By The Light
By Lolita, formerly Miss Natalya
Chapter One: The New Year
"This is it, Manny." Emma Nelson spoke, looking up at the beckoning doors of Degrassi Community School.
"Our first day as grade eights'." Manny replied, glancing over at her confident best friend. Emma smiled broadly at the anxious look on the face of her friend. It reminded her of the previous year; when they had arrived at their first day of grade seven. She remembered it like it was just last week, everything from the butterflies in her stomach to her memorable introduction to the social hierarchy, compliments of Spinner and Jimmy.
"You aren't nervous, are you Manny?" Emma asked, grin widening. Manny looked offended at first, and then nodded sheepishly. "There's nothing to be nervous about. We're grade eights' now, we're practically in charge."
Just as the words passed Emma's lips, Paige and her entourage jostled her from behind. Her books were sent flying in every direction, and Spinner turned to smile patronizingly.
"You should watch where you're going." He called back, and Paige and Hazel laughed. Emma shook her head as she dropped to her knees to collect her fallen books.
"I thought we'd finally be rid of them." Manny spoke, picking up a notebook from a nearby puddle and holding it up. She too shook her head woefully as the muddy water dripped back to the ground.
"I know." Emma conceded, standing back up and starting up the stairs. A familiar voice called her back,
"Hey, you forgot this." Emma turned quickly, wondering who was calling after her.
"Oh hey, thanks . . . " she began, stopping short as she noticed whom she was speaking to. He was seemingly perfect, with shiny brown hair falling in his wide brown eyes. He smiled up at her, and she found herself wondering desperately where she had seen him before. Manny merely stood nearby, dumbfounded.
"You're welcome. You're Emma, right? Emma Nelson?" He asked, walking up several steps so they all stood on the same level. "I'm Craig Manning, you obviously don't remember me. Our mothers' made us dance."
"Right, at the wedding, you're Craig Manning. I remember. You're going to Degrassi now?" Emma took the book from his hand, and their fingers brushed. She colored swiftly.
"Yeah, my dad and I just moved into our new house." He replied, and Manny was still confused. "We lived pretty far outside the city last year; I went to Chancery at Saint Denis."
"Oh." Manny squeaked, and then smiled brightly. There was a brief silence before Craig continued up the stairs.
"Well, I'll see you guys later. I've got to get to class. I wouldn't want to be late for my first day." He spoke with a wink, passing through the doors and leaving the two girls alone on the steps. They paused before slowly turning to face one another. Together they grasped hands and shrieked loudly. A nearby grade seven looked terrified and scampered away, causing Manny and Emma to laugh loudly. With another, more subdued shriek they followed the crowd into the school.
By Lolita, formerly Miss Natalya
Chapter One: The New Year
"This is it, Manny." Emma Nelson spoke, looking up at the beckoning doors of Degrassi Community School.
"Our first day as grade eights'." Manny replied, glancing over at her confident best friend. Emma smiled broadly at the anxious look on the face of her friend. It reminded her of the previous year; when they had arrived at their first day of grade seven. She remembered it like it was just last week, everything from the butterflies in her stomach to her memorable introduction to the social hierarchy, compliments of Spinner and Jimmy.
"You aren't nervous, are you Manny?" Emma asked, grin widening. Manny looked offended at first, and then nodded sheepishly. "There's nothing to be nervous about. We're grade eights' now, we're practically in charge."
Just as the words passed Emma's lips, Paige and her entourage jostled her from behind. Her books were sent flying in every direction, and Spinner turned to smile patronizingly.
"You should watch where you're going." He called back, and Paige and Hazel laughed. Emma shook her head as she dropped to her knees to collect her fallen books.
"I thought we'd finally be rid of them." Manny spoke, picking up a notebook from a nearby puddle and holding it up. She too shook her head woefully as the muddy water dripped back to the ground.
"I know." Emma conceded, standing back up and starting up the stairs. A familiar voice called her back,
"Hey, you forgot this." Emma turned quickly, wondering who was calling after her.
"Oh hey, thanks . . . " she began, stopping short as she noticed whom she was speaking to. He was seemingly perfect, with shiny brown hair falling in his wide brown eyes. He smiled up at her, and she found herself wondering desperately where she had seen him before. Manny merely stood nearby, dumbfounded.
"You're welcome. You're Emma, right? Emma Nelson?" He asked, walking up several steps so they all stood on the same level. "I'm Craig Manning, you obviously don't remember me. Our mothers' made us dance."
"Right, at the wedding, you're Craig Manning. I remember. You're going to Degrassi now?" Emma took the book from his hand, and their fingers brushed. She colored swiftly.
"Yeah, my dad and I just moved into our new house." He replied, and Manny was still confused. "We lived pretty far outside the city last year; I went to Chancery at Saint Denis."
"Oh." Manny squeaked, and then smiled brightly. There was a brief silence before Craig continued up the stairs.
"Well, I'll see you guys later. I've got to get to class. I wouldn't want to be late for my first day." He spoke with a wink, passing through the doors and leaving the two girls alone on the steps. They paused before slowly turning to face one another. Together they grasped hands and shrieked loudly. A nearby grade seven looked terrified and scampered away, causing Manny and Emma to laugh loudly. With another, more subdued shriek they followed the crowd into the school.