So, this is the alternate ending. If you liked the original ending, you might not wanna read any further. This is more what I always had in mind for this story.

Clare hugged her parents and smiled as her they congratulated her on the show.

"I'm sure you want to go out and celebrate" Clare's mom said with a knowing smile glancing at Reese who standing near the auditorium doors.

"Oh mom" Clare said following her mother's eye line, "We are just friends but we did plan on celebrating." Clare looked at her parents with her big blue eyes and gave the best puppy dogs eyes she could.

"Fine, your curfew can be extended by an hour and a half" Clare's dad said rolling his eyes.

"Oh thanks dad" Clare said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Just don't make us regret this" Clare's mother said sternly.

"I won't" Clare said with a smile before walking toward Reese.

"So, I was thinking about our discussion about relationships" Reese said pushing open the auditorium doors.

"You were thinking? That's new, I hope you didn't hurt yourself" she said jokingly as she walked through the doors in front of him.

"Ha ha" he retorted pushing her slightly. Clare stumbled and smiled at him before pushing him back.

"I'm serious. I was thinking maybe I should try to be more open to a monogamous, committed relationship rather than just hooking up" he said putting an arm around her shoulders.

"Oh really? And what brought on this sudden epiphany?" Clare said looking through her bag for something.

"Well, you" he said stopping them in front of the exit. Clare looked up from her bag and in to his brown eyes. He saw the confusion on her face and felt his hands getting sweaty. He cleared his throat and removed his arm from around her.

"Look, I like you Clare and I want to be more than friends with you" he said quickly. Clare didn't say anything but just looked at him. "I know you're scared given everything that happened between you and Eli but I think we should give this a chance" he said softly taking her hands in his own. "I don't know Reese" she replied in a small voice. Reese sighed heavily and dropped her hands. "I'm not going to lie and say this won't change things or that it will always be easy. What I will say is that it's worth trying"

"Reese, I-" Clare was interrupted by someone clearing their throat.

Reese and Clare turned only to face to face Eli and Adam. Adam looked between Clare and Eli nervously.

"Well, this is awkward" Adam said trying to cut some of the tension.

"Hey Clare" Eli said stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Eli" Clare said looking down at the ground.

"Yeah, this is really stimulating conversation but me and Clare were actually talking, so why don't you get lost" Reese said impatiently while glaring at Eli. Eli scoffed and took a step forward towards the pair.

"Actually, I wanted to talk to Clare" Eli said shifting his gaze to the quiet girl standing in front of him.

"Eli, I'm not sure-" Adam started but was cut off.

"Okay" Everyone turned to face the girl holding herself looking completely nervous and uncomfortable. Reese stepped closer to her and put a hand on her arm.

"Are you sure?" he asked his voice full of concern.

She nodded and said "I need to do this." Reese nodded and turned towards the exit.

"I'll be right outside if you need me" he said glaring at Eli. Clare nodded and pointed to the door.

"You can go too, Adam. This will only take a couple of minutes" Eli said turning to Adam.

"I don't think this is a good idea dude" Adam whispered moving to face Eli.

"Look, this is the first time in months that she is even looking at me. I got to do this. I need this" Eli said determinedly. Adam shook his head and turned to look at Clare before looking back at his friend.

"Alright, I'll be outside" he said tiredly patting Eli's shoulder as he turned and walked out. Clare watched as Adam left and bit her lip softly, a nervous habit she had.

"So" Eli said awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"So" Clare retorted before they fell in to an uncomfortable silence. Eli looked at her and chuckled. Clare looked at him in confusion.

"What's so funny?" Eli shook his head and took a step closer to her.

"I was just thinking how only a few months ago we could've talked about anything. Awkward silences never existed with us" he said pointing between them.

"Yeah, well things change. Betrayal usually has that effect" Clare stated looking in to his eyes. Eli's face fell as he nodded in agreement.

"I should get going" Clare said putting her arms down and turning towards the exit.

"No wait" Eli said grasping her wrist. Her glances shifted between his hand on her and the sadness in his eyes. She turned to him and he released her.

"What Eli? What is it that you need to tell me?" she said looking in to his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I am just so sorry for hurting you the way I did Clare" he said putting his hands back in his pockets.

"I know this already. It doesn't change anything. You betrayed me and all I think about is how I can never look at you the same. I just want to know why or how. I mean how could you do that to me?" she asked stepping closer to him with each word. "Me, the girl who constantly stood by you; defended you; supported you; loved you wholeheartedly. Just tell me how you could throw it all away." She said trying to keep her voice from cracking. "Why wasn't I enough?" she asked standing face to face with the boy who had tears in his eyes.

"You were way more than enough Clare" he stated. "I just, I was an idiot. I was completely in love with you and I probably always will be but I fucked up. When I told you I would wait until you were ready, I meant it but doesn't mean all those feelings just went away" he started awkwardly. "And then she came in to the picture and was constantly throwing herself at me, I just stopped thinking. I wasn't thinking about how it would all blow up in my face or what would happen if you found out. Hell, I wasn't even thinking about her. I was just being a selfish asshole. After it happened, I was disgusted with myself and I regretted more than anything in my life. I wasn't going to tell you because I didn't want to lose you but then you looked at me with those big blue eyes of yours and the guilt got to me" he said softly.

Clare had tears rolling down her cheeks but she didn't attempt to wipe them away. "I will never get over how I hurt you and I know I don't deserve it but please forgive me" he said pathetically.

"Fine you're forgiven" Clare said wiping away her tears. Eli looked at her curiously.

"What" he asked stupidly.

"You made a stupid mistake that you regret. It's not the first and I'm sure it won't be the last" she said calmly. Eli looked at her in disbelief and opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it again. Clare looked at him and couldn't help but be slightly amused by his reaction.

"I was so hurt and destroyed by what you did but I've had time to think. Hating you is giving you more thought and emotion than you deserve. As much as I didn't think it was going to be possible, I've moved on. So while you'll always remember me and what you lost, I'll think of what I gained" she said confidently.

"And what's that" Eli choked out bitterly.

"A new perspective and once I walk out those doors, a new boyfriend" she said with a small smile. Eli glared at her as his feelings of sadness were slowly overtaken by those of jealousy and bitterness.

"Goodbye Eli" Clare said with an air of finality before turning and walking out the Degrassi doors. She spotted Reese looking down at the ground with his hands in his pockets. When he looked up and they made eye contact, she couldn't help the smile that came across her features. They walked towards each other and once face to face, Clare pulled him in for a hug. He put arms around her waist and chuckled softly.

"So, I guess everything went well" he said softly. Clare pulled back and smiled.

"Yeah, I think I can finally say that chapter of my life is done"

"Hmm and where does that leave us?" he asked stepping back and putting his arm around her shoulders as they began walking.

"You were saying something about being more than friends" she said cheekily.

He stopped them and turned to her and she gently pulled him down before kissing him gently on the lips. She pulled back and smiled feeling lighter and happier than she had in months.

*** So, I'm not exactly sure about the ending but there it is. This is 100% done now