"You ready?" Emma asked looking back at Jay.
He was eyeing the front doors of Degrassi nervously. Chuckling to himself, he shook his head and looked back to Emma. "No sweat. It's nothing I haven't done before, Goldilocks."
"As many times as you have been kicked out of school, Hogart, I'd say you're a pro at this," Alex cut in, wrapping her arms around the shoulders of the happy couple. "Only this time you were innocent, in a manner of speaking."
"Thanks for bringing up my colorful past, Lexi," Jay replied sarcastically.
"Anytime," Alex smirked.
Emma grinned saucily. "Don't worry, stud. I love a man who is rough around the edges." She winked at him before entering the school. Jay watched her hips sway back and forth in a trance.
"Your girl is pretty hot," Alex commented. "Here's a tissue, you've got a little drool on your chin."
Still spacing out, Jay wiped at his chin. Finally Alex's words registered in his brain. "Watch it, that's my girl you're talking about there. But yeah, she's hot and she's all mine," Jay said possessively.
Alex laughed at him and pushed her sunglasses up onto the top of her head. "Take it easy, Romeo. I have my own girl now."
Grinning at Alex, Jay teased, "So you finally asked out Santos?"
"A girl never kisses and tells."
"You just did," he replied smugly before starting up the steps. Thinking better of it, Jay turned around quickly to yell, "Besides Lex, when did you ever abide by that crap?"
Alex laughed as he waved good-bye.
--
Fixing her hair, Manny glanced into her locker mirror and smiled. She turned around excitedly and hugged her friend. "Oh, Em! I'm glad you're here. I have something major to tell you…"
Emma raised an eyebrow and smirked at her best friend. "New love interest?"
Taken aback, Manny's face fell slightly. She then released a huge grin. "You know me too well."
"I'd sure hope so; we've only been friends since we were in diapers. So, are you going to spill about Alex or smile at me all day?" Emma teased.
"What?"
"Oh, please Manny. You just said yourself, 'I know you too well,'" Emma confirmed. Manny's mouth gaped open and shut quickly, reminding Emma of a fish. "Besides, I think it's cute. I could tell Alex has been crushing on you for a while now. I'm glad you're giving her this chance."
Manny pulled in Emma for a big bear hug. In her ear, she whispered, "You're the best friend a girl could ask for, Em."
"Same to you, Nemo." With a little wave, Emma walked to her class.
--
During lunch, four students found themselves at the center of attention. They supposed it had something to do with Jay's presence back at school. Rumors were still circulating about the atrocities he must have committed to have been kicked out of school. For this reason, most people wondered why Mrs. H suddenly let him back into school. It had only been a few days since he had been expelled. Did it have anything to do with the tape of Peter Stone that had been leaked on the morning announcements? Only five souls knew the truth on the whole matter, but not one of them had slipped a bit of truth. The Degrassi student body would have to settle for never knowing the true story, which was mostly satisfying. After all, who doesn't love the chance to speculate about juicy rumors and conspiracies?
Manny looked to her friends as an idea popped into her head. "I'm tired of this rumor crap. Let's give them something real to talk about."
Jay and Emma exchanged a confused glance and shrugged their shoulders. Alex, on the other hand, knew exactly what Manny was suggesting. "Are you sure about this?" she asked tilting her head to the side to gauge her girlfriend's courage.
"Definitely. I mean they're going to find out sooner or later, right? Jay and Emma here already know, so let's just get this over with now. Add some fuel to the gossip fires."
Alex smirked. "I knew I liked you for good reason." Manny smacked her arm lightly. "Kidding! Just kidding!" Alex protested.
Manny grabbed Alex and crushed her lips to her girlfriend's. The hushed cafeteria became eerily silent as all eyes were on the couple now making out unabashedly.
"Mmm, daddy like," Jay said as he watched the two brunettes. He suddenly felt an angry jab to the back of his head. "Hey! What was that for?" he whined to Emma.
"For being a perv!" she huffed.
Jay wrapped his arms around Emma's waist, pulling her in close. He kissed her pouty lips gently and said, "You know I only have eyes for you, Goldilocks."
--
Peter dunked a mop into a bucket and watched the filth disappear. Ringing it out, he made a long sweep across the floor, giving it a sparkly shine. He paused when he heard laughter.
"Well, isn't this the icing on my delicious cake of a day," Jay snickered. "You're doing a swell job there, Poindexter." He stopped to inspect the floor. "Oops, I spoke too soon. You missed a spot, right over there."
Peter rolled his eyes angrily. "Very funny, criminal. Just because I confessed to my mom about that afternoon in the washroom, it doesn't mean that I'm going to put up with your oh-so-insightful comments."
Jay crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow defiantly. "Is that so?"
Before Peter could respond, Emma laid a reassuring hand on Jay's shoulder. "Leave it alone, Jay. He's not worth it."
Glancing down into her big brown eyes, Jay reasoned, "You're absolutely right, babe. He's below us." Not another word would be spoken between the two boys again.
Jay draped his arm around Emma's shoulders, leading her to the parking lot. Once they were in front of his car, Jay pinned Emma to the door and began to kiss her hungrily. She kissed him back and ran her hands through his soft hair. "Mmm…I love the way you taste," Jay whispered as he brushed some of her blonder hair off of her face.
"Yeah, well I love you," she smirked in response. "Come on, let's go home."