Disclaimer: Do not own the characters!

A/N: Tah-da! Chapter 7! This is Natalie's POV at Clare's house. I hope you enjoy and please please please review.

P.S. This symbol ^ ^ ^ ^ means "later that evening" because I just realized my * * * haven't been showing up so I apologize if parts seemed to skip around in previous chapters.

CHAPTER SEVEN: LIFE OF NATALIE

"Well," Clare sighed loudly, I heard the electronic beep as she hung up her house phone re-entering her living room, putting the phone back on it's charger next to the television. "Adam's not coming either," she told me. "He's too tired".

"Oh," I said, trying to keep my tone cool but was I was wrestling with my disappointment that he wasn't coming and my relief that I didn't have to face him tonight. I felt my cheeks turn pink and was grateful that Clare was occupied with piling chips onto a plate and didn't seem to notice. Tired, right…, I thought. I can't say I was convinced. Somehow I didn't feel like it was a coincidence given the awkward encounter at the Dot. Great, he's avoiding me. I made such a fool of myself.

"Natalie?" I snapped out of my thoughts, eyes refocusing on Clare, who was looking at me as if waiting for an answer to a question.

"Can you say that again?" I asked, pretending that I hadn't quite heard what she'd said as opposed to being so lost in thought that I completely oblivious to her even speaking to me.

"I said 'I had an idea about maybe inviting Alli over?' Maybe you guys can stay over? We'll make it a girl night".

"Alli is Adam's brother's girlfriend, right?" I asked, regretting it a second later. Great, now I have mentionitis.

"That's one way to put it," said Clare, giving me an amused, knowing smile. "She's also a good friend of mine". I couldn't help but laugh.

"Sure," I said, smiling. "A girl's night sounds great". Clare smiled back. "And it'll be nice to meet more people from Degrassi," I added. "Hardly anyone speaks to me unless it's to tell me I'm in their way, sitting in their seat or to relay some stupid piece of gossip…but I cut that off the first day".

"That's Degrassi for you," Clare told me, then told me a story about a day in her first semester when a guy named K.C. dared her to sing a hymn in front of the whole cafeteria and everyone threw trash at her.

"I'm so not into drama," I said. Clare snorted.

"Then you so transferred to the wrong school," she said, chuckling. "But don't worry," she added. "It gets better". She smiled at me, and then went to call Alli.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^later^ ^ ^ ^ ^

"That's it," said Alli some time later, grabbing the remote control off the coffee table and turning off the television. "I love Edward and Jacob just as much as the next girl but this movie is getting boring".

"But Jacob was just telling Bella that he'd never hurt her like Edward did," said Clare defensively.

"Clare," said Alli. "You've seen this movie too many times. It's time for something more fun!"

Personally, I wasn't complaining. It was my first time watching this movie that Clare and Alli seemed to love but I can't say I was getting into it as much as they were.

"What do you suggest?" Clare asked cautiously, realizing she was defeated.

"Well, we can't play truth or dare because we don't have any boys," said Alli, shooting Clare a look like it was all her fault. "So what about truth or truth?"

"Truth or truth is just 'truth'" Clare informed her.

"Whatever," said Alli. "Truth, then. Let's play truth".

"I'm okay with that, I guess," said Clare, looking at me. I gave her a reluctant look in return but Alli said,

"Great!" and started the game right away, giving me no time to object. "Okay, Clare…You can start".

"Fine," said Clare. "Alli…when was the last time you cried?" Alli made a face.

"Lame," she declared.

"I'm starting off easy," justified Clare.

"Fine," sighed Alli. "A few days ago. I went to a movie with Drew and it was sad". "Now it's my turn to ask," she said quickly. "Clare, when was the last time you had a hot dream about a boy?"

Clare shifted uncomfortable and her cheeks turned red as she gathered her thoughts.

"I don't remember—" she said firmly. Alli narrowed her eyes, not convinced. When Clare didn't yield, she said,

"Fine, but who was the boy in the dream?"

Clare turned even redder, if that was possible, and she muttered something barely audible under her breath.

"What?" prodded Alli loudly.

"…Lie," muttered again, only slightly louder.

"One more time…" sang Alli, but I had the feeling she already knew the answer.

"Eli!" yelled Clare. "Are you happy?" she asked through gritted teeth.

"Immeasurably," said Alli, grinning angelically. I can't say this answered surprised me either; I had the sense that they liked each other. "Your turn to ask, Clare".

"Natalie," she said, turning to me. "Why did you transfer to Degrassi?"

"Well," I began. "My mom moved here right after my parents divorced years ago but I stayed back home with my dad. Until last month, when he got re-married". I paused, a strange, uncomfortable feeling washing over me. I hadn't told this story to anyone around here yet. Hell, I hadn't told this story out loud at all. "Anyway," I continued, drawing a shallow breath. "My dad got re-married and sort of decided that I didn't fit into his plan for a new life so he sent me here to live with my mom".

There was a short moment of silence after I finished my story.

God, I sounded horribly melodramatic…

"Wow," said Clare.

"Poor me," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. When that didn't seem to help I said, "It's fine. I was never particularly close to either of them anyway".

"That whole situation must suck," said Alli, looking at me kindly. I took a deep breath and forced a laugh.

"I don't really think about it anymore," I lied. "Anyway, isn't it my turn to ask?" I added, forcing another chuckle.

^^^^^^^later^^^^^^^

"Okay, okay!" said Alli giggling madly. "I'll tell you!" It was half an hour later and we were still at our game of truth. The mood had lightened significantly since my depressing, 'why I moved here' story and we were all laughing as Alli revealed an embarrassing story that involved herself, Drew and a four-pound tub of candy.

When Alli finished, all three of us collapsed laughing and didn't stop for a good two minutes. The mood was silly and I was having a lot of fun.

"My turn to ask," said Alli, breathing heavily and wiping a tear from her eye. "Natalie…"

"Shoot," I said, clutching my aching side and trying to steady my own breathing. Much less reluctant than I'd been at the start of the game because the questions I was getting weren't too bad (with the exception of the first one, obviously).

"Cutest boy at Degrassi?" Alli asked me.

"I don't know," I lied, by which I meant 'I do know'. I looked down at my hands because I knew my blushing would give me away.

"Oh, c'mon!" said Alli, not persuaded. "If you had to chose one…"

I took a deep breath.

"Um. I guess if I had to chose one…" I said slowly, buying my time and fidgeting with my hands, not daring to make eye contact just yet. "…Adam".

Alli snorted and looked at me as though I'd just made a joke. I glanced up just in time to see Clare shoot a disapproving look at her. Alli looked back at her, puzzled, as if to demand 'what?' Clare's eyes widened which was when Alli's face went blank and she coughed conspicuously.

But it was too late—I got the gist of what she'd meant. There's no way a guy like Adam would be into me—I wasn't fooling myself…anymore. Not after how he made it perfectly clear when I tried to hug him.

God, the very thought of it made me shudder. I was still so mortified. I didn't know how I'd be able to face him on Monday but I knew it was inevitable.

"I'm going to go get some more chips," I announced, getting up from the makeshift sleeping bag I was sitting on and made my way to the kitchen.

I stood in front of the numerous bags of chips Clare had set out but had no intention to pick any of them—I had just needed a reason to excuse myself. I took a breath and placed my palms on the cold granite countertop, allowing myself to lean a little bit.

I know it's stupid but I can't get over it. I just want to know why—I don't understand what happened.

"Natalie?" came Clare's voice softly. I straightened up and saw her standing in the doorway.

"I can't decide which kind I want," I lied, forcing a laugh and a smile.

"I bet," she said, "this would help". She held up the plate that I'd been using. I laughed out loud at my stupidity but silently I was cursing myself for giving myself away by forgetting it in the other room. "Is it Adam?" she asked, approaching the counter and putting the plate down.

Caught off guard, I opened my mouth to lie but nothing came out.

"It's okay," Clare assured me. "You can tell me".

"I just can't figure him out," I said earnestly. "One minute he's giving me CD's and the next he's pushing me away…literally". Clare looked thoughtful for a moment.

"You like him—" she began. It wasn't a question but I responded anyway.

"Yeah…" At that moment, I couldn't help but feel like an idiot.

"Everybody has their problems to work out," Clare told me. "Give him time". I had no idea what she was talking about but I had a feeling she knew something I didn't.

"I think I'll go with plain potato chips," I said, picking up the bag and piling some chips on my plate.

A/N: Fin! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and a glimpse into Natalie's mind. I don't think I will be doing this POV swap too often (I've planned for only one more later much later) so I think this is pretty special. Let me know what you think in the reviews! The more reviews, the sooner I'll update. Until next time :)

xx,

Holly