in the city center on a Saturday afternoon by herself, trying to find a dress to wear. She wanted it to be sexy yet classy, something worthy of a party. To be honest, she wanted to impress Eli. He had only ever seen her in her school uniform or jeans, more often than not, exhausted after a day at work. The only exception was at Declan's funeral, but that certainly wasn't the moment she wanted him to think that she was at her most beautiful. She flicked through the racks, stopping at various dresses and making faces. Post-prom dress choices were slim; the only ones being left over this late in the season were left over for a reason.

Holly J cursed at herself for agreeing to go. She supposed that if she really didn't find anything she could always wear the purple dress that she wore to the Spring Semi-Formal, although she really didn't like it anymore. She wanted this one to be new, something no one had seen her in before. She didn't have to be "Holly J the Vice President" anymore; she could really be herself. Or, rather, a less stressed version of her, at least for this summer. Eli allowed her that. He didn't expect her to have all the answers because he didn't have to ask the questions.

Holly J's eyes were caught by a small sparkle, drawing her over to the rack. She furrowed her eyebrows as she pulled the dress out, studying it. This was it. This was the dress.

A/N: A chapter on time for once! Sav's party next week! Woot! Thanks for reading and welcome new readers and subscribers! Thanks so much for taking an interest! Special thanks as always to ToastMania, Rochelle, Steff, and especially Lyssa (for having to work which left me 6 hours to do nothing but write). Love you all and you should review! Reviews, no matter how big or small, make me so happy! I should have next week's up on time, but I may be a sobbing mess because of Harry Potter, so that would be the only reason it would be delayed. Thanks again!