So I almost didn't update this after Friday's episode. Let's face it, I'm a wreck. I miss Cam. I've watched the episode five times already. Cried every time. Oh, and I'm seriously pissed at Eli after seeing the preview for next week. Cuddling up with some weird chick, taking pills you don't even know the side effects off. Really, Eli? I know you went through something traumatizing but after everything you went through with your disorder, you turned to ecstasy?

Sorry ranting….on with the story!

Disclaimer: If I owned Degrassi, Cam and Maya would be living happily ever after, as would Eli and Clare, Zig and Tori, Anya and Owen, Holly J and Declan, Fiona and Imogen, Adam and Becky, KC and Jenna, and Dallas and Alli.

If I thought I was an outcast before, I was a leper now. Walking down the hall with Eli's arm wrapped around me, everyone seemed to turn tail and walk the other way, like we were diseased. The only one that ever seemed to hang around was Adam. Somehow he and Eli had become best friends, which, in a way does sort of make sense. Adam's was the school's biggest outcast, being born Gracie, but now Eli's taken over the position. I think Adam was sort of grateful.

For a week after our kiss, Eli and I were nearly inseparable. We spent every afternoon at The Dot, bouncing some ideas for writing back and forth, talking about our favorite things and getting to know each other better, and occasionally just making out at our little booth in the corner.

That Friday we were seated in our booth, on the same side, me with my head on Eli's shoulder, his arm around me. We sipped our coffee in silence, just enjoying each other's company. So serene, so calm, neither of us needing to say a word. Just happy.

That is, until Adam came rushing into through the doors, frantically making his way over to our table. He took the seat across from us and I jolted my head up off Eli's shoulder at the fear in Adam's eyes. Eli was more than dismayed and resisted against my motion.

"Adam? What's wrong?" Adam looked between me and Eli and I looked up at Eli, who looked angry at the interruption. Adam was stuttering over his words.

"Well? Spill it, Adam."

Adam looked up at Eli and took a breath. "Fitz. He's getting a gang together. Owen, Riley, even Drew, and a bunch of other guys. All of them are coming after you. Drew convinced them not to come after me, but that just means that they'll go behind his back to get to you and me."

Eli gave a chuckle. "So what? I beat Fitz, once. I'll just do it again."

"But that's just it! It's not just Fitz! He's got, like , twenty guys! And you embarrassed Fitz! I've fought this guy before and seen him in a hundred other fights. He won't fight fair."

"Adam, what exactly are you saying?" I questioned, more looking at Eli than Adam. He was still chuckling.

"I'm saying, knives, guns, any weapon he can get his hands on where he knows he can't lose."

My breath caught in my throat, but Eli just kept smiling. "You think I'm ever going to be scared of that prick? I don't care what he's got. Just let me handle it."

"You think you can handle twenty guys yourself?" I was incredulous. I mean, Eli's cocky, but he just sounded so ridiculous.

"Of course not, not even I can do that."

"So what's the plan then?"

"I'll get Fitz away from the other guys. Without their little leader, the other guys will give up and leave us be."

Eli looked down at me and smiled. "I promise, I'm not going to let anything happen to you or Adam," he whispered into my hair, kissing the top of my head. He looked back up at Adam. "In the meantime, you should stay with us. It's better if we stay together. You're right. They will go behind Drew's back to get to you and, in Fitz's mind, the sooner the better."

Adam nodded, but he kept his head turned towards the window, as if he expected someone to be outside at any moment, a gun cocked and pointed at him behind the glass. He looked so small and helpless.

"Adam," I said, attempting to call him back to reality. Adam final turned back towards us, his eyes wary. I felt a heavy overhang of guilt at looking at him. He wouldn't be in this situation if he wasn't my friend, if he hadn't befriended Eli. If I'd never dragged him into Eli and my life, he wouldn't fear for his life right now.

"Adam," I said again, getting up from the table. "I'll get grab you a cup of coffee." He nodded and moved to get his wallet but I insisted I got it. He nodded again and thanked me as I made my way to the counter.

"One coffee, cream, no sugar," I said to the barista, having memorized Adam's order from all the times we'd spent our afternoon's here. I handed the guy a five and leaned back against the counter, waiting. I looked over at my table to Eli and Adam and Adam had a slight smile on his face. I smiled a bit myself as I watched Eli try to ease Adam's mind. Within a moment or two, he made Adam laugh again.

"Hey," someone suddenly said next to me, startling me. I looked back at Alli. She was fiddling with the hem of her shirt and was avoiding my eyes.

"Hey," I muttered back, just as Adam's coffee was ready. I thanked the guy and handed him a tip, just before I was about to make my way back to the table, but Alli grabbed my arm.

"I saw Adam run in here before. What's wrong?"

I turned back to her and shrugged off her arm. "I haven't seen you around for a while," I said back, my voicing dripping with ice, ignoring her question.

"I know. But I'm concerned about you and Adam, okay? Why was he so scared?"

I rolled my eyes and was about to go back to the table when I decided I might as well tell her. "Fitz and a bunch of guys are coming after Eli and they are coming after Adam by extent," I said, trying to sound as detached as possible. I just kept thinking Eli can handle this. Eli can handle this.

Alli, however, was a bit more concerned. "How are you not panicking right now? You've seen Adam in a fight against one guy before. He's never been a fighter. He doesn't stand a chance against a bunch of guys!"

"Oh, so now you're concerned?"

Alli took a breath, obvious that she hadn't approached me for an argument, but I was too angry not to fight. "Look," she said. "I'm worried, okay? This is all that guy Eli's fault. He started this mess but wasn't big enough to end it. Now Adam is paying the price for the fight Eli picked!"

If I was mad before, I was fuming now. Who was she to judge Eli? She deserted us! "You don't know anything so just go back into hiding. Adam and I both don't need you voicing your concern."

"Clare, you know I'm right. This isn't you. Eli isn't the type of guy you should be with and you know it. He didn't pick any fight."

"He threw Fitz in a dumpster!"

"Fitz is the bully here, not Eli! Why are you protecting him?"

"I'm not protecting him! I'm not saying that you should start dating Fitz, I'm just saying you shouldn't be going out with a guy who is so violent. You don't know what he's capable of. He could hurt anybody."

Oh how right she was. But I still ignored, walked back to my table, took a seat next to Eli, and wrapped his arm back around me.

So, what'd you think? Reviews are most appreciated! Be brutal!