Chapter Two- A Shoulder to Cry On

Disclaimer: Same as always, don't own anything related to Degrassi.

JT walked downstairs and left the house where the party was. Ashley saw him leave from upstairs and went out after him. He walked at a fast pace and headed home. "JT, Wait!!", Ashley said. "Go away Ash okay this isn't a good time", JT said. "JT, talk to me, I can help you", Ashley said. JT stopped and turned around. "I should've listened to you. You were right.", JT said. "I'm sorry I yelled at you, and.. I'm sorry I ever went out with Manny.", JT said. "JT, it's okay", Ashley said. "JT!", Toby shouted. "What?", JT asked, fighting off tears. Toby was out of breath from running down the street. "Dude...What happened?", Toby asked. "Toby guess!", Ashley said. Toby paused for a minute and looked at his best friend and his step-sister. "Manny wanted to sleep with you, and you backed off", he said. JT nodded and looked down. "JT you did the right thing", Ashley said. "Come on, Toby, let's walk JT home", Ashley said.

Ashley, JT, and Toby walked up to JT's house to find no one home. "Good. My parents aren't home. They don't have to know about this", JT said. "Hey JT, if you want to stay at our house, you can...I don't think Dad or Kate would mind", Toby said. "Yeah, totally cool", Ashley said. "Well...", JT mumbled. "JT, your parents said to leave a note if went anywhere. It's almost 11:30, and they aren't even home yet. I don't think they would mind", Toby said. "Uhh, you're right. Let me go get some clothes, and..I'll be back in a minute", JT said. JT slowly walked up the stairs as Ashley and Toby sat on his couch. "I can't believe Manny tried to have sex with him. She's just looking to get with everyone, isn't she?", Ashley remarked. "Poor guy. He finds a girl for himself, and all she wants him for is sex", Toby said. JT came back downstairs with a duffle bag and a hand written note. "I wrote my parents a letter, so if they ever come home, they'll know where I am", JT said.

JT, Toby and Ashley arrived to another empty house, Toby and Ashley's. "Now where are our parents at?", Toby asked. "Who knows. I'm gonna go take a shower. You two want some pizza?", Ashley asked. "No thanks, Ashley, I'm not very hungry", JT said. Ashley shrugged her shoulders and walked upstairs. "I'm such an idiot! I should have listened to Spinner, Ashley, all of Degrassi..", JT said. "JT, Manny is Manny and you are better off without her. Nothing good could have come of her being with you", Toby said. "Yeah, I know. I'm done with her..I just thought...I just thought that I had found someone, but I guess I was wrong. She didn't really like me", JT said.

It was a Monday morning at Degassi, and JT did not want to be there. He had ended up staying the weekend at Toby and Ashley's, since his parents decided to stay an extra day with their friends. "I do not want to go in there", JT said to Toby. Toby just patted him on the back and and shook his head. As they walked in the halls, there was actually no whispering or talking or laughing at all. JT walked into Mr.Simpson's class and noticed Manny wasn't there. JT put his head down and tried to hold back tears. His weekend was horrible. He felt sick and hurt and did not want to be at Degrassi. A soft hand touched his shoulder. "JT?", Emma said. "Emma?", JT asked. "JT, I heard what happened. I'm really, really sorry that Manny did that to you", Emma said. "So everyone knows? Great", JT said. "JT, everyone that doesn't think your dumb or lame or prude or anything like that", Emma said. "JT, talk to me at lunch, okay?", Emma said. "I really want to talk to you", Emma added. "Yea, okay..I will. The bench outside. Okay? Not in the cafeteria. Not inside Degrassi", JT said. Emma looked him in the eyes and nodded. "Okay. Outside. At the bench. Lunchtime", Emma said.

Lunch soon arrived, and Manny still hadn't been seen all day. JT walked out to the bench, avoiding everyone in sight. Emma wasn't there yet, but she was good about being on time. JT sat down and still, looked as if he was fighting off tears. "JT", Emma said. "Emma", JT replied. "JT ,you did the right thing. You don't deserve to be used by Manny. You don't deserve to be treated like that either. You're too sweet, and too caring, and you deserve someone that will treat you right", Emma said. JT looked sad and helpless. "I feel like...I've been lied to, I feel betrayed and walked over..How could I have been so stupid! Manny never liked me, she just wanted to use me..", JT said. "JT!!", Emma said sternly reaching out to his hands. She grabbed his hands and held them tight. Emma was almost in tears. "You're not happy at all. You're not smiling, Ashley and Toby said you didn't barely eat anything all weekend. You've been depressed, and..and I want you to know that I care! I care about you JT", Emma said. JT had never heard anyone but his parents say that they cared about him. JT had never had any girl care about him. "You care about me?", JT asked. Emma nodded and reached out to give JT a hug. "I've never had any friend care about me. You really do, don't you?", JT said fighting back tears, still hugging. "I do, and I'll always be here if you need me", Emma said, with tears running down her face.