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Ch. 3 What's Left of My Pride
(DREW)
"Hey, I need the washroom too," I holler banging on the washroom door. It's locked and we rarely lock the door. Adam opens the door and I find Clare in here too. "I hate when you two do that, if you can be in the washroom with Adam, you can be in here with me," I grumble to Clare.
"We're twins Drew," Clare replies and I roll my eyes.
"Kids you need to get going," Mom calls up the stairs. She always does this; school is a ten-minute drive, but Mom swears we need to be out of the house at least half an hour before school starts. She usually starts pushing us out the door at 45 minutes before the first bell.
"COMING," we all call back.
A few minutes later we're in my car on our way to school. Walking in with my sibs we part ways almost as soon as we're in the door. I go to my locker; Marisol and some other cheerleaders are hanging out near my locker, and they come over as I open my locker.
"Hi Drew," Marisol grins, batting her eyelashes at me.
"That shirt looks really good on you," Laney coos, giving me a flirtatious grin.
"Thanks," I smile, "you ladies are looking lovely this morning."
The girls giggle and smile, and I smile back as I open my locker. I like Alli and told her that I'd spend time with her, but I don't want to be tied down to just one girl. Not when there's so many gorgeous girls to choose from.
"Drew want to meet at lunch and go over math notes?" Corrine asks.
"Sure," I grin. I'll be of very little help, but I know she's just looking for an excuse to spend time with me. "I'll meet you at The Dot, see you girls later," I smile closing my locker.
I start walking down the hall to my class and see Eli heavily flirting with Clare. She's leaning on the wall and he's leaning over her, his hand on the wall just above her shoulder. He's smirking at her and gazing at her intensely. Clare smiles, and then drops a pencil, almost certainly on purpose. Eli picks it up for her, looking at her legs as he slowly straightens up and hands her back the pencil. I'm about to go over and intervene when Adam smacks Eli and tells him to stop checking out Clare's legs. Of course, Clare rolls her eyes, but Eli stops.
I go to class and Bianca is already there. She sees me and gives me a flirtatious grin while fidgeting with her top to draw my attention to her breasts. Corrine comes in and grins at me sitting at her desk. I spend more of math class looking at Bianca and Corrine than I do paying attention in class. After math is personal fitness, all boys. No girls to flirt with and it's a good way to stay in shape for football.
When the lunch bell rings I visit my locker and walk to The Dot. I find my sister here with Eli, alone with Eli and he's flirting again. I'm not the only one to notice, Fitz and Owen are here, sitting a couple tables away from my sister. Fitz does not look happy that Eli and Clare are flirting.
"Hi Drew," Corrine smiles, sitting at my table and blocking my view of Eli and Clare.
"Hey," I grin looking at her.
I want to keep an eye on Clare but we're in a café with a dozen other kids. I don't think Eli is going to try too much. I start flirting with Corrine, buy us both lunch and soon after I sit down Alli comes in with Dave. She sees me with Corrine and Alli looks hurt and miffed. I told her this is how it had to be, and she could date other guys. I look away from Alli and keep my attention on Corrine, we don't talk about math once. Clare and Eli get up after finishing their lunch.
Owen and Fitz leave just after Eli and Clare. Corrine and I are next to get up and begin walking back to school. As we're walking out, I notice Alli and Dave leaving too. Following just a few steps behind us. When we're inside I tell Corrine I'll see her later and go to my locker.
I go to third period begrudgingly, I hate this class, probably more than math. Mom made sure to put me in the university track classes. At least in math there's Bianca and Corinne to look at. Plus, Fitz and Owen are in the class with me. In biology there are no hot girls and no one I like in this class. Mr. Betenkamp is pretty cool but everything he says goes way over my head. If not for Clare and Adam helping me with homework and assignments, I'd never even pass.
I leave 3rd period with homework and a list of questions to ask Clare and Adam later. Fourth period is vehicle maintenance, a class I do enjoy and one that gives me skills I'll actually use. Eli and Fitz are also in the class and Fitz spends most of class glaring at Eli. My gut tells me that their mutual like of my sister is going to lead to something bad. I don't spend too much time dwelling on it though, I actually like this class.
As soon as the bell rings I visit my locker and then go to the locker room changing for football. We all go out to the field, and I narrow my eyes in anger when I see Eli near his car with his arm around Clare. Adam is nowhere in sight, and I growl when I see the two get into his hearse and drive off.
"I'd think you'd be more worried about your sister dating Fitz than the new goth kid," K.C. remarks.
"I don't really like her dating at all, mostly because I know what I'm thinking every time I'm with a girl. Not entirely sure about Fitz either, but there's something about Eli. I can't put my finger on it but there's something about Eli I just don't trust," I respond.
"So, not trusting people is that why you date every girl that smiles at you?" K.C. inquires with a snarky tone.
"Hey," I reply with a cocky grin, "I can't help it if I'm hot with the ladies."
"I'm surprised your sister doesn't date every guy that smiles at her and that I haven't seen Adam date at all," K.C. says.
"Yeah, well my younger sibs are way smarter than me. Adam is…very particular," I comment. I can't give away his secret. I'm sure it won't remain a secret forever, but I'm not going to be the one to let the cat out of the bag.
It's a typical practice, warm up and then work hard, shower. I arrive home just as Eli is dropping Clare off. She just kisses cheek and gets out of the car today. Mom has a school board meeting and Dad is working late so Mom said we could order pizza for dinner, I'm betting Adam already ordered.
"What were you doing at Eli's?" I question.
"Working on our writer's craft assignment," she replies.
We go into the basement and Adam tells us pizza will be here any minute. In fact, it arrives a few minutes later. We eat and watch TV doing our homework. As usual my sibs help me with most of my homework. I feel kind of stupid because they're a year younger than me, I also know they are way smarter than me.
Mom and Dad get home about 20 minutes apart. They both check on us briefly before heading upstairs. We stay up watching TV until Mom tells us to get to bed. I wake up in the middle of the night to use the washroom and find the door closed and the shower going. The door is even locked, I check Adam's room but he's sound asleep so I know it's Clare. I use the washroom downstairs and then wait in my room for the washroom door to open. Clare should not be showering at this hour of the morning. As soon as I hear the washroom door open I step out of my room leaning on my door frame with my arms crossed.
"Sorry, didn't mean to hold up the washroom," Clare apologizes. She's wearing her bathrobe and fidgeting with the drawstring. She seems timid, skittish even and my older brother protective instinct kicks in.
"Did Eli do something today?" I ask clenching my fists. Her only response is to scrunch her face at the question. "Why are you in the shower at 2AM then?"
"Just couldn't sleep, girl things," Clare replies. She walks past me to her room and shuts her door. I don't believe her answer and I want to go after her, to figure out what's really going on, but it's late and I don't want to wake up everyone else if she yells at me.
I go back to my room, worried about my sister. It takes a while to get to sleep and when my alarm goes off I'm tired. I go into the washroom hoping a quick shower will help me wake up. I eat a quick breakfast and drive us to school. When we get to school Eli is pulling in and calls to the twins. They get out of the car and start walking to where Eli is parking. At least, Adam is with them and whatever Eli did yesterday I doubt he'll try it at school. I go inside and as soon as I'm through the door a girl has her arm around me.
"I was thinking we could have lunch alone today. I know this great little spot near the soccer field," Alli says in a cooing voice. At the same time her arm tightens around my waist and she kind of nuzzles against me. I see girls down the hall looking at me and watching us. I take Alli's arm and pull her off me.
"I told you how this has to be Alli, and I'm eating with the team," I respond and start walking but she follows me.
"Yeah, that we could spend time together, so far we've had one date," Alli responds. Her voice is censuring, yet whining, yet irritated. I stop and release a breath, I did tell her we'd spend time together.
"Tomorrow okay, lunch alone I promise," I reply. She smiles and leans up to kiss me. I allow her a brief kiss and then step away. "I'll see you tomorrow," I say and walk to my locker. I get distracted by a loud crash of a locker door. I see Eli and Adam near Eli's locker, Eli is seething, so angry he's red in the face.
"That cretin is going to pay," Eli growls. He's so livid I feel compelled to go over and see what's going on.
"What happened?" I question.
"Fitz took the hood ornament from Eli's car, ripped it right off," Adam informs me.
"He and his neanderthal friends got in my parking spot before I could park. I yell at them and tell them to move, and he responds by ripping Morty's head ornament right off. I confronted him and he kicked me in the nuts. Took me down right in front of Clare," Eli snarls.
"Yeah, she was pretty horrified," Adam comments.
"I am not letting him get away with this," Eli hisses. He's clutching the broken hood ornament in his hand so tight his knuckles are white.
"What Fitz did was wrong, but I don't think getting into a fight with Fitz in the schoolyard is the answer Eli," Adam warns him.
"Oh no Adam, nothing nearly so showy. Fitz will pay, in a far more satisfying way than punching his face in the schoolyard," Eli grins. It's an evil grin and one I don't really want around either of my sibs. However the bell rings and I don't have time to dwell on it.
Eli and Adam have homeroom together. I walk to math class and see Fitz in there. The only thing I can think is that I wish my sister had some other admirers at this school. I really don't like either of the two that seem to be pursuing her so hard. I spend most of the morning wondering what Eli's plan is and hoping that Eli doesn't get either of my siblings in trouble.
I eat lunch with my team but don't see either Clare or Adam. Adam is most likely eating with the LGBTQ+ club. I only hope Clare is not eating with either Fitz nor Eli, I don't see either of them in the caf either. It's not until I'm leaving the caf that I see Clare and Fitz together in the hall.
"Eli and I made peace Clare, I swear. Please, I really need the help with math, Drew says you help him and we're in the same class. At The Dot after school? I can walk you home or I'm sure Drew could pick you up after practice," Fitz is pleading with my sister and I see her give in.
"Fine, at The Dot after school, but you better have actually made peace with Eli," Clare says firmly.
"I did," Fitz grins, smiling wide and then kisses her cheek.
As soon as he leans down to kiss her cheek my fists clench. I have a gut feeling that this is bad, I can't explain it but I don't want Clare with Fitz. I'm fully expecting Clare to text me asking if I can pick her up. She never does though, and I have practice after school. Despite not getting a text from Clare I walk to The Dot after practice anyway. I find Clare and Adam outside of The Dot and cop cars leaving. Fitz is nowhere to be seen and I know this is bad.
"I can't believe you two did that, I can't believe you helped Adam!" Clare exclaims with aggravation in her tone and her face pinched together in anger.
"What's going on?" I question.
"Nothing," the twins say together, in the same voice, exact same way, even the same inflections. It still freaks me out when they do that.
"Why were there cops here?" I inquire.
"Let's go home," Clare says and starts walking back to my car at the school.
"You can tell me now, or I can hear about it tomorrow at school. Either way I'm going to find out," I remark as Adam and I follow Clare.
"Adam and Eli apparently tricked Fitz into getting arrested," Clare huffs.
As soon as she says it I realize it's what Eli meant about getting back at Fitz, and not just fighting with him. I don't like this at all, not only did Eli do something really vengeful to Fitz, but he's got both my sibs mixed up in it. I bite my cheek and keep my mouth shut, telling them to stay away from Eli and Fitz is just going to get me some glares and ensure that we spend the drive home fighting.
We spend the rest of the walk in silence. Even the drive home is silent, I want to ask Adam how they tricked Fitz into getting arrested, but it's bound to just lead to a fight with Clare. We eat dinner with Mom and Dad, no one says anything about Fitz getting arrested. Though it did happen close enough to the school that Mom could hear about it.
After dinner we all go to the basement to do homework. Clare does her homework, helps me with a few math problems and goes upstairs. With Clare upstairs I ask Adam what happened. He tells me Eli's plan was to make a fake ID for Fitz switching names with a wanted felon. I know this is going to be bad.
Wednesday morning when we get to school I start heading for my locker. The twins go off on their own, but then walking to class I see Clare along with Eli in the hall. He's got a busted lip and she's brushing it with her thumb. They're talking but I can't make it out, I'm tempted to go over but Eli puts his arm around her and they walk to class. When I get to math class Fitz is already here and he doesn't look happy.
"What happened yesterday?" I ask Fitz.
"Eli gave me a fake ID as a "peace offering" but it had the name and address and all that of some arsonist. They figured it out pretty quickly when we got to the station and they realized the guy's booking photo was not mine. I still got in trouble for the fight with Eli that he started, and buying a fake ID. My parents flipped and got all pissed because they had to come get me. I have to go before a judge on Friday."
"That sucks," I remark. I'm not really sure what else to say.
"Yeah, well Eli's going to be sorry," Fitz comments.
I'm just glad that he doesn't have any idea that Adam was involved. I still don't like that either Fitz or Eli are crushing on Clare and hope that someone else gets a crush on her and distracts her from both of them. I don't really pay attention in math or biology. I'm either thinking about Clare, Fitz and Eli or thinking about my lunch with Alli. When the bell rings for lunch I start walking to the caf.
"Hey Drew," Marisol calls, running over to me. She stands in front of me and drags a finger down my chest. "Want to have lunch together?"
"Sorry, got plans," I remark.
I grab lunch for me and Alli in the caf and take it behind the school where Alli is waiting. She has a picnic blanket and leads me to an old oak tree at the back of the soccer field. We cuddle and kiss, she feeds me carrot sticks. When we have ten minutes before the bell I pack up and we walk back to the school, stopping at Sav's car to return the blanket. We go in the side entrance and I keep my arm around her until we're inside.
"Lunch was nice, I'll see you around Alli," I say as I take my arm from her. I lean down and give her a gentle kiss. I turn and step away but she catches my hand.
"I want more than this Drew," she remarks in a pleading tone.
"This is how it's got to be Alli, you know that," I remark. I take my hand back and walk away.
(ADAM)
Fitz was glaring at us, well Eli, from across the caf. Eli and Clare didn't notice, they had their back to him. Eli's idea for getting Fitz arrested was very smart, but it made things worse. I was pretty sure that Fitz hated Eli now. Of course, Fitz could be giving Eli such a death glare because Eli was eating with one arm around Clare. While we're getting death glares from Fitz all through lunch I hope Drew and Alli are having a nice romantic lunch alone.
"You guys want to go to Above the Dot this weekend?" Eli asks as we're finishing lunch.
"Sure," Clare and I nod at the same time.
"Adam, you want to hang at my house and play some video games? We can pick Clare up and have dinner together," Eli suggests.
"Sounds good," I grin.
"I need to visit my locker before class," Clare comments as she gathers her trash.
"I'll walk you guys," Eli says. We toss our trash and Eli walks us to our lockers. Clare and I grab our civics books and Eli leaves us.
"How do I make your brother mine?" Alii asks as soon as we step into the classroom.
"You're asking us for dating advice on our brother?" I query.
"He says we can't be exclusive but he must have had exclusive girlfriends before right?" Alli asks. Clare and I exchange a look but don't reply. "Please I'm begging, I really like Drew, what do I do?"
"Drew is playing the field because he's not worried about losing you," Clare says and I smack her arm.
"Make him jealous, I can do that," Alli grins.
"What if she tries to make him jealous and it doesn't work?" I whisper to Clare.
"Then she'll know Drew didn't care that much," Clare shrugs. I shake my head, pretty sure this is bad and we should stay out of it, but it's too late now. For all of class I can see Alli's wheels turning.
"Hey Dave," Alli says as our group walks to science, "do you want to go to the football game with me Friday?"
"Sure," Dave grins wide.
I shake my head again, it's obvious to everyone but Alli that Dave has a mad crush on her. Or maybe she does know and she's using that to her advantage, it's hard to tell. I have to wonder what Drew's reaction will be or if he'll even notice. Alli is leading Dave on and getting his hopes up while she hopes to make Drew jealous and he may not even notice.
After school Mom is here to pick up me and Clare, she must have already been at the school, which is usually not good. Clare and I start on our homework, and help Drew after dinner. Staying in the basement until it's time for bed. Thursday is pretty quiet, new assignments to be edited and turned in Tuesday for writers craft. Alli seems to be doing her best to ignore Drew while he is flirting with just about any girl.
Eli and Fitz seem to glare at each other any time they are near each other. Clare is eating with Alli at lunch, I eat with Eli. After lunch Clare says she's going to The Dot after school with Fitz to help him with homework and he'll bring her home. I'm not sure that's a good idea, but they'll be in public and Clare can take care of herself.
After school mom picks me up and takes me to therapy. Clare gets home just before Drew, Dad is working late and mom lets us eat in the basement while doing our homework. This usually means she has some work of her own to get done.
Friday the football team is pumped for the home game this afternoon. Aside from their yelling and hooting in the hallways it's pretty quiet. I don't see Fitz at school all morning, not that I have any classes with him, and I'm not going to ask. Mom and Dad are here for the football game. I see Alli and Dave sitting together in the front, she's hanging off Dave and he's loving it. Drew doesn't seem to notice or care.
Degrassi wins the game and the team erupts in celebration and cheers. Drew gets surrounded by cheerleaders but does come over to us before he disappears into the locker room. That's when he tells us about a party at Julian's that everyone is invited to. Clare and I ask if we can go and mom tells us no drinking and home by curfew.
Dave gives us a ride to the party, he and Alli are also going. Eli didn't come to the game and isn't at the party. Fitz arrives just after we do and quickly takes my sister away. Alli spends the entire party flirting with or hanging off Dave and trying to make my brother jealous. Drew doesn't seem to notice and is either flirting with cheerleaders or talking to the football team. I don't see much of Drew or Clare at the party, though I spend most of my time with Sav talking music. When it's time to get home for curfew I find my siblings.
"So, what did you two do all night?" I question when we're in the car on our way home.
"Oh you know," Drew shrugs as he begins driving, "celebrating our victory with the team, flirting with girls."
Clare is being rather silent and we both look at her. She looks out the window. "Avoiding meat-headed braindead jocks," Clare replies and Drew grimaces at her answer.
"By which you mean making out with Fitz all night?" I shoot back. I don't know that she was but I have a feeling.
"You were making out with Fitz all night?" Drew growls.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she smirks in reply.
"Yes, I would, so I know how much I need to kill Fitz," Drew responds, still growling and she crosses her arms with a huff.
"We were not making out all night, and you are not fighting with Fitz," she responds but still won't look at us.
"Then what were you doing?" Drew inquires.
"Yeah, what were you doing?" I query.
Clare's only response is a frustrated scream. She never does answer us and goes straight to her room when we get home. She even waits for us to go to bed before she uses the washroom. When I get up Saturday morning Clare and Drew are still asleep. I shower and eat some breakfast. Drew comes down while I'm eating and says that Clare is in the shower. Eli sends a text that he's on his way and we spend the day playing video games in his living room. I decide it's best to not tell him that Clare was with Fitz for the entire party last night.
I text Clare a little after five so she knows we're on our way to get her. Before hitting Above the Dot we get pizza for dinner. Seems that the club is the place to be tonight, Drew is here and dancing with Marisol, but I don't know if they came together. We find a table and sit down, there's a live band on stage and after sitting a few minutes we get up and dance together. We dance in a group with others and while we're dancing Alli comes in. She's wearing a very skimpy dress and is with a boy I don't recognize. I do see my brother's eyes narrow when he sees her with this unknown guy.
"May I have this dance?" Eli asks when the band starts playing a slow song.
Clare smiles and takes his hand. He pulls her close, putting his hand on her waist. I look around but the only girl I want to dance with is Bianca. She's standing at the bar with Owen, Fitz and a couple kids I don't recognize. I sit down back at our table, Eli and Clare come join me when the song ends.
"I'm thirsty," Clare says.
"I'll get us some drinks," I comment, standing up. Eli gets out his wallet giving me some money and I go up to the bar. Bianca and her friends are still up here, Bianca leaning on the bar so I take the opportunity to stand next to her.
"Hey Fitzy, isn't that your girl with the goth?" Asks the boy standing with Bianca, Owen and Fitz. I've never seen him at the school, he's muscular with a partly shaved head that has designs shaved into the side. Now that he's said something everyone with them looks at Clare and Eli.
"She's been spending a lot of time with Eli, you want her you better do something," Owen remarks.
I roll my eyes, none of them see me and I order three sodas from the girl behind the bar. I give her money and take the drinks back to our table. Arriving just as Fitz is asking Clare to dance. Clare opens her mouth but Eli responds first, standing up and putting himself between Clare and Fitz.
"She's not dancing with a neanderthal like you," Eli snarls, clenching his fists.
"I wasn't asking you Dr. Doom I asked Clare and she can dance with whoever she wants," Fitz snarls right back. Clare stands up trying to pull at Eli but he shrugs her off.
"Both of you stop," she says in a pleading tone, but they don't listen.
"She's not dancing with you," Eli growls.
"It's not up to you," Fitz says harshly.
Fitz pushes at Eli, he stumbles back knocking into me and our drinks tumble to the ground spilling mostly over me, splashing Eli and getting Clare as well. Fitz and Eli look back at us, they both look sorry. I take Clare's hand pulling her to me.
"I think we should go home," I remark.
"I'll take you guys home," Eli says.
"I can give you a ride," Fitz offers at the same time.
"No, we'll get our parents to pick us up," I reply.
I put my arm around Clare's waist and we leave the club going downstairs. I call Mom and only tell her that we got some drinks spilled on us and want to come home. Mom and Dad come and get us and take us home. I just tell them some kids were being rowdy and spilled the drinks. I take a shower when we get home and spend the rest of the night watching movies with Clare.
"Hey, heard about Fitz and Eli fighting at the club. You two okay?" Drew questions when he gets home.
"Just got a little sticky from the soda spilling on us," I reply.
"You're home pretty late," Clare comments.
"Had to get Alli home, we're exclusive now. When I saw her with that guy tonight I was jealous. I realized how much I like her and how much I didn't want her with other guys. Dave didn't worry me, but that guy tonight did," Drew says.
Clare smiles because it worked to make Drew jealous. I pinch her side, but Drew doesn't notice. We stay up late watching movies and are tired when Mom calls us for Sunday breakfast. Sunday is family day chores as it usually is.
"I'm sorry for what happened at the club on Saturday," Eli apologizes when we get to school Monday.
"I know Fitz isn't exactly your favorite person Eli, but I can dance with whomever I want," she says with her hand on her hip.
"I know, I'm sorry Clare, I just…" Eli starts and I just know he's going to say something stupid and piss her off. I shake my head so he won't say whatever it is. He closes his mouth and takes a breath before starting again. "I was just worried he might do something."
"We were in a crowded club Eli, and I can take care of myself," she says and starts walking inside so we follow her.
We spend all of writer's craft working on our assignments due tomorrow. Everyone working silently with the computers at the back or tablets at their desks. Eli, Clare and I are all working at our desks, putting the tablets back before we leave class together.
"I sent your story back," Clare tells Eli as we begin walking.
"What did you think?" Eli asks.
"I don't approve of your heroine," Clare replies.
"She's an ingénue, I molded her after you," Eli smirks.
"Ha, shows how little you know me! See you in third period Adam," Clare remarks and flounces off to class.
"You two make my head spin," I remark, shaking my head.
"I think it's entertaining," Eli smirks again.
"I think if you want her you'd better make a move before Fitz does," I remark.
"Don't remind me of that cretin, I have to see him in last period," Eli groans as the bell rings. "Have fun in remedial gym, maybe you should hit on some of the hot girls…hang on are there hot girls in remedial gym?" Eli asks.
"Bianca," I reply and Eli cocks an eyebrow, "hey you have to admit she's hot."
"Yeah, in a scary I could murder you for checking me out kind a way," Eli replies.
"I like to live dangerously," I grin.
Eli chuckles and we part ways to get to class. Today it's ballroom dancing, I don't know if that's better or worse than line dancing. We're told to partner up, I take a deep breath and muster the courage to ask Bianca if she wants to be my partner. She looks at me, eyes me up and down, then kind of takes my hand. I suppose it was better than a flat out refusal.
"You're stronger than you look, you got some moves Adam Torres," Bianca smiles as we walk out of class. She's kind of flirting and I can't help the grin that spreads along my face.
"You want to see those moves away from class, like a date?" I question.
"Getting awfully brave aren't you boy?" She says and turns, playfully shoving at me. Only she does it with hand on my chest. I know that she feels something she wasn't expecting when her face changes. "What the hell?" She questions grabbing my shirt, I happen to be wearing a flannel button up today. She rips it open and buttons go flying, my compression wrap is visible.
Bianca looks horrified, I'm mortified and grab my shirt holding it closed and take off running. How did one moment go from so amazing to so bad so quickly?