The bell rang as they departed the library.

"I hope I did it right." Rachael worried as they headed down the stairs to Mrs. Kwan's English class.

"May I?" She handed Rick her paper as he quickly read through it. He nods. "Yea, you did it correctly." He handed it back to her. They continued walking down the hall, but to Rick's surprise he saw Jay standing just outside his class. Was Jay looking for him? Whatever the reason, he didn't want to find out.

"Uh—I'll just meet you there, okay?" He turned down a second corridor; his head went hung low as if he were hiding.

"Um—okay then?" Jackie replied in a confused sort of voice as the both entered the room. "Why did he go that way class is right here." Rachael shrugged as she placed her books on her desk.

The final bell rang and Jay left the doorway, as everyone took their seats.

"Everyone, take out your homework please and we'll begin shortly." Mrs. Kwan explained as she walked to her desk and began going down the attendance sheet.

"Jackie Callahan?" Jackie raised her hand to state she was present.

Rachael leaned forward and tapped Jackie on the shoulder.

"Hey? Where's Rick?" she questioned.

Jackie looked around for a second, "I don't know."

"Girls! SHH!" Mrs. Kwan put a finger to her lips. "Well, I know Rachael's here." She gave Rachael a strange look.

"Sorry Mrs. Kwan." She sat back in her chair grinning as Mrs. Kwan continued.

"Gavin Mason?" Spinner raised his hand. Mrs. Kwan looked around for the person who was next on the list, but she didn't see him so she marked it on the sheet and continued. "Emma Nelson?" Emma raised her hand also.

Rachael leaned forward again and tapped Jackie. She began with a slight laugh. "Do you think Skater Boy remembered he even had homework?"

"Okay. Let's start with Gavin." Mrs. Kwan sat on top of a nearby desk.

"I don't know. But looks like we're about to find out." She smiled, as Rachael sat back in her seat as Spinner began.

"Okay, so—uh, Mrs. Kwan asked us to find a verse that speaks to our hearts." He began unfolding his paper, "this verse, by Kid-El-Rick, speaks to mine." He cleared his throat as Rick walked in and quietly sat down, with his homework in hand. Rachael looked over at him and gave a corner smile towards him. But he hadn't noticed.

"I wants to find me a girl to love, a girl with wealth and class. But most of all I wants me a girl with—a bootylicious—"

"Enough, Gavin." Mrs. Kwan laughed and sighs. "Take you seat." Everyone bursts into laughter. "Okay, who's next?"

Rick half raises his hand and replied in a low voice, "May I?" She nods and he gets up in front of the class.

He kept his voice low and quite. "I'd—uh, I'd like to read you some thoughts from Mohamed Gandhi." He unfolded his paper as Emma rolls her eyes in his direction. "The weak can never forgive; forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. It is the folly of the brave; not the coward—"He stopped due to the paper ball, thrown by Spin which hit him in the chest. Everyone but Rachael and Jackie laughed.

"Gavin! Principal's office now!" Mrs. Kwan scolded him as Spinner smiled at Rick. "Now!" Mrs. Kwan repeated as Rick sat down, not wanting to finish.

The next person stood in front of the class and began to recite their verse. Rachael turned around to see Rick with his head hunched over his desk; no doubt remembering the laughter that filled the room only moments ago. She caught his eye and he gave her a smile. And oddly enough she felt better. Because she could see even, though he was hurting he still managed to pull a smile out of his pocket. And that, to Rachael, seemed really cool!

After English, Rachael and Rick headed for their final class of the day.

"Okay, so I'll meet you in front of the Dot after school right?" Rachael confirmed as they walked side-by-side, down the hall.

"Of course m'lady." He gave her a sweet smile as he slightly bowed. She laughed; he could always find some way to make her giggle. "I've got Biology next." He straightened himself up and gave a sigh.

"I'd better get to class before the—,"

It was too late, the bell already rang.

"Great!" she gave a heavy sigh, smiled and began to run down the hall.

"Don't forget to meet me at the Dot!" he yelled after her. She gave a gesture in his direction to reassure him. He turned to enter the room but Ms. Hatzilakos was standing in the doorway.

"You're late Mr. Murray." She told him, her arms crossed.

"My apologizes Ms. H." He replied in a voice low.

"Take your seat please." She pointed in the room, and closes the door behind them.

The final bell rang letting Degrassi's students out for the day. Rick piled his books into his bag, put it over his shoulder and pulled a small green paper out of his pocket. He thought for a moment then headed for the door. He almost bumped into Emma who was heading back inside for the folder she had left on her desk; but quickly continued walking once Rick was in the doorway. He followed after her.

"One, it'll only take a minute. Two, it's to give you this," he held up the paper, "it's a check." She stared at him.

Her voice was filled with annoyance, "I can't take your money Rick; the whole ribbon campaign is about you." He held the check higher for her to see. "Five hundred dollars?" she looked almost amazed.

He corrected her, "Five hundred fifty four dollars and sixteen cents to be exact. I'd donate more but it's all I had."

She stared at him and glanced at Alex who had just walked into view. "You can't buy forgiveness Rick."

"It's an anonymous donation," He saw Alex and quickly glanced back at Emma. "No one needs to know but."

"Too late," Alex walked up to them and snatched the check from Rick. "Nobody wants your guilt money."

He turned to her, "Alex, listen to me—."

She shifted her weight in anger. "Or what freak, you gonna put me in coma too?"

He stared at her and back at Emma, who obviously wasn't going to back him up, so he left. Alex turned to leave a few seconds later, his check still in hand.

"Alex—," She paused as Alex stopped and turned her body. "Can I have the check please?" Alex held up the check and ripped into pieces and dropped them on the floor.

Emma gave a heavy sigh of disbelief. "Nice—real nice Alex—maybe if you cared about the cause." Alex marched up to Emma and got a few inches from her face.

"What do you know about? Have you ever iced your mom's lip; bandage her up," She stopped, Emma looked astonished. She didn't know what to say. "Lay awake a night, listening to her cry—" Emma kept her silence, "didn't think so." And with that Alex walked away, bumping Emma's shoulder purposefully as she left.

Rick had been standing in front of the Dot for almost twenty minutes with his hands tucked way in his pockets. He looked up and down the street, but there was no sign of Rachael.

What if it was all just a cruel joke, making him stand out there waiting for someone who wouldn't even show up making him look like an idiot. Making him think he had made a friend. Rick tried to shake those thoughts out of his head, or maybe she could be late. With that Rick walked inside and head towards the counter.

"Okay, what is he doing here, again?" Paige stared as Rick reached the counter and ordered a coffee.

Alex turned sideways, "He's probably here to see his new crush; Emma." Paige quickly looked at Emma.

"What is she talking about?"

"Nothing, Rick talked to me it was no big deal." Emma reassured her.

"Didn't seem like that to me." Alex turned back around and slouch in her chair as before.

"If starting to wimp out and feel sorry for that psycho—" Paige shot her a look of anger.

"I'm not, honest." Emma defended herself, but somehow Paige didn't look too satisfied.

Rick received his coffee and turned to wait outside for Rachael once more.

But he came to a stop in front of them, "Afternoon Emma." He tipped his cup to her and gave a small smile. When she didn't say anything his smile disappeared and he nodded slightly as if he expected that response. So he continued walking. But Emma stuck out her foot and he tripped. Rick hit the ground hard spilling his coffee all over him in the process. Those who saw laughed as Rick propped himself up on one elbow and brushed his hair way from his face to reveal the look of anger that ran through his body. He began to get up.

"That's it!" Jay quickly put down his drink and got out of his seat when he caught sight of Rick's red hot face. He grabbed him by the arm and took him out side "It's on!" Everyone quickly followed after.

Jay shoved him into a wall with such force he almost bounced back.

"Let him go!" Emma yelled as everyone gathered round, keeping there distance.

"You started this Cause Girl." Alex reminded her as she watched with a smirk on her face.

Rick coughed, "What are you gonna do hurt me?"

Jay looked at him, took Rick's glasses off of his face and put them on his own.

"One, violence is never the answer. Two," he pointed to all the crowd of kids gathered nearby; "we don't care." With that Jay gave Rick a fierce punch in his stomach. Rick was now hunched over coughing as Jay took Rick's glasses off his own face, dropped them to the floor and stomped on them.

"Opps." He said as he smiled bitterly at Rick.

Rick was now supporting himself against the wall as he tried to straighten up.

"Who wants the next shot, Spinner?"

Spin stepped forward but Paige held him back.

"Me!" Alex quickly came forward, grabbed Rick around the collar of his shirt and reared back for a punched when Emma ran up to stop her.

"Ribbon Campaign's over Emma!" She yelled.

"Yea, so is this!" Emma replied as she held Alex off. Alex let go of him, shook her head at Emma and walked off with Jay behind her. The crowd of kids dispersed as Rachael came rounding the corner reading a book that rested in her hands. She looked up to see Rick on the floor against the wall. Emma was staring at him as she passed her hand over her face, not knowing what to do next.

"Rick!" They looked up as she dropped her book to the floor and ran to his side. She knelt down next to him as he wrapped his arms around her and began to silently weep in her arms. Rachael began to gently rub his back to comfort him as she stared with resentment towards Emma.

I'm not sure what happened here but I'm sure you and your friends must've had something to do with it! She thought to herself as she continued to comfort Rick as he wept in her arms.