Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi

Every time she closed her eyes, she was back in the car in the parking lot. It was like she could not break free. There was no where to run. She was trapped in her own head. There were rare moments where she was able to enjoy her boyfriend's touch, but most time she seemed to recoil away from any touch. Her body was poisoned; she was tainted. Touch burned her.

"You've been distant," Eli whispered, concern lacing his voice.

She had said she was all in, and now she disappointing him. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Is something wrong?"

Yes. "No,"

Eli frowned, trying to read her. He sighed softly. "You said you were all in,"

"And I am," she replied.

Eli sighed but did not argue any further; arguing with Clare would turn into a pointless, never ending debate.

"Eli," when he looked at her, she whispered, "just so you know, you did nothing wrong."

He frowned, confused. If he did nothing wrong, why was she being so distant?

"I-I don't know how to say this…I got fired from the interpreter," she whispered.

He asked, shocked, "What? Why?"

"Asher…he-he" she said.

"Asher what, baby?"

"He kissed me on the night we wrote the article about Romeo and Jules," Clare whispered, rubbing her arm.

Eli felt his stomach drop.

"Alli told me to go to Ms. Oh but I thought I could handle it…he said he was sorry and I believed him. But then he tried again," her voice was shaky.

Eli did not like where this seemed to be heading. "He didn't rape you, did he?"

Clare shook her head, her curls bouncing. "He didn't get the chance to go that far. I managed to escape."

Eli let out a breath he had not been aware he was holding. Up until this moment, it felt like a fist was squeezing his heart. Yes, he was sadden that his girlfriend was sexually harassed, he was glad that that bastard had not stolen her purity.

He looked up to her eyes and said with sureness as he wrapped his arms around her, bringing her close, "We'll get through this. Together."

She did not flinch away. She lay her head on his chest and nodded; she believed him.