My note…hey everyone, here's a short chapter story I've been playing around with for some time now. It's set some time in summer '07 and will feature my favorites from the original '06 class. There may be some very minor spoilers for the end of season six. It will start out rated T but may be raised for content(haven't decided yet). So sit back, relax and enjoy...
A DAY AT THE BEACH
CHAPTER 1: CRUEL SUMMER
"Another profitable night", Ashley declared excitedly as she tallied up the days sales. She walked over to show Jimmy the numbers which earned her a big smile and an even bigger kiss.
"Well it should be after how busy we were today", Paige piped in, glancing over Jimmy's shoulder at the book on her way to restock one of the empty shelves.
"Yeah, I was so not expecting that huge rush at the end there", Ellie added, blowing out a huge sigh as she continued her folding.
Jimmy stretched, trying to ease the ache that had settled between his shoulders. "Why don't we just head home now? We don't open 'til eleven tomorrow, so Ash, Spin and I can come in early to straighten up".
Everyone nodded tiredly in agreement and stopped what they were doing. Ashley noticed Jimmy's discomfort and gently massaged his shoulders.
"This is pathetic", Spinner groaned as he hopped off the counter, causing everyone to turn questionably in his direction. "It's Saturday night, we should be out doing things, having fun. Instead, were all ready for bed by...", he glanced at the clock and frowned. "...ten forty-one".
"Welcome to adulthood Spin", Paige teased with a roll of her eyes.
"Adulthood? Dude, we're like a bunch of senior citizens, my grandparents don't even go to bed this early", he complained. "Let's go out and celebrate...I don't know, maybe go to a club or something".
They all stilled and stared inquisitively at Spinner. "What? We're nineteen-twenty years old, not eighty", he reminded them. "Jimmy man, don'tcha wanna take Ash out for a night on the town.
"Sure, I'd love to Spin but I just can't...", Jimmy answered disappointedly, looking from Ashley to Spinner. "I'm totally wiped".
Spinner forwned. "Paige?", he asked hopefully, but she frowned and shook her head no. "Marco, Ellie?", he questioned pleadingly.
"Spinner, we've all had a long day and we're all really tired", Ellie replied honestly and grabbed her purse. "It's time for us to go home".
"I second that", Marco mumbled, placing one arm around Ellie's shoulders and the other around Paige's. "Night all, see ya in the morning", he called as the trio walked out.
Ashley smiled and waived, holding the door open for the group and turning the lights off as they left. "Ready guys?".
Jimmy nodded enthusiastically and headed for the door. "What about a quick game of poker then?", Spinner called out in the dark.
"Spinner", Ashley and Jimmy groaned in unison. He pouted and shrugged defeatedly as he walked over to the alarm system and punched in the security code.
"You two are no fun", Spinner sulked and trotted down the front steps to his car.
Jimmy and Ashley watched this in slight amusement. "What's wrong with him?", Ashley asked as she followed Jimmy down the side ramp.
"Who knows? He's probably pissed cuz he hasn't had a date in over two months", Jimmy joked playfully.
"Yeah, I know how he feels", Ashley mumbled as she caught up to Jimmy.
He turned suddenly and looked quizzically up at her. "We haven't been on a proper date in over two months either, Jimmy", Ashley replied, trying to hide the slight disappointment that was evident in her voice.
Ashley could see the look of confusion on Jimmy's face, so she decided to clarify, "It's just that we've been so busy...all of us. With the shop being as busy as it is, you coaching at basketball camp, taking art summer art classes and trying to squeeze in your daily physio sessions. Me teaching dance and paino at the rec. center. Spinner working full time at both The Dot and the shop. And Marco, Ellie and Paige giving up their free time to help us out...when is there time for anything else?".
Jimmy shock quickly melted into realization. "I know Ash, I'm sorry", he apologized and took hold of her hand. "This isn't exactly how I pictured us spending this summer either". Ashley nodded in acknowledgement. Jimmy looked up at her and smiled, "Ready to go?".
"Yep...tomorrow's probably gonna be another busy day", she sighed, following Jimmy to her car.
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Ashley wlaked in the door to find her mom, Jeff, Toby and Liberty watching a movie together. "Hey honey, what are you doing home so early?", Kate asked cheerfully from her place on the couch.
"Early? Mom it's after eleven", Ashley sighed tiredly and sunk down onto the plush arm chair.
"So, it's Saturday night, shouldn't you guys be hangin' out at some club until the wee hours of the morning?", Toby teased.
Ashley frowned. "Geez, you sound like Spinner", she mumbled and everyone looked at her questionably. "We had this crazy day at the store...not to mention all week...and we were all really, really tired", she explained disappointedly then looked quizzically over at her brother, wondering what he was doing home. "What's your excuse?".
Toby smirked, "Not nineteen yet".
"Not even eighteen yet", Liberty added pointedly.
Ashley gave them a 'so what' look and Toby made it a point to clarify. "We went to dinner and saw a movie with Danny and Derek. They wanted to go to some stupid arcade after, so we dropped them off and came to hang out here until we need to go pick them up, at midnight", Toby explained.
"Sometimes I wonder about those two", Ashley chuckled jokingly.
"Me too", Liberty quipped back. "If I didn't know my brother better, I'd say they were dating...each other".
The room suddenly filled with a light laughter, but Ashley's soon faded. Kate sat up straighter on the couch and asked, "Ash, what's the matter?".
"I don't know Mom", she replied, sighing heavily. "Sometimes I just feel like the summer's passing us by. It's almost half over and we haven't done anything together as a group, except work at the store. And Jimmy and I have absolutely no real time together".
Kate walked over and took a seat on the arm of the chair. She put her hand on Ashley's back and smiled. "Well, your summer job at the rec. center is over at the end of the month and so are Jimmy's art classes, right?", she asked her daughter. Ashley's interest was definitely piqued and she nodded slowly.
"You'll have a week or so before you have to start getting ready for university...why don't you guys all do something together then?", Kate suggested.
Ashley thought it over for a second and frowned. "That sounds great, but if we all go, who would take care of the store?", she asked diappointedly.
Kate smiled. "You may have to cut the hours a bit but Jeff and I could fill in a couple of shifts", she replied sincerely.
"So could me and Toby", Liberty offered, looking over at her boyfriend. Toby smiled and nodded eagerly. "And we promise not to let Danny and Derek help".
"Thanks guys...but where would we go? That's six people...we really can't afford to stay at a hotel or anything and a road trip with ex's Spinner and Paige would so not be fun", Ashley stated firmly.
A smile broke out across Jeff's face. "What about the beach house?", he suggested quickly.
Ashley's mouth fell open in excitement. "Yeah, that's perfect. It's close, in case we need to get back home quickly for some reason. It's definitely big enough to fit six and...wait...", she trailed of and looked sadly at her mother. "We can't Mom...what about Jimmy?".
Kate rubbed a comforting pattern on Ashley's back. "Well, we've already consisdered that, and spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks about it", she paused a moment and smiled. "They've contacted their contractor and the renovations are almost complete".
"Mom?", Ashley whispered, her eyes misting slightly with tears. Ashley knew her family recognized just how much she loved Jimmy, but never thought they'd act on that and totally renovate their family beach house to accomodate him.
"It took a little longer than expected, but we wanted the place to be ready to go, for whenever we decided. And we wanted Jimmy to feel welcome there too", Kate explained, hugging Ashley close.
"So that's why you guys were going up there every weekend, but never staying overnight", Ashley stated questionably, discretely wiping at the corners of her eyes.
Jeff smiled and shrugged innocently, "Just checking on the progress".
Ashley sighed happily, still in shock. "Are you sure about this?", she asked cautiously, but the looks on each of their faces, told her they were. "Okay then, I guess I'll let everyone know tomorrow", she stated, standing up quickly and giving out some well deserved hugs.
"Thanks guys...goodnight", Ashley called out over her shoulder as she skipped up the stairs. Suddenly not tired any more, Ashley quickly got ready for bed and down to the task at hand...she grabbed a notebook, flopped onto the bed and immediately began planning their trip to the beach.
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There it is guys, chapter one...not a thrilling one, but I'm pretty sure you can see where I'm going with this. Yes, I know I've used this chapter title before, but I like it and it kinda fits(at least for the first half of the chapter). And please don't hate me for putting Toby and Liberty together(they're actually pretty cute together)...I'm a huge Jiberty fan, but JT is dead and Liberty can't stay single forever. Hopefully I can update once a week, but with two stories going at the same time, that might be a little hard.
Degrassi is not mine.