Sorry it's been a while, lots of other stuff going on and with Fan Fiction not sending emails I was working on other things. I'll try and get Degrassi chapters out more frequently.

Ch. 5 Best Decisions & The Worst Mistakes

(CLARE)

"Clare, would you walk with me to art?" Miss Dawes requests as we begin leaving homeroom Monday morning.

"Umm sure," I nod slowly wondering if I did something wrong.

"Are we both getting escorted to classes now?" Adam questions. Miss Cosnell is waiting at the door to escort him to remedial gym. I'm really glad Bianca is no longer in the class with him.

"See you guys at lunch?" Eli questions. We both nod, Adam walks to the door leaving with Miss Cosnell and I walk to Miss Dawes desk. She stands up and we leave the room together.

"Principal Simpson saw some of your writing samples and he has requested you for a special project. You'll be working with Sav Bhandari, the student council vice president, if you accept of course. The two of you will have use of the media room after school and can coordinate schedules," Miss Dawes tells me as we continue walking down the hall.

"Okay, great, but what's the project?" I inquire.

"Oh goodness, that would be helpful information wouldn't it. There will be some important visitors coming Friday, December first. Principal Simpson wants a showcase of everything Degrassi has accomplished in the last ten years. I know you are new to the school, but you are a talented writer, and I don't think you'll have any issues with research. You'll get credit for it of course and you and Sav will be presenting as well."

"Okay, I'll do it," I reply after considering moment. Adam is pretty busy with LGBTQ club and Drew with sports. Not to mention how it will look for my college application, and I rarely say no to extra credit.

"Wonderful, I will let Sav and Principal Simpson know," Miss Dawes grins.

We've reached the art room now; Fitz is already here. He obviously heard Miss Dawes as he's giving me a curious look. I haven't seen him since Saturday night at the Halloween dance. I ignore Fitz and walk to my easel, I hear him sigh from across the room, but he brought this on himself. He could have walked away from the fight with Drew and Adam, but he didn't. I don't know why he thinks he deserves any of my attention now.

I can feel Fitz's eyes on me all through class, I ignore him and try to concentrate on the charcoal drawing. Art is a pretty easy class, as long as you try Miss Dawes gives you credit. So, I'm not too worried about what's actually going on my paper at the moment. Even though I can feel Fitz's eyes on me he's not what's on my mind.

Forefront on my mind is Eli, we've been getting pretty close and had a good time at the dance. I know I said I'd give him time, but I think he's ready. I feel like he's going to ask me out soon. I'm also wondering about this project and working with Sav. I've seen Sav in the school and met him briefly a couple of times, we have never worked together though. Actually, we've never really had a conversation, all we've ever said is hi.

As soon as the bell rings for lunch I'm out the door. I find Adam and Eli and we eat together in the caf. Jenna eats with us, she and K.C. still are not on speaking terms. I don't see Alli or Drew, they may have gone to The Dot to eat or snuck off somewhere. After tossing our trash the four of us leave the caf and begin walking to our lockers when I hear my name.

"Clare," Sav calls running over.

"Hey Sav," I smile. The others also nod or smile, Eli is standing behind me and oddly I suddenly feel his hand on my lower back.

"You have some time after school? I thought we should at least put a schedule together. No student council today if you want to meet me there," Sav says.

"Sure, sounds good," I smile.

"Great, see you after school then," Sav grins and walks off.

"What was that about?" Eli questions. His tone is odd, I'm not sure what the inflection in his voice is, but it's more than just curiosity.

"Did that have something to do with why Miss Dawes wanted to see you this morning?" Adam questions.

"Yeah, we're going to be putting together a showcase of Degrassi achievements and accomplishments for the last decade," I tell them.

"Always looking for the extra credit," Adam snickers.

"Hey, Miss Dawes came to me. Principal Simpson likes my writing," I shoot back.

"I have to get to class," Eli remarks. He walks off but not before brushing the small of my back as he does.

The three of us walk to civics and citizenship, Alli and the others are already here. Jenna tells Alli I'm working on an extra credit project with her brother, Alli just smiles. We stay in our group to walk to science, but I do notice that K.C. glances at Jenna a few times during class. Either he's missing her or not liking all the time my brother is spending with her. Adam says he'll see me at home and walks out of the school with Jenna and Alli. I make my way to the student council office, knocking on the door and Sav opens it to let me in.

We aren't there for long, only about half an hour as we work out a schedule. We get a basic list of things to research and how we want to do the presentation. Principal Simpson wants it to be an hour in length, which means we have some time to fill.

"Football practice isn't over for a while yet; do you need a ride home?" Sav offers when we're done.

"Sure, thanks," I smile.

I follow Sav out to his car and instruct him how to get my house. He drops me off, I thank him for the ride and go down to the basement. Adam is here doing homework in front of the tv. He asks how it went with Sav, and I show him our schedule and list of things to research.

"You seem excited to be working with Sav or is it just the project?" Adam asks.

"I don't know, both I guess. Sav and I had barely said hi, but he's really nice and very intelligent. I think this will be a fun project, and I think it will be fun working with Sav," I grin.

(DREW)

"Watch it Eli," Fitz snarls, bumping Eli in the hall. Fitz has been doing that a lot lately, jealous over Eli spending so much time with Clare, I guess. Although, this week she's actually been spending a lot more time with Sav for that project they're working on. Not sure that Fitz knows that though.

"You bumped into me, you neanderthal," Eli growls.

"You want to start something?" Fitz says clenching his fists.

"Get to class boys," Mr. Perino scolds them both with his arms folded and a stern look at both of them. Fitz and Eli sneer at each other a couple more seconds before they part ways and walk off.

"You know those two are going to come to blows one of these days. Clare is so nonchalant about the two of them fighting over her. It's so romantic when boys fight over you," Alli says, and I roll my eyes. I don't want any boys fighting over my sister, I don't like the thought of Eli or Fitz with Clare, not that she'll listen to me. "Speaking of romantic, want to have lunch together?"

"Can't, it's a game day the team is eating together," I reply.

"Right, well at least I get to see you at the game. I better get my books for class," Alli comments. She takes my hand, pulling me down to join our lips.

She seems to be kissing me harder and more passionately than normal. When she breaks the kiss to walk off with a smile I see some cheerleaders down the hall. I have to wonder if she really wanted to kiss me that way or if it was show, she does seem to like to flaunt our relationship. Most especially to the cheerleaders in my grade or grade twelve.

I decide not to think about it too much and just go to class. I don't get very far before I see Sav and Clare, he's sort of hovering over her as she leans on the wall outside the media room. She doesn't see me and Sav isn't looking at me, so I linger. They only began working on this project of theirs Monday. They have a month, but they've been spending nearly every free moment together the rest of this week. They even ate lunch together yesterday.

"…we can still make it to the football game. You can ride over with me; these pictures are going to take forever to get through. We should at least get a start, maybe work on it this weekend a little. We can meet at the school tomorrow," Sav says.

"Okay, lets get a start after school, then we can decide if we should spend some time working on it this weekend," Clare comments.

"All those photos, most of them unlabeled, I'm sure we need to look at them this weekend. I'll see you after school," Sav tells her.

Sav smiles and starts to walk off, Clare takes a step and finally sees me. She starts to smile and then her arm is grabbed and she's spun around. Eli suddenly appears from around the corner, I believe he was listening to her and Sav as well.

"Clare, I need your help, my writing I think I'm blocked. I need that brilliantly beautiful brain of yours," Eli tells her.

"Okay, but we have class in a few minutes," Clare comments.

"I know, lets have lunch together, just the two of us. Didn't Adam say he was eating with the LGBTQ club?" Eli asks.

"Yeah, I'll meet you at lunch then," Clare smiles.

"Great," Eli grins and puts his arm around her, "lets get to class."

If I wasn't eating with the team at lunch, I would probably spend it spying on my sister. Something tells me that Eli is up to something. I am distracted all through morning classes thinking about girls. Alli mostly, but Bianca does seem to be flirting with me in math. Clare also comes to my mind, as she usually does when I think about girls. I don't mean in the same way, the train of thought is usually something like me thinking about girls flirting with me, and all the things I want to do to them. Then thinking about the fact that there are at least two, or maybe three boys now, having the same thoughts about my sister.

I eat lunch with the team and then we practice. I don't see either of my sibs at lunch or even after school. We change for the game and file onto the bus. We have very little time to practice once we get to North Park. There's only three games left in the season, if North Park wins tonight we're out of the championship. If they lose we play one other school on the way to the championship.

"Is your sister dating Sav now?" K.C. asks just before the game starts. I follow his eyes and see Clare walking in with Sav.

"No, they have this special project they're doing," I reply.

"Must be really special, they've been together a lot lately. I heard they were working on a project, but they've hardly left each other's sides. Then again Adam and Jenna have been virtually inseparable lately," K.C. comments watching Adam and Jenna on the bleachers with Clare.

"There's nothing going on between them, they're just friends. If you want Jenna back, you should talk to her. This isn't going to affect your performance on the field is it?"

"No," K.C. says looking away from the bleachers, "no my head's in the game."

His head actually was in the game, we crush North Park, and everyone celebrates. The cheerleaders run onto the field and start celebrating with us. I start looking at the crowd to see if Alli or my family is coming to congratulate me. Before I can even really look, I get jumped on and Marisol is attacking my lips.

"Get off my boyfriend," Alli says angrily, ripping Marisol off me.

"You bitch!" Marisol shrieks lunging for Alli.

Alli starts to duck but Marisol catches her with a slap across the face. Alli shrieks and claws her hand scratching Marisol's arm, though it's covered by her uniform. It doesn't do much damage, so Alli grabs Marisol's ponytail and tugs.

"CAT FIGHT!" One of the guys on the other team yells. Just before Alli and Marisol dissolve into rolling in the mud they are hauled apart by the cheerleading coach and Coach Armstrong.

"On the bus Marisol, you'll be sitting out for next week's game," the cheerleading coach says. Marisol is seething, she glares at Alli and stomps off to the bus.

"Why were you kissing her? You're with me," Alli hisses. I wish she wouldn't because everyone is still watching us.

"Alli, she jumped on me before I could react, you pulled her off of me. It was barely a kiss," I remark.

"Torres on the bus," Coach barks.

"Look, I'll see you back at the school," I tell her.

She twists her mouth but turns and disappears into the crowd. I look into the crowd but don't see my family anywhere. That's probably a bad sign. I get on the bus and grab my bag as the bus begins driving. I find my cell phone and see that I have a text from Adam.

Adam: Mom made us leave when she saw how Alli and Marisol were fighting. Mom's not happy. Clare, Eli, Jenna and I are going to Above the Dot. We'll see you at home.

I don't reply back, I'm sure that either tomorrow morning or possibly tonight when I get home Mom will lecture me. She hates cat fights, hates when girls get jealous and when Mom met Alli and knew we were dating she didn't seem all that pleased. She didn't make any comments, but I saw the look in her eye, there was something about Alli she didn't approve of.

The bus arrives at school, and we pile out to go to the locker room. We shower and start to change. Owen says Marisol is having a party and invited everyone. I don't have a text from Mom and my curfew isn't for four hours. I decide a party is a good idea.

"Yo Torres, the twins coming to the party?" Owen inquires. I have a feeling that he's asking for Fitz, Owen really shows no interest in my younger sibs and their activities.

"No, they went to Above the Dot with Eli and Jenna," I respond. When K.C. hears Jenna's with them he stops and looks at me. I just shrug. If he wants her back, he needs to talk to her.

I finish changing and go out to my car, ready to drive to Marisol's. I find Alli at my car. I guess I did say I'd see her at school, but I half expected her to go home. Sav must have dropped her off in the school parking lot.

"Marisol's having a party want t…" is all I get out before she interrupts me.

"She kissed you and I was fighting with her, and you want me to go to a party at her house?!"

"No, you didn't let me finish. Want to go make out somewhere? Make up for Marisol ambush kissing me?"

"I'll make you forget Marisol's lips even exist," Alli grins.

We get in my car, but I only drive to the back of the school. We spend the next few hours making out passionately in my back seat. I wish we hadn't though, we just make out and then I drop her off before her curfew. I'm hard and horny and part of me wants to go to the party. I don't though, I go home and take a cold shower.

(ADAM)

"Can I take you to lunch Clare? We can work on our writer's craft," Eli asks as we leave homeroom Friday morning.

Not just any Friday, this evening is the championship football game against Cedarvale. The school is hyped, Drew has been working out a lot. He knows he'll get to play for a good portion of the game and that with Riley gone next year this is Drew's chance to show what he's made of.

This has been causing some friction in his relationship with Alli. Not only has he been spending time away from her to be with the team and hone his skills. There's also a couple of very persistent cheerleaders that are almost always hanging around him. Marisol in particular is really trying to break him and Alli up. She is constantly flirting with him and hanging off him. She even jumped on him after the football game a few weeks ago.

Drew got an earful the next morning. Mom didn't think the behavior was becoming for either girl and she told Drew he had to be careful who he spent his time with. Drew has been very careful about not being around any girls when Mom is around these last few weeks. Including Alli, which of course has not been helping their relationship. Our parents knew they were dating, but not boyfriend/girlfriend, so they believe Drew is dating many girls.

"I can't Eli, I'm meeting Sav, we'll be working all through lunch," Clare remarks.

"Again? You've been meeting with Sav a lot," Eli grimaces.

"Our presentation is next Friday Eli. We have to finish and rehearse, this is a big deal," Clare huffs with annoyance.

"I know, but we've hardly seen you. Tonight then? You could come over a…" Eli is saying when I cut him off.

"She can't Eli, the championship football game is tonight. You may not like football but we're going to support Drew," I remind him.

"Right," Eli says.

"I need to get to art. I'll have more free time after next week," Clare comments. She turns on her heel and walks off. Eli stands there looking a little dejected.

"Why don't you come to the game Eli. Whatever your thoughts on football, a live game is fun. Clare will be there, and Jenna is coming. There's going to be a party at Julian's after the game, win or lose. The three of us are going and if you want to spend time with Clare you're going to have to acquiesce to her time and needs right now," I advise Eli.

"Yeah, okay," he nods just as the bell rings, "see you at lunch?"

I nod and we both race off to our classes. Miss Cosnell stopped escorting me last week. No one had threatened me in weeks and I was getting tired of a personal escort. She told me to come to her if anything did happen, but I was happy to be roaming the halls on my own again.

Remedial gym has been a lot different ever since the ballroom unit. When I returned to remedial gym almost everyone in the class just stared at me. Thankfully, the next couple of units were ones that didn't need partners and the last unit I just partnered with the teacher. This unit is also one without a partner, so I can work alone in one corner of the room.

At lunch I meet Eli, and we eat with Jenna, Alli, Dave and Connor. The team seems to be eating together in the gym as I don't see them in the caf. People are already talking about plans for winter break. We're going to my grandparents for most of break and I don't think we have any plans after that.

The school is pumped for the game, it's a home game so almost no one leaves when school is over. We have over an hour to the game. The team and the cheerleaders are already on the field warming up. Eli, Jenna, Alli and I walk to The Dot to get warm drinks and then walk back to school. Mom is here with stadium cushions and blankets. Jenna and I share a blanket and with Clare still in the school Eli gives Alli a blanket. Clare and Sav come out just before the game starts, Sav comes up the bleachers with her and Alli moves over so Clare can sit next to Eli.

"I only brought one other blanket," Mom says looking at the three of them. She and Dad are already cuddled close together under one blanket. Dad misses a lot of Drew's games, but he would never miss a championship game.

"Sav and I can share Mrs. Torres," Alli says. Mom nods hesitantly and hands Alli a blanket. By the look on Mom's face, I'm pretty sure she was hoping Clare and Alli would share.

When Mom spends as much time watching the game as she does Eli and Clare, I know she's worried about the two of them. Drew plays for most of the second half though, at that point Mom's eyes are only on the field. With some blocking help from Owen, Drew scores the tie breaking touchdown bringing Degrassi to victory. The entire school cheers and hoots and hollers, the band starts playing.

After a few minutes Coach Armstrong reins everyone in and the team says, "Good game," to Cedarvale before they leave. Once Cedarvale begins to leave the celebration continues and the football field is full of revelers and celebrating students. Mom and Dad make their way through the throngs of kids to tell Drew that he did good and they're proud of him. They remind us to be home by curfew before they leave. Now that our parents are gone Alli and Sav come out to the field.

"We're going to change and then Eli can follow me to Julian's house for the party. That is if you're coming, Eli?" Drew comments.

"Yeah, I can take two people," Eli nods.

"Cool, meet you in the parking lot in a few," Drew says.

"We're going to the party too and I know where Julian lives. Adam can ride with Eli, and I'll take the girls," Sav speaks up.

"Even better," Drew grins.

We walk to the parking lot and decide to get coffee first since Julian obviously won't be home yet. After spending about ten minutes at The Dot we leave when we see several more cars go by, and we know the team is leaving. We park near Julian's house, following a bunch of other kids inside and our group quickly splits up. Alli goes to find Drew, Sav leaves us and goes toward the kitchen, Eli and Clare sit on the sofa.

When Fitz and Bianca show up Eli takes Clare out of the living room. Jenna and I follow them, the living room is noisy, the party is already bleeding into the downstairs hall and the kitchen. After a while of talking, snacking and sipping on water Clare excuses herself to the washroom and Eli goes to get a drink.

"Jenna, can I talk to you?" K.C. requests as soon as Eli is gone.

"You've had weeks to talk K.C.," Jenna huffs, crossing her arms.

"Please Jenna, we need to talk," K.C. pleads.

"He is the father Jenna, at least hear him out," I prod her.

She sighs but goes with K.C., the two walking toward the living room. I look around and don't see Eli, Clare isn't back yet either. I do find Alli and Sav as they are leaving because they need to get home for curfew. I find my sister in the hall; Fitz is trying to talk to her and she's telling him to leave her alone.

"You okay?" I question when she joins me.

"I'm fine, where's Eli?" She asks.

"Not sure, he said he was getting a drink, but he disappeared from the kitchen," I reply.

"Looking for me?" Eli questions slipping an arm around both our shoulders as he suddenly appears between us.

"What did you do, appear from the shadows?" I inquire sardonically. Eli only smirks in response.

"Where's Jenna?" Clare asks.

"She and K.C. are talking," I tell them.

"I hope that's a good thing," Clare remarks.

"Me too," I nod.

"This party is kind of lame, too many jocks I think," Eli comments.

"I'm a little hungry, I'm going to get some chips," Clare says. I think she was deflecting Eli's comment about jocks, but we follow her to the food. We stay in the kitchen for about another hour, the three of us talking in one corner. Jenna never returns so I hope she and K.C. are still talking somewhere and they have worked things out. "Okay, I think I'm ready to go home," Clare says after a cheerleader stumbles into her. The cheerleader was very drunk. Almost everyone at this party seems to be.

"Let's go find Drew," I reply.

We haven't actually seen Drew for most of the party. He came through the kitchen a couple of times but that's it. When we come to the living room it's easy to find Drew as he's shirtless, dancing on the sofa and has several cheerleaders plus Bianca staring at him.

"ANDREW," Clare admonishes.

"Hey, it's my baby sibs. Y'all know these is my babies?" Drew asks the room, and everyone laughs.

"Drew get down from there," Clare asserts.

"Okay kay," Drew nods. He then proceeds to try and step over the back of the sofa but trips and starts to fall flat on his face. Clare gasps and shrieks while Eli and I rush over and catch him. It's awkward but we manage to catch him and pull him down from the sofa.

"He's drunk, he can't drive us home and we don't have our licenses," Clare remarks.

"I'll drive you guys home in Drew's car, I haven't had anything to drink. Someone tell Julian I might have to leave my car hear overnight," Eli says.

"Why's the floor the ceiling?" Drew asks.

"Get him to the car, I'll find his clothes," Clare remarks.

Eli and I get Drew to his car, I have to fish around for his keys in his pocket. I find them, unlock the car and we stuff him in the backseat. I wait with Drew while Eli goes inside, he returns a minute later with Clare. She's got her jacket, Drew's and Drew's shirt. Eli has my jacket and his. By the time Eli is driving us home Drew has passed out. Eli parks at the house and Clare goes first to see if our parents are downstairs. When she waves that it's safe Eli and I manage to get Drew out of the car. Then the two of us very carefully carry his dead weight down to the basement. We haven't put on our jackets, but the cold is actually kind of helping.

"You think you can stay Eli? We've never had to deal with a drunk person and there's no way I can get Drew upstairs to his room. We can get you back to your car tomorrow," I tell Eli.

"Sure, I can stay," Eli nods.

"I'll go tell our parents we're home and that we're watching movies in the basement and sleeping down here. I just won't tell them that you're here Eli," I remark.

I go upstairs while Clare starts taking off Drew's shoes. Mom and Dad are in the living room watching TV. I tell them we're home early because the party was pretty boring. That we are going to have a movie marathon and will probably sleep in the basement. We've done this before, all though it was the family room in our old house. Mom says to have fun and they'll be going to bed soon. I go up to my room, take off my shoes, and grab my pajamas and Clare's. Not sure what Eli might want, I get him a pair of my sweats and a t-shirt. Mom won't see that I have none of Drew's clothes unless she looks at them all.

When I come back downstairs Drew is snoring soundly on one end of the sofa. Clare has already gotten out the rest of the blankets and pillows. Clare also put a movie on, I give Clare her pajamas and she goes into the washroom to change. I change next and then Eli, the three of us settle in to watch movies. Clare on the other end of the sofa, Eli and I on the floor. Eli falls asleep first, Clare and I get through two movies, and I fall asleep during the third. Waking up some time later to Drew groaning.

"I need the washroom, gonna hurl," he says quickly as he leaps up from the sofa. He gets a little tangled in the blanket and it sort of falls away from him as he runs. He gets to the washroom, doesn't even close the door and just starts barfing.

"Is he okay?" Clare asks, rubbing her eyes. The sun is up and after checking my phone it's just after seven. Clare and I only got about three hours of sleep.

"Alcohol poisoning, he'll be fine once he barfs it all up. If he goes too long, you'll have to get him to the hospital though. Make sure he drinks lots of water and black coffee. He'll need liquids and caffeine today, if he can stomach it lots of greasy food," Eli says. I'm not sure if Drew heard him but he groans and then vomits again.

"I'm going to go get dressed and see what the parents are up to," Clare comments going upstairs.

"Thanks for staying Eli," I remark while Drew keeps throwing up.

"No problem," Eli nods.

I get up and grab a bottle of water from the fridge down here. I put it in the washroom next to Drew, but I don't think he even realizes I'm here. I sit on the sofa and put the TV on again, just to hear something besides my brother hurling in the washroom.

"I feel like death, worse than death," Drew grimaces, sinking onto the sofa. He does have the water in his hand, and he drank some of it.

"Mom and Dad are leaving soon, I told them I woke up early because you two were snoring. Sav is on his way to get me so we can work on the presentation. He offered to take you to your car Eli," Clare says.

"Cool, probably better Drew doesn't drive right now anyway," Eli comments.

"Oh, hey Eli, when did you get here?" Drew asks.

"Keep an eye on him Adam, lots of water, lots of coffee," Eli says.

I nod and Drew groans. Eli goes into the washroom with his clothes and comes out a few minutes later. Soon after that we hear our parents leave and then Sav comes down to the basement shortly after that.

"You look awful Drew," Sav comments.

Drew groans out something like hi and then lays down with his eyes closed.

"I'll stay with Drew, go work on your presentation. Eli let me know when you're home and get some rest," I say.

"You too," Eli nods.

The three of them leave and I look at Drew, he seems to be falling asleep again, so I force him to drink some water. We are both beat but neither of us really sleeps. I do make us both coffee and we just spend the morning watching TV in the basement. Drew doesn't want food even when I make breakfast, but he does drink two cups of coffee. A little after ten I get a text from Jenna.

Jenna: I'm sorry for disappearing last night. K.C. and I talked, and we told our families this morning. We decided the best thing to do was give the baby up for adoption. Our families weren't thrilled, but both are supportive and K.C. and I got back together.

Me: It's ok. I hoped you two were talking. I'm glad it worked out.

Jenna: Me too. Thanks for being there for me Adam. Without you, Clare and even Eli these last few weeks would have been really hard.

Me: No problem, glad you and K.C. finally talked. See you Monday.

"What's the smile for?" Drew asks.

"Jenna and K.C. made up," I tell him.

"Good," Drew says and then groans again.

"Are you going to barf again?"

"No, but I don't think I'll ever drink again. My head is killing me," Drew says.

"I'll grab some pain reliever," I tell him getting up. I really hope Drew did learn his lesson. I also hope he doesn't look like death by the time Mom and Dad get home.