Ch.7 Award Ceremony

Rating: PG

"Attention students." Homeroom had just started and Mr. Raditich's face appeared on all the computer screens. "Today we will be having a ceremony honoring those students who have achieved numerous academic awards. So today at 1:30 it is requested that the student body gather at the auditorium. Thank you." His face was replaced by the Degrassi logo.

"Think you'll be on any lists?" Emma swiveled around in her chair and whispered to Rick.

"I wouldn't know." Rick tried to busy himself with something on his computer screen.

"Hey Emma? Want to pay attention?" Mr. Simpson looked at her. She turned back around.

She opened up an IM chat with Rick.

sparklespaz: look, i just wanted 2 apologize about 2day. sorry. i shouldn't have made such a scene.

20SidedDie: Don't concern yourself about it. If anything I should thank you.

sparklespaz: y?

20SidedDie: The temporary embarrassment from that hallway outburst and your fight with Alex postponed any childish moves from Spinner and friends.

sparklespaz: y do u let them push u around?

20SidedDie: What exactly do you propose it is I do to stop them? Run to Mr. Raditch? Hardly. I can, believe it or not, fend for myself.

sparklespaz: whats that mean?

Suddenly, a new window opened up on Emma's computer.

Mr. Simpson: Call me crazy, but school is for schoolwork, not computer conversations!

Emma closed the screen and went back to the one with Rick.

sparklespaz: caught! G2G.

She closed out of that screen as well and paid attention to the lesson, the back of her mind however was focused on Rick.

"Man, you sure about this?" Spinner looked behind him nervously as he and Jay slipped into the janitor's closet behind the auditorium.

"Dude! Chill!" Jay pulled out some stuff he had stashed the previous morning.

"But what if the freak doesn't win?" He closed the door and switched the light on.

"I told you! Alex saw Raditich's files on the ceremony. Cool thing about dating a vice pres." He handed Spinner a paint can and a plastic bag; then he smiled. "Let's do this."

As Emma walked into the auditorium, she looked around. Normally, she would have sat next to JT, Toby, or Liberty, but they had completely alienated her. Her look turned to concern when she saw Rick. He had at least a five-foot radius of empty chairs around him. She was torn about where to sit. Ultimately, she took a seat in the very back at the end of the row.

The next half an hour, student by student made their way onstage to get awards ranging from attendance to honor roll.

As the end of the ceremony began drawing near, Marco and Alex made their way to the podium. Marco spoke first.

"Now, the final award to be given." He smiled and held up a plaque. Then he moved over, smile plastered on. Alex was a foot away from the stand. Her arms were crossed and she looked like this was the last place she wanted to be. Marco turned around and pulled her over next to him. She rolled her eyes and spoke.

"This award goes to the biggest dork ever to grace the halls of Degra-" Before she could finish, Marco pulled the microphone away from her. Giving her a death look for screwing with the speech, he turned around. He smiled and spoke again.

"What my VP here meant to say is that this award goes to the student who has shown exemplary academic achievement. And the winner is…" Marco took a dramatic pause as he opened an envelope, "Richard Murry!" He politely started clapping. Aside from him, the teachers, and Emma, no one was applauding.

Looking as if he was going to receive death itself, Rick walked onstage. Marco shook his hand and gave him the trophy. Then he motioned for Rick to give a speech. Hesitantly, he stood at the podium. Just as he was about to speak, he felt something warm hit his head.

Emma shifted in her seat. She felt so sorry for Rick as he made his way onstage. He looked so alone. Then, Emma noticed a flash of red above Rick's head. It was all over within seconds.
I just had to leave a dramatic pause!