The Way It Should Have Been
I know most Degrassi stories out there now don't get much fanfare unless they are Eli/Claire. (Though if you ask me once Emma left and they took 'Next Generation' out of the title Degrassi started sucking, because let's face it Emma was the 'Next Generation') Anyway I starting re-watching the old Degrassi episodes—and re-crushing on Ryan Cooley—and I thought I would write a story for all the other JT Yorke fans out there
Chapter 1 They Party Don't Start Till They Walk In
A/N The first chapter is a slightly altered version of Rock This Town. This will turn out to be an original story so stay with me.
"This party wasn't such a bad idea," Manny Santos told herself Sure word had somehow gotten out about the they small birthday gathering they were having for Liberty at the Nelson/Simpson house yes her co-hostess Emma was officially AWOL but other than that… Manny looked over in the corner of the room. It looked like Liberty was reconnecting with JT, the man who had broken her heart twice before. Manny loved both Liberty and JT but they were better as friends. Friends couldn't break each other's heart. But what right had she to tell Liberty to get over JT when she couldn't even get over Craig. Like Liberty said it was easier said then done.
At least the birthday girl would soon be having the time of her life with Lakehurst stud Damian Hayes. So all and all it was a job well done, right?
Wrong," thought Manny flinching at the sharp sound of Spike's dishes shattering…
"Damn it who broke that?"
Manny sighed shoving her way through crowds of people with drinks in the air and went to retrieve the dustpan. "Well this is cozy," she muttered sarcastically as she walked into the dining room where several couples were stationed. "Move!" she snapped at Toby who was too busy sucking face with Nora from Lakehurst to even realize he had just knocked over a bowl Spike and Snake had gotten as a wedding present. She got down on her hands and knees glaring at Emma who sat on Sean's lap, "A little help would be nice, Em!"
"I've got this," Sean offered gently Emma from his lap just as the doorbell rang. Manny flashed him a thank-you smile and went to greet the newest guest.
"Not late are we?" asked Marco who was wearing one of his signature gray sweatshirts.
"Right on time," Manny assured him with a hug. "Hey Spin! And Ellie, what a…nice surprise."
Elle laughed uneasily. "Any excuse for a party, right?"
"Right," Manny agreed with strained politeness. And trust you to come uninvited.
Ellie had been the one to turn the blind eye when Craig starting using coke. In fact she even went so far as to blame Manny for the whole situation so things between the two of them were never what you would call warm and fuzzy.
Marco, the last to go into the foyer touched Manny lightly on the shoulder. "Play nice," he hissed turning to greet Emma and Sean who had just returned the latter with a bin full of glass in his hands. Manny didn't have time to respond before more people knocked on the door.
"Hello ladies!" Derek Haig drawled as he and Danny Van Zandt sidestepped Manny to get into the house.
"What are you two doing here?" Sean wanted to know.
"I felt it was my brother duty to come help celebrate my big sister's special day," Danny replied.
"And I'm just here for the grade twelve girls," Derek added kissing Emma's hand. "Lovely home by the way."
"Thank you," Emma smirked rolling her eyes at Sean who glared at the departing boys. "A little jealous of the grade tens?"
"Why would I be when I can have you all to myself tonight?" Emma hummed happily as he kissed her.
"Hate to break up this nauseating little show," Toby cut in. "But it seems we have company."
Emma looked on wide eyes as a crowd of Lakehurst students streamed in. "Okay, now this has gone too far. Anybody who isn't a personal friend of Liberty please leave now!"
A boy with a greasy blonde mullet laughed in her face. "Such as cold greeting from such a hot—"
"Shut your mouth before I shut it for you!" Sean growled stepping in front of his girlfriend protectively.
"If you Lakehurst idiots are just here to start something," Spinner's voice was deadly calm.
"Oh we're just trembling in our boots aren't we Johnny?" said another Lakehurst kid.
"Spinner! Don't!" Manny's eyes pleaded with Damien who was just inside the door.
"Drake, Johnny! Let's all cool down," Damien suggested, "This isn't the time or the place."
"That's right," Manny echoed. "Come in and have fun but please keep the peace."
The one introduced as Drake stepped forward and laid a case of beer at Emma's feet. "A gift for our gracious host," he announced before going into the main room leaving Damien with Emma and Manny.
"I said a small party Manny!" Emma exploded. "Small! And you turn around and invite a million people including the jerks from Lakehurst who hurt Toby and wouldn't know Liberty from a hole in the wall!"
"I didn't invite them! They must have heard about it."
"Them and the rest of the world!"
"Emma?" Damien interrupted.
"What!"
"Not that this is much help but for all the BS they talk Johnny and Drake never really do anything."
"Right, and a flaming asteroid doesn't really leave a humungous crater where a planet used to be! Now Manny if you wouldn't mind dealing with this mess Sean and I are going to continue with our scheduled plans." Emma stopped away.
Damien and Manny stood for while before he finally broke the stunned silence. "So, I sort of have a gift for Liberty?"
Manny started. "A gift right, well then come on I think she's in the kitchen.
An hour or so later Manny came back from Jack's room where she had been tucking yet more damaged items out of sight. She wrinkled her nose as the strong scent of alcohol wafted up the staircase. Once she had reached the bottom Manny found that Emma—who had earlier objected so strongly to the party—was now downing a cup of tequila in the corner. And from the looks of her it wasn't her first. From the smell of Derek Haig he had bathed in the stuff.
Manny rushed up and snatched the bottle away prevent Emma from refilling. "H—hey get y—your own! I w—was dr—drinking that!" Emma slurred suddenly indignant.
"Clearly!" snapped Manny. She noticed the bottle was only a quarter of the way full. "Em, how many drinks have you had tonight?"
Emma struggled to hold up three fingers, as Jack would do when someone asked how old he was, then guiltily added a fourth.
"Four drinks! Are you coo-coo bananas? And did you poor it all over Derek?"
"Emma is just toasted," replied Danny. "But two of those Lakehurst thugs poured the booze on Derek! I told Lib they were psychos."
"Here" Manny shoved a bottle of brownish liquid at Emma. "Drink this and from now on stay away from the alcohol!"
"Oh c—come on M—Manny lighten u—up!" Emma giggled stumbling. Manny came up and held her stable, as she was unable to walk in a straight line. "Manny let go. I—I'm gonna—go find m—my man.
"Emma I really don't think you and Sean should do this tonight
"D—don't be j—jealous Manny. Maybe w –when I'm f—finished with S—Sean you and D—Damien c—can have a t—turn
"Emma, I'm not interested in Damien I brought him here to cheer Liberty up so she can finally get over JT."
"And that worked out brilliantly," Liberty huffed slamming the swinging door that led into the kitchen.
"What happened?" Manny cried. "I thought you two were really hitting it off."
"Apparently you were wrong. Anyway I told him I had a boyfriend."
Liberty raised her eyebrows at Emma's drunken state then lowered her voice as if she were talking to a child, "Speaking of boyfriends Emma Sean's down in your room waiting for you. Why don't you go see him?"
Emma cackled enthusiastically. "Here I come you sexy man!" Emma called almost running into JT on her way down the stairs. Shaking off his slight confusion JT want straight to Liberty.
"There you are Liberty! Look I really wish we could talk about this," JT pleaded.
"What's there to talk about? I told you I still had feelings for you and you didn't say a word! You got my hopes up when you told me that you were the one who suggested that Manny throw me this party and then set me up for the ultimate crash and burn! "
"Liberty I have a girlfriend!" JT was beginning to loose his patience. "Named Mia. Who I really, really like"
"Do you love her?"
"Yes!"
"Then why are standing here talking to me!"
"I—I don't know!"
"Yes you do you're just a bigger coward than even I thought you were!" Liberty grabbed her jacket of the hook and ran off crying too hard to hear JT's repeated calls after her. Liberty feet pounded the pavement with a mind of their own and soon she was at her house and collapsed sobbing on the step. She wished she had never controlled JT to the point where he broke up with her? And even if they had broken up if her parents hadn't convinced her to give the baby up for adoption she would have a part of him with her. Once she had composed herself Liberty dug out her house key and unlocked the door.
Johnny and Drake listened to Liberty think aloud from the rosebushes across the street. "Mia and this girl? That Yorke guy has a thing for cheap sluts with babies," laughed Johnny. "They kick us out and let scum like Yorke stay."
"Will that doesn't mean we can't give him his due ourselves," Drake pointed out.
Back at Emma's house a confused JT was searching for Toby and finally found him snuggled up to Nora on the Nelsons' porch swing. Catching JT's eye Nora broke away from Toby announcing she had to use the bathroom.
JT sat next to his starry-eyed friend.
"Oh boy she's good JT," Toby breathed. "I can barely feel my lips right now?"
"That's uh great Tobes but I sort of have a situation here."
Toby became immediately alert. "Okay shoot." He listened as JT spun a complicated food analogy that could only come from his mind. "Okay so I have this meatball sub, right? Zesty sauce, gooey cheese and I like the sub a lot, but somehow I find myself craving oatmeal."
"Oatmeal?" whispered Toby.
"So what do you think Tobes?"
"Well," Toby considered. "The meatball sub it's very tasty, but you get tired of it. Oatmeal, it's always been there for you. You can depend on it."
"I miss her Tobes. I know I shouldn't, but I do and it's so stupid!"
""No look it's not stupid. You can't fight how you feel. Go out there and find her."
" You know what? You're right. You're always right Tobes. I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna get myself a big bowl of Liberty…oatmeal!"
"Finally," Toby smiled as he watched JT rush toward his car.
Just as JT lost sight of Toby he caught sight of the same thugs that Jay and Spinner had kicked out of the party earlier one of who was peeing on his car. He gaped at them speechless with shock.
Drake scoffed at JT's shocked expression from under his black hood. "Why did you leave the party?" he asked mockingly. "Weren't the center of attention anymore were you Mascot Boy?"
"What the hell is this?" JT choked out finding his voice. "Mommy and Daddy forget to potty train wittle Johnny?"
Johnny zipped up his jeans. "We know how jealous how are of the birthday girl so we thought we'd give you your own little party favor. "
"How surprisingly generous," remarked JT his voice dripping with sarcasm. "And after you were done dousing the grade tens you poured the rest of it on my car. Pee and booze what an attractive combination."
"As if people didn't all ready smell you coming!" said Drake who was so close to him that JT could feel hot breath on his neck a hand retrieving his keys.
Taking a breath to calm himself JT tried to reason with them. "Look the three of us may despise each other equally but I have to find someone right now so if you'll just give me my keys I'll go on my way."
"We know all about your baby mama," Drake remarked. "Looks like dating whores is a recurring pattern for you. Too bad you're not two for two."
"Now, now Drake," Johnny mock-reproached. "It doesn't mean anything that he didn't get to unwrap Mia personally as long as he gets to play house with her little brat. It's a chance he never got with his own kid!"
"You sons of bitches," JT exploded "Give me my damn keys right now!"
"Whoa ho cranky mascot!" Drake smirked holding the keys behind his back. "What would the fans of your kiddy show think of that?"
"Yeah," Johnny agreed. "You really should talk to us about all this hostility. It will be good for you to get it off your chest and it's not like you're going anywhere" He caught the pocketknife Drake tossed him and began to deflate JT's tires.
"Won't be needing these," added Drake and he tossed JT's keys watching them bounce and land about seventy-five feet away past the Nelson house.
Even through he knew keys would do him no good with four flat tires JT went after them anyway much to Johnny and Drake's amusement. "Run Forrest run!" Johnny taunted between hysterics. Drake said nothing. When he was halfway between Liberty's house and Emma's JT felt a sharp pain shoot up his back and he fell as if in slow motion. JT heard a female scream and the sound of feet pounding away then all the sudden Liberty was crouched beside him holding him in her arms.
"Help!" she shrieked through the dark night. "Somebody help me please."
"Oh shit," cried a still shirtless Sean as he bounded across the lawn to where the blood pool was growing bigger. "What the hell happened?"
"He's hurt," Liberty managed through hurtful sobs. "They stabbed him and then ran off!"
Spinner cussed. "I vow by all that is holy if he dies…!"
Marco deposited a crying Ellie on Jimmy's shoulder and bent over JT. "His pulse is still there but it's really faint. He's losing a lot of blood!"
As Marco spoke Sean was rattling off the information to the paramedics who had just arrived. "Stabbed…nine minutes ago…pocketknife."
The chief paramedic looked sympathetically at the group at the gurney was loaded "Only one of you can ride with him."
Liberty jumped in without hesitation looking into her ex's glassy eyes that had glistened with hurt when she left the party. If he wasn't okay she would never forgive herself.