DISCLAIMER: Sadly, I do not own Degrassi. If I did, it would not have taken the horrible turn that it did circa season 7 with the random insertion of unnecessary new characters. ::sigh:: I digress!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Speaking of when the series saw better days, this fic takes place in Season 4 after the events in "Time Stands Still" and "Back in Black" but not really any further than that. I think I've been trying to make this happen since '07, but it's just gotten lost in the madness, so hopefully it was worth reviving!

Ashley Kerwin hated essays. Poetry was an art form. Music, a cinch, but trying to put words into restrictive academic form seemed to be nothing short of torture. She figured that Independent Study was a better time than never to try and tackle her comparative essay for English class, but she certainly wasn't complaining when a pleasant interruption popped up on the computer screen.

e_nash: guess what ur fave journalist found out?

Ashley smiled at Ellie, who was sitting at the computer directly across from her, and replied via instant message:

a_kerwin: Haha. What's that?

e_nash: locker rooms are the last places the janitors lock up at nite.

a_kerwin: *raises eyebrow* Oh really? What source is this?

e_nash: ok don't gag but i found out via manny during the spirit squad int. i did yesterday after school. long story.

a_kerwin: Hah. No gagging. I'm over Craig, over her, and ALL over this new locker room tip ;)

Ellie, whose smile couldn't be slapped off her face at this point, was starting to type a response when she slightly jumped at Ashley's foot rubbing up against her own under the computer table. She raised her eyebrows at Ash and resumed clicking away.

e_nash: ok way to draw attention to us not being studious,best friend-and-nothing-more!

e_nash: lol :-p

a_kerwin: Haha. Sorry. I'll behave.

e_nash: now i didn't say u had to behave.

e_nash: ;)

Ashley leaned back in her computer chair so that all Ellie could see was her scheming eyes from over the monitor, and as Ash arched her back in a mock-stretch, she inched her leg even further up Ellie's, nearing her inner thigh. When Ellie practically audibly gasped, Ashley couldn't restrain herself from laughing out loud, interrupting the otherwise quiet study hall.

Mr. Simpson peered from around his laptop at his desk. "Wanna share the punch line with the rest of the class, Ashley?"

Ashley quickly minimized she and Ellie's conversation. "Uh, no. Sorry, just reading a funny play for English," she lied so obviously and unapologetically.

"Ahh, I see, well, just type back to Ellie and tell her to practice her stand up outside of study hall so that everyone else can get some learning in, okay?" he said with a half-smile as he got back to what he was doing.

e_nash: nice going loser. lol.

a_kerwin: Me? You're the one that had me laughing with your "stand up." Hahaha. :-p

e_nash: what can i say i'm a regular comedian...

e_nash: sooo. after school. u in?

a_kerwin: Well, what about spirit squad? Don't they use the locker room?

e_nash: no practice on fridays. i checked.

a_:kerwin Ooh, sweet! In that case, we'll meet at my locker after last period?

e_nash: sounds good :)

The bell sounded overhead, releasing the classroom of teenagers like a stampede. The post-lunch jitters had everyone anticipating the end of the day with each passing class, but perhaps no one more than Ashley and Ellie. As they stood side by side in the line for the door, their hands brushed and set fire to their synapses. They exchanged glances in a silent agreement that last period would not end soon enough.

...InsertBandofStarsThatIndicatesTimePassageHere...

The school buses had come and gone, packed full with restless students and leaving behind a carbon footprint that would be filled all over again the next day. In contrast, the hallways were quiet, occupied only by an occasional passing student or faculty member coming or going from an extra-curricular activity.

"You've got to be kidding me! It's never locked this early!" Manny exclaimed, kicking the locker room door and rattling the handle in frustration.

"Why don't we just go to my room?" Emma asked, playing with the belt loops on Manny's jeans from behind her.

"Because ever since the shooting, your mom and Mr. Simpson have been checking on you, like, every three seconds and last time I barely climbed off of you in time," Manny said, still yanking at the door to no avail.

Emma laughed, and Manny, who missed the frequency of the soft sound since the fateful day that Rick brought a gun to school, stopped fussing with the door to face her.

"Yeah, I remember, I've never seen you dart across a room so fast in my life," Emma finished with another laugh.

After pausing to enjoy the moment, Manny held Emma tightly, but playfully by the hands and said, "Hey, don't make fun of me, otherwise I'll never kiss you again."

Emma, not quite believing her, asked, "Oh really?" as she leaned in, centimeters from Manny's face, and teased her with an 'almost kiss', leaning in and pulling back, leaning in and pulling back, until Manny pulled Emma towards her and stole the kiss. Manny then remembered that anyone staying after hours could easily walk by, but after a fevered kiss and an inhale of Emma's scent, she knew they would find a place.

"Boiler room? I bet it's open," she said with a smile.

Emma smiled back and had to refrain from putting a hand on Manny's ass as they walked down the hallway.

From inside the locker room, Ashley, wearing only a bra, dared to peer around the corner of the locker she was hiding behind. "Who was that?" she whispered, "Are they gone?"

I can't believe I'm actually posting the first chapter of this after all this time! I know my Degrassi couples don't get read too often, so reviews would be doubly appreciated :)