I walked into Degrassi the next day after quitting the FBI, determined. I spent the previous night wondering where I was supposed to go from here, and the only thing I could think of was Aston. I had spent a lot of time with him, and he wasn't like my ex family. He was cruel, he had no soul, someone like him deserved to be in prison. If I could take him down then maybe Matt wouldn't be disappointed in me anymore, and maybe my friends would forgive me. Part of me thought that, but then another part wanted to run away. I wanted to chop my hair off, wipe the makeup off, and just be Clare again. I couldn't though, Aston was a danger to so many people, and I was the only one close enough to him to get rid of him for good. At lunch I walked in trying to avoid eye contact with my former family, but I couldn't help but glance over at them. They were laughing and smiling, completely oblivious to me. It hurt me that they were seemed so unaffected by my absence, even Eli. I walked passed them, and sat down at Aston's table causing him to spit his food back into his napkin.

"Clare, sweetheart, what is that you are doing?"

I reached my hand across the table, and grabbed his. "I left them Aston, I told them my loyalty was with another. I'm sorry, I don't want you to be angry but I couldn't keep up with the lie anymore."

Aston ran his free hand through his hair and smiled, "Clare, you surprised me, but I am ever so happy that you made that decision. It is going to be rather entertaining seeing their reactions. Do tell, do they know of us?" I shook my head. "Ah, I see. All the more entertaining , shall we have a bit of fun?"

"Of course." I wanted to Burst into tears at just the thought of going over there with Ashton in front of them, but I was doing it for them. I was doing it to prove to them, Matt, and even my brother that I cared about all of them, and I'd do anything for their forgiveness. Aston and I began walking over to their table, he put his arm around me and I could feel the cockiness radiating from his body. We reached the table, and I automatically locked eyes with Eli. I could see the hurt in his eyes, and it tore me apart.

"Hello friends, we haven't had a good chat in quite some time so my lady and I wanted to come say hello." Aston annoying accent made my skin crawl.

Sean stared at me coldy, "His lady? Wow, well I guess it makes sense. Dogs, belong with dogs."

Aston laughed, "Dear Sean why are you being so petty, it's quite rude to call someone a dog. Don't blame Clare for wanting an upgrade, she has told me of how terribly she was treated living at your barn." Sean stood up, and Zig and Eli held him back. "Testy, testy now aren't we?" Aston turned his attention to Emma. "If you ever do tire of the barn, I would certainly welcome a call from you." Sean started to go crazy, kicking and screaming profanity. Emma tried to calm him but nothing would work, and all the while Aston kept laughing. I could feel the tears coming so I was thankful when I heard the bell ring. The rest of the day I kept replaying their faces in my mind when they saw me with Aston. I decided to skip my last period, I just needed a moment to think. I started to walk down the hall towards to front doors, when I felt a tug on my arm. I was pulled into a janitors closet, and before I could start screaming a hand was thrown over my mouth.

"Stop if. It's me." Eli took his hand off my mouth.

I turned to face him, my eyes wide with surprise. "What the hell are you doing, if Sean or Vince see you talking to me they'll flip."

Eli squinted his eyes, "I don't care. What the hell was that at lunch? Are you completely insane now?"

"I'm not insane, I'm with Aston and his gang now. I quit the FBI."

"Ha ha. Very funny Edwards, tell me what's really going on."

"I am." Lying to him this time around was so much harder than before.

Eli's voice became a low whisper, "You can't be serious, why? You don't need to spy for us anymore, so what possible reason could you have for being in a gang, let alone his?"

I turned my head away, unable to make eye contact with him anymore, it hurt too much. "He wants to take care of me, that's all there is to it. Now if you can excuse me."

Eli raised his voice again, his tone becoming more stern. "no, you can't be excused. Clare do you have feelings for this guy, seriously?" I nodded. "Bull shit. No way. I won't accept that."

I looked back at him, spitting my words out in an angry tone now. "Why are you even talking to me? You told me to forget my time with all of you, and that's what I'm doing."

Eli's eyes softened and he became sympathetic. "Clare I was angry, and I was hurt, but all I could think about last night was how worried I was about you. Where did you stay?"

"A hotel." I stared at him blankly

Eli took a step forward closing the gap between us. "I don't want to be apart from you, I meant what I said, I love you. I should have never said I didn't, please tell me why you're doing this? Do you know what it did to all of us to see you with him? It's like you twisted the knife that was already in our back's. Vince is beside himself with guilt Clare, he feels like this entire mess is his fault, and his guilt over your brothers death has gotten so much worse. I'm worried about him, do you not care at all?"

"No, I don't care. I'm with Aston, and his gang now. Dont talk to me, not ever again." I left the closet, breaking his heart and mine all over again. I didn't want any of this, I wished that things were simpler. I wanted more than anything for Eli and I to just be together, without anything standing in our way. That's why I was doing this, if I could get rid of Aston then maybe everything would be better, maybe Eli could even leave the gang life for good. I had to try.