The next morning, the former students all met at the school to find several young students (currently at Degrassi) waiting for them. The students beamed as they explained that they would be taking everyone around the school for a tour of the school. Everyone set off in one large group. They first headed into the library.
"Wow," Liberty exclaimed. "This place is so different!"
"You can say that again," Toby said.
The library was totally redone. There were high tech computers everywhere, and these computers could locate any book at any time. The room had also been expanded so more books could be held. The adults walked through, admiring the room while the students explained and pointed out some of the renovations. No one noticed that Sean had wandered off by himself, except for Emma.
Emma whispered to J.T. that she would be right back, and walked towards the back shelves where she saw Sean head towards. When she found him, she noticed, unbelievably, that he was on the verge of tears.
"Sean?" she asked gently, laying her hand on his arm. "Sean? What's wrong?"
Sean shook his head and angrily wiped at his eyes.
"It's just," he said in a wavering voice. "I thought I could handle it, being back here and all. But everything I see reminds me of Ellie, and how happy she made me. And it drives me crazy that I couldn't make her happy, no matter how hard I tried."
"Sean, Ellie loved you," Emma said. "She just couldn't love herself. Her death was her choice and there was nothing you could have done once she made up her mind."
"Everyone keeps saying that," Sean said. "But I can't help but think that maybe if I would have loved her just a little bit more, been more affectionate, or anything, she wouldn't have left me to come home and find her dead with an empty bottle of pills in her hand."
Emma was at a loss of words. She had never seen this side of Sean, and she wasn't quite sure how to handle it. He had never cried while she was with him, or at least she had never seen him cry. All she could do was pat his back, and let him cry.
After a few minutes, Sean quieted down and stopped crying.
"Sorry," he said.
"No, it's fine," Emma said. "I just wish there was something more I could do."
"Thanks, but you've helped...really," Sean said.
Emma smiled and walked back to J.T. Sean stood for a while longer, not wanting to look like he had been sobbing, before returning to the group. Just as they were all leaving the library, Sean briskly walked to the back of the group.
Next, the students walked through some classrooms, looking at the new technology and remembering the old memories they had in this place. However, as much as Manny wanted to stay, she had to go to the bathroom. So she quietly slipped from the room and made her way down the hall to the ladies room. Once she had taken care of her business and she had freshened up a bit, she walked outside and found herself face to face with Toby.
"Well," Toby said. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Toby, please, leave me alone," Manny said, trying to walk past him.
"No, I don't really feel like it," Toby said. "Look, I know I'm not the best looking guy at this reunion. But you don't have to worry about your rep. We can be seen together. I know you still have those feelings for me left over from high school."
"Toby," Manny said. "I never ---"
Toby cut her off by grabbing her, and pressing his lips on hers. Manny tried to get away, but for a computer geek, he was strong. Manny opened her eyes and saw Craig walking towards them. When Craig looked up and saw them, his jaw dropped open in shock. Manny and TOBY?
Manny finally pulled away.
"Craig," she started to say.
"No, don't worry about it," Craig said. "I, uh, I didn't see anything."
As Craig walked into the restroom, Manny shoved Toby.
"What the heck do you think you are doing?" she asked.
"Look, you know you like me, so why don't we ditch this joint."
Toby leaned towards her again, and Manny leaned towards him, and brought her knee up straight into his groin. Toby grunted in pain.
"Come near me again, and the pain you will fell will make this seem like nothing," she threatened, and then walked back to the group.
Craig walked out of the restroom and saw Toby lying on the ground.
"Uh, Toby?" he asked, kneeling down beside him. "What happened?" He looked down and saw that Toby was clutching the part of him that hurt, and tried not to laugh. He should have known that Manny would never want to be with Toby.
"Yep, that's Manny's work all right," he said. He then walked off.
Meanwhile, Paige and Spinner found themselves seated under a weeping willow located at the back of the school. It was a perfect shelter. The tour had concluded, and both Spin and Paige wanted to talk more than they wanted refreshments.
"So," Spinner said, after they had talked for a while. "Remind again why we broke up? Because I cannot believe I did something so stupid."
"We were both stupid," Paige said. "We were young, and I was feeling...suffocated. I don't know why I did it. But I promise you, I never meant to hurt you that way. Maybe it was the beer...or something else. But I will always regret that night you found me kissing Craig. But we were both so drunk, and...you know."
Spinner slowly nodded his head. He had hoped that Paige would have talked to him about this, because deep down he knew he still loved her. Paige looked at Spinner with tears in her eyes.
"Honeybee," she said, using the old nickname. "Please...forgive me?"
Spinner responded by leaning in too her slowly, and closing his eyes. Paige followed his lead. Their kiss was not too long. It was short and yet pure and sweet. Once they pulled apart, they looked in each others eyes and knew that they had to give this relationship another chance.
Emma and J.T. sat near the refreshment table, and laughed over some story that J.T. had just told. Emma leaned in and kissed him, and then leaned back and smiled. She had just spotted Ashley, and waved. Ashley waved back but did not head over to their table.
Ashley stood by the doors waiting for Jimmy. Not many people knew that they had ended up marrying one another, seeing as how they had eloped to Vegas. They were just too fed up with the whole wedding planning disasters, so they called it off and got married with only themselves and a witness they didn't know present. And they couldn't be happier. Ashley's eyes scanned the room, and grew wide as she saw Craig walking towards her. She and Craig had tried getting back together when they were seniors, but he had cheated on her again, this time with Paige. Although he said it was only that night, she still couldn't forgive him. They hadn't talked or even seen each other since graduation.
"Ashley," Craig said nervously. "Uh, hi."
"Oh. Hi Craig," Ashley said. They chatted cordially for a little while about random stuff.
"Hey, um, a bunch of us are headed out for lunch. Would you like to come with me?" Craig asked.
Just then, Jimmy walked up and wrapped his arms around Ashley's waist. She leaned her head and he gave her a kiss. Just then Craig saw the ring on her finger.
"Oh, er, Sorry," he said. "I didn't realize that you two...never mind. See you later," Craig hurried away.
"What was that all about?" Jimmy asked.
"Oh nothing," Ashley said. "You just scared the crayola out of him."
"Is that all?" Jimmy asked with a grin. He and Ash kissed again, and then headed out to his car. They were both starved and wanted to get something to eat before they all had another part of the reunion later that afternoon.
Paige and Spinner walked into the auditorium, holding hands. They were starved and wanted to see who all was going where to eat. Just then, Paige saw the last person that she wanted to see at this reunion.
"What are you doing here?" she sneered.