Summary: Cameron Delia Davidson is a normal girl with the perfect life . . . right? Well, normal and perfect are farthest from the truth. The real truth about Cameron's life. Told by Cameron, herself, on how she is almost forced to move out of her old town and change what she has become so accustom to over the years.
Rating: PG-13 for Mild Language, Brief Thematic Elements, and Some Sensual Content.
Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi: The Next Generation or any of the show's characters. I own nothing except for the characters I made up myself.
Chapter Three: Learning to Adjust
Getting up for school the next morning wasn't hard for me. Not because I went to sleep early the night before, but because there were so many thoughts and emotions floating in my head I wasn't easy for me to sleep well for long. I shuffled through some clothes of mine in a few of the boxes, looking for an outfit decent for my first day at a new school. After a little while of searching I found a simple faded blue three quarter-length shirt and a pair of jeans with intentional rips at the knees. Once I changed out of my pajamas I slipped on my scuffed blue sneakers and walked into the upstairs' bathroom, bringing one of my small bags with me. I pulled out my toothbrush and toothpaste, squeezed the paste onto my toothbrush and rested it on the edge of the sink. Reaching back into the bag I retrieved my hair brush and make-up. Once I had brushed my teeth, and hair and applied my makeup, I grabbed my black messenger bag and walked downstairs into the kitchen. My father was sitting at the table drinking a Dunkin' Donuts coffee and reading the morning paper.
"Needed your caffeine, huh?" I asked, joining him at the table.
He looked at me smiling. "oh, yes." He paused looking back down at his newspaper. "This place is nice, isn't it?"
"Mmm . . . yeah." I said without enthusiasm. It wasn't that i hated the house or the town or even the people in it, even though i don't know anyone here, it was just that i hated the fact that it wasn't my town or house. "Since mom still has my car you need to drive me to school."
He folded the paper in his hands in half and stood from his chair. "Okay, let's go."
I smiled and followed his lead out the door, taking my jean jacket off the near the front door in the process. Once in the car I gazed out the window looking at the house we now live in as my father started the car and slowly backed out of the driveway. After a few minutes of driving in silence I spoke up. "What is the school again?"
My father took another sip of his coffee before putting it back in his cup holder. "Degrassi Community School, or something like that."
"No, that's right." I said as we pulled up in front of the school.
"Well, you need give me a ring or what you say." He said as I stepped out of the car.
I turned back to look at him. "Dad, please. I'll see you and mom later, right?" I was hoping that my mother and the rest of our belongings would be there when I arrived.
He nodded. "Do you need me to pick you up?"
"No, I know my way to our house from here." I said walking from the car to the school's steps.
As I walked through the halls I saw the students I would be seeing for this whole year. I soon came to the main office and entered quietly. "Um, hi. I'm new here, my names Cameron Davidson, I was supposed to meet with the principal." I said all too confused. I had never had to transfer schools before.
The secretary nodded and picked up one of the office phones calling, I had guessed, the principal.
Seconds later an older man dressed in a suit, much like my father wears, with noticeable gray hair and glasses came over to me. "Ms. Davidson," he paused to extend his hand out to me, which I kindly shook. "Welcome to degrassi. I'm your principal, Mr. Raditch and this is Mrs. Palmer." He said notioning to the secretary I had spoken to moments ago. "You can come to her or myself if you have any questions."
I nodded. "I will, thank-you."
"If you will just excuse me for a moment I will retrieve your class schedules and locker number and combination."
"Yes, of course, sir." I said nodding lightly and smiling.
He smiled back as he walked into his office.
I looked into the hall seeing couples together, friends talking and even some people having small fights. I was going to be so out of place her. In my old school everyone knew me, but here no one did, unless you count the principal and secretary.
"Here we are." Mr. Raditch said breaking through my thoughts. "Now, these are your class schedules and this is your locker number." He paused to hand me the papers. "This is your locker combination," He held out a folded paper. "Keep it safe. " He added a small chuckle once he finished.
I, of course, supported him with a small laugh as well, I didn't want to exploit him on my first day. "Thank-you so very much Mr. Raditch." I said adjusting my bag over my shoulder.
"Your very welcome, now go to class. You don't want to be late your first day." He stated smiling kindly.
I nodded and exited the office. He really wasn't that bad of a guy, but I didn't know him yet. Plus, I'm new he was probably trying to be nice. I looked up at the lockers looking for my number, 107. I slowed my pace when I noticed 104 and continued at walking slowly down the busy hall, which wasn't the smartest thing. I walked right into some girl about my height a little bit taller, brown straight shoulder length hair and large hoop earring with a sort of misunderstood hidden look to her. "Oh excuse me. I'm new here and I wasn't paying attention. I'm sor--"
"Don't," She began cutting me off. "Just look where you walk next time." She said digging her hands into her pockets.
I nodded as she walked past me.
"Especially if your gonna walk slower than my great grandmother." She finished off smirking to herself.
I sighed still walking slow. I looked over at the lockers seeing the number 112. I guess I had been too distracted that I passed my locker. I, a bit annoyed already, turned around quickly, and get this, bumped into a guy who had been walking behind me. "Oh God, I'm sorry."
He sort of laughed at me while rubbing his arm where I had bumped him. "Don't even worry about it, really."
I nodded as he walked away. He had short straight dark brown hair, you know short but not too short, brownish eyes and was wearing a green shirt and jeans with a leather jacket on as well. He seemed almost distracted by something, probably why he didn't see me coming, but still he seemed kind.
I returned my attention back to the lockers and I saw it, 107. I took out my combination and twirled it into my lock quickly. As I came to realization I had no books to put in or take out of my locker, I crumpled the paper with my combination number on it, threw it in my locker and slammed it shut. Walking down the hall I pulled out my schedule and read the name, Mr. Armstrong, off the page. I know I didn't know where his class was, so I decided to look around the hall for someone around my age, they would know where it was or at least I hoped they would. I scanned the hall seeing the boy I bumped into talking to a girl with light brown hair, a black tee with some band name on it, faded jeans and a jeans jacket over her top. I decided to myself not to bother him again. I turned my head seeing some other people I could ask, then my eyes settled on one. He was looking through his locker and was wearing a pair of baggy jeans, a white tee shirt with an unzipped hoodie over it and a black ski cap. He was alone and looked around my age, exactly what I wanted. I slowly approached the boy and leaned against the locker beside his.
"Hi." I said trying to catch his attention.
He looked me over for a second then returned his attention to his locker. "Hi."
"Um, I was wondering if you knew where Mr. Armstrong's class is?" I asked tugging at my back pack's strap.
He pulled out a book and shut his locker. "Your new, aren't you?"
I nodded. "First day and just a bit lost."
"Oh, that's never a good thing." He said directing me down the hall.
"My names Cameron, by the way." I said smiling.
"Sean. Okay you see that room right there?" He gave a smirk.
"Yeah."
"Well, you might want to actually go in before you late." He finished walking away.
"Oh yeah, thanks. . . Sean." I then entered the classroom he had told me to.
"Hello." A tall black man with short black hair and a smile on his face turned to me.
"Hi, Mr. Armstrong?"
"Yes, Cameron right?" He asked looking over his desk to one of his papers. "The transfer student."
"Yes."
"Well, you can take the empty seat in the back next to. . . Marco." He finished off with a smile.
I nodded and moved myself to the empty seat next to the boy I was supposed to. The boy, Marco, smiled directly to me then looked back to the front of the classroom. He had the side swept dark brown hair with the tiny bit of hair on his chin and that cute Italian look and smile that girls at my old school would fall for. As the teacher spoke to the class I took the opportunity to look around to room at everyone there. I saw the girl i had bumped into sitting at the other end of the back row, the girl with short brown hair and the jean jacket, that was talking to the boy i also had bumped into, near the front of the room and a girl with longer blonde curly hair wearing a hot pink off the shoulder top and a substantial amount of make-up her face, who I had noticed in the hall earlier. No one else was really familiar, but one girl, who was a few seats over from me, just stood out to me. She had red medium length straight hair, dark lip stick and eye make-up, a black three quarter-length shirt having the name of some band on it with black arm warmers, a red plaid skirt with black pants underneath, deep red nail polish, and a couple of chains around her neck. I looked around for a little bit longer then put my attention back to the teacher for the remainder of the class.
The rest of the day went by normally for me, I learned who my teachers were and, more importantly, where they were. When lunch came around I did feel a bit out of place since I knew absolutely no one, except for that boy Sean, kinda. I scanned the cafeteria looking for an empty seat and I soon found one by the girl with red hair from my homeroom class who was sitting with some boy. I decided it was there or probably sitting outside of the lunchroom. I clutched my tray tighter as I walked over to the two. "Do you mind if I sit here?" I asked pointing to a chair in front of them.
The red haired girl just looked me over without an answer.
"Okay," I started, sitting down in the chair. "My names Cameron." I stated looking over to the boy at the table.
He had on a black backwards hat with blondish brown hair sticking out from it and was wearing a black tee-shirt.
"Cameron." He said mocking my tone.
I nodded, wondering to myself, 'what type of people had i just placed myself with'.
The red haired girl tugged at her sleeve. "Ellie. . . " She said without looking up.
"Why are you here?" The boy asked leaning forward in his chair, an intimidating expression across his face.
"I um, I just transferred here." I said clearing my throat.
"Oh I see." He said moving back in his chair. "From where exactly?" He asked smirking at me.
"Oh, I'm from Fr--"
I was cut off by that boy from the hall, Sean, coming to the table. "Jay . . . quit grilling the girl." He said taking a seat beside Ellie.
I smiled towards Sean as he placed a shoulder around Ellie's shoulders.
Jay looked at them and rolled his eyes. "Don't mind them their married." He said looking from me back to them.
"Shut up man." Sean said before kissing Ellie's cheek.
I was getting a bit uncomfortable, so I decided to speak. "So, Sean how is your day so far?"
He adjusted himself in his seat before answering. "It's school, how do you think it is. . . " He finished with a grin.
Ellie looked from me to Sean. "How do you . . . You know her?"
Sean laughed at his girlfriend's confusion. "I helped her find a class, that's it."
"Oh." She said leaning closer to him.
"You guys are seriously lame." Jay looked back over at me. "So, what's your story?" He asked leaning back in his chair crossing his arms. "This ought to be entertaining. . . "
"Well, I just transferred here from my high school in Franklin because my father got a stupid promotion and my whole family had to pack up and leave my house, town, friends and my boyfriend in just under one frickin week." I spat slinking down in my chair releasing a sigh.
Jay looked me over for second, then retorted to his cocky side smirk. "Sucks for you doesn't it."
I rolled my eyes looking down at my tray. "Yeah." I said all emotion lost from my voice.
He raised an eyebrow and reached for his tray. "What is that?"
"My locket. From my boyfriend." I stated with a questioning look.
He stood, lunch tray in hands. "Oh." With that said he walked away a small smirk forming on his thin lips.
I thought for a moment looking over the couple in front of me tongue down each other's throat, figuring that my presence wasn't needed, I stood following Jay. "What do you mean, oh?" I asked treading behind him.
He threw out the remains on his tray and started to walk towards the cafeteria doors. "Just, oh."
I followed him out of the lunch room. "But . . . why oh?"
He stopped in his tracks and turned to face her. "Listen, don't overanalyze, it's just an expression." He spit, rolling his eyes.
"Oh." I said tugging on my bag's strap.
He then turned around and began to walk to the school's front doors.
"What are you doing?" I asked more than a bit confused.
"Oh, I figured you would have known this one. I'm ditching, princess." He said exiting the building.
I knew enough not to follow him, but for some reason I pushed aside my thoughts and went with my gut feeling. "What? Don't you think you should tell someone or . . . or something." I said falling into step beside him.
He just kept walking, ignoring my presence beside him. "I did, wanna join me?"
Slowing my step, I blurted out to him. "It's my first day!"
"I know." He said coming up to his black car (I know his car is now orange --YUCK-- but I want to keep it black since this is before the shooting eppy).
"You don't even know me." I said trying to persuade myself not to give in and hop in the car.
"Not yet." He said giving me his cocky side grin. "Hurry up, make your choose." He quickly started his car's engine, then locked eyes with me clenching his jaw.
I stared hard back to him, rolled my eyes and hoped in the as he sped out of the school parking lot.
"Guts, I like" He said turning a corner.
"Wait. No, no what did I do. . . I have never skipped a day of school in my life." I said bringing my hand to rub my fore head.
"Damn princess, you are definitely due for a day out." He let out a small chuckle.
"Wait, where are you taking me."
"Around" He smirked to himself.
Annoyed, I quickly flung my head to face him. "Do you always do this?"
"What, skip school or disrupt the new students of Degrassi?"
"Ugh." I pulled at my bag's strap. "What about Ellie or Sean won't they worry that your not there."
"Did you notice that when your nervous you pull on your bag."
"I'm not nervous." I snapped almost instantly when he finished speaking, then moved my hand away from my bag and onto my lap. Although what he said was completely true I was not about to give that cocky jerk the satisfaction of knowing he was right.
"Sure." He said his cocky grin overcoming his lips.
"What, why do that?" I asked turning more towards him.
"Do what?" He grin still apparent on his face.
"That." I bit, leaning back in my chair.
"Do you really have a boyfriend?" He asked turning another corner.
"Yes." I coughed a little offended. "Why?"
"A girl as annoying as you doesn't usually have one. Just curious if you made him up or whatever."
"I'm annoying! What about you, your-your like completely unbearable!" I shouted, crossing my arms over my chest.
He looked over me, slowly, smiling to himself. "If I'm so unbearable why did you get in the car with me?"
"Ugh, cause I felt like it." I said looking out my window.
"And uh no. . . " He said after a few seconds of silence.
"What do you mean, no? You can't disagree i felt like--"
"I meant no to your question. I don't always do this." He stated with a serious look, turning yet another corner.
"Oh." I began tugging on my bag's strap once more.
"Well, lunch hour's over, get to class." He said pulling up to the school.
"What, I thought we or you were gonna skip?" I said looking confused.
"Nah," He started, leaning over me to open the passenger door. "The lunchroom was boring. I went for a ride." He finished stepping out of the car and walking up the school steps. "You coming?"
I nodded quickly stepping up the steps near him.
He looked me over once more smirking. "Catch you later, princess." He turned back to the school walking up the steps, looking back to me once more, releasing a small chuckle and shaking his head.
I watched his figure fade as I slowly reentered the building. 'Who did this guy think he was? And what does he get off on calling me princess? I hate that name. He is such an arrogant jerk..' Ugh, if I knew one thing, it was that this year was going to be an interesting one here at Degrassi.
(A/N- Sorry if it was a bit long, I just had to put some things in there. I hope you guys like it. I will try to get another update in before I go on vacation, but if I can't I hope you guys will wait till I get back. Plus, by then I will, most likely, have a lot more written.)