Title: The Hive

Rating: M

Chapter: 1

Fandom: Degrassi: The Next Generation

Summary: Esme is back at school after spending the summer in rehab. Between no longer being Queen Bee and troubles at home, this is going to be struggle unlike any other.

Comments: I about passed out when I found out Degrassi Next Class got cancelled because now I'll never get to find out the rest of Esme's story. So, I'm going to write it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the idea.

Esme sighed in relief as she climbed out of her car. She tugged her messenger bag over her shoulder and squinted, surprised that sun could get even brighter outside of her car. She started up to the front steps, not looking for anyone.

She was just glad to be somewhere that wasn't rehab, or the "mental health facility" as her doctor and everyone else had called it. They didn't like the word "rehab". It had negative connotations and the people working in public relations would have a field day if their center reflected the horror-esque stories of the word "rehab".

And now, even after being home for only three days, she just wanted to get away from her father and his new girlfriend he had picked up over the summer. Her name was Tara. Tara had spent the last three days reminding Esme how much of a burden she was. How grateful she should be that her father hadn't acquired enough money to ship her away to boarding school, or even military school.

"Esme."

Just as she had reached the top of the stairs, Esme heard her name. Her, now, shoulder length curls flew around her head as she turned to face the person beckoning her. She pushed her sunglasses up into her hair and forced herself to smile. "Hey Hollingsworth."

"You're back." Esme could barely hear Frankie's whisper. Her perfect pink lips hung open in disbelief as she looked Esme up and down.

"I love your hair," Lola chirped from one side of Frankie. Shay was on the other.

Esme looked at Lola and pursed her red painted lips into a smile. "Thank you," she struggled to say. Her therapist had told her to try being more respectful and less judgmental, especially when people were being nice to her.

"I'm glad you're back," Frankie finally uttered, her voice wavering.

Esme smirked, glancing at the Degrassi sign beside her. "It's great to be back." She turned back to the doors and walked inside without another word.

She started looking for her locker and reading her schedule assignment when she heard her name again. She turned around and sighed heavily in annoyance as Principal Simpson walked over, followed by a young man who looked to be about thirty. She shoved her sunglasses into her bag to keep herself preoccupied. She looked up when they were suddenly standing in front of her. "Principal Simpson."

"Miss Song. This is Mister Del Rossi. He's our new school counselor," Mister Simpson introduced, gesturing to Mister Del Rossi. "He has been updated on your recent psych evaluation by your doctor and will be your new best friend this year." He looked between the two. "I suggest you get familiar with each other." With that, he walked away to go back to the rest of his first day duties.

Esme pursed her lips together and sighed. "Great."

"It's nice finally getting to put a face to the name," Mister Del Rossi spoke up finally, sounding rather pleasant. Esme was surprised he actually had a voice, with how much the principal had dominated the conversation so far. "I've been reading your file and I'd like to talk to you, in my office."

Esme nodded, agreeing quietly, "Yeah. Of course."

She followed the newest staff member to his office, which had yet to have a name plate on it. She sat down on the couch across from his desk. He didn't sit down at his desk. He picked up her file off his desk and sat down in the chair next to the couch.

"So, Esme. I see you were just released," the school counselor paused to read her forms, "Friday." He looked up at her, asking, "How is it being back home?"

"It's fine, Sir," Esme replied with a shrug. The bell rang, signaling that first period had begun. She looked at the closed door and pointed. "Should I be in class?"

Mister Del Rossi shook his head, assuring, "It's alright. I'll sign you off." He paused a minute, informing, "In fact, anytime you're feeling overwhelmed or like you need someone to talk to, you are more than welcome to come here to talk. Or even, just take a break. I'll write you a pass and sign some forms."

Esme furrowed her brow, wincing. "I'm that crazy, huh?"

He cleared his throat, shaking his head, "Crazy is not a word I prefer you using. I don't think your doctor would approve of it either."

"But I am. Aren't I?" Esme asked, tilting her head to the side with a smirk. "I mean, the principal took time before classes even start on the first day to introduce you to me and you pull me into your office to keep me from going to class." She shook her head, shrugging, "Why would that happen if I weren't a liability?"

"You are not a liability, Esme," he assured, shifting in his chair so he sat up straighter. "You were not well for a long time. We all just want to make sure you're feeling well."

Esme took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "Can I please just go to class?" she whispered, through with talking about her problems.

Mister Del Rossi nodded, getting up to get a pad of paper from his desk. "Yeah. Let me write you a pass." He scribbled some words down on a small sheet of yellow paper and passed it to her.

Esme snatched it from him and stood abruptly, walking out of the room.

Esme's day didn't get much better after leaving the school counselor's office. If anything, hearing the whispers during classes and in between periods in the halls made it worse. She almost wished someone would say something to her face, so she could combat the rumors, but the rehab staff had told her not to be so bellicose towards others. Even if they were being assholes behind her back.

Esme was almost excited that the first day was an accelerated day so that she could leave sooner. But then, she would have to return to the apartment she lived in.

Esme packed her assignments for the next day into her bag before slamming the locker shut.

She was hoping to make it outside without being acknowledged, but that must have been too much to ask of the universe.

"Hey Easy Esme."

Esme stopped walking and found Hunter propped up against a locker, his foot kicked up behind him. Baaz stood beside him. "Can I help you?" she asked, already annoyed by the carnivorous smirk on his face.

"I was just telling Baaz here about your escapees with my sister. Or should I say, sexscpees?" Hunter taunted, elbowing his friend lightly in the side. Baaz looked uncomfortable, obviously more afraid of Esme than Hunter, but that didn't stop the youngest Hollingsworth boy from continuing. "I guess, Frankie's not the only Hollingsworth you've fucked either, huh? I almost forgot you whored around with my brother for a while until you almost killed him." He let out a belly heavy laugh. "I'd ask you if you would want to fool around with the last of the Hollingsworth kids, but you'd probably have to add someone else to the mix or get me high on horse tranquilizer."

"Dude," Baaz hissed in disgust, but he didn't seem to want to defend Esme.

Esme couldn't keep it in anymore and she jumped forward, tackling Hunter to the ground. Baaz jumped back as far as he could from them. Esme scratched at the side of Hunter's face before he caught her wrists in each of his hands.

"This must be foreplay for you, huh?" He taunted as he took control, rolling them over so he now dominated their fight.

"Get off of me!" Esme shouted, wriggling beneath him to escape.

"Get you off?" Hunter taunted with a laugh. "I bet you'd like that."

"Hunter!"

Hunter looked up and found bunches of students surrounding him and Esme, specifically his twin sister and her friends.

"Mister Hollingsworth." A pair of hands grabbed him by the back of his shirt and tugged him off Esme. He growled when he realized it was a social studies teacher, Mister Perino. Perino leaned over and helped Esme off her back. "Of course, Miss Song." He looked between the two of them, honestly wondering how he always got involved with this kind of situation. "Principal's office. Now!" he barked.

Esme heaved for air, closing her eyes. And, making sure she was several steps behind Hunter, followed him to office.

When they arrived at the front office, the principal was talking with several other staff members outside his door. He sighed heavily at the sight of Hunter, followed by Esme and then Mister Perino. "What happened?" he asked.

"Go," Perino ordered the two students into the office before explaining the situation quietly to the principal.

Esme sat uncomfortably in one of the chairs across from the desk. Hunter stood, leaning against the window as they waited for adult supervision.

"My offer still stands," Hunter spoke up while they were alone. "I would gladly have my sister's sloppy secon-" Before the words could leave his mouth, he was met with Esme's hand against his cheek with a resounding slap.

"Miss Song!" This time Mister Perino was peeling her away from Hunter.

"I didn't even fucking sleep with your sister!" Esme screamed, her voice breaking as her eyes filled with tears.

"Whoa. Whoa. Whoa," Mister Simpson interjected, stepping between Hunter and Esme so they couldn't get physical again. "Slow down. Back up."

Perino forced Esme to sit down. She dropped her head in embarrassment, struggling to keep from crying.

Simpson forced Hunter into the furthest seat from Esme. He sat down on the edge of his desk in front of two of his students. "What is going on? Start from the beginning."

"I was just flirting," Hunter replied, holding his hands up defensively.

"You were not," Esme snapped, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her denim jacket.

Perino cleared his throat, stating, "Pinning a girl to the floor and speaking obscenities to her is not innocent flirting, Mister Hollingsworth." He looked from the students to his colleague. "It's harassment, Archie."

The principal rubbed at his eyes from the stress of the situation. "Hunter, I will be calling your parents. And for the next three weeks, you will be in in-school suspension."

"Suspension?" Hunter shouted, jumping up from his chair.

"In-school?" Esme questioned, not wanting to see Hunter anytime soon.

"Esme, I'd like to you to go talk with Mister Del Rossi. Immediately. He and I will discuss any consequences for you after you talk." He rounded his desk to pick up his phone and dialed a number to alert the counselor she was on her way.

Perino escorted Esme around the corner to another office. The office she had been in that morning. He kept quiet until he walked into the room. "Hey Marco," he greeted.

Marco forced a smile. "Hey Tom." He got up from his desk. "Welcome back, Esme." He nodded, assuring his teacher turned colleague that they would be okay. Once the door was closed and Esme was sitting back on the couch, Marco pulled out a bag from a cabinet.

"Are you hungry?"

Esme lifted her head from her hands and shook her head. Although her stomach was aching from hunger. She just wanted to go home. Maybe not home, but at least, away from Degrassi.

Marco pulled out a small plastic wrapper and held it out to her. "It's just chocolate."

Esme contemplated about another half minute before she reached out for the candy. She unwrapped it and put it in her mouth, but the sugar just left her hungrier and on edge.

Mister Del Rossi sat down at the chair again. He waited for Esme to finish chewing on the chocolate before he spoke again. "Do you want to talk about what happened with Hunter?" he asked, his tone gentle, but prying.

Esme bit down on her lips, causing her lipstick to flake. "I didn't start it," she whispered. "I wasn't being an attention seeker."

Marco shook his head, assuring, "No one is accusing you of that." He reached over to his desk and tugged a tissue from the cardboard Kleenex box. He held it out to her and she accepted, smearing her lipstick further. "Why would you think you're being an attention seeker?"

Esme shrugged, wadding up the tissue in her hand. "Because I am." She stared at the carpet, feeling overwhelmed by the anger bubbling in her stomach. She wanted to throw up. She wanted to scream. She wanted to destroy everything around her. But mostly, she just wanted to disappear.

"Is that what Hunter said?"

Esme felt something snap at how calm the school counselor sounded. She stood up, collecting her bag, and shook her head. "Fuck him. I don't care what he says. He's just a delinquent piece of shit." She opened the door and stormed out of the office.

"Esme!"

Even hearing him call out didn't stop her from waltzing out of the office. She took deep breaths until her heartrate slowed down and headed towards the nearest exit to get away.