A/N: This is where things take a true AU turn. After all, this is my retelling of Cam's story and it's focused around a specific theory the Tumblr Degrassi fandom had going back when he was introduced. So, yeah, it's not much like the show and that's going to start being obvious in this chapter. Sorry to disappoint any of you!
As I followed Adam inside, I realized that I wasn't wrong about the school being fairly huge. There's two floors, it seems, as I step inside the foyer and look around. To the right, the hallway leads to the office and to my left - there is the gym, cafeteria, and another hallway leading to the theater room. "This place...it's huge," I muttered to myself, Adam must have heard me because it caught him off guard but he chuckled in response.
"Yeah, the school is kind of big. I really hadn't noticed before you mentioned it!" Adam replied, waving for me to follow him up the stairs. "Okay so up here are most of the classrooms," he began as he lead me down the hallway once we were up the steps. "I think I'm going to take you to the music room first to introduce you to my band mates!" Adam commented as he lead me down the hall. There were rows and rows of lockers lining the halls - some were blue, some black, others yellow. Over all, I could tell that the school was fairly nice and that I might like it there - as long as the students were nice. So far; so good.
"Oh you're in the school's band? Awesome!" I responded to Adam's words as he lead me into the music room.
"No, no, I'm in a rock band with some other students. Not the school's band," Adam stated with a quiet laugh. Inside the room - there were four other students standing around. Two of them laughing quietly about something, one tuning a guitar, and one doing vocal warm ups. "Guys! I have someone I want you to meet!" Adam exclaimed, getting their attention as I shyly stood behind him - giving everyone a once over.
The quiet boy in the back of the room, tuning a guitar was the one that caught my attention first. He had pale skin, he seemed to be somewhat tall by the looks of it, and he had black hair. As he looked up, his dark brown eyes locked on my own and I quickly looked away, feeling awkward because I knew that he knew I was staring. I could tell by his expression. "I want you all to meet my new friend, Cam Saunders, he's one of the new students here playing for the Toronto Ice Hounds," Adam explained, glancing at me as I moved to stand beside of him instead of behind him. "Cam, these are my other friends - Maya Matlin, Imogen Moreno, Mo Mashkour, and Zig Novak," Adam added, pointing to each person individually as I smiled at them.
"Hi, everyone!" I finally spoke up and greeted them. Still I couldn't shake the awkwardness that had come over me as I stood in the music room with everyone. Just as I finished speaking, Adam glanced down at his watch, with a small sigh then turned to face me.
"Come on, we have five minutes and I still need to get you to your locker and first period class," Adam commented, motioning for me to follow him. "Later, guys!" he called out to his friends as he lead me out of the room. "Okay, there are four halls up here. "Your hall, the grade ten hall is located right here so you're in luck. What's your locker number?" Adam asked, I pulled out my schedule and looked down - locker number two fourteen.
"Two fourteen," I replied.
"Great." Adam replied then smacked his hand against a yellow locker a few feet away. "Here it is and you have grade nine French for your first class, right?" Adam asked, I nodded quietly.
"Yeah, I do." I replied.
"Um, okay I'll tell Maya and she can walk with you to your first period class. She has it, too, and she should be able to help you out with that. I'll meet up with you after this class!" Adam commented then began to walk off, that's when I turned to unlock my locker and place my book bag in there. I got out a notebook, pen, and my French book then waited for Maya to find me. Wondering if she would or if I would be left on my own.
"Um, okay I'll tell Maya and she can walk with you to your first period class. She has it, too, and she should be able to help you out with that. I'll meet up with you after this class!" Adam commented then began to walk off, that's when I turned to unlock my locker and place my book bag in there. I got out a notebook, pen, and my French book then waited for Maya to find me. Wondering if she would or if I would be left on my own.
A few moments later, Maya - the cheerful tiny blonde came walking down the halls as she adjusted her glasses, flashing a friendly smile to me as she approached. "Hi again!" She greeted, I laughed quietly in response to her words. For some reason, I felt at ease around her and it took me by surprise - I felt more comfortable around her than I did with Adam.
"So, why are you taking grade nine French?" She questioned.
"I didn't get to take it because of hockey," I replied, she didn't have anything to say to that. It made me wonder what was running through her mind. If she was thinking about the fact that I play hockey, if she even cared about sports, or what. Girls were always a mystery to me, anyway. Anything could be a trick with them, after all.
"That's a shame. Hopefully you won't miss any classes because of hockey while you're here," Maya replied as twisted the silver doorknob and pushed open the wooden door. We got there before the teacher which was probably a good thing; I wasn't finished speaking to her, after all. "So... what's fame like?" She asked, I was taken slightly aback by her question. Never had I thought of myself as famous, I felt like a really normal person with a somewhat normal life, but since I had a fairly decent fanbase and a spot in the NHL - maybe she was on to something.
"I didn't realize I was famous," I replied coyly with a smirk, then I realized just how sarcastic that came out and felt like mentally kicking myself for that one.
"Really, I don't consider myself famous. I'm just like you, a normal person but with a talent for a sport that I don't even like," I openly admitted. Fame was such a strange concept to me, anyway. I didn't understand why people 'worshipped' these people in Hollywood or even us athletes. It was weird to know that we were seen as these important figures in the world, when really we didn't do anything great. We weren't true heroes - risking our lives for the sake of peace or whatever.
Maya made a face at me as I finished replying. Maybe she didn't expect me to say such a thing about famous people and wanted an answer about how amazing it was and my millions of dollars. Too bad I didn't have that kind of money, yet.
I wanted to ask her if she expected something different but before I could get the words out, other students started piling into the classroom, and the teacher followed as the second bell rang. "Students we have a new student with us today! His name is Campbell Saunders and he is one of Toronto's very own Ice Hounds! Give him a warm welcome, everyone," the French teacher commented, flashing a smile at me as she welcomed me to the class herself. However, I wasn't sure how I felt about being put so on the spot like that. Once everyone was finished saying hello to me - we turned our attention back to the dry erase board up front to listen to the day's lesson.
Once class ended, I found Adam standing outside my class waiting for me. "So, did you see any cute girls in class? Someone you might have an interest in?" He asked and I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
"Nah, it would be a true miracle if I found a girl like that," I replied, I wanted to keep my words as simple as I could because I hated talking about girls with other guys. Adam furrowed his brow then chuckled.
"You have difficulty with the ladies, too?" He asked and I shrugged my shoulders in response.
"Guess you could say that!" I replied, realizing that I was being watched by Maya and a girl with dark, curly yet also very thick hair. I couldn't figure out what Maya was whispering to her but they both had their eyes locked on me when suddenly they started to giggle. It made me feel weird, knowing I was obviously being watched and talked about, and now they were laughing. Did I make a bad impression? I didn't know. Regardless, I felt uncomfortable and I couldn't shake the thoughts in my mind that they were making fun of me. I hoped that I was wrong though.
Looking down at my schedule that was in my hands, Adam realized that we had the same class for media immersion and grinned. "Looks like we have a class together after all! Awesome," he commented, just as he stepped inside the computer lab. As we walked inside and placed our stuff down onto some desks, a low voice came over the intercom, telling us to head to the auditorium for a presentation in fifteen minutes and for all Ice Hounds players to report to the locker rooms. "Guess I'll see you in a bit," Adam stated as he headed out the door. Luckily, I knew where the locker rooms were from having to change in them before during practice when the local rink was closed one day.
Once I headed that way, some students spoke to me as I walked down the halls but all I could do was smile at them in response. I was never the kind of person that liked talking to people I didn't already know, anyway. Not even a minute or so later, I pushed the doors to the men's locker room open once I was in the gym, and walked inside. "What's going on?" I asked, seeing Dallas changing shirts.
"Bro, don't tell me you forgot already!" He exclaimed, Luke tossed me my jersey and I slipped my hoodie off to hang it on one of the hangers so I could get changed. "Simpson has called for a pep rally and we're part of it since they're trying to welcome us to the school," Dallas added, shaking his head and rolling his eyes as he finished speaking. Yeah, I had forgotten about it because I was so overwhelmed with the whole thing. Who wouldn't be? Oh, right, my outgoing team mates that would never understand the concept of social anxiety.
After I finished changing, I waited for the others before grabbing a hockey stick like the rest of them as we headed out the door, to the auditorium. Simpson motioned for us to get on stage with him as we headed inside. The place was decorated in red, black, and white with a large banner that featured our team's logo and name over our heads on the stage. I stood around awkwardly, not knowing what to expect since I had forgotten that I was even supposed to be at this thing.
However once a petite, tall, pretty red head approached the stage; Principal Simpson stepped aside and sat down as the girl took the microphone. As she began to speak, I spaced out for a few moments as I glanced around. The crowd watching was pretty large and it made me hope that I wouldn't have to speak. I was never good with public speaking, anyway, the thought alone terrified me. I could hardly manage to do interviews, after all, and most of those? They were one on one.
The crowd cheered loudly as she moved aside to introduce a new video, saying we should be welcomed in true Degrassi spirit, whatever that could have mean't. As the video started, the different players official photos flashed across the screen. First, Luke Baker was introduced with a loud roar from the crowd of students. Then, my picture flashed across the screen, causing an even louder roar that I didn't expect. I threw my hand up and waved to the crowd, a proud smirk resting gently on my face as my team mates patted me on the back. So far, so good, right?
Next, Dallas was introduced to the crowd and the guy he was staying with - Drew - called out to him proudly. Though once his intro was over, something totally different began to play on the screen from a party Dallas and Luke had mentioned once or twice. As everyone started to watch the clip, we stood there awkwardly watching what was going on - the clip was of the same guy in the crowd. Drew Torres, an older student that was obviously drunk and partying hard as he was celebrating losing his virginity.
"What the?" I muttered, trying to hold back a laugh as I watched. Poor guy, he must have really pissed off that red head that made the video and presented it to the crowd. I wonder what he could have done? Maybe he cheated on her? I didn't know and I didn't really care. The fact of the matter was, this guy was an unintentionally hilarious drunk and though the video was funny - I would have hated to have been him.
Finally, Mr. Simpson stopped the whole thing by making us take a seat. He told the girl, Katie, to go wait for him in his office and as I sat down beside of Adam - the guy looked like he was ready to leave town and never look back. His expression was one that was combined of horror and humiliation. "My brother is a freakin' idiot. Why do I have to be related to this douche?" Adam muttered, hiding his face in his hands from the humiliation and I couldn't help feeling sorry for him as we sat there. "Technically I'm not, just by marriage, but every day I'm glad I'm not part of the same blood line. I wouldn't want to catch his stupid or lack of common sense," the boy added and I nodded.
"Sorry you have to put up with him." I responded.
"Oh...believe me, you don't know the half of it and be glad you don't!" Adam exclaimed.
Once media media immersion class was over, it was time for us to go to lunch and Maya immediately came to get me so I could get in line with her friends. As for my team mates, they didn't even notice that I hadn't spoken to them all day which didn't surprise me. They were already becoming a part of the older group of popular kids it seemed, while I was more involved with the other students. If I had to be around people like that Drew guy or Luke all day - I was thankful I had met Adam, Maya, and Adam's other friends. They were interesting and welcoming, after all.
"Hey!" Maya greeted, a raised my hand as if to wave as she pulled me into the lunch line. "So, Tori, Zig, and I were wondering if you would like to go to The Dot with us after school?" she asked, I furrowed my brow since I was unsure of what she meant by The Dot.
"Depends on what that is?" I replied, not to get their hopes up since I needed to check and see if I had practice or not that evening. If I didn't, I knew I would go with them but since the hockey team was such an obligation, I never knew when I would or wouldn't be too busy to be social.
"What is it?" I asked curiously.
"A cafe where Degrassi students hang out, study, and all that stuff!" Tori spoke up, just before she was interrupted by a chubby, tall, red haired guy.
"Sorry I'm late! I had to meet with my brother so I could tell my parents that he won't be home right away after school, he got detention!" The boy announced to us. His demeanor was laid back but also slightly peppy, he seemed to be really outgoing and friendly but also a little on the bubbly side. So, to me, he seemed like a potential friend.
"Oh, Cam, this is our friend Tristan Milligan or Tris as we sometimes call him!" Tori commented, beaming as her friend approached us.
"Nice to meet you, Tris," I spoke up, greeting the guy and he blushed which surprised me but still caused me to give him a genuine smile.
"You too, Cam."
As we sat down, I began to quietly eat my hamburger while the others around me talked. When I looked up, I realized that Maya was giving me oogly eyes while Zig was glaring at me from across the table. The guy had been acting strange, he was very quiet around me and hadn't bothered to speak a word but as his eyes shifted back and forth between myself and Maya, it only got worse. And frankly? I was sick of it. "What the hell is your problem, dude?" I spat, glaring back at him just as harshly as he was glaring at me.
Zig finally looked away and picked at his food for a moment. "I don't have a problem with you, Cam," he finally spoke up as his eyes locked on mine for a second time. I could have thought otherwise by the way he was watching Maya and I. "I'm not in the best mood today. Family problems," he stated.
"Sorry, I didn't know. It's just you were glaring at us and I couldn't figure out why you would when you haven't had the chance to get to know me," I began to explain before clearing my throat, "and that's unfair if you're going to dislike me." I commented, stating my opinion before taking another large bite of my food.
"Well, the kind of family problems I'm having you wouldn't understand and I guess I'm just a little bit envious of the fact that you're rich and famous," Zig argued, I gave him another stern look as I thought about how to reply to such an asinine assumption.
"Actually, if you knew anything about me - you would realize that no, I'm not rich. Just middle class and sure I have fans but I'm not some a-list athlete," I retorted. I didn't appreciate being judged so harshly by someone that didn't bother to even talk to me before now. "Maybe I need to go sit with my team!" I exclaimed angrily. I wasn't going to be judged by these kids when they didn't know a thing about me. Sure, Maya and the others seemed nice but if this meant having to be around that Zig guy, I couldn't see myself sticking around them for very long.
"Maybe you should." Zig commented quietly, that's when I grabbed my tray and walked over to where my team was sitting and - luckily for me - they had a seat available for me. And I was greeted warmly by the others; even though I really didn't want to be there.