Sorry there was no chapter last night guys we have 3 serious looming deadlines at work on top of our annual event being next Friday! So work is a wee bit ridiculous right now and to make it even worse two people are on vacation and the person that was supposed to be handing the event this year instead of me no longer works for us so it's back on me.

This coming week will be just insane for me and chapters are probably going to be very short. I will do my absolute best not to skip another chapter but they will likely be on the short side.

Winners for last week's poll are up on the DeGrassi Saviors website and new character polls are up. These are the last character polls you will be voting on so make your votes count! This week it's Fitz, Dallas and Mia. Be sure and get your votes in the poll will stay up for one week. Next week will begin the voting for various couples.

Also check out the new additions to the DeGrassi Saviors homepage. And on my page check out the calendars on my page that list my writing schedule through July.

Ch. 7 Just Me & the Night

(CLARE)

"Ready to go?" Eli asks as we leave class Thursday afternoon.

"Yeah," I smile as he holds his arm out to me.

"Have her back by ten it's a school night," Drew says.

"I will," Eli replies and we walk out to his car. I'm going to his house for dinner and a movie, we'll do homework first even though I got most of mine done on my spare, and we edited our movie at lunch so it's ready to turn in tomorrow. Eli gets us a snack when we get in and we sit down to do our homework. I finish mine first but Eli's already got on the TV.

"Where's your washroom?" I question after drinking two glasses of lemonade.

"Upstairs at the end of the hall," Eli tells me.

I go upstairs to find the washroom but the first door I see has a padlock on it, by the Dead Hand poster on the door I know it's Eli's. I furrow my brow at the lock and wonder why he'd need a padlock on his bedroom door. I use the washroom and return downstairs.

"Uh Eli why do you have a padlock on your bedroom door?" I question cautiously.

Eli's eyes narrow a little, I didn't even look in the room and he looks as though I violated his personal property just by asking the quesition. I bite my lip and look down like I did something wrong because it's how I feel.

"I like my privacy," he replies sounding a little angry but he's not yelling or anything. "We should probably order dinner, I was thinking Thai there's a great place down the street but they're popular so it takes over an hour to get here."

"Thai sounds great," I nod.

Eli retrieves the menu, I look it over deciding what I want and he calls in the order. He's calm and never yelled but for the next half hour or so I'm afraid to say or do anything just because of how he looked at me. By the time the food comes I'm more relaxed and Eli hasn't looked scary, in fact he's been quite sweet. We pick out a movie and sit on the sofa watching the movie. His parents are out tonight so I know they won't be home. We eat watching the movie, when we're done eating Eli puts his arm around me.

"You want to watch another movie? My parents won't be back until after I have to take you home," Eli says and I open my mouth to answer but he keeps talking. "No wait I'm going to write my own movie, no better a play, a love story a fantastic love story and you can play the lead."

Before I can even tell him I don't act and he doesn't want me to play the lead he races upstairs still talking. I follow him upstairs to I can tell him I don't act but maybe I can help him write it or at least edit.

"Eli I d…" is all I can get out because he whirls around and glares at me, a menacing almost hateful glare that makes my heart race with fear.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? DON'T FOLLOW ME NO ONE CAN SEE INTO MY ROOM!" He screams and I shrink back.

"I'm sorry I didn't…"

"Just wait for me downstairs," Eli asserts no longer yelling but he growls it as an order and I'm frightened.

"I think I should just go back to Adam's," I reply turning to run downstairs.

"NO STOP!" Eli yells and then I hear a crashing sound and look behind me to see that he's a shelf full of stuff off the bookshelf in the hall.

"Eli you're scaring me I want to go home," I assert.

"No, no don't leave," he sort of begs and leaps down the stairs to get in front of me. He blocks me from continuing down the stairs and holds my arm with one hand in a controlling manner while the other cups my face tenderly. "I have so many ideas Clare, the perfect play for us, the ultimate love story. It will be epic Clare, there are so many ideas racing in my head, you have to stay you're my muse I need you so you can't leave. You can move in here, move in with me," he asserts. He talks extremely rapidly, there's a frenzied look in his eyes but also a hopeful one. He almost seems euphoric and yet manic all at once but he is entirely serious about me moving in.

"Eli I can't move in with you I barely know you and I live with Adam. I really think I should go home now, we can talk about the play tomorrow," I insist trying not to show my fear.

"No you'll move in here you can't leave now I need my muse," Eli growls tightening his grip on my arm and beginning to pull me up the stairs.

"Eli let me go," I say trying to pull away from him but my voice is no longer strong just scared and begging.

"You're staying, you'll move in and be my muse Clare. I have so many ideas, a million of them for my play. My epic love story play about us," Eli continues talking in a hurried manner as he tries to drag me upstairs and I try to get out of his grip.

I'm getting more terrified by the moment, my own mind runs wild with horrifying possibilities like he has a padlock on his door because he has other girls in there. Ridiculous notion I know but at this moment I'm not sure what Eli is capable of or what he'll do. We're nearing the top of the stairs and I'm certain he's about to lock me in his room when a dark hooded figure stops us, grabbing Eli's wrist and forcing him to let go of my arm.

"She said let her go," Fitz snarls punching Eli hard before he can even turn his head to look at Fitz. Eli falls back, slips on the steps and hits his head. I gasp and at the same time cling to Fitz very grateful that he's here to save me, yet again. "Are you okay?"

"Yes I am now thanks to you but you'd better go I need to make sure Eli's okay," I tell him.

"I'll be close by," he assures me.

Reluctantly letting go of Fitz he goes back down the stairs and I look at Eli. He's only unconscious, he's breathing and not bleeding from the ears or anything, he'll have a headache and maybe a concussion. I go downstairs grab my phone and call Adam for the first couple of rings I hold it together but now that I'm not afraid anymore I kind of breakdown, sinking onto the sofa and breaking into tears.

"How's the date going?" Adam asks upon answering.

"Adam can you and Drew come get me?" I request between deep breaths and tears.

"What's wrong?"

"Eli he…he I don't know he was yelling and…I thought he…he…" I'm crying so hard I can't even speak now.

"It's okay we're on our way just wait outside okay," Adam says and hangs up. I nod to no one, gather my stuff and go out the door sitting on the front step and waiting for Adam. A car pulls up a moment later but it's not Adam and Drew, it's Owen. Obviously Drew called him since Owen lives closer to Eli than Adam does.

"What happened? Where's Eli?" Owen inquires.

"Probably still on the steps, can you check on him?"

Owen nods and goes inside, I stop crying by the time he comes out which is also when Drew pulls up with Adam and Bianca in the car. Drew parks and they all come out.

"Eli will be alright, he probably has a concussion though. I helped him to his bed and called his parents what happened?" Owen questions as Adam comes over and hugs me.

"Everything was fine and then he had an idea for a play but he became obsessed with the idea. He kept talking about it and wouldn't stop and when I told him I wanted to back to Adam's he got angry and started pulling me up the stairs, I was fighting to get away and he slipped. Then I called Adam," I tell them leaving out that Fitz rescued me and hoping Eli won't remember someone else was there because of his concussion.

"He's mostly just dazed now, why don't you guys get her home and I'll stay with Eli until his parents get here," Owen tells us.

"Yeah let's get home," Adam nods pulling me to the car.

"Thanks for coming over here," Drew says to Owen.

"No problem see you guys tomorrow," he replies and we get in the car.

"You sure you're okay?" Adam questions as Drew begins driving home.

"Yeah just a little shaken," I nod.

We drive in silence the rest of the way and when we get home I take a shower. I feel better after a long relaxing shower, after getting into my pajamas and going out to the main part of the basement where the others are Adam tells me Eli's parents took him to the ER. Bianca is staying the night and just before we go to bed Eli sends me a text to say that he has a concussion and won't be in school tomorrow, and that he's sorry for scaring me.

Bianca is sleeping over tonight so I know Fitz won't be by. She sleeps on the sofa and I sleep in my bed. Given my father's recent behavior Omar had a lawyer draw up guardianship papers for my father to sign when they meet with him this weekend. While Audra, Omar and the family lawyer from his office meet with my father I'll be at his house with Adam, Drew and Bianca, as well Owen possibly, to get most of my stuff. I fall asleep fairly quickly but wake after a disturbing dream, now I'm restless and unable to sleep. I try quietly going to the fridge for water but it still wakes Bianca.

"You alright Clare?" She asks sitting up with a big yawn so that I barely understand her.

"Fine just getting some water I had a…disturbing dream," I reply grabbing a bottle from the fridge.

"You want to talk about it?" She asks.

"No it's okay you can go back to sleep," I tell her with a smile although I'm not sure that she can see me in the dark.

"I don't need sleep, besides I'm curious now. Come on you'll feel better if you talk about it," she insists sitting all the way up and patting the sofa next to her.

"It was extremely weird," I tell her but I walk to the sofa and sit down.

"Most dreams are weird Babe. I once had a dream that I was part peacock, not peahen mind you but a peacock with all the schmancy feathers. I laid a golden egg that exploded into clovers and flowers," Bianca tells me and I giggle at her dream.

"I was a princess I think, well I lived in a castle anyway, even though it was pretty small. My father was king and he married a wench, then he married me off to Eli who was a prince, handsome and rich but he was dark, almost evil. I went to live in his palace and at first I was happy but then he became darker and anger, tried to lock me away. Then I found a creature living under the palace, he was ugly and beastly looking, scaled almost but he was very sweet, tender, caring and protective. I ran away with him and he turned from ugly creature to a handsome boy. So am I crazy? Have I been reading too many fairy tales?"

"No given the last few days it makes total sense. Your dad is a total nut bag who married a girl out of the blue. Eli is like a dark prince, he's good looking but he's dark and he's obviously got a bad side. This creature that lives underground and becomes a prince well…I'm not too sure, you're secret admirer maybe. Anyway as weird as your dream was it makes total sense so stop worrying about is and get to sleep," Bianca tells me.

"Night and thanks," I grin getting up. I go back to my bed feeling much better and fall asleep without trouble this time.

(FITZ)

"When are you going to take those flowers down?" Eli asks Clare as he walks her and Adam to their lockers Thursday morning. I've been in the crawl space behind their lockers for a while waiting for Clare to get to school. Already saw Owen and Bianca they were at their lockers before going out front to wait for Drew.

"I like the flowers, they're nice and I'm not going to take them down," Clare replies and I hear the smile on her lips and I know she's thinking of me.

"We're still on for tonight?" Eli asks and I hear the jealousy in his voice.

"Yes of course I'll go with you right after school," Clare responds.

I hear them talk a few more minutes, Clare and Adam close their lockers and they begin walking to class so I follow through the crawlspace. Listening to their voices to follow them and seeing that they get to class. I travel between Clare's class and Owen and Bianca's class until the bell rings. I watch them all morning and through lunch but when Owen and Clare meet up at her locker to spend their spare together I go back home to eat lunch. I spend the afternoon reading, we have a library and there's not that much more to do down here so we read a sorts of things and that's how we learn. Knowing that Clare has a date with Eli I leave before school is out to follow them, running through the alleys with hood up so that no one sees me. I'm able to follow Eli's car pretty closely to his house, finding a dark corner in the yard where I can stay out of sight. I'm not close enough to hear or see what's going on but if Clare needs me I'll know. I sit out there for hours, mostly day dreaming about being with Clare and not being scarred. It's a fantasy that can never be but it's my favorite one to think about.

Suddenly my wonderful day dreams are interrupted by an immediate and overwhelming feeling of fear from Clare. It's nearing dark now and I leave my hiding spot. The back door to Eli's house is locked but that won't stop me I've been picking locks since I was seven. I get in easily and quietly and listen to what's going on, ready to step in if Clare really needs me but I'll stay in the shadows if I can. It's better if no one sees me. Eli is talking fast, and then he yells and Clare is scared but I listen still and not go in yet, just yelling doesn't mean Clare's in trouble. Then I feel fear and desperation from Clare, she's so scared I know she needs me and can't get out of this alone. I have to find my way through Eli's house, through the kitchen and living room to the stairs where he's trying to pull Clare upstairs and she does not want to go. I tell him to let her go and then punch him before he can see me. Eli falls back hitting his head on the steps and Clare gasps.

"Are you okay?" I ask turning to her and she clings to me.

"Yes I am now thanks to you but you'd better go I need to make sure Eli's okay," she says.

"I'll be close by," I tell her.

Clare smiles and I go back outside, back into the shadows. When I hear Clare go out front I follow, staying in the shadows, hiding in the bushes. When I see Owen pull up I know that she's safe and I leave, going to the alley and underground. I take some dinner and go to my room but I don't feel very hungry and I just stare at the food.

"You're thinking of her again," Doc says coming into my room and sitting on the edge of my bed with me.

"I can't help it I'm always thinking of her I know I shouldn't be but I can't help it. It hurts so much, I want to be with her, to hold her and take her out but I can't. I want so very badly to be with her and I wish more than anything I could be everything that she needs. It tears at me that I can't be with her; I can't even be everything she needs."

"Fitz no one person can be everything another person needs. That's why we live in families and communities even down here. You are what she needs, part of what she needs and I know that you both care for each other deeply. I see it your face and your eyes when you think of her and after you've been with her. If this world was different more tolerant place where looks didn't matter or it didn't hurt so much when people backed away from you cowering in fear because of how you look. Then you could be with Clare and I'm sorry it's not."

"I told her to be with Eli, to go out with him because she can't be with me. I know I still can't but Eli…he's tried to hurt her more than once. He's had mood swings, not normal mood swings and they frighten Clare. I have this continuing fear that he's really going to hurt her."

"As long as you're watching over her I know she'll be safe," Doc tells me patting my shoulder in a fatherly gesture before standing up and leaving my room.

I know I'm not going to be able to sleep so I get up and leave my room and the tunnels, it's night and night is my time. It's just me and the night now, the city is mine. I don't have to walk through the alleys, don't need to hide, don't even need my hoodie on the dark streets. There's still some places I can't go, it's not like I can just walk into a fancy restaurant and have a meal, can't really go anywhere that requires money since I have none, we don't use it down below. Still I can walk free; I can sneak into the movie theatre and watch the movies from behind the screen. I can watch the stars from nearly any roof in the city. I can stroll the parks, walk the harbor, I can be free at night without so much fear. I listen to the city, it's almost magical in it's own mundane way.

From one house I hear someone masterfully playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. From another I hear laughter, joyous boisterous laughter. The people talking on the street making their own symphony, crickets and birds returning to their nests and owls awakening. I walk for hours, going by Owen's house and then to Adam's, Bianca is here tonight along with Clare and the house is sound asleep. I sit outside for a while; just sit gazing up at the stars and dreaming of a world where I can be with Clare. When the sun begins to rise I retreat back underground, back to the shadows, back to the dark. I go to my room and fall asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.

I wake up in the late afternoon, it's after lunch time at DeGrassi and I know Clare will be with Owen on their spare. Today is first football game of the season and the school is buzzing with talk about the game. I go home to eat returning to the school just before the game. I go to the far part of the football field that borders the ravine, climbing a tree I have a perfect view of the field without anyone seeing me. I watch Owen, Drew and the DeGrassi team play, I cheer and clap when DeGrassi makes a goal or Owen makes a good play. I watch Clare in the stands sitting with Adam and Bianca, cheering and clapping for Owen and Drew. When the game ends with DeGrassi's victory I watch Bianca run to the field and attack Drew's lips for a joyous kiss. Clare and Adam clap, people are cheering and clapping, in the midst of the celebration I climb from the tree and go back to the shadows. There will be a celebration now, the team and their girlfriends will go out to celebrate so I know Owen and Bianca will be safe in a crowd of friends and people they know. I'm also sure that Clare and Adam are going home and so I follow them, through the shadows and alleys. I'm not the only one, three North Park boys have been following them since they left the school. A block from their house the North Park boys decide it's time for action.

"That victory should have been ours, your team cheated," one of them says.

"Not our fault your team sucks," Adam replies.

Instead of the other guys replying he shoves Adam in the chest. Adam stumbles back a little but Clare catches him.

"No way that guy's a chick, I think we should have some fun," laughs the one that shoved Adam.

"Stay away from them!" I roar coming from the dark but with my hood up still. They all turn to look at me, not that they can see me, I grab them by their jackets knocking their heads together. They both fall down dazed and woozy. "Both of you get home," I tell Adam and Clare while I block a punch from the other. I punch him in the gut and kick him when he crumbles. "Stay away from them, try to hurt either of them again and I will know and I'll come for you. Now take your buddies and get back to your neighborhood.

"Clare was that…" Adam is saying but I don't hear anymore as they run up the street to his house.

I wait until the three boys are running in the other direction, then I walk to Adam's to make sure they made it home safe. Adam and Clare are in the basement but when I come into the yard, even in the shadows, Clare looks over at me. Adam looks over too; he sees me but can't see my face because my hood is still up. She says something to Adam and then they both come out of the basement.

The next update is Tuesday and will pick up from right here in Clare's pov.

So because Through Early Morning Fog could not be posted last night and I Love You More is ending Tomorrow, I will be posting rearranging the schedule a bit to get two chapters of Through Early Morning Fog next week.