Wednesday, March 19, 2008 5:29:29 PM

Title: I Cared When You Were Scared

Rating: T unless otherwise specified

Fandom: Degrassi: The Next Generation

Disclaimer: My first Degrassi fic, so please bear with me. I haven't watched much of the show ever since Alex left, so this is strictly AU, considering there is an OC thrown in here. For once, I'm making the OC part of the main role because I feel like I haven't done much with my OCs. If there are any similarities towards other stories, be purely coincidental or simply inspired me. Also, I own nothing but Kamryn and her family (with the exception of her cousin a few times removed of whom you'll find out) so do not sue me. That also means I don't own the Apple iPod company, so don't start.

Pairing: Darcy/OC

Summary: There was a girl named Darcy Edwards. She was open-minded, but one person made her open-minded. This person was new to Degrassi. She knew what she was getting herself into. All she did was care for someone who was scared.

-ICWYWS-

Darcy sat on her bed, scribbling something in her notebook as she glanced over to the small cot that was across her bed. She couldn't help but smile at the sprawled form that was on the cot, especially since that form was all but ready to fall onto the floor.

Darcy moved her notebook to the side and slowly crawled over to the end of her bed, looking over towards where her guest was sleeping. She didn't understand why the cot was across her bed instead of beside it, but she really didn't care considering its occupant was on it; barely. She shook her head, crawling back to her earlier sitting position and continued writing in her notebook.

Kamryn, the only reason everything's the way it is now. She's over there sleeping on the cot, stretched out like a sheet over a bed. I really wonder how she's staying on the thing; she's already halfway onto the floor. Her blanket is barely on her now. Five minutes ago, she was snuggled in her blanket, curled up in a ball and now she's all over the place. I wouldn't be surprised if I find her on the floor tomorrow morning. Hopefully I don't accidentally walk all over her. That's a sight.

Kam looks so peaceful right now, it's really adorable. I'm glad that she came into my life; she changed a lot of what I believed in. Well, changed might not be fitting; opened me to new perspectives seems better. I really thank God for bringing Kamryn into my life; she's really affected me in a profound and positive manner. She's a great person and I'm grateful and thankful she stayed with me even through all the hardships we faced; especially the trials and tribulations I made her go through. I'm so stubborn, but at least she still stood by my side. Kamryn; she cared for me when I was scared out of my mind. Right now, I hope we'll always be together because she makes me happy.

Darcy ended the final sentence and smiled, closing the notebook before tucking it away in her bedside table. She took one final glance towards the older girl across from her before lying on her bed, clicking off the lamp on the table beside her.

-ICWYWS-

It all started a few months ago when Darcy took her regular seat in her English class. She had her notebook on her desk and a pen out, ready to take on the day's notes. She watched as everyone took their seats and waited for class to start.

"Class, apparently we have a new student," The teacher announced. Immediately, Darcy could hear the blatant whispers of every person in the class questioning whether or not the student was a guy or a girl. She could hear the distinct messages being passed around, questions regarding if the student was hot and where this person had come from. She could only smirk at the repetitive questions, waiting for this person to walk into the classroom.

The whispers that were crossing the classroom had stopped dramatically and it made Darcy look around for the reason as to why time had practically stopped. She saw the surprised looks on everyone's faces and they all seemed to have been directed to the front of the room. There, she realized why everything around her stopped.

"Everyone, this is Kamryn Parker. Please welcome her with open arms," The teacher announced, introducing the tall girl beside her. All eyes were on the tall girl whose skin seemed to be carefully sun-kissed. Her long chestnut brown hair was pulled into a loose ponytail and her bangs framed her face. She seemed to be the immediate eye candy of all the guys in the room; her white tank top and black and red cargo capri pants seemed to have an affect on the young men.

Darcy blinked a few times before she ran her eyes over the other girl. She didn't know what to make of her; the white running shoes, black capri pants and white tank top seemed to be coordinated. She deeply sighed, hearing another round of whispers crossing the room. She looked around and couldn't understand why everyone had to start talking all over again. She saw the smirks and heard the chuckles knowing that everyone was probably starting rumours about Kamryn. It was Degrassi, how could rumours not start?

Darcy looked back towards the front of the room where Kamryn still stood, her backpack loosely slung over her right shoulder, waiting to be seated. She saw the passive look across her face and she didn't know whether or not she was annoyed with the whispering going on.

"So, let's get this class started. Miss Parker, would you please take a seat with Darcy?" Kamryn raised an eyebrow and looked over at the teacher, wondering what Earth she was from to expect her to know who Darcy was.

"Darcy, and who is that?" Kamryn asked, furrowing her brow as she turned back to look around the room to find out who that person was. She saw a hand rise immediately and assumed that was the girl she was supposed to sit beside. She turned to the teacher and saw her nod. Kamryn nodded as well before walking to the empty desk to the right of Darcy, dropping her bag to the floor, pulling out her notebook and pen.

"Hey, I'm Darcy Edwards," Darcy whispered, looking over at the girl beside her who turned towards her. She saw a half-smile across the other girl's face and in turn she smiled back.

"Kamryn Parker, as you heard," Kamryn whispered back, glad that she managed to strike up a conversation with someone she had never met.

The two continued to talk to each other, seeming to ignore what the teacher was trying to instil to them. They were occasionally stopped because the class suddenly grew quiet, but they were never caught.

-ICWYWS-

Lunch immediately approached and Darcy and Kamryn had separated paths. Darcy already made her way to her friends, Emma, Manny and Chantay, taking seats with them.

"So, there's a new girl, any thoughts?" Manny asked, looking around the group of girls. She saw them all beginning to think, ready to bring out their thoughts.

"She's a nice person," Darcy stated, gaining a sudden silence which made her furrow her brow. She looked around and saw everyone blankly staring at her.

"Well someone is really uninformed," Emma smirked, looking down at her lunch before bringing her eyes back up to Darcy. She saw the vacant look on Darcy's face indicating she had no idea what she was talking about.

"What?" Darcy asked.

"Wow, this is Degrassi, how do you not hear anything? The girl's rich," Emma answered, propping her elbow on the table, resting her chin on it.

"Rich? Then, why would she be here?" Manny asked, hearing an exasperated sigh from the blonde.

"Because, I can be." Everyone around the table immediately froze up hearing the female voice. They all turned around and saw Kamryn standing behind them, smirking. Everyone fell silent and they had nothing to say. Kamryn on the other hand glanced over at Darcy, shaking her head.

"Hey Kamryn, are you coming or what?" All the girls turned to source of the call and saw Jimmy waving Kamryn over.

"Yeah, I'll be right there!" Kamryn called back, jogging over to Jimmy whom she had met after accidentally having her foot run over by his wheelchair.

All the other girls watched as the new girl began playing basketball with the rest of the guys and a collective sound of disgust ran through the group. All the girls continued running their thoughts about Kamryn, assuming she was up to nothing good in their school. However, Darcy stayed defensive about the new girl, knowing things that her friends had no idea about. She knew that Kamryn was good person; well at least from what she heard when she talked to her.

"Do you think she's from Lakehurst?" Emma quietly asked, glancing over at Kamryn who was now playing basketball with most of the guys. Everyone moved their gazes to the basketball court, watching Kamryn sink a lay up.

"Who knows where she's from. All I know is she's not your average girl," Manny stated, noticing how aggressive Kamryn was playing with the guys.

"Are you saying," Emma quickly glanced over Manny, seeing a look on her face.

"Well, what else could she be saying? Chantay smirked, retrieving all the gazes back into the group.

"What are you all going on about?" Darcy questioned, furrowing her brow in complete confusion. She couldn't understand what her friends were going on about and it was starting to annoy her.

"She's the next Alexandra Nuñez," Chantay answered, unable to believe her friend's incapability to understand that. A blank look crossed Darcy's face and only quiet sounds of chuckling made itself around the group.

"Now, who's going to be the next Paige Michalchuk?" The giggles grew louder at the joke and immediately Darcy huffed, taking to her feet, taking her bag and lunch with her.

"Hey, where are you going?" Manny called out, watching her friend begin to depart from the table. Darcy looked at them and snorted.

"Somewhere where the prejudice is lacking," Darcy retorted back, making her way to the basketball court. The other girls look at each other and shook their heads.

"You'd think we were putting down her girlfriend," Chantay smirked, watching Darcy take a seat at one of the benches near the court.

-ICWYWS-

The end of the school day had come and Kamryn lacked those classes with Darcy, leaving the two unspoken with each other. Kamryn pulled on her ear buds, starting up her iPod as she headed to the bike rack at the front of the school. She loosely slung on her backpack and pocketed her mp3 player as she began unlocking her black and silver text bicycle. She lowered her backpack and placed the locks inside before snugly pulling the bag on her back and riding off.

As her music began drowning out the rest of the world, she slowly rode off, not hearing the cries for her to stop. Kamryn was deaf to Darcy's calls as well as blind to the other girl's attempt to run after her. Darcy jogged after her, but the realization that her sandals were going to get her nowhere; she stopped and picked up a pebble, throwing it at Kamryn. Fortunately for her, the pebble managed to strike Kamryn's head and forced her to stop which gave her time to catch up with her.

Kamryn buckled at the hit and pulled out one of her ear buds as she turned to see who hit her. She knitted her brow in annoyance, but as she saw the person who potentially have thrown the object at her head, her face softened. There was Darcy Edwards running after her in sandals that are not meant to be used to run with.

Darcy finally caught up with Kamryn who was crossing her arms. She stood beside the other girl and began panting, realizing how much of a drag running in sandals was. She took a deep breath and began regaining her composure.

"You chucked a rock?" Kamryn questioned, raising an eyebrow at the brunette that stood in beside her. A faint blush crept onto Darcy's face and it made Kamryn chuckle.

"I'm sorry, but you kept riding away," Darcy replied back, seeing a smile place itself on Kamryn's lips. She felt better knowing that Kamryn wasn't angry at her for throwing a possible projectile at her head.

"That will be my bad then. So, what brings you?" Kamryn curiously asked, unfolding her arms as she waited for an answer. Darcy flinched when she realized she didn't really have much of a definite answer. She did want to talk to the other girl since the little event at lunch, but that seemed like a next day conversation.

"I was wondering what happened at lunch," Darcy answered, leaving no time for her mind to actually comprehend what she was saying. She began to mentally scold herself, wondering why she brought that up. She watched as Kamryn raise her eyebrows before pulling out the other ear bud from her ear.

"What about it?" Kamryn simply replied back, wondering where Darcy was going to take the conversation.

"You looked at me and shook your head," Darcy quietly said, unable to look at Kamryn in the eye. She felt dumb bringing that part of the event, but the look and the action made her feel guilty for some reason. She heard the other girl sigh and it made her feel really awkward as if she was under intense scrutiny.

"Darcy," Kamryn started, hoping to get the other girl's gaze back towards her. She saw the shorter girl slowly look up at her and there was a hesitation in her eye that was intriguing. "I did what I did because after what I heard from Jimmy and what I heard from you, I thought you had friends that weren't into gossip, but then again who doesn't buy that stuff. I guess I was a little disappointed from what they assumed," Kamryn continued.

"You were disappointed?"

"Yeah, I'm used to the fact people assume things of me, but you're a really nice person from what I know of you and I didn't think you'd hang out with people like that. Though, you choose your friends and you hang out with who you like, so I don't know," Kamryn explained, shrugging at the end. She watched the other girl bow her head, clasping her hands together.

"They just don't know you. Maybe if we hung out together, they'd find out you were a great person," Darcy replied back, looking up at the taller girl.

"One day, D, one day we'll hang out all together. Also, I'm a great person? We've only met for not even one school day and you think I'm great?" Kamryn chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest again. She saw Darcy begin to blush again.

"Yeah, I mean you're a really nice person. We had a nice talk during English class," Darcy explained, watching Kamryn smile and nod in reply.

"That was nice. However, are you heading home right now?" Kamryn asked, realizing that she was probably delaying the other girl's departure.

"Oh, yeah I am."

"Walking or is someone driving you?"

"Walking, lovely exercise," Darcy laughed. Kamryn began to chuckle once again when she pictured Darcy walking long distances in her sandals.

"Hey, I'll walk you home," Kamryn suggested, placing her hands on her lap, waiting for an answer.

"No, it's okay," Darcy interjected, not wanting to waste the other girl's time.

"Don't worry, it's not like I have anywhere else to go," Kamryn replied back, seeing the other girl begin to contemplate for an answer.

"Okay, but don't blame me if you had to go straight home," Darcy stated as she began to ready herself for the walk.

"I'll take the blame. Although, how far do you live?"

"Like 20 minutes in that direction," Darcy answered, pointing down the road. She heard Kamryn chuckle once again.

"Yeah, not going to let you walk," Kamryn smirked, wondering what possessed the other girl to wear footwear she did for a kind of walk like that. Then again, she pondered on the thought of Darcy wearing the same footwear in the mall and it seemed evident the other girl would manage.

"What?"

"Next thing you know, I'm on the next block on the bike. That time, you'll probably chuck your sandal at my head," Kamryn laughed, imagining the incident taking place. She saw the amused look on Darcy's face and took that as something good.

"So, what do you propose I do?" Darcy asked, curious as to what Kamryn was thinking of.

"If you weren't wearing that white skirt and carrying a purse, I would let you sit on the bike while I pedal. Then again, you're wearing sandals, so I don't know how you'd pedal. So! I propose you side saddle the frame and I'll just pedal you home," Kamryn explained, earning a surprised look from the other girl.

"You want me to what?"

"Come here and sit on the frame like it's a bench. Have you seen the 'Princess Diaries'?" Darcy nodded her head.

"Cross your legs in the princess manner and I guess hold onto me or the frame," Kamryn explained, still getting an odd look from Darcy. She pulled the other girl towards the bike and motioned for her to sit on it as she had explained. Darcy reluctantly sat on the frame and realized that it was taller than what she had suspected. She was glad Kamryn had her feet planted on the ground and her left arm on the handlebar or she was sure they would have toppled over onto the ground. She held onto her purse and firmly gripped the frame beneath her and soon they were moving.

-ICWYWS-

A few minutes had passed and the two girls stayed silent, with the occasional directional instruction by Darcy. There was an immediate incident after the two took off from the school where the bike hit a bump and Darcy almost fell off the bike. Kamryn had stopped the bike and somewhat repositioned Darcy on the frame. Darcy was moved closer to Kamryn and her left hand was gripping the frame while her right arm was around Kamryn's body.

"Why do I feel so weird? Maybe the fact that I'm holding onto Kamryn for dear life is making me feel so, but I don't know." Darcy could feel an undeniable knot forming in her stomach and she didn't know what to make of it. She dismissed it, thinking it was hunger.

"So, here we are," Kamryn stated, slowing the bike to a stop in front of what was Darcy's house. She moved her hands from the handlebars and tilted to the side far enough for Darcy to touch the ground.

"Do you want to come in?" Darcy asked, too fast for her mind to think. She saw the look on Kamryn's face and she didn't know whether it read shock or happiness.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't your parents wonder why you're bringing home a stranger?" Kamryn quipped, smiling. She chuckled when Darcy playfully shoved her against the shoulders.

"Yes I'm sure. My parents are very willing to meet my friends. Besides, what kind of stranger would you be if I hang out with you? You also said 'You don't have anywhere else to go'" Darcy retorted back, heading towards her house.

"All right then, I'll just do my homework here," Kamryn chuckled, wheeling her bike into the yard. She followed Darcy into the house after locking up her bike in the yard. As they walked in, Darcy walked to the kitchen, leaving Kamryn to wander around the house. The other girl removed her shoes at the doorway and headed into the living room, dropping her backpack on the floor before heading through the dining room and to the kitchen.

"Nice place." Darcy smirked at the comment, pulling out a can of soda from the fridge.

"Thanks, I think. Do you want a drink?" Kamryn raised an eyebrow and looked at the can in Darcy's hand before nodding in reply. She retrieved the can of soda from Darcy and leaned against the countertop, looking around the kitchen.

"So, where are your folks?" Kamryn asked, noticing the lack of adults in the household. She watched as Darcy smile and nod.

"My parents are at work until six, and my sister is at a friend's house, so I usually I'm home alone for an hour," Darcy explained, heading towards the living room. Kamryn followed suit and watched as the other girl collapse on a chair, leaving her to collapse on the couch.

"Sister, eh? Younger, older?"

"Younger, her name's Claire," Darcy answered, reaching for the remote on the table, flipping the television on.

"Cool."

"What about you? Do you have any siblings?" Kamryn nodded, taking a sip of her soda before placing it on the table.

"I have an older brother and an older sister as well as a younger brother and a younger sister," Kamryn replied back, seeing a bright smile on Darcy's face.

"Aww, you have a big family," Darcy smiled. Kamryn nodded her head and sighed.

"It only gets bigger with all the extended family," Kamryn explained, this time shaking her head.

"Yeah, I can imagine."

"Anyways, did you finish the assignment we had for English?" Kamryn asked, as she retrieved her backpack from the floor, pulling out her English textbook and notebook.

"We had an assignment?" Darcy monotonously asked, unable to recall any homework.

"Yeah, we have to read the first chapter and summarize it. Were you really out of it when we were talking?" Kamryn laughed, seeing the shocked look on Darcy's face.

"We had an assignment?" Darcy repeated.

"All right, to the living room we go. Let's get the homework done and then we'll chat," Kamryn smiled, taking to her feet, holding her things under one arm, while extending the other towards Darcy who groaned, reaching out for Kamryn's hand. She felt sudden warmth in her arm and she flinched, but she didn't let go.

-ICWYWS-

A long while had passed and Darcy and Kamryn were still in the dining room doing their homework. Well, they finished, but they ended up staying there, talking and eating something Kamryn had whipped up.

"Darcy, honey, we're home!" A male voice called out into the house.

"Darcy, we hope you had a good day at school—oh, who's this young lady with you?" Kamryn and Darcy looked up at the door and saw Darcy's parents at the doorway, looking at them. Kamryn quickly stood up and walked over to the adults and extended her right hand towards them.

"Hi, I'm Kamryn Parker, Darcy's classmate," Kamryn explained, shaking each of the two's hands. She saw a look on their faces, but it wasn't of negativity which comforted her.

"It's nice to meet you Kamryn. Are you new because I haven't seen you here before," Mr. Edwards asked, motioning for Kamryn to return to her earlier seat as he and his wife sat across from the two teenage girls.

"Yeah, I moved to Degrassi this year," Kamryn answered, noticing the wary eye of Mrs. Edwards towards the food in front of Darcy's plate.

"It's noodles. I hope you don't mind if I used them, I was getting a little hungry and I wasn't exactly keen on buying take out." Mrs. Edwards turned towards Kamryn and smiled.

"It's okay, the noodles were probably sitting in the cupboards waiting to be cooked," Mrs. Edwards chuckled. Darcy twirled her fork in the noodles and handed it over to her mother, letting her taste what was made. She and Kamryn glanced at each other, waiting for some kind of positive answer, or any answer from the older woman. No answer had come about; rather the other woman took another twirl of noodles from Darcy's plate. Kamryn let out a sigh and was glad her food was a hit.

"Where did you learn to cook?" Mrs. Edwards asked, handing the fork over to her husband, letting him try it.

"My mother taught me to took, she's all about fending for yourself if you're home alone or not fond of take out," Kamryn chuckled.

"This is good," Mr. Edwards said, as he began to eat the noodles as well.

"Thanks, props to my mom." The two adults continued to eat which left a silence run over them.

"So, mom, dad, you're a bit late," Darcy stated, wanting to rid of the silence.

"Sorry about that, we took a little detour to the soup kitchen," Mr. Edwards answered, taking a sip of water from Darcy's glass.

"Oh, what about Claire, did she call you guys?"

"Yeah, she said she was sleeping over at her friend's house tonight." Kamryn furrowed her brow as she glanced at her watch. Her eyes opened wide when she saw it was nearly nine. She didn't realize how much time had gone by with all the fun she had with Darcy. She whipped out her cellphone and began calling home. Everyone around her watched her curiously, wondering what was happening. Apparently, no one answered since Kamryn replaced her cellphone and stood up.

"Hey, I have to go now."

"Already?" Darcy asked, standing up with Kamryn.

"Yeah, there's an early curfew on school nights. My younger brother and sister aren't answering, so they might be out. Basically, it's a rush to meet the nine or nine-thirty curfew," Kamryn chuckled, walking around the dining room table, bowing in front of the adults.

"Curfew? What?" Kamryn shook Mr. and Mrs. Edwards's hands once again before heading to the living room to retrieve her backpack.

"My parents and older siblings went out for a business trip leaving me with the young ones to keep an eye out. There's a rule that if the folks or older siblings are gone, a curfew of nine or nine-thirty is enabled during school nights. Tonight is a school night, so I have to get going," Kamryn sighed, pulling on her backpack before turning towards Darcy.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" Darcy asked, feeling quite sad that Kamryn was leaving already.

"Of course, we go to the same school don't we? Again, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards, it was a pleasure meeting you," Kamryn stated, nodding towards the adults before racing out the door to the yard, where she still had to unlock her bike.

"Pleasure as well," Mr. Edwards replied back, watching the girl wave to them before riding off. Darcy faintly smiled before walking inside the house towards her bedroom.

"She's a nice girl," Mrs. Edwards stated, watching as the darkening silhouette of what was Kamryn disappeared.

"She is from what I've heard," Mr. Edwards added, watching Kamryn disappear into the night.

--

AN: The ending seems a little rushed because it was. I really felt the need to post this chapter and see what was going to happen and my computer is almost dying, so I had to post this before I lose it. Anyways, review review review )