Hours passed. Emma and Mrs. Santos sat alone outside Manny's hospital
room. Silence seemed to say every thing. The door to her room opened and
made Emma jump and snap back to reality. She realized her face was stained
with tears. A doctor dressed in white appeared at the door. The two ladies
waited with baited breath for his answer.
Time seemed to slow down in that moment. He took a deep breath, cleared his
throat, and began to speak, "Are you Mrs. Santos?" She nodded and shook his
hand. "My name is Dr. Atkins. I assume Manuela Santos is your daughter."
Again she nodded. Emma started twitching with anticipation. She wanted to
jump down his throat and pull out whatever information he was hiding. He
was way too calm "HURRY UP AND TELL US ALREADY!" she wanted to scream. The
doctor cleared his throat. He seemed to be savoring the suspense. He said
,"Manuela is...
"Fine," said Ellie as she slapped down some money on the counter and grabbed the bag and drink. "Damn overpriced food," she thought. "Miss, don't you want your change?" "Keep it," Ellie called over her shoulder. "Stupid fast food," she said out loud. She knew she wasn't mad at the restaurant, which made her even madder. She was mad at herself for ditching Emma when she really needed her. She reached the entrance to the park and threw the bag at Max and handed him the drink. He greedily devoured the sandwich and chips in the bag. He then finished the drink almost instantly. Max wiped his face off with a dirty rag that was tucked in his pocket. Ellie found a seat on a huge stone and watched him eat. When Max was done, she ask said, "I need to...
"...talk to her for a little while. She needs her rest," The doctor gestured towards Manny's bed where she sat weakly smiling. "Manuela,....................." Mrs. Santos went on and on in Spanish. Emma didn't understand any of it, and stood there feeling helpless. Finally Mrs. Santos took a step back and looked at Emma, signaling her forward. Emma took a step forward. About a million emotion rushed through her once. She felt weak and helpless because she couldn't do anything. She felt angry because couldn't do anything. She felt sad because she couldn't do anything. She felt guilty because she couldn't do anything. She felt so many emotions, but happiness wasn't one of them. Manny tried to sit up. After two failed attempts and the doctor telling her not to over exert herself, she settled for raising her head and giving off a weak smile, which only furthered Emma's despair. Emma tried to smile back. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in a steel bar. The steel had a fun house mirror, which only distorted her mangled expression more. She saw her twisted attempt at a smile, tear-stained cheeks, and sad eyes. "Emma, would you like to talk to Manny?" Mrs. Santos taking for granted the fact that Emma hadn't understood her signal. "I need some encouragement. Where is..."
"Ellie, you're going to have to confront your friend, Ella," Max said after Ellie had explained her situation. She didn't bother correcting him. She didn't want any reason to look up at him. His ice blue eyes were so penetrating., she felt that if she made eye contact, he'd be able see into her soul. "But I'm scared," she reasoned pretending she found counting the cracks in concrete extra interesting today. "It's better to be guided by your dreams than ruled by your fears," he said in his omnipotent voice that always used when saying proverbs and wise aphorisms. "I just felt I didn't I belonged there. I felt that they needed time alone. I..." "Failed," Max cut in. "What?" Ellie asked thoroughly confused. "You failed your test of friendship," Max clarified. "I made sure Manny made it safely to the hospital," Ellie defended herself. "Not to Manny, to Ella," Max said. "Huh?" "In a friendship, there's a test, orchestrated by each individual in the amity unintentionally," Max began. "Ella already passed hers." "When?" asked Ellie searching her memory for a time. "The day in the tree," he answered. Memories of the day flooded back into her mind. "Why do I tell him everything? It just gives him more of a chance to be right" Ellie knew what she had to do. "I have to go," she said. Max smiled, "Good for you." Ellied hopped on her bike and peddled madly down the sidewalk. As she rode she couldn't help but try to remember her test when she had been friends with that backstabber,...
"Ashley and Jimmy, Degrassi's perfect couple," Terri said to Ashley over the phone. Ashley laughed. "I wouldn't say perfect. I've screwed it up a good number of times." Terri giggled. "It just goes to show that it was meant to be." "But I'm not sure Ellie and I were meant to be," said Ashley suddenly "Huh?" asked Terri confused by the sudden change of subject. "She's been ignoring me ever since when went into that band competition." "Oh," said Terri finally grasping the concept of the conversation. "Do you think we should have let her join the..."
"...band-aid won't cut it, but we removed the bullet and are going to put a cast on it. The bullet broke the bone but missed all major arteries and veins. We realigned the bone; the cast will hold it in place until it is fully healed. She lost a good amount of blood and needs much rest. She'll need to stay over night, so we can monitor her. She should be able to go home at the earliest tomorrow night or the following morning, " answered Dr. Atkins to Emma question about Manny's health. The sadness and pain was so thick, it was tangible. Emma's mother and Mr. Santos had arrived and Manny was asleep. Breathlessly Ellie stood at the door. Tears were streaking down her face. Her heavy breathing brought everyone's attention to her. "Ellie!" Emma said. Emma ran over hugged her and hugged her and Ellie hugged her back. The doctor smiled. "Mr. and Mrs. Santos, I'd like to talk to you outside. Mrs. Simpson, please stay and watch the girls. I think they need some time with their friend." Mr. and Mrs. Santos followed him out of the room and Emma's mother took a seat on the other side of the room and watched the two girls lovingly. Suddenly she scream. Ellie and Emma looked over at Mrs. Simpson. "Sorry," she smiled, "cell phone. It's on ring" Emma's mother left the room talking to, as far as Emma could deduce, her step-father, Archie. Ellie watched her walked out of the room. "Where were you?" Emma suddenly demanded. Ellie spun around to confront. "I'm sorry. It's just. You see. Max. And the test. It's like. Is Manny okay?" Ellie was finally able to finish a thought. "She's alright." Emma said. She opened her mouth to say something else, but the nearly inaudible voice saying, "Ellie", stopped her. Both girl looked over to Manny lying the bed. Raising her seem to drain Manny's already minimal energy stores. Ellie ran over to her bedside to give her a hug. Manny gave another attempt at a smile, "Just don't forget my..."
"...homework for today will be for you to read chapters 17 and 18. You must read it because we will review it in class, Gavin," Mrs. Kwan said. Spinner rolled his eyes.
"Dude, Kwan has it in for me," Spinner said to Jimmy not even checking to see if his best friend was there. When he recieved no answer he looked around. He spotted Jimmy walking hand-in-hand a couple people ahead.
"You do ask for it, Terri, who had appeared next to him, offered.
"What?" Spinner asked sounding offended.
"You did put bugs in the...
"...cafeteria?" asked Ashley. "I say we skip the food, and go straight to dessert," Jimmy said and began kissing her profusely until...
"Again Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Kerwin.? Please, let's try to keep our hands to ourselves. Detention. Again. Separately. Mrs. Kerwin, today, 3 o' clock. Mr. Brooks, tomorrow, same time. Good day." With that Mrs. Kwan stormed away.
They watched their spastic Asian teacher disappear down the hall, stopping twice to reprimand other "delinquents", then Jimmy continued "resusitating" his girlfriend.
When they finally took a breath, Jimmy said, "I've basketball today, so I'll see you after detention?"
"Yeah," Ashley laughed, "Kwan's in over her head."
The bell rang. "Well, we've got gym now. So, see you later?"
"Yeah, whose idea was it to have sex separated classes anyways?"
"I don't know, but you know what they say, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
After about five good-bye kisses they parted heading down separate hallways. As Ashley walked, her shoulder bumped Ellie's. "Oh sorry," Ashley said, but then realizing that it was Ellie, "Hey Ellie! I haven't seen you around lately.
"Fuck off," Ellie mumbled and continued walking.
Ashley took a deep breath, spun around, and grabbed her friend's shoulder. "Ellie, what's your problem?" "Just stay the hell away from me," she burst out unexpectedly. She wrenched her arm out of the grip of a startled Ashley and stormed down the hallway leaving surprise and fear in her wake. The few people who were in the hallway, including Terri, just stared slack- jawed at Ashley who could do nothing but stand there blinking. Terri ran up to her friend. "What was that all about?" she asked cooly. Ashley sunk to the floor; all her happiness had evaporated. "I don't know. I honestly don't...
"No. Please no!" Manny begged. She laid on her bed in the hospital with the cold metal barrel of a pistol pointed at her head. Her attacker rammed the gun into her head. "I should have finished you. I'll do it now." Manny's hand crept toward the buzzer to call for medical aid, but he saw her and slammed the butt of the gun into her hand. The pain blazed through her whole arm. He returned his gun to its fatal position, pointed at her head. Manny squeezed her eyes shut. Hot tears streamed down her face. "Just one shot," he whispered. She heard the soft click of the trigger and... Manny's eyes shot open. A cold sweat dripped from her brow. She could still hear the man's voice echoing in her head. "Mommy," she whimpered into the silence that filled her room.. It was going to be a long day.
...long day. Ashley sighed staring at the clock. The seconds seemed to take forever to pass. It didn't help that she couldn't take her mind off Jimmy. She scanned the room slowly trying to figure who was their; it was pitiful attempt at time consumption, but time consumption non the less. In front of her were two kids from grade eight, one she didn't know, the other was JT Yorke. To her right was Heather Montclair and to her left was some blonde kid from grade ten and Craig Manning. About an hour later detention let out and every one left including the teacher. As Ashley picked up her bag, all her books fell from the bag. She cursed under her breath and bent down to pick them up. As she was picking them up an anonymous hand offered her a pile of them. She looked up at the face of Craig. She took them and said, "Thanks." She expected him to leave, but he wouldn't. She finished putting her books in the bag and zipped it up. His hand appeared again to help her up. She took it reluctantly and stood to her feet. She said, "Thanks," again, but he wouldn't take a hint and leave, so she pretended to dust her skirt off. The only sound in the halls was the sports teams letting out of practice. The silence of the room was broken when Craig said, "Uh...Ashley...I...well." He stopped for a second a scratched his neck. Then, he took a deep breath and continued, no better than before, "It's that...you see...I..." That's when it happed he kissed her. That's also when Jimmy happened to walk by.
"Fine," said Ellie as she slapped down some money on the counter and grabbed the bag and drink. "Damn overpriced food," she thought. "Miss, don't you want your change?" "Keep it," Ellie called over her shoulder. "Stupid fast food," she said out loud. She knew she wasn't mad at the restaurant, which made her even madder. She was mad at herself for ditching Emma when she really needed her. She reached the entrance to the park and threw the bag at Max and handed him the drink. He greedily devoured the sandwich and chips in the bag. He then finished the drink almost instantly. Max wiped his face off with a dirty rag that was tucked in his pocket. Ellie found a seat on a huge stone and watched him eat. When Max was done, she ask said, "I need to...
"...talk to her for a little while. She needs her rest," The doctor gestured towards Manny's bed where she sat weakly smiling. "Manuela,....................." Mrs. Santos went on and on in Spanish. Emma didn't understand any of it, and stood there feeling helpless. Finally Mrs. Santos took a step back and looked at Emma, signaling her forward. Emma took a step forward. About a million emotion rushed through her once. She felt weak and helpless because she couldn't do anything. She felt angry because couldn't do anything. She felt sad because she couldn't do anything. She felt guilty because she couldn't do anything. She felt so many emotions, but happiness wasn't one of them. Manny tried to sit up. After two failed attempts and the doctor telling her not to over exert herself, she settled for raising her head and giving off a weak smile, which only furthered Emma's despair. Emma tried to smile back. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in a steel bar. The steel had a fun house mirror, which only distorted her mangled expression more. She saw her twisted attempt at a smile, tear-stained cheeks, and sad eyes. "Emma, would you like to talk to Manny?" Mrs. Santos taking for granted the fact that Emma hadn't understood her signal. "I need some encouragement. Where is..."
"Ellie, you're going to have to confront your friend, Ella," Max said after Ellie had explained her situation. She didn't bother correcting him. She didn't want any reason to look up at him. His ice blue eyes were so penetrating., she felt that if she made eye contact, he'd be able see into her soul. "But I'm scared," she reasoned pretending she found counting the cracks in concrete extra interesting today. "It's better to be guided by your dreams than ruled by your fears," he said in his omnipotent voice that always used when saying proverbs and wise aphorisms. "I just felt I didn't I belonged there. I felt that they needed time alone. I..." "Failed," Max cut in. "What?" Ellie asked thoroughly confused. "You failed your test of friendship," Max clarified. "I made sure Manny made it safely to the hospital," Ellie defended herself. "Not to Manny, to Ella," Max said. "Huh?" "In a friendship, there's a test, orchestrated by each individual in the amity unintentionally," Max began. "Ella already passed hers." "When?" asked Ellie searching her memory for a time. "The day in the tree," he answered. Memories of the day flooded back into her mind. "Why do I tell him everything? It just gives him more of a chance to be right" Ellie knew what she had to do. "I have to go," she said. Max smiled, "Good for you." Ellied hopped on her bike and peddled madly down the sidewalk. As she rode she couldn't help but try to remember her test when she had been friends with that backstabber,...
"Ashley and Jimmy, Degrassi's perfect couple," Terri said to Ashley over the phone. Ashley laughed. "I wouldn't say perfect. I've screwed it up a good number of times." Terri giggled. "It just goes to show that it was meant to be." "But I'm not sure Ellie and I were meant to be," said Ashley suddenly "Huh?" asked Terri confused by the sudden change of subject. "She's been ignoring me ever since when went into that band competition." "Oh," said Terri finally grasping the concept of the conversation. "Do you think we should have let her join the..."
"...band-aid won't cut it, but we removed the bullet and are going to put a cast on it. The bullet broke the bone but missed all major arteries and veins. We realigned the bone; the cast will hold it in place until it is fully healed. She lost a good amount of blood and needs much rest. She'll need to stay over night, so we can monitor her. She should be able to go home at the earliest tomorrow night or the following morning, " answered Dr. Atkins to Emma question about Manny's health. The sadness and pain was so thick, it was tangible. Emma's mother and Mr. Santos had arrived and Manny was asleep. Breathlessly Ellie stood at the door. Tears were streaking down her face. Her heavy breathing brought everyone's attention to her. "Ellie!" Emma said. Emma ran over hugged her and hugged her and Ellie hugged her back. The doctor smiled. "Mr. and Mrs. Santos, I'd like to talk to you outside. Mrs. Simpson, please stay and watch the girls. I think they need some time with their friend." Mr. and Mrs. Santos followed him out of the room and Emma's mother took a seat on the other side of the room and watched the two girls lovingly. Suddenly she scream. Ellie and Emma looked over at Mrs. Simpson. "Sorry," she smiled, "cell phone. It's on ring" Emma's mother left the room talking to, as far as Emma could deduce, her step-father, Archie. Ellie watched her walked out of the room. "Where were you?" Emma suddenly demanded. Ellie spun around to confront. "I'm sorry. It's just. You see. Max. And the test. It's like. Is Manny okay?" Ellie was finally able to finish a thought. "She's alright." Emma said. She opened her mouth to say something else, but the nearly inaudible voice saying, "Ellie", stopped her. Both girl looked over to Manny lying the bed. Raising her seem to drain Manny's already minimal energy stores. Ellie ran over to her bedside to give her a hug. Manny gave another attempt at a smile, "Just don't forget my..."
"...homework for today will be for you to read chapters 17 and 18. You must read it because we will review it in class, Gavin," Mrs. Kwan said. Spinner rolled his eyes.
"Dude, Kwan has it in for me," Spinner said to Jimmy not even checking to see if his best friend was there. When he recieved no answer he looked around. He spotted Jimmy walking hand-in-hand a couple people ahead.
"You do ask for it, Terri, who had appeared next to him, offered.
"What?" Spinner asked sounding offended.
"You did put bugs in the...
"...cafeteria?" asked Ashley. "I say we skip the food, and go straight to dessert," Jimmy said and began kissing her profusely until...
"Again Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Kerwin.? Please, let's try to keep our hands to ourselves. Detention. Again. Separately. Mrs. Kerwin, today, 3 o' clock. Mr. Brooks, tomorrow, same time. Good day." With that Mrs. Kwan stormed away.
They watched their spastic Asian teacher disappear down the hall, stopping twice to reprimand other "delinquents", then Jimmy continued "resusitating" his girlfriend.
When they finally took a breath, Jimmy said, "I've basketball today, so I'll see you after detention?"
"Yeah," Ashley laughed, "Kwan's in over her head."
The bell rang. "Well, we've got gym now. So, see you later?"
"Yeah, whose idea was it to have sex separated classes anyways?"
"I don't know, but you know what they say, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
After about five good-bye kisses they parted heading down separate hallways. As Ashley walked, her shoulder bumped Ellie's. "Oh sorry," Ashley said, but then realizing that it was Ellie, "Hey Ellie! I haven't seen you around lately.
"Fuck off," Ellie mumbled and continued walking.
Ashley took a deep breath, spun around, and grabbed her friend's shoulder. "Ellie, what's your problem?" "Just stay the hell away from me," she burst out unexpectedly. She wrenched her arm out of the grip of a startled Ashley and stormed down the hallway leaving surprise and fear in her wake. The few people who were in the hallway, including Terri, just stared slack- jawed at Ashley who could do nothing but stand there blinking. Terri ran up to her friend. "What was that all about?" she asked cooly. Ashley sunk to the floor; all her happiness had evaporated. "I don't know. I honestly don't...
"No. Please no!" Manny begged. She laid on her bed in the hospital with the cold metal barrel of a pistol pointed at her head. Her attacker rammed the gun into her head. "I should have finished you. I'll do it now." Manny's hand crept toward the buzzer to call for medical aid, but he saw her and slammed the butt of the gun into her hand. The pain blazed through her whole arm. He returned his gun to its fatal position, pointed at her head. Manny squeezed her eyes shut. Hot tears streamed down her face. "Just one shot," he whispered. She heard the soft click of the trigger and... Manny's eyes shot open. A cold sweat dripped from her brow. She could still hear the man's voice echoing in her head. "Mommy," she whimpered into the silence that filled her room.. It was going to be a long day.
...long day. Ashley sighed staring at the clock. The seconds seemed to take forever to pass. It didn't help that she couldn't take her mind off Jimmy. She scanned the room slowly trying to figure who was their; it was pitiful attempt at time consumption, but time consumption non the less. In front of her were two kids from grade eight, one she didn't know, the other was JT Yorke. To her right was Heather Montclair and to her left was some blonde kid from grade ten and Craig Manning. About an hour later detention let out and every one left including the teacher. As Ashley picked up her bag, all her books fell from the bag. She cursed under her breath and bent down to pick them up. As she was picking them up an anonymous hand offered her a pile of them. She looked up at the face of Craig. She took them and said, "Thanks." She expected him to leave, but he wouldn't. She finished putting her books in the bag and zipped it up. His hand appeared again to help her up. She took it reluctantly and stood to her feet. She said, "Thanks," again, but he wouldn't take a hint and leave, so she pretended to dust her skirt off. The only sound in the halls was the sports teams letting out of practice. The silence of the room was broken when Craig said, "Uh...Ashley...I...well." He stopped for a second a scratched his neck. Then, he took a deep breath and continued, no better than before, "It's that...you see...I..." That's when it happed he kissed her. That's also when Jimmy happened to walk by.