My new favorite Degrassi couple is Clare/Eli! Clare is one of my fave characters, and Eli seems like a good match for her. So this starts out during 7/29/10's episode, Better Off Alone pt. 2 right after Clare and Eli talked in front of Clare's house! And I know I changed a few things about that episode in this story. Please R&R!

Claire

I rushed over to Eli, who was getting in his car and placed my hand over his on the top of the car door. I felt a spark of electricity run through me as our hands touched. Something about him was different. I don't know what it is about him, but somehow I can't get him out of my head. It's like he really knows me for me, even though we've only known each other for a week and a half. He stared down at our hands in a puzzled way. My cheeks flamed, as I suddenly began to feel uncomfortable. Did he not like me? It seemed like he was always flirting with me; was I wrong in my interpertation of his actions? Then he smiled, that brillant smile that always seemed to put me at ease.

"Thanks for the headphones." I said, holding them up.

"No problem. They're great, I have two more pairs." he said, wiggling his hand out from under mine and sitting down in the hearse and rolling down the window.

"Oh." was all I could manage to say.

"Yup. Well, I guess I'll see you in class on Monday. Well, that is unless you wanted to go out - I mean hangout tomorrow." he smiled the same ease-feeling smile again.

"Sure!" I said, a little too excitedly. "Coffee at the Dot?" I asked, playing with the cord on the oversized headphones.

He smirked. "Not really my scene. How about you come over to my place tomorrow and bring your MP3 player and I could find you some killer music to put on it."

I stared down at the headphones. I wasn't really sure I liked Eli's kind of music. But I was open to new experiences, and this was one I could not pass up.

"I'll need directions to your house." I said, looking up at him and smiling flirtaciously.

"I'll just pick you up tomorrow. 2:00 okay?" he asked.

"2:00's fine. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then." I said, walking up to the first step up to my door.

"Guess you will." he said coolly, turning up the volume on the CD he was listening to in his car, and drove away.

...

Eli

So, was this a date? I was a high believer in communication, but with Clare I always felt a little nervous. I know, hard to believe isn't it? I wasn't the type to blurt out sappy feelings to a girl, but Clare really had me going for her. She always left me guessing, and I had no idea where we were gonna end up. But what the hell was tomorrow? For some reason it seemed to be a little too cozy to be just two friends hanging out. And I'm surprised she agreed. I mean, Clare didn't really seem like the metal-punk-smash-your-head-into-a-wall kind of girl. I was sure she'd suggest something else, then I could call her out on it. But one thing's for sure, tomorrow is gonna be a bigger deal then just sharing music with a friend. At least, I hope.

...

Claire

After Eli left, I stood on the porch for a second, wondering what to do. I couldn't go back inside, I could hear the muffled voice of my parent's talking through the open kitchen window. Then I stared at the headphones in my hand, wishing I had brought my MP3 player outside with me so I could try out my new head phones. I decided there was nothing else to do then but take a walk. I stashed the headphones in the mailbox, and started walking down the sidewalk. I was going in the direction of the Dot, so I figured I might as well stop there and get a decaf tea. I walked into the Dot, and up to the bar and sat down in one of the green plush stools.

"One decaf tea." I said to Spinner.

"Coming right up." he smiled as he turned around and grabbed a coffee cup off the stack on the counter.

Then someone sat down next to me. I was currently lost in thoughts about what tomorrow would be like, so I didn't even notice them say hello to me until they tapped me on the shoulder.

"KC!" I said, a little shocked.

"Day dreaming?" he said jokingly.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry."

"No biggie. One decaf coffee." he said to Spinner.

"So, how are you?" I asked awkwardly, playing with the sleeve on my denim jacket.

"Uh, fine. How have you been?" he said, sympathetically.

I rolled my eyes. "Just fine. You weren't my entire life KC and it's time you got that into that thick skull of yours!"

He looked a little shocked. "I know that" he paused "I didn't mean it like that, I mean Clare-" he was cut off as my tea was set down in front of me.

I reached my hand into the pocket of my jeans expecting a wad of money to be there. But then I remembered I changed my pants when I got home from the Showcase that afternoon because I spilled juice on them. I drew my hand out of my pocket, embarrassingly looking up at Spinner.

"I'm sorry, I thought I had money with me but I forgot it. Is there anyway I can like, return this?" I asked, pushing my tea over to him.

Spinner stared at the tea. "Uh, I don't really know-"

KC pushed a twenty dollar bill across the counter. "I got it." he said.

I looked up at KC, he smiled as he stood up and grabbed his backpack off the floor and then grabbed his coffee cup.

"Well, uh, thank you." I said, my cheeks growing warm.

"No problem. See ya." he said as he left.

"See ya." I mumbled.

What was that? I didn't think KC had it in him to be a gentlemen! And the truth was, I really did miss him. He was my first love, and your first love is always impossible to get over. But I knew what was best for me, and that was Eli. So for right now, I had to forget about KC. I just wish that wasn't next to impossible.