Before you hate me, I am a HUGE Eclare fan (as probably 95% of Degrassi viewers are) but I was bored and wanted to write a little plotline for Drew and Clare. If you don't like it, then don't read it (it's as simple as that). But I hope you do like it! Anyway for those who haven't stopped reading this (thank you by the way!) the story will take place after "All Falls Down". Just pretend Simpson never cracked and exploded to a point where he's making all these "rules" (the dress code, no dance, no clubs, etc…). Alright, well hope you like it! (Things will be going a little slow, I may warn you.)

(Clare's POV)

I hate having those restless nights. Second semester starts tomorrow and I haven't talked to Eli yet ever since the dance. He hasn't been returning my calls throughout this whole break. After long thought at Grandma's house, I realized the last two dances I've attended reflect each other. The beach-themed dance I went to last year was when I was KC. I remember how worried I was of losing him when he simply checked out Jenna. I was right on that one. Now the most recent dance I went to was with Fitz/Eli. That worried feeling came back when I thought I was going to lose Eli when Fitz had that knife. Except, the worried feeling at the beach dance is nothing compared to the most recent one.

The moments we shared together flashed right before my eyes as I thought Eli was gone.

I'm not the one to usually admit this but I screwed up, big time. Saying "I can't be with you" to the guy I WANT TO BE WITH was a huge mistake. Eli's tactic against bullies had a small reason to why I broke up with him. The big reason is, really, I never want to have the feeling of thinking I lost him again. I thought breaking it off would make things easier for me. Boy, am I wrong. I think I officially lost him, and it's my fault.

Beep Beep. Text message? At this time of night? Who in their right mind would…

It was Eli. Eli finally replied back! Don't just look at the phone, open it!

"My locker tomorrow before school starts? We need to talk." I replied with an "ok" with a smiley face to make things sound less tense. He's not mad at me! I haven't lost him, yet. Soon we'll be kissing and having our first official date. I really am a worrier. All I need is to be hopeful and tomorrow will be great.

I felt confident walking to Eli's locker. Hopefully, he is at his locker. I don't mind waiting, though. Luckily he was at his locker. He seemed to be standing there listening to his MP3 player. Now I feel bad, he was waiting for me. Was it just me or did he look extra cute in his dark jeans today?

"Hey Eli," I greeted in a friendlier tone.

"You're late. I didn't know your early meant making me wait an hour for you," Eli smirked after he said that. If Eli is using his usual sarcastic comments then I know things between us are good.

"Well, I'm sorry. Biking here takes a little more time than driving a hearse," I fired, jokingly, back. A whoof of Eli lingered around my nose. Why did he smell like perfume?

"How was the trip to Granny's house, little red?" That was a cute comment considering I am wearing a red cardigan.

"Good. And it got me thinking A LOT. It made me realize how big of a mistake it was to break up with you," I had to be honest with him or else I could've been stalling until the bell rang. His vibrant face fell and he looked down, all awkward. Uh oh. This can't be good.

"Look, Clare. About that…" his voice trailed off. Was it that bad?

"What's wrong Eli?" Here it comes. He's going to say he doesn't want to be with me because I'm a terrible person who doesn't understand him.

"I met someone." WHAT? I felt like crying at that point. The second we were off, he decides to run into someone else's arms. So much for thinking we'd get back together. Ali was right all along, he would meet someone during winter break.

"Oh," was all I could cough out.

"I met her at a vintage record store. We started talking and things happened," Like lip-locking, "And now we're going out. I'm really sorry, Clare. I feel like a jerk and I understand if you never want to talk to. I would like to be friends, though." You leave me for some music hippie and you expect me to just be friends with you? I'm surprised I'm not strangling you at this point! NO I AM NOT GOING TO BE YOUR FRIEND! What reason would I be friends with you after this? Then I thought about it and there was one reason I have to be friends with Eli.

Adam.

"We were good friends before. I don't see why we can't be friends now," Because friends don't let their tongues collide.

"Cool. See you in English," Eli calmly replied as he started to turn around.

"Wait, you're not going to tell me the lucky girl's name?" I kept in my rage as much as possible. I should at least know who "she" is if we're going to be friends.

"Sarah. She's in our English class," he gave his one and only crooked smile as he walked away.

Of course it was Sarah from our English class. She had big brown eyes, a long and beautiful raven mane, and has the same taste in clothes as Eli. I never had anything against her but now that might change.

Be the bigger person.

I had to let our past go, for the sake of Adam. It wouldn't be right to Adam that two of his close friends aren't talking because one of them couldn't forgive the other. It was already unfair enough when he played third wheel. I remember when KC and I broke up and the whole friendship circle broke apart. I couldn't let it happen again. If Jenna and I can be friends after all that, then I can fake being "buddy-buddy" Clare until I really get over Eli. You can do this.