To help, Or not to help.
She shut her locker for the last time, before heading to her final class of the day. The day had passed by heinously slow, and she was more than ready to get home. It was the second Monday, of the second week of school, yet she remained eternally solemn. Emma passed student by student, still cold to her surroundings. A swift wake up call came with a bump on the shoulder from none other than Jay Hogart, as he pushed past the distant wonder with no sure intention. Emma's eyes narrowed as he stopped in his tracks to give her an obligatory evil-eye. With a sharp sigh, she held back any harsh words that floated through her mind at the moment. His glare remained on the leery blonde, as did hers on the so-called bad boy adversary.
"Emma Nelson." He said neutrally.
"What do you want?" She asked impatiently eyeing other students as they entered the class she was already supposed to be in.
"Nothing. Just watch where you're going next time."
"Um, you bumped into me."
"Whatever you say Nelson." He said staring purposely, holding her attention.
"Anything else?"
"Let me think..." Jay replied cupping his chin, pretending to be in deep thought.
Emma rolled her eyes and continued walking, finally catching on to his deliberate atempt to hold her up.
"Wait..." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes dropped to where his hand lay, as he quickly dropped it.
"Listen--you're smart right? I mean, you save the world--clean the ravine, and make it back to class just in time to get your passing grade right?" He asked sure of his words.
"That's right!" She replied satirically, as she made her way to the door of the classrom.
"Good. Cause...I'm gonna need your help."He said cringing a little at the idea.
"With, what?"
"I have this assignment." He responded again, rolling his eyes.
"They're going to get stuck." She said with a nod, supressing a smile. Jay just looked at her quizically,
"Your eyes--nevermind." She said looking away, allowing herself the pleasure of laughing a little. Suddenly it felt like a freedom.
"R-Right. So will you help me or not?"
"I'm surprised you even go to class."
"Yeah, so...screw this." He retorted seriously, before walking off.
Emma found herself feeling an inkling of regret for not giving him a chance to finish his query. The feeling passed once she finally made her way into class and sat down.
"You're late Emma." Ms.Hatzilakos called out disenchanted.
"Sorry."She replied sliding into her seat.
"Emma Nelson, five minutes late?." Manny whispered humoressly.
"Are we witnessing a downward spiral?" Liberty questioned with a grin.
"Don't tell me we're too late Em." Manny said with a gasp.
"Hilarity at it's best."Emma said. "You two are a regular Lewis and Martin."
"Who?" They both responded in unison.
"Girls!"Ms.Hatzilakos called out again grabbing their attention, as all three became silent.
"That's all I ask." She said with a sigh, before starting the lesson.
Emma just shook her head, and began a staring match with the door, quietly anticapating the passing by of a familiar face. Feeling more lighthearted Emma felt a little more ease than dread with the beginning of the schoolyear. Finally, she was beginning to feel better. As thoughts of what she planned to do this year began to sail calmly through her mind. One of them being about Sean, who she hadn't talked to since the first day of school. 'I'm ready now' She thought confidently. 'Today. I'll talk to him today... If it's the last thing I do'
The last hour of school was over, and the end of the day had once again came. The students of Degrassi tirelessly poured out of the heavy exiting doors to the outside. Whomever remained far behind the clutered doorways, was left to anxiously await the routine freedom. One of them being Craig Manning. Craig cut patiently through the masses, and made his way outside. A smile crept across his face as he scanned through the many of students only closely identifying one: Ashley, who also smiled once she caught sight of him.
"Hey, Craig." She said approaching.
"Ash" He said warmly. "I meant to ask um--How was your summer?"
"It was good."She said nodding. "And you? How was yours?" She asked reluctantly, beginning to feel the almost presumed tension between them.
"Beach. Home. Then uh... beach again." He said chuckling, not aware as aware of the uneasiness. "The usual."
Ashley calmly let an awkward silence pass through before speaking again.
"It's good to see you again."
"It's good to see you again too." He paused as she continued past him. "Do you have a ride?" He questioned trying to hold onto her.
"Yeah, my mum's pulling up."
"Okay...well, I'll see you later."
"Yeah, I'll see you later. Bye, Craig." She replied sincerely as she got in the car.
Craig continued down the stairs, walking past the car, giving a small wave to her and her mom. Then, headed for home. Ashley's mother just gave her a disgruntled look.
"What?" She asked responding to the glare.
"Nothing."
"Mom--"
"It's nothing. Let's just...go home."She replied passively as they drove off.
Manny walked out the doors as Toby, J.T, and Emma followed.
"Where is he?" She whispered to herself.
"Who?" J.T questioned.
"What?" She asked agitated, looking over the crowd of students that had lessened over time.
"You said "where is he". Where's who?"
"It's...not important." She said dissapointed.
"Well, there's something you never get used to seeing." Toby added sarcastically motioning to Sean, who was standing with Jay, Alex, and the rest of the bad news kids in the parking lot. Emma followed his gaze and locked eyes with first Jay, then Sean.
"Great." She said with hope. She still wanted to talk to Sean.
"Great?" Manny questioned. "Wow, did you two finally patch things up?"
"Not really." She replied still eyeing Sean.
"So, here's your chance."She said encouragingly, slightly pushing her forward.
"Or, not." Toby said.
"Why not?" Manny asked, as if Toby was just being welcomed to the conversation.
"What our dearest Toby is trying to point out, is that there happens to be a collection of criminals waiting in the wings. You might wanna catch him when he's having some alone time, if you know what I mean."
"I'm not afraid of them." Emma replied sharply.
"Well--We are. Come on Tobes, we have a project to do."
"You actually want to do the assignment?" Toby asked chuckling.
"Leave the comedy to me." J.T replied. "Come on. Your house?"
"Is there anywhere else? Let's go." Toby said with a sigh, as he and J.T walked off into the distance.
"Go. Talk to him. Oh! If you see Craig--tell him I said that I was looking for him when school let out, okay." Manny said smilingly, before leaving herself.
"Okay."Emma said locking eyes with Jay again. Sean looked from Jay to Emma skeptically.
"God, take a picture." Alex said quietly. "What the hell are you looking at bean pole?"She asked more loudly.
Everone laughed aside from Sean, and much to Emma's surprise--Jay wasn't laughing either. His expression was soft, and almost sympatetic. It wouldn't last. He shook off whatever thought he was having of her at the moment, and let out an exagerated laugh. Emma had caught his reaction to her, and smiled to herself. Maybe he didn't hate her. And, Maybe... Just maybe...she didn't hate him either.