New Chapter Kiddos!

Chapter Ten: Breaking the Girl

Veronica zipped up her jacket as she stepped out the front door. The weekend had passed; ending the month of September and bringing in the cooler autumn air of October. She put her gloves on and waited for her brother. Gabe came out a few moments later; locking the door behind him. He zipped up his hoodie and pulled the hood up over his head. He nudged Veronica and the two headed to school.

"I barely saw you this weekend." Ronnie stated. "How was it?"

Gabe laughed. "Best weekend ever."

"You worked a double on Saturday. How is that a good thing?"

"Oh little sister; making a cool two hundred in tips is the icing on the cake."

Veronica looked at him confused. Gabe continued.

"The dinner at the Manning's was fantastic. Alyson and I are a couple now."

"Really? That's great!"

Gabe beamed. "Thank you. I got most of my projects done for the week and got our first date all figured out. It was really a great weekend."

Veronica smiled at her brother's good fortune. It was about time that he had something go right for him for once. "I'm happy for you."

Gabe looked at his sister. "But?"

Ronnie sighed. "I get this feeling that you're not going to be around this year."

"Do I detect a bit of jealousy Ronnie?"

Ronnie sighed. "A bit." Gabe looked at her as they walked to school. "Last year, you were barely around during the winter. You were always doing something." She took a deep breath. "Then you spent second semester all depressed and mopey."

"You'd be all sad and wanting to cut your wrists if you ended up being treated the way I was." Gabe muttered with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Gabe; I'm sorry. I really am." Veronica pleaded with him.

"It's in the past now." Gabe stated. "I learned from this summer that you have to move on. It was a good thing that Evelyn showed me that."

"Ew."

"Not that o Empress of Brainiacs." Gabe chuckled. "I mean that I could have been Major Downer or go out and enjoy my life. I chose the latter."

"She did help out a lot."

"Who helped out a lot?" Veronica looked up and noticed Alyson Manning in front of them. She watched her brother kiss her and the three continued on.

"Ronnie and I were discussing that she was a bit jealous of the two of us dating."

Ronnie shrugged. "I was merely voicing my opinion was all."

Alyson laughed softly at this. "Ronnie; Gabe and I are taking our time with the relationship. I came out of a bad relationship less than a year ago. I know that he's been having a hard time in the last year as well."

Ronnie thought for a moment. "If you have had nothing but bad times in a relationship; why go ahead and do it all over again?"

The couple looked at Ronnie. It was Gabe that laughed. He put his arm around his sister.

"Do you remember how you felt when Scotty and you would hang out during practice?"

Ronnie blushed a little. "When we would kiss and hold hands? It was nice. I felt all tingly." She looked at them. "Is that what you two want?"

Alyson smiled. "In a sense it's what we want. We became good friends and developed feelings for each other that's deeper that friendship. We're exploring those feelings together."

"But it takes time together to explore that right?" They both nodded; which caused Ronnie to look at her brother. "So you'll be busy and not hang out with me anymore."

"Ronnie; yes I'll spend time with Alyson, but not all of my time. I'm planning on joining the wrestling team; which means that a lot of my time will be training. I want to keep busy, but not in the sense to deal with problems." They stopped in front of the school. "I remember saying to you on the first day of school that I would always make time for us to our time together. I meant that."

Alyson cleared her throat. "Ronnie? Would you like to hang out with me?"

Ronnie looked at her skeptically. "Why would you want to hang out with me?"

Alyson looked at her. "Truth be told; I'm still new to the area and I really don't have any female friends. I like hanging out with you and your friends."

"See?" Gabe turned to his sister. "You two can hang out when I'm training. It's all good now. You spend a lot of time with Nikki, Rosalynn, Emily and J.J. Now it can be one more person to make friends with."

Ronnie smiled. "Okay. That sounds good to me."

They stood outside of Degrassi for a few moments talking. Shane Milligan had passed and reminded Gabe that practice started today. He nodded and Gabe said his goodbyes to sister and girlfriend; following Shane to the signup list outside the gym. The two girls stood outside after Gabe left. Ronnie turned to Alyson once Gabe was out of earshot.

"Did you really mean what you said?"

Alyson looked at her with a hurt look on her face. "You really didn't believe me?"

Ronnie shrugged. "I'm used to people saying that to me and turning on me pretty much right after that. They find out I'm a geek and a nerd."

"That's Juliette's loss, not yours. Besides; you're not the only one to get picked on." Alyson put an arm around Ronnie's shoulder. "I'm a band geek for Christ's sake. I would get picked on just as much as you would."

Ronnie laughed at that. "Yeah, but at least you look like a cool band geek."

"She's more fashionable that Juliette Hogart these days." The two girls turned to see Nicolette Coyne standing there. Ronnie hugged Nikki when she showed up. Alyson nodded at Nikki as a hello; in which Nikki blushed back at her. The three watched as the Sinclair-Coyne twins walked up to them.

"Well look what the janitors left out on the front." Elizabeth Sinclair-Coyne sneered at the three girls. "They left three pieces of human garbage."

Edgar Sinclair-Coyne rolled his eyes. "Stop being mean to them Lizzie. One of people that you consider garbage is our cousin."

"Yeah; bastard of a cousin of course." Elizabeth stated; rolling her eyes.

Alyson made an effort to take a step towards Elizabeth, but Nikki stopped her. Nikki looked at her and shook her head; as to say that she wasn't worth it. Nikki wasn't quick enough to stop Ronnie though.

"What is your malfunction? Did someone try to drop a house on you this morning or did your winged monkeys take a piss in your cereal?"

Nikki looked at Ronnie in complete shock while Alyson laughed out loud. Edgar covered his mouth but laughed silently; shoulders shaking in reaction. Elizabeth glared at them. She put her nose in the air and started to walk away. She turned and looked at her brother.

"Well? Are you coming with me?"

Edgar snorted. "I'm not your keeper; you can handle yourself."

Elizabeth sneered at him and turned; heading into the building. Edgar shook his head and turned back to the group.

"I'm sorry about my sister. She lost an argument with mom this morning."

Alyson took a breath and looked at him with a smile. "She's the one that has to apologize to us; not you."

"So that was what the shouting was all about this morning." Nikki stated. Edgar nodded.

"You know how it is when she doesn't get her way." Edgar sighed. "She has to make everyone else's life miserable." He turned to Ronnie. "Well played; by the way."

Ronnie shrugged. "She didn't get her way; that's the way it rolls sometimes."

Nikki turned to her best friend with fear in her eyes. "You shouldn't have provoked her."

Ronnie looked at her friend. "What is she going to do? Ostracize me from my friends? Go to Simpson?"

"I'd back you up." Alyson commented; causing Ronnie to smile.

"That's exactly what she'll do." Nikki sniffed. "She's a mean little…"

"Even though it's true; don't finish that statement." Edgar looked at his cousin. "You know what her issue is. That's not mom or dad's fault and you know it."

Ronnie looked at Edgar. "Aunt Heather's fault?" Edgar nodded to this while Nikki looked at her in surprise. Alyson looked to each of them in confusion.

"Aunt Heather is mom's sister." Edgar grimaced. "Guess which one of us kids is her favorite? Of course it's been like that since Aunt Fiona stood up to her."

Nikki rolled her eyes. "Oh sure blame my mom."

"I'm not blaming Auntie Nikki; I admired her as much as you do." Edgar sighed. "Who was it that stood in defense of you and her?"

"Can we finish this later?" Nikki whispered. "Bell's going to ring and I need to get to my locker."

Edgar nodded. "We can finish this at lunch; that is if you survive the rest of the morning." He turned to the three girls and smiled. "See you out here?"

The three nodded as Edgar headed up the stairs. Alyson said her goodbyes and headed up the stairs. Ronnie turned and looked at Nikki. Nikki had a faraway look in her eyes. Ronnie placed a hand on her friend's shoulder and gave her a light shake. Nikki shook her head and looked at her friend and smiled. They headed up the stairs and to their lockers. Ronnie had gotten her books and went over to Nikki's locker. Nikki was staring at the inside door of her locker.

Ronnie put an arm around Nikki's right side. "Hey, are you still with us?"

Nikki nodded. "Sorry about this morning Ronnie." She placed her hand on a picture of her mom and herself taken within the last year. "It's times like this that I really miss her."

Ronnie cleared her throat. "I know that she's gone physically, but she's with you always. I'm sure that she's watching you right now."

Nikki turned and smiled at her friend. "I'm sure she is." She sighed before she continued. "I just wish that I had another parent to talk to at times."

"Did you try calling your dad?"

Nikki nodded, rolling her eyes as she spoke. "Dad is on another book tour. I think he's in Calgary this week with the signings and all."

Ronnie thought for a moment or two before speaking. "What about Ms. Moreno? You said that they were close…"

Nikki laughed. "I said that they were lovers. There is a difference."

"Still; you have to be somewhat close to a lover, correct?"

"Now you're talking semantics." Nikki stated. "Besides, what do I say to her?"

Ronnie was about to speak when the bell rang. Nikki shut her locker and the two friends ran to their first class of the day. Ronnie had spent a good portion of the morning trying to figure out what to say to Nikki. She did notice that she was getting some dirty looks from some of her other classmates. She knew that it had to do with Elizabeth's silver tongue, but would handle it as time would allow.

English class had passed with little incident. Walking into Science class; Ronnie could barely get through the class, as most of her fellow students were either giving her dirty looks or were doing their best to hinder her from finishing her project. Nikki did her best to support her best friend, but she realized that it was starting to affect her. Media Immersion was less painful, but had a very tense moment when Elizabeth had posed a question about cyber-bullying and false rumors on the internet. Nikki had glared cousin; Ronnie just shook her head and told her to forget all about it. Ronnie was able to find peace in Art class and was quiet most of the time. Nikki tried to get Ronnie to talk with her brother about what was going on, but Ronnie stated to her that it was her problem and she would take care of it.

When Ronnie had made it to the cafeteria; she was hanging on by a thread. She knew that all it would take was a balance in the right direction for her to break. She waited in line with Nikki when it started. J.J. had walked up to her with Emily.

"Hey Ronnie," J.J. had gotten her attention. "I've been trying to get your attention."

Ronnie had looked up; her eyes beginning to tear up. J.J. looked and noticed this.

"Okay." He said with a smile. "That's what I thought. I was trying to tell Emily that you didn't say anything about her."

"How can you say that?" Emily said with a hint of hurt feelings in her voice. "We've known each other for years. Ronnie now decides that I'm not worth her time and adds insult to injury."

Nikki looked at Emily. "What did Ronnie supposedly say?"

Emily sighed. "She called me the daughter of a terrorist and baby-killer."

Ronnie looked at Emily in surprise. "Em; I never said that. That was all Elizabeth."

"Considering the look of surprise on your face when I said that; I'd have to believe you." Emily started to smile. "So what did you do to her?"

"She stood up to her." Edgar said from behind Emily. "I've gone around and took care of most of the problems. I wasn't able to find a couple of the people that she talked about."

Ronnie looked at Edgar and smiled. "Thank you; you didn't have to do that for me."

Edgar blushed slightly. "Yes I did. It was my twisted sister's idea of revenge. It was the least I could do for you."

J.J. grinned. "See? I told you Em."

"I'm sorry that I doubted you Ronnie." Emily had an embarrassed look on her face. "Can you forgive me?"

Ronnie smiled slightly. "There was nothing to apologize for Em. We've been friends for the last ten years." She moved down the line. "You know that could of just came to me."

"I was upset." Emily shrugged, getting in line behind Nikki. "I should have known that though. Elizabeth's trying to get the Queen Bee status of us niners."

"My dear cousin has to be the best in everything." Nikki stated. "She will step on anyone or just barrel right through them."

The four of them walked down the line; collecting their lunch. They didn't notice the three people descending on their position. It was Ronnie that felt the wrath first; someone dumped an ice cold drink down the back of her uniform top. There was a sound that came from the cafeteria that they all knew something was up.

Ronnie noticed that the three people that were behind her. She noticed Juliette Hogart with an empty cup, shaking out the last remaining drops out of the cup. Rosalyn Brooks was a few steps behind Juliette with her arms crossed across her chest. Barely behind her was the root of the problem; Elizabeth Sinclair-Coyne. She was wearing a smug look on her face.

"That's what you get for telling everyone about what happened over the summer." Juliette dropped the cup on the ground. "What gives you the right to do so?"

Rosalyn spoke up next. "Stuck up rich bitch? Is that what you think of me? We've known each other since we were in diapers and this is how you treat our friendship?"

Ronnie stared at Elizabeth. She was the reason behind all of this. She was going down. Ronnie felt that she was going to cry, but she pushed that back and took a few deep breaths. Nikki was trying to pull her away from the situation, but Ronnie wasn't moving.

Ronnie opened her eyes and looked directly at Elizabeth. She had this look on her face that she was going in for the kill. All three looked at Ronnie and promptly took a step back. Ronnie spoke in a manner that was directed to the three of them, but everyone heard it. Her eyes never left Elizabeth.

"Rosalyn; we've been friends since we were little. In all of that time have I ever stated that I was jealous of you? Have I ever made comments in front of you or behind your back about your parents' success? Yes, you have money. My family does too. I've never flaunted that in front of ANY of my friends; even if they didn't have anything. We've been friends before the money thing was an issue."

Rosalynn looked at Ronnie in surprise. She wasn't expecting that. Emily and J.J. moved towards Rosalynn and talked to her while Ronnie continued.

"Juliette," Ronnie started to laugh. "Shane Milligan was right about you. You know how I know this? Evan told all of his old friends; including Jimmy, Shane, Ogre, Tony and Benny. That spread through the school like a wildfire. Did it ever occur to you that no one wanted to touch you when they found out? The only reason that you're dating Brian is that he didn't know because like me; he started here this year."

Juliette grabbed the front of Ronnie's uniform shirt. "You're just as much of a bitch as that cunt that's dating your loser of a brother."

Juliette felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and all of the color ran from her face. Alyson was standing right behind her with a predatory grin on her face.

"Hey Princess Hollywood; I've got something of a rebuttal to your comment." Alyson swung her right fist into Juliette's nose; breaking it. Ronnie watched for a second as Alyson pinned Juliette down and the two girls started exchanging fisticuffs.

Ronnie turned back to Elizabeth. Elizabeth looked green as the sudden reality hit her. Ronnie sighed. "Just you and I bitch." Ronnie launched herself at Elizabeth as the cafeteria was cheering for the fight that was going on. Ronnie had pinned Elizabeth to the ground. She punched her once before getting off of her and hauling the would-be Queen Bee off of the floor. She flipped Elizabeth into the hot lunch counter. Elizabeth screamed out in pain; which seemed to fuel Ronnie's bloodlust. She growled as she stalked towards the center of her aggression. She felt arms hold her from behind her.

Ronnie howled like a wild animal caught in a trap. She tried and was able to free her right arm and swung at the person that was trying to restrain her. She couldn't stop when her fist collided with the side of her brother's head. Gabe stumbled back a step or two and shook his head. Ronnie stopped cold and looked at her brother. All of the hatred and anger ebbed away.

"Gabriel…?"

He didn't say anything but looked towards the cousins. "Keep them separated."

"Hey Gabe! I could use a hand over here!" Shane Milligan shouted.

Ronnie watched Gabe moved from her side and moved over to his girlfriend and ex-best friend. Ronnie watched but didn't hear anything but a buzzing noise in her ears. The two girls were at each others' throat. Gabe pulled Alyson and kept her away from Juliette. He had both of his hands on her shoulders and was trying to calm her down. Shane was in between Gabe and Juliette; Juliette slapped Shane and pointed at him, yelling. Shane got in her face and shouted back; causing Juliette to stop.

The buzzing started to die down as the cafeteria doors opened and most of the teachers came in and started their way.

Ah Degrassi; you have to love it.

I've been following the latest season and I'm really liking what's going on.

So, I was able to get this out before the end of the month (like I had promised). I haven't started the latest chapter yet, but I'm hoping to do so in the next few days. I have a few days this week without anyone at home and I'm hoping to get a head start on the next chapter. How did you like it?

I wanted to do this chapter for a while. There have been some things that have been brewing in the background and I feel that this chapter will be the start of all of those issues coming to a head before Christmastime (story time wise). This isn't the first confrontation with some of the characters and there will definetely be more before the story ends. It wouldn't be Degrassi without any form of drama.

I'll try to aim to have the next chapter up around Thanksgiving. Thanks to all of your support and followings; it keeps me writing.

Next: The Fallout from the Fight and we get to see some old favorites from Degrassi's past.