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Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or any of the original characters in the show. But I do however own any original characters in this story, and this plot line.

Joey walked slowly inside the front doors of Degrassi, her eyes gazing around, as her feet dragged behind her mind. She felt as if she where a duck out of water, so out of place. She shook her head a bit, regaining as much composure as she could. She lifted her messenger bags shoulder strap a bit and adjusted it's position on her shoulder before brushing her dark auburn colored hair that went down below her waist behind her ear. Its curly but neat appearance giving her some kind of comfort.

She looked around a bit confused, seeing a sign that pointed towards the front office, she let out a gentle sigh of relief. Alas, something was simple about all of this. She had a comfortable life in Wasaga Beach, maybe it wasn't the most luxurious one, but it was comfortable. She had a house. Not an apartment, but a house. She had room mates, and everything was going great for her. But no; everything just had to mess up when she let her heart get too involved again.

She pulled herself from her thoughts as she pushed open the door to the main office, walking to a desk. She smiled as she walked up to the desk, trying to greet the staff as she met them, as nicely as possible. Staying on the good side, as long as could be managed. This was important to her, the last thing she could deal with right now. Was trouble.

"Good Morning Young Lady" the receptionist said gently, "You must be the new transfer." she had the most fake smile Joey had ever seen anyone come up with on her face, and she couldn't help but to feel her stomach turn a tiny bit from it.

"Yes ma'am." she said answered sweetly. Smiling and making her sincerity believable. "Well Ms. H has requested to talk to you before you get to class so if you would just have a seat right there in those chairs, and I'll let her know you're here." she said as she placed her hand on the receiver of the telephone on her desk and picked it up. Dialing an extension, as she waited to see Joey go sit down.

Joey just turned, swinging her hair a bit, unintentionally, and sat down in one of the chairs. Picking a piece of lint off the grey cotton track pants she was wearing. Along with a white baby tee with 'cute & cuddley' written in the trade mark letters of the pound puppies toys, with a picture of the pound puppies underneath it. She hadn't had time to change before school this morning. And lucky for her, her pajama's where somewhat fashionable.

"Joey!" she looked up to the sound of an unfamiliar voice calling her name. Seeing a tall slender blonde headed woman standing at the doorway of the office, marked principal. She made a fair guess at who she was dealing with. She stood and walked towards her, extending her hand, as the woman extended hers. "I'm Ms. H, I'll be your principal here at Degrassi." she said with a cheesy smile, as if it where the best thing in the world to be principal of a highschool.

Joey just grinned. "Joey Deese." she said with a sigh as she followed the woman into her office after their hand shake. She spotted the first chair on the side of the desk she knew she belonged on, sitting down she made herself comfortable, and watched as the woman found somewhere to sit. Deciding to sit beside Joey instead of across from her like she expected.

"Now Joey," Ms. H started out. Which made Joey hold back and small sigh of annoyance already. "I know that you decided after your...incident, to drop out of school. And I know what the City has given you as your requirements to get their financial help." She straightened up in her chair a bit as she looked at Joey. "But while you're a student here. You're to respect and work to achieve your education." she stated this with a tone that only made Joey want to walk out of the office, go home, get her things, and go right back to Wasaga Beach. "There will be no slacking just because you don't absolutely have to be here."

Joey Just nodded her head in understanding. She looked at the time that the clock on the wall stated. It was nearing 8 am. She knew school would be started soon. "Don't I need to be getting to class and all?" She asked, clearly hinting that she wanted out of that office. Ms. H looked at the clock before back at Joey and nodded. "I suppose you do need to get going." She walked to the door before opening it for Joey. "If you need anything, just come and find me." she said now replacing the cheesy smile on her face.

Joey just nodded and walked out of the office. She pulled the paper from her bag as she exited into the main hallway. Searching her eyes around the area, she looked at the drawn out map that was on the other paper they had given her. She let out a sigh before headed off in her assigned direction. First stop, Mr. Armstrong's Tech Math 2 Honors. How fun.

Sean walked hurriedly down the halls, pulling Emma with his free hand behind him, as his other hand clutched his books plus a folder holding a document that meant everything in the world to him at the time being and he wasn't about to let that go anywhere. "Hurry we're going to be late." he said with a laugh as he stopped in front of Mrs. Kwans'z twelfth grade English class.

He gave Emma a quick hug and Kiss. "I'll see you tonight, at eight. You're riding home with Snake right?" Sean asked running his words together completely. Emma looked at him a little shocked. "I can, but why can't you take me home?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Trying not to get suspicious but not being able to help it. "I've just got stuff to alright?" he said grabbing her hands gently but carefully, making sure he didn't let that folder slip away. "Trust me Emma." he said with a smile. Emma just nodded as they heard the first bell of the day ring. Emma gave him a final hug before walking into her class. Sean turned and walked a little more then casually towards Mr. Armstrong's class.

He walked in and spotted Joey at the back of the room, she had actually came! Everything he had been working for since getting out of jail all was finally piecing everything together, It was all working out for him. He had something to work for. He walked through the room taking a seat near Joey turning to talk to her. She just smiled at him with her usual childish smile. She pulled her hair up off her shoulders with her hands as she waited to see the teacher walk into the class.

Sean just smiled and shook his head a bit. Her being there, it was the sign that everything that was wrong in his life was about to change. He turned back around in his seat. Moving his math book off of the manila folder that held the document he had waited 3 years for. He opened the folder and read the words printed in old English print: Declaration Of Joint Custody. He smiled at words, Joint Custody.

Hearing the second the bell, he said Mr. Armstrong come through the door. He quickly closed the folder, and then moved his math book back on top. Throwing another glance at Joey, the turning his eyes back to the front of the room. For the first time in a long time, his middle name proving to be true, he had hope.