Emma found herself awake a little earlier than expected, as the crying baby shook her from her sleep. Frustrated, she made her way to the hallway outside of his bedroom door, folded arms and scolding expression in place.

"Mom." She said depressingly.

"I know, I know." Spike replied picking the baby up out of the crib. "He just won't stop, I don't know what the problem could be."

"Can I...?" She asked holding her arms out for the baby.

"Sure." Spike said smiling, then placing the baby in her arms.

"Shh.." Emma hummed, slightly bouncing the baby within her embrace.

The baby quieted down as she began to rock back and forth.

"Oh, my gosh" Spike said giddily.

"Shh." Emma said lightly. "Look, he's falling back asleep."

"Thank you." She said, then put her hands together in a praying motion. "Thank you." She whispered again, this time to the ceiling.

"O...K" Emma said still holding the babe.

"You're up early!" Simpson said entering the room.

"Shh!" They both yelled, as the baby started crying again.

"Thanks, alot." Emma said slowly, with a pained expression.

"What?" He questioned.

Time passed, as Degrassi halls filled with uneager students, pouring out of their first classes. Craig was no execption.

"Hey, Craig." Manny said passively, passing him by.

"Manny."He said simply. "Oh, um how is your morning?" He asked failing to think of a better question to hold her attention.

"It's good." She said with a confused smile. "How's yours?" She asked opening her locker.

"Fair."

"Good." She replied with chuckle. "Listen...is there something else you wanted to ask me.. or say to me?"

"N-Not really. Why is there something I'm supposed to be saying?" He questioned seriously.

"No. No, I guess there isn't." She said quietly, telling herself not to roll her eyes. "It's good seeing you again. Look, I have to get to class."

"Same here." He said smiling. "See you later?"

"Yeah, I'll see you later." She said shutting her locker and walking off.

"Okay." Craig said to himself reasurringly, hoping everthing would be okay between them again. He wanted to start the year off on the right foot this time. Smiling to himself, he began his ten foot trek to class.

"Have a good day." Spike said swimmingly, as Emma hurried out of the car.

"I'm gonna be late!" She exclaimed in return. Spike tried not to crack a smile.

"No you're not." She said ignoring her daughters sudden need to panic. "You're right on time."

"Well, if somebody would've waken me up when I fell asleep on the kitchen counter--a.k.a the brick that my head lay upon--maybe I would'nt have had to hurry so much."

"We're sorry, okay? Have a good day." She replied softly.

"Okay." Emma said calming herself, then shutting the door.

"She'll be alright." Simpson said following suit.

"I know. Have a...good day!" She shouted as he quickly sprinted up the steps.

Emma made her entrance into Degrassi halls urgently. Looking at her watch, she sighed and began to do the unthinkable. Run in the halls.

"Ms. Nelson." Simpson said much to her dismay with a wink, stopping her in her tracks . "You might want to slow down, there's no running in the halls."

"Whatever, I have to get to class."

"Just trying to let you know before someone else does." He said motioning to Ms. Kwan.

"Right." Emma said lightly, then smiled. "Walk--Not run. Got it."

"See ya in class." He said walking off.

"See ya in..." She began, her eyes patiently following, as he dissapeared off into the distance. "Class." She finished, as she made a run for it. Making her way down the next hall, she had a sigh of relief, noticing she was almost there.

"Thank--" She said starting to run again until...Bam. She and an unruly stranger collided, causing her to fall to the floor.

"Watch it!" He yelled, then softened up a bit when he realized who rammed into him.

"You came out of nowhere." She said standing up rubbing her arm.

"This isn't traffic greenpeace."

"Great." She said picking up her bag, then walking off.

"Hey--Wait." He said running up to her. "Are you hurt?" He questioned touching her arm.

"Ouch! What do you care?" She asked pulling away from him.

"I don't...aren't you late for class or something?" He asked annoyed, still eyeing her as he walked away.

"Do you still need help with that assignment?" She asked off the cuff. Not essentially planning to say yes or no to actually helping him.

"No, not really." He replied with a hidden smile, as he continued down the hall.

"Are you going to do the assignment?"

"What do you care?" He asked turning around, gazing at her with clarity.

Emma just narrowed her eyes and walked away.

"Why? Would you have helped me?"He yelled after her.

"No." She said her voice echoing off the walls, as she came to the entance of her classroom. Looking at him one last time, a small smile tugged at her lips. He just raised an eyebrow and dissapeared around the corner of the next hall.

Emma shook her head and turned to completely enter class, bumping into Sean.

"Ow." She said quietly, rubbing her already aching arm.

"You, Okay?" He asked taking her arm completely. "You look a little bruised up."

"I'm fine." She said with a lightness, more hesitant to escape the small embrace.

"I can walk you to the nurse or--"

"I don't think I need a nurse Sean."

"Your arm's all bruised."

"It's no big deal, I fell on the way to class. Besides...I bruise easily." She said looking from her arm to him intently. "You can let go now." She said, not really wanting him to.

"Well, if you need to go to the nurse just...you know" He said holding up a peace of paper. "I got a hall pass."

"Lucky you." She said with a smile before continuing past him.

Sean automatically smiled. Turning around to give her one last look, he walked out.

"Sean and Emma sitting in a tree-" J.T began before being cut off.

"Shut up, J.T." She interrupted. "Nothing's going on."

"Isn't there?" He asked harmlessly, then focused his attention to his marked paper. "B-? Well, this is going on the refrigertator."

"You're late Emma." Mr. Armstrong said, taking notice to her presence.

"Sorry, Mr. Armstrong." She said with an apologetic stare. Emma cringed as she realized she'd missed an entire class, including Ms. Hatzilako's. It was the second time she'd heard those words, and It wouldn't be the last.

Sean made his way outside where Jay and his gang stood, leaned, and sat on his car.

"Well, if it isn't--"

"I know, alright. It took Armstrong forever to let me out."

"Aww, did him need a hallpass? I didn't even go to class."

"Productive." Sean responded, becoming one of the leaners.

"I try." Jay replied absently, looking over at the school doors.

"Waiting for someone?" Sean asked.

"Nope. So uh, party still on at your house?"

"Yeah."

"Who are you bringing?" Jay asked sardonically.

"No one. Why?"

"You're not gonna try to work it out with greenpeace?"

"Who?"

"Emma."

"Why would I bring Emma?"

"I don't know, I'm just sayin'. I mean, if you want to work things out this could be your chance."

Sean looked at him with confusion. Since when did he care? But...he did have a point.

"I don't know..."

"Invite her." Jay reassured. Sean just shugged a little.

"I don't know, maybe I will." He murmured to himself, then looked over at Jay."Thanks for caring so much...buddy" He said playfully.

"Anytime." He replied with a pat on his shoulder.

"Here's your stupid nerds." Alex said putting the small box of candy in his hand.

"Where were you?" Sean asked.

"The store. The things I do for you." She said sarcastically.

"Oh, you probably got a malt liquor or something out of it." Jay responded defensively.

"Shut up, I don't drink." She said to him then turned to Sean. "I don't drink."

"Sure." Sean replied baiting her.

Manny found herself back at her locker.

"What are you looking for?" Emma asked.

"Where were you in Ms. Hatzilako's?"

"Long story."

"I hate those." Manny replied searching through her locker.

"Again, what're you looking for?"

"I had this tape Craig gave me in this godforsaken locker, and now I can't seem to find it."

"What was the tape?"

"It was this stupid--forget it, I just want to find it, and get rid of it."

"Was it that bad?" Emma asked with a laugh.

"No--it was kind of cute. He gave it to me, back when we were still together."

"Artist?"

"Craig Manning." She replied closing the locker.

"Oh...oooh." Emma said nodding in understandment. "I thought you two were kind of okay with each other by now. You still haven't worked things out?"

"There's nothing to work out--what happened to your arm."

"Nothing." Emma said exasperated. "I fell. Now, hello, Craig?"

"Right. He thinks everything is just peachy keen, and it's not."

"Well, tell him that."

"You're right. I should just walk up to him and say--"

"Hey, Manny." He said walking up to her.

"Craig." She said looking at Emma.

"Bye." Emma said walking off.

Manny looked after her mistaken friend, hoping if she started long enough she would come back. No such luck.

"I did have something to say." He said capturing her gaze.

"And...?"

"And...I'm sorry. For everything I mean."

"Everything?" She asked, looking at him sorrowfully.

"Everything." He said unsure if she knew exactly what he meant. "I never really meant to hurt you."

It was like a dream. Manny closed her eyes. Craig looked at her questioningly.

"You okay?"

"I...I am now." She said opening her eyes.

"Well, I'll see you later?"

"Do you want to get something to eat--Like after school?" She said coming face to face with him, ending the distance between the two.

Craig smiled. But his smile faded when he noticed Ashley standing feet away, with a blank expression.

"Umm...Maybe some other day." He said backing away a little. Manny' smile faded too, as dissapointment took it's place.

"Right." She replied downbeat.

"Bye." He said, almost completely walking away.

"Bye." She whispered. She then reopened her locker, and tape fell out. Hesitantly bending down, she picked it up. Unsure whether to feel relief or anger, she just placed it back into the locker, and did what she wanted to do before. Walk away. And that she did.

Ashley folded her arms and let out a scoff.

"Lovely." She said to herself, then rolled her eyes. He hadn't seemed to change at all.

"Um, Hon? Are you okay?" Paige asked standing beside the now somber girl.

"No." She responded, obviously put off.

"What is it?"

"It's Craig. He's still chasing after Manny."

"And you're sure of this?"Paige questioned following her gaze.

"Yes." Ashley said agitated, feeling deafeated. "I have to get to class." She finished, as she walked off. Paige followed.

Sean stood for a few minutes, before getting up the nerve to ask. Finally he faced the music, and made his way over to where she was.

"Party. My house. Wanna go?" He asked.

"Party?" She asked skeptically.

"Yes." He said. "You want to come?"

"Sure." Emma replied a little surprised at him and herself. "Why not."

"Alright." He said happily. "B.Y.O.B"

"Sean..."

"Kidding. See you there."

"Okay." She said holding his gaze. "Bye."

"Bye." He said, a little drunk with happiness.

"Sean.." She said before walking away.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Sean wasn't overtly sure of what she was thanking him for but it didn't stop him from saying--

"Welcome."

"You do know why I'm thanking you?"

"Not really." He revealed with a laugh.

"Then...nevermind." She said purposely leaving an air of myserty as she walked away. But by then he'd realized why she thanked him. He smiled, then made his way back outside.

"So...?" Jay asked.

"She's coming."

"Cool." Jay said pretending to be unaffected.

"Who's coming?" Alex asked.

TBC...