Background info. .. Alternate reality! FORGET WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON THE SHOW..

I do not own degrassi—

Emma and Jimmy and Craig are best friends since childhood. They do everything together and hang out all time.

Jay, Manny and Alex are best friends since childhood and do everything together and hang out all the time.

Jay & Craig are half brothers. Same father. Different mother. Their father married Jay's mom and left Craig's mom high and dry.

Manny and Alex don't like Emma, Jimmy and Craig because Jay doesn't and Emma and Craig don't like Manny, Alex, and Jay because Jimmy doesn't

The two groups don't usual run in the same crowds but one night will begin the integration of the groups. Jay's friends are popular and enjoy it to the fullest and Jimmy' friends are popular but shun from it.

Jimmy, Craig, and Jay are on the same team (basketball) and that's about the only time they're nice to one another.

Manny and Alex are cheerleaders and Emma is a tutor.

Coupling: Jay & Emma/ Craig & Manny/ Jimmy & Alex

Chapter one

Recognize your enemy

Jason laid in bed and stared at the ceiling and wondered if he should even bother getting out of bed at all. The night before it was the same thing, he came home late and his mom and dad were up but neither said a word to him about how late he was or how his night went. They just continued about whatever they were doing and ignored his presence. He chuckled as he sat up in bed and looked around the room. He could think of about two dozen guys at his school that wanted to be him and he knew for a fact that none of them knew what it was really like to be him. His life from the outside and sometimes in was perfect but not always. Every morning it was the same thing… he'd get up and look in the mirror and be reminded of him… that brother that was a walking talking reminder of his father's infidelity. Daniel Hoggart golden boy and father of two…. As much as Dan would love to deny Craig everyone in town knew of his affair with Sam. She was new to Degrassi and after their senior year Dan married Emily but started a fling with Sam behind Emily's back. Some fun times later Craig Hoggart was created, and in true Daniel Hoggart nature not long after Jason Hoggart came to be as well.

Jason clinched his fists and glared at himself in the mirror. He'd grown up his entire life and was reminded of Craig's being. They'd had a few classes together and it didn't help that Sam ended up marrying Jason's Uncle Tyler so it was then that Craig became an official Hoggart. Jason's thought was dashed as his phone rang and he reached over seeing 'Cheery M' on his caller ID he huffed and answered the phone, "What have I told you about messing with my phone?" She snickered, "To leave your hoes alone?" He laughed, "Wrong Manny now what do you want?" She huffed, "Is that anyway to talk to your best friend?" Jason laughed and has to smile at the fact that his two closest and dearest friends were girls and surprisingly enough he hadn't bagged either of them. He just found comfort in them and speaking of them there was a beep and he sighed, "Hang on Manny… that's Alex calling too." She stayed silent and he pulled the phone away from his ear to see that his caller ID said 'Broody Artist' He sighed and hit flash to click over, "What's up Lexy?" She sighed, "Just making sure you get your lazy butt up and ready for school." He laughed, "I'm up and Manny is on the other line." Alex nodded, "Ok tell her I will never leave my cell with her again. She changed your name to Baller23 and hers to Cheery03." Jason laughed, "Yeah and you're Broody Artist on mine… I'll talk to her Lexy, see you at school." "OK bye Jay." She hung up her phone and Jason clicked back over, "That's it Manny no more playing with our phones."

Manny just giggled and sighed, "Ok fine but come on there's a reason I called this fine morning." Jason sighed waiting for the news that was so important she had to call instead of tell him in the hall at school, "What is it?" She smiled, "We've been invited to a very esteem party from the All Eyes." Jason yawned, "So what do I care." "What are you kidding me this is huge. Every month they throw these super secret mask parties… I've heard so much about them and to finally be in one it going to be perfect." Jason stood up and walked to his closet, "Manny… what does this party have to do with me… from what I heard you don't know any of the other people and you never find out. How is that going to help me?" She whined, "Come on Jay it'll be fun." He knew this was the beginning of her temper tantrum and once he saw her it was going to be twenty times worse. "OK I'll go… what about Alex is she coming too?" Manny laughed, "You know I wouldn't be me if I didn't get my two bestest buddies into the best and most secret party of the month." He laughed, "Alright if Alex goes I'll go." Manny squealed, "Oh love you Jay. I'll see you at school. Bye." He laughed and hung up the phone and tossed it to the bed and picked out clothes to wear and tossed them to the bed and walked in his bathroom and started the shower.

Emma Nelson sat at her vanity and brushed her hair. She wasn't into looks but presenting yourself properly helped. She looked at a picture of Craig, Jimmy and herself. She smiled and then frowned remembering right after that picture was taken Jason and his friends attacked them with water balloons. She rolled her eyes and she thought of Jason and his perfect little life. It irked her to see him walk around like he was god's gift to woman. She hated that he thought he could get away with anything. His whole group of friends used their popularity to use people where as Craig, Jimmy and Emma used theirs to help people. She smiled thinking of her two best guy friends. There was a sense of security in their bond for each other. Emma was never that girl to hang out with other girls and lucky for her Craig and Jimmy weren't the boys to push her down and say she had cooties. She looked in the mirror and smiled at her appearance. She wore her typical jeans and a small t shirt. Craig said it was quite becoming of her and Jimmy always managed to question why she didn't want to wear skirts. It'd always been his understanding that girls never got dirty and hated to sweat yet there was Emma Nelson running around with Craig Hoggart and Jimmy Brooks and not caring about anything but having fun.

She smiled and took a seat at her vanity again and looked at the envelope she'd received the night before as she was heading to bed. She still was confused by it and hadn't opened it yet. She figured it was one of the guys playing a joke and she was going to bust them on it. There was the sound of the door bell ringing then the door opening and closing and footsteps up the stairs. Emma simply held the envelope and smiled as he entered the room and fell to her bed, "Em I swear you're going to be murdered in your sleep if you don't lock that door." She laughed, "Jimmy you worry too much." He sighed and looked at her envelope, "What you got here a secret admirer letter?" Emma laughed, "Yeah right me secret admirer… I was figuring it was from you or Craig as a joke." He shrugged his shoulders, "No besides I wouldn't do that do you and neither would Craig." She nodded and Craig rushed inside, "I swear I thought I saw a monkey outside your house." They both looked at him confused and he laughed, "Joking it's a joke… so what is going on with my two best friends today?" Emma looked at him strangely, "Craig what are you on and can I have some." He just laughed and pulled out his history paper, "I worked on it most of the night and I swear it's my best work." Emma smiled, "That's great Craig I'm proud of you." Jimmy sat up, "Come on Em open it up and lets see what you got there." Craig took notice of the envelope, "Yeah what is that?" She sighed and rolled her eyes, "Wow Craig go back to sleep."

He just shook his head and took a seat as she opened it up and smiled, "It says, 'You and two guests named below are invited to the most exclusive party of the month thrown by All Eyes… it's time to break out your formal dresses and tuxedos and masks and dance the night away maybe more… Don't be late and you must not mention it to anyone not invited.' Emma could barely contain her laughter as she finished reading and Craig and Jimmy were right along with her. After a few minutes Craig sighed, "I think we should go." Jimmy and Emma looked at him confused and he laughed, "No for real let's go and see what one of these parties is like. I'm interested aren't you guys even just a little bit." Jimmy sighed, "I have to admit I wonder about those parties. I'm in." Emma turned around in her seat and looked in the mirror and bit her lip. Craig stood up and walked behind her and placed his hands on her shoulder, "Come on Em it won't be fun if you don't come with us." She smiled and sighed, "Ok but I'm gone if I don't like it." They both nodded and smiled at the idea of going to the most secretive party of the month. Emma sent them downstairs and she got her things and grabbed her bag and rushed down the stairs, "Let's go time for school." Craig and Jimmy both slowly walked out the door and she shut it behind them as she pushed them down the porch steps and to the car, "Come on guys make this easier for me." They laughed and got in Craig's truck and Emma slipped in the passenger seat and buckled up as Craig pealed out in front of the house.

Jason pulled up in front of the school and there as always was Manny and Alex waiting for their friend. Manny ran up to him and jumped in his arm, "Thank you thank you thank you thank you for agreeing to go to this party it's gonna be so much fun." He laughed, "No problem Tigger… I take it you're going Lex?" She smiled, "I figured I can't be the brooding cheerleader all the time… plus it might be fun." Jason laughed and wrapped his arms around her and hugged both girls. They were an interesting group, on the outside they were the jock, whore, and the bch but deep down it was so much more. Manny was caring and companionate and had a great heart. Alex was just misunderstood and Jason well he might seem like a player but he respected these two women and looked to them for advice. Where he was mean and a complete jackass to some he was kind and caring to them. Jason's moment of peace was taken as Craig' truck pulled up and across from where they stood. His eyes narrowed and his body tensed up. Manny looked at his face then followed his eyes and sighed as they landed on Craig and his friends.

Emma got out of the truck laughing at Jimmy and Craig walked around and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "Em it'll be fun… we'll help you get a dress." Emma looked up at him, "How are you two going to help me get a dress?" Jimmy faked hurt, "Ouch Em that hurts… did you forget we're guys… we'll tell you want looks hot or not." She laughed and wrapped her arm around their waists. Manny rolled her eyes, "She has to be dating one of them…. I mean she can't be just friends with both." Jason laughed, "She's probably doing them both." Manny and Jason laughed and Alex scoffed, "And you two forget that you Jay get that all the time about me and Manny." They stopped laughing and she continued, "I don't like them but they're not that far off from us… only instead of two girls and a guy it's two guys and a girl… can we please have one day where we're not bagging on them?" Jason nodded, "Ok one day but if any of them start something then I'm not holding to it any more." Alex just laughed and pushed him lightly as he pulled her back into his arms and walked into school.

Emma was at her locker with Jimmy and Craig when Jason, Manny and Alex walked in. She rolled her eyes, "Can you believe them three… I mean look at them… practically all over each other. He has to be dating one of them." Craig laughed, "Or both." Emma whipped her head around and glared at him then softened, "True it would be something that the king of the jackasses would do." Craig smiled, "Well forget them." Emma huffed, "No it's just not natural that him of all guys is friends with two girls. He has to be doing one if not both of them." Jimmy laughed, "And don't you think they think the same about us?" She looked at him with complete horror on her face, "We're not the same… everybody knows we're all friends." Craig chuckled, "Actually I've gotten a few questions about who out of me and Jimmy you were dating." "First of all Jimmy and I and second… what… that's crazy." Jimmy laughed, "Look Em I'm just saying they could be just really good friends cause look they're us only reversed. Just ignore them lets have one day ok?" Emma nodded and Craig smiled, "Alright but that'll be hard when we have English first period together." Emma groaned and closed her locker and walked into class with Craig and Jimmy behind her. Jason, Manny and Alex soon joined them.