I hope you enjoyed chapter one. The man that stalked Darcy was only ever named as Adams. Hopefully, that's not confusing with Adam. Since he nver has a first name in the show I give him one later on.

Ch. 2 For a Moment, Then This Present Shall be Past

(CLARE)

"You going to help out with the play?" Adam asks Friday morning when he catches me looking at a poster for Eli's play.

"I'm thinking about it, but I don't know if I have the time with co-op and tutoring Drew. I'll probably be meeting with him mostly at lunch considering he has football and I have Degrassi Daily after school. Actually, I should get to co-op," I remark checking the time.

"Yeah, me too," Adam smiles.

We walk out together; he takes Drew's car and I take Jake's truck. When I get to co-op I find fact checking on my desk and Asher isn't in his office. I get to work on the fact checking and Asher comes in a few minutes later. Asher comes to see me and lingers at my desk a few minutes. He then returns to his desk, but he continues to come back to my desk several times. He's never done this before, and he leans over looking at my computer as if he's looking at my fact checking sources. It's a little strange, though he never touches me or anything, it does leave me with an eerie feeling. The feeling stays with me even after I leave co-op and drive back to school.

"I got you lunch, we can work outside or maybe a classroom would be better," Drew says finding me at my locker. I hear him, but I'm thinking about Asher and my mind is distracted. "Clare," Drew says touching my shoulder and I'm pulled from my thoughts, "you okay?"

"Sorry, yeah fine, just thinking. Outside can be pretty loud, I bet Mr. Betenkamp will let us use the science classroom, then we can sit at the same table. Thanks for getting me lunch, you didn't need to do that," I smile taking it from him.

"It's the least I could do, you explain things way better than the books or teachers," Drew says, and I smile.

We don't see Mr. Betenkamp in his classroom but we go in anyway. I concentrate on explaining things to Drew and helping him over lunch. When we only have a few minutes until the bell we end the session and get down a tentative schedule. When we leave the classroom we see Jenna and Adam hanging posters for band tryouts next week. Adam says they'll hang some more after school and Jenna is coming over after school to work on songs.

Drew and I walk to art together, but in art my mind starts to wander again. First to Asher constantly at my desk today, then to Adams, I haven't seen him around in the last few days. Maybe I didn't see him at all, maybe the stress of the wedding and the fact that Darcy wouldn't be there brought some unresolved issues to the surface. I'm so distracted I hardly do anything in art, not that Miss Dawes seems to notice.

No newspaper meeting today, no games and no homework for the weekend so I go home with Jake after school. Asher and Adams remain on my mind for the evening, and that night Adams is in my nightmare. I wake up panting, sweating, tears running down my face. As I'm curling up Jake bursts in my door.

"You okay?" He asks in a panicked voice looking around the room.

"It was a bad dream," I tell him as I sob on my knees, "I didn't mean to wake you."

"You were thrashing around, hollering, and pleading for someone to stop. What was the nightmare about?" Jake questions sitting on my bed.

"I don't remember really, it was dark, I was scared, I think…think I was yelling for Darcy," I reply. It's true, I can't actually remember the dream, but I woke up terrified.

"Have you heard from her lately?" Jake asks and I shake my head.

"I'm okay, you can go back to sleep, I'm sorry I woke you," I apologize wiping my eyes.

"It's fine, come get me if you need me," Jake says.

"Thanks Jake, you're a good brother," I smile and kiss his cheek.

"Get some sleep," he says leaving my room.

I'm awake now and I can't sleep, I'm up the rest of the night on my laptop. Jake is snoring in his room, Mom and Glen are awake by seven. I get up too, telling Mom I'm going to Adam's, I walk to The Dot first to get coffee, something sweet and cold for the rest of my walk. Fitz is working, along with Quinn, she goes to U of T but started working at the café last year when she was a Degrassi senior.

"You're up early Clare," Fitz remarks.

"Jake was snoring," I comment. It's not a lie, but it's not the reason I'm up so early. "Can I get a large iced white chocolate raspberry mocha to go."

"Where you headed at this hour?" Fitz asks ringing me up.

"Adam's house," I reply handing him some money.

"If you want to wait a few minutes I have a break in ten minutes. I can run you over," Fitz offers.

"Okay, thanks, Fitz," I smile while he gives me my change.

I put some of it in the tip jar and Quinn gives me my drink. I sit down and decide I should probably text Adam to see if I can come over so early. He says they're up and I can come to the basement door, I figured they would be since even on weekends Audra usually has the boys up by eight.

When Fitz leaves for his break I go with him, he drops me at Adam's, I thank him for the ride, and he heads back to work. When I come in the basement the boys are eating breakfast on the sofa and watching cartoons. It makes me smile to see them that way and I take a seat next to Adam. He asks if I'm hungry, but I shake my head.

I hang out all day and find out Drew is playing drums in the band. After lunch Jenna comes over, she and Adam start working on songs. Dallas leaves to hang out with Owen and the rest of the hockey team. So, I spend some time working with Drew on physics and math. Drew and Adam take Jenna and I home before dinner.

Sunday we spend the whole day together as a family at Mom's insistence, but at least I don't have anymore nightmares. Monday at co-op Asher hardly looks at me, he also has me run for coffee, which I've never done and has nothing to do with journalism. I meet with Drew at lunch, we use Betenkamp's classroom again and he says we're welcome to use it at lunch if we need to. Play and band auditions are today, I see a lot of people in line for both. Tuesday morning I find out from Adam the band is complete with Fitz on rhythm guitar. I didn't even know he played guitar, but Adam says he's good and they'll rehearse mostly weekends with everyone's schedules.

The play auditions are over Tuesday afternoon and the list of cast and crew up Wednesday morning. Jenna got a leading role as did Dave; Alli and Fiona are working on costumes and props, Adam is stage manager. Everyone seems happy with their roles and I'm looking forward to seeing the final production.

Asher isn't even around my entire co-op shift Tuesday, but Wednesday he seems to be paying extra attention to me again. I really don't know what to think and tell myself it probably has to do with how busy he is and whatever he's working on at the time. I am learning a lot from him though and make a couple of posts on social media about how happy I am to be working with him.

It's like that all week, co-op in the morning where Asher either seems to almost be ignoring me or paying extra attention to me. Meeting with Drew at lunch, and I go to the Torres house Wednesday and Thursday afternoon when he's done with football to help some more. Friday is the first football game, I go with Adam and my other friends, and Degrassi wins. Alli invited Jenna and I over to spend the night after the game, so Jenna and I came prepared Friday morning.

I enjoy the sleepover with really my only two female friends, we're up late and Saturday afternoon Sav takes us all to The Dot. It's central so Jenna and I can get home from there. We all go in the café to get coffee, then Sav takes Alli home, Adam is here so Jenna stays. I start walking home once I have my iced coffee. It's only a couple of blocks, my mind is thinking about tutoring Drew and wondering how Asher will be Monday morning. I'm not really paying attention and kind of walking home on auto pilot when a man is suddenly blocking my path. I look at him and freeze my iced coffee slips from my hand spilling onto the sidewalk and my shoes.

"Where's your sister? I wasn't sure it was you, but it is. Where's Darcy?" Adams asks.

I can't answer, all I can do is stare at him as I'm flooded by memories and emotions from that time of my life. When I don't answer his eyes narrow at me. I'm trying to will my feet to move when I hear my name from behind.

"Clare, you okay?" Owen calls. I look over my shoulder to see Owen walking toward us with Fitz. Both are a little stiff and eyeing Adams, he must see it too because he turns and quickly walks away. He disappears into a car and drives off just as Owen and Fitz reach me.

"You okay Clare? Who was that guy?" Fitz asks putting his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm okay," I reply shaking myself out it.

"Who was that guy?" Owen repeats as I never did tell them.

"He…he was lost," I reply slowly. I don't know what to tell them, I don't even know if they know about Adams. It's too much to explain right now and I don't really want to think about it anymore.

"You looked scared," Owen says.

"You dropped your coffee," Fitz points out.

"He just startled me, I'm okay. I was lost in thought and he surprised me."

"You headed home?" Fitz asks after a moment of silence.

I nod and they walk me home, Fitz keeps his hand on my shoulder the entire time, as though he's ready to push me behind him if the guy comes back. They walk me to the door; I thank them, and they actually wait until I'm inside with the door locked before they walk off. No one else is home, and I go around locking every door in the house. Thankfully, Mom and Glen return from errands not too long after I get home. I consider telling Mom about Adams, but I don't want to worry her.

Knowing other people are home and feeling gross after my encounter I take a very long shower. Adams never leaves my mind though; I have bad dreams all night and barely sleep. Sunday I tell my mom I'm cramping really bad and not feeling well. Other than showering three times I stay in bed most of the day. I feel anxious and continue to feel gross and I want this feeling to go away.

(DREW)

"Are you sure you don't want me to take you? I really don't care if I'm late to math," Jake says from down the hall Monday morning, and it catches my attention. I look over to see him with Clare, I move closer, hoping that it's not obvious that I'm listening to their conversation, not that they're talking in hushed voices or anything.

"I'm fine Jake, I have coffee and I'm not that tired," Clare asserts. She sounds a little annoyed that Jake is so worried and hovering.

"Just text me when you get there, and if you aren't feeling well go home, I'll walk," Jake tells her.

"I'll be fine big brother," she replies with a smirk and a teasing tone. Jake beams at "big brother" and twists his mouth at her for being snarky. "I'll see you at lunch," she tells him. Then she sees me and waves. I wave back and walk over to Jake while Clare walks off.

"She okay?" I ask Jake when Clare is gone.

"If you ask Clare, she's totally fine, if you ask me she should have stayed home. She barely slept last night or Saturday night, and she's showered at least five times in the last couple of days. Including really late at night, I got up around two last night to use the washroom and she was in the shower. I asked her what was wrong this morning and she insisted it was just a restless mind. I am certain something else is going on," Jake tells me. His voice is filled with worry as are his eyes.

"I can talk to her at lunch, and I'll ask Adam if she's said anything to him," I tell Jake, slapping his back lightly. I know what it's like to worry about your younger sibling, especially when they're insisting everything is fine. Before he told us he was Adam and was struggling with his identity or maybe just coming out to us Adam did it a lot. I also found him burning himself one day.

"Thanks," Jake nods.

I smile and we part way to get to class, but now I'm worried about Clare. Which makes paying attention in my morning classes that much harder. I'm able to pay enough attention to take notes at least. When the bell rings I get lunch for the two of us from the caf and am waiting in Betenkamp's room when she arrives. When she's close to me I see how tired she looks.

"You know if you aren't up for this I can get Adam to help me after school or Bianca or something," I tell Clare.

"No, I'm okay, just didn't get much sleep last night," she replies with a smile.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, my mind was just restless last night, and I couldn't sleep. I'll be okay. So, what did you work on in class today?"

I'm sure she's skirting the subject, but she doesn't seem to want to talk about it and I don't want to press. I show her my notes and what I have for homework, and she helps me. We walk to art together and I watch her in art. She's not only tired but seems to space out quite often, like her thoughts just steal her away.

Fitz and I walk to fourth together, and I tell Jake she told me the same thing. He nods and Fitz gives us a strange look but doesn't ask. I have football after school and Adam has play practice. Dallas walked home, Adam and I arrive home together but I wait until we're alone in the basement doing homework to ask him about Clare. Mom and Dad are upstairs, and Dallas is in the shower.

"Hey, has Clare said anything about being upset over something or worried over something."

"Not to me, why?" Adam questions.

"Jake says she hasn't slept in a couple nights, he was worried about her driving to co-op this morning," I reply.

"Yeah, she was tired today, said it was her restless mind. I'm sure if something is bothering her we'll hear about it. Usually, she can't shut up about things bothering her," Adam tells me.

"True," I nod. It's true usually when there's something wrong Clare is very vocal. So, maybe her big smart brain was just crowded by too many thoughts to let her sleep. Sounds like a smart people problem, I've certainly never had that issue.

I remain worried about her though, she stays on my mind all night. I even dream about her that night, normally if a girl occupies my dreams it's sexy. Not tonight, in my dream Clare is telling us nothing is wrong as she starts to fade away. It's pretty disturbing and leaves me with a bad feeling when I wake Tuesday morning. I shower quickly and skip breakfast, of course then I'm hungry on my way to school so we stop at The Dot. Spinner is working but he almost always opens. I get coffee and a cinnamon roll, Adam and Dallas walk to school from the café. I have to rush to homeroom, so I don't see Jake until lunch.

"Adam said she was tired, but she didn't talk about anything bothering her. He was also sure that she would tell us, she's usually pretty vocal when things are bothering her," I tell Jake.

"Not always, sometimes she holds it in because she's afraid to worry people," Jake comments.

"We'll keep an eye on her, all of us," I assure him. "I gotta meet her for tutoring, I'll see you in fourth."

Jake nods and walks off; I get lunch for the two of us again and meet Clare in Mr. B's room. She seems better today, at least she seems like she slept. I'm still worried that something is going on and she's not talking. Right now, though all I can do is keep an eye on her, and remind her that I'm here if she does want to talk.

(CLARE)

I pull out of the Degrassi parking lot heading for co-op Monday morning and see Adams lingering near the bus stop at the corner. Since he approached me a couple weeks ago I've continued to see him lurking around. He's never approached me again or said anything to me. He asked about Darcy when he did approach me and I'm hoping that he'll realize she's not here and just go away.

I should probably tell someone, but I haven't. I don't want my mom to worry, she'll stress about it and won't want me to go anywhere alone. She'll get all neurotic and paranoid and it will make things worse. I've told Adam and Eli about the man that stalked Darcy, but not Drew. I don't really want to tell Adam, Drew, or Eli that he's back and looking for Darcy again. I'm not even sure that Jake and Glen know. It's been a month since I first saw Adams, how much longer can he linger without realizing Darcy no longer lives here.

Aside from occasionally seeing Adams lurking around the last two weeks have been great. Co-op has been wonderful; I'm learning so much from Asher and he's a great mentor. He still has days where he seems to almost ignore me and others where he seems to pay too much attention. I've decided it seems to be just how he is. Like if he doesn't have much time for me for a day or two he overcompensates the next day or two.

I've been really enjoying tutoring Drew at lunch and spending that time with him. He almost always has lunch for the two of us and he's picking up the material. We almost always meet at lunch because he has football after school, I have Degrassi Daily, and I sometimes have a co-op shift after school. The band has had four rehearsals, Adam tells me they sound good, though I haven't heard them yet. The play rehearsals are also going, every afternoon after school.

"Hey Newsie, you want to sit in on the meeting this morning?" Asher asks when I get to co-op.

"Really?" I ask with a hopeful smile. I had been nervous after seeing Adams when I left school. Worried that he might follow me and was thinking about the other times I'd seen him. Now I'm just hopeful and excited, trying not to jump up and down.

"Yeah, come on it will be good for you," Asher says.

I follow him to the boardroom trying not to show how delighted I truly am. I sit slightly behind Asher and observe the meeting. In many ways very much like a Degrassi Daily meeting, in others entirely different. When the editor asks for stories and the room goes quiet for a couple minutes I try to pitch one. I'm quickly ignored, and Asher pitches a story before shooting me a warning look.

"Observation only Newsie," Asher scolds in a whisper when the editor moves on.

"Sorry," I whisper back, and sit silently for the rest of the meeting.

"Back to fact checking Newsie," Asher tells me when we leave the meeting.

I sit at my desk and do the fact checking, but I can't help thinking my ideas for articles are better than most of the ones that were pitched. So, I send an email to Asher with my pitches, and shortly after sending it he calls me into his office. I get up with a steely reserve, going in and talking before Asher can say anything.

"I'm sorry for just sending you the story pitches but if I'm here to learn I should be learning. About more than fetching coffee and fact checking. If you're going to fire me for me sending ideas I think make better news than the pitches in the meeting then you don't really like my ambition," I tell him in practically one breath.

"Breathe Clare, are you always this neurotic?" Asher queries.

"Yeah, when I'm nervous. I get it from my mother," I reply as I release a breath.

"You don't need to be nervous; I do admire your ambition. I called you in to ask if you wanted to have lunch with me and discuss your ideas," Asher says.

I nod enthusiastically, afraid if I open my mouth I might squeal. "I'd love to," I finally manage.

"Let's go then, you can follow me and leave for school from there." Asher says, getting up from his desk.

I grab my stuff and call Drew, he's still in class so I leave a message that co-op is running long, and I can come over after school. I get in the truck and follow Asher to this little hole in the wall restaurant. It looks run down from the outside, but it's nice inside. Asher orders for the two of us and we talk about my ideas. Some of the ideas Asher disagrees with and explains why they wouldn't make good stories, but there is one that he really likes and says it's a brilliant idea.

"I'll see about doing interviews and call you later with a schedule," Asher comments as he pays the bill.

"You mean we're going to write my story?" I question elatedly.

"We're going to write your story Newsie, but right now you'd better get back to school. I'd hate for you to get in trouble because I kept you," Asher says. I go out to the truck floating on a cloud of exhilarated joy.

"You look awfully happy," Adam comments when I walk into school. He and Eli are sitting in the foyer and seem to be discussing the play. I may have danced into school actually, I'm so giddy.

"I'm going to write an article with Asher, he took me to lunch to t…"

"Hold it," Eli says, cutting me off before I can continue, "your co-op boss took you to lunch?"

"Relax Eli, it was a business lunch. I pitched some ideas to him, and he took me to lunch to talk about them. I'm so excited to write the article and be working side by side with Asher. I feel bad that I missed Drew's tutoring session though, you think I can come home with you? After Degrassi Daily I can hang out until Drew is out of practice and then tutor him."

"I'm sure that will be fine, you can talk to Drew in art, I have play practice after school. If newspaper gets out first you can hang out in the library," Adam says.

"Why don't you watch the practice after Degrassi Daily, I could use your creative eye," Eli offers just as the bell rings.

"Okay, thanks, Eli," I nod before rushing off to art. "Sorry about missing our session Drew, I can hang out and go home with you when you're done with football," I tell Drew when I see him.

"No problem Clare, I know co-op is important. Yeah, if you want to hang out and come home with us that would be great."

"Definitely, Eli said I could hang out and watch practice when I was done with the school newspaper."

"Cool," Drew nods.

"You seem awfully happy to have been kept at co-op through lunch," Fitz comments.

"Oh, we weren't at co-op, Asher took me to lunch we're going to write an article together," I tell them. I see Drew and Fitz exchange a look while I walk to my easel to continue work on my charcoal drawing from last week.

After school I go straight to the Degrassi Daily room. It's a pretty quick meeting, everyone has assignments for the week. Liam and I do a quick layout approval and I'm done, so I go to the auditorium. I watch the play practice while getting my homework done. Adam and I find Drew when it's done, Dallas waited around as well, he takes shotgun while Adam and I sit in the back. I help Drew with physics and math, Adam helps some too, and Jake picks me up in time to get me home for dinner. On the way home Asher calls, he says we have an interview at seven tomorrow morning and one at eight.

"I have to be at co-op really early, you mind if I take the truck?" I ask Jake after hanging up with Asher.

"No problem, I'm sure Dad can take me to school, or I can walk," Jake replies.

"Thanks Jake," I smile.

I tell my family about the article over dinner and Mom is very proud and eager to see it. I'm in such a state of eager anticipation to work side by side with Asher and write an article that it's hard to sleep. I'm up early, shower and dress professionally so I don't look like I'm in high school. I wear a back pencil skirt with a light blue blouse and heels, put part of my hair back and even apply a little makeup. Glen says I look very nice, but Mom isn't downstairs when I'm leaving. I arrive at The Interpreter parking garage early and wait for Asher.

"Very nice Newsie, you're early and you look very professional," Asher grins when he sees me.

"Thanks, I didn't know if they'd feel comfortable talking to a high school student, so I didn't want to look like one."

"You certainly don't look like a high school student," Asher says, and I smile.

I get in his car and we drive out to the first interview. We do both interviews; I take notes along with Asher and we go to the office when we're done with the interviews. I take both sets of notes and begin on the article, but I don't have a lot of time before I have to return to school. I tell Asher I'll return after school, and he says okay. I drive to school and meet Drew in our usual spot.

"Wow! You look amazing, what's the occasion?" Drew asks when he sees me.

"Asher and I met up this morning to do interviews for the article. I wanted to dress professionally. So, what are we working on today?" I question Drew.

He takes a minute to answer but then we get to work. He brought me lunch, but I'm so worked up and looking forward to getting back to co-op I hardly eat. We walk to art together and Fitz also compliments the way I'm dressed. In fourth period I tell Liam I won't make it to the Degrassi Daily meeting because I have co-op. After school I rush out eager to get back and work on the article. Jake agreed to drop me off since he needed the truck, and says he'll pick me up when I'm ready.

"Hilary wants this done for tomorrow's edition. We can work together in the editing suite," Asher tells me when I go into his office.

"Okay, great," I smile.

The private rooms are at the back of the office, they have computers with four large monitors. There's no windows and the walls are soundproof. Asher says that they mostly do things for the website in these rooms, but some of the journalists use them to work on articles when they need to cut out distractions. I pull up my notes and what I'd done earlier, and we work on it. Asher changes some of what I wrote, but it is better.

"And sent," Asher says after emailing the article to Hilary.

"This is so incredible! I can't believe I wrote an article that's going to be in a national paper tomorrow," I grin practically jumping in my chair.

"You did well Newsie, I see great things in your future."

I smile and bite my lip feeling my cheeks heat as I blush.

"You've got a…" Asher says and then his fingers brush a strand of my hair behind my ear. I release my lip, ready to say thanks for whatever he got out of my hair. Suddenly though his hand is at the back of my neck and his lips are on mine.

I freeze, I don't know what to do, I can't even believe this moment of time is happening. Until Asher's lips move and then I know it is. I push at him, grab my purse, and run out. It's fairly late and not many people are here. When I get close to the bullpen I slow down, but my breath trembles for the entire elevator ride. After a moment to compose myself I call Jake to come get me. I wait on the steps of the building; I shouldn't see Asher as he'll leave by the parking garage. I'm still incredible relieved to see Jake and run to the truck.

"Get the article done?" Jake asks.

"Yeah, it'll be great," I reply forcing a smile on my lips, "it'll be in tomorrow's paper."

Jake says something but I don't hear him I'm looking out the window and replaying it all in my mind. When I get home I greet our parents and go upstairs, first thing I do is shower. Then I go to my room, I can't sleep though, every time my eyes close all I see is Asher kissing me. I'm awake all night all long, I shower twice more, watch TV downstairs, and pace the living room so I don't wake Jake up. I'm dressed and ready for school by six, but it's too early to go to school. Glen is up, he has to be on the job site early and offers to drop me at The Dot.

"You're up early Clare," Spinner comments when I come into the café. This early he's the only one working.

"Too excited about my article to sleep," I reply. I covered the dark circles under my eyes with makeup. I used eyedrops on my bloodshot eyes, so I don't look as awful as I feel, now I just need to force this smile all day.

"Yeah, Fitz told me about that, have you picked up a paper yet?" Spin asks.

"No, been a little to nervous to look honestly," I comment.

"Well, how 'bout some coffee?"

I order from Spin and try to sit down, but I'm nervous and looking out the windows. Spin is looking at me bouncing, so when he gets busy with customers I walk to the school. It's quite early but Mr. Simpson is here, and when I tell him I have some work for Degrassi Daily he lets me in. I do go to the newspaper room and spend the next hour overanalyzing in my head about seeing Asher today. Will he be angry and fire me, will he tell me it was a mistake, will he try again. I pace around the room as I think of every possible outcome. When I hear kids outside the room I leave to get to my locker, Jake probably isn't here yet, but I can take the bus to co-op.

"Hey Clare, saw the article it looks amazing," Adam says walking up with Drew and Dallas.

"Thanks Adam," I reply forcing a smile on my face.

"Are you okay?" Adam inquires. Of course, my best friend would notice something was wrong.

"I was anticipating the article to too much to sleep and I need to get to co-op," I respond trying to walk past them, but Adam grabs my hand.

"You aren't due at co-op for 45 minutes," Adam comments.

"Yes, but Asher wanted me to come in early because of the article," I tell them. It's a very thin excuse and Adam narrows his eyes, but I see Jake down the hall. "Jake, I need to go to co-op a little early, I'm taking the truck."

"Okay," Jake says slowly, "did you eat?"

"Yeah, your dad dropped me at The Dot this morning. See you guys at lunch," I remark pulling my hand from Adam's and all but running down the hall.

I didn't actually eat anything at The Dot, but I'm not hungry. I take the truck and drive to The Interpreter, all the "what ifs" running through my mind. The elevator ride up is the longest of my life, and when I get in Asher isn't in his office. I sit at my desk, but there's no work yet. I look through old emails and Asher walks in a few minutes later.

"With me Newsie," Asher comments walking past me. I get up and walk with him to his office where he closes the door. "I'm sorry for last night, I crossed a line and I hate myself for it. I so often forget your age because you are so gifted and mature. You have no reason to, but can you ever forgive me?"

I release a breath, my entire body relaxing. It was all a mistake; I can push it to the back of my mind and forget it ever happened if he can. "Of course, let's pretend it never happened."

Hope you enjoyed these debut chapters, ore chapters soon, picking up in Drew's pov. Next up will probably be more chapters of "Admit that We're Friends but There's More There".