A/N: Hey party people. This is Monique speaking...um,typing. For all of you who reads this story, thank ya verry much. This is a Shemma tale. With some Cranny, Crash, and Emjay. It takes place after the third season, and it's sort of my alternate season four. So here's the first chapter, and it goes a little something like this--

Emma closed her eyes for the last time. It was one 'o clock in the morning, and she hadn't been able to fall asleep. With a picture book near her arm, she gradually fell into a haze, before falling into a slumber. Once Emma was asleep, Spike made her way into the lamp lit room as Simpson followed.

"Look." Spike whispered looking from him to Emma with a sad smile.

"What, what is it?" He asked following her gaze.

Spike didn't answer. She walked over to Emmas' bed, then picked up the open photo album.

"This." She whispered again holding the book up to his face, giving him a clearer look.

"Oh...so she's still not over him huh?"He asked with a questioning look, mixed with sorrow.

"I guess not." Spike replied sighing.

"Let's just put it back where we found it..." He said, putting the album perfectly in it's oringinal place. "And turn out the light." Spike chimed in. Emma shifted a little from her back to her side facing the other direction. Spike's expression went from relaxed to fake terror, as she pulled him towards the door.

"Lets get outta here before she wakes up!" She lauged. Then pulled him out of the room hurridely, closing the door behind her.

Emma awoke, and tiredly flicked the lamp switch back on, as she propped her back against the headboard, folding her arms. She picked up the photo album, and began turning pages. There were only pictures of her with Sean. Those were the ones she would gaze at faithfully. She could feel a familar sting in her eyes, as they began to glaze over. Abruptly she shut the book, and tossed it off the bed. Closing her eyes to stop the tears from falling, she re-gained her eternal strength, and slid back down comfortably under the sheets. Emma banned any and all memories of Sean for good, before shutting her eyes again. This time, she hoped to fall asleep without the image of him following her into her deepest dreams. But hope, would be the only thing she could do. Emma found herself dreaming of him once again. Luckily, she didn't hurt in her dreams.

The next day Emma walked the Degrassi halls with disintrest and detatchment. It was the first day of the semester, and Emma had been at battle with herself that morning on whether or not she would be in attendence. It had been decided. If the first person she ran into was Sean, then fate had a disturbing sense of humor. He wouldn't be the first person she ran into. It would be Manny Santos.

"Emma..." Manny began with a hint of kindness.

Emma briefly looked her over before speaking.

"Hi." She said quietly.

"Hi." Manny said silently exhaling. Smiling, she jumpstarted the conversation."So, how was your summer?""It was ok I guess."She responded, intentionally not giving much away.

Manny nodded her head, beginning to feel some un-needed tension, that she hadn't missed over the summer.

"Yeah, mine too. I went to cheer camp! She exclaimed sarcastically. "How amazing right?"

"Right." Emma replied simply.

"I was...kidding." Manny said with an uneasy laugh. "Wayy too many cheering girls. I don't usaually trust people who smile that much"

Emma softened up a little, and for the first time in a long time, a laugh escaped her breath.

"I couldn't imagine." She said motioning for them to start walking.

"So what did you do over the summer? The name 'Chris' comes to mind." Manny said smiling mischieviously.

"We broke up."

"Oh...why?"

"I--" Emma began aimlessly, before she spotted Sean heading toward the two.

"You..." Manny said trying her to finish her sentence.

"Sean." Emma said solemnly.

"You broke up because of Sean? Why? What did you do?" Manny asked jokingly.

"No...Sean." She said motioning to him, then quickly looking away, when he inched closer apprehensively.

"Manny." He acknowledged.

"Hi, Sean." She replied looking at Emma cautiously. "I'd...better go." She finished, nudging Emma before walking away. Sean looked at Emma with a barely hidden intensity. He ached for her forgivness, and all in all missed her. But it was easier for him to hide such emotions, than feel her rejection.

"Emma, look-- " He began.

"I've got class...and so do you, so..." Emma said, not hiding her discomfort very well.

"Right--whatever." He said rolling his eyes. "See you around."

"Whatever." She retorted just as uneasy, before walking away.

Sean just shook his head and followed suit. A smile creeped on his face as he thought of her statement about him having class too. 'She couldn't help herself. She had to throw that last bit in', he thought amused. That was another reason he missed her. Emma was the one person in a less than handfull of people who really cared for him. For some reason, he couldn't cope with that fact, becuase he would never feel good enough for her. Sean wondered if that would ever change. Finally, he continued down the hall headed for death's equal--a.k.a.--class.

Emma leaned against her locker sighing, a sadness overcoming her expression. 'Why didn't I just say it?' she questioned in thought. Emma quickly switched gears when Jay and Alex passed by. Emma rolled her eyes at them both and headed off to class.

Manny walked over to Craig, who was just closing his locker.

"You look good." She said nervously, gaining his attention.

"Uh, thanks." He replied offguard. "Figured it was time for a bath, ya know"

"Soap and water. Lethal combination." She said humoressly.

A semi-uncomfortable silence, quickly became a third person between the two. Craig ran his fingers through his hair, finding the students that passed suddenly more interesting. Manny smiled weakly, before talking again.

"Well, um...see you later?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll see you later." He said finally meeting her eyes intently.

"Bye." She said, beginning to walk away.

"Bye." He replied also leaving.

Manny continued on to her next class. Craig did the same.

As Craig entered his class first person to catch his eye was Ashley.
Craig gazed at her for a few seconds longer, as she looked ahead at the board. Craig made a journey over to a seat one row away from her, and one seat ahead of her. Sitting his backpack on the floor, he threw her one last glance. Much to his surprise, she was staring at him with a soft expression on her face.

"Hi." She said whispering, half waving.

"Hi." He responded supressing exitement.

Ashley smiled and re-focused her attention to the board. Craig grinned to himself. 'Maybe this won't be such a bad year afterall'. He thought, smiling peacefully.

Thanks for reading:) Didn't you know? It's cool to give feedback:D j/k but it's appreciated muchly.