AN: Hello all, time for a new chapter! I've been watching the show again like I said and I mapped out a couple of new ideas for the story alongside the original story I had started writing this one based on.
Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi or it's characters, just this idea.
Chapter Five: Back to School
Monday morning is the first school day Clare wakes up at the Torres house, before then she'd never slept over before. Her parents had always said that she wasn't allowed to spend the night at Adam's because, even though he's one of her best friends he was still a boy. Her parents had only let her stay over at the Bhandari house because of how strict the Bhandari parents were with both Sav and Alli. Clare's parents had trusted her whenever she said she was sleeping over at Alli's, especially since they usually were dropping her off there or Sav and Alli came to pick her up. Neither of her parents expected that Clare would ever use that as a cover and then she'd sneak off to spend the night at the Goldsworthy house instead. Which, is kind of how she'd gotten into this mess. Sneaking around to the Goldsworthy house and lying to her parents.
Clare had gone to bed easily the night before with everything. Setting up colors around the bedroom to see what might look best was fine, and surprisingly the phone calls with her parents had gone well too. They'd needed to call three different times: once on the house phone, and once on each of her parents cell phones. Audra had done more of the talking, and explained the situation and the ground rules in the Torres house to her parents and in the end they'd come to an agreement. Paperwork would be drawn up through Omar's work colleagues and couriered over within the next week.
For the first time in the past few days, things seemed to be looking up for Clare Edwards. She was even allowing herself to feel...happy.
The school morning started off alright, with Clare waking up to the sounds of echoing alarms going off at the same time. Early mornings were a normal thing at the Edwards household, she was used to waking up early to get a ride with her mother or father on their way to work early in the mornings, and it seems like that would continue to be a similar thing in the Torres house. She's thankful that her own alarm went off almost simultaneously with everybody else's in the house. The only worse thing than what happened her first night here would be accidentally waking everybody in the house up with her alarm going off early in the morning.
The school uniform being no longer in effect would be a good thing, if while dressing for school she wasn't overcome with the thought of everything. Staring at herself in the bathroom mirror, Clare sighs and turns to the side. Not that her stomach is showing any signs of her pregnancy, but eventually there would be signs. Eventually Clare would need to go shopping for new clothes to wear during the next few months.
An image pops into her head. Herself, months down the line with a pregnant belly.
She never thought she would be doing this in high school, let alone...alone. For a while, Clare led herself to believe that she and Eli could be together forever. That they were actually the soulmates he'd continued to claim them to be. But...maybe there was no such thing as soulmates. Or maybe relationships weren't for her. After all, Clare had gone to Degrassi just for the gifted program, right? For her academics, not relationships. Plus, her only relationships had ended in some form of heartbreak, heartache.
Knocking ruptured the thoughts in her head, "Clare, are you done? Mom wants to make sure we eat before heading to school." Adam's voice calls to her through the bathroom door.
Clearing her throat, Clare shakes her hair with her hands and walks to the door, opening it and smiling at Adam, "Of course."
"You've got that look on your face. Are you worried about seeing Eli at school? Telling Alli and Jenna? Talking to Simpson?" Adam asks, leading Clare down the stairs into the kitchen and showing her the selection of breakfast foods. A couple of different cereals, some breakfast and granola bars, oatmeals as well as pancake and waffle mixes for mornings they had more time.
"Worried mom's gonna spill the beans to Simpson before you're ready?" Drew asks with a mouthful of cereal, looking up to where the other two are standing by the cabinet.
"Uh, thanks. Now I am." Clare says at the same time that Adam scolds his brother.
"That's not helping."
"Sorry." Drew makes a face and turns back to his breakfast, shrugging his shoulders.
"I mean...he has a point." Clare says with a sigh, rummaging through the shelves of the cabinet before settling on a granola bar and picking two of them up and walking over to sit across from Drew. "Except, I'm not worried about Audra telling people. Or, well, even you two. It's Eli I'm worried about telling somebody else before I'm ready for them to find out. He's been...sporadic, all over the place, sometimes a bit...much. And it could slip out, like maybe to one of his friends or just in whatever play he's working on for the drama club." Clare shakes her head. Saying all of that out loud, she's glad to get it off her chest, but it doesn't erase the fears of it all either.
"Just a granola bar? Are you sure that's all you want, Clare?" Adam asks, pouring himself some cereal and milk into a bowl as he looks over at his friend with a worried gaze.
"Not that hungry, maybe I'll grab something from the caf in the morning after the meeting with Mr. Simpson and your mom." Clare explains, taking a bite of the granola bar and looking down at the wooden table getting silent once more, lost in her thoughts again.
"O-kay." Adam hesitates with a sigh, eating cereal and taking a seat beside Drew at the table. "Well, we promise we won't tell anybody at school." Adam nudges Drew's arm with his own and looks at his brother to prompt him to speak.
Coughing before putting down his spoon in the cereal bowl Drew nods his head, "Uh, yeah, totally. Secret's safe with the Torres fam, Clare. No worries."
"Thanks guys."
"Oh, uh, about that. I didn't, like, say anything, about your...situation." Drew gestures with his spoon towards Clare as he makes a face before continuing his comment. "But I told B that you moved into the house this weekend cause of your wack parents kicking you out."
"Oh?" Clare asks. She's not really had much interaction with Bianca before. They'd been at the Torres house for dinner a few times over the summer together, but Clare wouldn't consider the two of them friends. Friendly wouldn't even come to mind, because from what she knew Bianca was friends with Fitz and Owen, and while Clare had partially made amends with Fitz and Owen seemed to be less of a bully than before Clare wasn't entirely sure about Bianca. All she knew about Bianca was the bad things she'd heard whispered in the hallways, especially from Alli and Katie when she'd been working on the newspaper still. Clare wasn't one to judge before getting to know someone herself, but she was still wary. "What did she say?"
"She asked about what Saint Clare did to make her parents so mad, but I said it I didn't know the whole story." Drew explains with a shrug of his shoulders.
That makes Clare feel bad, that Drew lied to his girlfriend to cover things up for her. But still, she's also grateful too. She's glad that he lied and protected her story and didn't spill the moment he had an opportunity. "I'm sorry you lied to her, but thanks for not telling her."
"Well, it's not my place to tell everybody your life story." Drew had been on the bad end of gossip and stories enough that he knew when to keep his mouth shut.
Clare nods her head, and then the rest of breakfast is relatively silent other than a few comments about the upcoming school day. It's still relatively early in the school year, Thanksgiving and Halloween have just passed, and winter break as well as finals are still two months away. Midterm grades are coming out in the mail soon, which is the topic in question until Audra comes down the stairs, heading into the kitchen to pour coffee into her thermos. "Clean up from breakfast, okay? Five minutes."
Drew and Adam both get up to clear their bowls while Audra walks out the door to get the car started. Clare stands up and grabs her jean jacket, putting it on and then picking up her backpack as well. The three teens file out of the house and head to the car and driving to school. It's a fairly short drive, still longer than from Clare's house. She's used to a quick drive, or even walking to Degrassi from her home. She could probably still walk from the Torres house, but it's definitely farther away from the school than where her house is.
Adam and Drew are the first out of the car, jumping quickly out as Audra drops them off in front of the school before moving to the lot to park the car. "Are you feeling alright, Clare?" she asks, once she's parked and gathering up her things.
Clare nods her head slowly, "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm just...worried, I guess."
"That's alright." Audra smiles, giving Clare's shoulder a squeeze before hopping out of the car herself and waiting for Clare to get out.
The two of them walk into the school together, which Clare notices she gets a look from Alli, Jenna, KC, and Connor who were all standing by the MI lab. She'll have to explain to them later what's going on, but she can already see Alli's pulled out her phone and is typing away a message. Not even a moment later, Clare's phone vibrates in her pocket. Clare pulls her phone out, biting her lip as she sees that it is in fact Alli who's texted her and slides to open the message while Audra tells Mr. Simpson's secretary that she's here to see him.
Alli: Uh...since when do u walk into school with Mrs Torres? What's going on Clare? Is everything ok?
Clare: I'll explain, I promise. Maybe the three of us can meet after school? Just you, me, and Jenna? It's important, Alli.
Alli: Cryptic. You better explain!
Clare turns around to look where her friends were standing and she nods her head before putting her phone back into her pocket and letting Audra guide her into Mr. Simpson's office. Once the door is shut behind them, Clare lets out a breath and runs a hand through her hair.
"Good morning, Mr. Simpson." Audra says, putting her purse down on the chair. She doesn't take a seat when she's in the office, ever. Which is something that makes Mr. Simpson nervous, though he won't admit that out loud, and now that he's dealt with that a couple of times his face looks neutral.
"Audra." Mr. Simpson nods his head before turning his attention to Clare and looking at her. "Clare. Is everything alright? I got an email from Mr. Edwards late last night but I haven't been able to read it yet, this morning's been busy already."
"Well, I'm sure Randall sent the email explaining that there's been some changes in Clare's living arrangements. Due to some issues at home, Clare will be staying with us. We're having all the legal paperwork drawn up as well." Audra sounds so professional, calm and composed. But to Clare it all sounds like it's underwater. Like she's drowning and can't get her head back above water.
"Clare, is this true?" Mr. Simpson's gaze is sympathetic as he turns to look at Clare. He's remembering when Manny had moved in with his family, and doesn't know what to think this means for Clare. He's known Clare as a student, but also a person, and he hopes that everything's alright. When she nods her head he clears his throat and returns the nod. "Well, my door is always open if you need somebody to talk to, Clare. As is Miss. Sauve's, as you know." Clare nods again, staying silent. Mr. Simpson turns his attention back to Audra. "We're going to need copies of paperwork, just official documentation. But I'll make a note in Clare's file for now that she's staying with you at the house and that you and Mr. Torres are her...guardians?"
"Correct." Audra nods her head. "Once the paperwork is complete I can have the appropriate documentation faxed over here as well, just send me an email with what you'll need from us so that we can receive Clare's grades and be allowed to pick her up from the school grounds. Whatever's necessary. For now, I believe you'll be able to find that in Randall's email."
Mr. Simpson nods his head, clicking through on his computer and making a note in Clare's electronic file as well as opening up the email from Randall Edwards. It's fairly bare bones, and doesn't have many details, but does explain that Clare will be staying with the Torres family and that both Audra and Omar should be allowed to take Clare to and from the Degrassi campus. "Alright. Well, everything seems to be in order, if I need anything else..."
Audra cuts him off and picks up her purse, signifying that the meeting is over, "You know how to reach me. I'll be in touch, Mr. Simpson."
Soon after that, the bell rings and Clare hops up from the seat in Mr. Simpson's office and walks out with a wave toward the man before heading to her first class of the day. She's worried about only one class. Her English class, which she knows she has with Eli, but thankfully she's also got Adam as a buffer in that class as well. So, she's not going to be alone in there.
Thankful for the distraction that classes bring her from worrying about everything else going on, Clare's focus is intent on the school work in front of her during classes even as she has Alli in her ear asking question when the teacher isn't looking. Second period math, the first class she has with Alli all day, is filled with Alli peppering Clare with questions when Armstrong isn't looking and Clare repeatedly telling her that she'll explain everything after school. Alli only relents on asking questions because Armstrong catches her and pulls her to the front of the classroom to answer a difficult question.
In English the next period, Clare slides in next to Adam before she has a chance to see Eli. She's crossing her fingers that maybe Eli's out sick and she won't have to see him at all, especially when the second bell rings and Mrs. Dawes begins class and they're working in pairs, Clare working with Adam.
"Hey, do you have any plans for lunch today?" Clare asks.
"I'm doing mano-a-mano with Dave at lunch, but you can come and sit in the studio with us if you want." Adam offers, looking up from the book they'd been working on.
Clare makes a face and sighs, shaking her head. "Thanks, but that's okay. I was thinking of heading to my house and getting some more of my things, actually. But I need another hand."
"You could ask Alli and Jenna?" Adam suggests.
"I haven't told them anything yet. I'm going to tell them after school." Clare rolls her bottom lip between her teeth as she sighs softly, thinking about her options. She's looking down at the assignment paper before she turns her attention back to Adam and asks, "Do you think Drew would be up for helping me?"
"I dunno, you could ask? He usually hangs with B and Owen for lunch, though." Adam shrugs and turns back to the assignment.
Later, as the lunch bell rings, Clare finds Drew walking towards the front door and grabs his arm lightly to stop him. "You busy?"
"Well, I was heading to lunch to meet B." Drew explains, gesturing outside to the benches with a shrug of his shoulders. "Why, what's up?"
"Would the two of you be down for a little lunch time espionage? Adam was supposed to help, but he's got the radio show with Dave during lunch."
"Espionage?" Drew's eyebrows furrow together as he looks at Clare worriedly with a shake of his head and opens the front door. "What are you talking about Edwards?"
Following Drew out the door and down the front steps Clare continues speaking, "I'm talking about going to my house and getting the rest of my things while neither of my parents are home."
"Didn't you already move your stuff into the house?" Drew asks, greeting his girlfriend with a kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah, but I couldn't fit all of it into the bag. Come on, Drew. I know where my mom keeps the spare key hidden, we'll be back before the next period starts." Clare pleads her case with Drew.
"Okay, I'm confused. What are we talking about?" Bianca asks, tilting her head to look between Clare and Drew. She already knew a bit of the story, having gotten the gist of the explanation of Clare being kicked out and moving into the Torres house over the weekend from Drew in one of their phone calls that weekend.
"Clare thinks it's a good idea to go off campus during lunch to break into her house and pack up the rest of her things." Drew explains, turning to look at Bianca.
"It's not breaking in. I know where the spare key is." Clare rolls her eyes.
"She's got a point." Bianca points out.
"Fine, but where are we putting the rest of your stuff?" Drew asks.
"I hadn't really...thought about that. I could ask Fiona and Marisol to stick it in the student council office until the end of the day I guess." Clare shrugs her shoulders, making a face as she thinks her comment through. It probably wouldn't work anyway, it's not as though she has a good relationship with either of them. "Oh, I could ask Simpson!"
"How about Plan B," Bianca interjects, "Clare puts her stuff in my car. I am coming over after school to study anyway."
"So, we're doing this?" Drew and Clare both ask at the same time, looking at Bianca.
"Come on, I'll drive." Bianca says, getting up and heading towards the parking lot.
AN: Thanks for reading! I've definitely got a couple of ideas for what to do with the story, but it'll take me a while to get back into the swing of things. One of the main reasons I'm writing again is because I started rewatching the show, and now I've got muse again. Like I said, I've got ideas for the story, so I'm just trying to get them all settled and in a good order for everything too. I hope you liked this chapter!