Chapter Five: Look Right Through Me

Alli Bhandari

"Before we get in the house tell me what the hell you were doing on this side of town at this time of night." Sav demanded as I rolled my eyes.

"If you're going to play mom-dad detective I'll just fess up to them so I don't have to hear it three times."

"Alli, what is going on with you?"

"I went to a club with Leia." I confessed knowing that whatever I did was nothing compared to dropping the bomb about Sav being in a relationship with Anya. "Before you flip out, I didn't get in this time."

"This time?"

"Don't ask. Leia got in of course and told me to wait for her friend and we were supposed to get in together. That didn't happen. Instead, we ended up stranded at some random shop downtown where they were sacrificing a bird or something."

"Okay, then you're lucky I got you out of there in time."

"I was so scared." I admitted with a sigh. "They were all looking at me in a cultish way like I was the next victim. I can't believe Leia would be friends with someone who does that kind of stuff." I felt a couple of tears meet the tops of my cheeks.

"Are you crying? Aww … it's okay little baby." Sav joked, hugging me and trying to make me feel better.

"You're so stupid." I choked out in between a laugh. I'd never come clean about this, but Sav and I were really close. "Thanks for not saying anything." I whispered as he nodded.

"Now for the escape plan…"

"Don't be stupid." I started. "All I have to do is use the latter at the back of the house and climb up. No brain surgery needed."

"And what if the latter is missing … mom and dad had be move it."

"Okay, so what's your plan? And can I use your laptop afterwards?"

"What's so urgent that you can't wait until tomorrow?" Sav wondered as I started to sense suspicion rise in his voice.

"I have to tell everyone about my near-death experience, that's all." I covered. I was really aching to see if I had received any more messages from 'darknights' and desperately hoping that he would be online at the same moment that I was so that I could IM him.

Leia Bai

I couldn't leave it up to fate. No way I could wait for that so-called world power that no one saw, but everyone knew about it. It would take waayyy too long, so I just hurried it along a bit. I glanced down at the cell phone I held in my hand that was clearly masculine. It was Sean's.

I had switched them in the car when Sean was trying so hard not to look at me and not let his mind wonder when I said those things about us sleeping together.

The only bad thing about this plan was that it was Wednesday. I did the phone switch on Saturday meaning that either he hadn't realized that he lost his phone or didn't suspect that I did it, but hello … He was sitting there with a custom-made neon blue Venus phone.

Well, I didn't have time to worry about it now. I had to get up and go to school and then after that I had to prep the girls for the school Carnival tomorrow. I was really hoping to see Sean there, but I wasn't going to call him and ask him to meet me there. That would look too planned.

I rummaged through my closet, trying to pull out something sexy that I could get away with wearing at Degrassi, without being sent the principal. As soon as I saw the perfect outfit, a pair of fitted gray jeans, the phone started to ring, Sean's phone.

My initial reaction was to ignore it. It had been going crazy the last few days and this one number kept coming up every day. Emma or whatever? I shook my head in disgust and checked the caller id. Caller unknown, but it was my number…

Fernando

"I've got big news hebibi." Hana appeared beside me. I knew it was her before she even said anything. No one else showed up here this early and she had pretty much given me a key to let myself in anytime I wanted, which was pretty cool.

"What's the news?"

"Ooh, you asked. You must be in a good mood today." She commented. "Well, my husband is having this huge dinner party and inviting all of this business-types which means that I have the chance to show him this." She placed a folder of plans in front of me.

"What is it exactly?"

"Plans for a health food and clothing store. You know the whole green thing is really important to me and I'm glad that more people are responding to it." Hana explained. "And here in Toronto, we don't have anything like that. It could be pretty amazing."

She leaned across the front of the machine I was working out on as my eyes started to go somewhere they shouldn't. I forced myself to look elsewhere. I didn't know what it was but lately, Hana was exuding this hyper-sexiness that drove me wild and inspired me to show up here more often than normal. I was here practically every day twice a day.

"Sounds pretty amazing." I answered, giving her genuine encouragement and fixating on another body part of hers, her mouth.

"Why, thanks. I know I'm such a genius."

"What does the husband think?"

"You go right for the heart don't you?" Hana wondered. "Well, he doesn't know yet. I have to convince him before I can talk to his friends so--"

"You have to ask his permission?" I wondered, I paused the machine for a second.

"They're his friends. I'm just running it by him."

"And if he says no?"

"Then I'll have to find a way around it." Hana struggled patting me on the arm. She got up and started to walk away. "You're a Degrassi senior, right?"

"Yeah."

"My step-son is gonna be there and it might be fun if you two met. Maybe you can do some male bonding and you can meet my hubby. He's not as bad as you're thinking hebibi." She promised, walking away with her dark brown ponytail bobbing behind her. I turned away from her before I could think anything else that I shouldn't. She was a married woman.

Leia Bai

"Hello?" I answered the phone unsurely, rushing down the stairs to grab some breakfast and then I rushed to the porch where I could eat in peace. The porch was so random. I mean we were in Canada and porches come from the south in the US, but at this moment I was thankful for it. No one would bother me out here and that was perfect.

"Is this Leia?"

"Who is this?" I wondered, trying to remain as innocent as possible as I rushed downstairs to the kitchen. "Do you have my phone?"

"It's Sean and yes."

"Sean? Who's Sean?" I held back a laugh, taking a sip of orange juice instead. Hilarious.

"What the hell are you trying to pull? I want my phone back."

"And I want mine. Yours sucks." I admitted. "So when do you want to come get it?" I closed my eyes as soon as I asked. That sounded soo slutty, probably because of how my voice changed too.

"I'm going to ignore that … why don't you just drop it off at the club?"

"I can't. My car broke down." I lied. "The only way that I could get there is if I went with a friend and then everyone would know about you."

"What's there to know?"

"I'll tell you what. Today, I'm swamped. School is kicking my ass." I paused for a second. "We're having a pre-game carnival all day tomorrow from like 12 until... Meet me there."

"I can't." Sean sighed. "It'll look really bad."

"Okay, then you can come to the game on Friday. I'll be on the sidelines dancing for the team, but anytime we take a break, just run down and we'll make the switch. Promise."

"Yeah … I gotta go I'll--"

"So Friday?"

"Yeah. Whatever."

Alli Bhandari

I was floating from that amazing convo I had with darknights last night. We'd IMed for like three hours and every night we seemed to have more and more in common. I told him about my near death experience and he made this huge joke about it.

We talked about being Indian, life, school … everything and it really made me happy. When I walked into the doors of Degrassi Wednesday morning, I just wanted to share my happiness with everyone.

"Smiling? That's a good sign." Claire commented as I stopped by her locker. She didn't look too happy.

"So that's a crime now?"

"No, but you've changed Alli. You're so obsessed with whatever's going on in your life that you don't bother to ask what's going on with mine." She whined.

"That's because you never do anything Claire. I know how your life's going better than you do. You study super hard for hours every day and when you're not studying, you're obsessing over student government. That's it. You won't even admit that you like K.C. and let something good happen."

"Something good is happening to me." She snapped back. "I love it here at Degrassi and I love my life."

"Well, I'm just trying to branch out. I don't want to be known as a grade nine nerd. I want to be more than that--"

"Which is why you change into slutty clothes to go to school and go out partying with Leia on the weekends and you joined the fashion club? I think it's great that you're branching off, but I didn't think you'd leave me behind." Claire dramatically slammed her locker door and ran off down the hallway.

"What'd you say to her?" K.C. wondered looking at me like I was the villain.

"Nothing. I think I just made her realize that her life sucks." I sighed honestly.

"And yours with your internet boyfriend is so much better."

"How do you know about that?" I backed him into one of the lockers.

"You used my laptop and left your stuff all over my computer. Internet chatting is really stupid." He lectured me.

"Well, I think he's genuine and I'm not hurting anyone." I justified it. "Just … don't tell Claire or anyone or I'll make sure that she knows how you feel about her." K.C. nodded in agreement and in fear. He had no idea that Claire really was into him and I was not about to let that one loose, at least not yet.

Jimmy Brooks

Being at Degrassi made me feel like a huge loser in a way. Once again, everyone was off living their lives, getting married, experiencing college, and backpacking through Europe while I was looking at the same chipped paint on the walls in the attendance office. Life could really make you look like an idiot sometimes.

I tried to shrug it off and focus my attention on something else life … the huge pile of paperwork placed in front of me. Anything that involved writing or typing was my job because it kept me off my feet.

"Didn't you graduate from here already dude?" Spinner walked into the office as I turned around with a grin.

"I could say the same about you. Still stalking younger women?"

"Girlfriend. Jane, remember?"

"Yeah so why are you in the front office?"

"I heard you were here and I wanted to give you a proper welcome back … and to celebrate, why don't you come out to the game this Friday?"

"Game?"

"Football." Spinner explained. "Jane's on the team and--"

"Wait? Jane? I wonder how the guys are taking that." I chuckled to myself, happy to be a part of the Degrassi community again and trying to forget the fact that everyone else had already left me behind.

"They're over it by now. Jane's the star player."

"This … I've gotta see."

Leia Bai

"Okay girls, let me see what it looks like without me." I called out as starting to replay the music. I couldn't help but notice how much Mia was giving me the death stare. She seriously needed to chill. So what if she and Danny were officially "dating?" They weren't even together and I would never cross that line with him.

I watched the dance, disappointed and realizing that no one seemed to know the dance really well. They all seemed to be following me, since I was normally in the front.

"Okay. Not bad …" I sighed. "Let's do the same routine, but I want Gina, Layla, and … Mia to come to the front."

I watched in disapproval, realizing that dance was not Mia's strong point. During auditions I wouldn't have picked her out, but unfortunately, my vote was overruled by the principal. He thought it would be good to get more spirit squad girls on the dance team.

This meant that people like Mia, who completely didn't deserve to be there would be associated with me. I focused my attention on Gina and Layla instead. Okay … they could be helped. Totally. Mia was just a pretty face and as long as I kept her in the back, hopefully no one would realize how awful she really looked.

Before I could have the girls do the routine two more times without me, the football team burst through the dance studio doors.

"What are you guys doing?" I screamed, standing up abruptly.

"Oh yeah, wait guys. No shoes." Danny got all the boys to take off their shoes so now the dance studio was crowded and stinky.

"Thanks." I rolled my eyes sarcastically as Danny rushed over to me.

"What's up with you? I haven't heard from you since this weekend. Are you alive?"

"Yeah." I smiled. "Barely."

"What, something happened with Sean?"

"He took me home." I bit my lip brimming with happiness.

"And then…"

"I knew that he was scared to see me again so … I switched our phones. I'll be seeing him Thursday or Friday … maybe both days." I hooked Danny's arm in mine and them took him to the side of the studio where there was hardly anyone.

"Why spend so much energy on a guy who doesn't want you when you can have your pick of any of my boys." Danny offered as I glanced over the football team, sitting on the floor. Danny followed my lead.

"Your boys are disgusting and smelly and totally tried to scare Jane away from the team. Not very attractive."

"They're all into you though."

"Not interested."

"Even if they were virgins." He joked.

"Shut up." I punched him angrily. "I don't do that anymore."

"The divirginizer." He joked as we both started to laugh. Apparently, we had worked up an audience which included a jealous Mia. I could hear her loud steps before her image appeared behind Danny's back.

"Danny." Mia touched his shoulders lightly as he gave me that look and I knew he was about to bail.

"Can you give us a second?" I asked Mia as she nodded and walked away, but not too far. She was still watching us.

"I do not do that anymore. Okay?" I looked at Danny seriously, not even bothering to talk about Mia's interruption. Insecurity was pathetic.

"Well, there is one virgin on the football team … that one right there." Danny placed his hands on my shoulders and pointed me in the direction of some husky guy who was rapidly becoming less and less fat every time I saw him. "I can already see your mind working."

"Yeah, trying to remember where I remember him from… That's Holly J.'s stalker." I grinned. "No way I'd ever touch him."

"But he's a virgin."

"And so are you liar. But, I don't care how many virgins are in this school. The only one I want is Sean."

"Sean's not a virgin."

"Good. I hate having to teach a guy what goes where." I stood up hastily as Mia took my place, looking delighted by my absence. I just shrugged it off and started to send a text to Angie, but stopped … without my cell I didn't have contact with anyone.

Alli Bhandari

"Do you think I've changed?" I asked Sav who was reluctantly dropping me off at the J.V. football game. I was thrilled to know that darkarabianknights was from Toronto too. Awesomeness. I was anxious about possibly meeting him in the future and everything.

By then, I would be a full five shades lighter, according to my "light, white, and bright" bleaching cream. Then, I had to get rid of this huge pimple which was completely taking over my face.

"Alli … were you listening to what I just said?"

"Of course you said and I quote … 'were you just listening to what I just said.'"

"Funny … and so is that huge zit on your face. Let me pop it for you." Sav reached for my face, being the vexing older brother he was meant to be.

"Gross! It'll spread if you do that."

"No it won't." Sav touched my face, pretending like he was going to make it burst.

"Idiot."

"Since when do you have acne anyway?"

"It's not acne. Just one bump." I argued back.

"It's all that make-up. You know that'll just draw in the wrong guys to you."

"Goodbye dad." I mocked him, shutting the car door and walking into the stadium. K.C. was waiting at the gate for me and I was surprised that Claire was nowhere to be found.

"Where is she?"

"She's not with you?" K.C. wondered as I shook my head and crossed my arms.

"She's probably still teeming over earlier. I just told her she was a little predictable--"

"Well maybe if you hadn't Claire would be here by now. She's always on time."

"Claire will show up when and if she feels like it." My mood changed as I realized that we were here to have fun and not go on a scavenger hunt for a girl who insisted on wearing a school uniform to a high school with an open dress code.

"Wait, you're just going to go in and not wait for her?"

"When Claire gets mad she does stuff like this. We could be waiting out here for over an hour. You have your phone right … just wait until she calls and says she's here. I don't want to miss this." I suggested to K.C. dragging him by the wrist into the stadium.

Fernando

I felt ridiculous being at this party with all the corporate America, elite types. The only thing that could hold my attention for a second was the food sitting on the tables and it was everywhere. I really tempted to take a tray into the house and pig out.

To think that I wore a tie for this and I hadn't even seen Hana yet.

"I thought I'd be the only non-Baby Boomer here." Mohammed commented, taking a sip from whatever was in his cup.

"Nope. I go to your mom's gym all the time. I kinda got talked into this."

"Yeah, it sucks. I'm about to bail in a little bit. I hear there's a big party tonight and I want to check it out."

"Thanks, but no thanks man. If it has anything to do with Degrassi kids count me out." I explained, jamming my hands into my pockets.

"Suit yourself." He shrugged, walking around aimlessly. At least everyone knew he belonged here. I was just some random kid butting in where I didn't belong.

As I was about to leave, I felt a small hand touch my back.

"You're not thinking about leaving here are you?"

"No. I just--"

"I want you to meet my husband and Mohammed." Hana explained, leading me to where all the action was. "Said honey, I want you to meet my best customer, Fernando Hussein."

I shook hands with him and everyone else around me, trying to figure out what to say next. Luckily, Hana continued talking.

"As you know, my gym has brought in what you contributed tenfold and I really want to expand on this idea, which is why I think a health food and green clothing store would be perfect."

"Hana." Said's eyes flashed at her, silencing everyone. "That idea is ridiculous. Health food? That's just a trend."

"People will always be looking for a way to lose weight. It's a win win situation." She continued confidently.

"This idea was ill-thought out when you told me about it earlier and now it sounds even more amateur. The gym was a gift. If you want this other shop, you do it with your own money." Said demanded, turning his back to his wife and proceeding to talk about something else.

"Well, that was embarrassing." Hana muttered as the two of us walked off. "He knows that I don't have that kind of money, that it would take years to even get a fraction of it." She continued, walking briskly and directly into one of the caterers.

"Let me help you with that." I offered, knowing that red anything spilling on white was bad news.

"What a disaster." Hana shook her head void of energy, in a way I had never seen her before.

"Maybe you can change his mind when there's no one else around." I offered, handing her some paper towels.

"No. Once Said says no, that's it. It's done." She admitted, tears in her eyes. I worked so hard to get that gym off the ground to get him to trust me and he won't even admit that I've been successful without him." Hana complained.

"Then do it without him."

"How?"

"Here's a big opportunity right here. When you were laying out your idea, I could see people nodding in agreement. It's a good idea." I encouraged her as Hana stopped wiping up the mess.

"You are so right." She whispered, looking at me thankfully as I found my finger touching her mouth. I had been thinking about how much I loved the words that came out of it and I guess my body just took over.

"Now's the part where you apologize." Hana explained, still not moving away. "This is really inappropriate."

"I'm very, very sorry." I agreed, still touching her lips.

Hana took my hand and kissed it softly. "Me too… I'm sorry that any of this happened." She whispered quietly as I caressed her jaw until I couldn't hold back anymore, so I kissed her.

(A/N: I finally got the time to organize this chapter and put it up. Sorry for the delay. The next chapter is already written too!! Review please. –NL)