All I Ask of You

Author's Note: I don't own Degrassi nor any other literary or pop culture references. It's been a while, dear readers. Now or Never was pretty epic, right? So here's a new chapter fic… We pick up the day after the shooting from Dead and Gone part 2.

As always, you can find me on twitter at takethecurve and on tumblr at takethecurve dot tumblr dot com. Also, leave me some feedback, if you feel so inclined! I love to hear from you guys! Enjoy!

Chapter 1

Imagine Me, Trying Too Hard To Put You From My Mind

My eyes didn't want to open. I'd stayed at the hospital until well into the early morning, making coffee runs, getting snacks, and just trying to be helpful. I felt like anything I could do to help Adam's family should be my top priority. As Adam's face flashed across my mind, I cringed, remembering his cries of pain as he lay on the dance floor. I hadn't thought I could feel any less helpless than the night Fitz cornered Eli, but I was wrong. As I knelt down beside the bleeding boy, all I could think about was that I had let our friendship fall by the wayside, and now I might lose him forever.

I could feel Eli's elbow next to mine, and for once, none of our drama mattered. We came together in that moment, a trio once more, despite everything. Warm tears weaved winding paths down my cheeks as the next hour or so blurred in my memory. I know there must have been an ambulance ride, but I couldn't even remember the journey. The next thing I remember was a firm hand on my shoulder, telling Eli and I that Adam was going to be fine, that we could see him, though he was a bit drowsy from the pain medication.

I don't know why I asked him if it hurt to get shot, but my shoulders finally began to relax as Adam joked about the future scar this would surely leave. I let a small smile creep across my face as Mrs. Torres finally arrived. Eli and I left Adam's side to give them some privacy, and I cringed as I heard my phone chime. The shooting and its immediate aftermath had freed my mind from the burden of Jake's departure, but now that everything was winding down, it crept back into the forefront.

Sis… He called me "sis"… Half a day ago, you were happily calling me your girlfriend, and now I'm "sis"… As I explained to Eli that Glen and my mother were getting married, I half expected a show of triumph from him, as my relationship with Jake was now over, but he surprised me, showing a genuine remorse for my pain. I'm not sure why that surprised me, maybe I had just forced my brain to stop thinking of him as the sweet, sensitive guy I used to love, and replaced him with the cold, unpredictable shell of himself that he became before getting help for his mental illness. Either way, the warmth of his smile thawed the ice in my heart a little as we stood there, not feeling the least bit awkward for the first time in months.

After busying myself with Adam's family's needs the rest of the evening, I felt a soft hand shaking my shoulder, and I remembered falling asleep in the waiting room, my knees curled up to my chest. I opened my eyes, finding a suit jacket draped over me, and Eli standing above me, looking apologetic.

"Um… Bullfrog is getting off from the station in about twenty minutes, and he offered to come get us both and take you home," he said, his hands in his pockets, "since you uh… didn't want to call your mom."

"Thanks," I half-yawned, "Is this yours?" I held out the jacket to him.

"Yeah, uh… sorry, you just looked cold," he said awkwardly, folding the jacket under his arm.

I stood up, stretching my arms.

"Any news on Adam?" I asked, nodding towards the hallway of hospital rooms.

"Not really, he's been sleeping. Mrs. Torres said a physical therapist will be in this afternoon to talk to him about his further recovery. He won't be happy to hear just how soon they expect him to start moving that shoulder, but apparently if you don't, you can lose a lot of your range of motion."

"Makes sense, I guess," I agreed, pulling my phone out of my pocket. No calls, no texts… It's like my parents didn't even know there had been a shooting. I stifled a cold laugh as I realized my mother now had more important things to occupy herself with than her daughter's safety, and all those things could probably be found in bed with Glen Martin.

"Something wrong?" Eli asked.

"Oh no, sorry… I... I just expected my mom to call and at least see if I was alive," I answered, more sarcastically than I should have.

"Maybe she just hasn't heard about the shooting," he suggested.

"And forget that it's…" I looked down at my phone again, "four o'clock in the morning, and I'm a full five hours past curfew? I'm sure she's been too busy with her new fiancé."

Eli stood there awkwardly, obviously at a loss for what to say.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that," I said quietly, looking down at my shoes.

"There's nothing wrong with speaking your mind, Clare," he shrugged.

"I know, I just… it's been a long day," I sighed, shifting my weight.

"Truer words haven't been spoken," Eli smirked, pulling his phone out of his back pocket as it chimed. "That would be my father. You ready?"

I nodded, and followed him out into the lobby. Bullfrog's car was waiting against the curb in front of the revolving glass doors.

I rolled over in my bed, finally allowing some of the daylight seeping under my curtains to enter my eyes. Unsurprisingly, my mother wasn't here when I got home this morning. I'm sure she and Glen took advantage of the fact that Jake fled to the cabin, I thought bitterly. My eyes glanced at the clock on my bedside table, telling me it was well past midday. Kicking my covers down, I reluctantly forced myself out of bed, stumbling across the carpet to the bathroom. Once my bladder was empty and my face was splashed with cold water, I decided to hobble downstairs in search of food for my grumbling stomach.

The first thing I noticed was a box of doughnuts on the table, with a note taped to the lid.

Clare,

You were still sleeping, so I didn't want to wake you. Glen and I are driving out to the cabin for the weekend. I'll be back Monday evening. Your father will be at the condo if you need anything. Groceries are in the fridge, and here is some extra money, in case you need it. Love you and have a good weekend!

-Mom

I glanced bitterly at the folded up bills sticking out underneath the doughnut box. I didn't want her guilt money. I didn't want her guilt doughnuts either, but my stomach was begging for sustenance, so I tossed her note in the garbage before helping myself to a chocolate covered ring of deliciousness.

After eating my feelings with a second and third doughnut, I allowed myself to look at my phone. I had a missed call with an accompanying voicemail from Alli, who was apparently loving her summer science program, no shocker there. I also had a text message from Eli, which surprised me.

Eli: Just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'm heading to the hospital with snacks for Adam around 5pm, you're welcome to tag along, just let me know.

I glanced at the microwave. It was just after four o'clock.

Clare: I'll tag along, if that's still okay. Can you pick me up?

I dashed back up the stairs and had my toothbrush between my lips when he replied.

Eli: Sure thing, quarter til?

Clare: See you then!

Half an hour later, I pulled my damp curls back into a tiny ponytail as I heard a car pull up outside. I took one last look in the mirror before sliding my feet into a pair of comfortable flats and heading downstairs. I grabbed a twenty out of my mom's guilt money, and opened the front door just as Eli's finger was poised over the doorbell.

"Hey," I greeted, stepping out and locking the door behind me.

"Good evening to you too, psychic network," he smirked, heading down the sidewalk. I saw Cece's smiling face behind the glass of the driver's side window. "Our chauffeur is excited to see you."

"Oh, I didn't realize…" I began, but caught myself. I had forgotten that Eli wouldn't be driving.

"Yeah, still haven't gotten back driving privileges," he joked, "Not that I don't deserve them," he added loudly to Cece.

Eli opened the backseat door for me before heading across to get in the passenger seat.

"All in due time, baby boy," Cece answered warmly. "Clare, it's so good to see you!"

"You too!" I smiled.

"Eli tells me you started writing for the school newspaper, how exciting!" Cece was a master of small talk, and it was as if she hadn't lost a second of time with me. We talked nonstop, all the way to the hospital before she dropped us off at the curb.

"Send Adam my love!" she called out after us.

"Yeah, yeah," Eli laughed, waving her off. "Sorry about that, she was so excited that you were coming."

"No, it was good to see her," I reassured him, following him into the revolving glass doors. We shuffled our feet awkwardly as the door spun slowly, finally gaining entry into the lobby. In silence, we walked to the elevators and then navigated the turning hallways to find Adam's room.

A pale, yet smiling Adam beamed at us as we entered.

"Speak of the devil," he laughed.

"In the flesh," Eli pretended to bow as I giggled lightly. Adam's company for the moment, also known as Drew and Katie said quick hellos and goodbyes and excused themselves from the room.

"How are you doing?" I asked, putting my purse down next one of the visitor's chairs. Eli began unpacking two grocery bags full of snacks.

"Much better now that I'm about to have some real food," Adam grinned, unable to keep his eyes off the bag of barbecue chips in Eli's hands.

"Did the physical therapist see you yet?" I continued, more worried about his physical health than his appetite.

"Yeah, she said that I would have to get started as soon as my wound is healed, no matter how sore it might still be," he replied, shrugging his good shoulder.

"How else will you continue the patented yawn move?" Eli laughed, mimicking the ever cliché movie theatre reach-around.

"Very funny, Casanova," Adam poked.

The early evening passed quickly as we laughed and joked, digging into Eli's stash of snacks, and greeting the various visitors, most of the Grade Ten class of Degrassi, it seemed. I smiled with each new visitor, seeing just how far Adam had come in the last year, from virtual unknown to one of the most well-liked members of our class. Finally as the night sky took over the daylight, Mrs. Torres came back in, and Eli and I knew we should be going. I hugged Adam gently before we left, still so relieved that he was going to walk away from this whole thing in one piece.

Eli had ducked out before me, and was in conversation on the phone down the hallway by the time I approached.

"It's your son! You know, the one you said you'd pick up from the hospital? Ring a bell? Call me when you get this!"

"Trouble?" I asked.

"Neither of my parents are answering their phones," he admitted, clearly frustrated, "And I don't have any more money on me for bus fare."

"It's okay, I've got you," I smiled, plucking my mom's guilt money from my pocket.

"No, no, no. A gentleman never lets h... a lady pay," he shook his head.

"Well this lady insists," I persisted.

Eli continued to grumble all the way to the bus stop, but both he and I knew there was no way we were walking home from the hospital, so there really was no other choice.

As we neared my stop, I was surprised when Eli stood up with me.

"This isn't your stop," I said, confused.

"My mother would kill me if I let you pay my fare, and I left you to walk five more blocks alone in the dark," he explained.

"I'm a big girl, Eli. I think I can walk home by myself," I rolled my eyes.

"I have no doubts about that, but just indulge me my manners. Please?" he continued, his face showing no hint of backing down.

"Very well," I sighed, carefully stepping down to disembark. We started to walk, silence falling between us.

"So..." Eli spoke.

"So..." I mimicked.

"Seen any good movies lately?" Eli asked, clearly reaching.

"Not really, Jake wasn't... I mean..."

"It's okay, Clare. You can mention him, you know," Eli chuckled, trying to ease to tension.

"You can understand how that's a little weird, right?"

"Of course, but you and I were friends once, if you remember..." he smirked.

"Yeah, I know... I guess Jake and I just weren't into the same movies, so no, I haven't seen any good ones lately... but I wanted to see Pan's Labyrinth at The Lyric last month. I heard it was amazing," I told him.

"You've never seen it before?"

"Nope."

"I'm shocked, Edwards. It's right up your alley. Foreign... a bit fantastical... a little gory though," he explained, lightly poking me with his elbow. "I have it on DVD, if you ever wanna borrow it."

"I'll take you up on that, actually," I grinned, enjoying our light conversation as we approached my house.

"Thanks for walking me home. You really didn't need to do that," I said again as I reached the top step to my front door.

"No problem, just don't tell Cece you paid the bus fare. I'm not kidding. She'll have my head on a stake," Eli laughed.

"Not a word," I chuckled.

"Uh... is nobody here?" Eli asked, noticing the lack of light inside the house.

"Oh, no, my mom and Glen went to the cabin for the weekend, and my dad hasn't exactly been doing his share guardian duties," I explained, rocking back on my heels.

"Ah, uh... well, you sure you're gonna be okay by yourself?" he asked, clearly unsure of whether to voice his thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm getting used to it. I'm alone here a lot now, but sometimes a little alone time can be beneficial, right?" I said, an unfamiliar nervousness creeping into my voice.

"Yeah, good chance to get some perspective. Great for writing too," he surmised. "Well, I'll see you... sometime, I guess."

I smiled as Eli turned to go. I reached around to unlock the door, before I thought of something.

"Eli!" I called out after him.

"Yeah?" he turned.

"Do you maybe wanna watch that movie tomorrow? If... if you're not busy or anything?" I asked.

"Yeah, that'd be great. I'll text you tomorrow, okay?" he smiled.

"Great, goodnight!" I waved.

"Goodnight, Clare."

I turned back to the door, letting myself in the empty house. Flicking on the hall light, I locked the door behind me and smiled to myself. Maybe this summer wouldn't be so bad after all. Eli was right, we were friends once. Maybe after everything that's happened, we could start afresh and get back to that friendship, slowly but surely.

I lay in bed that night feeling hopeful. Hopeful that somehow despite my recent misfortunes, some good could be found somewhere. I'd found my way back to Adam and Eli, who were once my best friends. Maybe this was meant to happen.