A/N's: This chapter gets darker, and could contain trigger warnings. I do not in any way condone neglect, or abuse of any sort, but this chapter does contain some verbal and physical abuse for story purposes.
I hope all my Canadian readers had a wonderful Canada Day on July 1st, and all my US readers had a wonderful Fourth of July!
Ch 7. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
(Owen)
I can hear my alarm going off this morning, and drowsily open my eyes while I feel a weight on my chest. I look down to find Clare's head, and lean down enough to kiss the top of her head. She hasn't stirred yet, but needs to get up for school.
"Clare," I say shaking her arm, "you need to get ready for school," I inform her, and at the mention of school she slowly turns her head opening her eyes to look up at me.
"But getting up now means having to talk to my mom later, can't I just sleep until tomorrow?" she questions with a whine.
"We can postpone it, but you'll still have to tell her eventually, especially if you don't plan on going home, and you know you'll have me, Jay, Lucas, Spinner and Emma all there with you, plus you have the support of the Torres family, Bianca, Fiona, Imogen, Jake and my family already, plus I'm sure your brothers told Peter by now," I comment, and then Clare reaches over to the night stand for her phone.
"Yep, they told Peter alright. I have a voicemail and 10 text messages all from him while my phone was on silent during the night," Clare comments and I have to laugh at this. "And you're right we'll do it this afternoon, but you may want to make sure your SUV has room in it, cause I'm gonna need more clothes here at least," Clare comments and I realize she still only has the clothes from this past weekend and none of her own stuff to make this room feel like hers. Although her clothes did get washed when we got home.
"Come on, we should probably get up I hear movement downstairs, and I promise I'll make room in my SUV today," I tell her and kiss her lips quickly and then lift her off my chest so we can both get up. "Do you feel more comfortable about changing in the same room now?" I ask, but hope I'm not pressuring her.
"It'll still take some getting used to, but yes Owen I'm more comfortable changing in here now with you," Clare answers and I smile, and then go to my dresser grabbing some clean comfy clothes while Clare gets some from her duffle again. Clare bites her lip while we both change at the same time, and then she goes into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
We head down for breakfast and then I drive Clare and Tristan to school reminding Tristan that Clare and I won't be going home after school so he'll be walking home again. Clare and I kiss before she leaves the SUV and I watch until she's with Adam on the steps, and then I drive home. My parents both left after breakfast so no one's home. I head upstairs and take a shower and then sit on my bed pulling out my phone.
"Hello?" Drew asks when he answers.
"Hey man, it's me, you want to come help me with something?" I question.
"Does this mean you're not mad at me anymore?" he wonders, and I sigh slightly.
"I was never really mad at you man, but I could see how hurt Bianca was, and she's been one of my best friends for years. You made a mistake, and everyone makes mistakes, believe me I know, but I guess I more was just disappointed that after everything with Alli, Katie and Bianca at Degrassi that you hadn't learned from it by now. Especially since you proposed in the first place," I tell Drew. "But it's something to learn from now. You just need to give Bianca time. You know almost as well as I do, that she wants everyone to think she's so tough, but she takes it hard when someone hurts her," I remind him.
"Yes I know, I wasn't thinking this year and I do regret what I did and I'm sorry I hurt her. I still love Bianca, and want to do whatever I can to make it up to her, but I know she needs time," he tells me, and I smile. I'm glad he's realizing he has a lot to make up for. "So are we ok?" he asks with a bit of worry in his voice.
"We're ok, but if I find that you ever hurt Bianca again, or I find you hurt Clare or Maya in any way, I will hurt you, many times over," I explain to Drew, and I know he understands when I hear him gulp slightly.
"I understand," he tells me anyway. "So what is it you want to do today?" he questions.
"I want to do something for Clare. We're going after school today to tell her mom about the two of us, and she's sure her mom's not going to take it well. Having never met her mom I wouldn't know, but I'm taking Clare and her brothers' word for it. Either way we want to be together now that we're married, and my parents have said Clare can live with us until we can get our own apartment together so I want to rearrange my room today so when we leave Clare's place my room is ready for her things tonight," I explain.
"Wow, that's awesome of your folks to accept you guys so quickly, and be ok with Clare living with you. Sure I'd be happy to help," Drew comments.
"Well they couldn't do much about it, it had already happened before they had a say and they can tell I'm happy. But both Clare and I do have to look for jobs and we can't stay here for too long, but while we are here I want Clare to feel like its home in a way, so thanks man. Maybe come by in half an hour or so?" I question, and Drew agrees. We say goodbye and hang up. I decide to head down and clean out my SUV so it's ready for bringing back a bunch of Clare's stuff.
I'm just finishing up when Drew pulls up. "Hey man," he calls getting out.
"Hey, come on let's head upstairs and see what we can do," I comment as we head into the house. We work for a couple of hours and I'm able to rearrange and toss quite a few things I no longer needed. I can't believe how much stuff I had. Drew and I hang out for another hour after we finish and then he leaves.
I decide to grab a late lunch and then look through the papers for job ads. I checked the major papers yesterday and was able to send my resume by email into two jobs, although they're not really what I was hoping for, but it's something. I check the Star and the Sun again today, and I find that Swiss Chalet is looking for a waiter, and the pee wee hockey team at the Riverdale arena is looking for an assistant coach. So I email in my application and resume to Swiss Chalet and then I call the number listed for the assistant coaching position.
"Hello?" questions the man on the other end when he answers.
"Hi, my name is Owen Milligan, and I saw this number as part of an ad for the pee wee hockey team looking for an assistant coach," I explain why I called.
"Yes hi, I'm coach Wayne Parker, and it's the Riverdale Cougars pee wee hockey team who is in need of an assistant coach," he tells me. "Do you have experience with hockey?" he asks.
"Well, I played on the Degrassi hockey team my first three years of high school, and then I was selected to play for the Toronto Ice Hounds my final year at Degrassi. I was second string, but I was the only one chosen from Degrassi's hockey team. And I played second string for TU this past year also. I'll be going back this coming fall and will be trying out again," I inform coach Parker.
"Wow, you do have quite the experience, and I kept track of how the TU team was doing this past year. I think you'd be good. How would you feel about coming by for an interview and to meet the team on Saturday?" Coach Parker asks, and I'm really happy about this opportunity.
"Sure, that would be great, what time and where would work best?" I ask trying to sound professional.
"Would 2 o'clock at the Riverdale arena work alright? The team has practice at 3, so we could do the interview and then you could meet the players as they arrive and get on the ice," Coach Parker informs me.
"Sounds great, thank you so much. Is there anything I should bring to the interview?" I ask, as I want to be as prepared as possible.
"A reference from one of your coaches, and your resume. And maybe bring your skates and some pads, just in case," he tells me, and I smile at this.
"Alright, I'll see you then, thanks, have a nice day," I politely reply. He says goodbye and hangs up. I'm smiling about this because not only is it a job, but it would be something I'd enjoy doing. It's now about 3, so I decide to head over to Degrassi to see Coach Armstrong before I meet Clare at the Dot.
When I arrive, school hasn't let out yet, but I see Officer Turner out front.
"Hello Owen. You're no longer a student here," he comments as I walk up after I parked.
"Hi Officer Turner, no I graduated last year, but I have a job interview this Saturday and I need to talk to Coach Armstrong for a few minutes if it's not a problem," I explain to Dave's dad.
"Does he know you're coming?" he questions, but I know he's just doing his job.
"No, but I was headed to the Dot anyway, so I thought I'd stop by here because the person I'm waiting for isn't finished until the bell rings," I comment with a smile, and I see he starts smiling too.
"Alright Owen, you can head in, but just go to the office, and have them call Coach Armstrong to meet you, just so we know who is in the school," he explains and I understand.
"I will," I tell him and he lets me in. I pass the metal detectors they still have up, and head for the office explaining to the secretary why I'm there and she calls Coach Armstrong. Before he arrives I see Principal Simpson for a moment and wave with a smile before he heads into his office. And a few minutes later Coach Armstrong walks up and I explain why I'm there.
(Clare)
The bell just rang for the end of the day, and I couldn't be happier because today was so boring. I know school used to mean everything to me, but now that there's only about 2 months left I'm so looking forward to it being over. Although, I haven't really wanted today to end either, because I don't want to have to experience this conversation with my mom tonight.
I leave class with Adam after gathering my books, exchange what I need from my locker and then head toward the front doors expecting to walk to the Dot, but to my surprise as I get toward the front office I see Coach Armstrong talking to Owen. I walk up slowly, as I don't really want to be eavesdropping, but I am curious what Owen is doing here. Adam goes on without me as I wait for Owen.
I get to the doorway to hear Coach Armstrong say, "I'm sure you'll do great Owen, please let me know how it goes," and Owen nods, and then Coach turns and smiles at me as he passes and leaves the office.
"Hey Clare," Owen says as I walk toward him, but given that only a few people, especially here, know about us, we just decide to walk out together. Right now everyone is passing the office to leave, whereas in the mornings when we kiss goodbye, there's fewer people here, and at least some of them already know about us.
"Hi, what was that about?" I ask as we head out to his SUV.
"Well I applied for a few more jobs today and one of them had a phone number rather than wanting a resume through email, so I called, and they want a reference, so I decided to ask Coach Armstrong," Owen explains but appears to be leaving out a lot of the details.
"What's the job?" I ask as we head over to the Dot.
"It's as an assistant coach for the Riverdale Cougars pee wee hockey team, The coach of the team had asked about my hockey experience, so I told him, and I have an interview on Saturday afternoon. He asked for a reference from one of my coaches. I played for Coach Armstrong for a lot longer than at TU, so I decided to ask him," Owen explains and it makes a lot more sense now.
"That's great Owen, congratulations, I hope it goes well," I excitedly tell him and kiss his cheek as we pull in at the Dot.
"Thanks Clare," Owen smiles. We get out of his SUV and walk into the café. Lucas is already here sitting at a booth so we head over and sit with him. After a few minutes Fitz comes over with an order pad.
"Hi Clare, Lucas, Owen, what can I get you?" he asks politely. But has a funny look on his face, probably that I'm not only sitting with Owen, but with Lucas too.
"Hey Fitz, can I get a bacon cheeseburger and a coke please," Owen asks for.
"Hi Fitz, I'd like a double bacon burger and chocolate shake," Lucas requests, and I smack him on the arm. All the guys look at me for smacking him, but Lucas clues in after a moment, and knows me well enough to know why and turns back to Fitz. "Please," he finishes, and they all laugh.
"Hey Mark, how have you been? Can I please get a vanilla shake and a garden salad? I'm not really hungry," I comment.
"I've been good Clare, it's nice to see you. Hope you had a nice Easter. I'll put in your order, and your drinks will be up in a few minutes," Fitz tells us.
"It was interesting, but nice," I comment. "I hope yours was good too," I tell him. He smiles, nodding and then heads back to the counter.
"So, you ready for this?" Lucas questions me.
"Not really, but I know it has to be done," I counter as I cross my arms on the table.
"You'll have all of us there to support you, and help if things go bad. Most of us know at least a little with how your mom can be remember," Lucas comments.
"Thanks Lucas," I uncross my arms, smiling at him.
We talk for a few more minutes and then Spinner and Emma walk in. Emma sits next to Lucas, as Owen and I are across from him, and Spinner grabs a chair and pulls it up at the end. Fitz brings over our drinks and then pulls out his note pad again. "Would you two like anything?" he asks.
"Yes please, can I get a veggie burger with everything, plus extra onions and ranch dressing on it please, and an apple juice with vanilla ice cream," Emma asks, and all the guys including Fitz cringe.
"Ok…" Fitz responds slowly, obviously pretty grossed out even writing it down.
"Hey Fitz, can I get…" Spinner starts and then looks at Emma, who nods. "A cheeseburger and a chocolate shake," he tells Fitz.
"Coming up, I'll be back with your drinks soon," he tells them and then walks away.
"Pregnancy craving?" I question Emma after Fitz is gone.
"Yeah, and I'm still vegetarian, so it can be interesting sometimes," she comments. "You want to go talk before our food comes?" she asks and I nod. We both get up, and I smile at Owen since we can't do much else in here right now, and he smiles back, and then I walk up to the counter.
"Hey Mark," I comment and he turns around with a small smile.
"I've always hated my first name, but I don't mind it coming from you," he comments and now I'm smiling.
"I always liked your first name," I reply.
"Well, as long as no one else starts using it you can keep doing it," he tells me. "So what can I do for you?" he asks.
"Thanks, and I was wondering if anyone would be using the employee lounge in the next few minutes," I tell him.
"I'm the next to go on break but it won't be for another 15 minutes, but why? I mean neither of you are employees here," he questions, but all I do is laugh.
"Actually Emma used to work here, and Peter is still the manager when he's home, and he's an older brother to me. Emma and I just want to talk in private for a few minutes," I tell him.
"Ok, go ahead," he finally gives in after thinking about it for a minute.
"Thanks Mark," I smile and then I head back and Emma follows me.
"Alright, so I technically you're married, but I'm looking out for you little sis, so I want to know, is Owen pressuring you about anything?" Emma asks, and I can feel my cheeks begin to heat up.
"Not really," I answer.
"Clare, be honest," Emma prods. "What have you and Owen done together, besides getting married of course."
"The night we got married, while we were both drunk we slept together but neither of us remembered it at all. But I felt it in the morning," I admit.
"So I'm thinking that because you don't remember it and it wasn't planned that the two of you didn't use protection," she asks, and I shake my head slowly.
"Spinner put me on birth control just after Darcy was raped, but recently it was giving me problems, so I was switched to a new type," I tell her and she nods.
"And I know you, so there was no morning after pill," Emma comments, and I vigorously shake my head again.
"No, even if Bianca or I had thought of it, I just couldn't do that," I remark as my eyes start to tear up.
"I know," Emma comments and puts her hand on mine. "Given that there was no protection and limited prevention, I'm letting you know now to watch for signs of pregnancy hun. Just think about it," she tells me, and I nod slowly and gulp slightly. "Anything since then?" she asks.
"Last night we changed in front of each other. I was nervous but Owen was encouraging, and then I helped him change," I tell her and she looks at me. "What?" I question.
"He's probably just trying to help you be more comfortable, but make sure not to let him pressure you," she reminds me.
"I know Em. He encouraged me to try it, but gave me the choice if he would change in the bedroom with me, and if I would help him. And then with his hand on mine, and with my permission, we both gave him a hand job," I tell her, and now I see her with slightly wider eyes.
"Ok, well experimentation is always good, but you do have a voice so if you're not comfortable with anything speak up. And if you ever have questions, please come to me, I'm always here for you," she reminds me, and I'm happy to have Emma in my life.
"I know Em, thanks," I get up and hug Emma when she stands, and then we head back out to the booth.
"I was just about to come to the employee lounge with your food," Fitz comments as we sit back down.
"Thanks anyway Mark," I comment and everyone looks at me and then up at Mark as Emma and I start eating.
"Wait, you've hated your name for as long as I've known you," Owen comments.
"I still do, but Clare has my permission to call me Mark as long as no one else does," Mark explains and everyone just shrugs. He heads back to the counter and we eat for another 10 minutes before Jay enters. I never did get any homework done, but I only have some English reading to do thankfully.
"Everyone ready for an interesting afternoon?" Jay questions cheerily in greeting as he walks over.
"Not really but let's go," I comment and then stand and toss my garbage. I lean towards Owen when he stands asking, "would you mind if we invited Mark with us to wherever we decide to go after we leave my mom's? I know I'm gonna want to out somewhere after," I tell him.
"If you want to I don't mind, but remember Fitz liked you for a long time, so we'll probably have to tell him about us tonight at some point," Owen suggests and I agree.
Before we head out I go up to the counter. "I'm going on my break Meghan," Fitz tells the girl behind the counter who nods.
"What time do you finish today Mark?" I ask.
"6pm," he replies.
"We have to go do something right now, but do you want to hang out tonight? The group of us will probably just go to get something to eat at Dairy Queen or the Break Room," I tell him.
"Sure, sounds nice, thanks for including me," he smiles.
"Ok, cool, I'll text you when we finish. This is still your number right?" I ask pulling out my phone to my contacts showing him the last number I have for him.
"Yep, sounds good," he says and then waves to us all before he heads toward the employee lounge.
We go out and then head to my house, and I give Owen directions. I still have my key so I unlock the door when we arrive. "Mom? Glen?" I call as we enter.
"Hi Clare," Glen comments coming out of the kitchen. "How was Vegas?" he asks and then notices everyone around me.
"It was fine, but I need to talk to you and mom," I tell him walking further into the house, as the others follow me.
"Who are you all?" Glen asks my brothers and Emma but I don't bother answering and neither do they. Owen puts his arm around my shoulders as we walk through the kitchen and into the dining room where I find my mom sitting at the far end of the table.
"Clare," my mom greets with almost a disdain as I walk in. "Where have you been?" she asks.
"I called the last two nights to say I was staying with friends," I tell her as Glen follows my brothers and Emma in. Emma sits down but I stay standing behind the chair at the opposite end from my mom. Glen sits next to my mom but Owen stands beside me with his arm around my shoulders and Spinner beside Emma, the other two on either side of us.
"Jay, Lucas, Spinner, Emma, what in the world are you doing in my house? Get out before I call the cops, and who is this?" mom asks pointing at Owen.
"Mom, I invited them, and this is Owen, and we need to talk to you," I tell her. I open my mouth to speak again, but before I can she's already speaking.
"If you're here to tell me you're pregnant and he's the father then he can get out this minute and I'll take you to an unwed mother's home right now. They can take care of you," she commands and I knew this would be hard, but it's like she got worse in the 5 days I was away. I feel Owen's arm tighten around me.
I take a few deep breaths and then just blurt out, "mom, that's not it. We came to tell you that Owen and I got married," I tell her, and I know I spoke fast, but then let out another breath when I'm done.
"No, you do not get married without me, without my permission. And certainly not to some hoodlum. Especially if he's friends with these delinquents," mom says with determination.
"Mom they are all my friends not delinquents, and Owen is my husband he's not a hoodlum. I'm 18 years old, I don't need your permission to get married. Getting married was a surprise to us too, but we're happy," I tell my mom trying to keep calm.
"Happy doesn't make a marriage work, I was happy when I married your father and look how that turned out, and what do you mean it was a surprise to you? He forced you to get married didn't he?" mom says getting angrier by the moment.
"But they are happy Mrs. Martin, and they really care about each other. We've all witnessed how good they are together. Owen didn't force Clare. This marriage may not have been in the plan they had but maybe it was God's plan," Emma offers. Being so close for so many years I have shared with Emma my faith, and she's been open to learning about it, and she accepted Christ as her Saviour two years ago, not that mom knew that.
"You don't get to talk about God in this house you little wench," mom says as she stands. "You married this delinquent and had never even dated. I'm sure you encouraged my daughter to go out without my permission and get married and probably get herself knocked up didn't you," mom says with glaring eyes at Emma her finger pointed as she begins marching in Emma's direction. Emma gets up out of the chair and begins backing up as Spinner and Jay stand in front of her. Owen's arm continues to get tighter and Lucas gets in front of me and Owen.
"Don't you ever call or talk about my wife like that," Spinner says and from his voice I know he's getting angry although he tries to remain calm. And I hear Emma start sniffling back tears. It's at this point Glen stands walking around toward my mom.
"Now Helen, there's no use getting upset, what's done is done," he says with his hands on her shoulders from behind, but says it like he doesn't really care as long as he can eat soon.
"You're right Glen," mom appears to calm down super fast like she just got a brilliant idea. "What's done is done, but something like this can always be… undone," she says with a touch of malice in her voice. And I know I'm getting scared now. My mom has always tried to be in charge of everything and wanted mega control, but this is scary even for her. Emma has now moved back past me and Spinner is standing with his arm around her, but Jay and Lucas are still playing bodyguards and Owen is still at my side.
"What do you mean, undone mom? Owen and I are married and we plan to stay that way. I'm happy and I know Owen's happy. I love him mom, I don't want to lose him," I tell my mom and then realize what I just said, although I don't want to take it back.
"What do you know about love? You don't love this boy, you know nothing about love or life, you're just a child, and now we're going to go undo this little mistake of yours Clare," mom says. Even with Jay and Lucas in front of us, mom has moved away from Glen and tries to reach out for my arm, and I feel her nails dig in to my right arm for a moment and then Owen moves me behind him too as my arm begins hurting as I feel where she got her nails in.
"Don't you ever touch my wife," he growls. "Clare is not a child, she is a smart, funny, beautiful, happy woman full of faith and love, and I love her too," Owen says and I catch a breath in my throat and get a huge grin on my face, and then my mother speaks again and it wipes off the grin real fast.
"Clare come now we're going to a judge and getting this marriage annulled, and you will never see any of these people again," mom threatens and my eyes fill with tears as I try to remain strong.
"Clare is 18, you no longer have any legal right to tell her what to do, and you have no say in Clare getting married and can't make her get an annulment," Lucas reminds my mom.
But just as Lucas finishes this, my mom let's out an ear piercing scream, which scares us all and shakes the house. "She is my daughter and she will do whatever I say. God commands that you obey your mother and father Clare, and you are not obeying, come here now!" she yells, and now I'm more scared then I ever thought possible with my mom. It's like with the loss of me she's losing her mind.
Jay doesn't turn around but tells with his back to me, "You are never coming back to this house Clare, now run upstairs with Owen and Emma and grab as much of your stuff as possible, hurry, we'll make sure you're ok," he tells me.
"Be careful," I reply quickly and then race upstairs with Owen and Emma on my heels.
I get to my room shutting the door, and can still hear my mother screaming from down stairs about having such an insolent child. We don't talk at all when we're up here, and I go straight to my closet.
I grab my matching suit cases and extra duffle bag out of closet and then my old backpack and the empty box from under my bed. With Emma's help I grab many of my clothes and shoes from my closet and dresser which fills the duffle and 1 and a half suitcases. I grab some school stuff off my desk and the picture of Darcy and I when we were little. I grab my bible from my grandparents, and some other books off the shelves, and I'm putting everything I'm taking on my bed and now Owen and Emma are packing it for me. I grab a few more things and the final things I pack are the blanket my Godmother made me and my teddy bear from my nanny and papa, and then I'm all set. I grab my duffle and a suit case. Emma gets my back pack and a suit case and Owen grabs the box and we leave my room.
I get to top of the stairs and see the guys in front of them and my mom between them and the door still yelling. But now Glen is trying to calm her down. We get down the stairs and the guys make a blockade so we can get to the door and then we all get out and Jay closes the door behind us.
"Break room," I call as we get into our vehicles and away from what was once my house, my overly-passive step-father and my now malice-filled overly-controlling mother.
I get in with Owen and then lean over to kiss his cheek. "Thank you for being there," I tell him and see him smile and then get out my phone.