Emma stared at Jay in disbelief but he just cleared his throat and said, "So who's going to be the next victim?" He was silent and then said, "Homofreak, truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Do you think I'm hot?" Jay asked.
"That's not fair. You can't use my sexuality against me." Marco complained.
"We've already said that this game was a breach of privacy but personally, I don't care. Answer the damn question." Jay ordered.
"Can we just stop playing?" Marco whined.
"Answer the question and we'll stop playing." Jay nodded.
"Okay, the truth? If you quit smoking, brushed your teeth, washed your hair, and wore more than just black, you would be drop dead gorgeous," Marco blushed.
Ellie and Manny snickered while Jay just smiled broadly. Emma was the only one with a straight face and she was looking at Marco. He caught her stare and she nodded knowingly. He gave a nod of thanks and then said, "So, what now?"
"Actually, Homofreak, I would like to know what you're doing here." Jay said.
"Uh…you made me tell you that your hot and now your gonna make me tell you what I'm doing here? I think I'll pass." Marco said.
"He has a point." Ellie stated.
"Fine, Gothchick. Since you didn't get asked, how 'bout you tell us what you're doing here?" Jay smiled.
"Mom's drinking again. Had nowhere else to go." Ellie shrugged.
"So you came here?" Emma asked in shock, "Why not go to a friends house or something?"
"Ash is in England. I don't have any other friends." Ellie said, casting a sad look towards Marco. "Plus, I feel safe here. I mean, I hate the learning part of school, but if you really think about it, we all wake up in the morning to come here. If we didn't like it, why wake up? Why not just die in our sleep?"
"Very dark, but very true." Emma agreed.
"Hey, I do not wake up in the morning for school. I barely even come to school!" Jay exclaimed.
"Then why not die in your sleep?" Emma asked, half out of curiosity, half suggestion.
"Ha ha, very funny, Greenpeace. I come to school for two reasons and two reasons only."
"Care to embellish?" Emma asked.
"Not really."
"Oh c'mon. It's not like we're asking you if you're a virgin or not." Emma pleaded.
"Fine. First reason. I wanna graduate." Jay stated.
"Why would you wanna graduate?" Marco asked in astonishment.
"Cause I don't wanna be in this dump forever."
"And the second reason?" Emma asked.
"A girl." Jay mumbled.
"Speak up, Hogart. Can't hear you." Emma said.
"A girl." Jay repeated, this time louder.
"Ooh-ooh. Jason has a cruh-ush." Emma taunted.
"Who is it?" Manny asked.
"Your mom." Jay shot at her.
"My mom's…um…dead." Manny said solemnly.
"Oh, geez. Manny. Sorry. I didn't know." Jay stammered.
"Nice one, Jay. Real nice." Emma said in a disappointed tone. She got up and moved back to her original seat.
After a few silent minutes Manny spoke up, "I still wanna know who you like, Jay."
He looked at her and shook his head, "No, no. I think we should stay off that subject."
"We'll get off of the subject when you tell us who it is." Marco said, mimicking Jay from earlier.
"If you guess it, I'll tell you. Here's a hint: She's way outta my league." Jay sat up straighter and looked everyone square in the eye, challenging them.
"Is it…Alex?" Manny asked.
"I told you she was way outta my league. That shoulda eliminated Alex, Amy, or any other one of those trailer park sluts."
"Is it Manny?" Emma asked, laughing, and Manny shot her a look.
"No, it's not Manny. But you're getting closer." Jay said.
"Paige? Hazel? Darcy? Anyone else on the SpiritSquad?" Ellie chirped.
"Do you really see me liking someone that goes around yelling 'Rah, rah! Fight, fight! Win, win!'?" Jay asked in disbelief.
"You said we were getting closer with Manny." Ellie shrugged.
"I don't mean Manny now. I mean Manny five years ago." Jay said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ah." Marco said.
"Who was Manny friends with five years ago?" asked Ellie.
And then Emma spoke up for the first time in awhile.
She said: "Me."