I know many of you were enjoying this but it's the last chapter. Sorry guys. I hope you enjoy it. It is very long because otherwise it would be two very short chapters.
Ch. 3 Don't Lose Time Looking In My Eyes
(ADAM)
I'm sitting in the basement, doing homework, Tuesday afternoon when Drew comes through the door just as my email sound dings. The notification preview is: New Message from Eli. Subject: Still a work in progress. I'm guessing that it's the script for his play.
I found out from Drew that Clare had been assigned to cover the play. An original play written by Eli that he said was an original love story. Drew had a bad feeling about it when he told me. I had a bad feeling about it hearing it all, and I'd texted Eli volunteering to be stage manager. I figured I'd be able to keep an eye on him and Clare, be around in case Eli had anything planned.
So far, Clare hadn't had to do very much, casting decisions were still being made and Eli didn't have a finished script. He was refusing to let Clare see the unfinished script, but today at lunch I'd demanded Eli send me the script. Even if it was unfinished I needed to start making notes as the stage manager.
"Hey, how was practice?" I question as I open the email and see an attachment.
"Good, we're going to cream North Park on Friday. K.C. and Dave and I came up with a great new play," Drew smiles.
"Yeah cool," I reply barely paying attention as I open the attachment and see that the plays title is "Gambit for Love" underneath which is: An original fairytale by Elijah Goldsworthy. "Well, this can't be good," I remark.
"What can't?" Drew questions sitting next to me.
"Eli sent me the script. I told him I needed it so I could start making my notes as stage manager."
I turn my laptop so Drew can see it. He arches an eyebrow and goes a little stiff, so I know he's worried too. Before we can start reading, Mom calls us up to dinner. We go upstairs and eat quickly; help clean up as fast as possible and race back downstairs. I grab a cable and hook my laptop to the TV so we can both see it. Moving the PDF of the script to the big screen TV.
Eli changes people's names but it's very clear it's about him and Clare. He has both Fitz and Sav as the villains. The play begins with a creative and passionate artist named Sythe, which is clearly Eli, mourning the loss of his first love Vanora, which must be Julia, by painting. The princess of the land, Princess Duvessa which is obviously Clare, sees his work and becomes enamored with Sythe. She wants to mend Sythe's grieving heart. Just as Princess Duvessa and Sythe are starting to be happy a demon, clearly Fitz by the description, falls in love with Duvessa. The demon named Abaddon threatens to hurt the artist if the princess won't be his and she agrees to belong to Abaddon in order to save Sythe. Sythe is cunning and poisons the demon but the princess believes Sythe didn't do it to save her only to hurt Abaddon and she refuses to return to him. Sythe begs for forgiveness and draws her portrait. Princess Duvessa finally forgives him, but all is not happy in the kingdom because just as Sythe is happy with Duvessa the evil Prince Balam, obviously Sav, of the neighboring kingdom woos her away and Sythe is left with a broken heart. The play ends with Sythe broken hearted and pining after his second lost love, worried that Balam has ulterior motives for stealing away the princess.
It looks like it's finished though I do see a couple notes at the end. It's all basically the same. Clare's character breaks Eli's character's heart by leaving with Sav's character. In any case Sythe is the hero and everyone else is a villain, some outright and some revealed through treacherous means.
"Well, at least he changed the names," Drew says slowly.
"Yeah, and he kept me out of it thankfully, but everything else is terrible. He changed their names, but these names were carefully chosen. I know that Abaddon and Balam are actual demons in mythology," I comment and begin typing on my laptop.
"What are you doing?" Drew asks.
"Looking up the other names. Just as I thought, Vanora means lost and that's clearly Julia," I remark.
"Great so what do Duvessa and Sythe mean?" Drew asks but I'm already typing.
"Sythe is English origin and means creative and passionate," I reply when it comes up.
"Of course it does," Drew responds rolling his eyes. "How bad did he burn Clare with that name?"
"It's Irish and means Dark Beauty. He's basically calling her evil and I'm sure int's no coincidence that Duvessa sounds evil and close to duplicitous," I comment. Drew furrows his brow at me for the big word. "Deceitful," I clarify.
"Yeah, if he's hoping to win Clare back with this I don't think painting her as an evil, deceiving princess is the way. You think she knows any of this?"
"I doubt it, she wasn't at rehearsals yesterday or today because Eli hasn't finished the script or casting decisions. She's requested a copy of the script, but he keeps denying her."
"Yeah, I can see why," Drew remarks.
"Think you can get up and get to school early?" I ask Drew.
"Sure," he shrugs.
"I'm going to text Clare, have her meet us so she can see it. She needs to be prepared," I comment.
"Good idea," Drew nods.
I text Clare asking her to meet us before school and she agrees and says Jake can bring her. Eli's twisted version of events stays on my mind all night and I don't sleep very well. Drew and I still up early and meet Clare in the computer lab. I show her the script and she reads through it. Thankfully, she's a fast reader.
"We can go to Simpson and Miss Dawes," I suggest when she closes the script with a sigh.
"No, if I go to them and shut the play down or force Eli to change it, I'll just be further vilified in his mind. Most of the school won't realize it's us, although they may see the influence of Sav, Eli and I in the characters. Not that many people know about Fitz blackmailing me into the dance. Those that do will probably know the whole story and those that don't, well I don't really care what they think. Hopefully, this will be a form of therapy for Eli, and getting out his feelings will help him get over it. If I try and shut it down or change it, he could take out his anger in a more explosive way. I need to tell Sav though," Clare responds.
I still think we should go to Dawes or Simpson, but I understand Clare's point. Drew and I both tell her we'll stand behind her and Sav whatever she decides. She smiles and thanks us while getting out her phone. She texts Sav to meet her as soon as he gets here. Drew leaves us but I wait with Clare until Sav gets there. I leave them to talk and go look for Eli so I can ask him what the hell he was thinking.
(CLARE)
"I can't believe Eli would write about us," Sav growls when I'm done telling him about the play. "Wait, yes I can, actually I'm surprised he didn't do something worse."
"Which is exactly why I don't want to go to Simpson and Dawes. Eli is throwing a tantrum, if he gets it all out and feels some sort of vindication hopefully it's the end of it," I comment taking Sav's hand.
"I know you're right; I don't like it but you're right," Sav sighs.
"I don't know how many people will really figure out that the play is about us anyway. The good thing about having one assignment until the play is done is that I don't have much to do. I only need to cover one or two practices a week, then opening night and I'm done. That means the rest of my time after school is for you."
Sav grins and takes my lips in a soft kiss. "I do like that," he grins when our lips part.
"I need to tell Fitz though. I doubt he'll come to the play and not many people know he blackmailed me into Vegas Night, but he's a part of this too."
"Yeah, better warn him. Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, I'll be fine. See you at lunch?"
Sav grins and kisses me again. We leave the room together and I go on the hunt for Fitz. I find him at his locker, alone thankfully.
"Can we talk a minute?" I request. Fitz looks at me and raises an eyebrow to his hairline at my request. "It's important and I don't want to do it in the hallway," I add.
"Okay," he shrugs. We walk from the lockers and go into the first empty classroom we find. I lean on a desk and tell Fitz all about Eli's play and all the reasons I'm not trying to stop it. Fitz gets pretty stiff and clenches his fist before releasing a breath. "I'll turn the other cheek and won't say anything or try and stop it," Fitz says when I'm done.
I smile and kiss his cheek, "I'm really proud of how you've matured."
Fitz grins and we leave the room. Eli texts me at lunch to say there's still nothing for me to write about and no reason to come today. So, I spend the afternoon with Sav, as soon as he's out of student council anyway.
It's not until Thursday that Eli sends me the script. He doesn't know that Adam already showed it to me. He emailed it to me and made a comment that it had been approved and didn't need to be edited. Which I take to mean that he was not interested in criticism of his work. He did note that casting was done, and I should come to rehearsal though. I simply didn't reply but did tell Sav I'd be watching rehearsal this afternoon.
"Clare," Fiona says catching my arm before I go into the auditorium for rehearsal that afternoon. "I'm sorry for the script Eli wrote. If it's any consolation, I'm playing you, well Princess Duvessa."
"Actually, that does make feel better," I smile.
"I'm pretty good at playing a princess and promise to do it with as much dignity and respect as I can. He may have vilified you, but the best villains are relatable," Fiona says.
"Thanks Fiona," I grin.
"Yeah, but you should also know that in addition to directing Eli is playing himself…I mean Sythe."
"Figures," I huff. We open the auditorium door and go in. Eli smirks at me as soon as I come in.
"What did you think of the script Clare?" Eli inquires.
"Very…creative," I reply slowly. "And, very diluted," I add in my head. I don't say it though, there's a number of other kids in here and any comment from me will hint that it's about us.
Eli simply grins and calls everyone to attention. All the cast and crew is here, so thankfully Adam is also here. After a round of introductions and everyone's role the cast does a read through of the script. Adam and the crew do the same, but they are reading through to mark important cues for lights, effects etc. Marking their scripts and making a list of props, costumes and scenery they'll need along with music and lighting cues. As I'm here to report on the entire process I spend most of my time with Adam and his crew.
"I need to go find Drew, is Sav taking you home?" Adam questions when we leave rehearsal.
"Yeah, Sav said to find him in the student council office when I was done. I'm glad you'll be in there when I'm there. It's going to be a lot of interesting afternoons until the play premiers," I comment.
Adam gives me a sympathetic smile and says he'll see me tomorrow. I find Sav and he takes me to dinner, he asks how the play was. I tell him about spending my time with Adam and his crew, and not quite listening to the read through. After dinner Sav takes me home and kisses me at the door.
I greet Mom and go upstairs doing my homework. I have my notes but don't need to do an article yet. After my homework I shower and get ready for bed. Eli's play stays on my mind though and I dream about it that night. In the dream his delusional story telling warps with reality, and I wake up panting. The play doesn't open for six weeks, it's going to be a long six weeks.
(SAV)
"How was rehearsal?" I question when Clare meets me after school. She's been covering the play for three weeks now. Opening night is another three weeks away.
"Fine," she says with a sigh.
"Doesn't sound like it was fine," I remark as we start walking to the gym. It's the championship basketball game so rehearsal was cut short today. Eli wasn't happy about rehearsal being short because of the basketball game, but he had no choice.
"I know I agreed to let him do this, and I stand by that, but it's still weird to sit there and watch a fairy tale based on me, on us. Almost no one in the cast realizes that it's about us. It's still weird to sit there and have to write about it."
"We could still go to Simpson," I comment.
"No, I still think this is good for Eli, I would rather he express it this way. I can be the bigger person. Anyway, a lot of other people have put in a lot of work on this play. Stopping it now or making Eli change it discounts all their hard work," Clare replies.
"Let's get your mind off of it then, a date tomorrow night?" I ask as I open the door to the auditorium.
"I would love to," Clare smiles.
We sit next to Alli and Adam watching the game with them. Degrassi wins the championship and there's a lot of hollering and cheering when K.C. makes the winning shot. After the game is a party and we hear about it from Dave. I take Clare, Alli and Adam in my car, seems like most of the school is here.
The party turns out to be more dramatic than the championship game. Alli finds Dave and Marisol making out in a bedroom. My sister screams, calls Marisol a slut and slaps Dave across the face pretty hard. She breaks up with him on the spot and calls him a cheating pig. She storms out of the house, Clare and Jenna go after her and I don't see any of them again.
That's not the only drama at the party. Katie gets so drunk she passes out and falls on a glass table. An ambulance has to be called and the cops come. Thank goodness I wasn't drinking because all the kids that were drinking are arrested. Drew, Adam, and Bianca leave as none of them were drinking and they take K.C. with them. He wasn't drinking either but does need to be dropped at home.
I call Clare to find out where the girls went. Turns out they all walked to Clare's house, just a block away, and they are sleeping there for a girl's night. Clare says our parents already know so I just go home. I take a shower and stay up watching movies on my laptop, wondering if college will be as dramatic as high school.
I drive to Clare's house three times on Saturday, once in the early afternoon to pick up Alli. I'm back three hours later to pick Clare up for our date. The date is nice, we have dinner, go to a movie, get coffee and dessert, and walk through the park. Then I'm back at Clare's house to drop her off, kissing her at the door and saying that I'll see her Monday.
"Did you have a good time at Mo's?" Dad asks when I come home.
"Yeah, it was good, just hanging out," I nod.
I hate lying to them, but they wouldn't understand. Their marriage was arranged when they were both very young. Then they grew up together, had time to fall in love. Alli and I both have arranged marriages, but we barely know them. Not that either of us plans to go through with it.
Monday it's all over school about Alli and Dave, and Katie falling on the table. She had to have over 40 stitches, spent the night in the hospital but she'll live. She's sore and bruised, staying home for a few days, and majorly grounded, but maybe it will make her think twice about drinking.
The next few weeks seem to be nothing but drama. Eli has Clare come to rehearsals a lot and he seems to be trying to get her attention. Possibly hurt her emotionally we're not sure. She watches scenes and Eli will ask her what she thought or felt, then he'll tell her why he wrote it that way. He's good enough to leave out our real names when he talks about characters, but we all know.
Of course I'm not there to witness any of this, but I hear from Clare, Adam and even Fiona. Clare tells me not to worry about it, but I don't like the idea of it. Though it seems that while Eli's been trying to get Clare's attention, Imogen has been trying to get Eli's attention. According to Adam, Clare, and Fiona, however, Eli is clueless.
"You ready for this?" I ask Clare as we walk to the auditorium for the opening night of the play. She has to attend, and as much as I don't want to see the play, I do want to escort my girlfriend and sit with her.
"I've seen the play, I've been at the rehearsals, I have the entire thing memorized from sitting in on rehearsals. Are you ready for this? You haven't seen this yet," she comments.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I remark putting my arm around her.
We find seats, sitting with Alli, Jenna, Wes and K.C. to watch the play. Dave didn't attend and Connor is in the play. I'd heard about it; I knew that everyone but Eli was vilified in this but it's worse than I thought it would be. If it wasn't about me and my girlfriend and our lives it wouldn't be so bad. Actually, it would be a very good and creative play. The problem is it's a play about us.
"Well…that was…" I remark when the play is done and we're applauding for the cast.
"I know," Clare sighs, "but as soon as my article is turned in Monday I'm done with the play and after this done with Eli. I don't want to stick around, but I want to tell Adam good job."
"I'll come with you," I remark.
"We're going for pizza, you guys coming?" K.C. asks.
"Yeah, we'll meet you there," I reply. The cast and crew seem to be coming out to greet family and friends. Clare goes to Adam, and I follow, but Eli sees her and comes over to intercept.
"So, what did you think?" Eli asks.
"It was interesting," I reply.
"I'm glad it's over and that I'm done with you Eli," Clare replies sharply.
She moves past him and goes to Adam. I see Eli's face fall, whatever scheme he had or whatever he was hoping to accomplish with this twisted fairy tale of his it didn't work. By her words and response, I don't think she even wants to be friends. I have nothing to say to him and other people seem to be headed over to talk to him, so I follow my girlfriend. Adam decides to come with us to pizza rather than go with the cast to celebrate opening night. I'm glad the play is done but I'm worried about what Eli might plan now that Clare has told him she's done with him.
(CLARE)
Opening my locker Wednesday morning I'm surprised to see a book. Not a paperback, or textbook, but one bound with cord and leather as though it were old. Opening it even the paper looks old, though it was clearly treated with tea or something to make it looked weathered.
On the inside front panel, it reads:
For Clare
I'm Sorry, this is the fairy tale I should have written.
Eli
When I turn the page, I see that it's still titled like the play, but this is actually written as a fairy tale and not a play. After Friday night I hadn't spoken to Eli or even looked at him in the hall. Imogen snapped at me for breaking his heart. Fiona told me he felt bad, even Adam told me that he was on the phone all night Friday with Eli because Eli was so upset. As far as I was concerned Eli brought it on himself with that play. If he thought making me into a heartless villain would somehow win me back, he was more delusional than I thought.
This book though, this clearly took a lot of effort and I owe him at least the courtesy of reading it. I skip my homeroom history class and take the book into the media room to read. He kept all the character names he used for the play, and it starts the same but after that everything is different.
The princess still gets forced into being with Abaddon, however Abaddon realizes his wrongdoing and seeks to make amends by working in the palace. A mistrust still lies with Sythe despite how hard Abaddon works. It's a matter of contention between Duvessa and Sythe and he tries to get her out of the palace, to get away from everything. So afraid of losing her he tries too hard to keep her, making her feel not loved but smothered. When Sythe endangers his life in a desperate attempt to hold her she breaks away from fear and runs straight to the arms of Balam, prince of the neighboring kingdom. She finds her happiness with Balam and Sythe realizes that he hurt Duvessa when he tried to keep her. As hard as it is for Sythe he wants Duvessa to be happy and he sees that she is. He paints one last picture of Duvessa and Balam together in bliss and leaves the kingdom to find his happiness.
Eli put a lot of work into this, it's well-written, it's not self-serving, in fact it seems he did a lot of inner reflection. By the time I've read the ending my eyes have tears at the corner. I hear the bell ring, but I can't seem to move. I've already ditched one class, although it's just review before midterms, I should probably attend second period.
"Why weren't you in homeroom?" Adam inquires.
"Eli left me a book, the play but written as a true fairy tale and he changed it. I was reading," I reply.
"Oh yeah, he said he had the perfect gift for you. I hoped it was something good, but he was devasted when you told him you never wanted to see him again. More than when he thought he was losing you to Fitz. I stayed on the phone with him just to make sure he didn't go anywhere and do anything else stupid," Adam says.
"I'll find him at lunch and thank him."
"Do you want me to come with you?" Adam offers.
"No, I'll be okay," I reply just as Miss Cosnell begins class.
I head straight for Eli's locker as soon as class is out. I find him at his locker putting away books. Jake and a few others are in the hall, Eli sees me approaching and gives me a cautious smile. Jake doesn't seem to be leaving but I don't mind, he and his dad have been at our house so much in the last few months they practically live there. We're also pretty sure our parents are dating as they've been spending nearly every waking moment together.
"Thank you, Eli, the book meant a lot. It's a beautiful story Eli," I smile.
"It's the story I should have written all along, I was just too blind to see it. I'm sorry for everything Clare. When you told me you were done with me it ripped a piece of me away, but it was a good thing. I was up all night with Adam, and I had to take a hard look at myself and my behavior. I spent hours rewriting and making the book. I thought making everyone else the villain would make me feel better, make everyone realize I was a victim. I made myself the victim, and I'm sorry."
"Wow, that was a big step, Eli. I'm really proud of you, you've grown a lot," I grin, and he smiles.
"I didn't think Fitz would read the whole thing, so I apologized in person. I wasn't sure that you or even Sav would talk to me. Will you show it to Sav?"
"Yes, and I'm really proud of you for apologizing to Fitz."
Eli smirks a little, that sexy, slightly dark smirk I fell for at the beginning of the year. I admit even now it elicits the reaction of biting my lip. Then Eli shifts uncomfortably and scratches the back of his head like he's trying to figure out how to tell me something.
"My dad got a new job, a better shift, better pay. He'll even be syndicated on a few other stations," he finally says.
"Eli! That's fantastic news, congratulations!"
"Thanks, but it's in Regina."
"Oh," I reply quietly.
"My dad and I leave Friday; I won't be here for prom or graduation. My mom has to work, and we're going out to look at houses. I applied to an art school and got in; I'm starting with a summer workshop. I have one more final this afternoon and I'm done with Degrassi. I know it came late, but I am sorry Clare and I wish you the best," Eli says.
He kisses my cheek and walks off, leaving me standing bewildered and unsure what to think. I have so many questions, I wonder how long he's known or if Adam knows. I hated Eli this morning and was done with him. After reading his story though I was grateful and proud, maybe even anticipating a friendship again. Now he's leaving for Regina, I may never see him again. That thought makes me sad, it's not as though I don't have ways of getting in touch with him, but he'll be busy art school, and I'll be here.
"You, okay?" Jake asks.
"Yeah, I will be, just wasn't really expecting him to tell me he's leaving," I reply.
"Come on let's go find Sav," Jake says.
I nod and we walk down the hall, finding Sav in student council. I show him the book and let him read it. He's also very impressed that Eli had that sort of growth and worked so hard. After school I find out that Sav thanked Eli for the story, even though he still had the name of the demon.
Eli and I say goodbye Thursday afternoon. I wish him luck; we promise to keep in touch, and he tells me to be happy. Adam knew but didn't tell me and the two have their own goodbye. Friday I'm done with finals and thinking of a summer with Sav. First however is senior prom Saturday night. Sav's parents actually know we're going together. Only because he said he couldn't find a date but didn't want to miss senior prom and so he asked me. In my head it's the equivalent of Sav taking his sister, as far as his parents are concerned. I know why he told them that, but it still hurts.
None of my friends are at prom, Anya brought Owen as her date, but I don't really know Owen and hardly know Anya. Holly J and Fiona came as friends, and Riley and Zane are voted prom kings. Sav and I get prom pictures and Mom extended my curfew to midnight. So, when Sav drops me off just before midnight I'm surprised to see the TV on and the house dark.
"You've been quiet and…almost distant all night. What's going on?" I question when Sav walks me to the door.
"I got into an incredible music program," he says smiling proudly.
"That's fantastic, why didn't you tell me?"
"It's in Boston, I didn't think I'd get in, so I didn't tell anyone. My parents were actually really proud I made it into such an exclusive program. It doesn't start until August, but it's a big move and I'll need a job, an apartment, and time to get settled. The whole family will be driving down right after I graduate. We're going to spend 10 days looking at apartments and exploring the city, and I have to look for a job. Then I'll be home to pack my car and that will be it."
"So, this is goodbye then?" I question feeling a knot in my stomach and tears in my eyes. Sav brushes my tears and kisses my nose.
"We have all week, but I don't think we should try to keep dating. I already have to hide that from my parents, and we'll be in two separate cities."
I nod but I can't speak. Sav kisses me gently and says goodnight. I nod again and fumble with my keys in the lock as Sav walks back to his car. I can't seem to get the door open, it finally does open, but Jake is standing there instead of my mom.
"What's wrong? Do I need to go beat up Sav?" Jake questions.
I just shake my head; he brings me inside and up to my room forcing me to sit on the bed. Jake and I spend the next two hours talking. I tell him how hard it was for me for Eli to leave and that was after weeks of hating him. Now Sav is leaving and my plans for a happy summer with Sav are dashed.
I find out he's still there because our parents are still out. Jake and his dad were here most of the day putting the finishing touches on our new downstairs. Jake and his dad came together, our parents went to dinner and haven't returned. Just after two in the morning we hear the front door open. We go downstairs to see our parents stumbling in obviously tipsy.
"Where have you two been? We've been worried sick," Jake comments. He's being facetious, we were talking and didn't realize how late it was.
"We're sorry to have kept you kids up, but we were celebrating, we're just so happy. We're getting married," Mom says. She holds up her hand with her engagement ring and I almost pass out. Jake and I figured they were dating, but married?
We're all up the rest of the night, Mom and Glen tell us how their relationship developed and their plans. Jake and Glen will move in as soon as school is out. They'll have a small ceremony here at the house in August and a honeymoon weekend on PEI. Jake and I are still shocked but we're happy for them and I can see advantages to having a brother.
The next week is a blur, finals are done, seniors are barely even attending class anymore and just preparing for graduation ceremony Saturday. Grades 9-11 are cleaning out lockers, choosing courses for next year and doing general cleanup projects around the school.
Sav and I are still dating but it's different now. I know he's leaving and we're breaking up. We don't spend much time together during the week. I choose not to attend the graduation ceremony because his parents will be there. Friday night his family is having a celebratory dinner at their house. So, we go on a date Thursday night to say our goodbye. It's bittersweet, I have a nice time but it's hard to be very happy because I know this is the end.
"Goodnight Clare," Sav says walking me to my door at the end of the night. Before I can respond he gives me a soft, tender, lingering kiss. Then he quickly turns and walks to his car.
"Goodbye Sav," I whisper.
~Epilogue Six Years Later~
(SAV)
The smell of fresh rain on the pavement hits my nose as soon as I open the door to my apartment building. I've been living in Ferndale for a couple of years now. It's a nice Vancouver neighborhood, but Vancouver gets a lot more rain than Toronto or Boston did. It's early June and we only had a little this morning, the sun is out now, but the smell of rain still hangs in the air.
The first thing I see when stepping outside is a moving truck, not at all uncommon. It's a large apartment building and it seems like there's always someone moving in or out. As there are movers carrying a desk in it appears that someone is moving in. I see her coming out of the truck and nearly fall over, it's Clare. A little older, her hair is long and almost straight, blonder than I remember but it's definitely her. She's looking down as she walks down the ramp holding a box. I run over to grab the box before she reaches the bottom of the ramp.
"Let me get that," I remark grabbing the box and feeling her soft skin.
"Sav! You live here?" She asks as I take the box from her. Now that the box isn't covering her face she smiles, one smile and my heart flutters.
"Yeah apartment 28 on the fourth floor, what apartment are you moving into?"
"Twelve on the second floor," she says, and we spend a long few moments just gazing at each other.
We lost touch after I moved. Of course, any time I called home or spoke to Alli I got the latest on Clare. She dated Fitz on and off for most of her grade eleven year. He moved after graduating though, he and Bianca got an apartment in Waterloo, she went to school, and he was working. Not long after that Bianca and Drew broke up. Drew was still in Toronto going to Centennial, he and Clare dated for the majority of her senior year, which is also when she got cancer. She survived and went into remission; I sent flowers when I heard about it, but I never made it back to see her while she was fighting. Alli and Clare graduated at the top of their class, Alli got into MIT and was with me in Boston. Clare got into Concordia in Montreal. The two lost touch and thus my updates on Clare stopped.
"Can I help?" I question when the sound of the door breaks us from our trance. We walk down the ramp to let the movers go by.
"I don't want to keep you from anything," Clare remarks.
"I was just going to go for a walk now that the rain has stopped. I believe I'll get plenty of fresh air and exercise helping you move in."
"If you insist," Clare smiles.
I grin and follow her to her apartment setting down the box. It only takes a couple of hours to get the moving truck empty and her furniture in her apartment. The moving truck leaves and I help take Clare to the grocery store so she can get groceries. We get coffee and treats as well since we're both hungry
"I know you have a lot of unpacking to do, but my band plays at a nearby club tonight. If you want to come watch us, I'd love to buy you dinner and catch up afterwards," I offer when we're done putting away her groceries.
"I'd love that, do we have enough time to shower? I have towels…ummm…" she remarks looking around the apartment at the boxes.
"Yeah, if you can make it pretty quick. I've got plenty of towels, why don't you come grab one and then you'll know where my apartment is," I offer.
Clare smiles and follows me to my apartment. I grab her a towel and tell her I'll come for her in twenty minutes so she better make it a fast shower and promises she will. I pick her up and we take my car to the club. I find a good spot for her to sit and tell the bar anything she orders is on my tab.
I watch Clare for the entire set and sit with her when we take a break. I introduce her to the rest of the guys in the band. During the second set I dedicate one of the songs to her. I watch her blush and bite her lip when I do so. After the show, and packing up, I take Clare to one of my favorite all night diners. More of a truck stop, roadside diner but they have good food and are open all night.
"No health problems since your cancer?" I ask.
"Nope, I remain in remission and my outlook is good," she smiles.
"That's good, I'm glad to hear it. What about relationships?" I inquire.
"There were a few boys in college, nothing very serious though, I didn't have much time for relationships. I got my job offer with Crime Sight Chronicles in Vancouver just after graduating and now I'm here. What about you? You didn't go through with your arranged marriage obviously, do your parents still expect you to marry someone else that's Hindi?"
"No, after Alli also moved to Boston and started dating a boy in her class we had that talk with our parents. They came for a visit, and we sat them down and told them how we felt. They were more open than we thought, they met her boyfriend at the time and my girlfriend at the time and they liked them. We've both dated since and while it's not our parents favorite thing that we aren't going with tradition and possibly not marrying another Hindi they understand. It's our lives and we have to make our own choices."
"Good, I'm glad they know, and you haven't had to hide," Clare smiles.
We stay at dinner for almost two hours, catching up and talking about the last six years of our lives. By the time we get back to our apartment building it's quite late. After moving and staying up with me Clare is very tired.
"It's my fault you were up so late, and your apartment is in no state for you to go back to and go to sleep. Why don't you come to my apartment. My sofa is a fold out, I'll sleep on that and you can take my bed. It's a queen and I changed the sheets a couple of days ago."
"I wanted to come out with you, but I am very tired, if you're sure about that I'll take you up on that. Just let me get my toiletries from my apartment," Clare smiles.
I grin back and follow her to her apartment. She grabs a bag from a suitcase in her room and we go up to my apartment. I let her have the washroom first and give her one of my t-shirt's for her to sleep in. I turn down my bed too, giving her the side I don't sleep in. When she comes out of the washroom my mouth drops. She looks stunning and sexy in my old t-shirt. I can't help myself, I kiss her, soft at first but it quickly becomes passionate.
"Go out with me tomorrow night Clare? From the moment I saw you smile at me at the moving truck I've been euphoric. That you moved here was kismet, because I can't think of any other woman that's ever been in my life that I'd rather share this part of my life with. Possibly the rest of my life," I comment.
Clare smiles, one that stretches her lips across her face. "I would love to," she whispers.
I grin and press my lips to hers again. My heart thrumming fast and happily with excitement. A feeling of elation and looking forward to a future with Clare overtakes me as I kiss Clare's lips. The only lips I ever want to kiss again.
Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed! I know some of you are thinking "but they are together again and happy, there's more". I tried, I did, I like this ship but my brain can only do it for short spurts. I left myself notes on possible plots but just couldn't see any of them clearly and get them on the page. I have Clav ships in a couple of other stories. For this one you can write your own ending.
Next will be more chapters of "My Fate in the Air Waiting for Life to Begin" and replacing this story will be "God I've Had to Fight". Both stories where I mess with families because that's where my brain is right now.