Chapter Seven, Part Two: If You Really Try You'll Find There's No Need to Cry

~Alli~

So my parents pulled in front of Degrassi Community in spite of my gripes. My face looked no better than it did earlier and mom was so worried about it that she didn't let me put anything on it so I was walking into school with the whiteface I'd been wishing for.

By the time I arrived at school, the parking lot was cleared of any other people, sparing me a little embarrassment. I rushed to the front office hoping that it was equally barren. It was and the only person in sight was a former Degrassi student, Jimmy Brooks.

"Do you have the power to excuse me from all classes today?" I wondered, ambitiously, holding my headscarf over half of my face. Today, I was actually thankful for hijab.

"I wish I could help you out, but the best that I can do is first and second period." He offered as I nodded. Okay, that was half the day. I could skip out on lunch and then I had the Gifted Class and a Chemistry class. I could hide behind the goggles.

"Aren't you going to ask what happened?" I wondered as he handed me the slip.

"You look as beautiful as ever." He complimented me as the mood eased a little. I moved closer to the desk.

"So, I had an allergic reaction to this face cream I was using." I began, not wanting to admit that it was skin bleaching cream that had done this to me.

"And your parents told you to leave it alone."

"How did you u know?"

"I had a cousin. She went through the same thing."

"So what'd she do?"

"Piled tons of petroleum jelly on her face every night. It eventually went away. When she went to the doctor, they told her that a layer of her skin had been burned off from the cream she was using."

"Oh." I responded, knowing that he know what had really happened. "Happen to have any moisturizing substance on you now?"

"I don't, but I'm sure the nurse might." Jimmy responded. "And I'll write you a pass for that too."

"Can you make it during third period?" I wondered, hoping to skip out on a Claire face-down. Girl could hold a grudge.

"One third period pass coming right up."

~Leia~

"So she just tossed me onto the floor and started beating the shit out of me." I explained to Danny so dramatically that he thought I was making it all up.

"Your mom? She's like four feet tall--"

"Four eleven."

"And you really expect me to believe that?" Danny scoffed as I stopped, realizing that he didn't believe me. Of course not. It was ridiculous … but real. I paused to look at him for a second and then shrugged it off.

"Course not. Kai-ying is a sucky driver and we got into a minor car accident. Trust me, I look a lot better than the car we hit." I covered quickly as Danny nodded, seeming to accept this story with more ease than the real one. I had a knack for reading people and it just seemed like this time the non-truth was better than the real deal.

"So, what now?"

"I guess I could milk these bruises and go to the nurse. Kwan's class will be killer today so I'll just get a pass right before it starts."

"Now, you're thinking smartly." Danny smiled, putting his arm around my shoulder and giving me a small squeeze. "Since I've shared my ultimate wisdom with you today …" His hand dropped abruptly.

"What is it now? Does Derek need more girl advice and is too afraid to ask?"

"Actually, I'm having the problem. I think Mia's going to dump me."

"Good." I shrugged happily. "She's so insecure that it's sickening."

"Well, regardless of what you think about her I really like her Leia."

"And what's her deal?"

"She's been acting really distant. And that weekend we did the carnival and she saw us dancing together—I'm still getting crap for it."

"Jealousy … hmmm. I don't know what to tell you Danny. Seriously … the only thing I see coming is more crap from her. It'll probably end with her asking you to choose her or me."

"You sound okay with that idea." He responded, struggling to keep up with me.

"I am because I know you'll pick your bestie over anyone. So I have nothing to worry about."

(A/N: This isn't the full chapter. It's what I have up to this point and I won't be writing anything until my hands/arms/wrists get better. --NL)