Cam rolled over on his side, opening his eyes slowly, trying to focus on his Toronto Maple Leafs alarm clock, which was blaring as its hands pointed perfectly at 7 o'clock. He turned off the beeping with a lazy slap of his hand and immediately closed his eyes again. He didn't want to get out of bed and face daylight or Maya or the smug look on Zig Novak's stupid but hopefully still bruised face.

It was going to be his first day back at Degrassi after a two-week suspension. In those 14 days he had tried to see Maya, as often as possible, but after her parents heard about the fight he'd had with Zig, they didn't want her to see him. Cam had snuck in a few kisses and outings in that time but just knowing that she had gotten to see Zig everyday at school made his blood boil.

Anger was about the only feeling he had lately. He hated not seeing his girlfriend and he hated the thought of Zig and he hated hockey. "Campbell, you're going to be late for school if you don't hurry up," yelled his host mom from somewhere down the hall. Cam also hated not seeing his real family everyday, around the breakfast table, fighting over the biggest pancake with the most chocolate chips, as it should be, not with his bland, All-Bran-eating host parents.

Cam grumbled and pulled himself out of bed, letting his faded blankets fall to the floor. He tried to flatten his bedhead but it was persistent on sticking up in all directions. He already felt another bad day coming on and when he grabbed his phone to see a single text from Zig and not Maya, his heart dropped.

ZIG: Can't wait to see you at school today Saunders, and to see

your face when you see how well me and Maya are

getting along without you.

Cam clenched his jaw as he read the message then threw his phone as hard as he could at the wall above his bed. The screen cracked and shards fell daintily onto his hockey puck shaped pillow.

He pulled on some jeans and opted to wear the t-shirt he'd slept in. Grabbing a dark green hoodie off the computer chair at the foot of his bed, he stomped out of his room and nodded at his host dad who was standing at the kitchen island with a carton of milk to pour into the All-Bran that was undoubtedly in the ceramic bowl in front of him. Cam slipped around the corner to the foyer where he shoved his feet into his worn sneakers. He grasped the doorknob but before he turned it he caught a glimpse of his host dad's work belt. It was complete with everything a beat cop might need – baton, handcuffs, flashlight… and a gun.

Can't wait to see you at school today Saunders and to see your face when you see how well me and Maya are getting along without you. The text message flashed before Cam's eyes, along with pitying look Maya gave him every time he'd seen her over the past two weeks, and the angry glares he'd gotten from Dallas and Luke and Owen and all the other guys on the hockey team who had rided him until no end and then felt they had the right to be mad at him for not wanting to play hockey.

He slipped the handgun out of its holder on the belt and into the front pocket of his backpack before heading out the door, which slammed closed behind him.

The bus ride to school was hell. A couple guys from the team got on at the stop after his and made sure to spit "rookie" his way and give a good kick to the side of his seat.

The brakes of the bus screeched, announcing its arrival at the school. Cam piled off the bus with the other teenagers and was caught up in a sudden hug. He caught a glimpse of her blonde hair and sighed then squeezed the beautiful girl in his arms back. "Hi Cheesy," Maya said happily, "welcome back!"

They pulled away from each other but remained holding hands and walked up towards the school. Cam was about to tell her about his horrible weekend without her but was interrupted by Mo. "Hey Maya, quick WhisperHug meeting, right now."

"Kay." Maya let go of Cam's hand and joined the other four members of her band. She turned back towards Cam and said, "See you later boyfriend, have a good day." As she turned to chatter to Adam about something, Zig turned to smirk at Cam then placed a hand on Maya's shoulder. Cam watched, his hands balled into fists when his girlfriend didn't protest.

He walked under the looming sign that read Degrassi, all alone and with the gun feeling heavy in his backpack and in his mind.