Season One
Pilot Episode: Welcome Back
Jayden McDuelle sighed as he tied his white and purple shoes. There were several things that were wrong today. For starters, it was the first day back in school. That meant another school year with friends, enemies, exes, currents, teachers, tests, coaches, and most importantly, problems. Secondly, his younger brother, Aaron, was now going to school with him. Jayden had no problems with Aaron. But Aaron had problems with Jayden. Since moving to Toronto, Jayden has been the center of attention of a lot of students, and Aaron did not want to live in his shadow, much like they did in Newport Beach. Jayden did not personally care though. Aaron was his own person after all.
"Hey Jay," Jayden's mother, Manny McDuelle, said standing at his opened doorway. "Are you about ready?"
Jayden nodded. "Yeah." Jayden stood up and grabbed his back from his bed. "Dad left already?"
"He had to seal some deals, but he'll be here by lunchtime, I know that." Manny said. "He also took Aaron so no one would find out."
"Ah." Jayden said understandingly.
Aaron, unlike Jayden, went by his mother's maiden last name, Santos, so that no one could put the two together. Jayden never minded to do this, since he and their older sister, Danica, had several similarities that people instantly picked up on.
"So, who do you have this year?" Manny asked.
"Uh… I have Ms. Anderson again." Jayden said, hiding his hatred for his English teacher. "I'm in Media Immersion, thankfully."
"That's good." Manny said as the two began walking through the large house/mansion. "Do you know when the track meeting or basketball meeting will be?"
"No, but I'm sure Coach Blue does." Jayden replied. "Coach Hamilton usually doesn't tell us anything so my best bet is to go to Coach Blue first."
"Why, because he's our neighbor?" Manny asked with a smile.
Jayden shrugged. "Wise resources, right?"
"I guess." Manny said laughing a bit. "Have I ever told you that you remind me of your father?"
"Not a day goes by that you don't." Jayden muttered.
Truthfully, and much to the boy's chagrin and satisfaction, Jayden did look a lot like his father, more than any of his other siblings. Added with the dimples gained from his mother, he currently believes his looks are more of a burden than a blessing.
"So, are there any resolutions that you have this year? A.J says that he will go out for basketball." Manny said as the two got into her red Mercedes.
Jayden frowned in thought. "Resolutions…?" A car horn broke Jayden out of his thoughts as he saw his mother waving at their neighbors, the Coyne family getting into the car. Jayden eyed Scarlett getting into the car. "Nope. Can't think of any."
Manny caught her son looking at Scarlett and smiled.
"Oh, I think you do."
Aaron stood at the bottom of the steps of Degrassi Community School with his two friends, Jordan Cameron and Dustin Hayes.
Dustin sighed. "Well, here we go. First step into the new school."
"It can't be that bad." Jordan said. "Kelly and Shane go here. As well as…"
"As?" Dustin said when Jordan did not finish her statement.
"Jayden." Jordan replied with a smile.
Aaron scoffed. "Let's go. We're not going to see the entire school standing out here like a bunch of losers."
Dustin shrugged and followed Aaron up the steps, closely followed by Jordan. The three walked into the school and looked around.
"Now, where is Mr. Murphy's class?" Dustin asked.
"Look at this." Damon said coming to three. "Fresh meat."
"Fresh meat…?" Jordan replied, furrowing her brow.
"Hi. I'm Dustin Hayes." Dustin said stepping towards Damon. "I'm looking for Mr. Murphy's class."
Aaron palmed his forehead with his left hand. Jayden had warned him of the potential bullies of the school, and this guy seemed to be one of them.
Damon offered a hand, which Dustin took to shake. However, Damon applied more pressure than Dustin could take, making the younger boy fall onto one knee.
"Damon." Damon said as he still squeezed Dustin's hand.
"Let go of him!" Jordan ordered.
"First day," Jayden said coming into the school. "And you're already making yourself look even more pathetic than you did last year." Damon released Dustin and glared at Jayden. "Watch yourself McBride."
"Hey Jay!" Kelly called from down the hall.
"Seriously," Jayden said as he stepped to Damon. "Watch yourself."
With that Jayden walked past Damon and down the hall towards Kelly while Dustin stood up, holding his sore right hand. Damon glared at the three newcomers.
"Don't think you're getting off that easily." Damon said. "We will be seeing each other soon."
Despite himself, Aaron had to mentally thank Jayden for his interventions. And as Damon walked off, he figured that he would have to thank his older brother later.
"Jayden is the coolest…" Jordan said dreamily.
Aaron then lost all thoughts to do such thing.
"Let's go." Aaron said. "And Dustin," Dustin turned to Aaron. "How about I do the talking next time?"
"Sure A.J." Dustin replied.
"…And that's why I came back." Helen concluded, gaining a nod from Jayden and Shane. "Prep schools are not for me."
"Mainly because you're not preppy." Jayden said with a smirk. "You're more… What's the word?"
"Going to kill you if you say the wrong thing?" Helen suggested angrily.
"Close, but no." Jayden said.
"Well," Shane said. "I've been working all summer long. My parents can be a bit overbearing about the subject."
"You working?" Helen asked.
"Keeping us off the street." Kelly said before groaning. "They tell us this every single day. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. I could write a book about things I haven't even tried yet!"
"Sad." Scarlett said, finishing her preparations in her locker. "Now may I ask why all of you are crowded around my locker?"
"Oh Scar, get over it." Helen said. "You know as much as I do that you like the attention."
"Certain kinds of attention. Between you, J.T, Shane, and Kelly, I have a maniac, a pretty boy, a wannabe jock, and Dr. Seuss's henchman." Scarlett said before eying Kelly's outfit. "Seriously, do you take enjoyment in dressing like that?"
The question gained a silent snicker from Helen while Jayden looked at Kelly. Today she wore a white shirt beneath an orange vest, a jean skirt, and yellow and orange striped socks with her orange and black sneakers. This kind of dress was considered "normal" when one talked about Kelly Mason.
"Yes I do." Kelly answered.
"Well we don't." Helen said. "Please. If you learn nothing else this school year, get some fashion sense."
"Don't listen to them Kelly." Jayden said. "I said it the first day I met you and I'll say it again. I like it because it's different."
"Different isn't always a good thing, J.T." Scarlett said eying Jayden.
"And I'm not a pretty boy." Jayden said.
"And what does a 'wannabe' jock act like?" Shane asked, thinking about the question himself.
"Ugh. You guys are so annoying in the morning." Scarlett said. "Helen, I have announcements to do. Please make sure these three get to class. Especially one said neighbor."
Jayden frowned. "Why me? Why not Shane?"
"Because," Scarlett replied walking away. "Only one of you is dumb enough to skip the first class on the first day."
"I'm still not going." Jayden mumbled.
"I heard that." Helen said before grabbing Jayden's left arm. "Come on. Let's go."
"Nails…" Jayden said. "And my class is the other way."
"Shane, Kelly, let's go." Helen said changing directions.
Dustin sighed as he sat in a seat beside Jordan. Aaron sat in the row behind them beside a girl that went to school with them last year, Chandra Torres.
"Good morning and welcome back to another school year at DCS!" Scarlett said cheerfully on the TV. "I am Scarlett Chessex. Today…"
"God she's so fake." Chandra muttered. Chandra saw Aaron glance at her before speaking in a low tone. "Anyone can tell that she's not that gleeful."
"Oh." Aaron said.
"Hey, didn't I have you in a class last year?" Chandra asked. Aaron nodded. "I thought so. A.J Santos, right?"
"Yeah, that's me." Aaron said. "I thought you were going to Lakehurst."
Chandra scoffed. "I was but my parents were so passionate that I come here instead. I swear that old school rivalry is overrated."
"I heard a kid was stabbed by it." Aaron said.
Jordan, overhearing the two, turned around in her seat.
"Yeah. His name was J.T. He was a friend of my mom and dad's." Jordan said quietly. "She told me that there is a memorial here, but I haven't seen it yet."
"Sad." Chandra said. "Did you know that Manny McDuelle's son goes here? And Craig Manning's son? That's like two guys and one tub!"
Aaron fought himself not to openly gag about the comment. It was bad enough she had fantasies about his brother, but it was his brother and another guy at the same time. Thankfully, he has a very strong stomach.
"I saw Jayden earlier." Jordan said.
"Really? I bet he didn't say anything to you. Probably just passed you in the hallway or something." Chandra said.
"Actually," Jordan replied a bit heatedly. "He stood up for me to a guy named Damon. So it was more than just 'passing me in the hallway'. And he's friends with my older brother and sister."
Aaron really never understood why girls liked his brother so much. It confused him greatly that he had seen so many guys go out of their normal ways for a girl, and Jayden gets a handful by just being Jayden McDuelle.
"We'll see." Chandra said disbelievingly.
"It's going to be a long day." Aaron said.
"I know." Chandra and Jordan said in unison with Jordan turning back around to face the front.
Mary-Jane put the stubborn strand of her luscious blonde hair behind her ear again as she talked to the principal of the school, Mr. Simpson.
"I think it is a wonderful idea Mary-Jane." Mr. Simpson said. "But the announcements are over."
"I know. I was a little late getting here today and went straight to homeroom to check in. Sorry." Mary-Jane said. "But, I can always do the announcement during lunch or sixth period."
"Hmm… That sounds fine by me. Do it during your lunch. You've already missed homeroom. I don't want you to miss anymore class time today." Mr. Simpson said.
Mary-Jane nodded. "I'll be here then."
"Good. Go." Mr. Simpson said as Mary-Jane stood up and left his office. "She reminds me of Paige day by day."
Jayden put his hands in his jean pockets as he walked down the hall. There were many students that he recognized from his previous years, most of them he knew.
"So, where are you headed?" Helen asked catching up to Jayden.
"Algebra II." Jayden answered. "You?"
"Surprisingly, the same." Helen said. "Guess that means I have someone to cheat off of."
"Your F." Jayden said.
Helen rolled her eyes. "Please. I would never cheat off of you in history or science because those are the classes you absolutely suck at. But math is something I would cheat off of you faithfully."
"Where are your two running mates?" Jayden asked.
Helen shrugged. "Don't know and I don't care. Miss Jackie is probably learning how to tap-dance the Chinese alphabet and Nicky is probably catching AIDS from some random guy."
"If this is what you say about your 'friends', I hate to hear what you say about your enemies." Jayden said.
"Jayden, we've known each other for two, three years now. I think you know what I say about my enemies." Helen said before pointing to a girl standing by her locker. "She needs to put on clothes that actually don't reveal her veins."
Jayden laughed a bit. "Nothing has changed about you Helen."
"Me? Change? Never happened." Helen said.
"Hey Jay! Hey Helen!" Nicole said as the two walked into the class. "We have first period together. Isn't that great?"
Helen pinched the bridge of her nose. "Where is Ashton Kutcher when you need him?"
"I don't think we're being punk'd. I think she's serious." Jayden said as he sat in a seat beside Nicole.
"So," Nicole said leaning towards Jayden. "How was your summer?"
Jayden shrugged. "Nothing big."
"Yeah right." Helen said sitting behind Nicole. "His dad owns a villa in Italy. That's where he and his family go to."
"You need to stop hanging around me." Jayden said to Helen.
"Make me." Helen challenged with a glare. Helen's glare lessened before she gave Jayden a slightly sinister smile. "Where's your ex at?"
Jayden shot Helen the infamous McDuelle glare that is said to be passed on from generation to generation. Normally, the stare was enough to make any sane person think twice, but Helen Sinclair-Coyne was far from the average sane person.
"I thought we agreed that Jackie didn't like to be referred to that." Jayden said.
Helen shrugged. "Silly me."
Mary-Jane rolled her eyes. "That's true. I can't believe that we have to do this."
"Come on, asking a guy to a dance should be easy for the notorious Mary-Jane Del Rossi." Amber said.
"It's not that I can't ask anyone and they'll say yes. It's just who would I ask?" Mary-Jane asked.
"Well," Amber said. "There's Steven and James. I'm sure you don't want Marc and-"
"Ew, no." Mary-Jane interrupted. "I only put up with that loser because you put up with that loser." Mary-Jane then sat up straighter. "But… James shouldn't be that bad, should he?"
"No…" Amber replied.
"But, it'll be weird seeing as you two dated and I know you want to be back with him." Mary-Jane said. "So I'll just hold him for a back-up and let you do your magic."
"It's not really magic." Amber said with a smile. "It's just a hair flick, a smile, and a question. That can't be beat."
"We'll see." Mary-Jane said.
Kelly stared at the paper in front of her. Leave it to Mr. McCall to give a pop quiz on the first day of school. Kelly looked over at Dakota, who was having similar problems. Canada had too much history.
"Dash," Kelly whispered. Dakota looked at her friend. "What did De Champlain find? Montreal or Quebec?"
"Quebec." Dakota answered in an equally low tone.
Kelly gave a nod before writing the answer.
"This is so stupid." Dakota whispered. "Half of this stuff I don't even know."
"This isn't going to look for our first grade." Kelly whispered.
"Time." Mr. McCall said rising from his seat. "Pencils down. I'll be collecting these and seeing where you stand. Whether you're good enough to say in my class, better and have to be put somewhere else, or not so good and put back to what you were in last year."
Kelly sighed. "Well Dash, nice sitting beside you."
"We'll be beside each other back in our old class." Dakota replied with a grin. "So it will be nice sitting beside you."
"Likewise." Kelly said as Mr. McCall grabbed their papers. "And to think that this year has only started."
"Another year being a panther. Boy, this is the life." Dakota said sarcastically.
"Yeah. Lucky us." Kelly said. "At least you don't have Nathan breathing down your neck."
"Is that all?" Dakota asked. "I have two brothers that go to this school, both of them complete jerks, everyone thinks I'm some emotionally distorted individual who looks at the dark side of everything, and to top it off, the dad I claim is leaving for another tour and this one is in Europe." Kelly smiled wearily. "Yeah. So you don't have anything on me."
"You're right. Sorry Dash." Kelly said.
"No problem." Dakota replied.
Aaron and Dustin walked out of their first period class before Damon stepped in front of them.
"Told you that we'd meet again." Damon said. "Now, which one of you wants to go first?"
"What do you want?" Aaron asked.
Damon struck a thinking pose. "Hmm… What could I want from two puny kids? Lunch money? Nah, they're probably broke. And since-"
"Wait," Aaron said digging into his pockets. "I do have money. I'm nowhere near broke."
"You're still picking on kids smaller than you? Seriously Scooter, who bullies anymore?" Scarlett asked as she and Helen rounded the corner to the group.
Damon frowned. "Sorry if I'm not up to your standards. I forget that you and your cousin are the wannabe princesses of the school."
"Are you dumb?" Helen said. "You do know that her dad is the football coach right? Maybe picking on his daughter isn't the brightest thing in the world." Helen then scowled. "Then again… Look who I'm talking to."
"That's not going to work on me." Damon said before turning towards Aaron and Dustin. "Lunch money. Now."
Dustin stood frozen, his jaw slightly opened as he stared at Scarlett. He remembered seeing her before when he was younger, but seeing her again, this close, literally shut his brain down.
Helen frowned. "Uh, kid, fix your jaw before a fly flies in."
Dustin blinked. "Huh? What did you say?"
"Let's go Helen. I don't want to be late for Art of all classes. Daddy will be pissed." Scarlett said before looking at Damon. "And for your sake, you'd better hope I forget about this on my way down there or someone will become the permanent benchwarmer for the team. But if you're lucky, I'll see if I can talk Helen into letting you being the mascot."
"Whatever." Damon said as Aaron and Dustin walked off. "Dang it! That's the second time this has happened!"
Kelly sighed as she tried her best to get to her class without running down the hall. She was, unfortunately, caught by Nathan.
"Well, well," Nathan said as he and Laura leaned against the lockers. "If it isn't sweet Kelly."
"Not today Nathan." Kelly said.
"How about you and I go to the movies sometime soon and we'll call it even?" Nathan asked.
Kelly snorted in laughter. "I'd rather die than go on a date with you."
"Kelly! What's taking you so long?" Shane asked as he poked his head out of a classroom door.
"Brothers…" Kelly muttered before walking off.
Laura began laughing as Nathan gave her a fierce glance. This, however, did not stop her from laughing as she wiped away an imaginary tear.
"Oh don't try that tough look on me. It'll never work." Laura said. "I can't believe you're still going after waiter-girl. Why don't you go for someone that might make you look better?"
"Like who? You?" Nathan asked.
"I'm trying to hook you up, not make a miracle." Laura shot back. "Anyway, let's see now… There's those two cousins that annoy me to no end. You could get the one that does the announcements."
"Why not Helen?" Nathan questioned.
Laura frowned. "Because I hate cheerleaders."
Nathan waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, yeah. Heard the story before." Nathan put his hand down and sighed. "Where's Scooter at? I do not want to go to class."
"Then don't." Laura said standing up straight. "See you out in the back. Bring some cards or something to do." Nathan opened his mouth. "I will never have sex with you Nathan Hogart. Get that through your thick skull."
"Never say never." Nathan said as Laura began walking away. "And stop swaying your hips! It's slightly distracting for a girl who wears a biker's jacket."
Laura gave Nathan the middle finger over her shoulder as she continued walking. Nathan laughed as he leaned against the lockers. Laura Reynolds, the proclaimed toughest girl in the school, was also a complete heartthrob. She had dated several guys before, none of them really important because she usually used them for things like a car, homework, or an alibi. Laura would never "fall in love" because she, like Nathan, knew that there was no such thing. Besides, it was much more fun using people than loving them.
James smiled. "That was the second best day of my life."
"Why's that?" Amber asked.
"Well I-"
"I believe I was talking." Toby interrupted James. "Now, like I was saying, this year in Media Immersion, we're going to do things differently. For instance, I've decided that you'll only have one written exam. The others will be on the computer." The students cheered for the declaration. Those who took the class last year all complained about having to write essays and long answers for the exams. Now they would type it. "And we will also be doing class projects as a class. Everyone must attribute for a grade."
"Now," Amber said lowering her previously raised hand. "When you say that it'll be a 'class' project, does that mean that it'll be a project that you decide the topic on or us?"
"I'll give you all what I'm looking for and the rest is up to you." Toby replied.
"So when will we be doing these projects?" Steven asked.
Toby sighed. "Uh, about December, January. I want it to be there before the second semester."
"This class has just gotten a bit easier." Steven said to James.
"I know." James replied. "Now all we have to do is find a way out of Mr. Woods English class and we're good."
"Hopefully." Steven said.
"Let me see if I get this straight," Jayden said staring at the two cousins. "I have you both in Coach Blue's class? That just sucks."
Helen smiled. "Don't worry Jayden. Later on, we can go find your ex and you can tell someone who'll listen."
"Seriously J.T, I don't see the big problem." Scarlett said. "So what if he's my dad, your neighbor, and could make your life hel-heck if I ask him to? There's nothing to worry about."
"Watch your language or you'll have something to worry about." Jayden said with a smirk. "Problem with having a parent that's a teacher is that they're around you in school where the rest of us could say that line. But you? You're stuck."
"Can you even draw?" Helen asked Jayden.
"Can you?" Jayden replied.
"Better than you, I'm sure." Helen said. "If your History is anything like your art, then I'm sure a blind man draws better than you."
"Care to make a bet?" Jayden asked Helen.
"No." Helen said quickly.
Jayden laughed quietly. One thing that Jayden, and Danica, were known for is making smart bets. Therefore, their betting record has no losses, except for Jayden who lost two bets to his dad and Danica.
"Do you know what I've just thought about?" Scarlett asked.
"What?" Helen asked.
"The last time the three of us had the same class together," Scarlett said as she continued to think. "Was J.T's first year here. Don't you remember Helen?"
"Scar's right. That is the last time we were together." Helen said. "That can only mean one thing."
"What?" Jayden asked.
"Something bad is going to happen." Helen responded. "And I'm just reminding you both, I don't go down easily."
"Tell us something new." Jayden mumbled.
Helen frowned. "Something new? I got something. Both of you dated losers that you're still in contact with. Weird? No. Stupid? Yes."
"We will not talk about that again in this class." Scarlett said. "Now, pay attention. Daddy's about to start class."
"Just my luck." Jayden said.
Lunch time finally came for the students, giving some a relief from the hardship of the classroom. Meanwhile, Mary-Jane made her way to the office to make the announcement. She would have done it over the television, but she did not have time for the any of the AV nerds, as she calls them, to set it up for her. So instead, she opted for the intercom.
"Attention students," Mary-Jane said into the intercom, pressing the button to speak to the entire school. "Friday we will be hoisting the first ever Back-to-School Dance. Tickets will be sold tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday during lunch, and Thursday and Friday after school. And guys, before you ask the girls, think twice. During this dance, the girls must ask the guys to the dance. Have a nice day."
"Are you serious?" Scarlett asked as she sat at the cafeteria table with Helen, Nicole, and Jacquelyn. "When did they decide this and why wasn't I informed of this earlier?"
"It's Mary. She's just-"
"Who would I ask?" Scarlett interrupted Helen.
Helen frowned. "I don't know. Who would I ask?"
"I know who I want to ask." Nicole said glancing at the table that sat Shane, Jayden, Jacob, Kelly, and Dakota.
"Jayden?" Helen asked.
Nicole shook her head. "No. Shane. But maybe Jay too if… Ah, I'd say both of them if I could."
Jacquelyn rolled her eyes. "I swear this is some sort of problem."
"What?" Nicole asked innocently as she played with one of her pigtails.
"That cute trick only works on guys." Helen said. "And Miss Jackie, let her be. She needs the attention because with those brains, she's not getting far."
"I guess I could ask someone to go." Scarlett said absentmindedly. "But who? Shane's a little… Odd. And Jayden is already my neighbor. I don't want to see him all day long."
"Well, if you're going to be like that, I'll ask him." Helen said, causing Jacquelyn, Scarlett, and Nicole to look at her. "What? It's just some stupid dance that girls, us, have to ask guys, them. Get over it."
"Wait a second, how do you know he'll say yes?" Jacquelyn asked.
"Are you jealous, Miss Jackie?" Helen replied.
"Helen," Scarlett said. "Let's be honest about one thing. Jayden T. McDuelle is a little different than normal guys. Threatening him won't intimidate him in any way at all."
Helen scoffed. "Is that what you all think? That I can't be feminine and flaunt to get a guy to a dance?" Scarlett nodded. "Fine then. I'll just flirt with him and then ask him. And then we'll see who gets the last laugh."
"I'm warming up my vocal chords as we speak." Scarlett said.
At Shane's table, the group was also describing the new dance.
"I hate dances." Dakota said.
"Have you ever been to one Dash?" Jayden asked. Dakota glared at Jayden, who smiled. "Come on Dash, you can't really hate something you don't know anything about. But, they are a bit overrated at points."
"Thankfully," Kelly said. "I have a shift on Friday, so I don't have any pressure of asking or rejecting anyone."
"Lucky." Dakota muttered.
"What about you Jacob? Any girl that you would like to ask you?" Jayden asked.
"Well, um, there is one girl, but, uh…" Jacob stammered.
"Calm down. This isn't twenty questions." Kelly said. "We won't even ask who the girl is."
Jacob nodded. "Thanks."
Jayden frowned as he saw the small smile that grew on Shane's face. Since moving to Toronto, Jayden has learned several things about his friend, Shane Mason. One thing was that Shane hardly smiled at inside jokes. If the joke was that funny, Shane said it and explained it. But this smile was something Jayden has learned as Shane's secret smile. A trait that both Shane and Kelly have. When one knew something that others did not, they would put on a smile similar to the one Shane was wearing now. Being the observant person that he was, Jayden knew that this secret had something to do with Jacob and his secret crush. However, the respectable side of Jayden figured it was better left a secret until Jacob revealed it himself.
"Who would you like to go to the dance with?" Dakota asked Jayden.
"Well," Jayden said as he thought about the question. "I don't really have a preference right now. I'm sure that Helen will get Jackie to ask me though. She loves messing with people like that."
"You're right." Shane said. "Possibly the same for me and Scarlett."
"Yep." Jayden said. "The friends we have."
"Ditto…" Shane said.
Across the cafeteria, Aaron, Jordan, and Dustin sat talking amongst themselves. Their conversation paused a second as Chandra sat down beside Dustin.
"Ashton Manning, super jerk." Chandra announced. "Nothing like his brother." Aaron, Dustin, and Jordan just stared at her. "What? Was someone sitting here or something?"
"No. Just that you're sitting here." Dustin said. "Don't you have any other friends?"
"Let's see. I'm a geek, like you. I'm new to the school, like you. And, oh, I'm sitting here, like you. How many friends can I have?" Chandra retorted.
"Well," Aaron said. "Who are you asking to the dance?"
"I was thinking about Jayden, but then I saw Steven and almost forgot him. Then I saw Jayden and remembered him all over again." Chandra said.
Jordan frowned. "You think that you can get Jayden to the dance? Yeah right."
"Is that a bet?" Chandra asked.
"It's a dare." Jordan said crossing her arms.
"Fine." Chandra said standing up. "I'll be back."
The trio watched Chandra walk to the other side of the cafeteria.
"Do you think he'll say yes?" Dustin asked.
"No." both Aaron and Jordan said in unison.
Shane frowned. "Hey, it's one of the newbies."
Jayden and the others turned to see Chandra approaching their table.
"Hey, um Jayden right?" Chandra asked with a smile.
"Yeah. What can I do for you?" Jayden replied.
"I was wondering," Chandra said. "Would you go to the dance with me?"
Kelly and Dakota sat slack-jawed as Jayden searched through his mind to find a polite way to put her down.
"What are you doing here Bambi?" Helen asked from behind Chandra.
Chandra frowned. "You again? Do you have anything better to do other than stalk me all day?"
"If you didn't know," Helen said. "You're standing in my way and this is my friend that you're talking to. And see her?" Helen pointed to Jacquelyn. "That's his crazy ex-girlfriend who is seconds away from coming over here to ask him to the dance."
"Well, she'll have to wait in line until I'm done." Chandra said.
"Um, Bambi," Jayden said, not knowing Chandra's name so he used the nickname that she responded to. Thankfully, Chandra looked at him. "I'm sorry, but I can't go to the dance with you. I mean, not that I can't, but… It's complicated."
"It's because you're a sophomore, isn't it?" Chandra asked.
"Yes and no. There's more to it." Jayden said. "I hardly know you. In fact, I don't know you at all. But, in the future, if we ever become friends and there's another dance where girls have to ask guys, then we'll go. I promise." Chandra frowned slightly. "Hey, I don't break promises. So if I promise you it'll happen, it will happen."
"He's telling the truth, unfortunately." Helen said. "Now go take a nap somewhere or something while I talk to Jayden and Shane."
"Oh no." Shane said covering his ears with his hands. "I knew she was going to say something about it."
"Fine." Chandra said. "Oh, and thanks Jayden. See you around?"
"Only if I don't see you first." Jayden said with a smile, gaining a positive smile from Chandra. Chandra turned around and walked off. "Embarrassing."
"If I ever doubted it before," Kelly said. "I don't now. You do know how to talk your way out of trouble."
"Between my mom and my dad, it's sort of natural." Jayden said before looking at Helen. "Now, what do you want?"
"Nothing now." Helen said before clearing her throat. "I mean, I did have something to say, but Bambi has got my mind all jumbled and stuff. I'll tell you both later, okay?"
"Sure…" Jayden said.
Helen grinned. "Great. See you around." Helen's grin dropped. "And no, you won't see me first. You never do."
"I'll try to next time." Jayden said as Helen walked away. "That was weird."
"Helen Sinclair-Coyne has finally lost it." Dakota said. "All that evilness in one body has finally killed the brain."
Shane laughed. "Yeah right. All that evilness is her brain."
Chandra sat down with a content sigh.
"And…?" Jordan asked.
"He said no." Chandra answered.
"I told-"
"But," Chandra cut Jordan off. "He said that if we become friends and there's another dance where the girls have to ask the guys, he'd go with me. He promised."
"Oh no." Aaron muttered.
"What?" Dustin asked.
"Well," Aaron said. "It's rumored than whenever Jayden 'promises' something, he usually does his best to go through with it, no matter what."
"Oh. So in other words, Chandra won this bet at a later time." Dustin said.
"Exactly." Chandra said before glaring at Jordan. "Don't bet against me. I never lose."
"We'll see." Jordan said. "That should've been me…"
"Oh boy." Aaron said.
The end of the day came with the students trying to get out of the refurbished school as quick as possible.
"I can't believe I have to ask some guy to the dance." Mary-Jane said. "Worst thing is, it was my idea."
Amber shrugged. "I'm sure the right guy will come sooner or later." James blew the horn to his car. "You riding with us?"
"Of course." Mary-Jane said as the duo made their way to James's white Lexus.
"Where to?" James asked as the girls got into the backseat, seeing that Steven occupied the passenger seat.
"My house." Mary-Jane said. "I have to go through last year's yearbook to find a likeable date for the dance."
"You going to Mary's Amber?" James asked.
Amber nodded. "Yeah."
"Okay." James said. "Oh, by the way Amber, I did get your message from the other night. I just thought I'd tell you that there is no such thing as a yeti."
"You say that now." Amber said with a smile. "When you're snowboarding or hiking or climbing, one of them might come out and get you."
"That sounds more like a rapist than a yeti." Steven commented.
"You never know…" Amber said before laughing.
"My friend has caught stupid from Marc. Hooray for me." Mary-Jane said flicking a strand of hair from in front of her face.
"Hey!" Amber exclaimed as Steven and James laughed.
Scarlett frowned. "He said that?"
"Yes." Helen said to her cousin as she lied in her bed. "Weird huh?"
"So," Scarlett said. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know, but I do know that I'm definitely asking him to the dance while I got the chance." Helen replied. "I can't have tramps like Bambi getting him."
"Well… I wish you luck." Scarlett said.
"Thanks." Helen said with a small smile. "I'll probably need it."
Scarlett left Helen's room and walked to her own. She flopped on her bed and sighed heavily. Truthfully, she wanted to ask Jayden to the dance seeing as they had been growing closer over the previous year. She thought, more like knew, that there was more than a friendship between the two. But, if what Helen said was true, then that means that he feels the same for Helen, possibly more. This angered Scarlett, but she refused to let it show.
"Whatever J.T." Scarlett mumbled to herself. "Two can play that game."
