Chapter 2: Just Breathe
A/N: Hooha, chapter two. We meet Miller, Craig sees Manny and everyone hates Regan!
***
Regan popped a pink lollipop into her mouth and walked to her locker. She'd just sat through possibly the most boring math class ever. This school blows, she thought, absentmindedly going through her locker combination.
I guess math doesn't really float your boat, the kid who's locker was next to hers. He had shaken her hand. She forgot his name. You look like you're going to fall asleep.
Are you kidding? It was stimulating. If he said coefficients' one more time I might have had multiple orgasms.
I'll bet, Craig laughed, and slightly shocked that a girl would say something like that. The smile slid from his face when he saw her. Who? Her. Manny Santos, looking tan and perfect, and walking this way. Regan turned to see what his was looking at. When she saw Manny she raised her eyebrows and took the lollipop out.
Who's she? Long lost love? Craig took a minute to reply, it seemed to take all of his might to break concentration on Manny. He had almost forgotten Regan was there.
Sort of. He couldn't close his mouth.
You look disoriented, Regan said, analyzing him. And mildly retarded.
Nothing. Get it together, we have english next.
Yeah, yeah.
***
Liberty was in the girls washroom, looking in the mirror. What had she done to herself? Instead of a fresh-faced 14 year old looking back at her, there was a mask of makeup. Not that she could really see, since she was trying out contact lenses, but what she saw was black eyeliner and lip liner, pearly lipstick, red blush and purple eyeshadow. Not good. She thought that a new look might finally warrant a good reaction from JT, but he was too busy checking out every single other girl on the planet. What did she have to do to get a little attention?
She wiped off the lipstick, which helped significantly, but she still looked like a black Barbie gone horribly awry. She sighed, there wasn't much she could do in 5 minutes which didn't require a heavy dosage of makeup remover. Just then, Jane Hart, a fellow ninth grader and her bevy of other pretty, picture-prfect blondes came into the bathroom.
Oh, hey Liberty, Jane said. She did a double take. Jesus, what did you do? She started laughing. Don't tell my it's all for JT. He's not into you Liberty, get over it.
Liberty bit her lip. She would not cry.
Well. See you in geography, Jane. With that, Liberty left the bathroom with her head held high. As soon as she was out, she sped up. She wanted to leave the school, she felt like she was suffocating. She wasn't sure as to where she was going. The stupid contact lenses were blurring up and she was partially blind. Next thing she knew, she had bumped into someone taller and no doubt older. The books of that person were knocked to the ground.
What the hell?!
***
Regan frowned at the kid with unfortunate makeup whom she had bumped into.
Watch it next time, huh? She then got a good look at the kid. Her eyes were fogging up. Oh Jesus, don't cry, I'm not gonna beat you up or anything.
She picked up her books and made her way to the upper floor, where her english class was being held. She grabbed a seat in the middle next to some blond kid. He nodded to her.
Regan, right?
I'm Spinner.
Yeah, we have computers together.
So you like Degrassi so far?
It sucks more than Anna Nicole Smith in a room full of CEOs. Spinner didn't quite understand. He grinned stupidly.
Regan realized that there would be no intellectual conversations with Spinner, so she changed the subject to something he might understand.
So what kind of music do you guys like here?
Oh, everything really... I'm really into Eminem and 50 Cent and Sum 41.
That's cool, I like them. I'm really into punk right now. Or the grunge era. The redhead behind her snorted. Ellie something.
You like punk? Punk, meaning A Simple Plan and Avril Lavigne, right? Ellie's superiority was unwarranted, but Regan refused to sink to her level.
They're ok, she said shrugging.
Before Ellie could reply, the teacher, an insanely attractive man who couldn't be older than 30 walked in. Even Ashley could admit he was gorgeous.
Hi everyone, he said, flashing an incredible smile. I'm Mr. Miller, your new english teacher. Hopefully you guys will take it easy on me, I'm new, and I want to start this year off in a good way. I'm just going to take attendence and we can get to know each other. When I call your name, stand up, tell me something, anything about yourself and your first impression of me, to take the edge off. First up.... let's start with... Hazel. Wow, there are some great names in this class.
Hazel stood up and grinned.
Well, I'm Hazel, and I'm really into hip hop music... my first impression of you is-
She thinks you're hot! Marco yelled from the back. The room broke out into laughter, even Mr. Miller laughed.
Well, I don't think that's true, but thanks Hazel. Let's see... Ashley. Where are you?
I'm Ashley... This year I'm starting a band with my friend Ellie there and I think you've got a great jacket. She nodded to his black leather jacket.
Well thank you Ashley, you seem like a nice girl. Next... Jimmy.
Hey, I'm Jimmy. I'm probably the best basketball player in this room, he boasted, eliciting catcalls from the students. And you... I don't know, you seem like a pretty good guy?
Fair enough. But the basketball part, I'll have to see it to believe it. I knwo you probably think that at 28, I'm an old geezer, but I still have some jump in me. Another round of laughter. Now... Regan. Regan Kennedy.
Regan stayed seated and raised her arm.
I'm Regan. I'm sixteen, older than these kids, but I failed last year. You? She smirked and raised a single perfectly plucked eyebrow. You're interesting.
Thanks. How bout you stand up and say that again?
All right, you get out of it this time because it's the first day.
she said, twirling a finger in the air.
After what seemed like an endless class, the bell rang and everyone jumped to get out of there and to lunch. Regan knew she had a date with a few smokes on the sidewalk today, which made her happy. She really needed something to help her to relax. Craig thought about how he would approach Manny. Paige worried about her hair.
***
Emma sat down next to Manny outside on a picnic bench with her homemade lunch. Manny went through it.
Tofu sandwich! Yum! Emma laughed good-naturedly.
Don't make fun! I have normal stuff too, she pulled out a chocolate cupcake.
Yeah, but what's that? JT asked, joining them and pointing at an unidentifiable substance. I think it's... alive.
You guys are so close-minded! You have to be open to trying new things! Hey, I'm thinking of making an Anti-Water Pollution club this year. You guys will join, right?
For sure, Manny said, smiling and nodding.
I'm there.
Great. Now, how do we attract more people? No thongs, she added, shooting a teasing glare at Manny, who blushed.
Sex sells, she shot back weakly. JT nodded in agreement.
Manny has a point. I think we should start a SEX club at this school... that would be cool.
A sex club? Liberty overheard this as she sat down to join them. Are you serious?
Yeah... not to have sex, obviously, but just to talk about it... The girls just looked at him for a moment. Where's a guy back up when you need him? Just then Emma saw Craig walking outside. He gave a lingering look to Manny, who ignored him.
What's the deal?
I don't know, he's been giving me looks like that all day. It's really annoying. Emma could tell that Manny didn't find it annoying, not in the least. In fact, Manny was downright pleased that he was looking at her like that.
He lied.
I know.
He cheated.
I know.
You can do so much better then him, and you deserve someone who will treate you like a princess.
JT chimed in hopefully. Liberty didn't really have a place in this conversation, so she ate her peanut butter and jam sandwhich with the crusts cut off mechanically. JT hadn't even noticed her makeup.
Should have kept the lipstick on, she thought bitterly. Just then, something caught her eyes. A puff of smoke. It was that new girl in grade 10. The one JT and the guys couldn't shut up about in geography. The one she'd made a fool out of herself in front of. The one who JT, Spinner, Sean, Jimmy- ( and ew, Mr. Simpson?!) kept sneaking glances at. Liberty hated that girl.
***
I think we should practice 3 times a week after school in the music room. We should get a guitarist, a drummer and a bass player. You can sing back-up, right? Ashley has almost nodded off during Ellie's incessant talking about the band. Craig was sitting over there with Jimmy. She really wanted to talk to him.
Um, yeah. For sure.
Ash, you seem to be drifting. Ellie followed her gaze. Ash, no. You told me in the note that you were over him!
I am! I really am. Ashley insisted. Sort of. she added.
Ugh, well get over it. It's not healthy. You know what you need? Since you obviously can't stand being independent and a whole person on your own, you need someone to flirt with. How about... Sean? Ashley wrinkled her nose.
Too gangsta'. And hey! I can be independent. You watch. This will be my year. Ashley's year of being alone. Single and loving it. How does that sound? Ellie gave her a high five
Sounds awesome. Now, about the sound our band is going for, I definitely think we should go punk, you know, like The Donnas but younger- Ellie was getting riled up again. Ashley sighed, zoned her out and thought about how great this year should be.
A/N: ah, the calm before the storm. next chap coming soon. hopefully.
