Episode One: Teenage Dream
Alli Bhandari
"Good-bye Clare. Good-bye Ms. Edwards." Alli said, waving goodbye to her best friend and her mom, as they left her in front of the Bhandari household. "See you later Alli." Clare smiled, still probably angry that Alli had decided to stay at Tworek Prep, the all-girl school parents had sent her to last semester, instead of returning to Degrassi for her junior year. She watched as they drove off and turned the corner as they disappeared.
It was then that Alli spun on the ball of her foot and turned towards her house. She entered her key into the doorknob and quickly opened the door, dropping her keys onto the end table nearby. She half expected my mother to be crying, Sav had been accepted to Smithdale and she was already missing him even though he didn't live far. Instead, her ears were greeted to a hushed conversation taking place in the living room. She crept closer and peered inside.
There in the living room, stood Alli's mom and dad, their backs towards her as they talked. "We only saved enough for two years of Sav's tuition. His scholarship is only helping so much. The only way we'd be able to pay it off is if we use the money in Alli's trust fund and we're already using that money to pay for Tworek Preparatory." Her mother told her father. "We'll find a way to get the money. Don't worry about it my dear." He assured her. It was then that Alli ran upstairs into her room. She had to go while they were distracted, and laid on her bed while thinking about what she had just heard and what she could do to help.
Wesley Betenkamp
"Where the hell are you?" A voice rang from the hallway. Wesley's eyes shot open, his mind and body used to what was happening. He bolted to his door and slammed it shut; making sure it was locked before he slid to the ground, his back against the door. "Please go away. Please go away." Wesley muttered over and over again under his breath, hoping his father would just go back to sleep. Wesley heard one of the boards creak outside his door and knew he wasn't going to be so lucky.
"Wesley!" He shouted, pounding his fists against the door. "Go away!" Wesley yelled. "You're drunk." It didn't work though. He continued pounding the door, persistent on getting in. "Ever since mom died, you do nothing but drink. Don't you know this isn't what she would want for us?" Wesley said, hoping to get through to him.
"Shut Up!" His dad said. "Don't you ever talk about your mother. I don't even know why we had you. You're nothing but trash. Worthless." Wesley had to force myself to ignore his comments. "Go away!" Wesley finally shouted his dad's banging coming to a halt. He relaxed after hearing the silence.
Silence. That was something He hadn't heard in a while. Wesley stared at his alarm clock and read the time. "6:45". He had a little more than an hour to get to school. Wesley picked up his towel up off the floor and headed towards the bathroom in his room, lifting his shirt as he got closer, revealing a plethora of bruises and scars, old and new.
Donovan Price
"Read all about it in the new and improved Grapevine!" Keith shouted at the steps of Degrassi, waving the school paper in the air. "What's this?" Donovan asked, grabbing the paper and flipping through the pages. "Ever since last years' crackdown and the cancellation of the anti-grapevine, the students of Degrassi need a way to get their news and Principal Simpson put me in charge of the whole redesign." He answered.
"The only thing worse than this school, is its rules." Lily, Donovan's sister, who had been standing by his side since their father dropped them off, complained. "Don't worry freshman, it was worse last year." Keith informed her. "Barf." Was her response as she left them and walked towards the entrance of the school.
"She'll get the hang of it?" Donovan asked sheepishly. "I don't know, has she always been this depressing?" Keith wondered. "Who knows?" Donovan answered. "It's probably nothing, you still coming over after-school?" He asked. Keith nodded and they walked toward the entrance of the school, ready to start a new school year.
Alli Bhandari
"What do you think about me working at a fast food restaurant?" Alli asked Priya, one of the girls she befriended last semester, as she scanned through job applications online. "I don't know." Priya answered honestly, shopping for clothes online during our free time online in media immersion. "Would you like fries with that?" Alli asked aloud, the two of them bursting out in laughter,
"Why do you want job anyways?" Priya asked. "Well, my brother's at Smithdale, this school isn't exactly cheap and money's a little funny at my house." Alli admitted sheepishly. "Why not apply at 'Pink Giggle'?" Priya suggested, pulling the page up on Alli's computer, the exact same site she just happened to be on. "They love us there." She finished before returning to her own desktop.
Alli studied the homepage thoroughly. 'Pink Giggle' was one of her favorite clothing stores and she hadn't even considered applying there. "Thanks a lot Priya." Alli answered, pulling up the online application in the 'careers' section of the website. "No Prob." Priya smiled before turning back to her computer, not shopping anymore.
Priya was working on her Demo, as she was an aspiring artist and the number one singer in the school's show choir. Alli answered all the questions, provided her information, contact numbers and crossed her fingers, hoping she would get the job at 'Pink Giggle'.
Wesley Betenkamp
"You're not eating." Connor pointed out, stating the obvious as Wesley pushed his salad from side to side on the plate in front of him. "I'm just not hungry." Wesley mumbled. "Are you all right?" Dave asked, taking a sip of his fountain drink and staring back at me. Wesley remained quiet, longing to tell them what a crappy life he had yet afraid of what would happen at the same time.
"You're not having daydreams again, are you?" Connor asked, a smile appearing on Dave's face as they talked about my "Situation" last year. "No! Shut Up!" Wesley answered quickly, tired of them laughing at me. "Whoa, Wes chill. We were only kidding." Dave spoke up as Wesley stormed into the halls, away from the cafeteria.
"Hey Wesley, How're you doing?" His uncle asked him as he passed by his classroom. "Not now." Wesley responded harshly, not even realizing who he was speaking to. Wesley stopped dead in his tracks and quickly turned around. "I'm so sorry." He said, walking up to his uncle. "It's fine… Are you all right?" He asked the concern showing on his face.
"I'm good." Wesley replied, giving him a fake smile as he got closer. "That's good… Tell your dad I said hi." He muttered. "I will." Wesley finished, "See you later?" His uncle nodded and turned to re-enter his classroom. "See you." He said. Wesley turned around and walked away, heading to someplace where he could be alone.
Donovan Price
"How the hell did you shoot me?" Keith exclaimed, tossing his game controller to the ground as Donovan laughed. "Best two out of three?" Keith proposed to which Donovan quickly agreed to. "I'm going out." Lily called from the doorway. "Does dad know?" Donovan asked, stopping the game. "Does he have to?" Lily quickly snapped, walking out and slamming the door behind her.
"Wow. She definitely wasn't like this last year." Keith said looking at Donovan surprised. "I know she was so innocent." Donovan admitted. "What happened between then and now?" Keith wondered. "You got me." He admitted, shrugging. "You want to find out?" Keith suggested, a smile spreading across his face. "No thank you." Donovan said, turning back to the game.
"Come on; let's just see where she's going." He suggested. "I'm not spying on my little sister." Donovan protested. "It's not spying; think about it as research as to why she's changed. I'm a journalist. It's what I do." Keith continued. "Fine, but we can't be gone too long. Dad will kill me." Donovan said.
"The Rev? He would never." Keith smiled grabbing his jacket and his car keys. "Trust me; you've only seen his sweet side. When he's not preaching at church, he's like any other strict father." Donovan explained, following Keith to the door. "Doesn't matter. I'm atheist." Keith muttered. "And the fact that he doesn't know that is why you're still alive today." Donovan laughed as they left the house to follow Donovan's sister.
Alli Bhandari
"Thank you for meeting with me on such a short notice." The manager of 'Pink Giggle', Tom, said as Alli sat across from him in his office behind the store in the mall. "I'm surprised you called so quickly. I didn't expect a call for weeks." She responded, sitting there in her private school uniform.
"Well, we're in dire need of employees as the holiday season is quickly approaching and your resume stood out." Tom said. "Thank you?" Alli said. "Oh don't be modest, you are really involved in your private school, your marks are excellent and we had a recommendation from one of our very own employees. Priya-" Tom said before Alli cut in. "Mitchell, yes. She is the one who encouraged me to apply."
"Well, I'm not one to doubt my daughter's decisions, so it's safe to say you have the job." Tom said, standing up and extending his hand to shake Alli's. "Daughter? You're Priya's dad?" Alli asked confused as she shook his hand. "Well yes, but let's keep that between you and me." He whispered. Alli nodded her head and smiled.
"Well let's get you out there, you start today." He said, handing her a uniform from a cabinet in the corner. "Wait, now?" Alli asked, confused at his urgency. "Of course. Unless you don't want the job." He said, starting to put the uniform away. "No! I want it." Alli answered, reaching for the uniform. "Great, let's put you through training." Tom said, leading her out of his office, into the store.
Wesley Betenkamp
"Dad, I'm home." Wesley called out, entering his house only to find his dad and uncle sitting across from each other in his living room. "What's going on?" Wesley asked, tossing his backpack to the floor. "I came here because I'm worried about you, Wesley." Wesley's uncle said. "My son is perfectly fine." Wesley's dad rebuffed.
"Then why is he falling asleep in his classes, in my class? He was even seen shouting at his best friends during lunch. Tell me that's the Wesley, he was before his mom died." Wesley's uncle said. "I think it's time for you to go." His dad said in a voice so stern, Wesley's feet were starting to quake.
"I'll be back Charles." Was all Wesley's uncle said before standing up and walking out. Wesley's dad stood up and peered out the window, waiting for his brother in law to leave. "What did you tell him?" Wesley's dad shouted after Wesley's uncle pulled away. "Nothing, dad. I swear." Wesley stuttered in fear, but it was too late.
His dad pulled his hand back and smacked Wesley across the face. "Never tell anyone what goes on in this house!" Wesley's dad shouted. Wesley quickly dodged his dad's second attack and grabbed his backpack, running out of the door to get away from the beatings, not sure where he was going but knowing he had to get away.
Donovan Price.
"Why would she come to school is she hates it so much?" Keith asked as he and Donovan arrived to Degrassi, just a few steps behind Lily. "Who knows, but she's not here for tutoring, that's for sure." Donovan responded, glancing at Keith from behind the building. The two of them looked back at Degrassi and simultaneously walked into the school behind her.
"Where'd she go?" Donovan asked as the two arrived to the J.T. Yorke Memorial. "There, she's entering the chemistry lab." Keith said, spotting Lily around the corner, following her into the classroom, where inside, Bianca stood smoking a cigarette near the window. "It took you a while to get here. Hurry up and shut the door, a teacher might see us." Bianca told Lily, who stopped where she was after seeing Donovan and Keith standing in the doorway.
"Did you follow me here?" Lily asked, irritated. "Sound's better than stalking." Keith laughed, Donovan elbowing him in the stomach. "What do you think you're doing? And with Bianca of all people." Donovan said, motioning to the unlit cigarette in her hand. "Give me it." Donovan requested, taking it from her hand just as Ms. Oh passed by in the hallway.
"What are you kids doing in here after hours?" Ms. Oh asked, entering the classroom and seeing the cigarettes in Donovan and Bianca's hands. "The two of you come with me." Ms. Oh said, motioning for Donovan and Bianca to follow her. "Way to get us caught, Saint Donny." Bianca moaned as she followed Ms. Oh. Donovan followed her out, leaving Keith in the Chemistry lab with Lily.
Alli Bhandari.
"And that is how you fold a cotton blouse." Priya said, demonstrating the fold to Alli. "This is so hard." Alli groaned, tossing the shirt onto the table. "Hey, you're making it seem harder than it really is." Priya laughed, picking up the shirt and folding it. "Maybe I can still apply at Andy's." Alli said, talking about the fast food restaurant.
"Nonsense, I'm here to help… Except for right now. There's a customer in crisis. I'm needed." Priya said, launching herself in the air as if she were a superhero. "Dad, help Alli with the folds." Priya said to her father who was walking the store as she went to help a customer in the jeans section of the store.
"What's the matter?" Tom asked, approaching Alli. "Folds hate me." Alli admitted, smiling sheepishly as her boss. "Here, let me help you." Tom said, positioning himself behind Alli and stretching his arms around her, holding her hands in his. "You just pinch the corner, lift the end, and fold." He said as he instructed her how to fold, Alli successfully folding the shirt.
"Thanks Tom." Alli said, elated after learning the technique. "No problem." Tom answered, moving from behind her and placing his hand on the small on her back. "I'd better go. You got this?" He asked motioning to the pile of unfolded shirts. "Yeah, I have it." Alli responded, feeling his hand graze her butt as he walked away. She was sure it was an accident and brushed it off, continuing to fold the shirts beside her and placing them on the shelf before her.
Wesley Betenkamp.
Wesley looked at where he had ended up, Degrassi's footsteps. He entered the school and walked straight into the Boy's washroom, looking at his reflection in the mirror. His dad's slap had left a noticeable bruise and a minor cut but it was nothing a little water could fix. He doused his face with water from the sink and dried it off with several paper towels.
"Hey." A voice called out as Keith, one of Wesley's classmates entered the washroom and headed for the urinals. Without speaking, Wesley grabbed his backpack and quickly left, avoiding the principal's office and he eventually found himself in the school's auditorium, the stage still set up for the orientation earlier in the morning for the freshman.
Wesley headed behind the curtain and saw the hallway that led to the dressing rooms. He clutched his backpack to his chest and walked down the dark hallway, looking at the flickering light above. He stopped at the first dressing room and tried to open the door but it was locked and he kept on walking until he reached dressing room number two.
When he jiggled the doorknob to the second dressing room, it opened and he walked inside. When he turned the light on he saw it had a bed in the corner, a sink near the door and several costumes pushed up against the wall. He set his backpack down and decided to make himself at home, because there was absolutely no way he was going to go back to his real one.
Donovan Price
"I was holding it for someone." Donovan pleaded to Principal Simpson. "That's a very original excuse." Ms. Oh commented from the door where she stood. "Who were you holding the cigarette for?" Principal Simpson asked, waiting for Donovan's response. Donovan hesitated. Should he out his sister or protect her.
"It was mine." Donovan lied as Principal Simpson wrote something on a slip. "Since the cigarette was not lit when you were caught, I'm letting you off with a warning but we here at Degrassi have a no smoking policy." He said, tearing a slip and handing the white slip to Donovan while keeping the pink and yellow ones.
"Detention?" Donovan asked, reading the slip Principal Simpson had given him. "Two weeks. You'll start tomorrow. If you fail to show, we will suspend you." Principal Simpson warned as Donovan stood up from his seat and left the office running into Bianca in the waiting room.
"What're you still doing here?" Donovan asked the Brunette. "I wanted to see how you were punished. Detention huh? This school's getting soft again… not that I'm complaining." Bianca mumbled as she followed Donovan outside. "What's your point?" Donovan questioned. "It's nothing. Guess I'll see you tomorrow detention buddy." Bianca said before walking away. "Wait detention buddy?" Donovan asked as he reached the bus stop, but Bianca had already gone. "What's the verdict?" Keith asked from the bench where he sat with Lily at the bus stop. Donovan brushed Bianca's words off and turned around, walking with Keith and Lily home.
Author's Note: I decided to make each episode once chapter rather than each point of view a chapter and I hope you liked it. Please review and tell me what you thought of Alli and Wesley's storylines and the new OC's.
Love & Rockets
2012.