DISCLAIMER: I don't own Degrassi or any of it's characters. However, I did create a few random characters here and there.
On their lunch break, Degrassi students filled the Dot but, not for the usual reasons - to chat with theirs friends on the latest gossip, rant on how awful their homeroom teacher is or to make plans for the weekend. They were all squished in to whatever crevise of spot they could find with their eyes glued to the screen mounted up in the far right corner.
Ever since Canada had agreed and sent their troops out to Iraq, they place had been on pins and needles. Now with talk of the draft, everyone was concerned. They were concerned about their economic state, for their brothers, their fathers, their boyfriends, husbands, and for their rights.
"I don't know what I'm more upset about," Emma sighed hunched over the small lunch table made for two but had been crowded around by anyone who could fit. "The fact that their is a war going on or that women are being denied the right to join the military."
"Can it, Greenpeace." Alex shushed her form behind, crossing her arms as she stood up trying to concentrate on the news cast.
"General Nash has sent out a public statement saying that the draft has been confirmed and the names of soliders who will have to respond for training and battle immeaditly will be released on Sunday." The news caster with vasaline shining on her teeth announced and then quickly moved onto the coverage about the adaptation of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? that the community daycare was hosting.
At first nobody knew how to respond, a few quiet mutters were heard followed by chattery whisper, the tension and uncertainly filled the popular hang out. Emma's eyes were filled with tears but, she was trying the best she could to keep them in, trying so hard it hurt her ribs.
"Em, don't worry about it, it's all going to work itself out." Manny tried to remind her, rubbing her back for comfort.
"No, Manny, it won't be just fine." She protested. "Snake might get drafted and his health is already in danger and Sean..." She was getting more and more choked up with each word. "I don't want to lose them."
"It's going to work out." Was all Manny could think to whisper.
All the Degrassi students piled into the gymnasium for an inpromtu assembly about the draft. The staff and administration wanted to inform the students and prepare them in any way they could. They had brought in General Nash and General Mason to talk to the studnets what they should expect and how it is their duty as Canadian citizens to protect and fight for their country. A few familliar faces who'd long left Degrassi even snuck in - Jay and Sean, still fully dressed in their mechanic jumpsuits. They stoo dwith their backs against the back wall, in case they had to make a quick escape out. Loud chattering filled the entire gymnasium but, notbody could quite make out the bulk of it. Mrs. H took the stage and cleared her throat in the microphone, but nothing changed. No silence commenced, she tried once more and again - nothing.
"Hey!" She finally shouted into the microphone, all at once she captured the students attention. "Thank you." She cleared her throat softly. "I'm sure you've all been informed about the news of the draft and I know you all have all sorts of questions. This is the time to ask them, we've got two of the Generals of the Canadian Armed Forces here to answer those questions and help but, your minds at ease." She waited a beat before saying anythign else. Her long volumized blonde hair curtained her face as she stared down at the tips of her shoes. "I don't believe in sending young men off to dangerous areas to kill one another and put their lives on the line, no matter the cause. But, since Canada decided to bring back the draft, we'll have to obide. I know this is going to be a tumultious time for everyone in one way or another, so I urge you all to see a counsellor or any of your teachers. Things are going to change but, I promise, we'll rise above it all." She said while swallowing the lump in her throat. Her eyes kept averting down into the crowd and glancing at her son, Peter, who was sitting slouched in his chair and seemed to be trying to ignore the truth that faced everyone. "So, without further ado, welcome General Nash and General Mason."
Spinner couldn't stand the sight of his father up their in his army greens. He always had a pretty good relationship with his dad, even with the clashing of heads and occasional fights but, mostly it was peaceful. He grew up with his dad on the police force so, he knew what worry and danger felt like. However, now, he knew he'd be picked for draft, that he was destined to be sent off to shave his head, pick up a machine gun, and kill for peace. He couldnt' stand listening to his dad preach to these young men and women about how important this is and how it's all for the best. He rolled his eyes and stepped out of the aisle of chairs he'd been sitting in. Emma caught a glimpse of him leaving and watched at the door for him to leave when she noticed Sean and Jay standing by. She waved at Sean discreetly for her to come sit in the now vacant chair behind her. Trying to stay unnoticed, he did just that. He planted a quick peck on her lips before fully sitting down.
"I can't stand this." She muttered under her breath. "War and hatrid like this is what killed JT, maybe not on the same scale but when you get down to the core that's what did it. I can't believe this, war is so ignorant."
A few students around her tried to shush her but she quickly fixed them with her death stare.
"Don't worry about it, Em." Sean just tapped her shoulder and stared at the two Generals on stage, listening closely. Emma was getting tired of everybody telling her that.
"I swear waiting until Sunday to find out the results of the draft is going to drive me mental." Manny exclaimed, pulling her head back while leaving with the crowd out of the gymnasium.
"I don't think I'll sleep." Emma agreed. "Sean, is there anyway you can avoid getting drafted?" She asked with all sorts of faith trying to be conjured up in her eyes.
"Emma, you heard General Nash, this is a noble cause, it's a honor. Plus, I have to go."
"Couldn't you cheat on your medical exam?" She pressed.
"You could snort some coke before pissing in the cup?" Charming as always, Jay chimed in.
"Do it!" Emma agreed loudly. Both Manny and Sean stopped to stare at her in surprise. "Okay, I'm not saying Jay's right," She smirked up at him and he just glared back. "And I'm certainly not saying you should do coke. I just don't want to see you go."
"Don't worry about it, Em." Sean repeated himself, rubbing her shoulders.
"Stop saying that! This is something to worry over. Stop thinking about it so lightly." She stormed off, sick of nobody acting like this was serious. She knew she wasn't the only person who was concerned about this.
"I'll go talk to her." Manny reluctantly groaned and followed the path Emma had made outside.
Marco sat with his hands folded over the table at The Dot for dinner. Ellie was next to him, trying to listen to him but, at the same time, she was scribbling viciously on a mad of paper. With the draft being announced, she was overcome with ideas to write about. She just didn't want to think about her dad being sent out to war or any of the other men she loved, writing was the only healthy way she knew to distract herself. Her long red hair curled cascaded down onto the papers while she wrote.
"I don't know what to do, Elle. I mean, I don't stand a chance in war. I'd be like the gazelle who thinks it's safe to go to the watering hole when it's the lion's turn."
Ellie nodded in complete agreement.
"And Dylan, I mean, yeah, he's tougher than any of those guys, but what if I was to lose him? I can't even think about this." He rambled on.
On the other end of The Dot, in his uniform, Spinner stood in front of the drink dispenser waiting for his glasses of juice to fill up for table four. He was usually cracking up all the waiter's and waitresses and talking up a storm with his customers but with the knowledge that he'd be off in a battle zone across the equater had him stuck in a chronic silence. Wandering over to him with her Belgium chocolate hair tied in a pony tail fountaining off her head, one of the new waitresses balanced her back on the counter and stood next to him.
"Could you help me out?" She asked him with a sweet sincerity in her voice. She spoke the way Spinner figured Tinkerbell would speak if she just lost her attitude. The waitresses was a new addition to The Dot but, she seemed to fit into their puzzle really well. Spinner had only worked with her one shift prior to this one but, they never really spoke. He couldn't even remember her name.
"I'm sort of busy, P-" He tried to remember but he didn't have a clue. There was nothing on the tip of his tongue. "Can you give me a hint?" He scrunhed his eyebrows down and glanced at her, loading his tray with the glasses of juice.
"Pem." She told him.
"Good hint." He wandered over to table four and handed them out their beverages and let them know their meals would be right up. When he arrived back and walked into the kitchen to check if any of his orders were up on the line, Pem was right behind him.
"What do you need, P-" His mind was so full of doubt, worry, confusion, faith, what if's and maybe's.
"Pem." She said again. "I wanted to ask you some questions." She smiled simply. She could tell the moment he punched in for work that something was wrong. Just by how out of character he'd be asking and she was always the type to butt in and inquire.
"What?"
"Well, why is this war going on?" She asked but by the sound of her voice and the innocent expression on her face, it seemed rhetorical to Spinner. He turned his head while typing out a bill on the till and waited for her to continue. "Why is their draft? Why can't women participate? Why do people watch Survivor?"The last question seemed to be her only serious one.
"I don't know." He scrunched his eyebrows down again and said, he was sort of unsure about this girl.
"But, more importantly, why are you so blue?" She leaned up against the wall of the alley, as he waited for the bill to print.
"The same reason most people are." He stared down at the blue screen, non-chalantly. He tried to hide what was obviosuly scribbled all over is face but, he couldn't. Not from Pem, at least.
"Yeah, but what freaks you out the most?"
He sighed, exasperated but, he knew this girl wasn't going to back off until she was satisfied with his answer. So, he settled on telling her the truth.
"Nobody here would worry about me." He stated, looking straight into her midnight sky eyes for the first time through their encounter. He had a husky sennestive sound in his voice. "I don't care how selfish that sounds, but, that's what bugs me the most. My last girlfriend, who I basically changed my whole world for. I cut a lot of people out of my life for her, which might've been for the best, I changed my whole spirtual world for her, I re-virginitized myself!" He proclaimed loudly, the girl stepped back and with her eyes as wide as saucers, she sort of chuckled. "Now, she doesn't even look at me in the halls. The other girl I really cared about, she doesn't really live here anymore and we barely know each other. My mom's going to be so preoccupied with trying to raise and finance the house and my sister while I'm away and she'll probably be mostly concerned about my dad, so, basically, I have no one."
"You could write to me." Pem shrugged her shoulders and took her turn on the till, punching in orders for one of her booths. She didn't even pause for a second after his ramble. She just let the idea out.
"Yeah?" Spinner loaded another tray with two plates and held the other, steaming hot, in his free hand.
"Sure." She shrugged. "I like getting mail." She patted his back and wandered away to greet her latest table.
Suddenly, a little bit of Spinner was at ease, that didn't change the fact that he'd be sent off to a war zone in a matter of time.
So, here's the first chapter of what I hope to make a really in-depth story.
I'll have all sorts of fandoms in it and I've already got some ideas but if you have ideas or requests, let me know.
I hope you guys like it, review, please!