Hello, SincerelyDegrassi here . I hope you guys liked the last chapter. There is a method to my madness, I swear.

This is very AU.

Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or any of its characters; I do in fact own a New York Regents Living Environment review book I should be studying right now.

Chapter 3

"That's all that happened?" Alli asked in disbelief "No goodnight kiss?"

"No Alli, we're not dating." I assured her. We were sitting in the Media Immersions lab during our lunch. Alli was helping me some last minute studying for my Trig test.

"But you want to be dating him" Alli said. Nothing got past her.

"It's more complicated than that, Alli"

"No it's not, you like him, he likes you, it isn't as dramatic as you're making it"

"Whether it's that simple or not, I've messed things up already anyway." I sighed.

"Hey, if it's meant to be, it'll happen. Don't worry Clare, I'm here for you."

Then Eli walked into the room.

"How could you leave me in that cafeteria alone with those people whose IQ probably aren't even higher than Paris Hilton's." Eli said with a chuckle.

"Haha sorry, last minute cramming session" I said nervously

"Actually, I'm sick of studying, I'm going to go eat with Jenna, toodles" and she was out the door before I even had a chance to reply.

Real subtle Alli.

Eli and I were quiet for a minute or so but then he sat in the chair next to me.

"So what song did you decide on for your audition?" He asked me.

"Yeah… about that I was thinking I don't-"

"You are auditioning." Eli cut me off "I'm forcing you too! You heard Holly J last night, you have a good shot!" He cut me off.

Why was he trying so hard to get me to audition?

"Well I didn't prepare a song, so" I replied.

I felt bad letting him down, but I just couldn't do it. Singing up there in front of the whole school is different then singing in front of strangers.

I probably wouldn't get a part anyway. The only reason Holly J told me that yesterday was to make me feel better, Eli really was the crowd pleaser and she didn't want me to feel left out. The only reason I really was going to do it was so that I could spend some time with Eli,

"Well we got 20 minutes left in Lunch so we better hurry up and practice." He explained as he took my hand and dragged me to the music room.

"Okay, so the thing we have to remember for auditions is to pick a song that doesn't stray too far from the character you're auditioning for. Now if you take my advice I think you should stick to Sandy. My next piece of advice is to not pick a song from the musical you're auditioning for. Now, what musicals do you know?" He said flipped through the teacher's music for a Broadway book then taking a seat behind the piano.

"Um I don't know, Wicked, Sound Of Music, Annie, Phantom of the Opera, Wizard of Oz, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, and The Music Man, I think."

"Another piece of advice, stay away from Wicked and Phantom of the Opera for auditions. Over played, over done."

"Hmmm…" He said as he was flipping through the book "you're a soprano right?"

"Yeah, I guess so?" I answered with uncertainty. I had taken voice lessons when I was younger but I didn't remember much.

"Have you ever seen The Little Mermaid?" He asked me.

"I only watched it every night from ages 7 to 9" I said with a chuckle and sat next to him on the piano bench, a daring move on my part. We hadn't been this close since Myrtle Beach. I subtly took in his scent. I missed this so much.

"Good, then you should know this one by heart" he responded

He started playing the song and I would've thought he had been playing it for weeks, if I hadn't known any better because he played every note perfect. I wasn't really surprised though, he managed to do everything perfectly.

I instantly recognized the music as "Part of Your World." I was a little uncomfortable at first, singing alone in front of Eli, but he told me there was no pressure. We ran the song a few times and I began to become really comfortable with him.

"You are ready, young grasshopper" he said with a straight face, making it even funnier. I spent 15 minutes of rehearsing with Eli. In those 15 minutes I fell even harder for him.

But the way I was falling for him now was completely different from what I felt for him during the summer. During the summer, it was just about being together and having fun, but if we dated now, it would be so much more than that. It would be about our emotions and love, I don't know if I could handle that.

"What song are you singing for your audition, Eli?" I asked out of curiosity.

"'Close Every Door' from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" he responded "Do you want to hear some of it?"

I nodded. Eli is the most talented person I know. His voice is so pure and real.

Once he started singing I never wanted it to stop. It pulled me into a fantasy world of just me and Eli. His voice is so meaningful and deep. Even though he was singing it, we both got lost in the song. I then noticed that he had been looking into my eyes the whole time he was singing, and I blushed.

"Wow, Eli" were the only words I could muster once he was finished singing.

"Think I got a shot?" He said with a smirk.

"Of course you do! You have more talent then everyone at this school put together!" I told him, but he probably already knew that but was too modest to admit it.

We sat on the piano bench quiet for a few minutes before he spoke up.

"You have pretty eyes, Clare" I silently gasped not sure how to respond.

"Thanks" I said as I looked down trying to hide the fact that my face was blushing. But then he picked up my chin so I was looking into his eyes.

"You're cute when you blush" he said, causing me to blush more, but I couldn't look away because he was still holding my chin.

But then I noticed our proximity. We were now closer than before and the only thing on my mind was kissing him. I couldn't though, could I? But I wanted to so bad.

It was the classic battle between head and heart. Then I saw him lean in a little and knew this was right. Our lips were about to meet- BRRRNGG

Lunch was over. He let go of his hold on my chin and we both got our things and started out the door.

Like nothing happened.

"I will see you at auditions, young lady, no ifs, ands, or buts!" He said mockingly

"Yes, sir!" I said sticking my tongue out at him and giggling.

"Clare, you're shaking" Eli told me. We were standing outside the auditorium. Eli was trying to calm me down but I was so nervous.

What if I forget the words? What if my voice cracks? What if they all laugh at me?

"I wouldn't be making you do this if I didn't believe you could do it. C'mon Clare, you got this!" he reassured me.

For some reason that gave me the confidence I needed to do this.

"So how does this work? Do we audition in front of everyone?" I said suddenly reluctant because I noticed how many people were standing around us.

"Let's ask Holly J" as he said as he intertwined our hands and ran to Holly J exiting the auditorium.

"Next ones up!" He yelled to all of the students in the hallway and she turned to go back into the auditorium.

"Wait! Holly J!" Eli said getting her attention.

"Oh thank God you guys came. I don't know what we would have done without you guys. Things are terrible in there" She said with a sigh of relief.

"I'm not really sure how this works; do we have to audition in front of everyone?" I asked worriedly.

"No, go pick up the forms on the table over there, hand it in to Mr. Simpson and when it's your turn you'll go in in groups of 2 or 3. Don't be nervous, I'm depending on you guys." She said then turned back to go on with the auditions.

Me and Eli walked over to Mr. Simpson, collected the forms, sat against the wall, and started filling them out.

I didn't know Eli played Harold Hill in The Music Man. He's also been in The Sound of Music, Once on This Island, Fiddler On The Roof and some more that I wasn't familiar with?

I had no experience besides church choir. What if I let everyone down? I didn't tell Eli I was starting to worry again but I think he noticed. We got up to hand in our forms when we ran into Jenna.

"ELIJAH! I'm so glad you're doing the musical! We should audition together!" Jenna said with her annoying voice that made me cringe.

"Actually, Jenna, I'm auditioning with Clare" Eli said and we walked away.

I mentally sighed thankful he didn't offer for the 3 of us to audition. We went back to sit against the wall while we waited for our turn.

"So how many shows have you been in, Mr. Harold Hill?" I asked him.

"Ah you saw that. It doesn't matter how many I've been in, Clare. You're going to do great and you know it." I'm surprised he isn't totally over me and my insecurities.

"Thank you, Eli. Thank you for helping me, thank you for auditioning with me, thank you for putting up with me." I told him.

"You're welcome Clare; all of it is worth it, as long as I get to spend time with you. You really don't give yourself enough credit; you're far more amazing than you think you are." He said to me and I blushed. I hate that he made me do that, but I loved it at the same time, knowing that he loved to see my blush.

"Eli James and Clare Edwards!" I heard Holly J yell. Eli stood up quickly and grabbed my hand to help me up. We ran to the aud doors Eli's hand still in mine. We saw Jenna and Chantay walk out of the audition room. Jenna looked a little worried until she noticed us then smiled.

"Oh my gosh, guys! You're going to do great, it's so easy. I hope I get a good part, but rumor is that you guys got it in the bag. Well good luck!" She said in a really high pitched perky voice that I knew was fake.

When she started to walk away she said "You don't have a chance Edwards, with the musical or the guy" subtly in my ear so Eli wouldn't notice.

I was in shock, but it made me more driven to try my best and kick her butt. Eli and I walked into the aud and I let go of his hand when we got in front of the panel.

There was Mrs. Dawes, the director, Holly J, the assistant director, and Sav, in charge of the music.

"Aw Mr. James, Ms. Edwards, I'm so excited you two are trying out, Holly J here told me how committed you too are. Of course, I expect nothing less coming from my two best students. So who's up first?" Mrs. Dawes asked.

I looked at Eli and slowly shook my head no and he responded that he would go first.

"Okay, you can have a seat over here, Clare, pointing to a seat in the front row. I took a seat and let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Just relax, and listen to Eli sing, I instructed myself.

He looked so majestic up there. Once he started singing I immediately regretted letting him go first, I mean, how could I ever follow that?

He was hitting every note perfectly. I looked back to see how Mrs. Dawes was reacting to it, and she looked exactly how I did the first time I head him sing, in awe.

When he finished we all clapped for him and he came down and took a seat next to me.

"Very nice, Eli, Clare? You're turn." Mrs. Dawes said.

I then remembered that I had to go up there and sing. I shouldn't have had been listening so carefully to Eli and should have focused on running the lyrics in my head.

"Good luck, I believe in you" Eli whispered and that gave me the strength to walk onto the stage. I told the directors I would be singing "Part of Your World" and they seemed to look delighted.

I don't know how it happened, but the song just started coming out of my mouth. I wasn't thinking but I just knew it. I forgot about all the directors and people judging me and just imagined it was only me and Eli in there. I belted out the lyrics and I only looked at Eli.

When I was done I walked off the stage and met up with Eli who was standing up ready to leave the auditorium. We said thank you and walked out with Holly J.

"HJ was right, they're both in this for the long run" I overheard Sav say to Mrs. Dawes probably thinking we were out of ear shot. I smiled slightly and looked up at Eli who heard the same thing and gave my hand a squeeze.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed my last chapter and anyone, please review this!