You can kind of call this a part two to my last chapter.
I just have two things to say. For the person leaving Degrassi, I'm pretty sure it's Leia. I know for sure it isn't Clare. The story writers wouldn't make a popular character leave.
As for everyone's opinions on Clare's new 'look' I'm sure it isn't what we think. If Clare really did want to change her image, I doubt she would go that far. And Eli likes her for who she is. I'm sure it's for a play, or a protest against the uniforms, or something reasonable. Gosh, people, think about it.
Anyways, enjoy!
Clare woke with a start, looking around the room frantically, trying to decipher where she was. She instantly calmed, recognizing the light purple hues on her bedroom walls. She looked at the digital clock on her nightstand. She had woken up five minutes before it was supposed to go off. She turned off her alarm clock and walked into the bathroom.
Striping, she stepped into the shower and let the hot water wash away any impurities her dream had left her with. Instead of her usual dream including Eli and some romantic setting, she dreamed of the halls of Degrassi and Eli's cold, limp, bloody body. She shivered involuntarily.
She finished up her shower and dressed for the day. Two weeks. She would be at her grandmother's house for two weeks, away from friends, most electronics, and, more importantly, Eli.
The very thought of him made her heart beat frantically. Last night had been hell. She had called him at one in the morning, the need to hear his voice urgent. She needed to make sure he was in bed, asleep. Not bleeding, or in a hospital, or worse. More than once he had to reassure her that he was fine and that he wasn't going anywhere.
She wandered downstairs and was surprised to see her parent sitting there silently. She tried to ignore their stares as she poured herself some cereal. She sat down adjacent to them and ate as quickly as she could.
"Clare…" Her mother began carefully. Clare should've known Principal Simpson would've called already. It was only eight thirty in the morning, but he had probably called around seven-ish. He probably told them everything.
"How long am I grounded for?" Clare asked with a sigh.
"A month." Her father responded sternly.
"Randall!" Mrs. Edwards chimed angrily. "You aren't grounded, Clare. Principal Simpson is punishing you enough. A month's detention. He explained everything. We are all so disappointed in you. I cannot believe you would set off a stink bomb. But, more so, we are worried about, honey. A knife was in your school. You could've been there, with the student who was wielding the weapon."
"I faced him, mom." Her mother and father's jaw dropped. "He almost stabbed my boy…he almost stabbed my friend." She finished lamely, hanging her head in shame, staring at her cereal.
"Oh my-" Her mother began.
"Can we talk later?" Clare interrupted. She had already come to terms with what happened. She wasn't in the mood to talk. "I just want to go to grandma's house, come back, and put this incident behind me." Clare pleaded, dumping her bowl in the sink and staring at her parents. They exchanged one quick glance before they nodded.
XxX
"You packed everything?" Her father asked, dragging her bags to the car. Clare nodded. He set both pieces luggage in the trunk. He kissed her forehead.
"Have fun." He half-smiled before turning and walking back inside. Clare went to the passenger side of the door and buckled herself in.
"Let's go." She commanded softly.
XxX
Clare's heart leapt as they stopped at a stoplight, right in front of his house. Was this some sort of sign? Care took a deep breath. She wanted to see him.
"Can…my friend…I want to see…." Clare struggled to find the words, pointing at the house beside her. Her mother caught on. She sighed deeply before nodding.
"Make it quick!" She added as Clare shut her door. She all but ran to his door. Before she could think about what she was going to say, she knocked rapidly on his door. Her breath caught in her throat as the door opened.
Eli's eyes went wide at the sight of Clare standing at his doorstep.
"Uhh, hi." She greeted, looking down at her shoes. He shut the door behind him.
"Morning, Clare." She suddenly realized that it was nine in the morning and he had probably been sleeping. "Any particular reason you're at my door this early? I mean, other than the fact that you really wanted to see my bed head." He asked sarcastically. She was relieved that he had gone back to being his usual sarcastic self. She was worried that last night's events would have made him act…different.
"I'm…uhh…on my way to my grandma's and we were passing by…" She bit her lower lip, sneaking a glance at him through her long lashes. "I wanted to say goodbye." He looked over her shoulder, smiled, and returned his gaze to her face.
"There's a lot of ways I'd like to say goodbye to you, Clare. But I'm sure your mom would approve of, oh, let's say, none." She rolled her eyes and let a smile touch her lips for a second. She frowned and glanced back down at the floor.
"It'll only be for two weeks. I'll call as much as you want. Hell, I'll drive there if Morty is up for it." She smiled shyly.
"You'll stay out of trouble? Lay low?" She asked, somewhat hopeful.
"I'll become a hermit." He promised, smiling and placing his hand over his heart. She breathed a sigh of relieve. If he was safe, she was happy. She winced when her mother suddenly honked the car horn.
"I have to go. I'll call you." Leaning up, she pecked his cheek. He chuckled before his slender fingers caught her chin and he pressed his lips to hers.
She should've been more concerned with her mother's watchful eye, but if she was going to be gone two weeks, she should at least remember what Eli's lips felt like.
"Clare Edwards, you better put your tongue back where it belongs!" Clare yanked herself away from Eli and blushed at her mother's lewd comment. He chuckled and scratched the back of his head.
"Bye, Clare." He kissed her cheek before he turned away.
"Eli." She suddenly remembered something. He turned back to look at her. "Stay away from car washes." He arched a brow, but she waved a hand and dismissed him. He chuckled and shook his head. He would never understand this girl.
Once he disappeared behind the door, she turned back and stomped to the car. Oh, this should be fun. She thought sarcastically, sliding into the passenger door. All at once, her mother went off, asking questions about Eli and angrily asking why they were swapping spit.
Clare opted for tuning her out. As her mother pulled away from Eli's house, Clare could make out his silhouette from the window, watching them go.
Did ya love it? Lemme know in a review. Thanks for reading my peeps.
~S.S.