One Way Out (Degrassi FanFiction)

Chapter 3: I Can't Fix You

I walk into school the next day surprised to see some students waving at me. I look up and shoot some of them little smiles. Something has definitely changed, alright.

"June-bug!" Zoe Rivas grabs my shoulders from behind.

"H-hi."

"That's what Frankie calls you, right?"
"Well- yeah,"
"Ha, good. Not anymore. That's my name for you now."

Apparently Zoe is head-bitch around here. So I better keep my cool and go along with it. I can't think up a decent response, so I nod my head and smile.

"Walk." She links her arm with mine and together we strut into the school building.

"Listen," Zoe looks around to see if anyone's watching, then whispers to me, "I think you're a pretty smart kid. I need to be around people more like you rather than, well, you know." She points her thumb behind her and I lean over to see what she was pointing at. Frankie.

She continues, "That Paris Palooza idea was genius. I can't wait to sit with you at lunch. Bye hun!"

It's Plaza, not Palooza.

"Ignorant bitch." I mutter to myself.

5 Weeks Later:

Zoe and I are pretty close now as friends. She's really not as bad of a person as I described earlier. Once you get to know her, she's down-to-earth and genuine.

Okay- that is a lie. Zoe Rivas is none of those things. But she honestly is my friend now. I don't care much for her, but I've been power-hungry lately; I've been craving popularity. I have dreams about alternate universes where I'm Queen Bee and Zoe's group of girls follow me around like drones.

That hasn't quite happened yet- but I have high hopes that it will.

Zoe has control over Keisha and Frankie, of course. So ever since Zoe has accepted me, they have started to accept me too. To be honest, it's not such a bad feeling. I don't know why I've always tried to shut everyone out of my life. Having friends is so much better than I expected.

Frankie whistles for me to come over to their lunch table, so I hurriedly collect my lunch from the lunch line and scurry over to where she is.

"I'm here. So, what did I miss?" I sit down in between Zoe and Keisha, across from two other freshmen with two other sophomores beside them.

Keisha leans over and says into my ear, "That Miles Hollingsworth boy... he's been checking Zoe out. And he makes it sooo obvious that he wants her."

"Oh, shut up." Zoe has a smug smile on her face. She batters her eyelashes towards Miles who is sitting two tables away from us.

"You know it's true." Keisha says with a mouth full of turkey.

Wanting to join the conversation, I have to pretend to act surprised and happy for Zoe.

When in reality, my heart is crushing into fractured pieces because I had my eyes set on Miles ever since the minute I stepped foot into Degrassi.

I clear my throat, "So, uhm, you gonna make a move, or what?"

Zoe throws her head back and laughs. She pats me on the shoulder like a puppy, "Hun, I'm not the man here. If he wants to stop being a wimp and ask me out- he'll do it. I know he's got the guts. Just wait... soon enough... he'll be ready."

"Oh... great..."
"I know. Isn't it great? After all, we had such a great time together in Paris."

All of the girls look up from their lunches and poke at Zoe, bugging her into telling them about what went on between he and Miles in Paris. She denies their requests though, and doesn't spill anything.

Drowning out the conversation, I look over to the boy. Miles. For the slightest moment, he looks back at me.

And I could've sworn I saw a little wink.

My imagination needs to stop playing tricks on me.

I giggle and laugh as the girls gossip. I've adapted to Zoe's ways, and it seems that now I laugh like her. I hope I'm not becoming too much like her though, because that would be awful. I can't lose track of who I am as person- I've always wanted to be my own person. Original.

Then, the worst possible thing happens.

Connor taps me on the shoulder.

I spin around in my seat and look him in the eyes. My jaw drops and shuts but no words come out. Eventually, Zoe speaks up, "June, you know this guy?"

After about ten seconds of thought, I decide to push him out of my life. My new life. "N-no. I don't know him."

Connor stands there looking disappointed and confused. He raises an eyebrow.

I stutter and am quick to end the silence, "I mean, m-maybe I d-do know him. It's hard to tell, you know? There are s-so many unattractive science freaks around here- it's hard to tell which one is which anymore."

The table of girls erupts into laughter and Connor walks away shaking his head. I'm not sure if he pitied me or felt betrayed. I wouldn't be surprised if he felt both. I would feel the same if I were in his position. Oh, wow, I made a huge mistake. He's probably not even mad-- he just thinks I'm a stupid freshman that has no definitive personality! I'm a train wreck!

And my train is so damn close to flying off the rails!

Why would I diss my only true friend like that?

Breathe, June. Breathe.