Welcome to my first short Clare/Sav story! I hope you enjoy!

Ch. 1 Maybe it's the Moonlight

(CLARE)

A deep sigh leaves my lips as I sit in the Bahndari's living room gazing out at their street. The dark spring night illuminated by the porch lights and streetlights. The scene outside so quiet and peaceful, so incredibly paradoxical compared to my mind right now.

I came home with Alli and Sav after the dance, after seeing Eli in the hospital. Alli and I stayed up for a bit, but I didn't much feel like talking about Eli anymore. Alli fell asleep pretty quickly and began snoring, while I lay awake staring at the lights on her ceiling. After fifteen minutes or so of listening to Alli snoring I gave up on trying to sleep and came downstairs.

It wasn't really Alli's snoring that was keeping me up, it was everything from the last week. My breakup with Eli after he became stupidly possessive when Fitz came back. Eli secretly planning a trip and after my refusing to go, and reminding him we were done, he went and crashed his car tonight so I would come see him in the hospital!

While Alli's snoring wasn't exactly keeping me up, lying awake in her room, staring at the ceiling, listening to the snoring was starting to grind on my nerves. So, I came downstairs, sat on the sofa and pulled the curtain aside a little to look outside. Hoping it would make me sleepy or at least settle my mind, so far it wasn't working. I am so caught up in my thoughts that I don't hear footsteps on the stairs.

"What are you doing down here alone in the dark?" Sav asks, coming over. I gasp slightly but release a breath when I know it's only Sav.

"Couldn't sleep, too much on my mind," I shrug as Sav sits next to me on the sofa.

"Eli?"

"Mostly, some other things too. I think I'm cursed when it comes to boys," I huff.

"What makes you say that?"

"K.C. left me for Jenna and Eli crashed his car after I broke up with him. How much more proof do you need? Maybe I should be a nun."

"I think you're looking at it wrong, you're putting their behavior on you. K.C. was young, and dumb he left a relationship of substance for a physical one. He might have book smarts, but I doubt this will be the last time he makes that mistake. I think he's like Drew that way. As for Eli, clearly there was more going on. You don't crash your car into a brick wall, to get your ex-girlfriend to see you in the hospital, if your mental and emotional state is fine. Their behavior is not your fault Clare."

"Yeah, I know, you're right. Eli was the first guy I really liked after K.C. and I liked him so much, but his behavior scared me. Maybe it's just that I have awful taste in guys."

"You're still being too hard on yourself. We're teenagers, we are not making mature, reasonable choices when it comes to partners. Look at Alli's relationships, Johnny DiMarco and Drew Torres. One the school bully and bad boy, three years older than her, having to hide from not only our parents but Johnny wanted it secret from the whole school. She went after Drew because he was hot and popular, and he cheated on her. Dave is a decent guy, but he had to chase her for a while, she had to see that boys like Drew and Johnny would hurt her. She and Dave have only been on a couple of dates, give it time and one of them will screw up. It's not just Alli it's all of us, my relationships have not been perfect. K.C. left you for a physical relationship and look how that turned out. I think it's just part of growing up, learning these things. I guess my parents arranged marriage kept some of this from happening."

"Considering how fantastically my parents marriage failed maybe I shouldn't be surprised I'm not great with relationships. They dated all through college, they seemed happy and then I find out my dad has been cheating with a woman from his office."

"How are things with your parents?"

"Odd. I stay at the house while they share it, but Dad almost always has a reason he can't come for his week. I've seen less and less of him, he barely even checks in. Sometimes it feels like he's slowly fading me from his life," I reply with a sad sigh.

There's a moment of silence, Sav doesn't seem to know what to say so he hugs me. Both arms, a comforting brotherly type of hug. The way I've seen him hug Alli when she's upset.

"We should get back to bed," Sav comments when he releases me from his embrace.

"I can't sleep still, my mind is racing, and Alli is snoring. Not loud, but loud enough to be annoying when I already can't sleep. You can go back to bed though," I tell Sav. I give him a small smile to say he can leave me.

He doesn't say anything but does turn on the TV. He turns the volume down so we can barely hear it. He looks through the streaming services and settles on a nature documentary series. It does the trick, after a few minutes I begin focusing on the show. After a couple of episodes, I find myself yawning and my eyes struggling to stay open.

"Okay, time for bed," Sav comments, turning off the TV. I start to get up, but he suddenly swoops me into his arms. I gasp and put my arms around his neck.

"I can walk you know," I comment, trying to twist my face, but it's interrupted by a yawn.

"I know, but you're tired and you weigh nothing," Sav shrugs. He starts to walk to the stairs and stops in the last bit of moonlight before the darkness of the stairs. His eyes look at me so intensely I feel myself blushing and I'm grateful for the darkness of the room. "I don't think a single guy at Degrassi is good enough for you, Alli either but she never listens to me. Whoever does next capture your attention will be lucky, for now just don't think about Eli and know his problems are his own."

"Thanks Sav," I smile.

I move forward just slightly to kiss his cheek, but he turns his head just then and our lips meet instead. A breath hitches in my throat, mostly from shock, but Sav isn't pulling away. Maybe it's the moonlight, maybe it's the intensity of his look, maybe it's the craziness of the night, maybe it's everything but I start to respond to the kiss. My lips begin to move, deepening the kiss while my arms tighten around him. I don't know how long we stay locked in the kiss, but we pull away at the same time for air. Sav just smiles at me, walking up the stairs and setting me down just outside of Alli's room.

"Goodnight Clare," Sav says.

"Night," I whisper before biting my lip. Sav goes to his room, and I go back into Alli's, lying back in the spare bed. Now I'm awake again, thinking of Eli, of Sav and of the kiss.

I lie awake for the rest of the night, thankfully Alli has rolled over and is no longer snoring. When Alli starts to stir a little after seven I look at her. She yawns, stretches and blinks awake before looking at me. Rubs her eyes and sees me looking at her as she stretches again.

"Morning, did you sleep at all?" Alli asks.

"No, too much on my mind, couldn't get my mind to settle," I reply.

"Do you want to go home?" Alli questions.

I nod and we both get out of bed. Since the only thing I have to wear is my dress from last night, Alli lets me borrow some clothes. Once I'm dressed and have my hair pulled into a ponytail we go downstairs. Alli tells her parents that I want to go home. Mrs. Bhandari asks if I'm feeling okay, I tell her I just had a lot on my mind and couldn't get to sleep. They know what happened with Eli last night, so they both give empathetic nods. Mr. Bhandari and Alli drive me home. I thank them for letting me stay the night and bringing me home.

I go inside but the house is empty, cold, and dark. I don't feel like being alone, so I change into my own clothes and walk to The Dot for coffee. Spinner isn't working, neither is Fitz, it's a fairly new guy whose name I forget. He's in college though and works part time but knows nothing of me and Eli so doesn't ask. After getting my coffee I walk to the Torres house. Drew and Adam are up and in the basement, when I wave through the door they both get up to let me in. As soon as I'm through the door Adam hugs me, even Drew hugs me.

"It doesn't look like you slept," Adam comments as they close the sliding glass door and bring me into the house.

"I didn't, too much on my mind," I sigh.

"Too much meaning Eli?" Adam questions.

"And, I'm out of here," Drew says walking toward the stairs.

"Yes, and Sav and I kissed last night," I confess. Drew stops, turning on his heel and looking at me with wide eyes.

"Now this I want to hear," Drew says with a mischievous grin.

"Out Drew," Adam commands, pointing upstairs. Drew kind of grumbles, but does go upstairs and Adam turns back to me. He takes my hand and pulls me to sit down on the sofa. "Okay, Eli first or Sav?"

"Sav," I reply because I just don't want to think about Eli anymore. I relay everything to Adam, how I was awake downstairs, and Sav found me. How we talked, watched TV, he picked me up when I got tired and kissed me in the moonlight. How I was awake the rest of the night thinking about the kiss. "It probably didn't mean anything; I mean Sav is practically my older brother. I'm sure he just kissed me to make me feel better, to keep me from thinking of Eli. Or it was just an accident, I went to kiss his cheek and he turned his head, so I kissed his lips instead. I'm his younger sister's best friend, I'm sure he doesn't think…" my neurotic babbling is interrupted when Adam put his hand over my mouth.

"Breathe Clare," he says, taking his hand away and I force out a breath. "Let's forget for a moment what Sav's motives may have been. How did you feel about the kiss?"

"Shocked at first, and then good, really good. I kissed him back Adam, I kissed him back hard and it was great."

"Sounds to me like Sav meant to kiss you, that he wouldn't have turned his head if he didn't. If turning his head wasn't meant to be intentional he could have pulled out of the kiss as soon as your lips touched. If you had enough time to kiss him back hard then the kiss was intentional. Did he kiss you back or was he just standing there with you in his arms?"

"He was kissing back."

"Then the kiss was intentional, and you both enjoyed it."

"This isn't helping Adam, what if he does have feelings for me?" I groan, flopping back on the sofa.

"Would that be such a bad thing?"

"No, I guess not, but I've never really thought about Sav that way."

"You're telling me in all the times you spent the night at Alli's you never tried to sneak a peek at Sav when he got out of the shower or something?"

"Looking at shirtless Sav as he goes from his room to their shared washroom is a far cry from thinking of him as someone I'd want to date or even have a crush on. He's my best girlfriend's older brother, how would Alli feel even if there was something there? How would you feel if I developed feelings for Drew and started going out with him?"

"Once I stopped laughing, I'd be happy if you and Drew were happy, so long as I don't get caught in the middle when you inevitably break up."

"You think Drew being interested in me is funny?" I question feeling suddenly offended. I don't know why though; I've never had any interest in Drew.

"Other way, my brother is a teenage guy, almost anything with breasts and a pulse is interesting to him. You two have nothing in common, he'd drive you crazy in a few days. Like I said, if you guys were happy then I'd be happy for you. Don't you think Alli would feel the same?"

"I don't know how she would feel if I started dating Sav never came up in conversation. It never occurred to me that it might be something I need to ask. I wouldn't even know how to broach the subject at this point," I comment. Thinking of Sav and the potential implications of the kiss have me quite anxious again and I decide to change the subject. "What about Eli?"

"Eli is in the hospital on a 72-hour psych hold and when he's released has a broken foot and a suspended license. He's also on lockdown until school is back," Adam replies.

"What happens when we're back at school? He risked his life on the chance I would go to the hospital."

"Yes, and now he's under psychiatric care, he'll probably go on some kind of meds. We have over a week before school is back though, let's maybe worry about it next Monday," Adam advises. I nod and a yawn escapes my lips. "I think the fact that you haven't slept is catching up with you. If you want to take a nap you can lie down in my bed," Adam offers.

I nod again and Adam takes my hand. He takes me up to his room, the Torres parents must be out because they aren't in the living room or their room. Drew on the other hand is in his room listening to music quite loudly.

"Get comfy, I'll take Drew downstairs so it's quiet. Mom and Dad will be out all day," Adam tells me.

I take off my shoes and lie on Adam's bed. He covers me with the throw blanket at the end of the bed. I hear Adam leaving his room, and going to Drew's, vaguely aware of them going back to the basement as I drift to sleep. I sleep for almost six hours, waking with a yawn and stretch, blinking at my phone to see the time. Having slept so long I need the washroom now and get up. I leave Adam's room and nearly run into Drew coming out of the washroom.

"Feeling better?" Drew asks.

"Yes, much better, thanks. I didn't mean to sleep all day though."

"I'm sure you needed it, you can stay for dinner, we'll take you home after. We already cleared it with Mom and Dad. They got home a short time ago and we weren't sure how long you'd sleep.

"Thanks," I smile.

Drew grins back and I go into the washroom. After using the washroom, I go downstairs, greeting Audra and Omar, thanking them for letting me sleep and staying for dinner. I spend the next couple of hours in the basement with the brothers while we wait for dinner. Of course, Audra and Omar heard about Eli, Audra tries to bring it up but Adam is quick to cut her off. After dinner and helping a bit with clean up we go out to Drew's car.

"So, you kissed Sav?" Drew asks as he begins driving.

"Yes, I liked it, I don't know what to do about it or if it meant anything to him. Don't say anything Drew, to anyone," I plead.

"I won't, but shouldn't you talk to Sav and Alli?"

"I don't know if it meant anything to Sav, and I'm not bringing it up to Alli. I don't think Sav thinks about me that way, and Alli is not as easy going as Adam."

From the back seat I see Drew raise a curious eyebrow at his brother.

"She asked how I'd feel if you two got together," Adam shrugs.

"What did you say?" Drew asks.

"That after I was done laughing, I'd be happy if you guys were happy."

"Hey!" Drew says with an offended tone, "you don't think I'm good enough for Clare?"

"It's not that Drew, we have nothing in common, and you are very happy with Bianca," I point out.

Drew twists his mouth, but we're now at my house and he pulls into the driveway. I thank them for everything today and kiss both their cheeks before getting out of the car. Going inside and greeting my mom before going up to my room. I set my stuff down and go to my washroom to shower. The warm water feels nice, but in the shower I start thinking about Sav.

(SAV)

"Those guys were super cute Clare. You should have given them your number," Alli says from the back seat.

I roll my eyes and look in the rearview mirror but I can't really see Clare's reaction. Clare and Alli had been at the mall for the last few hours, and when they were ready to be picked up Mom sent me to do it. Since they got in the car Alli's been talking about these cute guys that flirted with them. I don't like this conversation at all. I haven't seen Clare all weekend, not since we kissed very early Saturday morning.

When I saw her going for my cheek I spontaneously decided to kiss her. However, it was meant to be a small kiss, a gentle peck, just something to take her mind off Eli and her night. I didn't expect her to kiss back, especially with so much passion. I definitely didn't expect to like it so much. I've always just thought of Clare as Alli's best friend. I've always been fond of her, but in a brotherly way, at least until the kiss. Clare kissed me passionately, but it was also a very emotional night, she wasn't exactly thinking rationally. Then there's Alli, I have no idea how she'd feel.

"Ooh, or you could hit on the totally hot guy that seems to be waiting outside your house," Alli remarks as we approach Clare's house.

I look over to see a black pickup truck in the Edwards driveway. A tall lanky boy with light brown hair leans against the truck. I park on the street and we all get out of the truck. The boy looks up and smiles when he sees Clare.

"Hey Clare," he says. I see the look of familiarity cross Clare's face.

"Jake Martin, hi," Clare replies. Before Clare can really introduce him to us or he can my sister butts in.

"Hi, I'm Alli Bhandari, Clare's best friend," Alli smiles, putting her arm around Clare. Then she seems to remember I'm here, "My brother Sav," Alli says almost dismissively.

I roll my eyes but hold my hand out to Jake to be polite. "Good to meet you Jake."

"You too," he grins back.

We shake hands just as the front door opens and Helen comes out with a man. He's tall and looks a little like Jake. Helen was talking to him but stops when she sees us all in her driveway.

"Oh, Clare, you're home. You remember Glen and Jake Martin, don't you?" Helen asks.

"Yeah, of course, what are they doing here?" Clare questions.

"Come inside Honey, we need to talk," Helen replies. Suddenly, the air around us gets heavy and foreboding. "We need to talk" is never a good thing to hear from anyone.

"Call me later," Alli says, hugging Clare tightly.

I wave to Clare as Helen says a quick goodbye to me, Alli, Jake and Glen. Alli and I get back in the car. We're silent on the drive until Alli's phone rings less than a block from home. We only left Clare's a few minutes ago but Alli tells me that's who's calling.

"Clare what is it?" Alli asks. I can hear that Clare is upset, but can't hear what's being said. "I'm sure it will be fine Clare, hang on we'll come back," Alli says.

"Back to Clare's?" I question and Alli nods.

I pull into our driveway only to turn around. We drive back to Clare's and as soon as I'm in the driveway she runs out and gets in the car. her face streaked by tears. I want nothing more than to bring her into my arms. I can't though, instead I start driving to our house once more.

"What's wrong?" Alli and I ask at nearly the same moment.

"My dad took a job in Edmonton, he and his mistress eloped, and they moved. He's giving my mom the house, Jake and Glen are there because they're going to remodel the downstairs. My dad is abandoning me, he didn't even say goodbye, didn't tell me himself he was leaving, he just left," Clare explains between sniffling.

As soon as she's done she breaks into tears. Alli and I both spend what's left of the drive trying to assure her it will be okay. Telling her that her dad still loves her, but she's sobbing so hard I don't even know if she heard us. When I park at home Clare forces herself to stop crying, sniffling in her tears and wiping her eyes. Of course, one look from our parents and they see how upset she is.

"Clare, what happened Honey?" Mom asks.

"We dropped her off and she found out her dad had eloped and is moving. Giving her mom the house, didn't even bother to say goodbye," I enlighten my parents.

"Oh that's terrible, I'm so sorry Clare. Allia take Clare up to your room, I'll bring you girls some snacks and tea. I'll call Helen, you can spend the night if you'd like Clare?" Mom offers.

"Yes, thank you Mrs. Bhandari," Clare replies sniffling again.

Alli takes Clare's hand and they disappear into Alli's room. I go up to mine, but I can hear that Clare's upset, not entirely what she's saying though. It doesn't matter, I hate that I can hear her upset and can't do a thing about it.

The girls stay in Alli's room all day, in fact Mom even lets them eat dinner in there. I think the only time they come out is to get food. So, I hardly see either of them for the rest of the day or night. Despite this Clare is pretty much the only thought on my mind all day and night. I'm not just thinking of what happened today or our kiss, but Clare in general. In fact she's the last thought on my mind before I go to sleep.

I wake late the next morning, Mom is running errands and Dad is already at work. I make breakfast and I'm just sitting down when the girls come down the stairs. Alli gets out the cereal and asks if I can take them to Adam's after we eat. She waits until my mouth is full of food to ask so I only nod in response. After we eat and clean up, I drop them at Adam's. Not wanting to go to an empty house I go to The Break Room. It's almost one on a Tuesday, but it's March break so the place is pretty full. I order a root beer float and sit on the sofa near Riley and Zane. We exchange hellos but they are talking and I start spacing out, once again my thoughts wander to Clare.

"You look like you're deep in thought," Zane comments, breaking into my thoughts.

"Yeah, too deep in thought for March break," Riley adds as I look at them.

"I am over something I shouldn't be thinking so deeply about," I reply. Riley and Zane exchange a befuddled look.

"What? You want to try that sentence again?" Zane requests.

"I've been thinking a lot about something, or rather someone, that I shouldn't," I clarify.

"Why shouldn't you be thinking about this person?" Zane asks.

"Because she's my sister's best friend and I shouldn't have these feelings for her," I blurt out. Riley and Zane exchange another look, this time it's one of shock.

"You have feelings for Clare?!" Riley exclaims.

"I didn't say anything about Clare."

"Alli hangs out regularly with two girls, one of them is pregnant and in a not so great relationship with K.C., and the other is Clare. So unless you have a thing from pregnant girls in a bad relationship the answer was obvious," Zane responds.

"So, just how long have you had these feelings? And, is the only thing stopping you that she's Alli's best friend?" Riley queries.

"Not just that she's Alli's best friend, Clare has been going through a lot, you know how things turned out with Eli," I comment.

"Yeah, everyone heard the nut job wrecked his car on purpose," Riley nods.

"She's got family stuff going on too, and I don't know how Alli would feel. I don't even know if Clare feels the same, though she did kiss me back."

"Hang on, you didn't say anything about a kiss, when did you kiss Clare?" Riley inquires.

I tell them about the night of the dance and staying up with her while she was upset. "I knew she was going to kiss my cheek and kind of spontaneously decided I'd kiss her. It was meant to be a soft peck, just a way of getting her mind off Eli. Only, she started kissing me, I mean really kissing me and I liked it. She was really emotional though, maybe it meant nothing to her and it was just getting out her pent up emotions."

"Well, unless you suddenly develop telepathy you're going to have to talk to Clare and Alli to know how they feel," Zane says.

I nod, I know he's right, but Alli could be really angry and Clare…she may only think of me as a brotherly figure. That kiss might have just been her emotional state that night. Maybe it won't be an issue when we're back in school, maybe I'll just forget about the kiss. I decide to change the subject and ask them what their plans are the rest of the week.

The rest of my week is pretty boring. I clean out the garage for extra cash, I guess I kind of avoid everything. I hear Alli on the phone with Clare every night, though I can't hear what's being said. Saturday night is a movie night at school, Anya convinces me to go, Alli also tells me to go. Of course, the two of them have dates but I am vice president and decide to go. They're showing Caddyshack which is a classic comedy, at the very least I'll get some laughs.

Dave is picking up Alli so I drive myself, getting there early like a good student council representative. I spend some time supervising set up and greeting people, the movie is in the auditorium but people are bringing blankets and pillows to sit on. I didn't think to bring one, but end up sitting with Anya, Owen, Leia and her date.

I'm enjoying the movie, but am sort of feeling like a 5th wheel. After a bit I decide to get up and get a drink, maybe find somewhere else to sit. As I'm walking around I see Clare here, with Jake, looking awfully cuddly on a blanket with his arm around her. My stomach knots with jealousy and my eyes narrow. I still get in line for the concessions but can't help glancing at Clare and Jake.

"Hey Sav," Drew says, getting in line behind me.

"Hey," I reply without taking my eyes from Clare and Jake.

"What are we staring at?" Drew asks, trying to follow my gaze.

"I didn't know Clare and Jake had gotten so close over the last few days," I remark.

"Well, he's been at her house working with his shirt off for 8-10 hours a day, something was bound to happen," Drew comments.

"He has?"

"Yeah, she's been escaping to our house to get out of the noise, hasn't she been escaping to your house too?"

"I guess, I've been out a lot, and cleaning out the garage. Haven't exactly been around for the girl talk. Is it serious? I mean are they official?" I question and then glance at Drew realizing how that sounds. "I mean, I didn't think she'd be ready for another relationship so soon after Eli," I say quickly covering myself.

"It's one date, Jake is going to be in grade eleven with me Monday. Clare thought it would be good for Jake to meet some of his classmates before school was back. I don't think it's more than that, but I will say this, if you really like her you better say something, make a move. With Jake at her house and the two alone together a lot something is bound to spark before long. A girl like Clare isn't likely to be single for long either. Fitz is back Monday too, and Owen says he still has it bad for Clare. I know about the kiss, and I know that Clare liked it, so if you want her better tell her soon," Drew advises patting my back.

"You're right, I need to talk to her, but I can't march over there and disrupt her date."

"Hang on," Drew comments, pulling out his phone. I watch as he sends a text to Adam. It takes a couple minutes of anxious waiting, but I finally hear his phone ding again and I look at it. "Clare will be alone at the east entrance in five minutes," Drew tells me.