You Keep Insisting When You Know Our Love is Out the Door

"I did it Mr. Simpson." Alex repeated again daring Scott to protest. She knew what she was doing, what she had to do.

"Alex, you did this?" He wondered, helping Scott up. "Why … you know I don't think you could've done this alone."

"Take me to the principal's office. I know the procedure." Mr. Simpson dropped Scott off at the nurse's office, later sending him a referral to go home. "This isn't like you." He commented as Alex shrugged, holding back tears. If she could keep it together and not blurt out the truth, she was stronger than she ever thought.

'You bleed, I bleed,' is what Gianni had said to Manny and his words were echoing in her mind, but the size of the crowd was massive. Everyone was supposed to be there and everyone was. .. except a few stragglers who never made it to any pep rally/school spirit events.

Normally, Manny would trade in her nervous energy for excitement taken directly from the crowd—adrenaline. Now, she felt as flat as a deflated balloon, filled with nothing and amazing to no one.

Soon, the boos and name-calling would start. The teachers would try to pin-point the ring leader and stop it, but they'd never be able to. It was everyone. Everyone hated her right now and all for … being stupid.

"I can't--"

"Manny?" She stopped moving as she came face to face with Michael.

"Don't talk to me. You knew what that monster was planning. You're garbage, dirt to me."

"Don't act like you didn't like it. I know you did." He smiled, looking her up and down as Manny shivered. She knew what he was thinking. He surveyed her body like a piece up meat up for grabs.

"You're disgusting."

"You're the one who's easy. You're to blame. Girls who dress like you deserve it."

"Girls who dress like me? And how do I dress Michael."

"When you wear stuff like that…" He pointed to the black and white halter mini dress she was wearing. "It's just proving that you want it too. I can tell, you want it know don't you?" He moved closer as Manny pushed him down, hearing a gasp behind her. Someone had opened the stage curtains, but she was too preoccupied to notice.

"Gianni?" She looked to the wings of the curtain to see her only friend on her side. He nodded, urging her to move to the platform.

"Booo! Slut!" One of Kiowi's friends yelled first as Manny kept walking. She had to do this, for herself.

"Where were you Alex? I had this hella hard physics test and you weren't there for me to cheat off of." Jay walked into the house to see Alex gorging on tons of junk food in the living room.

"Fuck off." Alex sighed, sinking further into the couch.

"What the hell is your problem? Ms. H didn't come after me today. Sunshine must've gotten some smarts."

"I took the rap." Alex blurted out avoiding looking at Jay. She was just so disgusted with what he did, but even worse is that she almost admired it.

"Why? I know they cracked down on your ass."

"Suspension." Alex shrugged. "I wasn't planning on finishing school anyway. Like mother, like daughter huh?"

"Stop being Miss Drama. Suspension is nothing. You've had it before." Jay explained.

"Yeah, but for assaulting a dude? Come on. What are places gonna say when they hear that?"

"They'll know you're hard core." He joked, nudging Alex softly.

"This isn't a joke. I'm gonna end up like my pathetic mother and you'll be taking over your father's business, making millions for being the jackass you were born to be."

"Chill out. I'll tell H it was me. What's the biggie? So, I'll get kicked out of school. I already have the connections I need. You know who my parents are." Jay shrugged it off, hugging Alex spontaneously. "And I'll take care of you so you won't have to worry about living in some trailer the rest of your life."

"You're not going to Ms. H. I'll deal with it. I've got it under control." Alex promised looking up at Jay and still holding on to him. "I'm saving you this time."

"You know how you could really help?" Jay leaned in as if to kiss Alex, who followed his lead. Their lips hadn't even gotten a chance to meet before Jay was laughing hysterically. "I knew you still wanted me."

"Asshole!" Alex yelled, punching him a couple of times and pretending to be mad, but still smiling. Sometimes things seemed to right between them, but they were mostly wrong. Jay was like that last high to a drug addict, the one that could kill, but he would always be there, tempting Alex. "You know I was just gonna use you. I don't think of you like that."

"I think you of everyday." Jay tried to keep a straight face, but ending up laughing. "I'm wondering when you're gonna get off your ass and wash your funky laundry."

"Shut up Jay. You're so stupid. I'm dealing with something serious because you messed up. Why'd you have to beat him like that."

"Because no one can mess with my Lexi and get away with it." He hugged her again, trying to making it completely platonic, but Jay just had to touch her… everyday, every second. There were just some people you never got over, real lunatics like Lexi always made their impression. Taking a risk, Jay tried to kiss her, for real this time.

"Yeah, you're the only one who can cheat on me, humiliate me, and hurt me in front of the entire school right?" Alex scooted away and picked up her messenger bag. I'll be back. I have some things to take care of.

"I was supposed to give a pep speech for Degrassi, but I--" Manny began, but was immediately halted by the shouts being thrown at her.

"Skank!"

"I don't think you're gonna listen to anything I have to say … not about that. So I'm here to talk about a real issue plaguing Degrassi's hallways. I know recent tabloids have--" Manny gasped as someone started throwing food at her.

"Hey. Do that again and I'll kick your ass. Listen to her!" Gianni stepped onto stage, standing directly beside Manny, taking her hand. "It's okay. You're doing fine."

"The tabloids have shown me kissing another guy while I was with Kiowi and you know what it's true. I was with Craig."

"Boo."

"I don't know who gave you guys the right to judge me. Are you perfect? How many of you guys have never cheated with something in life … no one. How many girls have been cheated on by guys … then why haven't you persecuted them like you're doing with me. Why are you tearing me apart?"

"Nobody cares. Get her off the stage!" Kiowi yelled with pure hatred in his eyes.

"I don't know if you heard what Michael said back that but because I feel like wearing a skirt, a halter, tube, whatever … just because I feel like showing a little skin doesn't mean that I'm a slut. It doesn't mean that you can just treat me like I don't matter."

"They treat you like a slut because you act like one!" One of the girls in the audience yelled as cheers followed.

"Having sex with someone is not 'acting' like a slut. This little video that you guys saw this morning was a set-up. Kiowi and I made a deal that if I-" Her voice broke off Manny fought back tears.

"Don't let them see you cry." Gianni hugged her again.

"If I did a favor for him, he'd forgive me and everyone else would stop hating me. I wanted you guys to like me, so I did it. I slept with Michael. And Kiowi betrayed by recording it and sending it to everyone. You tried to ruin my life, but I won't let you." She stared at Kiowi the entire time, watching his face go from triumphed to confusion and finally worry.

"See, I don't care anymore if you guys like me or not because you're all hypocrites, liars, and so into feeding into the double standard bull shit that I can't take it anymore. So, you can stop calling me it because I'll say it. Slut, bitch, whore … whatever you want to call me, but at least I'm real. At least I'm not a hateful bastard like you Kiowi." Manny paused. "Thank you." She smiled.

Her tears were completely gone. There was nothing to cry about. Let them think what they wanted, but she had to live her own life and she had to see if she could salvage things with Dani and the group.

"Is Scott here?" Alex asked as she was met face to face with Elaine. She could feel the tension … this woman thought Alex was competition for her.

"You're the little gold-digger that was over here last night. I know you stole something form the house. You're lucky I haven't reported it yet." Elaine lied, knowing exactly what to do to get rid of Alex once and for all.

"I just came to see how Scott was doing. He was in a fight--"

"Get in here. You'll have to wait on the couch. I'll go get him." She responded as Scott appeared in the room minutes later.

"I don't want to see you. Go away."

"You're a real brat, do you know that? I'm suspended thanks to you." Alex stated.

"You took the blame. Your choice, not mine." Scott shrugged it off, looking at Elaine who was fully engrossed in the conversation, especially once she sensed tension.

"Can you be a human being for a minute? Jay is my friend and I couldn't let him loose the rest of his senior year because of you. We have less than half a year left. Can't you just talk to Ms. H and clear this whole thing up."

"Why?"

"Because you owe me. There are so many things I could go and tell people, but I haven't … because I respected you enough not to hurt you, but that respect is running out. I don't care how you do it, but just fix it Scott." Alex turned to the door, walking out to the cab that was waiting for her.

"Where does that leave us?"

"As cordial. Real friends don't hit other friends." Alex finished, still looking and walking towards the cab.

"But they do forgive … I don't want to be just your friend. I'm into you Alex and with Jay in the picture we can't ever move on and see if something's there." Scott rushed to her side.

"We just met dude. What's your issue?"

"You. I want to … kiss you."

"Too bad." Alex hopped into the car, shutting it tightly behind her. No way. She needed to get away from this blonde-haired devil … and go home to one who was just as bad.

(REVIEW! THANKS. J -NL)