Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or Dashboard Confessional, even though I wish I did.

Never Forget the Ones You Love

Chapter One: Living In Your Letters

Emma Nelson woke up in her room Monday morning to the cries of baby Jack. She slowly got out of bed, still half asleep, and walked over to her closet, in hopes of finding something nice to wear to school for the day. After looking for what seemed like forever, she finally settled on a pair of tan capri pants and a yellow and pink top. After she got ready, she went upstairs to be greeted by Spike and Jack.
"Emma, Snake already left for school, you better get going if you don't want to be late!" Spike said as a hurried Emma grabbed a quick glass of orange juice and kissed her mom and Jack good-bye.

"Bye Mom! See ya after school!" Emma shouted on her way out.

"Emma! Wait up! I have to talk to you." Sean Cameron yelled when he saw Emma on her way to school.

"What do you want, Sean? Do you want me to admit that I still like you? Well, that's not going to happen today."

"Emma, why does everything have to be about you? All I hear is how you still like me and everything, and then when I try to tell you that I'm still in love with you, you blow me off!"

Emma stared at Sean, not knowing what to say. She looked as if she was about to cry at any moment.

"Look Emma, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have blown up at you like that."

"No Sean, I'm sorry, I'm just lost. I thought you never wanted to see me again, but now you're telling me you love me?" Emma said, flabberghasted

"Yeah, I do still love you, can I at least walk you to school?"

"Sure, but that's it, nothing more."

"That sounds good to me!" Sean said, suddenly a lot happier than he thought he could be.

During homeroom, as Emma was writing a note to Sean, her best friend Manny came over and read what she was writing over her shoulder.

"So, someone still likes Sean?" Manny said, making Emma jump out of her seat, blushing and trying to cover the note with her arm.

"I don't like him, I'm just apologizing to him for being so hostile earlier today when he walked me to school, that's all, nothing more." Emma said in a hurried voice.

"Come on, Em, I know when you're lying, and this is one of those times. Plus, if you didn't still have feelings for him, why would you close the 'apology note' with 'love'?"

"Okay, you caught me, I do still like him, but please don't tell him Manny, ok?"

"I promise Em."

"Ok, then can you do me a favor, and give this to him? I'm too afraid to do it myself."

"Sure, I'll give it to him next period.

"Hey Sean! Emma told me to give this to you." Manny said, while passing Sean the note.

'That was weird enough, why wouldn't Emma give this herself?' Sean thought to himself.

Sooner than he thought, he arrived in class, and sat in the back as usual, but this time it was so he could read the note in privacy. He opened the note to a familiar scent, the scent of Hollister: August, the scent Emma wore every day when they were going out. He loved this scent, and she knew it. With the note was a CD.

'I wonder what this is about.' He thought.

Sean-

I'm sorry for being so hostile to you before. I know that the guy is supposed to ask the girl out, but I don't want to wait any longer. I don't know why we ever broke up in the first place, but all I know is that I do still love you, and I always will. You never forget your first love. If you're not doing anything, maybe we can go see a movie and grab something to eat at The Dot Friday? Send me back a note telling me if you would want to or not. By the way, when you have a chance, listen to the song on the CD. When I listen to it, I think of you.

Love,

Emma 3

"Wow" Sean said out loud, not realizing that class had been over for a few minutes already. It was amazing how long it took him for the letter to actually sink in. She did still love him. And he wasn't going to wait any longer to tell her that he loved her.

'I'm not going to bother with a stupid note, I'll tell her to her face, next time I see her. I know that she's the one I want.' He thought to himself.

'Well, I guess I should just listen to the CD, and find out what it's all about. So he grabbed the CD and put it in his trusted walkman, and was greeted by the familiar voice and sound of Dashboard Confessional. He knew the song, but never thought of the meaning.

I'm always assuming the worst,
but you're going on none the less
& there's nothing to cushion your heart led fall.
Letters from further away
keep pulling me close to home.
And there's something to cushion my callous sighs.
And I know that you hope for
longer good-byes
embracing for forever
and falling in your eyes.

Pouring over photographs.
I'm living in your letters.
Breathe deeply from this envelope
it smells like you & I can't be
without that scent. It's filling me
with all you mean to me.

Continually failing these trials
but you stand by me nonetheless
& you won't let me sink
though I'm begging you.
Phone calls from further away
& messages on my machine,
but I don't ever tell you this distance
seems terrible.
There is no need to test my heart,
with useless space.
These roads go on forever,
there will always be a place, for you.. in my heart

So I'll hit the pavement
it's gotta be better than waiting
& pushing you far away
cause I'm scared.
So I'll take my chances
& head on my way up there.
Cause turning to you is like falling in love when you're ten.

After the song was over, Sean began to walk to Emma's locker. He had to talk to her right away and tell her the truth.