Chapter 2
The Fresh Start
I knew that the first day of school was going to suck. I mean, hell, the first day of school usually sucked for everyone. But I didn't know just how much it was going to suck. I was hoping that my fresh start would be a chance to be seen as a new person. I figured two years away would have been enough time for everyone to forget about me, and forget about what had happened. I never really found out why the kid that I was defending had decided to back those assholes instead of the girl who had tried to defend him. But i had hoped that if he even recognized me, he would keep quiet about who i was. After all,because I had missed so much of my seventh grade year, I had to repeat it, so I would be in a whole different class, who know noting about me, or so I thought.
The beginning of the day passed without incident. I honestly thought that my wish might actually be coming true. But after lunch, as I was walking to my next class, I passed Jimmy Brooks in the hall way. Jimmy and I hadn't exactly been friends back in the seventh grade, but we had known each other, and spoke to each other occasionally during our shared shop class. As I walked past him, I met his eyes briefly, and was taken back by what I saw. Sure we were never really close, but we weren't exactly enemies either. Which is why i was so surprised to see hatred in his eyes. I looked down quickly, trying to figure out what i could have possibly done to have upset him. Hell, I hadn't seen the guy in two years. But here he was, walking towards me, looking like he was ready to kill me where I stood. Sensing the fight that was surely about to happen, I quickly walked towards my class with my head held low. I definitely wasn't going to get into a fight on my first day back, as I passed him, he knocked his shoulder into me, and I fell hard onto the ground, my books scattering everywhere. I swear as he walked away, I heard him mutter " crazy Bitch" under his breathe. I let it go, and quickly began to pick up my books. As I was about to grab my last one, another hand came out of nowhere and grabbed it before I got a chance. I looked up at the person who was now offering me a hand up, and my whole world came crashing around me.
As I looked up at the person who had kindly tried to help me, I was staring into a pair of eyes that I was hoping to never see again. Once I got to my feet, the guy, who those piercing blue eyes belonged to, extended his hand out to me once more, but this time, to introduce himself. What he didn't know, was that while I didn't know his name, I definitely knew who he was. This was the boy that started it all. I was sure of it. He may have been covered in blood, and bruises the last time I saw him, but I would know those eyes anywhere. "Sorry about him. We aren't all like that here, just so you know. I'm Sean. And you are new this heart, right?" He said to me, his icy blue eyes boring into my soul. I quickly nodded my head, and said thanks, as I bolted to my next class, eager to be done with this day and go home.
I didn't see Sean for the rest of the day, and I was glad. As soon as the final bell rang, I ran outside, and got on my motorcycle as fast as I could. I had to get away from there before anything else happened that would add to my worries. When I got home, Jay was eager to know how my day had been. He had been nervous about us having to come back, and me being back at Degrassi. I never did tell him exactly what had happened that day, and he was sure that I had gotten into some type of trouble, like he kind dad used to get into.I know that my brother loved me, but I could see the judgment in his eyes every time that I looked at him. I may have been his little sister, but if I hadn't gotten into that mess a couple of years ago, he wouldn't have to be responsible for me, and maybe our mom wouldn't have drank herself to death. I know that he would never say it to me, but I could feel the blame in his eyes every time he had to work overtime just so we could make our bills. I could hear it every time he had to lecture me when my anger got out of control. And I could see it every time I brought home a letter from school saying that my grades were dropping and that I wasn't engaging with my peers. If I had just minded my own business that day, maybe, junta maybe we would both be living different lives. But there was something about that boy that day. I couldn't just leave him laying there with those thugs. I felt the need to protect him, the way that no had ever tried to protect me. And I had a feeling that if I could do it over, I would have done the same exact thing. That was the first night in a year that I dreamt about the boy with the dish water blonde hair and the blue eyes. This was definitely going to be an interesting year.