[Author's Note: I know this is totally out of character for Jimmy, Manny, and Craig, but I wanted to do more of a dangerous, exciting story with the Degrassi characters. This is kind of interesting because the story idea came from my first independent film (also called Breakdown), I just switched it from my characters to Degrassi characters, and moved the location to Canada. Pretty cool, huh? On with the show!]

Chapter One: A Seller's Market

It was a typical day at Degrassi Community School, and for the students in Mrs. Kwan's English class.

"So, if we look at the diary of Anne Frank, was it written in the first or third person?"

Toby Isaacs hand shot up.

"Someone besides Toby." Mrs. Kwan prompted. She paused, and looked around to see if anyone was paying attention. "Does she say, she was forced to go into hiding?" Nobody moved. Mrs. Kwan sighed. "Toby?"

"No." Toby answered. "She says I."

"That's right, I. I was forced to go into hiding! This is called the first person. Remember that, because it will be on the test." Mrs. Kwan said. "Now, how would you describe Anne Frank?"

"Lucky." Manny Santos whispered. She hadn't meant to utter it aloud, it was just a passing thought.

But now everyone was staring at her intensely, even her so-called "friends" Emma Nelson and JT Yorke. Mrs. Kwan was not amused.

"Anne Frank perished in a concentration camp! How could she be lucky?" Mrs. Kwan demanded.

"I don't know...because she was trapped in an attic for three years with this guy she really liked?" Manny replied lamely.

Mrs. Kwan raised her eyebrows. "You'll be with me for detention today, Miss Santos."

Manny groaned and laid her head down on her desk.

Class let out, and Manny, Emma, JT, and Toby walked down the hall together.

"Nice going, Manny." JT said, giving her the signature JT smirk.

"Shut up, JT. Man, I have to meet Benny at 3:30 today! How am I supposed to make it to the other side of town if I'm in detention with Kwan?" Manny complained.

"You could reschedule." Emma suggested.

Manny gave Emma a Look. "You don't reschedule with Benny Martinez, Em."

"What exactly do you have to meet up with him for anyway?" Emma asked as she and Manny opened their lockers.

"Um..." Manny stalled, trying to think about what to say, when all of a sudden...

"Hey, Manny! What's up?"

Saved by the bell. Or Craig Manning and Jimmy Brooks, to be exact.

"Hey, guys!" Manny said, grateful for the interruption. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. We need to talk to you." Jimmy said.

Manny looked at Emma apologetically. "I'll see you later?"

"Yeah. Bye Manny."

"Later, Em."

Manny followed Jimmy and Craig down the hall until they walked out of the side door leading to the shop. It was lunch time, so no one was really out there.

"What's up, guys?" Manny asked.

"Nothing, we just need to clarify what's going on tonight, and we couldn't really do that in front of Emma." Jimmy replied.

"Okay." Manny folded her arms across her chest and leaned against the brick wall. "So? What's on the agenda?"

"Well, we have to make an appearance at the hockey game tonight." Craig replied.

"We?" Manny asked. "Why?"

Craig rolled his eyes. "Let me rephrase. I have to make an appearance at the hockey game tonight."

"Like I said, why?" Manny asked.

"Because I have over six hundred dollars riding on this game tonight. It is finals." Craig responded.

"Since when have we started betting on high school hockey games?" Manny replied.

"Since it started paying." Jimmy replied. "And speaking of paying, what about you?"

"I'm meeting up with Benny this afternoon after I get done with Kwan to replenish my inventory." Manny replied.

"This afternoon?" Craig asked.

"You heard me." Manny replied.

"Okay, well, I need a favor. Actually, it's Spin that needs the favor." Jimmy said.

Manny sighed. "How much?"

"Gram." Jimmy replied.

Manny sat and thought for a minute. "It'll cost him one twenty."

Craig and Jimmy looked at her like she was crazy.

"One twenty??? Are you kidding me? I can get it to him for seventy!" Craig said. "Manny, he's not gonna pay that!"

"Craig, for the cheap Canadian shit, seventy is overcharging. But for the real, home grown, purified Columbian cocaine, one twenty is more than reasonable, okay? One twenty, take it or leave it." Manny replied.

"Were you this bitchy when we went out?" Craig grumbled, slapping the money into Manny's outstretched hand.

"Were you this whiney when we went out?" Manny shot back. Craig glared at her.

"Anyway. Jimmy. Agenda?" Craig asked.

"Manny, you and I are hitting up that Rave on the other side of Toronto. It's a total seller's market."

"But that's like an hour away." Manny protested.

Jimmy shrugged. "We'll get a room or something."

Manny rolled her eyes. "You amaze me sometimes, you know that?"

"Why?" Jimmy asked.

"Because. You don't even need the money, your parents are rich enough as it is. So why do you do this?"

"What can I say, I need a thrill every now and then." Jimmy replied. "Rave tonight, yes or no?"

Manny shrugged. "What the hell? I haven't been to a good party in awhile."

"Alright, great. When you get done with Benny, give me a call." Jimmy said. "Oh, and uh...bring enough supplies to make a serious score tonight."

Manny gave him the infamous Santos Stare.

"What??? God, I hate when you give me that look!" Jimmy protested.

"I can't buy enough supplies to make a serious score without having serious green to buy the supplies, Jimmy." Manny said. "Pay up."

"Why don't I just go with you?" Jimmy suggested.

"You can't. Benny wouldn't trust you." Manny replied.

"Why not?" Jimmy asked.

"Number one, you're rich, and number two, you're not Puerto Rican. Benny only deals with members of the Latin community." Manny replied. "Which is where I come in."

"Fine." Jimmy grumbled. He pulled his wallet out and discreetly handed a few bills to Manny. "That's a grand. Think you can pull anything decent with that?"

"Oh I think I can try." Manny said with a sly smile. "Okay, so you want blow, X, crystal, drops, anything else? You want some grass?"

"Please." Jimmy rolled his eyes. "Grass is for people who don't know quality."

"Well then consider me unsophisticated." Craig spoke up. "Manny, get me a quarter." He handed her a twenty dollar bill and a five dollar bill.

Manny counted out all the money the boys had given her and stuck it in her wallet, zipping her bag up. "Alright. Well, I guess I'll see you guys tonight."

"Oh, I'm not coming to Toronto with you guys. Don't want Joey to get suspicious." Craig said.

"Guess it's just you and me then." Jimmy said, looking at Manny.

"Guess so." Manny replied. "I'll see you guys later. Craig, I'll try to drop by the game before I take off with Jimmy and deliver your stuff...is Spinner gonna be with you?"

"Yeah. Just come find us at the rink when you get done with Benny, and stay clear of Paige, she doesn't know Spin's into this shit." Craig warned.

"No problem." Manny replied. "See you guys."

Manny walked back inside the building, leaving Craig and Jimmy standing by themselves. Jimmy watched Manny walk away and gave a low whistle.

"Man...she is..."

"She's what?" Craig asked, glancing back at her briefly.

"I like the pants, let's just leave it at that." Jimmy responded. Craig gave him a Look.

"Jimmy, man, don't get tangled up in her right now. There's too much on the line."

"You got tangled up with her." Jimmy responded.

Craig looked around to see if anyone was listening and then glared back at Jimmy. "Man, shut up!" he hissed. "That was before we started doing this, alright? There's too much money on the line right now. If you guys hook up and one gets pissed off at the other, there's no telling what'll happen."

"She's not gonna get pissed off at me, Craig." Jimmy replied with a roll of his eyes.

"Either way, if you guys do end up hooking up, I'm out. I'll go solo, make my own way. Alright?" Craig replied. "I'm not baggin', she's a great girl, and you guys would look good together, but it's just not a good time, alright?" Craig asked.

"Yeah." Jimmy said. "Shit, we gotta get to class." He said just as the bell rung.