It was the morning after the party. Terri had slept over and everyone was quietly sleeping. Ring ring. Charlotte groaned as she picked up the phone. "Hello," she whispered groggily.

"Hey Char, it's…it's Katie."

Katie Chu was Charlotte's best friend from first grade, they'd shared everything from parties to periods their entire life. But Katie and Charlotte hadn't spent much time together since Char switched to Degrassi. Charlotte sat up in bed, wrapping her blanket around her body. She tied her hair in a ponytail and leaned against the headboard. "Hey Ti-Ti," she began, using Katie's childhood nickname. "What's up?" Usually Katie was loud and bubbly but today she was somber. She laughed quietly. "And why are you calling me at 7:00 in the morning?"

Katie sighed gravely. "Hilary had an accident last night." Charlotte frowned, remembering Hilary: a sophisticated blonde with a modeling career taking off. She was one of Charlotte's closest friends. Charlotte suddenly got nervous, pulling her blanket toward her chin. "What….kind of accident did she have?" Katie sighed on the other end. Charlotte knew that Katie was twirling one of her signature black ringlets around her finger.

"Hilary died last night. She went into cardiac arrest from not eating. She was too thin, under 100 pounds and 5'9. I thought you should know." Charlotte wiped tears from her eyelashes. "What?" It didn't seem real. Charlotte pressed the phone against her chest, breathing slow and sad. "Thanks for calling me Katie."

Charlotte took a bottle from her bedside table. She went into the bathroom, tripping over a shoe thrown across the floor, her vision blurred by tears. She opened the bottle, pouring the laxatives into the toilet, watching the pills swirl around, turning the water a sad shade of blue. Charlotte slid down the black marble wall, crying softly, curled into a fetal position.

Nobody was awake when Amy rose with a smile on her face. Sean, Sean, Sean. She turned over in bed. Sean, Sean, Sean. Sunlight streamed through the windows. Sean, Sean, Sean. God I love that boy. She touched her lips, remembering the light kiss he'd tickled them with. She attempted to go back to sleep, but was too excited for the upcoming day. Today's too beautiful to be cooped inside. She dressed quickly in very low baggy sweats and a white tanktop, she pulled her blonde hair back into a ponytail and headed downstairs for breakfast. She cut open a watermelon, slicing pieces and took out some yogurt. She smeared some cream cheese and jelly on a chocolate chip bagel before placing some strawberries and bananas in a blender for a smoothie. She fixed her plate and headed out on the patio for early breakfast. Noticing her cat, Spunky walking around, Amy picked him up and took him outside with her. She sat him on her lap while absentmindedly sipped her smoothie. She stroked him softly, remembering the day she got him.

It was her ninth birthday and her family went out to dinner. Her, and the people she loved most, her mom and her dad. They went to her favorite restaurant and she'd ordered a super fudge sundae. She'd received a new party dress, a brand new computer game, and some roller skates. These were all from her mom and relatives, she hadn't gotten anything from her dad yet. That's when he gave her the smile. The one where his eyes crinkled up at the corners and you could see every tooth in his mouth. "So, Amy missing a present?" he'd asked. Amy got excited. He went out to the car and came back with a big basket in her favorite color, purple. Amid some trinkets: a book, some barrettes, and a bracelet there sat a tiny orange kitten barely two weeks old, laying on a soft blanket. She'd jumped up and down. "Oh Daddy! You're the best!" And then she'd curled up in his huge lap, smelling his smell a mix of Dove soap and pine trees. She snuggled close to him as he held her, feeling the happiest she'd ever felt in her life.

Amy felt her cheeks get wet as tears slid down them. She sniffed, wiping her cheeks and the tears continued to pour out. She headed upstairs to get some tissue. Her cousin, Charlotte was curled up on the floor crying her eyes out. Amy slid down, hugging Char tight as they cried together.

Manny sat on Emma's bed as Emma clicked around on her computer. "Emmmma this is so boring." Manny flipped through a magazine for the thousandth time before throwing it down. Emma turned around, a gleam in her eye. "I have an idea," she said, smiling. "Why don't we go spy on Sean and Amy at the movies today?" Manny laughed.

"Uhh right Emma." Emma stood, pacing. "I'm serious. I'll have to find some more adult clothes. I'll have to be able to compete with Amy in that department." Manny stood, turning Emma around. "That's a genius idea. You'll just have to get Sean back."

Terri sat painting her nails on Charlotte's desk as Charlotte sat on her bed, talking on the phone. She giggled. "Of course Jimmy, come over whenever you want. Like now." She giggled again. "My aunt's not home and neither is my mom. Come on. It's only Terri." Stop giggling on the phone Jeeze! Terri thought. It's so sappy I could shoot myself. Ugh! "Char? I'm out." Charlotte gave her signature smile as she waved goodbye. "Call me" she mouthed. Terri nodded and shut the door behind her.

Amy scooted closer to Sean as he put his arm around her. She gasped as the scariest part of the movie came on. What a great excuse to kiss Sean! she thought. Just as she was leaning in, she felt a piece of popcorn hit her in the back of her head. Who in the world would do that? She turned around but everyone was watching the movie intently.

Manny and Emma slid down as Amy turned around. "Emma," Manny hissed. "I've never seen you do something so stupid!" Emma shrugged.

Jimmy slipped his tongue into Charlotte's mouth as they rolled around on her bed. Her hair had come out of its ponytail and her shirt was halfway unbuttoned. She gasped, taking a breath of air. How had this started? Oh yes, she remembered now. He came over, somehow they'd started kissing and before she knew it, she was half naked and in her bed. He slipped his hand under her shirt. They kissed some more. "Wow." Jimmy leaned back against the headboard. Charlotte climbed into his lap. "Wow is right." He slipped his arms around her waist.

"You are…" he stared at her for a second. Charlotte stood up and began pacing. "I know, I know. Beautiful, stunning, gorgeous, a work of art." She sighed. "Yeah I know already." She perched on the edge of her bed. Jimmy crawled over to her, giving her a light kiss on the neck. "I was actually going to say smart, funny, charming but…you're all that too, I guess." Charlotte sat up and started kissing Jimmy again.

"Sean? I'm gonna go get some popcorn." Amy leaned over whispering, her lips grazing his ear. He looked at her. "Er…I'll come too."

"Look!" Emma whispered. "They're leaving, come on this is our…err, my chance." Emma and Manny crept up the aisle as the bright lights of the theater fought against their pupils. "Whoa, bright! Look there they are!" Manny pointed to Amy and Sean, Amy ordering from the concessions stand and Sean with his arm wrapped around her waist. Emma walked over. "H-Hi Sean," she smiled, teetering in her high heels.

Sean took a double take. "Emma? Is that you?" The girl in front of him certainly did not look like Emma. Her hair was frizzy like Emma's but tied in a bun with a million little glittery butterfly clips. She wore way too much makeup, with bright pink lipstick and violently aqua eye shadow. She wore fishnet stockings with a very short red shirt and a pink tube top. She was a walking fashion disaster. Amy snorted as she turned around. "Who is this Sean? Your little sister?" She giggled. Emma blushed a deep shade of red.

"No. I am…not his sister. I look…mature. So there." Amy snorted. "Sean? Uhh I'll meet you inside."