Disclaimer: don't own Degrassi..if I did, I would so have Daniel Clark all to myself lol

Here I am. Ms. goody-two-shoes, skipping school with Degrassi's bad boy. But I guess a lot changed in the past year, the biggest of all being the shooting and Sean moving. Well, for me at least. We're both sitting here, silent, nothing but some crappy song playing on the radio. Some American singer. Hilary Duff I think they said her name was. Jay's looking over at me. Oh no, conversation time.

"You quiet or just shy?" he asks me. I'm amazed he didn't call me tree-hugger.

"A lot on my mind." Short answer, but it said all that needed to be said.

"Oh. About Sean?"

"How did you know?" I ask, questioning how he found out.

"You have that look on your face like you're thinking about someone. You miss him, don't you?"

Pause.

"A lot. I cant stop thinking about him."

"Yeah, I know the feeling."

"So why isn't Alex with us?" An uncomfortable silence followed.

"She...she broke up with me."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, you didn't know."

"You really loved her, didn't you?"

"Yeah. She kept me alive for a few months when my parents got a divorce."

"Wow. I never knew. I'm so sorry."

"It's okay."

Silence again.

"You mind if I put a cd in?"

"Not at all. It's your car. Where are we going anyway?"

"I was thinking we could go visit our good friend Sean."

I could hear a slight sarcasm on the word friend, but I thought nothing of it.

"Sounds good to me."

"What music do you like anyway?"

Random Question.

"Everything, you?"

"Punk and Emo."

"Really? You struck me as a rap guy."

"Only at parties and when I'm with people. Don't wanna be called a sissy, ya know?"

"Yeah. I don't think you are though."

"Really?"

"Really. Who is this anyway?"

"An American band, Matchbook Romance."

"They're really good."

"Yeah, I think so too."

We sat for a while in silence, just listening to the words of the songs. A slow song came on. It was so nicely written. I looked over at Jay, and realized he was looking at me since the song started. I started to blush a little.

"Why are you embarrassed?"

"Because I'm not much to look at, but you're staring at me."

"Yeah, you're a lot to look at Emma, you're beautiful."

"Really?"

"Really. I don't know why you let Sean push you around like he did. And I'm sorry that I did."

"Because I thought I loved him. And you're forgiven. So, If you don't mind me asking, what happened with you and Alex?"

"I caught her cheating on me with a...friend."

I think I knew at that point who the friend was. But it was so cute how he was trying to protect me from the truth. I started to cry a little.

"Sean?" I asked, my voice quivering.

"I didn't want to tell you. You don't deserve someone like that. I'm sorry you had to find out from me."

"Better you than a total stranger. I needed to hear that though. You know, I was always jealous of Sean because he always got to hang out with you, and I wish I could too."

"Why?

"Because I always had a little crush on you, Jay."

"Really?"

"Yeah. It was always hard for me watching you and Alex."

"I'm sorry. But I'm here now. And I think you're beautiful. Ok, we're here. Wanna help me tell Sean what we really think of him right now?"

"Yeah but I'm a little scared of how he'll react."

"Don't worry, I'll protect you."

After he said that, he gave me a little kiss on the forehead and put his arms around my shoulders. For the first time in a while, I felt safe. I felt like I belonged.