Viola! Chapter 3! Sorry I'm not so fast on the updating. Hope you guys enjoy.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN DEGRASSI.

Clare's POV for this one, by the way. Here goes!

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"Palahniuk?" A voice from above me inquired. I tore my attention from Invisible Monsters.

Eli Goldsworthy?

"Yes." I answered curtly, nodding. This is some kind of trap to make me look like a fool.

He smirked slightly. "Mind if I sit?"

I quirked my head slightly, not understanding why he'd want to. "Sure, okay," I said dubiously, nodding at the chair.

I turned my attention back to my book, but I couldn't help but feel his gaze burning through me. I felt my face heat up despite not even looking at him.

Finally, I looked up. "So, you like Palahnuik?" I asked, putting emphasis on the fact that it was strange that he, of all people, had an interest in such great literature.

He feigned hurt, putting his hand over his heart. "That hurts! I read, thank you very much."

I raised my eyebrows at him, waiting for more.

"Yes, I like Palahnuik. In fact," He said, raising his hand to point at the book in my hands. "That one is my very favorite."

Yeah, right. Nice gimmick, Goldsworthy. Think you'll reel my right in. Nuh-uh.

"Yes, well," I nodded. "It's my first time reading it, but it's okay so far."

"Okay?" He asked, obviously astonished by my word choice.

"Don't get me wrong, Palahnuik's great, but I'm more of a Jane Austen girl myself," I said, laughing.

"Jane Austen? You would be one of those girls." Eli said, laughing.

"Excuse me?" I said incredulously. "What exactly does that mean?"

"You know," He trailed off. "One of those romance-loving, prince-charming's-gonna-come-for-me kind of girls."

"So?" I asked as I stood up, feeling somewhat defensive. "Wait, you don't even know my name. You have no right to make such assumptions." I said, feeling ready to pack my things and leave.

"Whoa whoa," Eli said, eyebrows raising as he put his hands up defensively. "I didn't say it was a bad thing, Clare Edwards." He finished, putting emphasis on my name for good measure.

He knows my name?

"How do you know my name?" I asked, feeling a little weirded out by the whole situation.

"I have my ways," He smirked. Of course that smirk would come back.

I bit my lip, gathering my bag and books.

"Wait," He said, standing as well. "Don't go. I didn't mean to freak you out or offend you or any—" He started, but I cut him off.

"No, no it's not…" I trailed off, continuing to put stuff away. My brain was scrambled by him, by this whole strange encounter. I checked my watch. 4:55. Mom wanted me home by 4:30. Shoot. "It's just.. I'm running late and I really have to be home, like now, and this whole thing is just weird." I said, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.

"What whole thing?" He asked, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to me.

I stepped back, further putting distance between us. "Nothing. I had to be home like half an hour ago and my mom's gonna kill me," I explained, breaking for the door.

He trailed as close behind as he possibly could without stepping on my heels. He caught me by the arm right in front of the window to the Dot. "I'll give you a ride." He said simply, as though we weren't almost complete strangers.

I quirked an eyebrow at him, confused. I checked my watch again, exhaling upwards to blow my hair from my face. 4:58. What option did I have?

"Fine." I agreed. "Let's go."

He smiled, an actual smile, rather than his trademark smirk. "Great, right this way," He said, motioning his arms toward his car like a gentlemen.

I walked the direction he pointed, going to the passenger side of a silver volvo and looking back at him expectantly.

He laughed, stopping one car back. "Ah…" He smiled wide, pointing to the black monster parked next to him.

"You drive a hearse?" I asked, shocked beyond belief. Who knew this guy was so full of surprises?

He smiled proudly. "Yep. Clare, this is Morty." He motioned to his hearse. "Morty, Clare." He finished his introductions.

"And it has a name?" Wow, this would not stop being shocking.

He laughed at my look of utter shock. "Get in, Edwards."

I tried to pick my jaw up from the ground and compose as I climbed into his hearse.

Hearse. Wow, this was going to be hard to get over.

He turned on the stereo, his screamo music blaring. I jumped.

"Sorry," He said sheepishly, turning it down to an acceptable level.

I gave him directions to my house, and then a somewhat comfortable silence fell over us, his music playing as background noise.

I watched his profile as he drove, admiring his perfectly shaped jaw and lips.

Stop, Clare, I chastised myself. What are you doing?

"So," His voice broke me from my reverie. "Why were you hanging out at the Dot for so long after school anyway?"

I bit my lip, this being a sensitive subject. "Uh.." I stuttered. "Well, my parents have been fighting a lot lately, so it's nice to get away from my house," I said softly, staring down at my hands in my lap.

He looked at me, his eyes flashing with regret. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked,"

I smiled. "No, no, it's really okay. I mean, it sucks, but whatever, right?"

He smiled slightly, looking lost in his thoughts as he drove.

After another few minutes of comfortable silence, he pulled up to the curb beside my house.

I sat still for a moment, staring at my house. So home-y looking from the outside, breaking apart on the inside. Maybe a bit like myself in this very moment.

"Looks cozy," Eli commented, as if reading my thoughts.

I shrugged. "I guess. Anyway, thanks so much for the ride. I really appreciate it." I said shooting him a smile, as I reached to open the door.

"Anytime." He smiled reassuringly.

I stepped onto the pavement and grabbed my bag from his floorboard.

I made my way up the steps to my front door and hesitated. I could hear them already, through the door. I sighed. I turned back to wave to Eli, signaling him to leave. He stayed put, waiting for me to go into my house. I looked at the door again, shaking my head.

I won't cry, I won't. I can't do this. I can't go in there.

"Screw this," I muttered. I quickly ripped paper and a pen from my bag, writing my parents a quick note that I was fine so they wouldn't freak out, and opening the door quietly, I placed my bag in the entryway, then closed it back.

Eli's passenger window rolled down. "What are you doing?"

"Going for a walk." I muttered, walking right past his hearse.

"Seriously?" He asked, obviously shocked.

"Yes. Thank you for the ride, but you don't need to stick around, you know," I said, turning toward his vehicle so he could hear me.

He uncranked Morty and got out, walking around to where I stood. "I'll come with you," He said brightly.

I sighed. What is this all about? And why can't I shake this weird feeling in my stomach?

Hope it was decent for you guys! I actually really liked writing this chapter. Not sure how I feel about the ending, but maybe next chapter with make up for it. Review please! :)

IMPORTANT: POV's will likely be switching, so watch out for that up top so you aren't totally lost.