Disclaimer: What would happen if I actually did claim I owned Degrassi? Would they really sue me?
The warm, August air stirred around, encouraged by the ceiling fans, helping make the cooler air rain down on those who had chosen The Dot as their sanctuary from the heat. Smoothies and iced coffees littered the tables; one table in particular that stood near the back was the exception to that. An ice cream sundae, half-eaten at this point, served as the entertainment as well.
"You're totally dripping on me," Holly J exclaimed, a wide grin plastered to her face as she leaned into her boyfriend's arms, a spoonful of the sugary sweetness held by him nearing her mouth.
"Well, anywhere it drips I'll just have to lick…" and Eli's lips placed a needy kiss on the sensitive pulse point on her neck. She took the spoon in her mouth, letting the coolness melt over her tongue and down her throat. With the tip of her tongue, she traced the outline of her lips, some of the residual ice cream painting over them.
"You missed a spot," she said in a low voice and Eli looked up, a smirk forming. He slowly brought his lips to hers, kissing her tenderly and letting his tongue swipe, catching every last bit of the ice cream. He was happy, happier than he had been in the longest time.
"Um… hi," a small voice came from in front of their table. The two broke apart immediately, a blush flowering over Holly J's cheeks when she registered who it was. Eli's eyes went cold and his hand traveled down to Holly J's, tightly lacing his fingers with hers under the table, "Cece said that I could find you here. Hi, Holly J," Clare waved sheepishly. Holly J gave a weak smile but nodded in return.
"What are you doing here?" Eli asked, his voice quiet but stern. All of his pervious happiness had drained from his body. Clare was the last person he wanted to see today. Today was supposed to be a day of relaxation and celebration with his girlfriend over taking the next step in their relationship, not one of second guessing and leaving things unsaid.
"I came to return these," and Clare held out Eli's headphones to him, which he didn't take, "and I had hoped that maybe we could talk…"
"Now's not a good time…" Eli started.
"No, it is. I have to go to work anyway so you two sit. Talk," Holly J said lightly as she stood from her seat. Eli looked up at her like she was completely abandoning him, leaving him alone to get ripped apart by Clare's presence, but she looked down at him, silently letting him know that he needed to do this. He needed to finally face the girl that he once loved.
"I'll call you later," he said and her tugged on her hand slightly, bringing her down for a good-bye kiss, one that was more passionate than Holly J was expecting, Eli obviously not caring about present company. Clare modestly looked away, taking in the menu board that she had memorized already. Holly J made her way out of the café and Eli gestured for Clare to sit down in the chair that was across the table. He pushed the ice cream to one side.
"So, how have you been?" Clare asked kindly, smiling a little. This wasn't supposed to be horribly awkward. Eli looked back at her, clearly not amused. He had no idea what she wanted and why she had to just show up, interrupting the obvious good time he and Holly J were sharing. This whole conversation could wait, he was sure of it.
"I've been… okay. Good, actually," he answered, hesitant about giving anything more. Her smiled faltered slightly but she nodded anyway.
"I'm glad. The summer's gone by so fast…" she said, still tip-toeing around her intention. Clare placed the headphones on the table and pushed them across, "My dad told me you returned the watch."
"When did you get back into town?" he asked, taking back his headphones, placing them around his neck and stuffing the cord in his jean pocket. He didn't have his iPod to plug them into, but it didn't matter, they still looked best around his neck.
"Last night, just before dinner. Today was the actually last day of camp but they let me out early since Darcy was home." Eli nodded silently, not really caring. Clare looked down at her hands and chewed a little on her bottom lip, unsure of how to approach what had been on her mind. Finally, she took a breath and forced herself to look him in the eye, "He was a mistake, Eli. I made a huge mistake. It was one kiss but I've spent all summer trying to figure out how to make it up to you. Every morning, during our prayers, I would beg forgiveness. I wasn't fair to you; I wasn't clear in my intentions and I'm so sorry. Maybe that was because I knew in my heart I didn't want to break up with you, but my head just kept saying this was what I needed to do. I couldn't decide and you got hurt. I'm sorry."
Eli just sat there, her words washing over him. Clare was sorry for what she did, even begging God's forgiveness for her actions. He had no idea how to react. He couldn't bring himself to be angry with her anymore, seeing her like this, but, to him, it was too little too late. The apology was a nice and appreciated gesture, but he couldn't help but feel like Clare wanted more.
"Thank you, but what do you expect to happen now?" he said slowly, spinning one of the rings on his fingers nervously.
"I had heard that you and Holly J had gotten together, but I thought that was just a rumor, people just assuming things. Seeing you with her before…" she said quietly, looking down to hide the truth in her eyes, how sad it made her to see him with another girl, "I had hoped that, maybe when school starts again and we have some time to sort through everything, that you and I could… try again." Eli raised his eyebrows, not completely surprised and shocked how easily she admitted to it.
"Try again. As in… a relationship? Get back together?," he asked in clarification. She nodded sadly and he shook his head, slightly annoyed, "Clare, I am with Holly J. Did you not just see that?"
"I know what I saw, Eli. But Holly J is going off to college soon, so what are you two going to do? Do you really think you can handle the long distance thing? I was only gone 11 weeks, what's going to happen when you're not with her for four, five months at a time? Get real, Eli. Your relationship with her has an expiration date on it and you're almost out of time. This was a summer fling. You had your fun and now it's time to face reality again."
All the sound had dropped out, the air around the table going cold, his blood turning to ice. He had to gaze down at his shaking hands; if he looked Clare in the face he would surely do something that he would regret. He wanted to break something. She didn't understand. No one understood. Holly J was his and he would never giver her up.
"Reality can go fuck itself," and he stood from the table, moving around it to leave. He needed to get out of there, to be some place where the walls weren't so close together and he wasn't so trapped. He needed to think. He needed Holly J.
"Do you love her?" Clare called out, turning to watch him leave, not caring that half of The Dot were now drawn to them. Eli stopped mid-stride, his heavy breath catching in his throat.
Four words never felt more like being hit by a bus.
A/N: The beginning of the end...