AN: Hey everyone! Thanks for the reviews—you guys are so awesome! Here are my shout outs:
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PrudencePiperHalliwell: Thanks!
Dfreak: Yeah, I agree. He definitely said mean stuff, but he didn't exactly know what was going on so yeah…dance scene should be in a few chapters but who will their dates be? (Play eerie mystery music) Glad you liked the jumping scene-lol. Thanks!
Afamily123: Here's more! Thanks!
Plastic Strawberries: Hey you're right, I didn't say that (thanks for pointing that out to me!)! Well just so we're clear, he didn't stay the night. Glad you liked it, thanks for the review!
Linzer-B: No sequel set up at the moment but depending on when I end this then I'll think of possibly writing a sequel. I was actually starting to write one for Unpredictably Predictable but I dunno, hasn't got anywhere yet (okay so far it's just a really long first chapter but…). Can't wait for Chapter 4 of your story! Hope you like this chapter…thanks!
xXmannyXx: Jay is definitely hot! So here's more and thanks for the review! XD!
antiIRONY: Aww! (Wipes tear away) That was so sweet! Thank you!
Queenie12: Your feelings were hurt? Wow…mine too! (I was seriously conflicting actually putting that in there because I was trying to think of what to say and then I got all mad at myself for what I put and so on…) Well here's the next chapter, thanks for the review!
A Sinner Has A Prayer: Thank you! XD! Hope you like the chapter!
Lena Le2006: Right here with you on the 'I'm not always the best to trust at keeping secrets'. I mean I will keep them but I hold them in and it pretty much takes over me and I usually wind up spilling my guts so yeah…anyways, thanks for the review!
Allie: Yeah, I agree with you, that review went a bit too far. So anyways, I'm glad you liked the chapter, hope you like this one, and thanks for the review!
Sethsduck17: Nice take…lol. And the answer to all is pretty much: yes. Well it won't exactly end like that exactly. I get butterflies in my stomach at kissing scenes and such so it's not very loser…actually wait, I am a loser! (No, jk!) Not sure what you're thinking with the whole being alone in the house for some days but something does happen involving her friends. So here's more, thanks!
BabyLolly14: Thanks!
Bridget N: I can already tell you that in this chapter, one of her friends does find out her secret…but I'm not saying anything more than that! Thanks for the review!
Saraofthedead: Not too long just until (as I say how long a loud train goes by)…so don't worry! Thanks for the review!
Thengrl13: Manny just always has to have the spotlight on her, nah jk. Thanks for the review!
Emily: Aw…thank you!
Cutechica: Yeah, I agree. If someone doesn't do something they will get hurt. Now about the dance thing…all I will say is that I do have plans for how they will eventually go public (so yes, they will go public!). Thanks for the review, hope you like this chapter!
Alchemy Dream: Hey, glad you like the Jack and Jay connection! Glad you liked it! Thanks for the review…your story "Not a Pretty Girl" is really good! Sorry, had to stick that in there.
Icantstopthinkingofyou: I know! He's such a bad boyfriend! Okay, so technically he did have reason for saying that but still…he shouldn't have. I still kind of regret writing that from time to time because I feel bad about it! Yes, she could get better (but not sure if she could get much hotter than Jay! He-he…XD!) And yes, she had no room to say Jay Hogart like that either! Thanks for the review!
CHA CHA CHARMEN: OMG I love that song! The All-American Rejects rule! He-he…thanks for the review!
Stephanie: Aww…thanks!
Ericaw1992: I thought this chapter sucked just because I got so confused when I was writing it but…oh well. Thanks for the review!
Be11011: Thanks!
And to all you other fantabulous people: PhantomPunkEvo, fluffymello, chealsea, degrassicouples93, knightsgurl, yalissa, Brooke, Jessica, spuffygirl11, tazitz, Caroline Minks and XxAnGeL02xX…Muchas Gracias! You all are so totally and wickedly awesome!
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In this chapter you'll actually get to see something finally about Jay's mind except for single one liner thoughts, you'll see what I mean as you read Chapter 18.
R&R and please, no flames!
Lotsa love, degrassichick
-x-
Chapter 18
-x-
Emma hurried into the Girl's Washroom and leaned her back against the door, holding back her cries before they got a mind of their own and began to spill down her cheeks.
She knew that they were supposed to be acting like they weren't dating around people but she didn't think it would result to them insulting each other.
I can't believe Jay…
He's such a jerk!
I mean, you did kind of say his name in a rude way.
He called me a basket case!
Yeah, that was bad.
Oh he's such an asshole.
I declare dumping him!
Just then there was a knock at the door and Emma backed away from the door, leaning against one of the sinks instead.
"Em?" Manny asked, stepping into the bathroom.
She glanced over and saw her best friend with her elbows planted on the sink and her head resting in her hands, crying.
"Emma!" Manny exclaimed, running over to her and putting her arm around her shoulders.
"I can't believe Jay…" Emma said very quietly as her sobs began to be more controlled.
"Don't cry over Jay Hogart, Em, he's a total loser! I can't believe he had the nerve to call you one, it's really him. He used you last year and now that you're actually giving up time to tutor him he's still being a total jackass."
Not always.
That doesn't matter, what happened just a few minutes ago drew the line! Jay Hogart is a total jackass, just like Manny said.
We were acting!
I can't believe you! He's a jerk!
Emma shrugged and sniffled.
"Don't waste anymore tears over Jay, Emma. If I were you I'd go to Kwan and just give him a new tutor, he doesn't deserve anyone like you. He deserves…Heather Sinclair and all her bimbo-like glory." Manny joked half-heartedly.
Emma let out a very small laugh despite herself and turned around and let Manny pull her into a hug.
"I just thought maybe he had somewhat of a heart, you know?"
Manny shook her head, "He's Jay…his heart is only good for one thing."
"What?"
Manny let out a slight laugh, "Pumping blood."
-x-
Jay leaned his head against a locker and let out a slight groan.
Not the smoothest move, Hogart.
I realize that, shut up.
You realize that she probably hates you now, right?
Yes! I realize that! Will you shut the fuck up!
"Wow Jay…" Ellie said, walking towards him slowly, "That was kind of harsh…even for you."
"My emotions got the better of me." Jay said slightly.
Ellie shrugged as the two began to continue their walk down the hallway, Jay tried ignoring all the looks he got from everybody, apparently his comment was even harsher than he thought.
Let's see, you said you would never think of dating her, then you called her Green-Peace, a loser, and a basket case…yeah, I think that would pretty much set someone like her--or anyone for that matter--off. Especially when that someone is your GIRLFRIEND.
Do you ever shut up?
We're the same brain dumb-ass, do you ever shut up?
Do you!
"I'm not entirely sure if you'll have a tutor after today…" Ellie said slowly.
Jay nodded, "Yeah, probably not." He replied before the two turned and walked into Media Immersion.
-x-
Emma stared down at her desk as she sat in math class.
Mr. Armstrong continued to ramble on and on about equations but she could not stay focused.
Her mind kept on going right back to what Jay had said in the hallway.
"…she's my tutor; that already gives her a loser status! Plus, even if she did like me, I would never think about dating someone like Green Peace, she's a total basket case."
"…she's my tutor; that already gives her a loser status! Plus, even if she did like me, I would never think about dating someone like Green Peace, she's a total basket case."
"…she's my tutor; that already gives her a loser status! Plus, even if she did like me, I would never think about dating someone like Green Peace, she's a total basket case."
The words just kept repeating itself over and over.
She knew he may not have meant anything by them, they weren't supposed to be together at school, but that didn't matter, what he said hurt.
She could feel tears brimming in her eyes as the words bubbled up in her brain once again.
"…she's my tutor; that already gives her a loser status! Plus, even if she did like me, I would never think about dating someone like Green Peace, she's a total basket case."
She bit her lip and stifled a sob, glancing up at Mr. Armstrong, thankful that she was in one of the back rows.
Liberty glanced behind her at Emma confusingly and noticed the tears in her eyes.
"Emma, what's wrong?" she whispered.
Emma shook her head, "It's nothing. Don't worry about it." She whispered back.
Liberty shook her head in confusion and turned back around.
"Emma, are you okay?" another person asked.
Emma glanced at the seat across the aisle from her and saw Toby glancing at her with worry in his brown eyes.
"Yes, I'm fine." Emma replied before turning and glancing back down at her blank notebook page on her desk, she was sure that something should be written on there, but instead she simply gripped her pen tightly and fought back more tears.
"Em, quit crying…" Manny said from the desk across the other aisle.
Emma rolled her eyes, "Manny, I'm fine."
"You're crying over Jay, there's no reason to. He's a jerk."
"He was my boyfriend, Manny." Emma shot back, but as soon as the words dropped from her lips she wished she could stuff them back in her mouth.
Did I just say that out loud?
Oh my God!
Manny's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
Emma raised her hand slightly, "Mr. Armstrong, may I be excused? It's an emergency."
Mr. Armstrong glanced at her, the only times Emma would excuse herself were if she were sick, if she had an appointment with a teacher, or if she had gotten her period which she had had to tell him once in order to get out of class.
"Yes." He replied quickly.
She snagged her notebook and her books in the basket under her seat before getting up and hurrying out of the classroom.
Manny's eyes were still wide from the news Emma had just shared.
Emma and Jay were together?
-x-
She hurried down the hallway and to her locker, twirling in the combination and throwing her needed books for homework into her beige hobo bag before throwing it over her shoulder, shutting her locker and walking off down the hallway.
She didn't usually ever ditch school, but for some reason, this felt like an emergency.
She walked through one of the side doors and the light from the sun was bouncing off of the snow, making it seem even brighter, making her teary eyes sting.
Emma hurried down the sidewalk and made it to the front of the school before walking off down the street and heading towards her house.
-x-
She walked through the front door of her house within ten minutes and dropped her bag on the floor, she kicked off her shoes and walked to the living room, collapsing onto the couch and beginning to cry.
She only got up from her crying once she heard the phone ring, thirty minutes later.
With a simple wipe to each eye, Emma got up from the couch and walked towards the phone.
"Hello?" she answered quietly.
"Emma! Honey, what are you doing home?" Spike's voice asked.
"Mom…uh…I got my period at school so I left." She replied.
Spike laughed slightly, "Well I was just going to leave a message telling you that we should be back in about four days or so."
Emma sighed, "Okay…"
"Honey, I love you. Snake says hi, and for some reason Jack hasn't quit talking about Jay at all."
"Jay!" Emma heard her brother exclaim in the background.
"You wanna talk to Emma?" Spike's voice asked, it sounded a bit more distant now, letting Emma know that she was talking to either Snake or Jack, based on her very soft voice, she was pulling for Jack.
"Emmy!" Jack's voice exclaimed on the other end.
"Hey Jack!" Emma replied back, trying to sound enthusiastic.
"Where's Jay?" Jack asked.
Ugh, just the sound of his name brought tears back to Emma's eyes.
"Um…" Emma began, "he's not here right now."
"Oh…well can you tell him I said hi and that I love him?" Jack asked quickly.
Emma let out a short laugh, "Sure, I'll tell him."
"Okay, bye Emmy…I love you." Jack said before she heard some rustling and a slight click, letting her know that they had hung up.
"Love you too." she said to the dead line before clicking off the phone and walking back towards the couch, flipping on the television.
-x-
Jay glanced over at Emma's usual lunch table that day in the cafeteria, but noticed Emma was not there, just Manny Santos, JT Yorke, Liberty Van Zandt, and Toby Isaacs.
Manny laughed at something that JT had said before glancing over at Jay and shooting him a very angry look.
Jay rolled his eyes and turned back towards Towerz who was talking about some new CD store at the mall that he figured they should go "check out" or in other words "steal from".
Jay got up from the table before walking out of the cafeteria, wondering where Emma was.
Just then he heard the door to the cafeteria shut behind him as he began to walk down the hallway, he turned and saw Manny.
"Yes?" Jay asked boredly.
"I can't believe you." Manny said roughly.
"What now? It's none of your business why I called Green Peace those names, it was the truth."
Manny crossed her arms over her chest, "So is that how you treat all of your girlfriends? Calling them names like that?"
Jay's eyes widened, "Girlfriend? What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me Jay, Emma told me that you two were together." Manny said.
Jay sighed, "Yeah, well what do you care?"
"I just can't believe that you would call her those names. Especially not Emma, she's my best friend. She shouldn't even be with some creep like you; less should she be made fun of by someone like you."
Jay rolled her eyes, "I didn't mean those names, and Emma knows it."
"No, I don't think she does. She was crying in the girl's washroom after that, then she was at the brink of tears in Armstrong's class, she had to leave." Manny said factually.
Oh my God…I am an asshole.
Honestly, shut up!
I made Emma cry!
She should have known I was kidding.
"Well I was just kidding, we'll talk it over during our tutoring session after school, trust me; Emma knows I was just saying that because nobody is supposed to know that we're together."
Manny rolled her dark eyes at him, "I think that you need to find a new tutor Jay."
"That's not really for you to say is it?"
"You don't deserve someone like Emma!" Manny exclaimed, "You're a jerk, a total and complete jerk! I don't care if nobody is supposed to know you two are dating, you can't call her a basket case, and a loser and God forbid that stupid name that you know she hates!"
Jay's eyes widened at the sound of that, Manny Santos actually was yelling at him.
"I have no idea what she sees in you, two years ago you turned her own boyfriend against her, last year you used her to serial cheat on your girlfriend…and your girlfriend's best friend, then you gave her an STD, then you got expelled from school-and just so happened to get lucky into getting back in this year-, then you threw her in as your tutor, then you had to go and trash talk her in front of like fifty students!"
Jay backed away from her slightly, now he had everything that he had ever done to her thrown right back in his face.
"And you know what? I'm sure there's more that you've put her through but I don't really care. Emma deserves someone so much better than you! I would rather have her back here with Sean than with you any day. At least he actually cared at least a shred about her."
"So do I, Santos!"
Manny rolled her eyes, "Yeah well after today you have a really bad way of showing it."
"You don't know what goes on between just me and Emma, all you know is what happened in the hallway because we promised each other that we wouldn't tell anyone that we were together until we both figured it was the right time. And then today you had to screw it all up by exclaiming that she liked me."
"Don't even throw this in my face!" Manny yelled, "You're the one who called her those names! It wasn't me!"
"She should have known those names didn't mean anything!"
"Will you just quit asking that and take the hint? She thought it meant something! So quit being such an ass about it and realize that what you did was mean! You're going to be lucky if she ever even gives you the time of day after this! And frankly, I'm glad… because Emma deserves…so much better." During her last sentence, tears filled Manny's eyes before she stalked off down the hallway in a huff.
Jay watched as she stalked away from him before he glanced at the locker he was standing by and punched it, cursing under his breath.
Maybe she's right, maybe I shouldn't go over to Emma's today.
Yeah…that's probably better.
-x-
"I...hate…everything about you! Why…do I…love you?" Emma screamed out the words as they blared through her headphones.
Just then she heard a knock at the door that was barely audible due to the maximized volume of her Three Day's Grace CD.
She stopped the player and slid her head phones off of her head, sitting the CD player and headphones on the couch before getting up and walking towards the door.
She swung it open and was face to face with Manny, JT, Toby, and Liberty.
"Surprise!" JT yelled out jokingly, waving both hands.
Emma let out a slight laugh, "Hey guys…what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in school?"
"It already let out." Manny replied, stepping inside.
"And we are the annual cheering up crew!" JT exclaimed.
Liberty and Emma both eyed him suspiciously.
"It sounded good in my head." JT said with a shrug.
The other three all stepped inside and walked towards the living room.
"We brought some things to do." Toby said.
"Yes we did." JT said, grabbing the large shopping bag out of Toby's hand and bringing it to the couch, pushing her CD player aside, "We've got DVD's, we've got popcorn…we've got Root Beer…" JT sang out the last part and dumped out the items of the bag.
"Libs get five cups for the Root Beer please and thank you." JT said.
"I'll help you Liberty." Toby said, and grabbed the six pack of root beer off of the floor and walked into the kitchen with Liberty.
"I'll go pop the popcorn." Manny said, grabbing the two large tubs of Ace II and also walking into the kitchen.
"You guys didn't have to do this, you know." Emma stated.
JT shrugged, "We felt like it." He looked through the movies before glancing up at her, "So what'll it be? We've got Without a Paddle, White Chicks, and for your girls' pleasure, The Notebook and Mean Girls."
"I told him to rent Honey." Manny stated, "But he didn't listen."
JT rolled his eyes, "You've seen it only fifty times Manny!"
Emma laughed slightly, "I'm thinking The Notebook." She said, picking up the DVD rental case for it and handing it to JT.
"Yes!" Manny squealed happily.
"No." Toby groaned.
Liberty poked her head out of the kitchen, "Emma do you have any vanilla ice cream?"
"For what?" Emma asked confusingly.
"Root Beer floats, duh." She replied.
Emma rolled her eyes at her, "Yeah, they're should be a tub of Blue Bunny in the freezer."
Liberty nodded and walked back into the kitchen, Emma could hear the freezer open and shut.
JT put in the DVD and flopped onto the couch, kicking his feet up.
Manny walked back into the living room with one tub of popcorn and sat it on the coffee table close by JT's feet.
"Where's the other tub?" JT asked.
"It's popping…oh so slow one."
JT rolled his eyes at Manny's remark before grabbing the remote and pressing play.
"JT! Don't start the movie without us!" Liberty called from the kitchen.
JT scoffed and rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, "The first two minutes are boring, what are you possibly going to miss? Some guy paddling a rowboat at sunset?"
"Does everybody want ice cream with their root beer?" Liberty asked, ignoring JT's comment.
The four answered yes and within two more minutes, the "boring" part of the movie was over and the gang was all situated in the living room.
JT, Liberty, and Toby all sat on the couch with one tub of popcorn while Emma and Manny lay on the floor with the other.
Emma smiled as she glanced around at all of her friends, she felt better now than she had all day.
"You guys?" she asked.
"What?" All four asked in unison.
Emma smiled once more, "Thanks."
-x-
This chapter had no parts with Emma and Jay together (and was slightly fluffy, corny, and boring), but I figured that this time I would make them stay mad at each other for a bit longer than last time, so I just put in all of the friends coming over and the big argument between Manny and Jay.
I hope you liked the chapter!
R&R and please, no flames!
Lotsa love, degrassichick