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Chapter 4: Broken Headphones

Clare walked down the stairs the next morning, her hair still damp from the shower, and headed towards the kitchen. She opened a cabinet, grabbing a box of Cheerios, and prepared her breakfast.

She was just about finished with her cereal, when she heard a car honk. Clare grabbed her bag and proceeded out the door. Her heart started palpitating at an extremely fast speed when she saw Eli waiting for her in his hearse. Never in her life did she fathom that she would find a guy driving a hearse attractive. But Eli made it happen.

"Good morning, sunshine," Eli said as Clare entered the car. He was obviously mocking the rather cliché expression.

"Hey!" Clare chirped, giving him a quick kiss. Mmmm, mint Clare thought, still tasting his toothpaste. Eli began to drive, heading to Degrassi.

"So, how are you doing?" Eli asked, the wind blowing his hair back. He was resting his arm on the open window. "Did ya dream about me?" he joked, dawning a quirky smile.

"Haha, very funny," Clare quipped sarcastically, suddenly feeling nervous. She had had a dream last night, but it wasn't about Eli. It was about KC.

In her dream, she was at Degrassi. Clare was at one end of the hallway, and KC was at the other. She was trying to run towards him, but he kept getting farther away. As she ran further down the hallway, Jenna suddenly appeared, blocking KC. She was about to say something to Clare, when all of a sudden, she dematerialized into thin air, leaving Clare free to walk up to KC. She finally reached him, but she felt something crunch beneath her show. She looked down to find Eli's headphones, broken in pieces.

Clare had woken up in a cold sweat, her chest quickly rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath.

Clare realized that all was too quiet in the hearse thanks to her mind wandering, but before she could open her mouth, they were already at Degrassi.

Both Clare and Eli exited the car and headed towards the building.

"Hey, Eli?" Clare said.

"Yeah?" Eli asked, putting his arm around her as they walked, making Clare feel protected.

"How about we have a movie-night tonight, just you and me. I'm thinking a Lord of the Rings marathon," Clare suggested. She wanted to have special alone time with Eli, feeling guilty that her mind had been consumed by KC lately.

"Did I hear Lord of the Rings? Dude, I'm in," Adam Torres cut in, coming up behind them.

"Alriiiight," Eli responded happily to Adam. The two fist-bumped.

"Uhhh, ok," Clare said quietly, disappointed that their alone time was just abolished. She smiled to hide her discontent.

The three parted ways to head towards their lockers. Clare opened hers and started switching books into and out of her bag.

"Can we talk?" a voice sheepishly asked behind her. Clare was surprised at the voice that she heard, expecting to hear Eli. She slowly turned around to see KC standing in front of her.

"Hey," Clare said, shocked that KC instigated a conversation with her. He had been so quick to escape from her yesterday, that she didn't think that he wanted to talk.

"I wanted to apologize for knocking you down yesterday. I've had a lot on my mind lately, and I guess I should watch where I'm going. Are you hurt?" KC asked. His hands were submerged in his sweatshirt pockets, and his eyes continually averted from Clare to the floor.

"It's ok KC, I'm fine," Clare answered, unsure of what to say. There was silence for a few seconds.

"So how have you been?" KC asked shyly, debating whether he deserved to ask her that.

"I've been good. Really good, actually," Clare responded assertively. She didn't want him to think that her world had collapsed completely when he broke up with her.

"That's great," KC relied, trying to sound enthusiastic.

"How about you?" Clare inquired, hoping to determine what he was having issues with.

"Well...I've been...stressed. But, I did move back in with my mom, "KC added, wanting to give Clare some good news.

"That's awesome, KC! When did she get out of jail?" Clare asked, relieved that he was finally our of the group home and living with a parent. He needed stability.

"A while. Several months, actually, but I moved in with her recently. She's clean now. For good," KC said, giving a quick smile. As their conversation prolonged, KC became less tense and he started feeling comfortable. Talking to Clare felt right.

"I'm so glad," Clare remarked, putting her hand on his arm to reassure him that she meant what she said.

"Jenna and I broke up," KC declared. He wanted Clare to know.

"Oh," was all Clare could say, her hands starting to get clammy. Of all the conversations they could be having, this was probably at the bottom of her list. Well, this explains his strange behavior, Clare deduced.

"And, I know you probably hate me – " KC started to say.

"No, KC. I don't hate you. I forgave you a while ago for what happened. I've moved on," Clare replied, looking straight into his eyes.

KC nodded his head.

"I really am sorry," he said, his voice quiet again. 'If I could undo what I did, I would."

"That's good to know," Clare said, giving KC a reassuring smile. Another long span of silence beheld them.

"Well, ok then," KC said, thus ending the conversation. He smiled goodbye and started walking away.

"Wait!" Clare yelled after him, unsure of what she was doing. The hallways started getting more crowded as the ringing of the morning bell grew closer. KC turned around, raising his eyebrows.

"Yeah?"

"...Do you wanna come over to my place tonight? Eli, Adam and I were gonna have a movie night. You could join us if you want," Clare offered. For some reason, Clare had an urge to spend time with KC. She wanted to catch up with him.

"Eli Goldsworthy? You hang out with him? Kinda dark, don't you think?" KC quipped. He suddenly remembered that it was Eli that Clare had been with when she was knocked down.

"Yeah. He's actually really cool once you get past the hearse and eyeliner," crossing her arms in defense. Clare paused. It was her turn for a confession. "- And we're sorta seeing each other." Clare waited to see KC's reaction. It took all of KC's strength to keep his jaw from hanging open.

"As in, you're in a relationship with him?" KC interrogated, his heart sinking. There's always someone between us. It it's not Jenna, it's that Goth guy, KC thought, feeling defeated. He began contemplating whether he wanted to go to movie night anymore.
"...Yeah," Clare replied timidly. Now it was Clare who was avoiding eye contact. She jumped when she heard the morning bell blare obnoxiously. "So, I'll see you tonight?" Clare asked hopefully.

"Uhhh...I don't know...maybe." KC answered, his shoulders stiffening again. He started shifting his feet.

"Ok," Clare said indignantly. "Well, let me know," ending the conversation with a slight smile.

"Will do." KC walked away, heading to his chemistry class. The last thing he wanted was to be a third wheel, but he really wanted to be with Clare. To talk, of course, nothing more. We can't go there, KC reassured himself.

All that KC knew was that tonight would either end really well, or really badly.