Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi or any of it's characters.

Chapter 8 Changes

"Chester!" Ellie yelled as she entered the auditorium.

"Yeah, oh hey, Ellie. What can I do for you?" he asked from the stage.

"Why did you take her back? She kissed someone else and she lied to you!"

"Okay, let's clarify, Emma told me everything about almost kissing Jay. She also told me that she did kiss him today." Chester said hopping down from the stage.

"She didn't almost kiss him last night, she did kiss him! I heard them!"

"I know but it is nothing compared to what I did. She gave me a second chance, so I gave her one two."

"I can't believe you took her back!"

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Ellie."

"I don't care!" Ellie yelled as she pulled him into a kiss.

"Ellie! What are you doing?" he said as he pushed her off of him.

"Just showing you what you're missing." she said with a grin.

"I have a girlfriend, Ellie. You know that."

"I also know that that she's cheating on you with Jay Hogart and she lied to you about it."

"I know but I'm trying to move on and forget about it."

"Forget about it? How can you just forget about it, especially since she got a ride home from Jay."

"Why would she get a ride with Jay? She has her car, she gave me a ride this morning."

"I saw Paige get into Emma's car and drive away, Emma got into Jay's car. Face it Chester your girlfriend is screwing around with Jay, again!"

"Man, what am I gonna do? he said sitting down into a chair."

"Well, you could give her a taste of her own medicine." Ellie said with a wink as she sat down next to him.

"Aah, what the hell! You're a better kisser than her anyway!" Chester said before pulling Ellie into a serious session of tonsil hockey.

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The Next Day

"I can't believe he did that. He seemed so nice and innocent." Paige said as Emma pulled out of her best friends driveway. Emma had told Paige everything at The Dot the night before.

"I know but he is really sorry about it and everyone deserves a second chance, right." Emma told Paige.

"Okay, now you are starting to sound like Terri did when she went out with Rick. Em I'm worried about you."

"Don't be, I've got everything under control. Besides Jay said he would be there if anything happened. Paige I want this relationship to work. None of my others have."

"Okay, but I agree with Jay, god I never thought I would say that, you need to be careful and tell us right away."

"I promise." Emma said as they pulled up to Degrassi. "You know Ellie came up to me yesterday and assumed that Chester and I had broken up. When I told her we hadn't she started acting really weird."

"That's strange why would she think that?"

"No idea. She hasn't really been the same since Sean broke up with her."

"I always knew she was a freak. Maybe she has a thing for Chester?"

"Yeah right! That's a laugh!" Emma said before going into Degrassi.

"All right hun, I'll see you at the assembly, save me a seat."

"No problem." Emma said before heading to her locker.

"Hey, Green peace." Jay said when she got there.

"Morning! Do we have to go to homeroom first or just straight to the assembly?"

"Assembly, Kwan left a note on the door." he said closing his locker.

"Ready?"

"Yeah, let's get this over with." he said as they made there way to the auditorium. When they sat down he asked, "Where's the boyfriend?"

"Not sure. I called him last night and he said he didn't need a ride today and I haven't seen him yet."

"Hey you two!" Paige said sitting down next to Emma, "Jay I just wanted you to know that I hope we can bury the hatchet and get along."

"Yeah, I guess we could try." he answered.

"Cool!"

"Will everyone please take a seat and quiet down." the principal, Ms. Hatzilakos said into the microphone. With that the auditorium got eerily quiet as everyone sat down. "First I would like to say welcome back I hope everyone had a good break. Second, tonight will be the annual back to school dance, admission is free and all are welcome." Ms. Hatzilakos continued on about the dance, attendance and school policies. Some of the other teachers talked about fundraising, sports events and teams. Then Ms. Hatzilakos introduced the Student Council President and Vice President, Marco and Alex.

"Thank you Ms. Hatzilakos, there are a few things we would like to talk to you about, Alex." Marco said introducing his VP.

"Thank you Marco. As you all know, every year there are Student Council nominations and elections. This year the nominations are due by the end of the week, voting will be next week and the results will be announced next Friday. So, if you want to run for Student Council or you know someone who does nominate them and start a campaign. I can tell you that it is a lot of fun. Marco?" Alex finished handing the microphone back to Marco.

"Thank you Alex. Next I would like to welcome our Media Immersion substitute teacher Mr. Capshaw. Who will be filling in for Mr. Simpson who is on a well earned vacation. Welcome to Degrassi sir, you will enjoy every moment here, we hope." Marco finished and the auditorium erupted in laughter and applause. When the assembly was over, Emma, Paige, and Jay walked out of the auditorium the two girls talking about the dance.

"This is so cool, a dance on the second day of school." Paige exclaimed.

"I know. Hey, why don't you, Haze, and Manny come over after school and we can all get ready together?" Emma suggested.

"Manny? I thought you weren't speaking?" Paige asked.

"We made nice. Is that cool with you?"

"Yeah no problem. Are you going to the dance Jay?" Paige said turning to face him.

"Yeah I have to. I'm serving drinks and working the coat check. Part of my community service to Degrassi."

"Cool, well we better get to class. See you after school Paige!" Emma said as she and Jay walked to MI together.

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At lunch Emma searched the cafeteria for Chester. She finally found him sitting with Ellie, Marco, Alex and Craig. Why is he sitting with them? Emma thought as she walked over to the table.

"Sorry no more chairs, Cause Girl." Alex said when Emma got to the table.

"That's fine, I don't want to sit with you anyway." Emma replied.

"Then what do you want?" Ellie asked.

"I wanted to ask my boyfriend if he is going to the dance tonight, if that's okay with the rest of you?" Emma said looking at Chester.

"Uh, I, um no. I have to uh, work the late shift." Chester said looking at his lunch.

"Oh, all right. I guess I will just see you later then." Emma said.

"Bye, now." Chester said dismissing her.

Emma walked to the other side of the cafeteria feeling a little hurt, her boyfriend just blew her off for the Degrassi rejects. "Well that was odd." she said as she sat down with Paige and Jay who had been waiting for her.

"What?" Paige asked.

"Chester just pretty much just told me to get lost." Emma explained glancing over to where she had come from.

Jay looked over where Chester was sitting, "Since when does he sit with them?" he asked.

"No clue, but they are probably thinking the same about you." Emma joked.

"Hey guys." Hazel said as she put two trays down on the table.

"Hazel, not here." Jimmy said glaring at Jay.

"Why not? It's Emma and Paige." Spinner said from behind them with Manny walking beside him.

"I don't like this table." Jimmy said still staring at Jay.

"I'll go." Jay said getting up.

"Sit!" Emma said pulling on his arm, "Jimmy you forgave Spinner, why not Jay? He's sorry, he didn't mean for anyone to get hurt."

"Fine, but it's not gonna happen over night it's gonna take a little time, got it?" Jimmy said pulling his wheelchair up to the table.

"Cool man. As long as it takes." Jay said.

Paige looked around the table at who was there, her ex and his new girlfriend, Degrassi's resident bad boy, Jay Hogart, Emma, Hazel and Jimmy. "Wow, this is not a group I thought I would ever see."

"Yeah well, things happen, right." Spinner said.

"Well, who cares. Is everyone going to the dance tonight?" Manny asked.

"Yeah, everyone but Chester, he's working." Emma said.

"That's too bad, Em." Hazel said sympathetically.

"It's cool. So here's the plan ladies. The four of us are gonna go to my house after school to get ready. Then we will meet you guys here." Emma told the group.

"Cool, girl time!" Manny exclaimed. The group finished their lunches and went out side for a walk before afternoon classes.

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"Chester, when are you going to break up with her?" Ellie asked.

"As soon as possible." Chester replied.

"So what time are we meeting at the dance?" Ellie asked Chester.

Wait, you just told Emma you weren't going. Marco said confused.

"Meet here at 7:30. Well, she probably won't go because I told her I was going to work, so it should be cool. She seems to be the clingy type." Chester explained.

"Chester what did you see in her anyway? I mean she isn't that great looking." Alex said who was now sitting on Craig's lap.

"Honestly, Alex. I thought I might get some action. But I guess I was wrong." Chester said.

"Yeah the only person she hooks up with is Jay. The rest of the rumors are completely false." Craig piped in.

Ellie and Chester had hooked up the night before and he decided that Emma wasn't good enough for him. Ellie had told Marco, Craig and Alex about it and they agreed that Chester was good for Ellie.

"I can't wait to see her face when you tell her it's over." Alex said happily, "Chester you have to dump her in the cafeteria tomorrow. The cafeteria is the place where all announcements are made."

"Yeah, it will be great." Ellie said with a smile. The five of them burst out laughing and finished their lunches before going to class.

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Emma, Manny, Paige and Hazel all met on the front steps of Degrassi. "You guys ready?" Emma asked the others.

"Yeah, lets go!" Manny said as they headed to Emma's car.

"Em, I haven't been in your car yet." Hazel said as they got in.

"Really?" Emma said.

"Well Haze, why don't you sit in the front." Paige said as she got into the back-seat with Manny.

"Thanks Paige." Hazel said getting into the car.

"So, what should we wear tonight?" Manny asked as the left the school.

"I don't know yet. What I do know is that I'm starving, let's get some pizza." Emma said as she pulled into the near by pizza parlor. Back at Emma's house they ate pizza and Paige and Manny made up and decided that they should be friends. Emma was so happy that all of her friends were getting along. Now if she could just figure out what was going on with her boyfriend.

"How about this?" Manny asked holding up a blue dress.

"I don't think so, it's more for prom not a back to school dance." Paige suggested.

When they had decided on what to wear, Hazel was wearing a black floor length skirt and a green tank top, Paige was wearing a pink mini-dress and Emma's white leather jacket, Manny had on a blue halter and a white cotton miniskirt, and Emma was wearing a purple tube top, blue denim flares and a black leather jacket.

"All right ladies, let's go." Emma said as they all grabbed their purses and went to the dance.