When there was about five minutes left during English class, Ms. Daws announced that we could talk, or work on our assignment. I look at my paper and notice that I only had about two sentences on my paper, so obviously I picked to work on my assignment, but Eli picked differently. He turns around to me. "You only have two sentences done?" He asks me.

I nod and sigh. How we can resolve this…no, it's too early for that sentence. Should I write more about drug use in the area? I don't want to miss the concept of the assignment.

"Clare," Eli laughs. "You have all night to work on it, don't worry."

I shake my head off all the stress. "Right," I say closing my notebook. "I'm overreacting."

He studies my stressed out face. "What's up with you lately? Is it about your dad?"

I rest my head on my hand. "I'm just really stressed out lately," I answer. I wasn't going to tell him it's about his stupid secret that I can't concentrate, because then that would start a fight. I should probably just give it some time. Knowing how hard that would be with me being so impatient, was really freaking me out.

The bell rings and everybody gets up to gather their stuff together. "Finally," I say under my breath and get up to put everything in my backpack. I slide my last notebook into it and start to get up and leave.

"Clare," Eli says. He reaches out to stop me in my path. "Is something wrong?"

I give him a fake smile. "Nothing's wrong Eli." I tell him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some algebra to get to…yay." I say sarcastically and leave. Eli knew something was up, and I really didn't like that he did…

The rest of the day went by fast and before I knew it, it was time to go home. Finally. Except now I have to face a painfully awkward ride home from Eli. Maybe I should talk to him then. I mean, he can't keep this secret of his from me forever.

Curiosity was killing me! Maybe I should just wait for him to tell me, I don't want to sound pushy. I walk to my locker and put my books inside it. While in the doing, I was trying to think of what his secret was. Maybe he was an ex-bully, or he got into a bad prank at his old school. Or maybe he just partied a lot, or did drugs? Or maybe I should just face it; maybe he's cheating…No he can't be!

"Edwards," I hear behind me. I kind of figured it would be Eli because he always meets me at my locker after school.

"Goldsworthy," I say not turning around and proceeding to keep putting my stuff in my locker.

"Goldsworthy," They say in a questionable tone. "I think you have the wrong person." This guy turns to the side of me and I see that it's…Reese.

I roll my eyes. "And I think that you have to wrong locker," I snap. "What do you want?"

"I did," I say. "But drug filled parties at the ravine aren't my thing."

He lifts his hands in a 'hey now' gesture. "Well," He starts as he slowly starts to walk away, still facing me. "If it was a party, I would've invited more than one person." He then turns around and walks away.

Hey now, what is he saying? Why would he think I, Clare Edwards, would ever hang out with him at the ravine? I roll my eyes at the thought and shut my locker, to see Eli and Adam walking down the hall in my direction.

You're just going to have to grin and bare it for now, Edwards. They finally reach me and give me a smile. "Hey guys," I say, trying to ignore the fact that Reese basically told me he liked me.

Adam looks behind him to see an angry Fitz. "Uh," He starts sounding nervous. "We'd better get going."

But it was too late. Fitz had already gotten up to Adam, picked him off his feet, and slams him into the locker next to mine. "You're dead, Torres!" He says growling through his teeth.

I see Eli start to step forward, but I push him back. This time, it's my turn to deal with Fitz because I've had enough of it.

I step forward to release Fitz grip off of Adam. "What are you doing?" Eli shouts behind me but I ignore him.

My arm was actually strong enough to release Fitz grip on Adam's shoulder. I step in front of Adam facing Fitz and he stands there with an angry look on his face. "Well if it isn't Little Saint Clare to the rescue." He says. It made me furious when people called me Saint Clare.

I wasn't going to take this. I lift my foot and it kicks right between the legs. He lets out a small an 'ouch!' and I grab his forehead and run him into the lockers on the other side of the hall. "I've been trying to let others handle your bullying but I am sick of it!" I yell still having him pinned to the lockers. "Just stay away from me, Adam, and Eli!"

"Or what?" He asks trying to sound intimidating.

"Or we're going to have a problem." I say quieter. "Because according to this," I point me, and then him. "You can easily be beat up by a girl. Even worse, you can easily be beat up by 'Little Saint Clare'." I push him against it one more time then let him go. His friends let out 'oooo's' and I brush my hands together and turn back to Eli and Adam with their jaws on the floor. "Let's go, shall we?"

I start to walk forward and notice Adam and Eli aren't beside me. I turn around and see them with their jaws still swung open. Adam finally laughs. "That was pretty kick-ass!" He says to me and runs up to give me a high-five. Wow, that felt good telling off Fitz like that.