Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or any of the characters.

I wasn't upset I was worried. I was worried about the feeling I got whenever I see him. I was worried about the way I thought about him constantly. I was worried about the fact that at any time I can wake up and realize he's still the same jerk he was before. I absentmindedly explained Manny's absence to Toby at my locker. JT and Liberty were already in class. We decided we were going to have a cheer up party for her tonight. In class JT and Liberty agreed to come also. These days the two of them were like one person again. They kind of have a Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn thing going on they're denying the fact that they're together but every one knows they are. During class I IM Manny to keep her from becoming dehydrated from crying so much. She seems to have come to terms with it and is back to being obsessed with Jay and me. The more I insist I don't like him like that the more I think I do. I realize I'm still wearing his jacket. Actually I don't realize it until JT asks about it.

"He lent it to me last night I forgot to give it back" I explained.

"Sure Emma" he nodded.

I really have to stop denying I like him. I'm not fooling my friends and I'm starting not to believe it. At lunch I invited him to our table. He said he would then sat with Sean on the other side of the cafeteria. I was disappointed but I didn't let it get to me. Lunch was over too soon. I was dreading the next class.

Jay was already there when I got there. He was reading the New Yorker. On the board the sub had wrote free period. I wondered why he would spend a free period reading the New Yorker.

"Is this what the new and improved Jay does in his spare time" I asked sarcastically.

"I was just sitting here so she gave me the magazine."

"I was wondering why your eyes weren't moving" I laughed.

"You're not mad about me not sitting with you?"

"No you want to sit with your friends it's cool."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Cheer up party for Manny."

"Oh"

"Why?"

"Just wondering."

"Why don't you come. I mean if you're not doing anything."

"I'll think about it."

"And how will I know if you're coming?"

"I'll show up."

"Ok" I nodded and smiled "starts right after school."

After school I got a ride with JT and everyone. They set up while I coaxed Manny out of the room. When I got upstairs Jay was popping popcorn. Manny immediately snapped out of it and started with the interrogation.

"Did you invite him?"

"Yes."

"Are you together."

"No."

"Do you like him?"

"I don't know."

"Why did you stop cooperating?"

"I didn't"

"Do you like Jay yes or no."

"Yes"

She squealed.

"Does he know."

"No."

"Can I tell him?"

"No"

"Will you be mad if I do it anyways?"

"Depends."

"On what?"

"What he says."

We started watching Fun With Dick and Jane. Halfway through the movie and my third bottle of Diet Coke I had to go to the bathroom so I left the group. They paused to movie so I could hear everything they were saying.

"Truth or dare" Manny said.

"Truth" Jay replied.

"Do you like Emma."

"Pass."

"Can't"

"Fine yea don't tell her."

"Why she likes you she told me."

"Really."

"Yea think about that."

I came out and pretended I didn't hear anything but shot Manny a look that clearly said I did. Jay was pretty quiet for the rest of the night. I silently cursed Manny for ruining it. He decided to leave before the second movie so I walked him out. The sun was setting. He lightly pushed me against the wall and kissed me.

"Night Emma Greenpeace" he walked away. I watched the car back out of the driveway and drive away. I screamed and went inside. Manny rushed over to me.

"Tell me everything" she dragged me downstairs.

Once we were downstairs and sitting in the corner on the floor like five year olds hiding from a parent coming to pick them up after a play date the questions started.

"So what happened?"

"He kissed me?"

"Tongue."

"No"

"That's ok it was only the first kiss well this year. What else?"

"That's it."

"He just walked away after kissing you right in front of the door."

"Actually next to the door he pushed me up against a wall."

"Ooh you were against a wall."

"Yea"

"So what did he say after the kiss."

"Night Emma Greenpeace."

"Hmm mixing name with hated nickname..."

"I don't hate it."

"Suddenly liking a nickname you used to hate very good sign I think this will go places."

"It's going nowhere it was one kiss nothing else will happen."

"Why won't you allow your self to like him. He's obviously changed I hated the guy but he seems decent now and that's a lot from me."

"I know it's just weird I've never felt like this Manny. I think about him all the time he's never out of my head he's like a virus..." I trailed off remembering last year.

"Em that was awhile ago."

"I know."

"So go on what were you saying."

"He's like a virus that won't go away he seems to have taken residence in my head. He might as well file for homestead exemption."

"You're in love."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are deny it all you want you are."

"Look I admit that I like him a little but love is a strong word."

We went back upstairs to finish the cheer up party that was pretty unnecessary. After everyone left I went to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night and snuck out the window needing a walk. I walked to the ravine where I had lost myself for awhile last year. Jay was sitting on a picnic bench alone. No one came anymore. I walked over to him and sat next to him. We sat there in a comfortable silence for awhile. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew I was laying in my bed listening to the alarm beep. I had forgotten to turn it off. Manny was groaning and throwing things. I turned it off and she rolled over and went back to sleep. I got up and dressed no sense in trying to sleep I know I won't be able to. There's a not on the fridge saying that mom and Snake were at the store. I left a note for Manny next to it. I walked out as an orange civic drove by the house. I chased it. He finally pulled over and I walked to the window.

"Hey did you bring me home last night I don't remember walking."

"Yea you fell asleep."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

"Where you headed so early" I asked.

"I'm going to Toronto for the weekend I've got tickets to an All-American Rejects concert."

"Who are you going with?"

"I was going with my cousin but he decided to get engaged and can't go so I'll probably just sell the other ticket."

"How much" I asked eagerly.

"What?"

"For the ticket how much."

"You want it?"

I nodded.

"You can have it."

"For how much."

"Free."

"No I have to give you something."

"You can give me a soda there."

"Really?"

"Yea here" he handed me the ticket "oh my god Panic is opening why would they open for All-American Rejects they're totally popular to have their own tour."

"Yea I thought that was weird too."

"I know you just gave me the ticket and that's totally cool of you but could you..."

"Give you a ride?"

I nodded.

"Sure get in."