Chapter5 The First Step Home
Clare couldn't wait to begin her fact finding mission in fact aside from getting to know Maya better Clare's goal for this weekend was to formulate a full proof plan to be able to approach Bianca and take the first step towards achieving her goal of making Bianca her girlfriend.
Clare and Maya had decided that they would spend the weekend trying to gather as much information as possible to make sure when Clare did approach Bianca it would be hard for Clare to choke or go blank when their meeting happened.
Clare had met Margret and Robert Matlin they were pleased that Maya had decided to expand her circle of friends it wasn't that they disliked Tristan or Tori but they wanted Maya to as her father called it "branch out and get more mature friends" especially Robert who was the kind of parent that some would call pushy more so with Maya than Katie.
Since Margret had to go to treatment downtown Clare and Maya and Katie to their own devices for the majority of the day and with Katie and Drew in the gym for MMA practice Clare and Maya had freedom to go info gathering without running the risk of being found out and having their plan fail before it even got off the ground.
It was 11 in the morning and with the house empty it was the perfect time to start the search since they had already had breakfast and the house was empty.
The girls decided to work in Maya's room because there was minimal risk in being found out if anyone came home unexpectedly.
"Alright Clare "operation dirt sheet" is a go."
"Fine so what were you able to pick up besides Bianca's favorite flower?"
"Well I from her Face Range page I was able to pick up that she's been doing MMA since she was seven she competed in a few local tournaments until she was fourteen and stopped until this past summer when she found her old trainer and got back into it again."
"Okay so I guess that explains why she's been in the gym at school lately."
"Yeah apparently Bianca Imogen Fiona Drew and Katie are all getting ready for some big tournament in New York, I picked up that info before you came here Katie asked our parents for spending money for the trip apparently it's a big money tournament too it's being put on by some big promoter in New York."
"Okay so Bianca is a tiger lily loving MMA enthusiast anything else?"
"Well she was also a dancer she has quite a few pictures at festivals with Owen."
"Speaking of Owen by any chance do you know if he Bianca dated?"
"From what Tristan told me they dated a while only a few people knew from what I see here it doesn't look like they are anything more than friends now."
"Great see if you can dig up any info on anything a little more geared towards her life outside of dance MMA and Owen."
"Already did there's nothing on her page about her parents or any relatives this is pretty much her leisure page."
"Damn it is there any way we could find out more about her?"
"We could try finding some of her old friends she hung out with Fitz and Owen we could start with Fitz since going to Owen would draw unwanted attention right now."
"Great do you know where we could find Fitz?"
"Yeah I think we could try the Dot I've seen him there a few times."
"Great lets go but I'll do the talking I have a bit of history with Fitz."
Clare and Maya showered dressed and made their way to Dot on foot lucky for them the place wasn't slammed and Fitz was working.
"Alright we're here let me handle the talking and keep your ears open for any good info."
"I will let's go."
Both girls walked into the Dot and headed for the counter.
"What'll be guys?" Fitz asked not wanting to engage Clare in conversation.
"Two cheery sodas and two powdered doughnuts Fitz."
"Coming right up."
"Fitz came back quickly with their order as Clare paid for it.
"Thanks Fitz do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
"Depends what they are."
"Nothing big I'm trying to get some information on someone."
"Alright I guess I could spare a few minutes."
"Great what can you tell me about your friend Bianca?"
"Well she's a good friend I've known her since she was a grade 9 why?"
"No reason do you hang out with her a lot?"
"Not as much as when she hung out at the ravine but we are still somewhat close."
"Okay do you know anything about her home life?"
"Nothing I can share without her ripping my throat out sorry."
"It's alright thanks for the snack Fitz."
"Yeah." Fitz replied as Clare and Maya took their food and left the Dot.
"Well that turned up nothing." Maya said taking a gulp of her soda.
"Actually it did turn up something useful."
"Yeah what's that?"
"We know Bianca has some family secrets she told close friends about maybe if we dig a bit deeper we can find out what that secret is."
"I don't know Clare that goes way beyond the info we need maybe you should leave her family life out of this."
"Maya I'm not doing this to hurt Bianca I just want to know her on a deeper level besides maybe finding out about her family will help me connect to her better."
"How's that?"
"Well my family life got completely turned upside down when I came out when my mom and dad got divorced and it messed me up really bad for a bit maybe the reason Fitz wouldn't tell me anything is because somehow the same thing happened to Bianca too."
"I see now since you bring up unknown events and all you never told me if you were out and how you're family took your crush."
Clare took a breath in before explaining the story to her new friend.
"Well after I came out to my mom she threw me out and basically disowned me so I've been staying with Mr. Simpson's stepdaughter and her husband for the past few days they've even offered to adopt me since my mom doesn't want me and thanks to my mom most likely spreading the news to the rest of my family I have no place else to go other than foster care which would have been my next stop if not for seeing Mr. Simpsons stepdaughter at the Dot."
"That's rough Clare I'm sorry you had to go through all that."
"It's no big deal I'm learning to deal with it and people around that support me makes a bit easier."
"That's great now how are we going to find out about Bianca's family life Fitz shut us out and we have nowhere else to turn."
"Actually we could try asking someone she trains with like Owen he used to hang with Bianca at the ravine."
"Clare Owen isn't just going to give you information that personal if he does at all."
"Of course he won't give it to me but you could always ask."
"Clare there has to be another way asking Owen won't end well if anything it'll get us caught."
"Maya come on a few questions wouldn't hurt it would mean a lot to me if you did this."
Alright I'll see what I can find out at the gym but we use that as a plan B first we could try looking into her Face Range again and see if anyone on her friends list will help gather any clues that way we can gather info and not run the risk of getting caught".
"Smart thinking Maya if music doesn't work out for you private investigating would be right up your ally."
"Never thought of that before, speaking of which if being a journalist gets boring you could write romance novels your chase for Bianca would be a best seller."
"Yeah only if I get the girl in the end now let's go madam snoop we have a love story to make happen."
The girls made their way back to Maya's with Clare hoping Maya's plan worked because truth be told she didn't want to risk being stone walled a second time.
Meanwhile with the Mason's Spinner and Emma were enjoying one of Spinners rare Saturdays off from work at the gym Spinner was lifting weights while Emma was finishing a run on treadmill.
Emma had just finished he run and was walking over to Spinner who was doing butterfly curls on the bench.
"Spin I've been doing some thinking."
"Hold on a sec Em let finish these last three curls and then I'm all ears."
"Three... two... and one mmph."
"Now Em what were you thinking about?"
"I was thinking since we are adopting Clare soon we should surprise her with a new room to make her feel more at home."
"That's a great idea only problem is we don't much about her interests."
"I took care of that I looked at her Face Range I got a few ideas we could hit the stores and get some new furniture who knows maybe we could get a certain LA actress and mechanic to help us make our new daughters room look like a palace". Emma said slyly.
"Alright but when our best friends ask a million questions you're telling them everything."
"Done what do you say we shower change and get a hold of Jay and Manny for lunch I just so happen to know that Manny is town for a few weeks on vacation I'll call her".
After Emma and Spinner showered and changed they headed for the kitchen to prepare for their impromptu meal.
"Emma I hope you don't mind grilled chicken vegetables and some red wine".
"Fine with me since it's non GMF you know that babe."
"I'm calling them now so we have a bit of time before they get here."
Emma called Manny and Jay saying that she was inviting them for a get together lunch an invitation they gladly accepted she made sure to leave out their adoption plans for when they actually got to the house.
"Meanwhile over at the Matlin home Clare and Maya were hard at work going through Bianca's online friends list looking for clues.
"Maya we've been looking for two hours and we're no closer to finding anything useful just head to the gym and see what you can dig up."
"Clare relax while we haven't found anything on her friends list I'm looking through any of her recent posts once more maybe we missed something."
"Fine let's give this another half an hour I doubt your sister will be at practice much longer."
Just as Clare said that Maya found something on Bianca's page she had missed in their prior searches.
"Clare I think I found a clue that may both shock you and give you an answer to another one of the questions we had when we started this."
"What is it Maya?" Clare said as she rushed over from laptop to Maya's.
"I can't believe I missed this before."
"Enough with the stalling what did you find?"
"Clare check out Bianca's profile name."
"What's so special about her name?"
"Clare what is Bianca's last name?"
"DeSousa why?"
"If her last name is DeSousa why does it say Coyne?"
Clare was stunned in the time she had been going through Bianca's profile she had never noticed that her name on her profile was listed as Coyne.
"Maya you know what this means right?"
"That Bianca is somehow related to Fiona and now we have to figure out how."
"Okay so now I guess we have to make a trip to the gym and ask Owen if he knows anything."
"You're right let's just hope Owen doesn't catch on and blow this for me."
"Just as Maya and were headed for the gym they heard the front door open.
"Maya I'm home."
"Oh Katie Drew practice over already?"
"Yeah Maya where are you off to?" Katie asked.
"Oh we were just off to see you at gym we kind of got bored here."
"Nice try Maya you wouldn't be caught dead in the gym where are you really going?"
"Honestly we had nothing else to do until later when I meet Tristan to go to the LGBT meeting so I told Clare we could check out the gym until then."
Katie didn't feel like arguing she was sore from sparring and needed a steam shower.
"Fine don't tell me the truth just know if you're headed to the gym no one is there so if you are trying to kill time you'll have to find something else to do."
"We will Katie now if you don't mind we are headed out." Maya stated as Clare followed her out the door."
"Well that was weird." Drew said dropping his gym bag by the door,
"I know something tells me there's something going on and I want to find out what."
"Katie just go steam and don't worry about Clare or your sister right now I'll go make us another fruit juice then we'll head to a movie my treat."
"Alright Drew thanks babe I'll be out in a bit."
Meanwhile Maya and Clare were walking to the park to kill time until Maya went to meet up with Tristan.
"So Clare you never told how your crush on Bianca started."
"Well it was kind of a funny story I had been out with Eli to a play and afterwards he had taken me to a park where I happen to see Bianca dancing and just something about her spoke to me be I didn't know what it was or what I was feeling I just knew from that day on I would never be the same."
"Okay but how did one glance turn into whatever this is?"
"Well after seeing her in the park that day I started having crazy dreams about her first it would us just running into each other in school or somewhere public but as time went on the dreams became more romantic for example the night before I came out to my mom I had a dream we were at a at a Degrassi dance and we ended up dancing together I looked into her eyes during a slow song and we share a sensual kiss from that moment on I knew for sure that Eli and I were done."
"Wow so it must have been hard for you to hide the fact you wanted to end it with Eli for so long".
"It was but now that I have I feel like I made things worse now he's got something he can use to hurt me."
"Clare don't worry I'm sure the Mason's will protect you and you've got me now."
"Thanks Maya that means a lot I mean this is a lot to ask of a new friend."
"Clare it doesn't matter you're my friend now and I'll stick by you no matter what." Maya said as gave Clare a hug.
"Come on let's hit the rec center I think my friend Grace will help you with approaching Bianca
Meanwhile back at the Mason home Spinner was putting the finishing touches on the meal they were set to share with their friends.
"Spin did you set the table Manny and Jay said they're a few minutes out."
"Chill Em the food is done I'm putting it on the table now."
"Love you Spin."
"Love you more Em."
Spinner finished setting the table while Emma went to answer the door.
"Hey Emma long time no see." Manny said hugging her best friend.
"Welcome home Mrs. Hollywood."
"Hey what am I chop liver."
"Hey Jay come in I have the food ready."
"Great I'm starved."
Emma Manny and Jay went into the dining room where Spinner was setting the table.
"Dig in guys."
"Thanks Spin so what's new with you guys?"
"Nothing much Jay how's life in LA?"
"I like it but there's no place like Toronto I'm trying to convince my fiancée here to move us back this is home ya know."
"Fat chance Jay I'll take sun over freezing cold any day."
"Okay enough with the couple fighting." Spinner said jokingly.
Alright so what's up with you Mason's?" Jay asked.
"Actually funny you guys should mention that."
"Emma don't at least wait until we finish eating."
"Oh Spin I can't wait anymore I'm too excited."
"Fine Em but this is all on you."
"Whatever Spin."
"Alright you two we're completely lost here someone fill us now." Manny stated trying to avert playing spectator any longer.
Emma took a sip of her wine before speaking.
"Well guys we have some big news things are going to change for us in a big way."
"Emma what are you saying?"
"What I'm saying Manny is that Spinner and I are expanding our family."
Jay and Manny were shocked at Emma's sudden revelation.
"Spinner you idiot your wife is pregnant and you're letting her drink having been drinking brake fluid?"
"Of course not Jay I would never do that Emma is not pregnant."
"What the hell then is this about expanding your family?"
"Jay calm down we are expanding our family but we are adopting a child."
"Now you're really not making sense Emma how did this all start?"
"Well the short version is I ran into a girl who is the sister of a close friend and after hearing her story I was so touched I felt like it was the right thing to do she deserves a good home so Spinner and I are going to give this child a home."
"Em while I applaud your urge to do good are you sure you guys can do this?"
"Manny we can do this besides we already started the adoption process."
"Well if you guys feel this is what you we've got your backs all the way."
"Thanks Manny."
"Okay now that we've gotten the little details taken care of can you guys tell us who this mystery kid is?"
"Sure Jay actually you know this girl a little bit it's Clare Edwards Darcy's little sister."
"You're screwing with me Emma."
No Jay I'm not we already started the paper work Clare Edwards is a few short steps from being Clare Mason."
"Well congrats man anything you need just ask."
"Alright we can start by redecorating the spare room I want it ready for after she comes home Monday I have a list of her interests so her room will reflect her I don't care what I have to spend I want my daughter to feel at home."
"Look at you Em acting all motherly." Manny said in jest.
"What can I say just thinking about it makes me smile."
"Well let's get to work people that room isn't going to renovate itself." Emma said clearing the dishes knowing that this was only step one in Clare's road home.
Next update will pick up Monday at school with Clare in school another appearance by Eli and the Mason's revealing their surprise to Clare.