A/N: Just a short little chapter till I can type up the next. And if you like this story, please forgive my blatant plug for my other story, "Adventures in Babysitting." It's a different pairing and a different format, but I hope you all at least check it out and let me know what you think – thanks!
I walked through the school, my arm around Ellie. Emma was sitting on a ledge talking to Rick near the entrance. Unconsciously my arm tightened around El and my fists clenched.
Alex had told me about what had happened outside the Dot. Emma could have gotten seriously hurt, stepping into a fight like that; she should know better from experience, unfortunately for me. Jay hadn't wanted to talk about it, but I knew there was more to the story than he was letting on. Appearances to the side, Jay wasn't the kind to pick a fight without a good reason. And if that reason was Rick harassing Emma, well, then Jay wouldn't be alone in the Rick beat down next time.
"What's the matter?" Ellie asked, noticing my gaze. "Oh, I guess you were right."
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"Well, last week when I gave Emma and Paige a hard time, you know, with the 'such heroes' comment," Ellie reminded him. "You told me it was odd. That you know Emma and she usually gives people the benefit of the doubt."
I shifted back and forth uncomfortably. I had really become passionate in my defense of Emma, but it was only because I knew her to be better than that. Really. No other reason. Jay had set me straight on any other thoughts I might have had on that matter.
"Well, before the high school closed, when Degrassi was just a middle school, when I got held back, Emma was the only one who got to know me. Without judging me immediately. Even when she found out about the stuff that went down at home, she didn't act any differently," I explained again. "She's big on second chances."
"What did happen in Wasaga Beach, Sean?" Ellie asked. "You never talk about home, you just clam up."
I turned my head. Talking about it was just too much. I had never told anyone about the reason I left. Well, except Emma. Jay knew because he had friends in WB, but other than that, Emma was the only one. It was just easy to talk to her, even about stuff that I didn't want to talk about.
"Listen, can we not do this, here. In front of the school. Homeroom is in ten minutes," I asked her.
"Fine," Ellie started snapping the band at her wrist. Damn, I had done it again.
I placed my hand over her wrist. "Listen, El. You know that care about you. I just have a lot unresolved when it comes to home." I gave her my special smile. "When I have it all figured out you will be the first one to know."
She looked over my shoulder to stare at Emma. Perhaps she wasn't as clueless as Jay and Alex thought. "Promise?" She asked, looking up at me.
"Pinkie swear," I promised, using our interlocked fingers to bring her towards me for a kiss. As I pulled away I noticed Emma and Rick were both gone. 'Sometimes I wish you weren't so big on second chances, Em,' I thought. 'Take care of yourself, cause I've got my hands full.'