Erica was at her locker with J.T. talking and such. Liberty came up to her as Erica was making out with J.T. for the fifth-billionth time.
"A hem." said Liberty
"Hello. How can I help you?" said Erica
"Hey Liberty." said J.T.
"Hi J.T." she said gazing into his eyes.
"Uhm, Liberty? I know J.T. is hott and all. But you don't interrupt a make-out session unless it's important."
Liberty snapped out of her trans. "Oh. My bad. I wanted to say that I got your column... four times. And I can't deny it. You did a good job. Welcome to the Grapevine."
"Yesss!!!! Thanks alot. I will not let you down."
"Good. Have a nice day." and she walked away
"I so loathe her. She's so uptight."
They start to walk to class, when Erica sees Michael. Erica tells J.T. that she has to use the bathroom and that she'll see him in class. "Michael." She pushes him into the boys' bathroom. She walks through the bathroom to make sure no one is in there. "Michael..."
"You know you're in the boys bathroom, right?"
"Yeah. The urinals gave it away."
"Okay. So why did you push me in here practically moaning my name? You want to go for another round or something?"
"Eww no, you ass. I want to tell you that you cannot mention that kiss that happened last night. You have to forget about it."
"I won't be able to. You're a magnificent kisser."
"Ouch... How can that be when you're the second guy ever that I've kissed." She pushed him against the wall. "Look. You cannot say anything about that kiss."
"I'm the second guy you've kissed ever?"
"You know what. Shut up."
"Having you pin me against the wall is a complete turn on."
"Ugh. You're too much. You fucking suck also. You cannot invite a girl over for a bottle of Faygo knowing that she cannot resist, then have her favorite band be on a late night show and then make out with her. It's just not cool."
"I couldn't help myself. My bad. I will learn next time when I invite a girl over for Faygo, not to kiss her. But in this situation, we're not having Faygo. We're in a boys bathroom."
"No no no. Don't think about it."
"Fine, I'll just do it."
So, they kissed again. She didn't mean to. It just happened.
She stopped. "Ahhh. It happened again. I'm a horrible person. Get your hand off my ass."
"I couldn't help myself. It's so plump and alluring."
"You're an asshole."
"And that's why you keep coming back."
Erica stared at Michael with such an evil, cross look. And walked out of the bathroom. Michael rushed infront of her. She told him that she had to get to class. Then he asked her if she would help him pass out flyers for the search of their new lead singer. She agreed to. He dug into his backpack and pulled out some index card sized flyers. She stuffed them into her tube sock and went to class. Just before the bell rang.
At lunch, Chris came up to her for a favor.
"Erica, can I talk to you?" he asked.
"Absasmurfly."
"What?"
"Never mind. What do you want to talk to me about?" she asked.
"I wanted to ask you if you could ask Liberty if she can ask her mom if I can have a job at that Teen club. I could really use the money."
"Why can't you ask her yourself?"
"Because I already asked her. She said it's out of the question."
"Heartless bitch. Okay. Since you're my best friends boyfriend. I'll convince her to ask her mom and blah blah blah. Okay?"
"Thanks alot. Oh, and I like what you're doing to Emma. She's changing, thats good. She doesn't even think about Sean anymore."
"She's a good person, she loves the environment. She's just trying to give us the best." she walks away.
She turns on her cd player, and starts to listen to Franz Ferdinand. The band that Toby suggested she listen to. She's really starting to like the cd. And blah blah blah. Meanwhile.
"Paige, I have some sorta bad news. And I hate to bring this subject up again. But there's try-out for this band called The Automatics. And, the try outs are here." said Ashley.
"What are you thinking about trying out for the band. We already have a band. Hell Hath No Fury. Me You Hazel and Ellie. You cannot abandon us." said Paige
"No... Dean's in this band, The Automatics, and the try-outs are here..."
Paiges face turns white. "You mean, Dean. The Dean who raped me. The Dean who ruined my fucking life. The Dean who hasn't been punished for a damn thing that he's done to me." She says with anger
"Yeah. He's in this band, and they are coming here this Friday so people can try-out for this band."
"I can't believe it."
"And Erica's going to try-out for it."
"How do you know all this?"
Ashley hands her the index card and tells Paige how Erica told her that she was going to try-out for the band.
"Erica cannot try out for the band."
I bet you are wondering whats happened to Manny aren't you? Me too. So let's find out.
"Manny. Hey." said Erica
"What do you want?" she replied in a cold tone.
"I'm here to spread the word about this new band called The Automatics, who just happen to look for a new singer. So, if you can sing and you like rock and roll. Try out for the band. Put all grudges aside about me kicking your ass, and think about trying out for the Automatics." She hands Manny and each one of her friends an index card. "Thank you and have a good day." she walks off.
"The nerve of her. If she's in that band, I am definately not trying out. I cannot stand her." said Manny. "But why was she wearing guy shorts?"
"Maybe they're J.T.'s" said Lily "and she's just wearing them. Boyfriends always give their girlfriends their clothes."
"Good point. Lets just get to class. The bell is about to ring." said Manny. "But if I weren't mistaken, I believe Erica's neighboor is that Michael guy that Terri met at The Exotic Rose. So I bet there is going to be some major infedelity going on."
"Why would you say that?" asked Roxanne, another one of Manny's friends.
"Because, Erica hooked up with Sean at the party. Why wouldn't she hook up with Michael. He's right next door."
"But, Erica loves J.T. They have more PDAs than Mischa Barton and boyfriend-of-the-week combined."
"Whatever. So are we going to try out for this band or not?"
"Jimmy. Erica's been passing out these index cards to try out for some band called The Automatics... Ever heard of them?" asked Hazel
"No. But we are not going to try out. We're already in a band. Downtown Sashsquatch and Hell Hath No Fury." He replied.
"That's true. I heard Dean's in that band."
"The asshole who raped Paige and doesn't know how to take no for an answer"
"Yeah. I wonder how Paige will re-act to this?"
"I don't know. But she probably already knows."
"I'm going to have to talk to her."
PART 34:
After school Spinner rushes up to Erica, he wants to know if these rumors about Dean being in The Automatics is true, and the fact that they are coming to Degrassi to hold their auditions.
"Erica. These index cards that you are passing out. Who's all in the band?" asked Spinner
"Well, my next door neighbor Michael and his friends Stephen, Dave, and Dean." she replied.
"Whats Dean look like?"
"Well, he seems tall. Hairs short kinda like a prep-crew boy kinda cut. And dark blues eyes. Almost scary looking."
"Does he go to Bardell?"
"Yes. He seems pretty cool. Really good on the guitar."
"That guy is a major asshole."
"Do you even know him?"
"Yes. Paige met him about a year ago. at a party, where he took things too far. He didn't understand what the word 'no' meant."
Erica is completely shocked. "Do you mean.. He raped her? Paige was a victim of date rape"
"Yeah. And he didn't get punished or anything."
"Did Paige sue him or something? She can't let him get away with this. Has he done that to anyone else?"
"I don't know. But this is serious. And if you're thinking about trying out for this band. I want you to be aware of what can happen to you."
"I am going to try out for this band. Thanks Spin. I'll call you later." She gave him a hug. "Make sure Paige is there at the try-outs."
Erica was completely shocked about Paige getting raped by Dean. And this shock made her think. She wrote all her feelings down on paper. She wrote how she felt about the drama and pain Paige might have gone threw. Then she put it in the form of a song. Then she called Spinner, and asked him if she knew a band she could sing with, because she didn't want to try out for The Automatics anymore. She just wanted to make a statement. Spinner said that she could sing with them.
So throughout the week. Downtown Sashsquatch and Erica worked on the song that she wrote called "Paige's Nightmare". By the end of the week they perfected it and couldn't wait to perform it tomorrow.
Part 35: Erica had alot to do Friday. She had to give Liberty her top 5 albums that people should buy. She decided to help the band set-up. And she had to convince Liberty to let Chris work at the Exotic Rose. SInce she would see Liberty first. She decided to kill two birds with one stone.
"Liberty, here's my 5 albums that people should buy, my article and discography on The Strokes, and I have a question."
"Good. Good. What's your question?"
"Can you please convice your mom to let Chris do the DJing at The Exotic Rose?"
"no. It's out of the question. My mom already pays this guy 7 bucks an hour to do the job every Friday and Saturday."
"Well, Chris will do it for $5.75 an hour and it'll be good."
"So, if I do ask my mom. What would I get from you?"
Just then, J.T. came strolling in, "Erica, hey. I heard you're trying out for The Automatics."
Erica regrettingly says. "I'll let you kiss J.T.... On the lips and everything!"
"what?" said J.T. at the same time as Liberty said, "Really?"
"Erica, what stunt are you trying to pull?" asked J.T.
Erica pulls J.T. aside and said, "Look, Chris wants this DJing job at the Exotic Rose really badly. I'm sure that if you give Liberty one kiss, that she'll let Chris have that job. Please, do it for me."
"You know what. Fine. But just a quick peck."
"ah c'mon. give her something worth remembering."
"You know what. Fine. But you're going to owe me big."
"I'll give you a hand job." She was kidding when she said that. But J.T. and Erica walked back to J.T. and Erica asked if they had a deal, Liberty said yes. So J.T. gave Liberty a really quick and enjoyable kiss. Very funny if you ask me.
"There. I let you kiss J.T. Now you have to convince your mom that Chris should have that job."
"Okay. a deal is a deal."
J.T. and Erica walked out and J.T. said that he couldn't believe that he kissed Liberty. that when Toby came outta nowhere.
"You kissed Liberty? Does Erica know about this?"
"Yeah. I made him kiss Liberty. And it's really a long story. Oh, thanks for that Franz Ferdinand cd. It's awesome."
"I know alot of bands that are under the radar. But no one ever askes me what kind of music I listen to because they think I'm too busy playing with computers."
"Well, show people that your more than computers. Show them that you like rock music. Tell them, 'yeah. I'm good at computers, but I also like rock msuic and know alot of good bands!' Hit them with your best shot buddy!"
J.T. stares at Erica weird and says."You're a little excited today."
"Because, I get to try out for a band. I might be famous and all that crazy stuff."
"I thought you weren't going to try-out."
"Oh but I am. Just to piss Dean off after I sing that song about him. My existence would piss him off because he is going to know that I do not like him."
"okay. Well, the rehersal is not until lunch."
"Yeah. In the gymnasium, and I have to leave class 15 minutes early to help set-up."
So finally, the time came to try-out for the Automatics. It seemed that all of Erica's friends were there. Waiting to see if the rumors were true. When Erica got up on stage. The band was all sitting in the front. Erica walked on stage and said. "I hope you don't mind if I try-out with another band. I still want to be apart of yours. But uhm. This songs's serious. And if you take it seriously, you might want to reconsider who's in your band.. Here I go"
Erica started singing the best she could. If you asked me, she had the combined voices of Brody Dalle and Karen O. And as Erica was singing this song, Dean's face was getting redder and redder and more angry looking than ever. And at the end of the song, the very last line was 'It's a sad thing, if you know what I mean. Because Paige's nightmare was created by Dean.' and to Erica's amazment Dean ran up to the stage as Erica jumped off and looked as if he like he were going to hit her. Dean goes."You little bitch. I should slap you"
"Go ahead. It can't be any worse than raping someone." She stared at him with a look that was completely fearless. Dean looked as if he were going to say something, but instead. He just walked angerily out of the gymnasium.
Michael followed him out and said. "If what Erica says is true. You can't be in this band anymore."
"What. Why?"
"Because. If you really did rape that Paige girl. She's going to sue you. And it'll ruin our reputation as a band."
"But we created this band just last year. No one can replace me and you know it."
"I can find someone. Trust me."
"But how do you know that she isn't lying."
"That song was to powerful and real to made from some imagination. I hate to say it, Dean. But you're kicked out of the band."
"You're kicking me out because you love that bitch you just met. You are choosing me over some tomboy,because you have an obsession with her. Screw you."
"Erica has nothing to do with why I am kicking you out of this band. And it's not just me who thinks this, Dave and Stephen thinks this also. Just come around to my house after school and get your guitar and amp and just deal with it. You can always find and or create another band."