Disclaimer: I don't own anything that belongs to Degrassi or its makers.
Chapter 1
Ellie walked in Degrassi CS and felt the stares on her. Hazel for the past week has made it her mission to talk bad about her. Ellie just didn't understand it. Her and Jimmy were friends at least that is what she kept telling herself. She felt Paige looking at her. But not with hatred as she thought she would but with pity. She knew that Paige didn't hate her. But she also knew that Paige had to remain loyal to her friends.
"She is such a slut", whispered a girl behind her.
She was about to say something when someone surprisingly stood up for her.
"Slut, I know you of all people are not calling anyone a slut seeing how you slept with most of the basketball teams in this school", said the girl.
Ellie shifted her attention to the person. Manny stood before her staring down the girl that bad mouthed her. Ellie was shocked actually. Ever since the Craig thing, she made it a point to avoid Manny but this girl was standing up for her. She just didn't get it. The blond that had bad mouthed her was going to say something to Manny but Ellie jumped in.
"I suggest you shut your mouth before a put my fist through it", said Ellie.
The girl just glared at the two. Manny and Ellie looked at each other and bust out laughing. Ellie looked at Manny giving her a questioning look.
"I've been where you have been", said Manny.
Ellie was going to tell her that nothing was going on between her and Jimmy but she saw the look on Manny's face. Ellie sighed.
"I'm not with Jimmy you know", said Ellie trying to get mad at Manny.
"I know but he does you know like you", said Manny.
Ellie tried not to let Manny see the joy on her face at the suggestion but when Ellie saw the smirk she knew that Manny knew.
"So how did you handle them, giving you the evil eye?", asked Ellie.
"I don't know how I did, I just did, you were one of them that was giving me the evil eye too if I remember correctly", said Manny.
Ellie sighed once more.
"I'm sorry about that but she is my, she was my best-friend", said Ellie.
Manny nodded her head.
"I never meant to hurt anyone but she got me back didn't she", said Manny trying not to let the bitterness seep in.
Those months were the most horrible. Being pregnant, the abortion, Craig, Ashley, the school in general, it was just a painful time for her. Ellie nodded her head.
"Look I'm sorry about what happened at the wedding, I just", said Ellie not knowing what to say.
"Its okay, I know how loving Craig makes you do crazy things", said Manny.
"I wasn't in love with Craig, it just was a crush, And I'm over it", said Ellie looking at Manny.
"I know now you are in love with Jimmy", said Manny smirking.
Ellie blushed.
"Look Ellie, I know we can't be best-friends or nothing like that but I want to be your friend, our boyfriends are in the same band and well its nice having someone around that won't judge. I love Emma but sometimes, being her friend is hard", said Manny.
Ellie looked surprised at that but sighed.
"Alright we can try this friend thing but I'm not really good with it you know", said Ellie.
Manny smiled. The bell rung then signaling classes were about to begin.
"See ya", said Ellie.
Manny nodded her head walking towards her classes. Emma looked at Manny.
"Since when were you and Ellie friends?", asked Emma.
"We just came to an understanding", said Manny.
Emma shrugged her shoulders, not asking what that meant.
Later that night…….
"Craig", moaned Manny getting into their make out session.
Craig just smirked. He loved being with her. Not many people understood why, but Manny was it for him. He knew she would be even when he was with Ashley he knew. He was going crazy when he thought being with Ashley was a good idea. Manny looked at him.
"Craig?", asked Manny.
"What baby?", asked Craig kissing her neck.
"I love you", whispered Manny timidly looking at him through lowered lashes.
Craig smiled at her brushing her shorter hair away from her face.
"I love you too, so much. Manny I'm sorry about what I put you through, I wish I could take them back, the words, the hurt", said Craig.
Manny smiled at him.
"I know, but it's okay, I just happy we are together now, but Craig don't hurt me okay, I can't take it a third time", said Manny tearing up.
Craig brushed the tears away from her face.
"Baby I promise, you are it for me", said Craig.
Manny smiled at him. The resumed kissing and knocked her book bag to the ground. Craig looked down at the bag and saw a notebook with the words Poems on it.
"What's this?", asked Craig.
Manny looked nervous but sighed. She had promised herself that she would always be honest with him.
" There are poems, lyrics I wrote", said Manny.
Craig opened the book and read some.
"Manny these are great", said Craig looking in awe at the lyrics.
"Are these about me?", asked Craig looking at a particular song.
Manny nodded her head.
"I was mad at the time and hurt", said Manny.
Craig nodded his head.
"Can you sing?", asked Craig.
Manny blushed.
"A little bit", whispered Manny.
"Can you sing for me?", asked Craig.
Manny nodded her head. She started just humming the song and the lyrics seemed to flow from her mouth. Craig was in awe. She only sang only a few lines but Craig was amazed by it.
"Do you know how to write music?", asked Craig.
"A little bit my mother made me take lessons", answered Manny.
"Why?", asked Manny.
Craig just smirked.
"Alright here guys", said Craig passing out a sheet. Manny was sitting there talking to Ellie.
Jimmy was staring at Ellie and Marco was smirking.
"Why don't you tell her how you feel?", asked Marco.
Jimmy shook his head.
"I can't", said Jimmy.
"She cares about you", said Marco trying to convince his friend.
Ellie and Manny were giggling.
"You wrote this about Craig?", asked Ellie.
Manny nodded her head.
"Wow they are great", said Ellie.
Manny smiled. She was proud of the song. Her and Craig sat down and wrote the music together.
"Manny ready?", asked Craig smiling at her.
Everyone looked on in confusion. Manny stood at the mic. Craig kissed her softly.
"Alright let's start", said Craig.
As soon as everyone heard Manny and Craig sing together they were blown away. Joey had come into the garage and he himself was amazed. It came as a shock to everyone in the room how well Manny could sing. It was unexpected actually. Manny closed her eyes and got into the song. She didn't even notice everyone staring at her when she was singing. She slowly opened her eyes to see Craig smiling at her and the rest of the band just gawking.
"Was it bad?", asked Manny.
"You sounded excellent", said Craig hugging her tighter.
She giggled.
"I have some news, we have a gig", said Craig looking at them.
"Where", asked Jimmy trying hard not stare at Ellie.
She was doing her best to try not to look at him also. But she couldn't help herself. Her eyes locked with hers. She blushed under his intense stare. Jimmy gave her a small smile.
"So the gig is in two weeks", said Craig.
Jimmy snapped out of his trance. Marco was looking at both of them and smirking. Maybe his best-friend will find love after all.
"I want you to sing with us", said Craig.
"What?", asked Manny looking surprised.
"Yeah I mean it sounded great with us together", said Craig.
Manny was biting her lips. She was nervous. Ellie saw this and walked up to her.
" You will be fine I promise", said Ellie.
Manny nodded her head trying to get her nervousness under control. It was hard though.
"So you are going to sing", asked Emma while they were getting ready for school the next day in Emma's room.
"Yeah I mean they asked, and well I really love it", said Manny.
"What about acting?", asked Emma.
"I want to do that, but singing, I always loved that, but I like the writing more than the singing, Craig has helped with that. I'm great with the lyrics, its the music that's hard. He helps with that", said Manny.
"Manny I forgot to tell you, Sean called me last night", said Emma.
Emma looked nervous. She wanted to tell Manny that she was happy that Sean called.
"SO what did he say", asked Manny.
"He told me he missed me", said Emma.
"Wow, is he going to come back?", asked Manny.
"He said that he might, but he wasn't sure", said Emma.
"Aren't you happy though", asked Manny.
"I don't know what if he hurts me again?", asked Emma.
"I don't think he will, he loves you Emma, he always have", said Manny hugging her friend.
"Are you coming to the gig", said Manny.
Emma nodded her head.
Manny walked to school and glared at the girls that seemed to be harassing Ellie again. Ellie just ignored them but you saw the look of pain pass over her face.
"Hey Ellie", said Manny holding her book bag in her hands.
"Hey what's up", said Ellie taking out her books for next period.
"Nothing much just a little nervous, that's all", said Manny.
"Don't be you will be great", said Ellie smiling.
Her smile dimmed a little when she saw Hazel walking in her direction.
"Oh no not again", muttered Ellie.
Manny turned to see who was behind her. Hazel glared at Ellie.
"Well if it isn't the boyfriend stealer", growled out Hazel.
She was beyond pissed at this girl.
"I didn't steal your boyfriend, him and me are not together, you left him, you dumped him and somehow you turned the whole school against me when in all actuality it was you, who left your boyfriend", said Ellie slamming her locker shut and walking away.
Manny looked at Hazel and shook her head.
"She isn't with him you know, she never was", said Manny walking away.
Hazel looked at the two girls and shook her head. Why should she believe them. Jimmy saw everything and felt his heart clench. He knew that Ellie was having a hard time and it didn't matter how many times he told everyone that him and Ellie were not together in that way, everyone still had it in there heads that he was playing Hazel to be with Ellie. That wasn't the case at all. In fact Ellie didn't want to be with him at least that is what he thought. He knew he liked Ellie he had to admit that. Hazel was right to break up with him because he just changed. Hazel fit with the old Jimmy, the Jimmy that wasn't in a wheel chair, the Jimmy that loved to play basketball, the Jimmy that was friends with Spinner. Jimmy sighed at that. Another relationship that was on the rocks. He wanted to forgive Spinner at least for his piece of mind but he just couldn't he was so damn angry. His best-friend indirectly but him in a wheelchair. And how many times that Spinner might apologize he couldn't bring himself to forgive him. Jimmy pushed that thought out of his head though and wheeled down to where Hazel stood.
"I'm not with her, I never was", said Jimmy looking up at her.
"You expect me to believe that", said Hazel glaring.
"Yeah I do, I never gave you a reason not to trust me, but for some reason you don't trust me that is. Ellie is just interested in one thing that I'm interested in. We share a come interest, But you blew it out of proportion. Maybe it was right that we broke up because you are in love with the old Jimmy, the one that played ball, the one the wasn't stuck in this chair for the rest of his life. You want that Jimmy but like how I told my father that Jimmy no longer exists. Hazel you have been the best girlfriend I ever had. You are kind and sweet, and I love you. But we can't be together this way anymore. You were right, it is over", said Jimmy wheeling away from her.
He knew he had hurt her. But it just had to be done. He looked back and felt his heart clench. She was hurt, he could tell but determined about something. He just hoped it was determination about something good not a way to hurt Ellie. Ellie. Jimmy sighed at that. He had to fix that one too.
He knew where she would be. He wheeled himself towards the media immersion room. He saw her there. May god she was beautiful. Different beautiful from Hazel, Paige or even Ashley. She had one of those smiles that lit up a room. Her red her made her fiery. He understood why he had had a crush on her so long ago. He remembered the first time he saw her. He had just really gotten over Ashley. Jimmy still cringed at that name. Ashley had a way of crushing guys. He had asked her out then but she turned him down because she said she couldn't be with him because he was Ashley's ex. He laughed at that now, because one of his best friends were also Ashley's ex, Craig. He wouldn't let his mind go there though. The Craig, Manny, and Ash thing that was funny and rather amusing in his opinion. Because he remembered being in that position with Ash and Sean. God this school must be small because here he was about to tell Sean's ex girlfriend that he liked her. Jimmy supposed that it was fitting. Shit Ellie was even Marco's ex girlfriend another good friend of his. Jimmy shook those thoughts out of his head when he heard her speak.
"Jimmy, what are you doing here?", asked Ellie looking at him sitting across from her.
"I need to talk to you, I really need to talk to you", said Jimmy looking into her eyes.
Ellie nodded her head and pulled the chair closer to him.
"Look I know how it's been for you these past weeks, I'm sorry that she has been giving you a hard time, its more my fault then anything though. I wasn't being honest with myself. I knew that Hazel and I weren't working anymore but I wanted everything to stay the same not change you know, but I realize that I have changed. What I want in life has changed. Who I want in my life has changed", said Jimmy looking at her.
Ellie looked him in the eye.
"What and who do you want in you life?", asked Ellie softly.
"I want to be an artist or an architect rather than the basketball player", answered Jimmy.
"Or maybe tour with the band or something", said Jimmy laughing.
Ellie laughed too. Jimmy looked at her smiling. She did have a beautiful smile. Ellie looked down at his staring and felt the soft blush coming to her face.
"Well then who do you want in your life?", asked Ellie still looking down at his hands.
Jimmy reached over brushing a lose curl away from her face and tilted her head up to look at him. He stroked her cheek a bit before answering her.
"I want my dad more in my life, I want the guys in the band in my life, and I want", said Jimmy pausing.
"You want?", asked Ellie softly.
Jimmy smiled gently at her and with his thumb rubbed her cheek gently. He smiled before answering.
"I want you in my life, I want you to be with me", said Jimmy.
Ellie looked at him and tried to contain her smile.
"Why?", asked Ellie.
Jimmy leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"Because Ellie Nash, I have fallen for you".
Ellie turned her head to look at him and smiled.
"Oh", whispered Ellie.
Jimmy looked at her cupping her face and leaned over.
"What about you Ellie, tell me what and who you want in your life?", asked Jimmy.
Ellie smiled.
"I want to be an artist, actually more so a journalist", answered Ellie.
Jimmy smiled.
"Oh that's good, then tell me who do you want in your life?", asked Jimmy.
Ellie looked down paused a bit before lifting up her eyes to look at him.
"I want my dad in my life, I even want my mom in my life. I want Craig, Marco, and most recently Manny in my life and I want", said Ellie.
"You want?", asked Jimmy smiling.
Ellie sighed looked at him. She reached over cupping his face in her hands.
"I want you in my life Jimmy Brooks, because I have fallen for you as well", answered Ellie.
Jimmy smiled.
"That's good", whispered Jimmy before bending his head and kissing her softly.
His mouth melted against hers. He never felt this way. He liked kissing Ash, he like Kissing Hazel they were both great girls but kissing Ellie no that was different. Completely different. He felt her sigh against his mouth giving him the opportunity to slip his tongue inside her mouth. He gently rubbed it against her mouth. He could taste her strawberry lip gloss and feel her hands holding his arms. He was in heaven and he knew there was no going back from this. Ellie Nash had but a spell on him and he knew he didn't want to ever not feel this way again. Both of them were so busy kissing that they didn't notice the girl looking at them with a slightly hurt expression or increasingly angry look. Hazel walked away then.