Chapter 7

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Emma twirled in her locker combination, humming along to My Boo by Alicia Keys and Usher. She had heard it on the radio on her way to school with Hazel and Paige and it had been stuck in her head since.

"Sup, Cause Girl?" Alex's normal deep voice said from behind her.

"It's Emma," Emma said, turning around.

"No Shit Sherlock. How much did people pay you to answer that question?"

"Can I help you?" Emma asked, crossing her arms over her chest which was covered by a red wife beater.

"No, I just need you to sign this petition," Alex said, holding out a clipboard, chomping on a piece of gum, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her black cargo pants.

"What's it for?" Emma asked, looking over at the signatures already on it: Alex Payson, Marco Del Rossi, Liberty Van Zandt, Chris Sharpe, Darcy Douglass, Toby Issacs, JT Yorke, Manny Santos, Paige Michalchuck, Hazel Aden, Jimmy Brooks, Gavin (Spinner) Mason, Craig Manning, Ashley Kerwin, Matt Heffernan, Heather Sinclair, Tony (Towerz) Johnston, Ellie Nash, Sean Cameron, Jay Hobart...Emma stopped after she read Jay's name.

"To get more computers in classrooms then just Simpson's well Newpeak's now I guess. It was me and Marco's idea, since we're technically still presidents from last year until this year's election, anyway, will you just sign it?" Alex asked, getting impatient.

Emma rolled her eyes but grabbed the pen Alex had practically whipped at her and signed Emma Nelson right below Jay's name.

"Here," Emma said, handing the clipboard back to Alex.

"Thanks," Alex said and walked off to Peyton Jeffery who still hadn't signed the petition.

Emma grabbed her notebook for MI Lab out of her locker, and slung her white purse over her shoulder and then shut her locker. She spun around only to see Jay's smirking face.

"Don't have time," Emma said and walked away.

"Cute outfit," Jay said following her.

That made Emma look down at her outfit, she had on a red wife beater with a white leather jacket that rode to her belly button and a white mini skirt with red, orange, and blue polka dots across it and a pair of red thong platform flip flops. Her hair was pulled into a bun with white chopsticks coming out of both ends and her bangs were pulled to one side of her face with her favorite white hair clip and she had glitter lotion on the strip of skin that was bare between her tank top and skirt and along her collarbone along with a silver heart necklace with a red rhinestone border dangling on a silver chain.

"Thanks," Emma said and continued to walk.

"Heading to homeroom?" Jay asked, still following her.

"Yes,"

"With Mr. What's-His-Name, right?"

Emma spun around, "Why are you so annoying?" she asked aloud, noticing the hallway was empty except for the two of them.

"I'm not, I'm simply heading to my homeroom in Kwan's room," Jay said, pretending to be offended.

"Then go," Emma said, pointing towards the hallway that led to Ms. Kwan's room.

"Boy isn't someone touchy today," Jay joked.

Emma pushed his back until he walked off.

Emma rolled her eyes and stepped into the MI Lab just as the tardy bell rang.

"Hello Emma," Mr. Newpeak said with a devilish grin as she stepped into the classroom, "do you have a reason for your tardiness?" he asked.

Damn, this guy is corny. Emma thought.

"I was in the hallway," Emma said.

"With Jay," Chris added from the back of the room. Emma shot him an angry glare and he just put his hands up as if to say "not my fault".

"Miss Nelson, your boyfriend can wait. This is a learning facility, now take your seat. And I'll need you to stay after class today,"

Emma's eyes widened in horror.

Manny and JT both looked at her, knowing what she was thinking.

"She can't," Manny said aloud.

"Nope...she's got plans," JT chimed in.

"For the four minutes before first period? This is just homeroom," Mr. Newpeak said.

Manny nodded, "Emma has a busy schedule,"

"Yeah...she's booked solid. Let's see," JT said, pulling out his planner and pretending to go through a schedule, "Yep, Emma has to talk to...Paige, about...the next Spirit Squad pep rally,"

"Emma's not a cheerleader," Chris said, JT shot him laser beams with his eyes.

"JT, how would you know this? Are you on the Spirit Squad too or is that Emma's planner?" Mr. Newpeak asked.

"It's mine actually," Manny spoke up, "I'm on the Spirit Squad and Emma and Paige are friends, she just has to confirm to see if she's busy," Manny said.

Emma nodded in agreement.

"Well Emma, I think that can wait until lunch, stay after class and take your seat,"

Emma walked slowly to her seat, her chin quivering as if she was about to be sick or burst out crying.

JT put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Mr. Yorke, not in my classroom," Mr. Newpeak snapped.

Emma placed her hands on top of each other on her desk and then flopped her head on her hands, and cried silently.

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"Homeroom dismissed," Mr. Newpeak said, smiling to the class.

JT stayed seated as did Manny and Emma.

"Mr. Yorke, Miss Santos, you two are free to go," Mr. Newpeak said, eyeing them questioningly.

"Nah, I'm alright," JT said sheepishly.

Manny nodded, "Ditto,"

"I have to talk to Emma, please leave,"

"Anything you can say to Emma you can say to us," JT said, putting his hands behind his head and leaning backwards, getting comfortable in his cushioned computer chair.

Manny smiled and nodded.

"Don't make me call Mr. Raditch," Mr. Newpeak said, reaching for the phone.

Manny gulped and stood up, mouthing good luck to Emma.

JT stood up as well and leaned towards Emma, whispering in her ear, "If he tries to pull anything, run for it,"

Emma nodded, "Bye JT," she said.

JT and Manny waved at her and left the classroom.

Emma stood up, ready to leave in case what JT said happened.

Mr. Newpeak made sure JT and Manny were gone and then he turned all the blinds closed and walked slowly towards Emma, who was walking backwards so much she crashed into the wall.

"Don't be afraid of me," Mr. Newpeak said devilishly.

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Cliffy or iffy? JK, Please R&R!!

Lotsa love, degrassichick92