"Jackie you didn't see him yesterday." Rachael sounded troubled.

"So what, he's crazy and you want to make with him! You're insane!" Jackie shook her head.

"There was so much pain in his eyes." She ignored her comment.

"Did you do Mrs. Kwan's homework?" Jackie asked, changing the subject.

"Oh!" Rachael hit herself in the head with her palm. "No, I'll have to do it during lunch."

"Hello Rachael." Rick greeted her as he walked up, baring a small smile on his face.

She returned the smile, "Hi Rick." She glanced at Jackie who was looking him dead in the eye with a cold look. He tried avoiding eye contact with her. "Uh—Rick this is Jackie. Jackie, Rick."

"Pleasure," He said as he held out his hand for her. Remembering what Rachael had said yesterday.

"Yea." She didn't accept his hand. "Rachael, I've got to go. I'll see you later okay?" She stood to leave, but not before shooting Rick another cold look. Rick looked at her with an uneasy stare.

"Don't mind her!" She gave a smile. "Do you wanna sit down?" She patted one of the steps next to her.

"I'd love to." He replied, he took his book bag off and sat next to her just as Jimmy and Spinner came marching up the stairs.

"Hey, look Jimmy, Rick's trying to make it look like he made a friend." Spinner said shrilly, almost in Rick's ear. They both laughed as they continued up the stairs. Rick's head went low and he bit his lip, in embarrassment. Rachael stared after them with a look of anger in her eyes.

She glanced back at Rick and with annoyance towards Spinner and Jimmy replied. "Don't listen to those jerks." His head still hung low. "You know—" He looked at her. "I bet Skater Boy back there doesn't even remember his own locker combination." He laughed slightly which made Rachael feel a bit better.

The bell rang to start the day and everyone piled into the school. They both stood and Rachael placed her folders into her bag, as Rick placed his book bag over his shoulder and patiently waited. They headed for Degrassi's doors. Rick didn't want to know what awaited him throughout the day. The truth was he was a bit frightened at the mire thought.

"What?" She zipped her bag and placed it over her shoulder.

"Nothing," He lied as he held the door for her. "After you," He smiled.

"Thank you!" He went in behind her.

"I was just curious as to why you carry so many books around. I know you must have a locker, right?"

"Yea, but it's just easier to carry all my books with me." She smiled. "Well, I've got to go this way. I'll see you later okay?"

"Alright; don't drop you books." He began to laugh a little.

"Shut-up," She said smiling as she playfully nudged him. "Bye." She giggled.

"A' dew," He said with a smile as he headed down a crowded hallway.

Rachael headed for her class. The halls were packed with students trying to get to there classes on time.

"Support students against violence. Show the school where you stand!" Rachael could hear Emma's voice yelling over the crowd.

"All proceeds go to the Directions Women's Shelter." Paige reminded people as they began buying ribbons. "Thanks guys."

"Support students against violence." Emma repeated.

"Thank you," She said to one student. "Wanna buy a ribbon?" Paige asked people as they walked by.

"How much?" Rachael asked, as Sean and Ellie walked up.

"They're two dollars." She answered. Rachael turned her book bag around to hunt for her money.

"This is about Rick isn't it?" Sean began.

Rachael stopped looking through her bag and looked up.

"It's a silent protest." Emma explained. "We wanna pressure Rick;" she turned to Paige, "make his life hell."

"Without breaking any rules what so ever. Emma's a genius. There's nothing Raditch can do." Paige stood staring at Mr. Raditch with a self-confident grin.

"So, then the only reason your doing this whole campaign is to get rid of him?" Rachael replaced her bag over her shoulder and shot Paige a look of anger.

"If you knew what he did last year, you wouldn't want him here either!" Emma explained.

"Yea, but you do know what happened! So why—why are you doing this?" She stared coldly at Emma then glanced at Paige. "Oh, I see; to get in with Paige and her group. Is that it?"

Paige stepped up. "Oh, and you know what happened? I don't think so. You weren't there! I was!" She gave a little shiver at the mire thought of what she had seen that day.

"Look, I'm sorry about your friend; I am. But no one deserves to be treated this way."

"She's right." Ellie spoke up. "What you guys are doing is wrong." She shook her head. "Such heroes." And with that she and Sean left.

Paige watched them leave and then turned back to Rachael. "You feel sorry that psycho. That's the only reason you're sticking up for him!" Paige snared.

"Stop calling him that!" She yelled in Paige's face. "I don't feel sorry for him! Rick's a sweet guy. But you're still hung up on what happened last year; so you blame it on him so you don't have you blame yourself!" Rachael was furious.

"Is there a problem here ladies?" Mr. Raditch heard Rachael yelling and came to make sure everything was alright.

Rachael paused for a moment to become calmer. But her eyes never left Paige's face. "No. No problem here, Mr. Raditch." The halls were almost completely empty and she left as the final bell sounded.

Come lunch, almost everyone in the Cafeteria had a ribbon on. Rachael found Jackie and they sat together.

"So what did you think of Armstrong's test?" Rachael asked as she joined Jackie and pulled out her lunch and a notebook.

"It was okay; hopefully I got at least a B." Jackie took a bit of her Peanut-Butter and Jelly sandwich. As Rachael began writing in her notebook.

Jackie continued, "I heard you stick up for Rick this morning, while Emma and Paige gave out those ribbons." Rachael stopped for a second then continued to write. "You know, I was going to buy a one."

She looked up, "Was?"

"Yea, but I don't know why I didn't. I guess, like them I never—I never really gave him a chance."

"So—you're going to give him a chance? I mean if you don't want too, I'll understand." Rachael reassured her.

Jackie looked unsure and stared at her sandwich. Then she gazed back a Rachael and gave a corner smile towards her. "I want to." Rachael's smile grow bigger as she drew herself back to her notebook, after taking a bite of her Chicken sandwich.

A few minutes later Rick came walking out of the lunch line with his tray in hand. But whenever he'd walk up to a table someone from that table stood in front of him and he was forced to move on. The third attempt he came to a table where Emma's ex-boyfriend Chris, who was listening to his headphones as he did often, sat. Stopped him from sitting as he placed his binder in the chair of the spot where Rick had placed his tray.

"Sit somewhere else punk!" he told him angrily as he kept his headphones on his head while people began to applauding as Rick walked off wondering if he would ever be able to eat his lunch.

Jackie who had seen the entire incident looked over at Rachael who was too busy writing, only stopping every now and then to take a bite of her sandwich. She thought for a moment then stood. Rachael looked over at her.

"Rick over here!" Jackie yelled over the crowded lunch room. He looked over, unsure if he should accept her invitation.

Rachael looked over and saw he had a cautious look on his face. So she happily waved to him from her seat. When he saw her he gave a smile and came towards them, Jackie returned to her seat.

"Hey, how was your day?" Rachael asked with a smile as Rick took his seat.

"I've had better I must admit." He shrugged.

"What happened?" Jackie mumbled as she stared down at her sandwich.

He looked at her, almost surprised she spoke to him. He opened his mouth to reply, but Jackie hastily went first as she lifted her head up.

"I'm sorry—for earlier. That was rude of me."

"Oh—don't worry about it." He gave a small smile, his voice sincere.

"No, really I am. I hadn't even given you a chance." She said sweetly, as she glanced at Rachael "Let's start over," she held out her hand. "I'm Jackie." She gave a smile.

He returned the smile and gladly received her hand.

Rachael broke in, "Aw—how sweet!" She giggled as they both turned a touch red.

"Shut up Rachael." Jackie laughed as she ate the last of her sandwich.

Rachael began to write again. Rick tried to peek at her notebook.

"What's that?" He questioned curiously and took a sip of his water.

"It's just something for biology. Anyway," Rachael changed the subject, "how was your day again?" She closed her notebook and placed it in her bag.

He looked down and gave a heavy sigh. "Could have been a whole lot better, I suppose."

"Why, what happened." Rachael questioned him as Jackie glanced with curiosity.

He began rubbing his right shoulder. "Well my books hit the floor, and got kicked across the hallway." Rachael stared at him with concern in her eyes. Jackie could see it, as he continued. "And to top the afternoon off I was shoved into some lockers." He too could see the concern in Rachael's eyes. "But I'm fine now!" He tried to force a smile on his face.

Jackie quickly changing the subject, "Rachael didn't you say you had to do you homework for Mrs. Kwan?"

Rachael was snapped out of the images that began to dance in her mind of what must've happened that afternoon. "Huh—oh!" She smiled as she stood and placed her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you in English."

He stared blankly at his tray, and forced himself to look at her. "Alright then." He forced another smile out; and waved as she and Jackie left for the library.

He wanted to tell her he was okay, explain to her he didn't mind the abuse. But he didn't know exactly how to tell her, because he wasn't really sure if he was okay. Because deep down, even though he tried to hide it, some part of him hated the thought of having to get up every morning and go to a school that hated him. But he had Rachael now, and it almost made getting up for school worth while. He smiled to himself, swung his bag over his shoulder as well and ran after them.

"Rachael! Hold on! May I accompany you ladies?" They both gave him a smile as they began to walk along side each other.