I DO NOT OWN DEGRASSI. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO LINDA SCHUYLER AND KIT HOOD. ALL I OWN IS MY OC ZACKARY "ZACK" AYERS AND HIS FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO MY BETA READER FOR THIS STORY: GYMNAST1150. THIS STORY ALSO CONTAINS MENTIONS OF DRUG USE, READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

FACE CLAIMS

ZACK AYERS-YOUNG ANTON YELCHIN

WALT AYERS-JOHN RITTER

YVONNE AYERS- MEGAN FOLLOWS

St. Paul, Minnesota. One month ago.

"We're moving?" Zack exclaimed as he stood before his parents in the living room. Mr. and Mrs. Ayers had just dropped this major bombshell and their son was clearly not taking it as well as they had hoped he would.

"Yes, Zack, we are moving. The upper management at the hotel has finally realized how good I am at my job and they're transferring me to their branch in Toronto," his father replied. Walter Ayers had been the manager of the Country Inn and Suites by Raddison in St. Paul and it had been a good living. Zack assumed it had been enough, but apparently his parents disagreed.

"Canada? aren't there any hotels in America that you could be the manager of?" young Zack gripped.

"No, Zack, Toronto is the only branch that needs a new manager right now, honey," his mother told him.

"But it's my senior year at Sestero High!" Zack argued desperately. He had built up all sorts of friendships and relationships at his high school and his Taekwondo class, and he didn't want to leave them behind.

"Don't worry, there's a wonderful school that we found in Toronto. It's called Degrassi Community School," Mr. Ayers pointed out. "It would be the perfect chance to get a fresh start for all of us."

"Come on Mom, why don't you just admit it?"

"Admit what?" Zack could see her brows knit together. She knew where the conversation was going and she was not happy about it.

"This isn't about dad's job, this is about Xavier!" Zack insisted. Many of the Ayers family's problems had something to do with Zack's older half-brother.

"Yes, Xavier is one of the reasons, but he is not the only reason," Yvonne insisted.

"Son, I know you care about your half-brother, but he is a bad influence on you," Walt added sternly. "He's still doing meth, he gets in trouble with the law, and we have offered to get him help, but every time he has refused it. That is not the kind of behavior that we want around you."

"Come on dad, it's not that bad." Zack argued. He knew that his brother was a junkie, but he still loved him.

"You have potential to go places in life, really good places." His mother pointed out as she stroked his cheek. "Xavier threw away his potential for a quick high." In the end, Zack knew that this move meant a lot to his mom, so he agreed to give it a chance.

Toronto. Ontario, Canada. August 15, 2008.

Zack took off his headphone and put his Walkman down on the empty car seat next to his. He had been sitting in the back seat of his parents' '08 Volkswagen Passat for the past day and a half and he was ready for the trip to end. At least he didn't have to ride in the U-haul truck behind them. The young man had not appreciated how long the car ride from St. Paul to Toronto would actually be. Considering that they were traveling to another country, Zack probably should have seen the distance coming a mile away.

"We have finally arrived in the great, white North," Mr. Ayers announced as the family passed through the border and into the city of Toronto. Zack looked out of the window and he had to admit that Toronto was pretty nice. Not as nice as St. Paul, of course, but pretty nice nonetheless.

"It looks so pleasant. Doesn't it, Walter?" Mrs. Ayers asked.

"It looks very pleasant,Yvonne," her husband agreed. Zack could see right through his parents crap and it sickened him something horrible. For the last two weeks, they had been constantly trying to pump sunshine up the ass of their youngest son. Walt and Yvonne Ayers kept trying to convince Zack and themselves that the move was completely their choice, and made out of a desire to support Walt's career.

They all knew the truth, and his parents were clearly trying to avoid it.

As the Ayers family pulled up to their new house, Zack had to admit that it was very nice. It was a two story home with a patch out front for his mom to do her gardening and there was a double door garage for his dad to tinker with the car.

"Here we are, what do you think?" Zack's dad asked.

"It looked absolutely wonderful honey." Zack's mom gushed as she turned to face her son. "I looked it up and your new school is only five minutes away from here, you can ride your bike if you want.

"At least I'm not starting half way through the school year." Zack shrugged as he leaned back in his seat, trying to reconcile himself with his new home.

Toronto. Ontario, Canada. August 21, 2008

Zack woke up and quickly got changed for his first day of school. He could smell the bacon and eggs that his mom had whipped up for him. The boy still wasn't that hungry, but he forced himself to eat because the last thing he wanted was for his mom to start worrying about him again.

"Sit down and eat. You'll be late," she demanded. Zack obliged, but it was proving to be rather difficult.

"It's sticking in my throat, Mom, " he replied. "I'm nervous or something..."

"Well, drink your milk anyhow," Mrs. Ayers insisted while her son did his best to get it down. She was always fretting over her son, wanting to make sure he ate enough, that he was healthy, etc.

"You make any sandwiches?" Zack asked as his father drank some coffee.

"My first day of school, your grandmother would make me eat and by golly, I could never even swallow till recess," he remarked with a chuckle.

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Yvonne replied as she handed Zack his lunch tucked inside his Minnesota Vikings lunchbox. "Here's peanut butter and meat loaf. There's also a thermos of apple juice and some angel food cake to go with it." Zack kissed his mom as before grabbing his yellow bicycle. Both his parents went outside to see him off.

"Bye, Mom."

"Goodbye, dear."

"So long, Zack," Mr. Ayers said. "Knock 'em dead, like your old man used to."

"I will, Dad," Zack replied as he started to ride off to Degrassi.

"And listen, watch out about the pals you choose," Walt exclaimed after his boy. "Know what I mean? Don't let them choose you!"

As Zack pulled up to the school, it did look pretty cool. Perhaps he could give this place a try. Zack walked in and saw all sorts of kids walking about the halls. There was a beautiful, dark brunette, who caught up to some lanky blonde kid with a goofy smile. There was also a snotty looking red headed girl who was asking everyone that passes to vote for her for student president. As he made his way to the main office, he saw signs proclaiming the awesomeness of some guy called The Shep.

"Who the Hell is The Shep?" Zack thought as he came into the office and a receptionist looked up at him.

"Hello, is this your first day at Degrassi?" she asked, and Zack nodded. "Well, i'm sure that you will love it here."

Zack filled out all the forms and got his schedule and locker placement. As he exited the office, he saw a banner hanging near the roof of the foyer.

"Whatever it takes...I know I can make it through," Zack read, and he tried to tell himself that this was a good thing. This was what he needed after all the hassle with his parents and brother: some positive thinking.

Degrassi Community School. Later That Day.

Zack slowly but surely managed to find his way around the school. His classes started off decent enough, and none of the teachers were making him introduce himself in front of the class, so that was comforting. He wasn't' having any real problems until his Media Immersions class, when he couldn't find the classroom for the life of him. He finally swallowed his pride and went up to a young, black kid with glasses.

"Excuse me, do you know where Media Immersions with Mr. Simpson is?" Zack asked, and the kid nodded.

"Yeah, I have that class too," he explained. "Mr. Simpson is the best. I actually live with him so that I can be in the gifted program here. My name's Connor DeLaurier." Connor held out his hand and Zack slowly shook it. He definitely seemed way too excited about this class. As Connor continued talking, a couple of football players walked up and cornered both boys.

"Look at Connor the nerd. Are you telling the new kid about your moth collection?" a kid with curly hair asked in a mocking tone as his pal laughed.

"Why can't you just leave me alone, Derek!" Connor exclaimed as Derek ignored him to talk to Zack.

"Name's Derek Haig, and this is my man, Bruce the Moose, you don't want to be seen with losers dude," he said with a smirk. Now, Zack had dealt with plenty of bullies back in Minnesota, and he wasn't dealing with it here.

"You're so right, dude. That's why I'm walking away from you," Zack shot back as Connor put on a wide smile. Derek and Bruce were stunned as young Ayers made his exit.

"Bad move, new blood!" Bruce exclaimed. Zack probably hadn't made a friend, but he had sure made an enemy.

NEXT TIME, ZACK MAKES A COUPLE FRIENDS. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.