Hello everybody, I love zoemund and there are barely any fanfictions for them so I decided to write one myself. I know there aren't that many fans but I hope the ones currently in it will enjoy this, and the ones soon to ship it will know they have another fanfic to read. This is slightly au, so there will be a lot of things changed throughout the fic. I will add in some things that are in the show but please remember this is au. This first chapter is more of a filler and I want you all to know I am one for slow burn fanfictions. I really enjoy developing the characters, and their friendship instead of having them get together right away.
The rubber room was something not quite famous at Degrassi, but talked about enough to get a reputation. Even Zoe Rivas, who had barely been at the school knew about it. It especially became apparent to her when Maya Matlin was sent after threatening to kill her in song. It was peculiar that she hadn't been sent there yet, but with the endless excuses her and her mother created she had perfected the art of becoming a victim in any situation she was at fault. Of course it didn't mean she got away with things from her peers. After France any chance she had at friendship with the people in this school went into the toilet, and her classmates were the ones to flush it. She held her head up high and maintained her confidence, even if she did have to hang around the grade nines who only ever asked about West Drive.
West Drive seemed like a distant memory now that she was at Degrassi, even if she was constantly bombarded with questions about it. At West Drive her and the other actors were close, yet once she was off they rarely ever talked. She took no offense to it, for she knew she would have done the same thing. It was show business, do what you have to do to get to the top, or be who you have to be. It was something she was taught at a young age from her mother and the many people who spent years trying to make her career excell. Entering Degrassi she had no idea what to do, there was no ulterior motive at this school beyond getting an education. Her life had always been one of a celebrity, and she was clueless as to how the real (dull) world worked. Maybe that's why she got in so much trouble now.
She sat in class paying no attention to what was going on, and while she'd usually be talking to Tristan he was sitting near Miles and Maya in the row in front of her. In the row behind her were some of the delinquents, they were so annoying, always getting high and flirting with practically anyone. She had seen Maya hanging out with some of the less annoying ones, it angered her. She didn't understand why so many people loved Maya at this school, practically everyone in her grade threw themselves at her. Where were her friends? Where were the people desperate to be around her.
xx
The day was slow and by the time lunch rolled around Zoe had grown annoyed by Frankie and Keisha's babbling. She sat with her friends looking throughout the cafeteria, her eyes lingering at Maya and her extended group of friends. While she still had Tristan and Miles on her side, her new rubber room friends had joined. She watched as they got up from their table and walked outside where all the rubber room kids went. The closer they got the more they laughed and once they reached her halfway to the door Miles turned his head toward her with a smirk "Jealous?".
She rolled her eyes turning away filled with anger and embarrassment. She looked back at them watching Miles and Zig fawn over her. "Hey Maya!" she yelled at Maya "Which one are you sleeping with? The prince or the pauper?".
Half the room went silent while another half either ignored it or didn't hear. Maya and her group turned around, some with a look of anger, some with surprise. Her rubber room friends and Miles were the first to jump with anger, while Tristan just stood there shocked. "What the hell Zoe?" she heard Maya say as the group walked up.
She didn't have to look to know Frankie and Keisha were shocked as well. There was more fighting between the girls, with (of course) Maya's boys standing up for her and the girl wearing all black and blue hair threatening her. She laughed despite the emotions rushing through her at the moment.
It all came in a flash, one minute it was spent with threats and shouting, and soon they were pulling each others hair and fighting. Zoe could feel a bruise growing on her leg and if it weren't for no sleeves the fighting would never had ended. Soon a teacher was notified and Zoe found herself in Mr. Simpsons office with Maya again.
"These girls have been fighting continuously and causing trouble at school. Maya has already been dealt with, but we now believe we need to with Zoe as well" he spoke, Zoe listened intently worrying about what they would do. She wouldn't mind suspension, but she knew her mother would not allow such a thing. "We have come to the conclusion that Zoe will also be sent to a class with Maya for students who are in similar positions".
Zoe was wide eyed and angry "The rubber room?" she screeched "Are you kidding me? I can't go to the rubber room." she spat with disgust.
"Zoe you will go to this rubber room despite what you want." her mother spat at her, and her anger grew.
She listened to Mr. Simpson's rules, claiming that she had to be in the class for a year with no incidents. She hated the thought, her in a room full of delinquents where the only ones who are even close to decent loved Maya. She knew this year at Degrassi would be the worst yet.
xx
Zig Novak went to school the next day hoping to talk to Maya and know what happened the day before. He walked into the rubber room smiling when he saw the tables in a different position and the balls flying throughout the room. He found his friends and hid behind the table with them.
"So what happened?" Zig asked Maya while she threw a ball across the room.
He turned to his friend grabbing a ball as she replied "You'll find out soon"
So he threw the ball looking at his friends with a confused look. They began laughing and soon the entire room erupted with it. He turned around to see an annoyed Zoe Rivas standing in the center of the room, his ball having come to a stop on her face. Lucky for her but unlucky for the rest of them, the teacher walked in.
"Okay class put everything back where it was, and it seems as though we have a guest" She said smiling at Zoe while walking toward her desk.
Soon the class was put together and the seats were in a circle which was connected by the teachers seat. Everyone took their seat while Zoe just stood off to the side unsure whether she wanted to take the empty seat or not.
"Hey, sweetie, sit down" Grace said in a sarcastic tone toward Zoe, who glared in return taking the seat.
It was obvious she didn't want to be here, as she looked around the room with disgust. Zig hated people like that, who assumed the rubber room kids were the scum of the Earth. She was no better than the rest of them. He knew what was coming up next, they'd all greet her and she'd have to give a little summary about what she did wrong and how she's trying to get better. It was the most annoying thing when there was a new kid in the group.
The teacher looked at her updated list seeing the new name 'Zoe Rivas', with all the things she had done that led to her coming here. "So Zoe, introduce yourself and tell everyone why you're here"
She rolled her eyes (which Zig had noticed she did often) and did as she was told, in a very bitchy voice of course "I'm Zoe Rivas, and I have no idea why I'm here with all of, you."
Zig and everyone else in the rubber room knew the teacher hated it when things like this happened, she believed the only way anything would get better is if they all put faith in each other.
"Well it says right here that you've been sent here for assaulting a teacher, which you got away with because of your disorder, bullying multiple students, and getting into a fight on school property" she said, leaving the entire class laughing, especially due to the look on Zoe's face.
"Disorder, what disorder?" Zig asked in between laughs.
"Nothing" Zoe snapped at him, turning her glare back towards the head of the class "I have no idea what she's talking about."
"Zoe it is really nothing to be ashamed of" the teacher said looking at Zoe with a confused look on her face.
"I think it's time you shut up, don't you agree?" Zoe said smiling deviously.
"Zoe I'll let this pass since it's your first day, but I really do hope you stop all this" she said and everyone in the room felt awkward as they watched the two.
The class couldn't go any slower as she talked about trust and friendship again, and Zig found himself laughing with his friends about many topics, one including Zoe. They began taking bets on how long she'd last here. No one at the school liked her for many reasons, but they all took Maya's hate for her and spread it around. Maya, who still held a grudge was only hoping this would knock some sense into her. Grace and Tiny made fun of her for her forgiving attitude, and while they all suggested revenge Maya told them the truth. This class was the best revenge there could be, they could all see the awkward aura surrounding her. This was something Zig was not used to, he had seen her walking down the halls, confidence radiated off of her and if she wasn't so cruel she would be the type of girl he'd hit on.
Soon the teachers lecture was over and they were free to do what they want. He followed behind his friends to a table. They continued to talk, most which including taunting Maya since she was so easy to make fun of. The table got silent as the clicking of heels got loud toward them, they each turned around with a glare as the ex-superstar walked to their table.
"What do you want?" he asked Zoe once she stopped at the table.
"I was sent over here, supposed to sit somewhere." she said not even giving the effort to use that sarcastic smile of hers.
"Well sit somewhere else, we don't want you here" Grace replied trying to make the girl go away.
"And you think I want to be with you? I'm being forced, just give me a chair so it looks like I'm trying" she said her nose scrunching a bit in annoyance.
Maya kicked a chair toward her, hitting Zoe with it. Zig watched the interaction, Maya glaring at the other girl, and Zoe clenching the chair pulling it closer to her and farther away from the table. Maya gave one last hard glare at Zoe, who took it with a smile that could anger anyone trying to show dominance. She simply pulled out her phone and began to text, and they all continued talking as if she wasn't there. Zig looked at her one last time before looking at his friends, laughing at Tiny's latest joke. Having Zoe Rivas in here would change everything, and he was almost sure it wouldn't be for the better.
Okay this kind of sucked, but I can assure you it will get better. They're all going to hate each other at first but it's all part of development. Please leave a review about what you think! Thanks.