Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or any of its characters. I do not own Addicted by Kelly Clarkson either.

Chapter 2 Confusion

Emma rolled over and hit her alarm clock for the third time. "9:45, perfect timing," Emma thought to herself. Emma got out of bed and headed to her basement bathroom to have a shower. After putting on her green pajama pants and a pink tank top Emma walked over to her closet and tried to make a decision.

"Now what do I wear?" Emma asked herself out loud.

"I suggest something totally hot." said a voice behind her.

Emma jumped three feet in the air screaming. She turned around to find her best friend Paige Michalchuk sitting in her desk chair.

"PAIGE? What are you doing here?" Emma exclaimed.

"I came over to help you get ready because I knew you were going to have a difficult time deciding what you should wear. Your mom let me in and told me that I could come down and wait for you." Paige explained.

"Oh, okay. Actually,I am really glad you are here because I have no idea what to wear. I mean the last time I went on a date was Chris and that was almost a year ago." Emma said.

Paige walked over to her friend and gave her a reassuring hug.

"Don't worry hun. Paige is here to help." she said as she walked over to Emma's closet, "Now, lets see what you have hidden away in here."

Paige searched through Emma closet pulling out random articles of clothing. When she was finished she arranged the clothes into three outfits on Emma's bed, a black denim mini skirt with a blue flowing off the shoulder blouse, a pair of white denim hip huggers with a bright yellow halter, and a red mini dress with a black leather jacket.

"Now this outfit," Paige said pointing to the black mini, "says that you're fun, flirty and ready to go. This one," pointing to the red dress, "says lets do a movie, dinner and maybe more. And this one says I am relaxed and ready for anything." Paige said pointing to the yellow halter.

Emma examined the three outfits Paige had put together for her and thought about each one. "Can I make a change?" Emma asked.

"Of course hun. It's your date," Paige said, "What did you have in mind?"

"Well I was thinking, fun, flirty, relaxed and ready for anything." Emma said as she picked up the blue top and white pants and held them against herself.

"Perfect! Why didn't I think of that? Paige asked herself. Now you need some shoes. These strapy sandals are great and you should take your black purse. Now come here so I can do your hair." Paige said as she pulled Emma over to the desk chair.

"Thanks Paige. What would I do without you? You are the best." Emma said as she relaxed in the chair and let Paige work her magic.

-------------------------------------

Jay pulled into the staff parking lot at The Dot and looked around for Emma's car. This was his favourite time of summer, when he got to work with Emma, she was never able to ignore him for their entire shift. Jay parked his orange civic and got out, he scoured the parking lot once more for Emma's blue Hemi Cuda.

"That's odd," he thought. "We were supposed to have the same shift today." Jay walked into The Dot still confused as to where Emma could possibly be.

"Hey Jay." Spinner said from across the restaurant.

"Hey Spin. I didn't know you were working today. Have you seen Emma?" Jay asked.

"Uh, no. She asked me to take her shift today." Spinner replied before going over to take an order from a nearby table.

"Why would she switch her shift?" Jay asked himself out loud as he punched his time card and put on his apron.

Just then their boss Mr. Geonardi came out of his office, "Jay, it's just you and Gavin today for the lunch rush. Ashley called in sick and everyone else is booked for the dinner shift. Gavin is going to take section one and half of two; you can take the bar and section three and the other half of two."

"Okay sir. Not a problem." Jay replied.

It was 11 am the lunch crowd started coming in at 11:30. Jay liked being busy, it kept his mind from wandering. Being busy would keep his mind off of Emma and wondering where she was. Jay picked up his pen and order pad and walked over to his first table of the day.

"Hi welcome to The Dot. Can I get you something to drink?" Jay said to the ladies at the table starting his shift.

-------------------------------------

"It looks great Paige!" exclaimed Emma.

Paige had curled Emma's hair into ringlets and pulled a few on top of her head and held in place with a blue butterfly clip. Paige had also done Emma's makeup with natural shades and tones. Emma completed her look with straight long earrings and a matching necklace.

"Thank you so much Paige." Emma said putting on her shoes.

"You're welcome hun. What time is Chester coming to get you?" asked Paige.

"Uh, actually I am picking him up because he isn't old enough to drive yet." Emma said bashfully.

"That's cool, your car is awesome. I am sure he'll love it." Paige replied.

Snake and Spike had bought Emma a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible as a birthday gift for her 16th birthday. Snake had fixed it up and customized it for Emma. Emma had it painted blue and had the interior changed from white to black.

"Well let's go I will give you a ride home so that you don't have to walk." Emma said picking up her purse and walking up the stairs.

"Thanks Em. It is really warm out there today." Paige said following Emma out of the basement. "So what are you two going to do on your date?" Paige asked curiously.

"I'm not really sure. Chester only told me that we are going for lunch and a movie but he wouldn't tell me where or what movie. I guess it is supposed to be a surprise." Emma explained.

"Well I want you to call me when you get home and tell me everything that happened." Paige demanded as they pulled into her driveway, "And I mean every little detail. Understood?"

"Of course. You will be the first one that I call Paige. See you later." Emma said as she backed out of the driveway.

Emma turned on the radio to her favourite station and Addicted by Kelly Clarkson came on.

It's like your a drug

It's like your a demon I can't face down

It's like I'm stuck

It's like I'm running from you all the time

And I know I let you have all the power

It's like the only company I seek

Is misery all around

It's like your a leach

Sucking the life from me

It's like I can't breathe

Without you inside of me

And I know I let you have all the power

And I realize I'm never gonna quit you over times

It's like I can't breathe

It's like I can't see anything

Nothing but you

I'm addicted to you

It's like I can't think

Without you interrupting me

In my thoughts

In my dreams

You've taken over me

It's like I'm not me

It's like I'm not me

It's like I'm lost

It's like I'm giving up slowly

It's like your a ghost

That's haunting me

Leave me alone

And I know these voices in my head are mine alone

And I know I'll never change my ways

If I don't give you up now

It's like I can't breathe

It's like I can't see anything

Nothing but you

I'm addicted to you

It's like I can't think

Without you interrupting me

In my thoughts

In my dreams

You've taken over me

It's like I'm not me

It's like I'm not me

I'm hooked on you

I need a fix, I can't take it

Just one more hit

I promise I can deal with it

I'll handle it, quit it

Just one more time, then that's it

Just a little bit more to get me through this

I'm hooked on you

I need a fix, I can't take it

Just one more hit

I promise I can deal with it

I'll handle it, quit it

Just one more time, then that's it

Just a little bit more to get me through this

It's like I can't breathe

It's like I can't see anything

Nothing but you

I'm addicted to you

It's like I can't think

Without you interrupting me

In my thoughts

In my dreams

You've taken over me

It's like I'm not me

It's like I'm not me

The song stirred memories and emotions in Emma that she thought that she had forgotten. It brought back Jay and everything they went through.

"Get out of my head." Emma scolded herself out loud.

Emma pulled into Chesters driveway and got out of the car. As she was walking up the steps Chester came out of the house.

"Wow, you look great Em." Chester exclaimed.

"You look good too, Chester." Emma said returning the comment.

Chester was wearing black sneakers, dark blue baggy jeans, a white T-shirt and a black button down shirt over top.

"Ready to go?" she asked.

"Yeah, lets do it." Chester said excitedly.

"Okay, so where are we going for lunch?" Emma wanted to know.

"Well I made a reservation at The Dot for noon and then I thought we could catch a movie at the mall." Chester explained.

"THE DOT!" Emma shouted a little more uneasy than she wanted it to sound.

"Yeah is that all right?" Chester asked sensing Emma's nervousness.

"Yeah, it's fine." she said. It would be fine she decided nothing weird was going to happen. Emma put her mind at ease and headed to The Dot.

---------------------------------

Jay looked at the days reservations. "Chester Hosoda for two? Who would go out with that nerd?" Jay said to himself.

Just then a familiar car drove by the window and pulled into the public parking lot. He watched as she got out of the car and was floored when he saw who she was with.

"Emma and Chester?" he thought.

Emma looked amazing. Her blonde hair in curls cascading down around her tanned shoulders. Her white jeans hugging her hips perfectly and her blue top showed a glimpse of her tummy. He noticed that she had gotten her belly button pierced.

"Damn!" he thought, "she looks really hot!"

Chester opened the door for her and followed her inside. "Chester Hosoda for two" Chester said walking up to Jay.

"Right this way." Jay said staring at Emma. As they sat down Jay handed them the menus. "Can I get you something to drink?" Jay asked never taking his eyes off of Emma.

"I'll have a coke." Chester said.

"I'll have an ice tea." Emma said locking eyes with Jay.

"Okay I will be right back." Jay said. "Why is she here with Chester?" Jay said aloud when he got into the kitchen.

"Who? Emma?" asked Spinner, "she's been dating him casually for about a week now. Manny told me." Spinner said when Jay gave him a funny look.

"Why him? What does he have that is so special?" Jay wondered out loud.

"Ooh, it sounds like someone is jealous." Spinner teased.

"I am not jealous." Jay said defiantly.

"Sure buddy, you keep telling yourself that and maybe, just maybe, someday you will believe it yourself." Spinner said as he walked out of the kitchen. Jay couldn't be jealous of Chester Hosoda, could he. He was a tenth grader for crying out loud. No way. Jay was not jealous, was he?