I'll Cover You

Author's Note: I don't own Degrassi nor any other literary or pop culture references. Words cannot express how sorry I am that I won't be able to continue on with "Picking Up The Pieces". I went through a pretty rough break-up right in the middle of that story, and I just don't feel like I can continue with it anymore. There were too many plot points that I had yet to get to that were things he and I had discussed at length. The bright side, I suppose, is that I'm going to start something new. As far as the actual episodes go, I cannot even begin to say how warm and fuzzy Umbrella part 2 made me feel. I've probably gone back and watched it at least eight times since it aired. Anyway, so this is completely new, separate from my other stories, though I stuck with another Rent song for the title. It picks up after Halo part 1. On with the show…

Chapter 1

Confession

As Eli looked around his cluttered room, he couldn't help but feel a weight settling down on his chest. It was as if the things he had kept to remind him of his fallen love were turning around and suffocating him. Small progress had been made, mainly thanks to Clare, but there was so much still to do that Eli couldn't help but see it as an impossible task. He continued to let his gaze scan the room, lost in thought.

"Eli?" a dainty voice called to him from across the room.

"Huh?" he turned, shaking his head, as if trying to rid himself of the helpless thoughts that tried to overtake him.

"We don't have to keep working on this today. We can go do something else for a while," Clare suggested, moving the half-empty box she held on her lap to the floor beside the bed.

"Yeah, let's get out of here for a bit. I need to clear my head," Eli answered.

With a small smile, Clare stood up from the bed, crossing the room carefully to follow Eli out of the room. Eli closed the door behind her, leaving it unlocked for the first time. Clare had suggested earlier that day that Eli put the lock away, hoping it would help him feel less confined, as if leaving the door accessible would make Eli feel like he had nothing to hide. A ragged breath escaped his chest as he stared at the empty latch, his hand absentmindedly reaching towards it. Before he felt the cold metal touch his skin, a warm hand crept into his.

"It's okay, Eli."

"I… I know, it's just…" he stammered before shaking his head, "Never mind, let's go."

Keeping her warm, dainty hand in his, they headed down the hall and continued outside.

"So, where to?" Eli asked as he opened the door to the hearse for Clare.

"I don't know, surprise me," she challenged as she sat down in the passenger seat. Eli closed the door behind her before crossing to the driver's side.

"Surprise you? You sure you can handle it?" he teased.

Clare mimicked the dramatic eye roll that he tended to give her from time to time.

"Very well," he replied with a lop-sided grin.

With a loud roar, the engine fired up, and they exited the driveway.

"So…" Clare began.

"So…" Eli smirked.

"What do you think about Adam's whole 'situation'?" she asked, making finger quotations.

"You mean with that Fiona girl?"

"Yeah, do you know her at all?"

"Not really, we don't have any classes together, so I've only seen her when Adam points her out, really," he answered.

"Do you think this whole elaborate party is going to do whatever it is Adam wants it to do?"

"Do I think she'll be impressed? Yes. Do I think she'll swoon? Possibly, judging by your reactions," he answered with a smirk. "Other than that? I don't really know."

"Me neither. I would feel better maybe if I knew anything about her. I mean, I know she's Declan's sister, and I know kind of how he is, but she's a complete stranger to me. I just..."

"You know her brother?" Eli interrupted.

Clare blushed.

"Oh, there's story! Look at your face! I thought I was the only one who could make you blush that color," Eli laughed.

"It's n..nothing, we just worked on the school musical together. I was in charge of props and he was the director," she answered, hiding her face and speaking in a rush.

Eli pulled her hand from her face, still laughing.

"Come on, that's not the whole story! If it was, you wouldn't be freaking out!"

"Ugh, if I tell you, will you promise to never mention it, ever again?" she demanded.

"Oh no way, if you can know all of my drama, then I get to know some of yours."

Clare let out a dramatic sigh.

"Fine, so when I was in grade 9, I borrowed some books from Alli," she began, still blushing furiously.

"What kind of books?" Eli prodded.

"The Fortnight series," she admitted, looking away. "And I read them, and I started writing fanfiction, based off the books."

"You were writing naughty vampire fanfiction?" Eli asked, genuinely surprised.

Clare blushed even more crimson, which Eli didn't think was possible up until that point.

"Go on…" he led.

"Well, so I was writing these stories with a particular person in mind. The male lead was based off of Declan Coyne. I… I had a bit of crush on him… from working on the musical."

"So that's it? You wrote dirty stories about him?" Eli inquired, stifling a chuckle.

"Not exactly… I started to have these dreams… about my stories, and I… well, I accidentally kissed Declan… on the neck…" she admitted before once again hiding her face in her hands.

Eli couldn't hold his laughter in anymore.

"Stop laughing! It was so embarrassing!" Clare exclaimed.

"Oh Clare, you've been holding out on me! Writing dirty stories, having wet dreams, and trying to seduce a Coyne, my, my, my…"

"I did not have wet dreams!"

"To-may-to, to-mah-to, Edwards," he smirked.

"Oh my God, I could die. You are never going to let me live it down, are you?"

"That depends. Do you still write your naughty stories?" Eli asked, a devilish twinkle in his eye.

Clare's breath caught in her throat as her face flushed yet again.

"That's a yes. In that case, I would like to read one of your stories. If you let me read one, I promise you, I will never again mention your 'history' with Monsieur Coyne," he challenged.

"I get to choose which one you read?" she asked, hoping.

"Oh no, I want something recent."

Clare's face betrayed her.

"That should mean I'm in for something very interesting, Edwards," he smirked, putting the hearse in park and stepping out the driver's side door. Clare looked around, having not realized they had arrived at their destination. She stepped out as Eli opened the door for her.

"Like it?" he asked.

"Eli, where are we?"

Hope you like it so far! Reviews are always lovely!