Ch.2 Sidewalk Dance, September Heat

(CLARE)

"I still don't have your story Clare, I need to get it edited for us to turn in tomorrow," Eli says as we leave first period Monday morning.

"I'll get it to you by the end of day Eli, I need to get to art," I reply, rushing off.

Adam was at Eli's this weekend to play video games. When Adam got back, he told me that Eli asked about me. I blushed, and got butterflies in my stomach, but that didn't mean I was going to give him an easy opportunity to ask me out.

"Hey Clare," Fitz grins when I get to art class.

"Hi Fitz," I smile back. He gives me a flirtatious wink and brushes past me as he gets to his easel. Actually, he seems to spend more of class flirting with me than working on the assignment.

"Got plans for lunch?" Fitz asks as we leave art class.

"Yeah, I have to finish my story for writer's craft. So, I'll be doing that," I reply.

"That doesn't sound like a very fun lunch," Fitz comments.

"No but I didn't work on my story over the weekend," I shrug.

He follows me to my locker anyway, but just as we reach my locker Owen calls to Fitz. Fitz says he'll see me later and walks to Owen. I grab my lunch and go to the computer lab, you can't eat in here, but I finish my story and email it to Eli. Then sit in the memorial garden and scarf down my lunch.

"Still waiting on that story Torres," Eli remarks when he finds me walking to my locker from the garden.

"I just emailed it to your school account," I reply.

"Good, I'll send it back to you when I'm done. You finish editing mine yet? I've been waiting since Friday," Eli remarks and walks off without waiting for my reply.

"Ugh! He is so annoying," I huff leaning on the wall just as Alli is coming down the hall.

"I get it Clare you're in love with Eli. Now for more important matters like introducing me to your brother," Alli says looking right at Drew. I roll my eyes, but she doesn't see as she's staring at my brother.

"Have you tried going over and talking to him?" I question.

"He doesn't even know who I am, but I have to have him," Alli swoons. I roll my eyes again, but Drew is easy on the eyes, and I'm used to this. I'm more surprised when my friends don't get some mad crush on him.

"Please Clare, if you had the hots for my brother I'd totally do it for you," Alli begs. She even clasps her hands together giving me a pleading look.

"I'll remember that," I remark, grabbing Alli's arm and pulling her toward my brother. There's a couple of cheerleaders flirting with Drew, but I ignore that fact and butt in, interrupting their flirtations.

"Hey Drew," I speak up. One of the cheerleaders, I think her name is Marisol, gives me the evil-eye for disrupting her flirting. When Drew takes his attention from the cheerleaders to look at me, they both huff.

"What's up Sis?" Drew questions, he then notices Alli and smiles at her. "You're Sav's little sister, right?"

"Umm, yeah, Alli Bhandari," she smiles coquettishly. The two are just sorting of gazing at each other in a flirtatious way and I realize I need to say something and have a reason for coming over and bringing Alli with me.

"Alli and I are going to do homework at The Dot after school, you can pick me up from there," I remark. It's all I could think of.

"Cool. I'll see you after practice then," Drew smiles as the bell rings. He gives me a one-armed side hug before walking to class.

"We're doing homework?" Alli as they start walking to class.

"I had to tell him something, you'll have to do homework, right?"

"Sav does have student council after school he can pick me up from there," Alli grins and gets out her phone to text Sav.

"I told Drew that Alli and I were doing homework at The Dot after school," I tell Adam when we get to class.

"Cool, I'll join you guys," Adam smiles.

When school is out for the day the three of us walk to The Dot. We order snacks and drinks and sit down to do homework. Working on homework for third and fourth period first since the three of us have those classes together. Sav and Drew arrive at about the same time to pick us up, Drew says hi to Alli and Sav nods to me and Adam but that's about the only exchange there is.

We get home and eat dinner with Mom and Dad then go to the basement to finish homework. I finish editing Eli's story, send it to him and he sends me back my story. Adam and I help Drew with his homework. He doesn't ask about Alli, and I don't bring her up. If Drew likes her and asks her out that's his choice. I did my part by making sure Drew knew she was alive.

I finish helping Drew with his homework and go upstairs to shower and get ready for bed. The boys are watching a sports recap and I have no interest in that. Drew takes us to school the next morning and leaves us as soon as we're out of the car, he's off to flirt with cheerleaders. Adam and I go to class and Eli is already in class. We turn in our stories and get a new assignment that each pair of editing partners will work on.

"So, want to come to my place after school to work on our assignment?" Eli questions as we leave class.

"Sure," I reply and look at Adam hoping he'll come.

"I'm meeting my partner at The Dot, should Drew pick her up from your place?" Adam inquires.

"I'll bring Clare home," Eli smirks.

"Okay, you tell Drew that, I'm off to gym," Adam responds, and I twist my mouth.

"I'll see you after school Eli," I remark walking to art. Fitz smiles when I get into class, he also spends most of class flirting again.

"If you don't have lunch plans, do you want to eat with me at The Dot?" Fitz asks when second period is over. Adam is eating with the LGBTQ+ club and I'm sure Drew is eating with the team.

"Sure," I smile.

Fitz grins and walks me to my locker so I can stow my backpack then we walk down to The Dot. We order and he pays for us both, it's fairly crowded but a couple younger kids quickly leave an outside table when we come out. Fitz pulls my chair out for me, and we sit with our drinks, waiting for our food.

"Got plans after school?" Fitz questions.

"I'm going to Eli's; we have a writer's craft assignment to work on. He and I are editing partners for the semester," I reply.

Fitz doesn't look happy about the fact that I'm going to Eli's after school, but he doesn't say anything. When Spinner comes out with our food Fitz smiles again. We eat mostly in silence; Fitz doesn't talk about himself very much and doesn't ask a lot of questions, but we talk a little. When we're done eating Fitz walks me back to school and to my locker, says he'll see me tomorrow and walks off to class.

"I'm having a party after school, I invited Drew. I was given advice that it would be a good way to get close to Drew," Alli says when I get into third period. "Do you and Adam want to come?"

"And watch you flirt with our brother, no thanks. Adam and I both have plans. Besides if Drew is going to the party, then I don't have to explain to him that I'm going to Eli's after school," I remark.

"Ooooooh," Alli grins wriggling her eyebrows at me, and I roll my eyes.

(ADAM)

I was sitting on the sofa doing homework when I hear my sibs arguing on their way in. I had been dropped off by James, my editing partner when we finished. Neither of my sibs was home, I knew where Clare was, and Mom told me Drew was going to do homework at Julian's. I was sure that was a lie considering Julian was a senior, and just figured Drew was with a girl, he generally was.

"He drives an old hearse Clare, that's creepy," Drew is saying as he opens the sliding glass door.

"We were doing homework Drew, that's all, relax big brother. I didn't go over there to make out," Clare retorts. Her voice manages to be teasing and annoyed all at once. It also suggests that wherever Drew was he was there to make out. Further confirming my suspicion he was with a girl.

"I think the hearse is just part of Eli's whole goth doom and gloom thing. Eli's a good guy," I speak up.

"Yeah, his whole gloom and doom thing doesn't really make him more appealing when I think about someone with their hands all over our sister. I also don't trust that you were just doing homework at Eli's house," Drew comments. He just sounds annoyed, and protective.

"And, just what were you doing at Alli's party?" Clare inquires.

"Alli's party?" I query. While I'm not too sure how I'd feel if Clare and Eli were dating I think Drew is judging him too harshly without knowing him. His hang up seems to be Eli's Goth style and choices.

"You know," Drew remarks, scratching the back of his head uncomfortably, "we were talking, eating, playing party games." We keep looking at him, we both know our brother better than that. "Okay, I may have gone back to make out with her," Drew says and gets that stupid grin on his face.

Clare and I roll our eyes but when we hear Mom open the door to the basement we all go quiet. She asks Drew and Clare if they ate and got their homework done. Both Drew and Clare just nod so Mom goes back upstairs.

At least the interruption from Mom seems to have quelled the argument for now. We finish homework and help Drew with his before we go to bed. When we get to school the next morning Drew leaves us as soon as he sees his team. Clare and I visit our lockers and go to class, Eli grins at me before giving my sister a smirk and flirtatious wink.

"I really enjoyed working with you yesterday, Clare," Eli smirks, "on homework and everything."

His addition makes me think that they did do more than homework and she was making out with him. I respond by smacking Eli's arm and he just grins at me with a nonchalant shrug. At least, he makes no further remarks or advances toward Clare in class.

In remedial gym I spend a lot of time watching Bianca, but she doesn't even look at me. I'm used to this and am often envious of Drew's looks. He barely has to smile to get girls to swoon over him. I on the other hand have to make a lot of effort, which I don't necessarily mind. However, it can lead to bad things, and I never know how a girl will react when she finds out about me.

I find Clare at her locker at lunch. We eat with Alli, Jenna, Dave, Wes, K.C. and Connor. Drew is eating with the football team; he's spending a lot of time with them and probably will the rest of the season. Now that positions have been selected, and he seems to have made peace with Riley and Owen. Alli is walking with us to third period and we see Drew flirting with Marisol in the hallway.

"We made out for over half an hour at my house last night, today I'm invisible. He told me he's QB and that he's going to be attracting a lot of girls, and it wouldn't be fair to either one of us to date exclusively," Alli huffs.

"Drew is fickle, his longest relationship ever was a month. He likes playing the field," I shrug.

"Your brother sucks," Alli complains, crossing her arms.

"So, date someone else, Alli, maybe Drew will get jealous," Clare advises.

"Can't you two talk me up to him or something?" Alli replies practically begging.

"You just said he sucked," I remark.

"Yeah, but he's hot and I need to make him my boyfriend, I'll do anything." Alli in a desperate voice.

"Oh god," I sigh, putting my arms around the girls shoulders, "let's get to class."

Afternoon classes go pretty fast, though Alli does seem to be thinking of ways to get our brother's attention. Clare and I decide to walk home after school but visit our lockers first to stow the books we don't need. That's when I see the contest for two Dead Hand tickets Saturday morning, the tickets are for the concert that night.

"Sweet, I am totally entering that," I grin looking at the poster.

"I'm entering too, we should come together," Eli says.

"Awesome," I smile and we high five. Clare rolls her eyes.

"Where you two headed?" Eli questions.

"We were going to walk home," I reply.

"I can give you a lift," Eli says.

We start walking out and see Drew flirting with Alli. He waves to us and walks off and Alli comes over to us, she's practically jumping and squealing she's so happy. Alli winks at us and practically skips off.

"Well, she's happy," Eli comments.

"I just hope Drew's attention doesn't turn elsewhere, pissing her off or making her whine again," I remark.

Eli drops us at home, and we begin on our homework in the basement. Clare texts Drew so he's not looking for us when he gets out of practice. Dad and Drew get home just before dinner is ready. I tell Mom and Dad about the contest and the concert that night if I win. Mom is somewhat reluctant, but we manage to convince them to let me do the contest and go if me or Eli wins.

I tell Eli in class that my parents reluctantly agreed, and he smiles. Of course he flirts with Clare a little too. I have therapy after school so Mom picks me up from school and takes me. Clare's already home when we get there and doing her homework. Friday is pretty much the same except that there's a home football game and most of the school is excited.

At lunch I find out Clare has a date with Fitz tomorrow night. She'll tell our parents and Drew that she's hanging out with friends. I'll hopefully be at the concert and I'm sure Drew has plans of his own.

After school is the game and our parents come, Alli is also at the game and sits next to Clare. Degrassi wins and the team celebrates on the field. We find Drew and tell him good job. He only has one more game as starting QB before Riley is off punishment, so he's been pushing himself pretty hard in the games. He's going out with his team; Clare and I are going home with Mom and Dad. We stop for dinner first and then Clare and I watch movies in the basement.

I'm up early Saturday and after a shower and a protein packed breakfast Eli picks me up to go to the contest. Eli and I are the last two standing and agree to make it a draw and split the tickets. Bianca was also in the contest, I consider giving Bianca my ticket just so she knows I'm alive, but I don't. I call Mom to tell her we won, and Eli can drive us to the concert. Mom talks to Eli for a few minutes, reminds me to be home by curfew and call if I'm going to be late.

"So, want to hang out at my place until the concert?" Eli questions.

"Sure, but can we get lunch first? After all that standing around, I'm hungry," I comment and Eli grins.

We grab some lunch and go back to his house; his parents seem to be out. We go into the kitchen and sit at the table to eat. I've never been in the kitchen before, there's a breakfast nook and some pictures on it. Including one with Eli and a dark-haired girl, he's got his arm around her, they look cozy. He's been flirting with Clare a lot, if he has a girlfriend he shouldn't be, and if she's an ex I would think the picture wouldn't be in a family space.

"Who's this?" I question pointing to the picture.

"Julia," Eli says and begins to eat without explaining further.

"Okay, you've never mentioned her before," I comment as I begin eating.

"She died, last year, we were dating," Eli replies. He won't look at me or the picture and I can tell this is still a hurtful subject for him.

"Sorry, is that why you drive the hearse?"

"I got the hearse after she died, a way of holding on, I guess. Her death was my fault, and I didn't take it very well, part of the reason I changed schools."

"What do you mean her death was your fault?" I query, arching an eyebrow. If Eli is dangerous then Drew is right and he shouldn't be anywhere near Clare.

"She didn't get along with her parents and she slept here a lot. One night, an especially rainy night in March, she was sleeping over and we got into a terrible argument. I yelled at her, and she ran, ran out into the rain crying and got hit by a car after running into the street."

"Sorry Eli, that's awful, but it wasn't your fault. You had a fight, she got upset and ran out, it could have happened to anybody," I reply. I release a breath relieved that it's not as though he lost his temper and hit her or something.

"It still hurts, I think all the time about what would have happened if we hadn't fought or I hadn't yelled."

"You can't change it Eli, it happened. It won't do you any good to think about the what ifs. However, if you continue to flirt and get close to my sister, you're going to need to tell her about Julia," I tell him and Eli sighs.

"I know, I will."

"And, if you do start dating Clare, she is not spending the night."

Eli kind of snickers but I'm serious. Even if she managed to lie to our parents and Drew about it I would know and I'm not letting it happen. Not that I believe they'd fight and she'd run out suffering the same fate as Julia. I'm just not letting my sister sleep over at Eli's, dating or not.

We finish lunch and play video games until it's time to leave for the concert. Eli's parents do get home a couple hours before we have to leave, we greet them and tell them about the concert. They just tell us to have fun and tell Eli to drive safe. We've both been wearing Dead Hand T-shirts all day and so we're already dressed for the concert.

We get there plenty early and get in line, finding Mo and Sav at the concert. Our tickets are front row and next to each other. We all dance together during the concert, and I happen to catch sight of backstage from our vantage point. I see Bianca in a tiny skimpy dress and spiked heels. She looks really hot, and I nudge Eli.

"Guess Bianca made it to the concert after all," I remark.

"She dressed like that to talk her way backstage. The roadies or band or someone is going to expect more than to look when the concert is over," Eli says.

I know he's right; I know it was her choice, but my stomach still sinks at the thought of it.

(CLARE)

"A movie and then home, right?" Drew asks parking out front of The Dot.

I told Mom and Dad I was hanging out with a group tonight, which included Alli. Drew knew I was lying because he had a date with Alli, but he didn't say anything and even agreed to drop me at The Dot to meet Fitz. He wasn't entirely thrilled that I was going out with Fitz, but he promised not to say anything. Of course, that was after making me promise to call him if the date went bad.

"That's the plan, are you going to tell me what you're doing with Alli tonight?"

"I'll see you at home, unless you call me because the date went bad," Drew remarks.

"I'll see you at home," I reply getting out of the car.

Drew drives off and a few minutes later Fitz pulls up. I get in the car and say hi and Fitz starts driving downtown. Fitz parks and we get out and start walking to the theater, we're disrupted when someone hollers at Fitz. He puts his arm around me and turns to the voice.

"Hey Johnny," Fitz grins, "This is Clare Torres, she's new to Degrassi this year. She's friends with Alli."

"Oh, you must be Johnny DiMarco," I smile. I don't think Fitz would have mentioned Alli if she didn't mean something to Johnny.

"Ah, I see Alli's been talking about me. Don't believe anything she said. So, how is Alli?" Johnny questions.

"Out with my brother tonight," I reply.

"Yeah, she's obsessed with him," Fitz adds.

"So, you two heading to a movie? Lucas is having a party, come hang with us, Owen is coming. It will be a lot more fun than a movie," Johnny says.

"You want to go to a party? I'll make sure to get you home by curfew still," Fitz comments.

"Sure," I nod.

"Cool, I was just on my way to grab beer and snacks," Johnny says. He does have a charming smile; I can see why Alli fell for him.

We walk down the street to the store with Johnny and help him pick out snacks. We walk back to the car and Fitz drives us to the party. Johnny arrives just after we do so we help him in with the beer and snacks.

"Hey Clare, Fitz," Owen greets us when we come in.

"Hi Owen," I nod while someone takes the bag of snacks from me.

"Clare, this is Lucas, it's his place…well it's his mom's place," Fitz says. Lucas is muscular with sharp features his hair is a bit longer, but shaved on the sides with designs shaved in.

"Hey," Lucas grins at me and Fitz.

"This is Bruce and Chloe," Fitz says, introducing me to the two people standing with Lucas.

"Want something to drink?" Lucas questions.

"Anything without alcohol," I reply.

"Two pops," Fitz says, and I smile. I'm sure if I wasn't here, he'd be drinking alcohol.

Lucas grabs a couple bottles of pop and hands them to us. Fitz takes my hand, and we walk to the sofa. They all follow us, so Fitz puts me in his lap when we get to the living room. Chloe and Johnny ask me some questions, but then Johnny finds out I love literature and we begin talking about that. Fitz starts talking with Lucas and Owen is talking with Bruce and Chloe. When Owen's phone beeps he pulls it from his pocket. He's sitting next to us so I see that it's a picture of Bianca in a tiny red dress. The text says: Having a blast backstage at the Dead Hand concert.

"Adam and Eli are at the concert too, but not backstage," I comment.

"Yeah, give B a slinky dress and she can get into almost anything," Lucas says.

"Wonder what else she's going to have to do for that backstage access," Owen replies.

I hadn't really thought about it, but he's right. She probably will have to do more than just dance in a slinky dress. Whoever let her back is probably expecting her to return the favor. We stay at the party, and mostly with this group of people until Fitz has to get me back for curfew.

"I got to get Clare home," Fitz says standing up.

"It was nice to meet you all," I comment smiling at everyone, "thanks for letting us crash your party Lucas."

"You didn't crash, any friend of Fitz's is welcome here," Lucas grins.

We say goodbye and go out to Fitz's car. We talk about the party on the drive, and he asks if I had fun. I tell him it was fun and good to meet some of his friends. Aside from Owen they all seem to be older than him. Fitz parks in front of my house and comes around opening my door and helping me out of the car. He leans me against the car taking my waist and puts a hand at my back. He gazes at me and I blush biting my lip as he brushes a strand of hair behind my ear. His lips softly press to mine and my arms snake around his neck. My lips part, the kiss deepening, in the background I hear a car stopping but it doesn't occur to me that it's stopping next to Fitz's car. Until Fitz is yanked away from me.

"Drew!" I squeak, wiping my lips and giving my older brother a censuring look.

"You'll see Fitz at school on Monday," Drew replies. He's still holding Fitz's shoulder.

"I was not done kissing him," I reply, reaching for Fitz. Drew lets go of Fitz and grabs me tossing me over his shoulder. "Andrew!" I shriek hitting Drew's back.

"I'll see you Monday Clare," Fitz comments, waving before he gets in the car.

"You are such a barbarian Drew put me down," I demand, still hitting his back as he opens the sliding glass door to the basement. "Do you treat Alli this way?"

"I have more respect for her than that," Drew replies, walking in with me still over his shoulder.

"So, what you're saying is you don't have any respect for your sister?!" I huff hitting his back again. He finally sets me down but holds my arms.

"I have more respect for you than any other female on the planet, except Mom," Drew says and I smile. "Because I have that respect for you, I am not letting some hood make out with you against his car," Drew says and I'm no longer smiling just grimacing at him.

"He's not a hood! Fitz is nice and he's sweet, and I can kiss whoever I want! Just what were you and Alli doing all night?" I argue, crossing my arms.

"That's not the point," Drew replies, releasing my arms and turning around.

"Ugh you are such a…" I begin but get cut off when the door to living room opens and Mom comes down the stairs to look at us.

"Oh, good you two are home, how were your nights with friends?" Mom questions.

"Fine," Drew and I say at the same time.

"Adam texted he'll be a bit late, the concert went long," Mom tells us.

"I'm going to take a shower," I comment, walking past Drew and going upstairs.

I get undressed and go into our shared washroom taking a nice long shower. When I get out Adam is home, I can hear him in his room. I go into my room and get pajamas on. When I leave my room Adam is coming out of his.

"I'm still pumped from the concert; you want to go watch TV. Drew's already down there," Adam comments.

I'm still not happy with Drew, but at least Adam will be there as a buffer, he usually is for the two of us. I nod and we go downstairs, Drew is watching TV, and we join him on the sofa. He pauses the TV and looks at Adam asking how the concert was.

"Awesome! They did three encores. Bianca was there, she managed to get backstage," Adam tells us.

"Oh yeah, she texted Owen a picture while we were at the party," I comment without thinking. I swallow hard when I feel both their eyes on me. "You know, I'm tired, I'm just going to go to bed," I remark. I start to get up but they both catch my arms pulling me back to the sofa.

"Hold it," Adam remarks.

"Party? I thought you were going to the movies," Drew says.

"That was the plan, but we ran into Fitz's friend near the theater," I tell them and look at Adam, "Johnny DiMarco, remember Alli dated him last year."

"Yeah, she made it sound like he was the devil, and isn't he in college now?" Adam inquires.

"Well, yes, but he's nice actually and it wasn't his party."

"So, then who's was it? Where was it? You didn't tell either of us you were going to a party," Drew scolds.

"The party was thrown by one of Fitz's friends, Lucas. I was still with Fitz, and it was his friend's party."

"Oh, yeah, that makes me feel much better. I don't know any Lucas at school. Which means Fitz took you to a college party or a dropout's party and either way it's not good. There was probably alcohol and who knows what else," Drew replies sort of growling.

"It was just a party Drew, you've been to parties with alcohol before. Fitz was with me the whole time and the most he did was have me sit on his lap. Neither one of us drank any alcohol. Don't even try telling me you don't have Alli sit on your lap."

Drew grumbles something under his breath but doesn't really argue. We stay up pretty late and I worry Drew is going to get into it with Fitz Monday for taking me to a party. A college party with alcohol and people he doesn't know. I get why Drew is so very protective but it gets very annoying. He wasn't always this bad, but last year changed us all.

I hope you enjoyed these first two chapters. I'll update soon as I can starting in Drew's pov, some of him and Alli and some rivalry with Fitz and Eli. I know this seems all very familiar but things start changing from the show after this.