Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi, only Anissa and her family.

"Hello mother. Yes school is out and you have some serious explaining to do." I said into my cell phone. "No. Just send the driver." I paused shortly as she talked. "A whole hour? Where's George?" I growled. "No, it's fine. A friend told me about a place close by. Yeah, bye."

I flipped my phone shut and sat down on the steps. "Why must you always seat yourself on the filthiest places?" Someone asked from behind me, only one person was that high and mighty.

"Well Declan, there's not exactly a throne around here." I mumbled sarcastically. "What do you want?"

"I was merely walking out of the building when I saw your depressed self so I thought maybe you needed company." He said walking in front of me.

I looked up at him. "Gee thanks. But I was just waiting for Peter so he could tell me where this Dot place is."

His face scrunched up at the mention of Peter. "Well you'll be waiting for a long time. He left fifth period. Why do you want to go there anyways?" He asked.

Rolling my eyes I stood up. The stone steps were getting pretty cold and I couldn't find a jacket to go with my outfit this morning. "Beats sitting here for an hour."

"Why would you have to stay here for an hour?" He asked looking down at me.

I shrugged my shoulders. "George is out doing something, and father is also out. You know that mother doesn't drive. So, that leaves me stranded." I answered before realizing what I was doing. "Wait, why and I talking to you?" I added.

He ignored my last question. "I could give you a ride." He offered smirking.

"Ha no thank you. I dread the day I will owe the Declan Coyne anything." I said walking down the steps.

He laughed following. "At least let me give you a ride to the Dot. I was going to stop by there anyways." I turned on him with an eyebrow raised. He raised his hands like he were being arrested by the police. "No hidden motive, and you won't owe me a thing."

I watched him to see if he was lying but it didn't seem like it. "Okay, fine." I huffed crossing my arms, it was getting really cold out here.

"Great." He said smiling before leading me to a government rig, which of course, he was driving. He held open the passenger door for me and he even let me get in the car before closing the door. That was new.

He got in on his side and started the car up before driving down the road. I looked at him confused. "What the hell are you on Declan?"

Smiling he looked over at me. "Excuse me?" He asked.

I rolled my eyes. "You know. Crack, Heroine, Weed, Shrooms, Meth?"

He chuckled. "Aw. I'm not your precious Peter now, love. I don't do drugs." There at least he is being a little bit of a smart ass. Still wasn't enough though, he wasn't directly being a jerk to me.

"Then why the hell are you being so nice and not calling me names or insulting me?" I frowned crossing my arms again. Why couldn't I get warm?

He smirked over at me. "Do you want me to call you names and insult you?" He asked.

"No." I answered truthfully. "It's just weird. Even earlier at school you weren't being as much of a jerk as you have the past years. You've always been an asshole, and it's just weird to see you nice."

He smiled. "People change." That was so cheesy. I raised my eyebrows at him and he continued. "Okay here's the deal. Our families are always around each other and my mother's been on my back about how I'm a jerk to you. I'm always going to be an asshole, but I'm willing to try and be nicer to you for the sake of our families."

Oh, so that's what this whole thing was about, for the sake of our damn families. I scoffed. "That's great." I muttered under my breath sarcastically. He looked at me through the corner of his eye. "Well if you plan to be nice 'for the sake of our families'," I quoted, "I don't want you to be nice."

He stopped and parked the car next to a curb. Sighing he got out of the car, I did too. "Our families are close, we are going to be around each other probably our whole lives. You need to learn to at tolerate me." He said over the car.

"I do tolerate you. You're not dead are you?" I said as he walked around the car to stand next to me. He opened his mouth to speak but I just raised my hand. "Whatever, where's the Dot?"

He pointed down the street at a building and we started walking. We got a couple yards before I felt something warm being draped over my shoulders.

I looked and saw Declan's jacket before shooting him a look. "You honestly thought I didn't know you were freezing?" He asked.

I went to remove the jacket when his hand stopped me. "Don't be stubborn. Just take it."

Sighing I slipped my arms through the sleeves. "Thanks." I mumbled.

When we reached the Dot he held the door open for me to walk in. See, he says something that completely pisses you off, and then to try and make up for it he acts all charming. Holding doors open and offering jackets, he makes me sick. We walked in and he looked around obviously searching for someone, he didn't seem to see them and took a seat at an empty table.

I looked at the table he was sitting at and then another empty table. I weighed my options. Sitting with Declan there was the possibility of me killing him and then the possibility of me letting his damn charms get to me. I didn't want either of those, they would both inflate his ego knowing he got to me. Sitting alone would give me some time to think and I wouldn't be near Declan. I think I will go with option number two.

I adverted my eyes away from Declan before walking over to an empty table on the other side of the room.

I was sitting alone for a bit thinking about everything when a guy with short brownish somewhat spiky hair, a Dot T-shirt, and a half apron came up. "Hey, would you like anything?" He asked.

For some reason I panicked. I didn't see a menu or anything. "Oh sorry. I don't know. I don't know what you have. What do you have?" I rambled off quickly.

He smiled knowingly. "New?" He asked.

I smiled back shyly. "Yeah."

"Alright then. Well we've got coffee, of course. And I happen to make the best damn hamburgers and fries in Toronto." He said proudly while smiling.

"Don't you just throw a frozen patty onto a grill and pour some frozen fries into some oil?" I asked.

He put his finger to his lips leaning closer. "Sh… You'll give away my secret." He whispered.

I leaned in a little too. "Not a very well kept secret there." I whispered back.

He laughed raising his eyebrows. "Well, if you think it's so easy let's see you give it a try." He challenged.

"Can't you get fired for letting someone who doesn't work here cook or something? I'm pretty sure that would be on the 'don't do' list."

He just waved his hand. "Nah, they need me here."

I smirked standing up. "Okay then. I will."

He smiled. "This way." He said walking back behind the counter. I looked over at Declan and saw that he was watching me with his eyebrows raised, I shot a glare at him. "Okay, here's the grill, and there's the oil. Let's see what you've got."

I made the hamburgers and fries. I grabbed them from behind the counter and walked over and handed them to the Dot guy. He was now sitting in the seat that was opposite from me. It was still only him, Declan, and I.

He looked at the food before shooting me a look. Go on try it. I hope it won't kill you but I'm not sure. I've never made it before."

He picked up the hamburger and studied it. "Wish me luck." I rolled my eyes and he took a bit. His eyes widened immediately. Was it that bad? "Okay you… Um, wait. What's your name?"

"Anissa." I answered.

"Spinner." He said grabbing my hand and shaking it quickly before going on with what he was saying. "Anissa, you just made possibly the second best hamburger I've ever eaten. And I've eaten a lot of hamburgers." He then took a few fries and stuffed them in his mouth moaning. "You're fries definitely beat mine. They are perfect. I give you mad props." He stopped eating for a second to look at me. "You don't happen to need a job do you?"

I smiled taking the seat across from him. "Nah, I don't exactly need the money." I answered honestly.

I could hear Declan chuckling from his seat across the room. Apparently he was eavesdropping. Spinner took a second to look at my appearance and smiled widely. "You rich? You look rich. Nice coat by the way." He said smartly before reaching over and tugging on the sleeve.

"Yeah, I'm rich. My parents are a couple of Diplomats and we just moved into the area. I'm going to Degrassi. Public school equals good rep I guess." Then I remembered the comment on the coat. "And the jacket… It's his." I said pointing at Declan.

Declan smirked at eh attention then stood walking over to our table taking the seat next to me. Spinner looked at him for a second then seemed to realize who he was. "Hey, you're that guy that Peter hates huh?"

Declan looked at him. "Yeah, that would be me."

I rolled my eyes. "You can have your coat back if it will make you go away."

Spinner looked at me confused. "Nah, you keep it. I'm not going anywhere." Declan answered back.

Just then another customer walked in and Spinner stood. "I've gotta get back to work now Anissa."

"Oh, okay." I said as he walked over to the customer.

I looked back next to me and Declan was watching me. "What do you want now?"

"Just to spend some quality time with you." He answered back smartly.

"Oh ha, ha, Declan. I was fine alone." I said.

"Well now that drummer boy's gone I'll keep you company." He said.

"I don't want your company Declan. See, this is when I wish my brother were here. He always knew how to keep you away from me." I said. Then I quickly realized what I just said and my throat closed up. I can't believe I just talked about using him for my own selfish reasons.

"Oh, and where is your bodyguard." He asked leaning closer.

"Gone." I answered back quietly while looking at my hands praying that my voice wouldn't give out or that my eyes would betray me and let the tears drip out.

"Did he finally see what a lost cause you were and ditch you?" He asked.

I wish. "Something like that." I mumbled back quietly. I still didn't look up, I could feel the tears threatening to come out.

"I knew I liked him. I never understood why everyone liked you, at least he was with me on that." He said. I knew he was trying to get to me now and it was working.

"Yeah. Me neither." I mumbled again.

"Look at me." He said dropping the teasing tone in his voice.

I shook my head and kept looking down at my hands on the table. "No."

"Come on." He said putting his hand out and gripping my shoulder. I knew that I had to look now.

Slowly I raised my head and looked anywhere but his face. There he got to me, I hope he's happy. A tear betrayed me and slid down my face. "What's wrong?" He asked confused.

"Nothing." I said before quickly standing. "I've got to go." I went to walk out of the building when I ran into Spinner making him drop a cup of coffee. The glass shattered everywhere. I tried to back away when my foot slipped out from under me causing me to gasp.

"Shit!" Spinner yelled before grabbing me so I wouldn't fall.

When I was standing on my own I took a couple deep steps back looking down at the mess I caused. Why was everything always my fault? "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Spinner. Here, let me pay for this." I said taking out my purse. I was surprised I even got that out, my throat was feeling like it was going to explode. Everything's my fault, it's my fault my brother's not here right now. I felt another teardrop fall down my cheek.

Spinner noticed and reached out holding my shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's just a cup Anissa."

I looked up at him. "No it's not…" I paused trying to hold back the sob that was coming up. "That's not what I'm upset about. I really need to go." I rushed out before trying to run out the door.

He reached out and pulled me to him. "What's wrong?" He asked and at the same time I noticed he was hugging me and stiffened. He was practically a stranger. He chuckled. "I know. This is awkward, embrace it." I giggled a little. "And all I know about you is that you make a kick ass hamburger and fries combo. But it's all good, just tell Spinner all your problems." He said trying to cheer me up. It worked. I was now laughing and crying at the same time.

"Anissa, are you okay?" I heard Declan ask from behind me and I stiffened. I really didn't want anything to do with him anytime soon.

Just then a girl with brown hair and a nose ring came in and looked from Spinner and me, to Declan, and then to the spilt coffee. I pulled away from Spinner and wrapped my arms around myself.

"Spin, what's going on?" She asked looking very confused.

"Nothing Jane. She was just very upset and I was trying to find out why was wrong. She tried to run away." He said like it was an everyday occurrence.

She studied me for a few seconds before I saw that she was trying to see if she remembered who I was. "I'm new." I said quickly.

"Yeah, and she makes a kick ass hamburger and fries, babe." Spinner said enthusiastically before pulling her into his side and kissing her head.

She smiled holding her hand out. "I'm Jane. And I'm saying sorry now for his future caveman ways. You've probably already seen a couple." She said pointing at Spinner.

"Anissa, and would hugging someone you barely knew to keep them from leaving count?" I asked.

She laughed. "Yeah. If he wouldn't let go." I laughed and she looked at Declan. "Hello Declan."

"Jane." He said giving her his 'sexy' smirk. I've seen him use it on so many girls, and sadly, it usually worked. Jane doesn't seem like one to fall for his charms though.

"Spinner thanks. Even though what you did was completely unnecessary, it helped." I said.

"No problem." He said patting me on the shoulder.

Jane smiled at me again. "He becomes attached to friends fast. You'll get used to it."

A man walked through the door and I recognized him as my driver, George. "Hey Spinner, Jane. It was really great to meet you but I need to go. My driver's here."

"Yeah, you too. Maybe I'll see you at school." Jane said and I nodded.

"Feel free to come by anytime. I'm always up for a good burger and fries." Spinner said.

I smiled at him while walking backwards towards the door. "Okay, and I will." I purposely avoided Declan's gaze.

I really didn't want to cry in front of them again. I just hope when I see him in school I won't think of Ryan.

I got into the car and we were home in twenty minutes. George opened the door for me. "Thank you George." I said before jogging to the house. "Mother!" I yelled when I got through the door.

I heard her heels click all the way down a hall before she came around the corner with a sheepish smile. "Nice jacket dear."

I looked down and saw the jacket. Damn.

Author's Notes: Like I said before this is my first Degrassi story. I would really like you to tell me what you think about it. So please review. Thank you!