One Way Out (Degrassi FanFiction)

Chapter 2: Mistaken

I open the door to the student council lounge and pull out the deck of cards from my back pocket. Clumsily, I drop the deck and the cards scatter all over the tile floor. I bend over and hastily try to pick up the mess.

Without glancing up, I speak, "Hey Connor, and you guys, c-can I join you today? For an, um Poker game?"

When I hear no response, I stand up, shuffling the cards and smoothing them out into one neat pile, "I brought the lucky deck... you know, i-if you wanna use it, or, whatever." Nervously, I laugh and shrug.

Finally I muster the courage to look up.

Connor's not here, and neither is Clare or Alli. Hm. Guess he wasn't lying 'bout that science thing after all.

The only people I could see in the room were Drew, and a group of younger girls sitting around him at the round table in the center of the room. All of them stare at me, and my heart sinks into my stomach.

Finally Drew clears his throat and addresses me, "Hello, uh," he hesitates for a moment, but can't think of my name. "We're kind of in the middle of a student-council meeting right now, if you don't mind."

"Oh, n-no. I'm so sorry. I just- I just thought that-"

Drew clears his throat loudly and shoots me a look that says: None of the young girls here need to know that I gamble.

Again, I say, "Sorry."

He sighs and presses a hand to his forehead, then runs his hand down his stressed-out face. "You know what? It's fine." he smiles, "Take a seat. We were just getting started."

I nod and pull out an empty chair, then take a seat and sit up straight.

It was odd; every girl in my homeroom is here at this meeting. So, why wasn't I invited? I crossed my arms and drowned out Drew's voice. All of the girls are leaning in towards his end of the table- staring at his face and practically drooling for his attention. This is quite an amusing sight for me.

Where is Clare? And Connor? I could've sworn they were on the council. How the hell did all these puny lower-classmen end up here instead?

Drew Torres probably loves the attention. He must adore the thought of mindless freshmen and sophomores pining for his affection. How narcissistic.

Freshmen? More like fresh-meat.

Throughout the meeting, I doodle on the blank paper on my clipboard. Absent-mindedly, I sketch people partying and clubbing- something I've always wanted to do. If only I had friends... or popularity... or confidence... or a legitimate life.

I've given up on trying to pay attention to the matter at hand; no one else here is, anyways. They're all focused on Drew's angelic face.

Suddenly, my paper slips out from under my grasp. What the-

The girl sitting next to me snatched it out from under me. I try to snatch it back, but she's too quick. She passes it on to Zoe, who slides it over to Keisha, who hands it to Frankie Hollingsworth- with a gigantic smirk on her innocent little face.

Frankie studies my paper for a little while, then raises her hand high in the air, "Drew, I have an idea for the Valentine's Day Dance."

Drew nods at her, "Let's hear it." He leans back in his chair and rests his hands on the table. Everyone's attention is transferred over to Frankie.

"So," she raises her eyebrows, "let's all have a 'night-out', right here! A night-party here at Degrassi. I was thinking... a clubbing type thing. Maybe even Casino-style. Without the drinking, of course."

"I appreciate the participation,"

I can tell there's going to be a 'but...' that follows.

"but, Degrassi has hosted a Vegas Night in the past. We're trying to go for original, here, people."

There was the 'but'.

Frankie crosses her arms and leans back in her chair with a slight pout, crossing her legs. Her idea was just shut down by the school President. Or should I say, my idea- that wasn't intended to be an idea.

Under the table, I can hear paper ripping. I bet she just ripped my sketches apart. With all honesty, I didn't care at all.

"Any other thoughts? Any at all?" Drew asks out desperately with a sigh.

Slowly, I raise my hand.

"Go ahead. Hit me with your best shot."

"A Paris Plaza in the gymnasium." I burst.

Everyone's eyes now avert towards me. I look around, but no one responds. For a second, there is a doubt in my mind, telling me that everyone finds distaste in my sudden idea.

Drew claps, and he's the only one. I see him smile genuinely and stand up, "Ladies and gentlemen... I think we've found ourselves a winner. Degrassi's first Paris Plaza!"

Frankie sits up straight and shoots me a quick glare, but then softens her expressions when other people start looking at her. "June, mind sharing with us how you came up with that idea?"

"Well, I-I, I just thought, you know- in spite of the whole Paris t-trip that happened over the summer." I stutter the words out and shrug more than I should.

Zoe chimes in, seemingly on my side, "Come on guys, you have to admit, that Paris trip was wicked fun." she twirls her luscious hair around one finger and chuckles. "This could work out." Zoe winks in my direction and I feel a smile forming on my face.

I look around the table and slowly but surely, one by one, the sophomores all start to agree. Once the freshmen notice, they agree as well.

"Then it's settled." Drew slams his hands down on the round table. "Looks like Degrassi's spending a night at our very own Paris. You guys are dismissed. Thanks for showing up for this meeting."

The senior president pushes his chair in and walks towards the door. Do I stop him, call out his name, make conversation? Properly introduce myself?

My mouth opens but no words can find their way out. The door shuts, and Drew is gone. All the girls pack up their belongings and I do the same--still wondering--what in the world could've happened to my secret notebook-page confessing my love for Miles Hollingsworth?