Disclaimer: I do not own Degrassi.
Author Note: How's this for a fast update. And it's a lot shorter than the first so hope you like. A big thank you to Halawen for all your help in Beta and Co-writing. Let me know what you all think. On with the chapter.
Owen's POV
After Maya tells me her sister abuses her she curls up and cries on me. I wrap my arms around her rubbing her back gently. When she's been crying a few minutes my mom comes back and I look over at her.
"She's not going back to that house," I tell my mom firmly.
"What's wrong," Mom asks setting down a bag and a drink holder with two smoothies.
"She just told me her sister hits her sometimes when she's angry and her parents do nothing. She's even hit Maya in front of her parents and they don't care." I tell Mom.
"Maya is that true?" Mom asks and Maya nods against my chest. "Well don't worry honey we're not letting you go back to that house. Here you two rest and have some breakfast." Mom says handing us our smoothies.
Maya takes hers sniffling in the rest of her tears and starts sipping her smoothie. I put in another NCIS disc and sit back down taking my smoothie Maya leans on me a little as the disc starts.
Thirty minutes into the episode between drinking our breakfast and the sniffs coming from Maya still couldn't get the thought of her being hurt from her own family.
"Katie will never touch you again." I rasped into her ear wrapping an arm around her as we sipped our smoothies.
"Thanks, but I really don't want to talk about it right now." Maya whispered wiping away what's left of the tears as she sat up a bit.
"Okay talk when you're ready," I tell her I'm about to put my arm around her again when Mom comes down the stairs with the thermometers.
"I want to check you're temps again." Mom says sliding them into our mouths.
When the thermometers beeped Mom pulled them from our mouths. "Hmm they haven't changed I'm going to give you some medicine for your fevers and throats just common cold medicine and I think just to be cautious I'm going to have a prescription for antibiotics filled for each of you." Mom said taking the thermometers back upstairs and returning with cold medicine that she made us take. "Okay I'll be back in about an hour just stay resting and text me if you guys need anything Owen." Mom said kissing us both on the forehead before leaving.
"I hate the taste of that medicine." Maya said hoarsely drinking some of her water.
"And you think I do taste like sour grapes." I said drinking out of my own water bottle.
"Well I need more water, you need some?" Maya said throwing the covers off and standing and steading herself.
"Yeah thanks." I tell her just as our phones started exploding again.
"Oh boy." She said seeing her phone light up but head into the kitchen and grabbing the drinks and coming back in.
"You might want to text your mom we need more water bottles these are the last." Maya said scratchily getting back on the sofa bed and handing me my water.
"Ok." I rasped out and picked my phone up and clicked on my mom's contact and sent a message.
Owen: We need another case of water, just took the last two.
Not even a minute later a message was sent back from her.
Mom: Will pick some up. Get some rest.
"Done." I whisper out as the phones started going off again. "Let's hope we don't have to do more damage control."
"Zig finally wrote back." Maya said lowly showing me the message.
Zig: That Ice Hound isn't bugging me anymore Luke got him to stop and Dallas helped.
"That's good that they stopped. Tell Luke and Dallas thanks for me." Maya said clearing her throat.
"Will do since Baker just popped up on my phone." I said looking at my own phone and click on the message.
Luke: Found out which Hound had it out for Zig and told him to back off, so did Dallas.
"Glad they took care of it." I said hoarsely showing her the message before typing out a message back.
Owen: Good glad he's fine, Maya says thanks.
"Adam texted back." I heard Maya say and looked at the message he sent.
Adam: I'm getting tired of telling people to shut up about this.
Just as I was about to comment on that my phone started going off again and showed Bianca had wrote back, lord knows who pissed her off more.
Bianca: Fucking people won't stop talking I've never threatened and or straightened so many people out in one day! I can't believe they still think you're a jerk after all this time. Even when you were you wouldn't have done all the crap they're accusing you of. Cam's the one that fucking cheated and with gross Tori and still 90% of the rumors make you out to the bad guy and most of them don't make Maya to be any better, of course I think Katie started most of those.
"I hope Bianca doesn't get hurt." Maya said sipping some of her water and handing my phone back.
"She can take care of herself but people need to stop fucking talking about us and I'm gonna kill your sister, Cam and maybe Jake when this is all done." I said irritated.
Another message popped onto the screen and I saw it was from Drew and I nudged Maya to scoot over.
"What did Drew say?" She asked leaning against me a bit.
Drew: Me, Adam, Dallas, Luke, Bianca, Becky and Clare all got detention for fighting.
"Damn even Becky and Clare were fighting." I said laughing real hard as it soon turned into a rough coughing fit.
"Want me to type back?" Maya asked trying to help get my coughing to stop and I hand her my phone while I drink some water.
Owen: Holy crap Clare and Becky were actually fighting?
Drew: Yeah Clare kicked Alli's ass pretty good and Becky pulled out a chunk of Marisol's hair.
"Is it wrong I would of liked to see those two get there asses kicked?" Maya voice became scratchier by every word came out of her mouth.
"Nope since I wish I saw it to.'" I tell her smiling while typing out a reply.
Owen: Dude I wish I hadn't missed that I would have loved to see Bhandari getting her ass kicked.
We only had to wait a moment before I got a message back from Drew as Maya laid her head on my shoulder.
Drew: I missed most of it too because I was too busy kicking Jake's ass but now we have detention after school picking up trash around the bleachers.
"Eww!" Both of us ended up saying in unison.
Owen: That sucks sorry dude but thanks for defending me and Maya and stopping Jake and Katie from hurting Clare.
Drew: No problem would have done both anyway and I don't think we're done yet. Rumors are still flying and when Jake was gathering his stuff to go home since he was suspended he mumbled something about Clare being sorry so she's sleeping at our place tonight.
"You think Jake would hurt Clare?" I ask wrapping an arm around her.
"I know he would. He's as bad as Katie." Maya said having a stray tear come from her eye.
"Hey Baker wouldn't let anything bad happen to Clare, and Katie would have to get through me to get to you so don't worry" I whisper in her ear then typing back to Drew.
Owen: Good wish I didn't feel like such crap so I could help.
Drew: Just get better and get back here.
"I better text Clare to see if she's ok." I heard Maya say reaching for her phone.
Maya: Is Jake threatening you?
Clare: Yeah they got suspended and Katie's at our house. Jake keeps sending me texts with thinly veiled threats for me and you. I'm glad you're at Owen's because he'll keep you safe.
"Of course they wouldn't get in trouble. But she is right I'd keep you safe." I whispered to her hugging her tighter.
Maya: But you're sleeping at Adam's right? You'll be safe there.
Clare: Yes I'm sleeping at Adam's tonight and possibly tomorrow night as I'm fairly certain that our sibs are plotting to hurt us badly and I know for a fact that our parents are siding with our evil sibs.
"If either one of them tries to hurt you or Clare I will kill them both." I say in an angry raspy voice.
Maya: Just great! How do you know that?
Clare: My mom called to yell at me for getting Jake and Katie in trouble, told me Katie was sleeping over in my room tonight. Then Jake texted me with a thinly veiled threat that he and Katie would be hurting me in my sleep.
"I told you he was bad as Katie," Maya says looking up at me with worried eyes.
"Yeah and when I'm better I'll hurt them both!" I assure her as she types a reply.
Maya: That's not good, of course my parents would let Katie sleep at her boyfriend's house when she's in trouble.
Clare: Yep and our parents would let her. But Adam saw the text from Jake and told me I was sleeping at their house tonight which Drew readily agreed to when he saw the text.
Maya: Well Mrs. Milligan wants me to talk about my family and I've talked a little to Owen about my parents and Katie. He doesn't want to ever let me go home again.
Clare: Good I don't think you should, stay there at least the Milligan's care.
"You're not going home, you'll be safe here and never have to deal with them again if I have anything to say about it." I tell her as I see tears coming again.
Maya: Owen says I'm not he won't allow it but now I'm worried about you. Will Mrs. Torres let you stay there past tonight?
"Luke, Drew, Adam, Dallas and the others will make sure she's safe and if it comes down to it Mom will let her stay here a couple nights." I reply and Maya lets out a breath.
Clare: If necessary probably but don't worry about me, stress won't help you get better. If necessary I will get Owen's number and text him to not let you stress. That was the bell got to go get better.
"She's right don't stress about it ok, you'll only make yourself sicker and worse off. The both of you are safe ok." I tell hoarsely lifting her chin up.
"Ok." Maya said grabbing her water and rested her head back on half of me and half the pillow.
It was dead quiet for a few minutes and I was just about to turn the TV on when Maya's phone went off.
"Oh great!" Maya said yelling and hurting her throat by the looks of it.
"Who is it?" I ask grabbing my own water.
"Cam!" Maya lowly spoke showing me the text message.
Cam: Please Maya it meant nothing I'm really really sorry I want you back.
"I'm not going back to him I'm done." Maya said shaking her head and sending a message so fast I couldn't see it.
"If he texts you again I'll go over there an kick his ass until he understands you want nothing to do with him!" I said irritated as I scooted away some so I could stretch out some.
"You don't need to cause then you'll make yourself worse also." Maya said raspy but smiling caringly.
"I rather become worse then have to see you deal with this." I tell her grabbing her hand and squeezing it lightly.
Before I could reply back her phone went off again and if I hadn't seen her pale face all day you would have thought her face could go even paler then it was before.
"What's wrong?" I ask and reach for her phone.
"I told you she would blame me." Maya said looking worried as she handed me her phone and I saw the text message.
Katie: You stupid bitch I got suspended because of you.
"She was spreading the rumors and she was fighting, you've been sick in bed!" I said angrily.
"It doesn't matter; I get blamed for everything no matter what. Katie once broke Mom's favorite vase because she was practicing soccer footwork in the house with a ball. I cleaned it up and threw away the broken glass because I knew they'd make me do it anyway. Katie told them I broke it and I was punished for breaking it, for lying and for "hiding evidence" because I threw the glass away." She tells me in a sad voice using finger quotes.
I grab my water bottle and take several sips as my throat is burning now.
"How the hell can your parents treat you like that and let Katie treat you like that! Katie's a bitch! What about your other family? Grandparents and stuff don't they see how you're treated?" I ask because I can't understand how no one could know her family was completely awful or do anything about it.
"We don't really have any other family, just my dad's parents but they're in their eighties and they live in Florida. We see them about once a year and my parents and even Katie are pretty good about pretending to be a happy family in public and the few incidents there have been in public people usually look the other way and figure it's not their business I guess. Clare's family is the same way, her mom's slapped her before at a restaurant and no one said anything." Maya informs me some tears escaping her eyes.
"FUCKING NO GOOD PARENTS! SOME PEOPLE NEED TO BE SHOT!" I yell and my voice cracks at the end.
I grab my phone to text Luke to see if he knows this about Clare even though I know he's in class.
Owen: Did you know Clare's mom has slapped her in public before?
"Owen you're going to lose your voice and you should be resting; you can't do anything about it right now." She warns me as I set my phone down again and drink some more water.
Maya drinks some water too and then her phone beeps again and we both look at it again. The text is from her bitch of a sister.
Katie: Dad says you're grounded for three months and as soon as you're home I'm going to make you sorry you ever got me in trouble.
"THAT'S IT GODDAMN BITCH THREATENING YOU AND YOUR GODDAMN PARENTS NEED TO DIE! HOW THE FUCK CAN THEY TREAT YOU LIKE THAT?!" I scream letting go of her to get up, she catches my arm as I start throw of the covers.
"Owen where are you going?" Maya asks.
"I'M GOING TO GO FIND THAT FUCKING BITCH AND KILL HER AND IF SHE HAPPENS TO BE WITH JAKE I'M GOING TO KILL HIM TOO! THEN I'M GONNA GO FIND YOUR IDIOT PARENTS AND KILL THEM TOO!" I yell as I stand up. "THEN I'M GOING TO CAM'S AND GONNA KI…" I'm yelling when I lose my voice all together and start coughing roughly before a dizzy spell washes over me and I fall back on the bed.
Luke's POV
Classes let out for lunch and I pulled out my phone to see I had a text from Owen telling me Clare's mom has slapped her in public before.
"What? She never told me that!" I exclaim to myself as I start walking to the entrance to meet Clare and the others for lunch.
Drew and Dallas join me as we walk out to the steps and I'm about to ask them if Clare's ever said anything about her mom hitting her but when we get outside we hear Tristan yelling.
"MY BROTHER WOULD NOT DO THAT! TAKE THAT BACK YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!" Tristan is yelling to three senior Lacrosse players as he shoves one of them.
The one he shoved pulls back and punches him in the face, right in the eye! Before Tristan can see again another one punches his stomach making the younger boy doubles over.
"Come on," I say quickly.
The three of us run over just as one of them pushes Tristan down and another kicks him in the side.
"HEY YOU FUCKING PUNK!" Dallas yells grabbing the one that just kicked Tris by the jacket and punching him in the face.
Drew and I each grab one and start fighting, after a few punches a hard right cross the face to the one I'm fighting sends him to the ground. Drew used some karate drop kick to get his on the ground and Dallas has his guy on his back on a picnic table.
"You ever touch him again we'll personally make sure you three can never play lacrosse again!" I warn them.
"Uh thanks," Tris says when we look at him and see he's standing again but his eye is swelling.
"What happened?" Clare asks as she comes up with Becky, Adam, Bianca and Zig.
"Tristan was defending Owen to these idiots and they started beating him up so we told them to knock it off by using our fists." I explain as I put my arm around her.
"Let's go eat at the Dot," Dallas says.
"I think Tris needs to see the nurse," Zig comments.
"There's a first aid kit at the Dot and they'll let me get ice from the kitchen." Clare tells us.
"Good let's go to the Dot then," Bianca says as Drew puts an arm around her and our group starts walking again.
"You're never going home again by the way," I remark to Clare as we're walking.
"Umm I don't think Audra's going to let me stay for more than a night or two and your parents won't let me stay over at all any more even as Becky's guest since they found out we we're dating. I'm going to have to go h…" She's beginning to argue but I cut her off.
"I don't care you're not going home ever again and neither is Maya." I state.
"I'm pretty sure the Milligan's are keeping Maya but…" she starts say but gets cut off again.
"You can move in with us Clare," Adam says interrupting her.
"Uh where? Dallas is already sleeping in the basement and your mom will…"
"Be fine with it if she knows that Jake and Katie are threatening you and your parents aren't doing anything." Drew butts in.
"And your mom has hit you," I speak up.
"She hit you? Yeah you're moving in and Maya is staying at the Milligan's no matter what we have to do to make it happen." Dallas states firmly as we walk into the Dot.
"Okay," Clare says like she doesn't believe us and then looks at the guy behind the counter. "Hey Peter I'm gonna grab the first aid kit and some ice for Tris." She tells him pointing at Tristan as he sits down with the rest of us.
"Sure Clare," Peter smiles.
Clare walks behind the counter and disappears behind the door to the kitchen. She may not believe we're never letting her go home again but I wasn't kidding I'll do whatever it takes to keep her and Maya safe from their families. After a couple minutes Clare comes out from the back and kicks Zig out of his seat so she can sit next to Tris and start treating him. I look over at Peter remembering that he's like an older brother to Clare I get an idea.
"Hey I'll order for everyone at the counter be right back," I tell them getting up and going to the counter and leaning on it. "Hey Peter."
"Hey Luke what happened to Tristan?" He asks.
"You heard any of what's going around at school?" I ask him.
"Yeah all that stuff about Owen, Maya, Cam and Tori I was going to ask Clare what really happened since she has a way of knowing everything." Peter says.
"Yeah I know she does. What happened is they all got mono, Cam got it from Tori when they made out at a party and Cam gave it to Maya since they were going out. Owen got it because they have lockers right next to each other in the hounds' locker room and Owen accidently drank out of Cam's water bottle." I tell him.
"Cam made out with Tori? Gross!" Peter says making a face.
"Yeah I know. Most of the rumors at school are being spread by Alli, Katie, Jake, Mo and Marisol. We got in a fight with them earlier for spreading rumors, and Tris got in one at lunch with some lacrosse players which is why Clare is playing nurse to him now. We got the guys that got him though. Anyway we got detention for fighting and Jake and the others got suspended for a week." I'm telling him.
"Well good they deserved to get suspended." Peter comments.
"Yeah but Katie's blaming Maya and Jake's blaming Clare and Jake's been texting Clare with threats all morning. Katie's at Clare's house with Jake and Helen called Clare to yell at her and tell her Katie was sleeping at her house. Jake then texted Clare that he and Katie planned on hurting Clare in her sleep, Adam saw the text and told Clare she was sleeping at his house tonight." I inform him.
"He's threatening her again; I told Clare if he ever threatened her again to tell me." Peter says giving Clare and admonishing look which she doesn't see because she has her back to him.
"Yeah and Katie's threatening Maya but she's at the Milligan house and Mrs. Milligan wants Maya to tell her everything that goes on in her house plus Owen is determined that Maya never go home again. After finding out Helen's hit Clare before I'm determined that she never go home again either." I enlighten Peter.
"EXCUSE ME!" Peter yelled loudly bringing attention to us along with my friends.
"Yeah I just found that one out when Owen text me that Maya told him." I said as I see Clare getting up and bringing the first aid kit back.
"That's it I'm calling Spin I had no idea Maya or Clare were being treated so badly. We're going to make sure Maya stays at the Milligan house and her family never ever gets near her again and Clare you are never going home again either." Peter tells Clare as she comes out from the back.
"What you told him?" Clare asked me worried.
"Of course I told him babe he's one of your big brother's, he can help keep you safe." I tell her walking over to her and hugging her as Peter came over to.
"But then there's a chance the both of you could get hurt too, you've seen the messages." Clare said crying now into me.
"Hey look at me I rather get hurt then you ok, I can handle Jake ok." I said lifting her chin up and kissing her lightly.
"And I die for you, you know that." Peter said after I kissed her and pulled her from me to hug her.
"But where will I go Audra already has a full house." Clare said leaning into Peter as I saw some of our friends looking over.
"We'll figure it out ok." I tell her rubbing her back.
"I could always become your legal guardian so you wouldn't have to go home at all." Peter said looking straight at Clare with a smile.
"Really?" Clare said turning her frown into a smile.
"Of course Clare I want to see you safe along with Maya. I'll talk to Spinner and maybe Tris parents to see if they know what I would have to do." Peter said hugging her again.
"Well I could always give you my house number for you to talk to them, but can we please cut this talk short we only got thirty-five minutes left of lunch and some of us are hungry." Tris said from behind us causing us to look up at the clock in surprise.
"Alright you two go sit with your friends I already got your orders and I'll put it on rush." Peter said to us all before looking at Clare "And you quit crying I like your smile better, and text Maya everything will be ok."
"Ok thanks Peter." Clare said hugging him.
"Yeah thanks man." I shaking his hand.
"You just keep her safe and we'll be good. I need to call Spin to and tell him what's going on since he's a cop and will know what to do" Peter said then walked away to the cooking station as we went to the table with our friend's.
"Hi Spin…I'm good but there's drama at Degrassi again and sis is involved…she's okay for now her boyfriend and friends are watching out for her…four of the kids have mono Tori who is like Manny and Alli in one person made out with Cam at a party. Cam was dating Maya and on the hockey team with Owen so they both got it from him. Maya's sister Katie, Jake and Alli and two of their friends were spreading rumors at the school and sis, her boyfriend and their friends got in a fight with them. Katie and the others got suspended and they're blaming Maya and she's threatening Maya….yeah I know and Jake is threatening Clare…I didn't know either also just found out when her boyfriend told me…I don't know I don't have all the details here talk to Luke." Peter says handing me the phone.
"Hello." I said into the phone.
"What the hell is going on?" I heard Spinner say into the phone.
"Peter give you a summary of it already?" I ask as the food comes over to us.
"Yes now I need more." Spinner said back.
"Basically if Clare goes home Jake and Katie whose Maya sister and Jake's girlfriend will hurt her in her sleep and I do not want that to happen and neither do the others. So she's staying at her friend Adam's tonight and hopefully tomorrow and Peter said if need be he's going to apply for guardianship of Clare to get her out of that house." I say in one big breath.
"Well what about her damn mother why isn't she protecting her daughter." Spinner said pissed.
"Because she thinks it's Clare and Maya's fault to and so does Maya piece of shit of a family." I said getting pissed at the thought.
"Do you know anything about how Maya's treated?" Spinner wondered.
"No but my buddy Owen who's quarantined with her right now and his parents do. Peter is going to call their house later to talk to his parents to see what he'd have to do to get guardianship of Clare since The Milligan's are going to do the same with Maya." I said biting into my sandwich after.
"Ok good now we know the girls will be cared for all I need to do is talk to the parents and some others." Spinner said getting less pissed.
"Well I can give you Owens' number and he can give his parents the phone." I said getting my phone out and getting Owen's contact.
"That would be helpful thanks." He replied back as I heard ruffling for paper my guess.
"Ok its 555-6578." I called off the number.
"Thanks man keep an eye out for my sis." Spinner said.
"Will do." I tell him and hanging up and handing Peter his phone back then made my way over to the others.
"C'mon guys we need to head back before the bell ring." I said rushing the other and we headed out the door.
Maya's POV
Owen was yelling loudly which I knew had to be hurting his throat and his voice was getting smaller and scratchier then vanished all together. He somehow looked paler and fell onto the bed.
"Owen!" I exclaim hoarsely leaning over him and shaking him gently. He opens his eyes after a second and I let out a breath.
"W…" he tries and then starts coughing.
"I don't think you should be talking," I tell him in my own scratchy voice as I help him back on the bed as much as I can.
I hand him his water and he takes a few sips as Mrs. Milligan comes back.
"What happened?" Mrs. Milligan asked setting the bags and case of water down and coming over to us.
"I got some threatening messages from Katie and Owen started yelling and ranting about going over there to hurt them and started to get up but he lost his voice almost completely and passed out for sec." I explain the best as I can with the way my own throat was hurting as his mom made her way over to his side.
"Owen I told you, you shouldn't talk loud or yell, open." Mrs. Milligan said sitting on the couch end as Owen pushed himself up the best he could and opened his mouth so Mrs. Milligan could examine it.
"You're throats inflamed again and you lymph nodes swollen again. No talking for at least a couple of hours and I'm going to give you some medicine," Mrs. Milligan said looking at his throat and feeling his glands then stood up and went over to one of the bags and pulled out more medicine great.
"Here I got some cold meds and your dad will pick up your prescriptions on his way home." She said and went into the kitchen and came back with a spoon and pour out of medicine for Owen to and then feeling his forehead.
"You feel a little warmer I better go get the thermometers, when I come back down I'll check on you Maya." Mrs. Milligan said then turned and went upstairs.
Looking over I see Owen wore himself out by just yelling.
"You need to rest too, if you're not going to let me stress about Clare or anything then I'm not going to let you stress about me or anything else." I said raspy.
All Owen could do was look over at me and I knew he wanted to say something but all I did was give him a look as Mrs. Milligan came back down the stairs with the thermometers.
"Open, and I'll check you over Maya after." She says as she slips the thermometers into our mouths.
The thermometers beeped and she took them out and looked at them for a moment before looking at us.
"Maya your fever staying steady at 102.4, Owen you're ranting caused yours to elevate to 102.7, you need to calm down and get some rest both of you." Mrs. Milligan said setting the thermometers down and sitting beside me and started feeling my glands.
"Were you yelling too Maya your lymph nodes are swollen but not as much?" As she asked me to open my mouth.
"Yeah a little not as much though." I tell her opening my mouth.
"Your throats inflamed more." Mrs. Milligan said standing up and giving me my dose of medicine and then stared at us "You both need to settle down and rest your voices especially you Owen don't need to make yourself worse."
Since she wanted us to rest our voices all we could do is nod.
"Good Owen don't talk for a few hours we need to see if that will bring your voice back ok." Mrs. Milligan said looking at Owen and got a nod out of him again and then left the room and headed upstairs.
Now the only we could do is lay there and Owen looking like he was going to fall asleep himself, I decided to try and take a nap and slid down and laid my head on the pillow and was about to take my glasses off when my phone went off.
"It's Clare I hope she's ok." I said with a scratchy voice to Owen who nudged me and gave me a scolding look for stressing.
Clare: Spinner knows now and is involved. Everything will be ok now. We're going to be safe.
"Uhh? You know anybody named Spinner?" I hoarse out showing Owen the text.
Getting a shake of his head must of showed that he didn't and I knew not to worry though and set my phone down and took my glasses off and set them on the table beside me and laid my head on the pillow facing Owen and fell asleep quick not knowing somewhere between us napping we turned ourselves into each other's arms.