Disclaimer: I don't own Degrassi, or Always Attract by You Me At Six

We're like noughts and crosses in that, opposites always attract.

Eli

School is pointless. Half the things you will never use in real life and the other is a complete bore. The teachers always call on their pets, the preps play with their nails, and the jocks talk about hockey. It wasn't different from any other high school, but as far as I was concerned, this place was a fool's circus.

"Just another day in hell," I said to myself, watching my math teacher scribble incomprehensible calculus on the board, thankful that it was Friday and this would be the last I would see of math for at least two days. I pretended to do the problem, and as they called on someone for the answer, I continued to pretend write so they believed I was slow. It was a basic system that worked on all teachers so that they called on the fastest person in the class and forgot the others.

At my therapist's request, I had joined the drama club last year. She said I needed to "participate". I realize that sounds like Perks of Being a Wallflower, as that was her other request, that I read it. I enjoyed the book much; I could relate to Charlie. I empathize that what he went through was horrible, and I get how he felt infinite because he finally had a purpose in life. I wish that I could feel infinite. But I haven't found my purpose yet.

The first few plays that we did were okay. I enjoyed working backstage with some other nobodies. It was nice knowing that there were other people who went unnoticed as I did. It gave me the opportunity to be like Charlie – to be a wallflower.

Adam also worked with me. He was the sound tech, and that's what he went by. Well actually, they knew him as "the sound guy", which I guess was better than "emo boy" as I am referred to.

Walking into the theater, the set has already started to be built. One part was what looked like a hospital room, another was a basement, I think, and the last looked like a lavish living room. Of course, only the walls and paint were up, but I could hear people talking about what would go where and other mathy things that I a) didn't understand or b) didn't care to.

I saw the casting director and set designer – Fiona, and the head honcho lumberjack Jake looking at a giant script. Fiona was using lots of hand motions, and Jake was nodding. Honestly, Fiona was more of a director than Jake was – she had the money and the contacts to get what they needed, and Jake just took it all and put it under his byline. But, being the principal's favorite, Jake stayed in his position being all high and mighty while the rest of us did everything for him.

More people piled in, and my eye caught on a particular curly auburn haired girl, whom I have never seen before, walk into the auditorium with a messenger's bag over her shoulder, wearing a blue sundress under some leggings that stopped at her knees, and I swear, my breath caught in my throat. I forced myself to look away, but looking back, I watched her sit by herself in the corner, pull out a book and start reading. I swallowed the lump in my throat as my heart suddenly started beating fast and my hands turned sweaty.

What was this feeling? I've never felt this before. It was something so foreign, yet natural. So I did the next best natural thing:

I walked away.

"Adam," I said, "video games at my house after?" I requested.

"Man, I can't. I've gotta help Mom prepare for some relatives coming into town. Sorry, bro," he frowned. I sighed, and did our signature hand shake, and went off to wait until I was needed. But even still, the image of the beautiful girl I just saw was stuck in my mind.

"Can I have everyone's attention?" I heard Jake say, as I peeked out from backstage and around the curtains, "I would like to inquire as to who got what role. I have to say, I like the selection this year. For the main female role of Hazel – I give you, Imogen Moreno." Glancing at the curly haired beauty, I watched her frown in disappointment. She must have auditioned to be Hazel. Imogen jumped up, giggling and twirling around, and sat back down, floating in her own little world. I shook my head in distaste.

"The role of Augustus – Drew Torres," I saw the jock be congratulated by all of his football friends. I looked at Adam, who was standing on the other side of the stage behind the curtain, and he gave me a thumbs up. I chucked to myself.

"The other roles are posted in the drama room, because I forgot the paper and that's the only names I could think of off the top of my head," Jake admitted. I pursed my lips. Of course he forgot it. He just wanted to announce the leads in front of everyone to shatter half of their hopes.

"The rest of you – I expect you here on Monday for a read through of the script. No excuses. Goodbye," Jake concluded. I sighed, and gathered my stuff. Collecting my keys from my pocket, I shot a solemn look at Adam, who smirked sideways sadly, and I walked out of the back door of the auditorium to escape the crowd. As I approached the student parking lot, I turned towards the front doors of the school, seeing the auburn haired girl come down the steps. She looked my direction, and caught my eye for a second before looking away. My hands got that sweaty feeling again. My heart rate picked up. She looked away, adjusted her messenger bag, as a car pulled up and she opened the door and got in. My heart almost broke at her absence, but I composed myself and walked to Morty.
Putting the keys in the ignition, I sat in the hearse's frigid air conditioning for a few minutes thinking about her. What was her name? What was she like? Do I even stand a chance?

My heart said yes, and my head was screaming, a migraine sure to come on by the end of the day. Julia was gone, and although I missed her, I needed to move on with my life, and maybe this was it. Maybe this girl was the key to it all. Maybe I would finally be happy.

Maybe, just maybe.

End of Chapter 3