By the time it was school on Monday. Half the school heard that Erica was either a lesbain using J.T. to stay in the closet or was bi and just dating J.T. until something 'better' came along. Theodora heard this rumor from a certain friend of Manny's who befriended her on the first day of school. Theodora and Hazel are in the same grade and they both have Media Immersions together. So Hazel helped Theodora out by showing her her locker and telling her the nooks and crannys about Degrassi and telling her a little something about the people that she knows at Degrassi. Once she gets around to Erica. She lies to Theodora telling her that she's bi and that even though she goes out with J.T., she wouldn't mind going out with a girl. Theodora smiles at this news for she has a major crush on Erica.
Today was also the day of report cards. Lovely lovely report cards. Some people look foward to report cards. Some people try to find a way in advance to avoid giving their reports cards to their parents. But one way or the other. Report card day is report card day and everyone will get them eventually. Erica did not appreciate her report card. At all.
"Are you fucking kidding me? I'm failing Algebra? There's some mistake. This is fucking bullshit." she turns to Emma. "what grade did you get in Algebra?"
"C" replied Emma.
As Manny walked by Erica asked. "Manny, what grade did you get in Algebra?"
"Don't talk to me dyke." she replied and walked away.
"I'm a dyke? You're the one hanging out with a bunch of girls all the fucking time. Fucking whore." she yelled at her back.
"What was that all about?" asked Emma.
"I've got no clue. But this failing Algebra is bullshit. My grades need to be good because I am planning to take next Friday off from school."
"For what?"
"My birthday. I'm going shopping for some clothes and stuff." said Erica proudly. "I'm partying the whole f-ing weekend. For my 15th brithday."
"Well, if it makes you feel better, I'm failing Biology."
"Miss. H gave me a B in that class. So I'm alright. But this D in in Mr. Armstrongs class is just ludicrous."
Librety brushed passed them in the shortest skirt with the highest boots and a tight top singing. "Straight A's once again. I am a genius."
"Sit on it and rotate. No one cares but you parents." said Erica. "Oh, Did you know that Toby wants to date you?"
"Wow. Really? Isn't he dating Kendra?"
"They broke up. They were slowly drifting apart."
"Well, tell Toby tostop by the lab afterschool, and I'll talk to him." and she walked away.
Emma is shocked a bit and she says. " Toby wants to date Liberty? That's amazing."
"It is, isn't it?"
Spinner, Jimmy, Craig, and Marco are standing infront of Craigs locker talking about their report cards also.
"Erica's flipping out about failing Algebra?" said Spinner. "Atleast she's not failing English...again."
"That's because you don't understand Shakespeare." said Marco.
"He would be able to understand it if he actually read it." said Craig.
Jimmy starts to change the subject." Did you hear about Erica being a lesbian and using J.T. to stay in the closet?"
"Erica's not a lesbian. She's straighter than the average straight person." said Spinner. "who told you that?"
"Hazel. She said that Erica asked her if she would ask Manny out for her, because she was attracted to her."
Marco defended Erica at this point. "Even if Erica were a lesbian or bi, do you honestly think that she would go out with someone who's ass she kicked about month ago?"
"He's got a point. Hazel is just spreading rumors." said Craig Erica came up to them. "Hey. Does anyone know why Manny is calling me a lesbian?"
"Hazel is spreading rumors about you saying you're a lesbain and you're trying to stay in closet by going out with J.T." blurted out Craig.
"That's ridiculous. If I were a lesbian, I wouldn't of gave J.T. he-... nevermind. Uhm, I'm going to class right now. See you at lunch"
"you don't think she... ?" asked Spinner.
"I do." said Marco. Then he walked away.
"Dude, she didn't...?"
"Oh, she did." said Jimmy.
Craig walked away and as he did Spinner yelled." Dude, this is not cool. She's like my sister!"
In class Erica is throwing stuff at the back of Manny's head, because she knows that her and Hazel have been spreading rumors about her. Saying she's gay and such when she's not. She's completely and utterly straight. She was sitting between J.T. and Toby in Algebra and Emma was sitting beside Manny in that class. So everytime Manny jumped from getting hit with a paper wasp. Emma would laugh lightly at her. Manny turned to her and said. "You think it's funny. Well tell your lesbo friend back there to quick it."
Erica heard this and said. "Screw you whore. I'm not a lesbian and you need to shut up with that shit."
"Miss. America, I think you need to visit Mr. Raditch and talk about that language of yours. Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?" said Mr. Armstrong.
"I can't, she's dead. I live with my father." she said in a low voice. "But I'll go to Mr. Raditch."
"I'll see you later." said J.T. and her gave her a kiss, which lasted a bit too long for Mr. Armstrong's sake. And he said "Now, Miss. America."
As Erica walked out, Liberty said 'if that's a lesbian, then I'm one also.' and most of the class laughed.
Erica slowly walked down the hall thinking of how unfair life can be sometimes. Manny's constantly picking fights with Erica and always finding some way to ruin her social life. Saying that she hooked up with Sean, saying that she's a lesbian, trying to take J.T from her and always challeging her to do something that she think she can do better than Erica but she can't. AS she walked down thehall she ran into Theodora, who couldn't wait to run into Erica.
"Hey Erica, where are you going?" said Theodora
"Office. For class disruption. I said some naughty words." replied Erica. "I'm feeling a bit shitty right now."
"Well, if you come over tonight I can make you feel alot better."
Erica stares at Theodora for a minute. "Are you asking me out?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry that you believed the rumors, but I'm not bi or a lesbian. And I go out with J.T."
"Oh, well, thats okay. See you at rehearsal. Dave's got us a gig at Exotic Rose next friday."
"Really?" Erica said astonished. "That's going to be good fun."
Erica went into the office and told the secretary that she got kicked out of class for her inappropriate language. Mr. Raditch talked to her and told her that she cannot use such language in an learning enviorment and blah blah blah. She stopped listening and started humming 12:51 by The Strokes. She was still humming the song when Mr. Raditch stopped talking. So Mr. Raditch gave her two Saturday's of Satuday school. Erica said okay. Even though that meant her second Satuday school was the day after her birthday. But she thought that she would be able to make it there fine.
She went back to class, when she noticed that she walked by Manny's locker. Erica had the urge to do something to Manny's locker, but decided not to. So she walked back to class quietly sat in the back between Toby and J.T. like she does everyday.
Emma passed her a note:
"Manny's been talking alot of shit about you."
Erica wrote back:"Like what?"
"That you're a lesbian and that you're using J.T. to stay in the closet. SHe also tried to say that me and you are dating."
"That's bullshit. You're going to have to stop telling me this because I'm already not in a good mood as it is, and the fact that I got Saturday school two Saturdays in a row, and I am NOT happy about it."
J.T. tapped Erica on the shoulder. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. Don't feel sorry for me because I said my mom is dead. She died 7 years ago. I'm in a good mood. Friday night was incredible and next Friday, The Automatics are performing at Exotic Rose. Things are looking good for me."
"What about Manny? She's telling everyone that you're a lesbian."
"I will have to yell at her. And that will be that. She's not going to bring me down." she said in a calm voice.
The bell rang and everyone left class. While Manny was her locker, Erica approached her in a professional manner.
"I hear that you're spreading rumors about me. And I do not appreciate it that much." she said. "I am going to ask you politely to stop or else I will have to take matters in to my own hands. And I don't believe in spreading rumors about other people, so I go straight to violence. I hope you understand this."
"I only tell people the truth. I can't help it that you're a flamming lesbian." replied Manny. "It's obvious by the way you dress."
"I dress like a tomboy. I go out with J.T., and I don't have 3 girls over my house all the time. I hang out with more guys than you've ever slept with, and we all know that's a fair amount of guys." said Erica in an obvious tone. "I know you're jealous because I date J.T., I understand. But you do not have to go telling people I'm a lesbian just because you're a jealous hag who needs a good boyfriend in her life. I cannot help that. But I will ask you once, to stop telling people that I am a lesbian. Thank you and have a nice day, dear Manuella." and she walked away. On her way to class she ran into Spinner.
"Hey Spin, you think you can give me a ride to work since we work together now?" she asked.
"Really? You work at The Dot Grill?" replied SPinner
"Yeah. Dad applied me, they interviewed me Saturday, and said I got the job on Sunday and that I start today. So are you going to give me a ride or not?"
"Yeah. Meet me out in the front after school."
"Alrighty then, see ya later."
Ashley, Ellie, and Paige are talking about how Manny and Hazel are spreading rumors about Erica for no apparent reason. They think Hazel being involved in such childish games is ruining their reputation as a band. They want to kick her out, but they would have to find someone to play the keyboards.
"ash, you big goof." said Paige. "You've been playing the piano all your life. You can take Hazel's spot. And me and Ellie will play guitar and bass."
Ellie agrees. "I like the sound of that. We'll be like the Secret Machines"
"Okay. We'll need a drummer. Then we're set."
"Alex, Jay's girlfriend, she plays drums. She says she's not the best, but she's pretty spiffy." said Ellie.
"Really?" said Paige. "You think she'll be able to meet us afterschool tomorrow?"
"If I convince her."
"Alrighty then. Someone's going to have to break the news down to Hazel." said Ashley.
"I'll do it." said Ellie. "It'll be easier to hear it from me since we were never best of friends."
"You're a lifesaver, hun" said Paige
"Want me to tell her now? Or later?"
"Whenever you're ready. But before tomorrow afterschool." said Ashley
Part 41---))) So, after school, Ellie was looking for Hazel. Weirdly enough, Hazel was looking for Ellie, because Ashley and Paige told her that Ellie wanted to talk to her. So then they found each other.
"Ashley and Paige said you wanted to talk to me?" asked Hazel.
"Yeah. We heard the situation with you and Manny spreading rumors about Erica and we think that it'll ruin our reputation, so we are withdrawing you from the band." said Ellie.
"are you saying that you're kicking me out of the band?" said Hazel in disbelief. "Who's going to play the keyboard?"
"Ashley. She's going to sing and play keyboard and we are going to find a drummer. That's that, yo're out of theband. We're sorry. I have to go now. See ya later."
"This is an outrage."
"It is an outrage. You should know that rumors aren't always true. And gossiping is really bad." said Ellie walking away.
"This fucking sucks." said Hazel under her breath.
"Hey lover." said Dylan wrapping his arms around Marco. "I cannot thank you enough for Friday night."
"I should be thanking you. You taught me alot on Friday, and I enjoyed that thing you did with your tongue."
"Hey guys." said Erica. "guess who's going to her first day of work"
"you are." said Marco. "Let me guess. You're working at The Dot Grill with Spinner."
"Yeah. My dad signed me up for the job. And I got it so, yeah."
"Me and Marco are dying to know what you and J.T. did Friday night." said Dylan.
"I'll tell you guys because I trust you. but you cannot tell anyone. Especially spinner. He would flip out and try to kill J.T."
"We promise." said Dylan.
"Friday night was our three month anniversary. So to make it up to J.T., I gave him a blow job."
"You went down on him?" said Marco.
"Yeah, and it was my first time too. But while we're on the subject... What'd you guys do on Friday?"
"Just watched a movie and cuddled on the couch, nothing special."
"Oh, there goes Spinner, I have to go, see ya tomorrow."
"bye, Erica" they both said as Erica walked off and hopped into Spinner's car.
When Erica and Spinner arrived at their job, they went into the back and punched in. Then they put on their aprons and such. Since this was Erica's first day. She was basically a bustboy. Erica really didn't mind the fact that she was a bustboy, she actually liked collecting the dishes and washing off the table. And when Spinner was on his break, he let her take some orders and taught her how to take orders and such. Erica was on a roll and was having a good time before Manny and Hazel came in there and sat in the section that she ws waiting at. "hello, welcome to Dot Grill, may I start you off with something to drink?" asked Erica
"Yes, we'd both like a glass of water with one lemon each please." said Manny
"Would that be all for now?"
"No. We need to decide what we are going to eat, come back in a few."
"Okay, and guys. This is my first day at work, don't try to get me fired." said Erica.
Erica went to the back and got their water with one lemon in each drink and came back to the table."Here's your water with ONE lemon each. Have you decided on what you would like to eat?"
"Yes. We would like an order of fries and a English muffin." said Hazel.
"Odd. But okay. Your order will be ready in about ten minutes."
This is where they start to give her trouble. "It can't be ready in about 5 minutes? We're sorta in a hurry."
Erica just let this one brush by and said. "I'll see what I can do."
It took a little over 20 minutes for their food to be ready, so when Erica came back, they gave her a hard time again.
"Here's your food, enjoy. That means don't complain." said Erica. She walked away, then Manny called her back to the table and said. "Excuse me, this is an English muffin, I asked for a German muffin." she giggled a bit with Hazel.
"There's no such thing as a German muffin you ditz. You asked for a English muffin with fries, and thats what I got you. I'm telling you do not give me a hard time. Or else."
"Or else what?"
"Do you want to know?"
"You know what, get us the manager." said Hazel.
"Fine. You guys can explain to him how you're giving me a hard time." Erica went off and got the manager, she told him how Manny and Hazel were giving her a hard time because of personal events that happened at their school. That's when the tables turned on her, because she wasn't suppose to be waiting tables, she was suppose to be cleaning them. So, she got in trouble on her first day of work. She tried to explain that she was temporarily taking orders for Spinner who was on his break, and that she doing great until Manny and Hazel came inthere starting shit. SO the manager ended up waiting the table until Spinner got off break, and Erica was busting tables. While Erica was washing a table, Manny and Hazel were pointing and laughing at her.
This is when Erica decided that Manny had to pay.
Toby didn't have the guts to stop by the lab afterschool. For he was too nervous to ask Liberty out. This made Liberty sad, because she really doesn't believe in all that old fashion mess and would've asked Toby out herself. So, she was on her way out the door, after putting the finishing touches on the Grapevine, when she bumped right into Toby.
"Hey. I've been looking all over for you." said Liberty. "How's it going?"
Toby cut right to the chase. "Would you like a milkshake? We can go to the Dot now if you're not busy doing anything."
"Sure. I hope you don't mind if we stop by my house before we go there."
"Of course not."
So they walk to Liberty house, where she drops of her stuff and tells her mom that she's going to the dot. Her mom askes if she sees anyone from the Automatics to tell them to stop by tomorrow to rehearse or whatever. Liberty, being the responsible person that she is, says that she won't come home until she does.
When Liberty and Toby arrive at the dot grill, Erica smiles at them and says to Spinner. "Aren't they so cute together?" Spinner looks at Toby with anger in his eyes because he doesn't know that Kendra and Toby broke up. So when he's taking their order he askes Toby. "You're not cheating on Kendra, are you?"
"She broke up with me. I don't want any trouble here." replied Toby
"Oh, alright then. In that case, may I take your order?"
After talking to Liberty and Toby and such. Erica walked home by herself, in the dark. When she went home, Craig was sitting on her step. That's whens he relized that... she hadn't really talked to Craig in a while. So she sat next to him on the step.
"Howdy. Why are you sitting on my step?" she said
"Ashley broke up with me. Is it something that I've done wrong?" said Craig in a pitiful tone.
"I don't think so. What'd she say exactly?"
" We've been dating for a while, and I think we should look for something... different. But we can still be friends."
"You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that she thinks you're dull and boring and she wants something new and exciting." said Erica. "I'm not saying you're dull and boring, I'm saying that you guys have been dating for awhile, and she wants something new. Sometimes, the flame just isn't there anymore, and you need a certain something to light your fire. And that's why she brokeup with you."
"That made alot of sense. You put it in such beautiful words."
"Thanks. So, what can I do that's not sexual or that won't jeopordize my relationship with J.T. to make you feel better?"
"You really like J.T., don't you?"
"No. I love J.T."
"Do you have a guitar?"
"It's acoustic. Dad got it for me for Christmas."
"I want to work on some music with you."
"But I'm already in a band."
"I know. I.. I don't know. There's this song that just won't sound right if I sing it, and when you sang you're song about Dean. I knew your voice was good for the song."
"Fine. Come on in."
So they went in Erica's house, Erica introduced Craig to her dad and they went into Erica's alcove and sat on the couch. Craig complimented her on her decoration skills. Craig showed her the song that was folded up in his pocket. He told Erica how the song was symbolic to what him and Ashley have sorta been through, he admitted that some of it had been improvised by his imagination.
So Erica read over it the song and thought it was cool. She asked him what he had in mind for it. Craig started strumming and said when he said go, she was to start singing and to improvise the verses and such. The song was called 'He said' and the song seemed to be about a girl named Stormy, but, you would understand why from the chorus. It goes, " he said 'Stormy, baby, you drive me crazy. Understanding you can be so hazy. Getting over you is not that easy, because when you're on stage you seem to tease me'." Erica enjoyed singing the song, and Craig enjoyed her singing the song also. When she stopped singing the song.
"I like that song. It's cool." said Erica.
"Thanks. I wrote it after Ashley broke up with me. I heard you guys are performing at Exotic Rose on Friday?" replied Craig
"Yeah. We rehearse tomorrow. Davey got us the gig."
"Cool, I want you to sing that song."
"What? It's your song, I couldn't sing it."
"I'm want you to sing that song. It's a command. You would sound better singing it than me. You can just credit me afterwards."
"I'll see what the band thinks about it. If they like it, then I'll perform it. Don't you think you should be getting home now?"
Craig gets up. "Yeah, see you at school tomorrow." he gives her a hug
She hugs him back."Yeah, see you. Remember: it's not the end of the world."
Craig leaves, and as Craig walks home, Erica goes upstairs and takes a shower and such, then she goes into her room and starts to put on her pajamas. Then she hears some hit her window. Of course, it was Michael. He wanted to brag how he and Ashley went to some park and hung out and got to know each other and now they're dating. Which only meant that Ashley broke up with Craig after school, then went on date with Michael. Erica felt a current of jealous run threw her body, even though she was going out with J.T. She couldn't explain why she felt a bit jealous, but she did. She brushed that current of jealousousity aside. SHe congradulated Michael and said that she was really tired and that she wanted to go to bed. Then Michael joked how he'll never forget about her because she was a great kisser.
Erica isn't dumb; she knew that Michael still liked her.