Hey! Your reviews made me happy and I wanted to write another chapter, but I had to do math homework. So toady I wrote this chapter in math class. I felt like I have taken revenge on math! Woot! (I hate math. So much.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi.

You know what I've never had before in my life? You guessed it, detention.

Do you know how mad my parents will be? Furious is an understatement.

I walked into the cafeteria after school. It was strangely quiet. I was used to hearing the voices of hundreds of teenagers.

I heard a noise and looked over to the far corner to see that Eli was already here. He was mopping up a bunch of spilled sodas.

Oh crap. I totally forgot about our almost kiss. This was going to be torture. My parents are going to be pissed, but why not add in some good old awkwardness to the mix. After all, life can never be too bad.

I shuffled over to Eli. "Hey."

He glanced up, "Oh, hey Clare."

-Awkward Silence-

"Sooo…what're we supposed to do?" Okay, I fully admit that was a stupid question. We were supposed to be cleaning the cafeteria. Just like Simmons said. But I was just saying stuff so there wouldn't be silence, and I think Eli caught onto that.

He smiled. Not smirked. He actually smiled. And I admit he looked hot. Not that he didn't before. Just now he looked even hotter.

Snap out of it Clare!

"Wow. Call the press. You actually smiled." I said jokingly.

He grinned. "I can manage a smile when I want to."

"Uh huh. Suuure."

Eli faked being hurt, "Your sarcasm is too much for my weak self."

"You'll manage."

"I don't know Edwards. I'm not that tough. I'm sensitive." Eli said with Bambi eyes. Bambi eyes!

"I didn't know guys could do Bambi eyes," I said suspiciously.

"Not many can, but I've managed to master it."

"Oh, I see." I said sarcastically.

"Yeah, that's me. The sweet sensitive guy." Eli smirked.

"Yeah right." I rolled my eyes. "I see your smirking again.

"Tis is in my nature."

I glared at Eli.

He grinned.

"I just want you to know that I blame you!" I said, pointing my finger accusingly at him.

"Of course," He fake sighed. "But may I ask what you are blaming me for?"

"Detention!" I exclaimed. "Do you realize that my parents will kill me!"

"Meh." He said indifferently. "Its just detention. They'll get over it."

"Just detention?" I practically shrieked. "I am going to be grounded for the rest of my high school career and it's your fault!"

"How is it my fault?" I could tell Eli was holding in laughter.

"You made me start that food fight."

"What? I didn't! I didn't make you do anything." He was laughing for real now and I really wanted to join in. Eli's laughter was contagious.

I half real glared half fake glared. "Yes, you did! I had to prove to you that I didn't care what other people thought."

"Which proved that you do care!" Eli replied triumphantly.

"Huh?" I was stumped. Someone had actually managed to confuse me. Me!

"So the great Clare Edwards is confused. And none other than me, Eli Goldsworthy, managed to confuse her. This is a historic day." Eli smirked at me.

"How did I prove you right?" I asked, still not getting it.

"If you really didn't care you wouldn't have to prove it to me."

Oh. Well, when he put it like that…I did…Dang it!

"I can tell by that surprised look on your face that you know I'm right." Eli said victoriously.

"So I got detention because I proved to you that you were right and I was wrong." I said slowly.

"Yup!" Eli said cheerfully.

"I will not stand for this!" I playfully shouted. I glanced over at a bucket filled with soap, water, and sponges, and picked the bucket up.

The look on Eli's face was hilarious. He started backing away slowly as I advanced with my bucket held at the ready.

"You don't have to do this," He pleaded. "You can still walk away."

"You know what Eli, I don't think I can. I think you deserve this." I lifted the bucket.

"No please. I'm unarmed. This is unfair!"

"Too bad," I smirked and the poured the contents of the bucket all over Eli. He stood there, frozen, while I laughed my head off.

"You look-" I could barely speak I was laughing so hard, "You look like a drowned cat."

He glared at me. "You'll pay for that Edwards." He picked up another bucket filled with water. Oh crap.

"Eli, I'm sorry." I begged. "We're even now. No need to start something else. You can walk away."

"I don't think I can Clare. I think you deserve this too." He poured the water all over me; I was soaked.

I glared at him, "You suck." Then I grabbed some sponges and began pelting him with them. He shielded himself with a bucket while throwing sponges back at me.

Our epic water fight must've lasted at least 30 minutes. It was the most fun I had in weeks.

Emphasis on was.

Right when I was taking Eli down, my parents walked in. And we all know how parents tend to assume the worst.

"Clare Diane Edwards, what on Earth are you doing?" My mother exclaimed. I froze. Eli who had been lying on the ground laughing a few minutes before was now deathly silent. I offered my hand to him so he could get up. I imagined how this must've looked to my parents.

My mother glared at my father. "I blame you." This wasn't like when I playfully told Eli that I blamed him. This was full on furiously accusing someone. "You and your lack of parenting skills have turned Clare into some hooligan. And look at this young man she is hanging around with! He's wearing eyeliner!" She said eyeliner like it was a cuss word.

"Me? How is this my fault?" My father shouted at her. "I was never even there."

"Exactly!" She shrieked. And then continued to ramble on about how awful my Dad was.

I felt tears well up in my eyes. It was bad enough that they did this at home, but in front of my friends? And they were arguing over who made me a failure!

Eli stepped up next to me and wordlessly slipped his arm over my shoulder. Pulling me in closer to him. I leaned my head towards him a little. I was really tempted to just bury my head in his shoulder and cry, but I managed not to. I had to stay strong.

"You okay?" he whispered in my ear.

I wanted to say no. To show him how awful I really felt, but I didn't. "Yeah. I'm fine," I whispered.

"Liar." He said quietly back to me.

"Clare! Come on! We are leaving!" My mom shouted at me.

I gave Eli a helpless look. "Coming," I muttered and walked to my mother and father.

Later that night…

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" I whispered. My hands covered my ears and tears were streaming down my face. I was sitting with my back against the door, trying to block out my parents fighting. About me. And what I failure I was.

Finally I couldn't take it any more. I ran out of that house and collapsed on my front porch.

"Clare?" I heard a quiet voice.

"Eli?" I was about to go over to where he was standing on the sidewalk, but then I remembered what I looked like, and how I promised to myself that I would let no one see me cry.

I wiped my eyes quickly and took a few deep breaths. I walked over to Eli and smiled a fake smile. "What's up? Sorry you had to clean everything up."

He looked at me and I knew he could see right through me. "It's no big. Have you been crying?"

"No." I responded coldly.

"So you have. Do you want to talk about it?" He asked.

"It's just-" My voice broke and I was crying again. I shook my head and looked away. "Never mind," I whispered.

Eli hugged me. Yes, he hugged me. And I didn't immediately want to push him away. It was…nice.

"It's gonna be okay Clare." He whispered, and then let go of me.

He handed me the headphones he always wore around his neck. "Here. In case you need to block them out."

It was a surprisingly nice gesture. I took them. "Thanks Eli, for everything."

He smirked at me, "No problem."

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