THE COVERUP.

Chapter 1:

Normally, it would be easy to tell a story such as this, a simple one consisting of some people who've been in my life for not very long. It's not much to tell, it's not much to go into. However, with this story, it's much different. There have been people who've effected me in more ways than I could ever imagine...well, just one. I won't say her name, you'll find out about her later. But trust me, she's the most amazing person that I've ever met; one that's definitely not like others, for any person would never do what she did for me.

. . .

While I'm temporarily enrolled into Degrassi, I knew that there would have to be changes made to better myself. They would be monumental changes, ones that would help me get through the rest of my life, and of course, Degrassi was my ticket to this life. I was going to do this step by step, no matter if these steps will kill me. The first thing I'm going to do is become a man, not some awkward, wimpy kid that gets kicked around by his own friends. I wasn't going to be that person that gets walked all over just because I'm afraid to speak up and say whatever is on my mind. This won't happen to me,

Not this year, not next year, never again.

After I achieve my official state of manhood, I will then take over the hockey team as their captain and star player. Currently, Mike Dallas, is our captain - my mentor - and our star player, but his time on the Toronto Ice Hounds is slowly dwindling away. Someone, anyone, would have to take over that position as captain. That someone was going to be me, Campbell Saunders. Due to my extraordinary talent, my amateur hockey coach had signed me up to try out for a prestigious junior pro hockey team called the Toronto Ice Hounds. It was made up of high school students from America who are the best of the best hockey players in our division. We play all over the United States and Canada, basically as if we were the step below the NHL. This is the main reason why I'm at Degrassi. I, along with the other players, had to leave home, stay with another family, and enroll into a different school that is located in the area where our games are. When the season is over, we return home and resume our normal lives.

. . .

"Hey guys...where's Dallas?" I asked the team who hadn't really seemed to notice his absence. "I didn't see him when we were in line and I was just wondering where he was...did any of you see him?" I asked the team, they all shrugged in response.

"Nope, I haven't seen him around. He's probably out causing trouble like normal." Luke Baker replied with his mouth full of food.

A mixture of loud noises came from the doorway to the far right of the cafeteria, sparking the attention of the everybody. The chatter halted to silence, looking out in the direction of the noise. A crowd of people bursted their way through the small steel doors that led into the cafeteria, and of course, none other than Mike Dallas was with them. Only being here for a few months was enough for him to become the most popular guy in school; he had friends, he had enemies, he had everything.

After fist pounding all his friends, the tall light skinned boy walked over to the hockey team. "Sup Dallas..." The team, all except I, greeted in unison, looking up from our food to wave at our captain. After his entrance I didn't want to talk to him, for it seemed as if Dallas had better things to do than be with his team.

"Sup bros." Dallas greeted back, sitting down at his normal seat at his table. The hockey team gave him praise for having such an entrance into the cafeteria, while I continued to make a face at the whole scene. I knew that I would never have that many friends, let alone one. The hockey team is all I have here, and it's all I'll ever have. "What's wrong Saunders?" Dallas inquired, a smirk stretching across his face "Isn't this what you and your pancake girlfriend of yours do all the time? Hang out, party, drink, you know have fun." He pressed on, his smirk turning sinister. "It's what jocks do."

"Um, Dallas, you know that's not my style...and I'm pretty sure I'm not dating a pancake. I don't even have a girlfriend." My responded, awkwardness obviously showing though my voice, causing Dallas' eyebrows to raise.

"Oh really now? I think you're lying to me rookie. What's that one flat chested girl's name - Maya Matlin! Earlier last week, you were texting that girl nonstop, heck, you even ditched hanging with us after lunch to probably go talk to her." He cocked his head to the side, completely having his facts straight. I wasn't going to let him know that.

"Oh... Maya? Um...she's not my girlfriend. She's just some someone in my french class, we're not even friends." I said nonchalantly, casually looking over at her table, noticing that she wasn't there.

"Oh French class...so that means when you guys are studying, and being dorks you guys are all," He tucked his face in his elbows and faked kissing noises. My face twisted at the thought of it. "Adding to the extra 'studying' you always seem so happy around her. Heck, just yesterday, you wouldn't put your phone down long enough to get changed for practice." Dallas commented, smirking triumphantly.

"No way, not even," I defended myself, raising my hands to symbolize outrage - I wasn't but Dallas would get the point. "When I'm around her I'm just happier, less homesick." I muttered. "What's it to you anyway? I don't even like her like..." I started to say, now realizing that I was falling into his trap. "Shut up."

"Whoa, Chicken Cutlet has him whipped! Yeesh Cam, I expected more of you." Owen butted into our conversation, laughing hysterically. The remaining members of the hockey team joined him in laughter. Being the youngest member on the Ice Hounds definitely had its downsides. For starters, the team treats me like their rag doll; kicking me around, making fun of me, and telling me what to do. They all know that I won't stand up to them. They knew that I wasn't the guy that would go out and be the life of the party, get all the girls and act like a typical jock. Because of these things, they tease me.

However, this time I wasn't going to be the team's rag doll anymore. I'm standing up to them right now. I need to know that they can't just walk all over me, thinking that I won't stand up to them. "I'm not whipped! We're not even friends. Get your stories right." I countered, this time sounding confident and angry instead of awkward.

"Oh look who's getting all sensitive. Get over it rookie, man up." Dallas told me, making me narrow my eyes at him. "Okay fine, if you don't like her, then let's talk about your old girlfriends. I'm sure you have had plenty of them; being a hockey player, impending NHL inductee and what not." Dallas retorted, smirking at me again. I nearly snapped my plastic fork in half.

"My old girlfriends are none of your business."

"You haven't had a girlfriend...haven't you?" Mike smiled triumphantly at the fact that I didn't respond. "That means you're worse than Saint Luke!" Dallas overdramatized, pointing at Luke, who was casually stuffing food in his mouth. He didn't seem to care that his name came up in conversation. "Oh no, oh no, Cam, you're going to destroy our strong, manly image." He continued on. "We need to make Cam a man, ASAP." Dallas got up and looked around the cafeteria. "How does one make someone as unmanly as Cam...a man?"

"You get him laid, by like the hottest girl in school." Owen butted in again, leaning back in his chair. "I'm sure that if you ask Bianca DeSousa, she'll do it, I mean she is the easiest girl in school. Heck, the girl steals boyfriend's and hearts for a living."

"Fine, I'm not doing this for you guys, I'm doing it for the hockey team's image..." I groaned, knowing that they were never going to live this down. Not only was I a complete loner, I was socially awkward. Just talking to Bianca could trigger some type of awkwardness. "I'll be back, just don't do anything stupid."

I got up from my seat and made my way over to Bianca's table. She was sitting by herself eating a salad and drinking some water, looking somewhat bored. As smoothly as I could, I sat down in the chair next to her and looked back at the hockey team, who were giving me two thumbs up and nodding vigorously. Game on. "Hey Bianca..." I said, leaning my elbow on the table semi casually, trying to make it seem as if I wasn't nervous. It wasn't working, my palms were sweaty, and my heart was beating rapidly. It was obvious that I was distressed. "Do you wanna get out of here and get some, sex?" I babbled, not really registering what I was saying until it was too late.

"Excuse me?" Bianca exclaimed, giving me a disgusted look. "Ew, what are you, fourteen? Grow up why don't you." She told me, reaching over to her bottle of water and dumping it all over me.

From the moment that she poured the water on me, the entire cafeteria bursted into laughter, getting louder with each passing second. Every person was laughing at me, mocking me for my failure and my stupidity. "Shut up, stop laughing!" I cried out, covering my ears to try to block out their laughter. I shot up from my seat, and I ran out of the cafeteria at full speed, pushing just about anyone who was in my path out of the way. "Move, move, move." I mumbled to myself, running down the hallway that had a few people wandering about.

Out of all the unfamiliar faces that I passed by, only one stuck out to me. It was Maya Matlin. Instantly my face turned red with blush. Of all faces to see, did it have to be hers? Did I have to see her sweet angelic face with those bright blue eyes that she had? Did I have to see her looking at me, concern and worry written all across her face?

Because I was running so fast, my feet clumsily hit each other, sending me crashing down onto my right shoulder. I involuntarily rolled a good way down the hallway. "Crap..." I groaned, forcing myself to roll over on my other side, breathing heavily. One embarrassment after another...more humiliation is being piled up on me.

I closed my eyes tightly and got up from the ground slowly, trying to shake off the pain. My right shoulder was throbbing from the fall, and my left felt numb and tingly, it was almost as if my limbs didn't want to work with me. Along with that, my lungs weren't either. It feels as if they were pinching together, constricting my airway. "Campbell? Cam, Cam, get up." I heard Maya's sweet voice say from above. I didn't want Maya to see me, not in the middle of an anxiety attack. She would think that I'm crazy, a complete psycho. Therefore, I had to leave now.

Letting out a breathy groan, I rolled off my bad shoulder and took off again. Maya didn't need to know what was wrong with me, that's far more embarrassing than Bianca dumping water on me and tripping over my own two feet. "Cam! Stop!" The young Matlin called, pleading me to stop.

I couldn't.

I ran into the bathroom, moved away from the door and sat on the ground, trying to calm myself. "Come on Campbell...get it together..." I whispered to myself in short, shaky breaths. "Get it together." I whispered again, slamming my limp arm it against my thigh, in attempt to restore my sanity. Not only had I embarrassed myself in front of everybody in the cafeteria, I had embarrassed myself in front of Maya, the girl that was willing to help me even after I broke off our friendship. She was never going to speak to me again after the stunt I pulled.

After a few painful and stressful minutes the symptoms of my anxiety attack had slowly disappeared. As much as I would love to stay in here and avoid human interaction, I had to leave and get to class soon. Lunch period was almost over. I pushed myself up from the ground, and walked over to the mirror, examining my face thoroughly. I looked a mess, which exactly portrayed what I thought of myself, a mess. It wasn't going to get any better than that, so I just walked out of the bathroom.

There she was...Maya Matlin; standing there, waiting for me.