Sooooo….who watched Friday? Cam! I just can't believe it! And now Eli is going to have a downward spiral after seeing a lifeless boy's body crumbled on the Degrassi sidewalk and Dallas is going to blame himself for the whole thing and Maya is clearly losing it. Ugh, Degrassi writers, you are killing me. Anyway on to the story!

Disclaimer: Seriously, though, I would be writing a way to get Eli and Clare to have their first time and a way for Cam to live. I wouldn't be writing this.

"Clare!" I shoved my book bag on my back and looked over my shoulder at Adam, who was falling over the chairs to get to me. "Hold on a second."

He reached me and looked out of the corner of his eye. Eli was gathering his books together, taking his time. Anyone could tell he was hanging back to listen to our conversation. Adam didn't seem to care and he just looked at me, concerned.

"What are you doing?" he whispered, eyes wide, grabbing my arm to turn us so that we wouldn't be facing Eli.

"What are you talking about?" I feigned innocence.

"You know what I'm talking about. Everybody knows he's not safe. There's something wrong with him. I don't know. I just…I get this feeling something's not right."

I looked over at Eli who was facing us dead on now. He smirked back at me and rolled his eyes playfully. Clearly he could hear every word Adam was saying. He made his way over to us and held out a hand for Adam. "Eli Goldsworthy. Look, I appreciate your concern and all. It's…refreshing to hear someone show so much caring for their friend, but you have nothing to worry about, I swear. Look, I'm not trying to cause any trouble."

"You threw Fitz in dumpster."

"He and his buddies were ganging up on a little niner. What would you have done?"

Adam looked Eli over, considering him. He looked him up and down and then looked at the hand that Eli still had extended. Eli looked at him with a friendly smile, the first time I'd seen with an expression different from the smirk.

Adam took his hand. "Adam Torres." They shook hands for a moment then Adam said, "Yeah, okay I get it. Look, you have to understand you haven't started off with the greatest rep around here. I've heard everything from psycho to terrorist. I'm sorry I just…didn't want to see one of my best friends getting caught up in that."

"No dude I get it," Eli assured him, shooting him and me a comforting look. "I'm not looking to hurt Clare. In fact that's the last thing I want to do."

And there it was again. Why was I so important? Why did he care at all? We'd only just met.

"As touching as this all is boys," I interrupted, trying to walk past them. "I have to get to math. On time this time would be nice."

"Ah, perfect," Eli said, and suddenly he was again carrying my bag. "I have calculus as well."

I stopped for a moment and looked up at him. He stopped dead in his tracks. "I didn't say I had calculus."

He stuttered for a moment then composed himself. "You seem like a smart girl. One of the brightest, I'd say. I figured you'd skip precalc. Went straight for the hard stuff."

Adam seemed satisfied and walked out of the class saying that he was going to go catch up to Alli since they both had US History. I however wasn't so satisfied. Suddenly Eli wasn't so easily looking me in the eyes, as if I'd somehow caught him in a little lie.

He watched Adam leaving the classroom and, without turning around, he said, "I like him. Seems like a good guy. Come on, Saint Clare. I know how you don't like being late."

I followed a step behind him as he shouldered his and my bags. He wouldn't turn back to look at me and I watched him contemplating how to begin. I decided being blunt would be best. "Are you stalking me?"

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned on his heels. I half expected him to look angry, green eyes flaming and his lips in a snarl. But I was way off. Instead he looked rather hurt and I immediately wanted to take back what I said. "It's just…" I started. "You were in the hall when I was…with Drew…and you seem to know my schedule."

Eli wiped the hurt look off his face. The smirk was back and he turned back on his heel toward the math wing again. "My guidance counselor, Ms. Angelwood, she wanted me to get to know you better so she told me all the classes I'd be in with you. I didn't want to tell you earlier for exactly this reason. I didn't want to come off as some stalker." He chuckled. "I guess that was a failure."

I was still a step behind him but I quickened my paces to catch up and looked him over. Despite his chuckle, his eyes were cast downward and the tips of his ears had turned a bright red. "Why does your guidance counselor want you to be friends with me so badly?"

He chuckled again. "Like I said, you're apparently the good little Christian girl," he looked me in eyes as he said, "Maybe she thinks you can save me."

I raised my eyebrows. "Yeah? You think you need saving?"

He raised his eyebrows in return. "Well, she seems to think so. Me? Nah. If I'm going down, I'm going honest." He smirked wider. "But, hey, basically she said 'Go hang out with this gorgeous girl and I'll get off your back.' How could I say no?"

I felt a blush creep up my neck and Eli's eyes boring into me to the point I had to look away. "Gorgeous, huh? So Ms. Angelwood thinks I'm gorgeous now?"

He rolled his eyes. "Well I may be paraphrasing a bit…Anyway she thinks you'll be a "good influence,'" he said, air quotes and all.

"Yeah?" I mused. "Well, what if you're a bad influence?"

He smirked wildly. "Oh, I am."

"So sure? What if you end up corrupting me instead of me saving you?"

"Well that's the goal anyway. It's a battle of wills, mine versus yours, and I'm just saying your odds aren't so good, Edwards."

He seemed like he was going to go on but suddenly I realized the halls were nearly empty again and I interrupted him.

"Crap, we're going to be late again," I grabbed his hand and I stopped in my tracks and nearly forgot where I was going in the first place. It was so odd. It was as if only my hand would fit in his. There was some sort of electricity going through my body and one look at Eli showed that he felt it too. I shook my head of the thought. I'd deal with whatever this is later but we had to go.

But the bell rang overhead and I let out a groan. Eli laughed at looked down at me, noticing the fact that I still hadn't let go of his hand. He raised his eyebrows. "Sorry, Edwards. Seems like today's not your lucky day."

I looked back up at him and couldn't help but return his smile. "Oh, I'm not so sure about that."

So, what'd you think? Be brutal! I can take it!