Episode III: Obsessions

Jayden walked to his mother's car to wait, like any other normal day, except with the fact that neither Helen nor Scarlett were at Scarlett's mom's car this morning. Jayden frowned at the oddness of that, but brushed it off. The strange event did not last long when he heard and saw Helen coming out of the house. Since his mother backed into the driveway, he was able to stand by the passenger door of her car and get a full view of Scarlett's house.

"Hey Jay." Helen said walking to her aunt's car.

"Hey." Jayden said. "Where's your partner in crime?"

Helen rolled her eyes. "Who cares?"

"What happened?" Jayden asked.

Helen gave Jayden a disbelieving look. "Did you really just ask me that question? After everything that happened yesterday, you honestly asked me that question?"

"Oh. She's still angry for whatever the reason may be." Jayden said before Manny came out of their house on the phone. "Well, see you at school."

"Do you think that your mom could take me because this is getting plain ridiculous." Helen said.

Jayden looked over the hood at the car and waited for Manny to hang up to speak.

"Hey Mama, you think you can give Helen a lift? She and Scarlett are having some sibling rivalry." Jayden said.

"Sure." Manny said unlocking her car doors. "Are you coming Helen?"

"Yeah." Helen said sending a text message to her cousin in the house. "Thanks Mrs. McDuelle."

"No problem." Manny said getting into her car.

Jayden sat in the passenger seat and eyed his neighbor's house.

"She's just being difficult this morning." Helen said to Manny.

"People can do that." Manny said as she pulled out of the driveway. "And all, you can do is be true to yourself."

"I try Mrs. McDuelle. I really do." Helen said.

Nicole and a few other cheerleaders stood at the end of the steps when Manny's red Mercedes pulled up. The girls knew of Jayden's semi-grand entrance, but what surprised them all is when Helen stepped out with him.

"O…M…G…" Nicole muttered as the pair walked past them. "Did I just see…? This is great for the Grapevine!"

Mary-Jane stopped at her locker and began to get her morning classes' books when James caught up to her.

"Where's Amber?" James asked.

"She got sick. She thinks its food poisoning." Mary-Jane explained. "I was going to go see her after school, but she told me not to." Mary-Jane looked at James. "You know. Amber will never let anyone see her sick. Not even her best-friend."

"This is true." James said. "Well, I guess I'll see you in class."

"Was there something you wanted from Amber? Maybe I have it." Mary-Jane said.

James grinned. "Nah, it's nothing like that. I just… Well it's almost time for the dance and I could've sworn she was going to ask me to the dance."

"If she makes it to the dance." Mary-Jane pointed out. "But I'll talk to her before the day is over with. I'll tell you."

"Thanks." James said walking away. "See you later."

"Yeah…" Mary-Jane said before smiling. "Soon."

Scarlett sighed as she walked into the school. The morning had been especially annoying to her for a number of reasons.

First reason came when she literally rolled out of the bed because of her alarm clock. The dream she had was so peaceful and so nice… Then the blaring of the alarm came. Helen's laughter did not lessen the pain or embarrassment either.

Second reason was Helen herself. Any normal person could tell that Helen had actually spent an extra thirty minutes sprucing up for the day ahead of her. It was not hard to figure out why Helen had done it and that only made it worse for Scarlett. Helen was making sure she had Jayden eating out of the palms of her hands. But Scarlett wanted Jayden eating out of the palms of her hands.

And then the third reason hit Scarlett like a ton of bricks. While taking her time getting ready, she realized that she did not have a date for the dance. Sad part was, she did not know who to take now. Shane had Jacquelyn. Jayden had Helen. Scarlett was left alone. For now.

"…I hear that they're already an item." Scarlett heard, one of the lesser known cheerleaders, say to another.

"No, no," Nicole's voice came. Scarlett rolled her dark blue eyes. Of course Nicole was the ringleader of this gossiping group. "Helen and Jay isn't an item now. Well, not that I know of. But then again, they could be messing around…" Nicole paused as Scarlett walked by. "Scarlett! How are you?"

"Pissed." Scarlett hissed back as she continued walking on.

"Do you think he heard us?" one of the cheerleaders asked.

"Yes!" Scarlett shouted back.

"Whoa," Shane said as Scarlett nearly ripped her locker open. "What's gotten into you this morning? I haven't seen you this pissed since that boy threw-up on your new shoes."

"I'm not in the mood for this today Shane. So back off." Scarlett said digging through her locker.

"I'm just trying to help." Shane said before Scarlett gave him a cold glance. "Is it something I did?"

Scarlett sighed. "No. No, you didn't do anything and I shouldn't be mad at you. But I am."

"Okay. So it has to be something serious." Shane said. "Does it have to do with Jayden and Helen?"

"Tell me," Scarlett replied. "Do the words 'back off' mean anything to your minuscule brain?"

"Not when it's said out of pure anger and means exactly nothing." Shane said crossing his arms. "Come on Scarlett, tell me what's wrong. You know you tell me just about everything, so we might as well get this out of the way."

"Speaking of getting out of the way," Scarlett said slamming her locker closed. "Get out of my way so I can go do the announcements."

"Fine, but you either calm down or tell me what's wrong." Shane said.

Scarlett nodded. "Sure."

Scarlett walked around Shane, leaving him to think by himself. Knowing Scarlett, which he did, he knew a ballpark guess about what her true problem was. The only way he could solidify his case is if he spoke to Helen.

And she was ten times as worse as Scarlett.

"Hey," Dustin whispered to Aaron. "Have you talked to your weird girlfriend?"

"One, she's not weird, and two, she's not my girlfriend." Aaron replied. "And no, I haven't seen her today. Why?"

Dustin shrugged. "Just thought I'd ask since everyone is asking about it."

"Let them." Aaron said.

"You're like one of the most talked-about students in the entire school!" Dustin whispered. "Aren't you a bit concerned about that?"

"Not at all." Aaron answered. "See, I talked to one of my older siblings-"

"The brother we don't know?" Dustin interrupted.

"Him." Aaron said. "Anyway, he said that I shouldn't listen to anyone but myself on these kinds of things. See, he was quite famous in-"

"New York." Dustin cut in again.

"Yes…" Aaron said. "And says that I should make her trust me. She needs a friend."

"I'll say…" Dustin muttered. "But, then again, if you want to be that one, go for it."

"Thanks for the support." Aaron said.

After the announcements went off, Jayden could feel the room warm up. However during the announcements, there was a cold, hatred feeling radiating from his right. Since he knew Nicole was incapable of hating anyone, just about, he knew where this source was coming from. Helen Sinclair-Coyne.

"Like I was saying," Nicole said. "So you two are going to the dance together, right?"

"For the millionth time, yes." Helen said. "What are you trying to do, Nicky? Get an interview for one of your stupid little gossip groups?"

"Maybe…" Nicole said while playing with one of her two signature pigtails.

"Trust me. There is no story between us." Helen said. "Jay's just taking me to the dance, that's all there is to it."

"But you two were with each other all morning and his mom dropped you off." Nicole said.

"One," Helen said holding up her right index finger. "We're neighbors stupid. His mom drives me and Scarlett to school some days. And two," Helen now held up her right index and middle fingers. "This is our first period class. Morning isn't even over."

"But you have second period together as well and lunch is after fourth period." Nicole stated. "So therefore, you two will have been together for the majority of the morning."

"Whatever Nicky." Helen said.

"You know," Jayden said. "I am in the room. In fact, I'm sitting right beside you."

Nicole smiled. "I know Jayden. I would never overlook you sitting beside me."

"I'm sure…" Jayden replied.

"And speaking of you and Helen and what you share in common," Nicole said. "What's wrong with Scarlett? When I saw her earlier today, she seemed really pissed."

"She fell out of the bed. No biggie." Helen said nonchalantly. "Now, let's finish this worksheet, okay?"

"Okay." Nicole said.

Jayden frowned to himself. Scarlett falling out of the bed would not make her pissed at the world. Fortunately, and unfortunately, Nicole was a tad slow and did not hear the lie. But Jayden did.

"I can't believe that they're actually going to the dance together." Dakota whispered to Kelly. "I didn't know that Shane was over Scarlett."

Kelly shrugged. "I don't know. Just know that whatever he's doing, he already knows what he's doing."

"And Jayden?" Dakota asked.

"That, I don't know." Kelly said. "Jay's been weird though. He sort of flirts with Scarlett and then does a one-eighty and goes after Helen. It's confusing."

"Do you know what else is confusing, Ms. Mason? How Jayden and Helen helped conquer Canada from the French." Mr. McCall said.

"Sorry Mr. McCall." Kelly replied.

"Since we're on the subject of the dance," Mr. McCall said. "Let me remind you that tickets will be on sell today during lunch. Make sure you buy them before Friday because procrastination will not help any of us. Especially those of you who lack at homework." Dakota quietly rolled her eyes, gaining a giggle from Kelly. "Is there something funny, Ms. Mason?"

"I was just trying to picture my brother and his date dancing. He is kind of stiff, like how I expect De Champlain to be." Kelly said.

"Ah… Good connection. But you're not off the hook yet." Mr. McCall said.

Dakota broke out into laughter.

"Shut up." Kelly muttered to her friend.

After the bell rang, Gabrielle began walking to her second period class. She stopped to get a drink of water when Nathan and Damon found her.

"Well, well," Nathan said. "I hear our little friend here has a date for Friday."

"A.J Santos. Another one of my buddies." Damon said. "It feels so good that my friends are friends."

"Speaking of friends," Nathan said as Gabrielle attempted to walk away, but was stopped with Damon stepping in front of her. "Don't you think we should get to know our friends better?"

"Yeah. Like Gabrielle Nunez here." Damon said. Damon snapped his fingers as if he had just got an idea. "Did you know that her mother was a stripper?"

"Shut up." Gabrielle said.

"Oh, does that anger you?" Damon asked.

"I think we're touching a sore subject like her deadbeat dad." Nathan added.

"Leave me alone." Gabrielle said.

"She met your dad while stripping?" Damon said in mock shock. "I can't believe it."

"Just leave me alone!" Gabrielle called as she stormed down the hall.

Damon and Nathan laughed a bit.

"We should be ashamed of ourselves." Nathan said.

"Bambi."

Chandra stopped in her steps and saw Jayden walking towards her. She gave him the sweetest, yet sultriest, smile she could do at the time.

"Hey Jay." Chandra said.

"I, uh, wanted to talk to you." Jayden said. "I met up with A.J earlier and-"

"You know A.J?" Chandra asked.

Jayden nodded, although in his mind he laughed. How could he not know his younger brother?

"I know a lot of people." Jayden said. "Anyway, I was wondering if you could lay-off a bit. And I don't mean to avoid me in any and everyway possible, I mean, don't come onto me as hard as you do. Do you get what I'm trying to say?"

"Yeah…" Chandra replied. "And let me guess, it's because I'm twelve."

"That's partially the problem." Jayden said.

"Oh. Then there must be someone else." Chandra said.

Jayden nodded. "And that's the rest. So, could you do me that one favor? Please?"

"Sure Jay." Chandra said with a smile. "Talk to you later."

"Sure." Jayden said as Chandra walked off. "I need a publicist."

"I wonder what Amber has." Steven said, gaining a confused look from James. "I mean if it's serious or not."

"Oh. Me too." James said. "Mary said that she would call her during the day, but she never gave me any specific time." Steven nodded. "Say, Steven, who are you waiting for to ask you to the dance? I saw a few girls asking you earlier and you rejected them all."

"It's a bit personal…" Steven said. James gave a quick breath of laughter before Steven grinned. "Then again, nothing's really personal to me, so I'll say. It's Mary, to be honest."

James frowned. "Mary-Jane? Why?"

"Why not?" Steven replied.

"I mean," James said. "She's cute and all… Okay, maybe a bit more than cute, but she'd have all these demands, demands that I don't even think are words."

"Well, I'd do them if I knew what they were. And who knows? There might be a reward for doing those demands." Steven said.

"Or so you hope." James said.

Jayden eyed the silent Scarlett once more before he continued his drawing of the fruit bowl near the front of the class.

"This is so boring." Helen muttered. "I wish Blue would let us do something more exciting."

"Like what?" Jayden asked.

Helen shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe…" Both Jayden and Scarlett watched the smirk that curled on Helen's face. "Maybe nude pictures of other students."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Scarlett asked.

"Wouldn't you?" Helen replied.

"No." Scarlett said. "I wouldn't let any of these boys, or girls, paint me naked. Not even J.T."

Jayden frowned. "Now why do you have to drag me into this? And who said that I would want to paint you nude?"

"Uh, you're a boy and I'm a really hot girl. I think that's self-explanatory." Scarlett retorted.

"Uh-huh…" Jayden muttered.

"Speaking of boy and girl," Helen said. "Hey, you, neighbor, don't forget to get the tickets at lunch or else."

"Or else what?" Jayden challenged.

"Do you really want to know what I could do to you?" Helen asked glaring at Jayden.

"I'm curious." Jayden replied. "Tell me."

"If you two are going to flirt, all class long," Scarlett interrupted. "Then maybe I should move back to my seat from yesterday."

"You're fine." Jayden said. "I don't want you to be in your 'I-hate-the-world' mood. You're much easier to talk to when you're out of it."

Scarlett sighed. "That's what they all say."

"They who?" Helen asked.

"Nothing." Scarlett said.

Jayden saw Helen's eyes squint momentarily before she looked at her drawing. Jayden knew that whatever Scarlett was talking about, Helen must have figured it out because she actually dropped the subject.

But he would never know.

After being excused for the restroom, Aaron was now walking down the hall to the men's room before he heard a familiar voice, Jordan's. He eyed the closed janitor's closet before opening the door where Jordan was.

"Jordan? What are you doing?" Aaron asked.

"Uh… Nothing." Jordan said.

Aaron frowned. "You have to be doing something or else you wouldn't be here."

"I, um, was doing something but now I'm not so…" Jordan's sentence fell short as she continued to struggle with her shirt.

Aaron studied the situation to understand what was going on. A girl fixing her shirt in the janitor's closet gave him a lot of scenarios. But this was no ordinary girl, this was Jordan Cameron. Therefore, only one logical thing came to his mind.

"Were you stuffing your bra?" Aaron asked. The question seemed to be the right one as Jordan froze and gave him a fearful looked. "Why?"

Jordan sighed. "Because I have to get Jayden's attention somehow. I figured that he was a breast kind of guy."

"He-" Aaron stopped himself before revealing information about his brother. "You are better than that Jordan. Take it out."

"No." Jordan said. "If I do this, I can securely snatch him from Chandra."

"Bambi's not-"

"Bambi?" Jordan interrupted.

"Her nickname that I actually learned from… Anyway, this isn't going to help." Aaron said.

Jordan frowned. "You learned this from Jayden, didn't you? Her nickname."

"Jordan, I-"

"Didn't you?" Jordan interrupted.

"Yes but I-"

"What else did he tell you?" Jordan asked.

"Nothing." Aaron said. "Seriously Jordan, you don't have to do this to get Jay's attention. I'm sure that if he's smart, he'll look over at you anyway, just the way you are."

Jordan rolled her eyes towards the ceiling. "Not helping."

"Just take that out already." Aaron said.

"Fine. It was starting to itch anyway." Jordan said before pausing. "Could you, um, unclip me?"

"Unclip…? Do you mean-"

"No duh. Can you do it or not?" Jordan asked.

Aaron sighed as Jordan turned her back to him and lifted her shirt up. Aaron moved to unclip her bra before a wolf whistle was heard from behind them. Aaron and Jordan both snapped their heads around to see Marc.

"Close the door!" Jordan ordered before Aaron closed and lock thee door. "God this is so embarrassing!"

"How about you learn from this and never do this again?" Aaron replied as he unclipped her bra for her.

"Whatever." Jordan said. "Just stand outside and be the lookout. I have to get back to class soon."

"Ditto." Aaron said before unlocking the door and stepping out of the closet. "I still have to pee."

Kelly and Shane continued their work diligently, though they both would stop periodically to see Laura's empty seat.

"I knew it was too good to be true." Kelly said to Shane.

Shane shrugged. "Some things never change."

"Speaking of changing," Kelly said. "What's wrong with your friend? She's been going from okay to piss a lot today. I heard her snapping at some cheerleader this morning."

"Me too." Shane said. "I talked to her, but you know how Scarlett is. She doesn't tell what she doesn't want to and no amount of talking or forcing is going to get it out."

"Hmm… I bet she's jealous." Kelly replied.

"Jealous? Of who?" Shane asked.

"You, of course." Kelly answered. "I mean, you go to the dance with her cousin's friend and then her cousin takes the guy she was most-likely going to ask to the dance, it just makes her angry."

"Well what do I have to do with anything? I didn't ask Jackie to the dance, she asked me." Shane said. "Besides, I don't think that Scarlett would be mad about that."

"But Jay and Helen?" Kelly asked.

Shane shrugged. "That's something I don't know. But I will find out. Eventually."

"You always do." Kelly said with a smile. "Mom would be proud."

"Correction: Mom is proud." Shane said with a grin.

Before going to the cafeteria for lunch, Jayden stood in a small line for dance tickets. He was idly thinking about Scarlett's latest mood swing in-between their second and third period class, but soon lost his train of thought as he purchased the two tickets.

"And I didn't have to drag you here myself." Helen said as Jayden placed the tickets in his pocket.

Jayden frowned. "You stalking me now?"

"Yeah, I was secretly stalking you so I thought I'd tell you." Helen shot back. "Are you going to hold onto those or do you need me to?"

"I got them Helen." Jayden said. "I'm just half-amazed that you would journey out of your daily routine to make sure that I got two measly tickets." Jayden smirked. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think something was up."

"Hopefully, you do know better or else I'd have to remind you." Helen replied. "Now, come on, we have people waiting."

"I'm guessing your cousin didn't give you much info about her everlasting, never-ending mood swings, huh?" Jayden asked.

"To put it kindly, she told me to buzz off and screw myself." Helen answered.

"That's a no." Jayden said. "And if it makes you feel any better about yourself, she said worse to me."

"Really?" Helen asked surprised.

Jayden nodded. "Yep. Where she told you to 'screw' yourself, she told me to kill myself."

Helen laughed. "Even pissed she still makes me proud of her."

"You are weird." Jayden said.

Helen threw an around Jayden's shoulder.

"I'm not weird and besides, you'd be desperately and hopelessly lost if I were any different." Helen said. "Right?"

"Seeing as you're in striking range," Jayden said. "You're right."

Helen rolled her eyes as Jayden laughed, neither of the two minding the students' reaction as the walked into the cafeteria like that.

"That little tramp!" Chandra whispered fiercely.

"Hussy." Jordan said crossing her arms across her chest.

"Well," Kelly said to Dakota, Shane, and Jacob. "That answers that question. He's been playing buddy with Helen."

"Oh boy…" Shane said as he looked at the table where Scarlett sat frozen.

Helen released Jayden. "Remember that when we're at the dance. I will be within striking range and I will strike if you do something out of line."

"Like I would try anything with you Helen." Jayden said. "See you later."

With that, the two went to their normal tables and the other students went back to their normal conversations that ended up talking about Helen and Jayden.

"So," Scarlett said to Helen as the latter sat at the table. "I see you two are becoming quite close."

"Me and Jayden? Yeah right. We're always like that." Helen said.

"You get a ride from him, you're constantly around him, and then you two walk together to lunch?" Nicole said. "Something is up."

"Nicky, what have I told you that there is no story between us? Let it drop." Helen said.

"Right." Scarlett said. "Then again Helen, it is pretty convincing."

"I'm sure." Helen said before looking at Jacquelyn. "Miss Jackie, why are you so silent?"

"No reason." Jacquelyn said.

At Aaron's table, both Jordan and Chandra were still pissed about Helen and Jayden's entrance.

"Could you two get over it?" Dustin asked.

"No." Chandra and Jordan said in unison.

"I honestly don't see the big deal." Aaron said. "Ever since I've met the guy, girls just seem to throw themselves at him."

"That's the life of a star's son." Dustin said. "Your dad is a super-rich computer tycoon and your mother is a super hot actress." Aaron slightly scrunched his face up at Dustin's description of Manny. "We'd be like that if we were him or like him."

"I doubt it." Aaron stated.

Chandra frowned. "And why is that A.J? You think that if you had the fame you wouldn't use it?"

"I know I wouldn't." Aaron replied. "It's best if people know me for me, not my parents."

"Well, I wouldn't." Chandra said. "If I were like that, I'd let the world know. Besides, a part of me would be the famous parents I have, right?"

Aaron frowned at the concept. "I guess…"

"Where's your freaky girlfriend?" Dustin asked looking around.

"She's not my girlfriend." Aaron retorted.

"Where is she?" Jordan asked. "I hope nothing bad has happened."

"Tch, that weirdo? She's probably cutting herself in the bathroom." Chandra said.

"I wish you wouldn't say things like that." Aaron said.

Chandra smirked. "Why? Falling in love with her?"

"No. But a friend of mine, Jayden, told me that he applauded me befriending her." Aaron said. "Completely random but-"

"You don't know him." Chandra interrupted.

"Do you want to bet?" Aaron asked.

"Name your game." Chandra said in a challenging manner.

Aaron hated the strong McDuelle genes that forced him to always take a bet seriously, but went with it anyway. He knew that only Danica and Jayden obtained the near-perfect winning rate that their father had.

"You give me anything to say to him and I'll go tell him." Aaron said. "In return, you lay off Brie."

Chandra smiled. "Fine. I want you to ask him what he told me earlier and tell him that I found out who."

"Sure." Aaron said standing up. "I'll be back."

Jordan shook her head. "A.J is so competitive."

"Poor guy." Dustin said.

Jayden eyed his brother nearing the table. Not that he minded, but he knew of Aaron's rule about talking during school. Although Jayden was not the kind to take orders from his younger sibling, he still respected Aaron's wishes to live a normal life instead of one of stardom and fandom. Danica had explained to them both that their life was decided when their parents became the people that they were today. Stardom was inevitable.

"Jayden, can I talk to you?" Aaron asked.

Kelly frowned. "A.J, you can't just go up to random people asking them for talks."

"No you can't have a picture of his mother." Shane added.

"That's not what I wanted." Aaron said, seeing the grin growing on Jayden's face. "I just need to talk to him. Something Chandra, Bambi, sent me over here to talk to him about."

"I'll talk." Jayden said standing up. "And I need to go get me a tray too. Walk with me."

Aaron shrugged. "Sure."

The two brothers walked towards the lunch line.

"What is it?" Jayden asked. "Someone finding out about your secret?"

"No." Aaron replied. "Chandra betted that I didn't know you nor could I speak to you." Jayden nodded understandingly. It was the McDuelle trait, after all. "So what did you two talk about earlier, so I can win this stupid thing."

"What I told you to tell her." Jayden said. "I figured I'd make her day and get you off easy by doing it myself."

"She says that she knows who it is now." Aaron said as the two began to fix their trays.

"Helen? Is she serious?" Jayden said. "Oh well. Bambi will think what Bambi wants, I guess."

"Are you two dating?" Aaron asked.

"What do you think?" Jayden replied to his younger brother before looking at Aaron. "Tell Bambi that you won the bet and that I said to just respect my wishes until after this dance. Oh, by the way, I saw your friend walking while I was getting my tickets. Gabrielle."

"Thanks." Aaron said. "Which way?"

"Looks like she was heading for the gym, but I could be wrong." Jayden answered grabbing his tray. "I'll see you at home."

"Yeah…" Aaron said, hoping no one heard Jayden.

Aaron returned to his table and sat his tray down.

"Well?" Chandra asked.

"Bambi, respect his wishes and leave him alone until after the dance." Aaron said.

"Where are you going?" Jordan asked.

"Find Brie." Aaron said.

"I'll go with you." Jordan said standing up.

"Come on." Aaron said before the two walked off.

"…He actually won." Chandra said.

Dustin frowned. "How do you know?"

"Because there are only two people that call me Bambi. Helen and Jayden." Chandra answered. "That's how I know he had to talk to him."

"Oh." Dustin said.

Mary-Jane sighed. "Okay, get better."

"I will." Amber said. "Bye."

"Bye." Mary-Jane said before hanging up. Mary-Jane glanced at James. "Are you happy?"

"Better. Now I have to find someone to go to the dance with me and I knocked off four girls for Amber." James said.

"Hmm… You could go to the dance with me." Mary-Jane said suggested. "I mean, as friends since the girl you wanted to go to the dance with will be MIA and I currently don't have anyone to go with. We could go for Amber. I mean, who else would she trust with you other than me?"

"I'm sure that was not a compliment, but I'll take it." James said.

"What are you talking about?" Mary-Jane asked.

"Why wouldn't Amber trust me?" James replied. "Do I just scream whore or something?"

"Something like that. Thankfully, I'll be keeping an eye on you." Mary-Jane said. "So you can't do anything."

"We'll see." James said.

Jordan and Aaron walked into the gym where Gabrielle sat eating her lunch peacefully.

"Brie, there you are." Aaron said walking towards her with Jordan behind him. "Why didn't you go to the cafeteria?"

"Couldn't risk it." Gabrielle replied.

"Risk what?" Aaron asked sitting beside her.

Gabrielle sighed. "My mother doesn't know who my father is because she was a stripper, part time prostitute, when she had me."

"Oh…" Aaron said.

"I guess someone knows." Jordan said.

Gabrielle nodded. "Nathan and Damon."

"Those two." Jordan said. "I should've known."

"But why didn't you come to the cafeteria? I don't care about how your mom had you." Aaron said. "And honestly, I don't care now. It doesn't change who you are."

"The daughter of-"

"You don't choose your parents. Trust me." Aaron interrupted. "You're more than the daughter of such and such. You are Gabrielle, my date for the Back-to-School dance. And being such, you should at least get to know me better. Enough to take you to the dance."

Gabrielle blinked. "But, you don't know anything about me either."

"More reasons why you should be in there and not in here, right?" Aaron replied. "Besides, I have friends in the cafeteria that wouldn't let Nathan or Damon get to you."

"Promise?" Gabrielle asked.

"Yeah." Aaron said with a reassuring smile. "Besides, it's not the worst thing. Today, I was put in a pretty embarrassing situation."

"Really? What was it?" Gabrielle questioned.

"Um, how about we talk about it in the cafeteria?" Jordan said. "Yeah, that's it. We'll talk about it in the cafeteria or not at all. Preferably the second one."

"Sure." Aaron said. "Let's go."

"Dude, not to start anything, but your sister is hot." Shane said to Jayden.

Jayden sighed. "And thus, we're here again."

"I've never seen Danni." Jacob said.

"You don't know what you're missing. And there's a lot to miss." Shane said.

"You know," Jayden said. "If I said something like that about your sister, there'd be problems."

"Didn't know you cared." Kelly said with a smile.

"We should hang out soon." Shane suggested. "Not Friday, of course, but maybe next Friday?"

"Hello? Work?" Kelly said.

"Right. What about Saturday? After our shift is over?" Shane said. "We could catch a movie and go blow off some of Jayden's money at the mall. I know you girls like shopping."

"Deal." Kelly said.

"I can't." Dakota said.

Jayden furrowed his brow. "What? Why?"

"I have something else to do." Dakota said. "You know how random things occur with my parents."

"I understand." Jayden said. "So I guess it'll just be us four."

"More money for me." Kelly said with a smile. "Your loss Dakota."

"Tell me about it." Dakota said.

Jayden sighed. "You ever feel something bad is about to happen? Like something seriously bad?"

"Sometimes. Why?" Kelly asked.

"I have that feeling." Jayden said. "It feels like it's coming from Helen, and yet, it somehow feels…"

"Feels…?" Shane asked.

"Nothing." Jayden replied. "I just feel something bad is going to happen."

"I bet." Shane said. "You get in-between the Coyne cousins and you're as good as dead."

"That's not my problem." Jayden said.

Kelly laughed. "Are you serious? That's your life."

"How is it such a bad thing? He's always been in-between them." Jacob said.

"No." Shane said. "There is a difference between being in-between them and being in the middle of them. Being in the middle of them is what he was. The mediator between the two that usually made a bad situation better. Being in-between means that there is something both cousins want from him that he must choose one or the other, and he has."

Jayden raised his left eyebrow. "Since when did you become an analyst on them?"

Shane shrugged. "You learn a few things after years of knowing them."

Jayden did not reply to Shane's statement. He turned his attention towards Kelly, who seemed to be thinking about what her brother had said.

"Oh great… Them." Jacob muttered.

Jayden turned to see Damon, Nathan, and Laura enter the cafeteria. Their eyes seemed to be scanning for someone.

"I wonder what they want." Kelly said.

"Who cares?" Shane asked glaring at Nathan.

"Calm down Shane." Jayden said. "I don't think they are dumb enough to come this way."

"They are pretty dumb…" Shane replied.

At Scarlett's table, she also took notice at the three new editions to the population in the cafeteria. She followed them with her dark blue eyes until they sat at a table to themselves.

"You're burning a hole into their clothes." Helen said, gaining Scarlett's attention.

"Never lose sight of those three. Especially that slut Laura." Scarlett said.

Helen shrugged. "Didn't think she swung that way. But I guess with all the guys she's been with, it's kind of hard trying something new within that range, huh?"

"That's disgusting." Nicole said.

"I wonder if they'll be at the dance." Jacquelyn said, gaining a frown from Nicole.

"Who cares?" Helen asked. "As long as they stay out of my way, I'm fine. And more importantly, they live to see another day."

"Helen, you can't go around beating on people because they are 'in your way' or whatever." Scarlett said to her cousin with a grin. "It's both wrong and uncivilized."

"Wrong I can live with. Uncivilized…" Helen paused. "Nicky, what's up with the glare?"

"Nothing." Nicole said looking away from the other three.

Helen narrowed her eyes. "So why are you avoiding us in our presence?"

"I'm not." Nicole said, her blue eyes connecting with Helen's green ones. "And why does it matter why I'm mad? I thought you hated it when I gossiped?"

"Good point." Helen said.

Aaron led Gabrielle and Jordan back into the cafeteria where Dustin and Chandra were sitting.

"What took you two- three- so long?" Chandra asked.

"Nothing." Aaron said sitting beside Chandra. "Tell me what's up with the Bambi nickname."

"It's just a nickname." Chandra said. "And I've been called a lot worse before. Besides, Jayden thinks it's a cool nickname. Why else would he keep using it?"

"I have no clue." Aaron replied.

"What was that embarrassing thing you were going to tell me?" Gabrielle asked.

Jordan glared at Aaron. "Yes A.J, what is that embarrassing thing you were going to tell her?"

"I don't know what you did," Dustin said with a grin. "But with Jordan about to rip your throat out and Gabrielle getting told of an embarrassing thing, I'm sure it'll be very funny."

Aaron could only think of one question that he usually did when he was in trouble with the opposite sex.

What would Jayden do?

After the final bell, James was happy to get home. The only thing different from today than any other day was that his younger sister, Vanessa, was going straight home and not walking with her friends to the Dot.

"So," Steven said catching up to James. "You get a date yet?"

"Yeah. And you're going to flip when I tell you who." James said. Steven gave a curious frown. "Mary-Jane."

Steven stopped in his tracks. "Mary-Jane Del Rossi asked you to the dance?"

James nodded. "Yeah. Kind of a thing for Amber though. She won't be able to make the dance."

"Oh." Steven said walking behind James. "I guess that makes it like a substitute date for Amber, huh?"

"I guess you could look at it like that." James said. "Now where is Vanessa at?"

Aaron walked into the Dot with Jordan and Shane. Shane went towards the back to get his apron while the younger two found a table to sit at.

"Nice lie back there." Jordan said. "I can't believe they fell for it."

Aaron shrugged. "It worked."

"So… You and Gabrielle are going to the dance. Have you bought the tickets?" Jordan asked.

"No…" Aaron said before sighing. "I guess I'd better do that, huh?"

"Yeah." Jordan said. "I can't believe this'll be our first dance at Degrassi. I'm a little nervous."

"You're nervous about a lot of things." Aaron said. "Just go with it, okay? I'm sure nothing bad will happen."

"I hope not." Jordan said.

Shane walked to the table with two plates filled with a cheeseburger and fries.

"The usual." Shane said sitting the plates in front of the two. "And don't worry A.J, this is coming out of Jordan's allowance."

"No fair!" Jordan whined.

Shane shrugged. "Take it up with Mom."

"I will." Jordan said as Shane walked away. Jordan saw the amused look on Aaron's face. "Shut up."

"I didn't say anything." Aaron said, now openly laughing.

Jayden looked around Helen's room. Nothing had changed since he was first in her room approximately two years ago. Of course, Scarlett was the only one who constantly changed her room around to some weird, yet fashionable, design of hers.

"Not that it matters," Helen said. "But Scar's back to normal."

"That's good to know." Jayden said. "She in her room?"

Helen shook her head. "No. Her and Fiona went to the store. They should be back soon." Helen released her strawberry blonde hair from her bow. "You look confused."

"Thinking about the last time I've seen how long your hair really it is." Jayden said. "Kind of weird not seeing a ponytail resting on your shoulder."

"Whatever." Helen said.

Jayden sat on Helen's bed. "Have I ever told you how much I hate waterbeds?"

"Only every time you come over here." Helen said before looking at Jayden. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask." Jayden said.

"Are you really desperate enough to go to the dance with me?" Helen asked.

Jayden shook his head. "No." Jayden laughed a bit. "Lord knows that a desperate Jayden would have accepted Bambi's offer. But that's not why I said yes to you."

"Scar doesn't think so." Helen said. "And I have to admit, I'm not the girliest girl in the world."

"I guess that's what I like most about you." Jayden said.

An awkward silence followed the statement before Helen cleared her throat.

"Well then," Helen said. "To the Dot?"

"Why not?" Jayden said standing up.