One Month Later

Craig stood at the steps of Degrassi Community School, sweat trickling down his palms. Ash. Craig had spent the summer fantasizing about her, anticipating this moment.

And there she is.

She was sitting in the foyer, waiting for him.

"Ash," he said as he walked in front of her. "How was England?"

She smiled, apparently nervous. "It was fine. Here, Craig," she brushed off the seat next to her. "Sit down."

She smiled at him, her face radiant. He took the seat, beginning to chuckle at the situation. He was nervous to sit next to his girlfriend. His girlfriend.

He looked over to her, grinning. "I missed you, Ash."

Those words meant something to her, he could tell. She took his hand. "I missed you, too. And, actually, England wasn't all that great. I spent all my time -- "

Ashley's words suddenly droned off after Craig looked up at the entrance. Sean was standing at the doors, looking around for familliar faces.

"Sean!"

Ashley looked surprised. "Craig, I was talking."

"Hmm? Oh, I know."

Seans made his way over to them, eyebrows raising.

"What are you doing back? And what's with the style rewind?"

Sean looked down at his clothes. There were no headphones, no caps, no jackets. There was a simple old gray T-shirt and a pair of loose jeans.

"Where's that hat thing you always used to wear?"

Sean shrugged. "Have either of you seen Emma?"

Craig suddenly sat up. "Emma?"

Ashley, who had folded her hands onto her lap, replied, "Yeah, she was in the library just before I came here. hey, do any of you guys know what happened to her?"

Sean was now alert. "Something happened to her?"

"Well, we don't know exactly. She's just been quiet -- and, and that enviorment stuff she always used to do... well, she's not doing it anymore."

"Is she still in the library?"

"No... I think she left for her homeroom." Ashley said.

Spinner suddenly plopped down next to Ashley.

"Spinner, watch out!"

"You too, Ms. Prissy Pants?"

Ahsley was annoyed nd confused. "What?"

"It's Emma. Thinks she's queen of the world. I was sitting there in homeroom and she comes in all huffy and tells me to get out of her chair."

"Spinner, they assign chairs in homeroom."

Spinner shook his head. "Minor detail."

"What homeroom was she in?" Sean asked.

"Dude, you don't want to go in there. Ms. Kwan's spouting horns and turning over desks. She's got this idea that --"

"Spinner, what homeroom?"

"Are you still on that? Room 301, why do you care so much?"

"Thanks. I'm gonna go."

Craig watched Sean walk off as Spinner and Ashley started to bicker. He couldn't help wonder what Sean was going to say or the things Emma was going to think. Ashley suddenly schreeched in anxiety and snatched up her things, walking away.

"Craig, your girlfriend, Ashley, okay, aka Satan, did you see what she just did?"

Craig wasn't listening. He wasn't watching Ashley stalk off down the hallway. He was oddly distracted, and he couldn't put his finger on what was distracting him.

Sean had tried to find Emma that morning, but to h is dismay, the bell had gone off before he could make it to Ms. Kwan's classroom. He glumly retreated to Mr. Simpson's computer lab, angered to find tht the only free seat was next to Alex.

"Mr. Cameron," Mr. Simpson greeted, "Welcome back. You're late."

"I know, Mr. Simpson," Sean explained. "I was just looking for something."

"Well, look for it later?"

Sean nodded and sat next to Alex, her face overcoming in a grimace.

"What are you smiling about?" he asked irratatingly as he pulled the keyboard to him.

Alex swayed her leg from side to side in a nonchalant fashion. She carelessly clicked away on the mouse.

"Have you seen your little Emma yet?"

Sean looked over, clueless and curious.

"Why?"

"No reason, Cameron. Get over it."

She continued to chew her gum in that way that revolted Sean, eyes never meeting his. He persevered, solemn faced.

"What are you talking about?"

Emma sat in homeroom, still obsessing over the disaster that was Spinner, when Ms. Kwan stood.

"I'll be back in a minute, watch the lab for me, Emma?"

Emma nodded, watching Ms. Kwan take her leave. The school was such a crowded place. Left to right, there was something peculiar. On on side, there was Kendra throwing her arms in the air, scrucnhing up her face and throwing her arms around Liberty. Then, there on the other, Craig was lingering in the hall, half walking, half standing, glancing into her room every few seconds. Mr. Simpson was blowing his nose in that disturbing way he did near the bathroom, JT's face contorting in horror as he walked past into the room.

Emma smiled as JT sat next to her, placing his bookbag on the floor.

"So," he said, "Have you heard the news yet?"

Emma looked up from her lap.

"What news?"

JT smiled michcieviously. "The man who dare not speak his name."

"JT," Emma said, slightly frustrated. "That makes no sense.

But JT was still grinning like the Chesire Cat. He leaned in to Emma, who followed suit. The two sat there, both leaning into each other, attention focused on no one but one another.

"Sean's back,"