Lunch had come around after what felt like the longest day ever. Luckily, though, Alice made quick friends with the boy JT, who introduced her to Manny and Toby, who had all the same classes as her. Emma was in one of their morning classes, too.
"I'm supposed to meet Sean somewhere for lunch," Alice said as the trio reached the entrance to the cafeteria, "he's probably outside at the car."
"Can I come, too?" Manny piped up. "I haven't seen him in years, and you're so cool, so I'm in."
Alice's face lit up, "of course!"
She instantly loved Manny. They already got along so well.
"See you in math!" Alice called back to JT as Manny practically dragged the girl off and through the front doors. They looked around in the parking lot and spotted Sean leaned against the hood of his red sedan. In front of him stood a familiar blonde.
As the pair grew closer, the look on Manny's face grew angrier and colder. She sure could serve a mean bitch face, Alice observed.
"Hey," Alice called out to her brother, glad he appeared to be over his anger from earlier, "we still on for lunch?"
Emma turned toward the voice. As they walked past the blonde, Alice couldn't help but notice the glare Manny shot at her best friend.
"Sure," he shrugged, turning back to Emma, "I'll see you later then."
Emma bit her lip to hide a smile, "yeah, I guess so." She backed up a few steps, before turning around and re-entering the school.
Sean's comment suddenly earned him a slug to the shoulder from Manny, "hey, what the fuck?"
"What do you mean, 'see you later'?" She snapped, preparing for another hit, "you are aware that Peter exists, right?"
"Yeah," he scrunched up his nose at the thought of the tall, blonde wiener from the day prior, "I told her we'd meet at the races so I could modify his car."
Manny's face softened, "good, 'cause she's finally in a good place and I don't need you ruining it."
The siblings furrowed their eyebrows synchronously, appearing to freak Manny out a bit, "that was weird."
Sean shook off her comment, "what do you mean by that?"
"Last year," she sucked in a deep breath, "Emma had some body issues…"
Her voice trailed off, allowing Sean to fill in the blanks.
"I…" he paused, unsure of how to put his thoughts into words, "…I wish I was there. I should've been there."
"Hey, don't do that to yourself," Manny said reassuringly, as she sat next to him against his car, "you went home; you needed to deal."
She rested her head on his shoulder, "and had you not gone home, you wouldn't have her here with you now." Referring to Alice, who stood a few feet away; her face reading anguish. She had no idea these things affected Sean this much; he didn't let her know it bothered him still.
Sean suddenly reciprocated Manny's friendly affection and rested his head against hers now. Tears burned at his eyes, but he wouldn't allow them to fall.
"I just wish it never happened," he looked down at the ground now, referring to the shooting, "why did he have to bring a gun? And why did it have to be me who shot him?"
"None of us wanted this to happen, Sean," Manny stood up straight now, and looked him in the eyes, "but we are all thankful you were there. Emma especially; who else would've been brave enough to jump in front of a gun to save her?"
It suddenly felt as if all the air was knocked out of Alice's lungs. She stepped a few inches further from the two, heartbroken at what she was listening to. Her lips parted in surprise learning the new information about the shooting. Until now, she had just figured her brother stepped in to put an end to the rampage. She had no idea it was about Emma.
"Al?" Manny's voice brought her back to.
"I'll, uh," she hesitated, "I'll see you guys in class, okay?"
She could feel her throat closing, and her heart was ready to escape her chest. She ran a hand through her hair as she headed back into the building. She felt the eyes of the other two on her until she started up the stairs. The moment she entered the school, she was greeted by two of the last people she wanted to see. It was Emma at her locker, in an embrace with Peter. Her face turned to disgust as Emma watched her walk by. The time seemed to slow down, as Alice observed Emma in slow motion.
How could she continue to date that blonde loser when the guy who literally saved her life was back at Degrassi? It seemed clear to everyone that he still loved her, so why didn't she feel the same? Why didn't she see it too?
Once out of sight, safely confined in a bathroom stall, Alice's back fell against the door. As she tried to catch her breath, she placed a hand on her chest and focused on the racing of her heart. Streams of mascara rolled down her face, but her throat began to reopen. She felt like she could breathe again, as her heart slowed. She never thought the coping strategies her therapist gave her would actually work. Once regaining the ability to move her tired body, she stood up and headed to the sinks, where she observed her raccoon-like appearance. As she started to clean her face, the bathroom door swung open suddenly.
Emma's face read concern as she spoke softly, "Alice?"
Her eyebrows furrowed; Emma was one of the last people she wanted to see right now. Without a word, she snuck past the blonde and directly to their next class.
Although she sat with Sean, Manny and Emma in their final classes of the day, she managed not to have to speak to any of them. Although, not without a lack of concern from Sean and Manny. Shit, even Emma seemed tense. The bell couldn't ring soon enough for Alice.
When the day finally came to an end, Emma and Manny parted ways from the siblings. Sean followed his sister to her locker in silence, before they made their way out of the building and into his car. He followed a few steps behind her and allowed her to enter the car first.
Sean started the car then spoke, barely above a whisper, "wanna talk about it?"
His eyes burned holes through his sister, but she refused to move her gaze from her lap. She wiped away a tear and shook her head no. With a defeated exhale, Sean put the car in gear and drove out of the Degrassi parking lot. He figured there was no use arguing; she was a Cameron.
"You know," Sean cleared his throat, sounding almost scared to spark up a conversation as they pulled up in front of Jay's place, "I don't have to go to the races tonight."
Alice's glance had been directed out the passenger side window the whole drive home. "Don't be stupid, Sean."
Without even looking in his direction, she could tell he was giving her a look, she continued, "you need to win her back."
She turned back in her brother's direction to see him smiling graciously, forcing a small smile to sneak onto her face.
"You sure you'll be okay staying here with Jay?"
The thought of her brother's best friend almost boosted her spirits. She was more than okay with being alone with Jay.
"Don't worry about me," she rolled her eyes, "you gotta go get your girl."
Sean chuckled softly, "thanks, Al."
Without another word, Alice exited the car and allowed Sean to drive off before crossing the street and into Jay's home.
"Shit," she fumbled through her bag, only to realize she left her keys in her room. Just as she lifted her knuckle to knock, the door swung open.
"Welcome home, Lil Cam," he smirked, although his smile dropped as he noticed Alice's tear-stained face and puffy, red eyes. "What's—"
"I just need to be alone, okay?"
Jay stepped out of the way, allowing the girl to saunter down the hall and to her bedroom. He stayed in place for a moment until he heard her door shut. He let out a deep breath. Was the Jay Hogart concerned about someone other than himself?
He suddenly wasn't sure what to do with himself. He looked around for a moment, until deciding to do his usual after-work activity: watching crappy TV. He opted for some reality show that never failed to put him to sleep. Although this time, he just couldn't sleep. The thought of Alice being alone and upset in her bedroom tore him up inside. And after an hour of white women yelling at each other over problems only rich people had, he decided to check on his best friends' little sister. Before he knocked, he heard her voice talking to someone. How he hoped deep down it wasn't a guy.
"Come in!" She called, seeming in better spirits than before. Jay opened the door slowly as she concluded her phone call. "Hey, what's up?"
"I was thinking of ordering pizza, are you interested?"
Her lips formed a smile, carving dimples deep into each of her cheeks. Jay could've melted right there, but he shook his thoughts out of his mind.
"I'll come join you in the living room in a second, okay?"
Jay nodded, retreating back to the couch. Moments later, he heard the door creak open. From the darkness of the hallway, appeared Alice. She looked a lot comfier now; wearing an oversized white t-shirt and fluffy pyjama pants. God, she'd look good in a paper bag.
Jay scooted over to allow her space to sit. Her attention immediately turned to the television in front of them, "you like Housewives, too?"
The way her face lit up; Jay couldn't bare tell her the truth, "uh, yeah. We can watch it."
As they waited for the pizza to arrive, Jay sat silently and just observed and listened to Alice's commentary on all the rich lady problems only these women would have. He could get used to this.
The pizza arrived moments later, and the pair sat in front of the coffee table as an episode of The Simpsons came on. As much as Jay was glad there was finally something entertaining to watch, he was disappointed that Alice's conversation had come to an end.
He swallowed a bite of his pizza and decided to address the elephant in the room, "what happened today?"
Immediately, Alice appeared to shut down. Her laughing at the shenanigans on the TV came to an end abruptly, and the piece of Hawaiian pizza she held was now back in the box. Her blue eyes darkened as she stood up from her spot. Jay followed; committed to not let her off the hook this time.
"What do you care?" She turned toward the boy on her way back to the bedroom, "we were having such a nice dinner and you just had to ruin it, huh?"
"Whoa," Jay raised his hands in submission, "take it easy, Lil Cam. Can't I ask my best friend's little sister why a girl as pretty as her came into my house crying?"
The mention of Sean forced her to break down. As if her feet planted to the ground, tears exploded from her eyes; right in front of a guy she barely knew. Her body just wouldn't move.
Through teary eyes, she watched Jay's figure slowly – cautiously – move closer to her. She allowed – no, welcomed – his presence. When he carefully wrapped his arms around her frail body, she began to thrash uncontrollably. It was like her body became possessed. The words began to spew from her lips.
"I've been a terrible sister," she cried between sobs, "Sean has-has always been there for me, and-and he's the one that's been through the most. He shot, he shot a guy. For a girl who doesn't even—,"
Jay shushed the frantic girl, who he had now secured in his arms, "breathe, take a deep breath."
He held her tightly in his grasp until he felt her shaking subside. Her sobs suddenly silenced, and she was once again steady on her feet. Jay pulled her away from him and looked into her red, swollen eyes, "I told you, you're too pretty to cry."
The two searched each other's eyes, as the distance between them suddenly began to lessen. Alice's eyes shut, as she was ready to welcome whatever Jay was about to do. Now mere centimetres apart, the door opening behind them forced them both backwards. In sync, the pair's eyes darted to Sean. After shutting the door behind him, he fell against it. It was obvious by the wild look in his eyes that something happened.
He ran a hand through his hair as he spoke in disbelief, "I kissed her."
A/N: Next chapter will be more SEMMA centric, I promise :)