Chapter 2

Better Off Rejected

The crowd was pumped up by the music and non-stop excitement. Students were up on their feet dancing and having a good time as the power squad stood there and watch.

Ha-ha, in their faces! Ariel thought to herself. Ariel was of course celebrating as well by dancing and clapping her merry way on over to the girl who got this rally all started.

"This is so awsome," Ariel shouted trying to speak over the loud music.

"I know right!" Ali shouted back while still moving to the beat. Everybody was dancing; Sav, Dave, the kid with funny afro were all dancing. Even some of the football players were tapping a toe or two.

Clare, the girl who had her glasses ran over by Morty, was jumping and smiling without a care in the world. Ariel envied that about her although she hardly knew her. Thankfully for her the rally was cut short by Degrassi's student body President Sav Bhandari. He announced it was time for the pep rally to end and for the game to begin.

Ariel wandered back over to the bleachers and took her sit at end of the row, away from everyone else. She noticed how everyone had their place next to a friend. Even the funny afro kid had his place.

Ariel tried to hold back the pity that was overwhelming her. It was too hard for her to with stand— seeing everyone with their buddies, laughing and cheering along the panthers side by side. That's what Ariel wanted the most, but sadly for her she had doubt that nobody will accept her, or at least her unstable settings.

Coach Armstrong blew the whistle and the game was on. Jocks of brilliant blues and gold began to pack the field as the opposing team followed. Everyone was rooting for the panthers, except Ariel.

She just sat there with her long black hair blowing in the wind. While Ali was busy cheering on Drew, Clare noticed Ariel sitting all alone. She frowned and nudged Ali.

"Hey, maybe we should invite Ariel to come sit with us. She seems so lonely down there." Clare turned towards Ariel and faced Ali again.

Ali looked over at Ariel, then at Clare, then back at Ariel and back at Clare.

"Are you serious? Clare, do you know how much that could mess up my social status? I mean, I'm probably raging with popularity right now."

"Is that all you can think about right now, popularity. What about those who aren't so out there in the world, they do get lonely to you know." Clare narrowed her eyes at Ali.

"Well boo-hoo for them. It's not my fault for them being social rejects." Ali mocked.

Clare rolled her eyes and said, "And says the girl who got rejected from the power squad and her own club."

Clare grabbed her bag off the bench and left, only leaving her best friend Ali with no words to say. She made her way down to Ariel who was still sitting by herself while watching game.

"What a waste," She thought, looking down at the palm of her hands.

"Hey, is this sit taken." Clare smiled, motioning her hand towards the bench.

Ariel snapped out her illusion of boredom and replied pretty tremulously.

"Um, n-not at all," She shook her head.

"Thanks," Clare said, sitting down beside the baffled Ariel. "So, are you new here?"

Ariel looked up and began to speak rather nervously. "Y-yeah, I'm new— newer than you even know." Ariel frowned.

"Well, welcome aboard the S.S. Degrassi! I'm Clare, Clare Edwards."

"I'm Ariel, Ariel Goldsworthy."

"Really? I'm sure you wouldn't happened to be related to—,"

"Eli Goldsworthy? Yeah, I happen to share the same blood as him."

Clare chuckled. "Well there's no arguing with that fact."

"You know it," Ariel smiled.

Clare and Ariel laughed as Ali watched from the top of the bleachers. She was glaring down at the two, scowl after scowl. Dave and Wesley, who were sitting right below Ali, caught a glimpse of her during their constant cheering.

"Hey what's wrong with Ali?" Wesley asked, pointing back at her.

Dave looked back at Ali and looked towards Clare who was happily sitting beside Ariel.

"Uh, I don't know, but I wouldn't even bother." He replied before tuning back into the game.

"Well maybe we should go see what's wrong." Wesley suggested, nearly turning around.

"Hey-hey man, don't do that. You do not want to get involved in that girl drama. Trust me."

Wesley looked back at Ali one last time before agreeing with Dave and tuning back into the game. Ali remained stuck in a pit of jealousy and anger as the game continued on. Her best friend, Clare, was no longer concerned about her. Instead she was having a blast with the social reject known as Ariel Goldsworthy.

"So that's the way it's gonna be, huh Clare? Well just you wait." Ali thought while crossing her arms and plastering a grin across her face.

"Because I don't need you or that social reject," She paused, looking over at Bianca who swore she wasn't going to show up at the game. "I have all the friends I need."

The tensions were high as the Eagles and the Panthers were at neck and neck. The time was dwindling down by the seconds with only KC left to deliver the final touchdown.

"Five, four, three, two, one," Ariel counted down anxiously. "Touch down!"

The crowd went wild as the Panthers took home the victory. Jocks of bright blues and yellows tossed their helmets up into the air while the cheerleaders began to cheer. The other team, however, were pretty pissed off. Off to the side one of the team players kicked the Gatorade container while shouting,

"Screw you Panthers! You pee-wee babies got lucky!"

Ariel and Clare looked at each before busting out laughing. "Well someone certainly needs anger management classes." Clare said in between her laughs.

"Please, he needs more than anger management. He needs therapeutic help."

Both the girls were still laughing as Ali and Bianca strolled up in front them. Clare immediately noticed the lack of sun shining on her and looked up. Ariel did the same, but was completely unaware of what was going on.

"Um, can we help you with something?" Ariel said, rising to her feet.

"Uh, from you— not so much," Bianca smirked, placing her hand on her right hip.

"But, I just wanted to let you know Clare I don't need a ride home from you. Bianca already has that covered." Ali butted in, trying to sound all big and bold.

Clare tapered her eyes at Ali. "You cannot be kidding me." She roused to her feet. "Is this kind of way of getting back at me for telling you off early, because—,"

"No Clare, this isn't a plot for revenge. Let's just say I'm getting more out there into the world."

"And you choose her to start with?" Ariel commented, looking Bianca up and down.

Bianca widened her eyes in disbelief. "I just know you're not talkin' o' Miss Mary Mack. What did you do, drown yourself in black and called it a day?"

Ali snickered as Ariel started to turn red. Clare looked over at her with worry. Bianca tapped Ali on the shoulder and said, "Well I loved to stay for the pity party, but we have to go."

As Bianca started for the park lot, Ali hanged back with a haughty grin across her face.

"Well I guess I'll talk to you later Clare," She remarked before prancing away. "Or not."

* Remember to comment & subscribe! And chapter 3 will definitely be submitted ASAP. So stay tuned =)*

XOXO - Fictionfairy