A/N: Just wanted to give you guys a heads up about this next chapter. In here is a flashback about how Jay and Alex break up. I'm changing the time frame and the storyline to go with my story... you'll see.

One more thing, DO NOT WORRY!: This is not a Jalex story. I put Paige in this chapter just so you all wouldn't be worried. Jay and Alex are very close in this story, but they will never get together.

Disclaimer: Don't sue me, my Dad's a lawyer. Plus, c'mon, I don't own Degrassi or the characters.

Chpt. Two

It took an entire week for Alex to heal. Alex had needed minor surgery to have the glass removed from her leg. One twisted ankle, and a hell of a lot of cuts and bruises. The hospital asked lots of questions of course, but the bar fight story was enough. Jay made sure Alex stayed at his place, though Alex certainly wasn't going to argue. Nobody would miss her at home.

The following Monday Jay and Alex pulled up in Jay's orange Honda. Students turned on the steps and watched the pair as they strutted up the stairs like they owned the place. Jay wore his black baseball cap and leather jacket; Alex sported a white wife beater and her signature shades.

Most people figured they had gotten back together. They dated briefly back in their sophomore year, but they felt more like brother and sister. Or, at least that's what they told people.

Jay still had feelings for Alex, even after she broke up with him, and one night, after smoking a great deal of marijuana, he decided to profess his undying love to her.

"Lexi please, I need you!" Jay was on his hands and knees in front of Alex's apartment door. Alex stood there disbelievingly, her jaw agape and her eyes were wide.

"Jay, you fucking idiot, get out of here, you look terrible," She spoke with sincerity even though her choice of words did not show it.

"I won't leave your door step until you take me back!" Jay was practically screaming and was causing quiet a stir in the hallway.

"Jay, I can't do that, I'm sorry," Seeing Jay like this was like a knife through Alex's heart. Even though she didn't have feelings for him, she hated seeing him like this.

"You HAVE to! I love you!" Now he really was screaming at the top of his lungs. He stood up and loomed over Alex as she backed up into her apartment.

"Jay, don't you dare come in here, I mean it!" Now she was yelling.

"Lexi!" He came through the door and grabbed her shoulders, "You have to take me back, you have to!"

"Jay let go of me!" Alex shoved off his hands and tried to run to her room, but Jay grabbed her wrist.

"You're not going anywhere!" The look in his eyes nearly gave Alex an heat attack... he looked so much like Chad right now.

"Jay please!"

"Shut up!" Jay tried to slap her, but Alex dodged it and tried to run again. Jay began to chase her, knocking a lamp shade onto the ground.

He pried her away from her bedroom door and turned her around so that their faces were merely inches apart. "Lexi..." he was panting very hard, "Look at me, I'm going crazy without you... please..." his voice trailed off as he kept panting.

Alex was almost frozen in fear, "Jay no, I'm sorry, I won't."

Jay gripped her shoulders harder and it caused her to wince in pain, "Why not, you HAVE to!"

"I can't!" Alex was on the verge of tears.

"WHY NOT?!"

"Because I'm a lesbian that's why!" Alex burst into tears as she revealed this to Jay. Jay instantly let go of her, falling back, slinking to the floor. He too began to cry, ashamed of what he had just done. He shivered as he kept sobbing.

"Lexi... I'm... so... I'm so sorry!" His face was red and streaked with tears.

Alex nodded. "Jay, just- just get out!" She half yelled, half cried.

Jay slinked away on all fours, pulling himself up in the doorway. He turned back to look at her, before running down the stairs and out the apartment complex.

The next day at school, Jay was standing, well rather, pacing outside on the steps, waiting for Alex. He was growing anxious. He was beginning to think she wouldn't show up, but then he saw her.

Alex slowly walked up the steps over to Jay, with her head down. She had on her sunglasses, and wore a long sleeve shirt. She only wore a shirt like that when she had bruises on her arms... his heart sank at the thought. His eyes watered over, he felt like he was about to cry.

Alex stood one step below Jay. She slowly lifted her head to look at him.

A million thoughts shot through Jay's mind, and the one that made it through to his lips was,"Lexi, about last night, I was so out of line, please-"

"Shh," She put her finger to his lips. "What happened last night is in the past Jay, let it go."

Jay squinted at Alex, confused. He gently took her finger from his mouth before speaking, "But I'm a horrible jerk, I was such an asshole to you, I-"

"Jay," Alex broke in, "yes, what you did was wrong, very, very wrong. But I care about you too much to cut you out of my life. I don't think I could handle things without you."

"But... but you said you don't want to be with me," Jay said quietly.

"I don't Jay," Alex crossed her arms.

"Then," Jay exhaled sharply, "...then how can you say something like that?"

Alex sighed. "Jay..." she bit her lip, "I said those things because they're true. I DO need you in my life, but as a friend. Do you understand?"

Jay closed his eyes, and nodded.

"Jay, my mom's a drunk, her asshole boyfriend is an even bigger drunk. You're all I have. You can be such an idiot sometimes, but I still need you. Just not the way you want me to."

A tear spilled down Jay's cheek. It left a pale, thin streak down his skin, he hadn't showered since the night before. He really looked like hell.

Alex smiled weakly at her friend. She then took his face in her hands and spoke softly, "Jay, look at me," his watery eyes met her chocolate brown ones, "You have to understand... listen carefully okay?" Her gaze was piercing and he nodded. He knew better than to not. "If you do love me, you have to understand this. You cannot tell anyone, do you understand?"

Jay didn't move. He just kept staring into her eyes. He could see the fear in them, the worry. "Jay, please... say you won't tell anyone," her voice broke as she pleaded with him. "Jay..." her voice was barely above a whisper, "Please."

Jay dropped his gaze to the ground. Time seemed to stand still. Alex bit her lip in anticipation. She held her breath, she wanted to say something, but Jay beat her to it. "I promise Lexi."

Alex let out a sigh of relief. She wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you Jay, thank you so much," her voice was barely audible but Jay nodded his head.

Jay was a man of his word. He may have acted like a total scum bag, but he kept his promise to Alex. He knew how horrible people were to the gays at school. He knew, because he bullied them all the time. But he cared too much about Alex to see her get thrown to the lions of Degrassi High. So he kept her secret, and he would take it to his grave.

And ever since the incident at her apartment last year, he's been especially protective of her.

"Alex, are you sure you're going to be all right?" Jay asked as he put her books into her locker.

"Jay, for the twentieth time, yes, I will be fine. I am fine," she gave her most confident smile, pulling her book bag strap over her shoulder. "But thank you for the concern."

Jay shook his head laughing, "I swear you're like made of cast iron or something, it's awesome."

"It's awesome that I can take a beating?" Alex raised her eye brow.

Jay frowned, nervously playing with his hands, "Hey... you know what I meant," he said softly.

Alex smirked, "Just get out of here before I get sick of you."

Jay nodded, and sauntered off to God knows where. He only came to drop her off, he had no intention of actually staying for school.

Alex looked around the hallway. Nobody seemed to be around; that was the nice thing about getting to school early. After she looked to see nobody was around, she pulled a small book with a black cover out of her pocket, and slid her back down the wall and began to read. She'd never admit it, but she loved books. Especially anything relating to poetry. Today she was reading a collection of American poetry by anonymous authors. She always read before and after school, so nobody would see. Alex Nunez a book worm? Hell no.

My love belongs to someone

But it would be the death of me

Alex read intently at the poem in front of her.

Society built a wall

So she and I could never be

Alex raised her eye brow as she kept reading.

Blonde hair like the Sun

Eyes the color of the Sea

But if I were to tell her

It would be a death decree

The things that stand between us

Are what defines you and me

It's all because of society

That loving her

Would be the death of me

Alex sighed and gently closed the book. She leaned her head back on the wall. Eyes closed, a smile formed on her dark features. She knew exactly how the author felt.

"I'm telling you Marco you don't need to- shit!" Alex was snapped back into reality by the shooting pain in her ankle as someone tripped over her outstretched legs. 'Oh mother fucker-'

Her eyes went wide; it was Paige.

'Shit! I can't believe I did that! God I hope she all right I-'

"God watch it!"

'Um, what? Are you kidding me? You just tripped over MY friggin' twisted ankle!'

"How about you watch where you're going?" 'Is she seriously for real? It was an accident.'

Alex had to put a front up so Paige wouldn't realize how bad she felt.

"Wow, snakes, puddles, dog crap, and Alex! Top four things for pedestrians to watch for," Paige said sarcastically while crossing her arms.

'Excuse me? Dog crap?? Did she just compare me to dog crap??!' Paige had Spinner and Marco with her, A.K.A. back up. Alex really didn't feel like arguing and decided to end this argument as quickly as possible. She thought up her most shallow comeback, so Paige could easily win and walk off thinking she won. Alex smirked before answering,

"Nice shirt, hate to bloody it," 'Damn, that sounded more threatening in my head.'

Paige scoffed, 'Nice attitude, hate to deflate it. By reminding you you're a loser."

'So we're playing the loser card now? Wow I gave her way too much credit.'

"Really who decided that?" Alex loomed over Paige. She outsized her by a couple inches.

"Everyone decided. Majority rules on these matters sweetie," Paige smiled smugly as she linked arms with Spinner and walked off, Marco following close behind.

'Sweetie my ass, Paige.' Alex stood up and grabbed her book bag. She walked in the opposite direction towards her homeroom, lightly limping on her bad ankle. 'And to think I actually felt bad for tripping you.'

A/N: Okay there's chapter two! I'll update as soon as I can. Please tell me what you think.

Also, that little poem in this chapter, I wrote that. So please don't think it was someone else's, and threaten to sue me for that too :P