This chapter contains suggestion of things not suitable for people with weak stomachs I think. It only implies things, but I will still warn you now so I don't get yelled at later.
"Attention students, Degrassi will be hosting a special, once-inna-lifetime back-to-school dance this Saturday! Come out and dance the whole night away! Tickets are 5 bucks at the door!" the PAS crackled over the students. I sighed, a dance, how wonderful. I have no one to go with, other than Marco, but he already had a date. Some other boy named Dylan, who I had only met briefly when he dropped off Marco at my house so he could help me move in. He seemed nice, not exactly the kinda guy I could see Marco with, but he was nice, and pretty cute, so there ya go. Marco had good taste, so I wasn't worried. But despite all these happy thoughts about Marco and his relationship, I did not have, and had only had one once before, a relationship of my own. So, it was safe to say that I would not be going, unless I wanted to be the wall-flower again… What about Sean? a tiny annoying voice squeaked in my mind. NO! I screamed back in retaliation. Although the idea of asking him to the dance did both attract and disgust me, I knew it was impossible. I had made an enemy of his friend, and I'm sure that it would be over before it began.
"Hey Kari! Kari!" I turned around, and smiled at Toby and another girl who was with him. Hey, I could ask Toby! I thought happily. I was about to ask him if he had any plans for Saturday night, but I saw that he was holding hands with the girl. Shoot…
"Kari, this is my girlfriend Kendra, she likes anime too. She wanted to meet you." Kendra held out her free hand and shook mine tightly.
We said our hellos and goodbyes and I was on my way. Yes, I was a year older than the both of them, but they seemed very nice and I had no problem hanging out with them. I was happy again, and managed to forget all about the little incident with Jay. I walked into the lunchroom and remembered, I was friendless so far… so there was no where to sit, except a table near a window, which was unoccupied. I made my way over there carefully through the mob of students and sat my things down with a large 'thump' on the table. As I began to eat my meager meal of a tuna fish sandwich, carrots, and a bottle of water, I saw Sean and Jay walk past. I stopped eating and pretended to be fascinated with something outside. I hoped that they walked away, but I heard that familiar chair screech as it was pulled from the table. I looked up, and was surprised to see not Jay, or Sean, but a blonde girl who looked Toby's age.
"Uh… hello." I said tentatively. "Hi, I'm Emma Neilson, and you looked all alone over here, so we came to keep you company!" She said brightly as two boys appeared behind her. One I recognized as Toby, but the other I did not know. "This is Toby, and JT." They waved, sat down, and started eating with me.
JT was… well, strange. He was funny and cute and everything, but he was just… out there, but in a good way… kind of like my friend Melanie back in the states. Emma was very nice, but as soon as I mentioned Sean and Jay, she turned from sweet tree-hugger girl that she appeared to be to vicious jealous monster. "Stupid Jay, he's always making things worse for everybody around here, and Sean! God, I don't know why I even think about him anymore. He's an ass, and a loser and I hate him…" So, Emma must have been with Sean before. Maybe I could get advise from her…. but I decided heavily against that when I saw her stabbing at her salad and mutter something about Sean. Yes, yes, definitely a bad idea…
I left the table early to walk around outside while I could, and said my good byes to JT, Toby and Emma, who was lost in her salad-stabbing. Outside, I felt calmer, more relieved, and at peace with this strange Canadian world. I was sitting comfortably with my feet relieved of their shoes in the cool green grass when I heard Jay's voice from across the way. I turned my eyes towards the disturbance and saw him pushing Sean around. Even though I was terribly afraid of Jay, I got up and walked over to stop him.
"Hey leave him alone Jay!" I shouted louder than I had planned. I shut my mouth as Jay sneered, pushed Sean once more and walked quickly over to me. He looked me up and down, finally grabbing under my chin and bringing my face close to his. "This is none of your business tramp." He said coldly as he pulled my head down and held my hands above my head. He was freakishly strong for someone who looked so skinny and sneaky "But since you're here, maybe you can help me with something.' I closed my eyes after my head was past Jay's waist and whimpered. But then I fell back, released from Jay's grasp and sitting on the ground. I was surprised, to say the least, to see Sean standing above Jay, who was slumped against a car, holding the side of his face.
"You sick bastard, what the hell is the matter with you?" Sean roared, "You wanna get arrested or something?" Jay stood and pushed Sean backwards. "Wouldn't be the first time for me, you asshole." He said calmly. "Fine, go help your little girlfriend, I'll be here if you want a real friend, not some bitch." He turned and walked away.
Sean knelt down beside me and put a hand lightly on my shoulder. I didn't look up, because I felt a tear roll down my cheek. I couldn't afford to look like a wimp. I wasn't really, I just, well, Jay scared the hell out of me and I felt powerless around him.
"Kari… hey, it's ok, he's gone…" Sean said in a stern, almost lecturing voice. I stood up and walked away from him, then started to run, not because I was scared of Sean, but I felt so ashamed that I had not been able to defend myself against that worthless piece of flesh. I slowed and stopped, falling back onto the grass on my knees and hands. I felt paralyzed with embarrassment. I felt strong hands on my shoulders and heard Sean's voice. "Hey, its ok…" I sat up, and turned around, and sunk my head onto his shoulder. I could feel him tense and I was tense as well. I didn't really cry, but I was hyperventilating like mad and Sean did his best to calm me down. When I had again regained normal breathing Sean, pushed me back and looked at me. "I'm sorry…" he said quietly. I could tell he was very uncomfortable, and I smiled at him. I stood up, and I think I surprised him. "Thanks. Thank you so much Sean… I L-- owe you." I nodded and walked away, back inside to find Emma. I needed to talk to a girl, a girl who hated Jay as much as I did. Not to mention I had almost confessed feelings for a certain someone who I'm sure either thought I was weak or well, it was only Monday, and the dance wasn't until Saturday...