Roxie stood on the school track, shifting her weight from one foot to another. This was totally boring. Mr. Armstrong was forcing them to run lame races, which was much like watching water boil. Roxie rolled her eyes as Marco and about a three hundred pound kid "ran" up side by side, done with their lap. Mr. Armstrong clapped.
"Ok. Good effort," he said halfheartedly.
Marco walked over to Craig, who was standing next to Roxie. "Think that was good enough so that Mr. Armstrong won't make me do it again?" he said, panting. Craig shrugged and smiled weakly.
"Uh…sure."
"Don't lie, Craig. He moves like a pregnant turtle," Roxie said, leaning over to tie her shoe. Marco plopped down on the side of the track as two more kids started their lap.
"I'm not really the athletic type," Marco pointed out, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "Like you can do any better?"
"Yeah, I can." Roxie said, standing back up. "At least I can probably beat that guy," she said, gesturing to the overweight boy Marco had raced, who was panting heavily, while attempting to eat a candy bar.
"Hey! He's surprisingly fast," Marco said defensively. Craig and Roxie exchanged a doubtful glance.
"So…Craig," Roxie said deciding to change the subject. "I'm sorry I just ran out of the party like that…but I was a little…surprised." Surprised wasn't exactly the word- it was more like furious. Craig smiled at her as he watched two kids run around the track. "It's cool. No problem. I…really shouldn't have kissed Ashley like that."
Roxie shrugged. "Whatever. So, what did you do after you left my house? Go back to the party?"
Craig looked away suddenly and Roxie thought he blushed. "No…I went home and….just sat around. What did you do?"
Roxie didn't want to mention Spinner, so she shrugged quickly. "Nothing…you know. Stuff."
Roxie and Craig looked at each other a little suspiciously. "I kind of feel like you're not telling me something," Roxie said.
Craig nodded. "Me too." They were silent for a long moment.
"Why don't we just move on and pretend like this conversation never happened?" Roxie suggested, and Craig nodded quickly.
"Good idea," Craig said.
"Roxie! You're up!" Mr. Armstrong called. "Ashley, so are you!"
"Good luck," Marco said sarcastically. Roxie gave Craig one more suspicious look, smiled and nudged Marco with her shoe as she walked past. Ashley also walked up the starting line. She glanced at Roxie, not exactly looking pleased. Roxie ignored her. Before the party, Ashley had been really nice to Roxie. But after Friday and the whole Craig thing, Ashley had suddenly stopped being so sweet. Roxie figured it was just jealousy- after all; it was easy to see that Ashley was still madly in love with Craig.
"Go!" Mr. Armstrong called, and the two girls took off around the track. Roxie easily pulled ahead, going amazingly fast. Everyone stopped and turned to watch. Roxie was practically finished before Ashley was even halfway done. Mr. Armstrong walked over to her, clearly impressed.
"You're quite the runner, Roxie," he said, patting her on the shoulder. "Track doesn't start until the spring, but why don't you join the cross country team?"
"Um…" Roxie said. "That's ok. I'm really….busy."
"Ah, come on," Mr. Armstrong prodded. "We could really use you. Think about it, ok?" Roxie shrugged.
"Good job, Roxie," Ashley said as she walked by after she had finished. She didn't exactly sound genuine, but Roxie shrugged. "Thanks."
"Wow. You're really good at running," Craig said, folding his arms over his chest. "I always knew you were the fastest girl around." Roxie narrowed her eyes and punched him in the arm.
Ashley walked into the locker room, and stopped when she spotted her reflection in a nearby mirror. She looked like crap. Ashley despised gym-couldn't Mr. Armstrong see that she was obviously an artist, not an athlete? She hated how she got all sweaty and her hair would get all messed up. Ashley shook her head as she walked down a row of changing girls to her locker.
"You know what I think?" Paige said loudly from her locker, a few feet away. "People who do sports shouldn't have to participate in gym class. Including cheerleaders."
Ashley rolled her eyes and opened her locker. "I think no one should have to take gym, period."
Suddenly, Ellie walked up and leaned against the locker adjacent to Ashley's, looking cool and relaxed. Ashley narrowed her eyes as she pulled out her clothes. "Where have you been?"
"Gym isn't exactly my thing," Ellie said mildly, with a shrug. "I thought I'd just drop by, in case Mr. Armstrong noticed I was missing." Ashley nodded in understanding.
"Don't worry-you weren't the only one who ditched," Hazel said from her locker. "Spinner and Carter weren't there, either." At this comment, Paige made a face. Hazel winced and shrugged.
"Sorry, Paige. I forgot both of them…." Hazel trailed off. Paige rolled her eyes.
"Just say it-dumped me. But I guess I got what I deserved, going after Manny's boyfriend. Which of course, I feel horrible about," Paige said with a wave of her hand, halfheartedly. "He made it perfectly clear he wasn't interested after Manny stormed out the other night. Carter is a serious hottie, but I'm done with him. And I'm done with Spinner. And I'm done changing. Let's go, Hazel. Later, Ash."
Ash gave a small wave, then turned and took of her gym shirt. When she did, Ellie's eyes opened wide.
"What happened?" she asked slowly, gesturing to Ashley's arm. Ashley glanced down, realizing her mistake. How could she be stupid? Ashley shrugged and quickly pulled on her regular black t-shirt.
"Oh. I feel on this bush," she said, trying not to wince when she realized that was perhaps the lamest excuse ever. Ellie nodded slowly.
"Where?"
"I tripped on my walkway, and fell right into these thorny bushes," Ashley smoothly replied, shrugging carelessly. "I can be such a klutz, you know?"
"What kind of bush?"
"What's with all the questions?" Ashley snapped, closing her locker with a bang. "I feel like I'm being interrogated here. Look, I got to go to class. I'll see you later, ok?" Ashley turned, grabbed her book bag, and hurried out of the hot locker room. Ellie pushed herself off the locker and shook her head as she watched her friend go.
Ellie wasn't an idiot- she had seen the cuts on Ashley's arm. Not so long ago, Ellie had been dealing with the same problem, although she hadn't cut in forever. She more than anyone understood why people cut, and how dangerous it could be. Ellie bit her lip. Maybe she was completely off base, but Ellie knew a cutter when she saw one. And Ash was a cutter.
Ellie headed out of the locker room. She knew she just couldn't confront Ashley- because, like Ellie had, she would definitely get defensive. But she couldn't not do anything. Ellie had to help her friend.
A month later, Emma sat in front of Degrassi Community School, trying to enjoy a few faint sun rays. She leaned back against the brick and glanced at Manny.
"So, what are you doing this weekend?" Emma asked casually, tilting her face to the sun. Manny shrugged.
"Probably not much. I got grounded last weekend, again. Mom's making me go to some stupid family thing. My cousin's birthday or something. I'd rather shoot myself, but when I told Mom that, she just told me not to do it in the house," Manny said bitterly, pushing her sunglasses up onto her nose. "What about you?"
"I don't know. Bryan and Zack asked me out for this weekend, but I'm not sure if I want to go with either of them," Emma replied. "Of course, I know Bryan's only in it because he thinks he's going to score, so I'm leaning toward Zack."
Manny nodded, glancing off toward the parking lot. She lowered her sunglasses and shook her head. Emma followed her gaze and clenched her jaw. Gina and Sean were walking toward the school together, arms wrapped around each other. Gina kissed him on the cheek, and Sean grinned at her. Emma rolled her eyes and looked away.
"I can't believe him," Emma said, shaking her head in disbelief. "After all that girl did to me, he's still going out with her? What is the matter with him? I thought Sean was smarter than that."
Emma watched them walk up the front steps and disappear into the school together. Emma felt anger boiling inside of her. She thought back to the events of the past month. After Gina had vandalized her locker, Emma had boldly confronted her, and the two had gotten in a huge fight. Gina had hardly even denied doing it! Then Gina began spreading these rumors about Emma. Emma had also confronted Sean about telling Gina about what had happened, but apparently one's of Gina's friends had seen Emma and Sean going upstairs. Since then, basically all the girls had turned against Emma, and all the guys had started hitting on her.
"You should totally get revenge. I would," Manny commented casually. "After what she did, I'd hate her. She's always doing stuff to piss you off."
"I know. But what can I do?"
"You're the smart one here, Emma. You think up something. All I know is that you need to start defending yourself," Manny said, standing up and grabbing her bag. "Don't let Gina push you around, you know?"
Emma nodded thoughtfully. She'd keep that in mind…