Chapter 2

Hi. You're still with me? Good because I'm freaking out over here in this Canadian land. Where was I? Oh… the ring. Right! Ralph, Derek's best friend, who is known here in Degrassi as Spinner, owns the ring. Ralph also owns the Dot and I am a little salty that he never recognized me those 6 years but I mean its Ralph so what was I suppose to expect. Anyways he came to visit us in California a few weeks ago. Derek, Ralph, and I had a little jam session. He took off his wedding ring because he didn't want to damage it as he drummed. I don't even know why it was that serious. Whatever. I didn't question Ralph. He ends up forgetting that he took it off and came back to Canada. He finally remembered and told us. He wouldn't let us mail it because he didn't want to lose it and he wouldn't come pick it up because he didn't want Emma, his wife to know. He's been wearing a fill in ring ever since. Derek hasn't been able to bring it because he's been busy with Hockey training. I on the other hand had finished all my acting projects and was only stuck with writing music for my next album.

I thought I would visit Kat on her new TV show. Since her set was in Canada, I thought I would come visit her and drop off the ring. I missed her. I hadn't seen her in so long. I thought I would surprise her. When I agreed to drop off the ring, I was too occupied with surprising Kat that it didn't register in my head that Ralph owned the dot. And the dot was in Degrassi. And Degrassi would be where the ring would have to go. And that I would have to bring that ring to… to Degrassi…

Which brings me full circle, finally to the present. To this street. Across from the dot. With the ring in my pocket and Ralph expecting me inside the Dot soon. Ah! Let's do this. I peeled the soles of my feet off the pavement and slowly began to cross the street. Come on you can do this. The dot is just a store, a regular store, which you will drop off your stepbrother's best friends wedding band. Good halfway there. No one will be there anyways. All your friends are long gone from Degrassi. Yeah! Good Adam you've reached the street; now open the door. Right when I was about to touch the doorknob of the entrance I saw them, sitting in a booth. Everything froze. My heart, my feet, and that hand that was about to touch the front door knob.

To anyone else, they would have seen just a buff black haired boy, a brunette girl, a raven haired girl, and a blond haired girl. But to me, that was Drew, Claire, Imogen, and Becky. I pulled my hood on and quickly stuffed the ring in a tissue and left on top of the windowsill. I texted Ralph where it would be and started to walk off. I can't see them yet. I'm not ready. I didn't look up from the ground I just let my legs take me away until I bumped into someone and fell onto the ground. I looked up and saw another person I did not expect to see tonight. It was Eli. Even though I may have seen a slight reaction from him. I'm not sure if it was recognition or not. I didn't stay and find out. I got right back up, threw my hood back on, and started to walk as quickly as possible back to my family's apartment. By the time I reached it I was breathing so heavily and teary eyed. That was all too much. I called Kat and asked her to come over.

I needed to find a way to calm myself down. I started to breathe in slower. Come on you're Adam McDonald. You're famous. You're a rockstar and an actor. You have a family and friends that love you for who you are. People from Degrassi probably wouldn't even be able to recognize me. I don't even look like I did when I was Adam Torres anymore. It's true. I may have that brown hair with a slight red tint and blue eyes, but I'm now 5'10 and more muscular. It's okay. Eli probably thought I was just some punk not looking where he was walking. You're good.

Kat finally arrived and we talked about everything that I had seen at the Dot. She told me she understood how I must have been scared, but I needed to face them sometime. What I was doing was not healthy. She said that everything we went through the past year was because I couldn't face my past. She told me she'd be here for me when I was ready to face it. She stayed over and left early in the morning, before I even woke up, because she had an early film time.

I went on with my normal routine. I went to the gym room in my apartment and worked out some of last night's stress. I showered, made a protein shake and some breakfast. As I was eating, I heard the doorbell ring and got up right away and opened the door, thinking Kat left something of hers and probably came back to get it. What I opened the door to were three wide-eyed Claire, Eli, and Imogen.

"Hey man. Could we come in?" Eli said. I was too shocked to say anything so I moved aside and let them in and walked back to the living room with them following. We sat in silence until I mustered up the courage and looked at Eli.

"How did you know?" I asked.

"You're my best friend. Of course, I would know it was you. You could change your appearance or be pronounced dead and if I saw you alive I would know. You're my bro, Adam." Eli said. I couldn't help but smile and reach over and do our handshake.

"I followed you back to this place after our run in at the dot. I'm sorry for bringing Imogen and Claire here like this but knowing you I figured you would want to talk to them too." Eli said.

"I mean, I would have want to think out the way I would approach Claire and Imogen again, but I guess better early than never right. Ha. Um. Imogen I'm so sorry for taking advantage of your feelings for me. I was wrong and all you were doing was being a good friend to me and trying to help me out with Becky that summer. I was so inconsiderate of you. I would love for you to be my friend again but only if you will have me. I really do hope you'll have me though because you're such a one of a kind friend and…" my rambling apologies were cut off when Imogen jumped into my arms.

"Adam. Oh my god. You're alive and here. I don't care about all that. What matters is you're here. We'll always be friends. Remember once a buddy camp counselor always will be buddies. Oh I'm going to hug you till you can't breathe Adam." Imogen said. I reveled in all of Imogen's excitement and forgiveness. I missed that quirky, smiling girl in my arms.

"Ok Imogen I would like to talk to Adam before you make him go back into the land of the dead." Claire got our attentions. Imogen and I separated. I faced Claire giving her all of my attention.

"Claire." I said.

"Adam. No talks about negativity, sadness, or anything of that matter. My best friend is back from the dead. Now, get over here." Claire said as she reached over and engulfed me in her arms. After all the hugs we sat down to catch up.

"Um. I'm going to point out the big elephant in the room. How do you afford this place? There are chandeliers here. This place is huge." Eli said. I laughed as I told them about my family and everything from my adoption, California, my transition, my music, movies, my memory relapse, and new friends. It felt so natural like we had gone 4 years back to when we were in high school. We laughed the same and quoted movies and music.

"I do remember hearing you're music on the radio." Imogen said.

"I saw you in a movie. How did we not get it then that it was our Adam?" Claire said dumbfounded.

"Cause you weren't me. Too bad I only watch old movies and listen to stuff off the radio, or else I would've found you sooner. It seems like you're pretty famous though. Got any girls?" Eli asked.

"Of course he obviously does, but damn Torres you came back hotter," Claire said giving me a wink. I smirked.

"Nah! I'm very much single Claire regardless of what you might think." I answered back.

"Good because Becky's single and she's in town!" Imogen shouted clapping her hands.

"Woah woah Imogen. I think I'm not ready for that with Becky or with anyone right now. Um. I haven't really thought about ever seeing them again. From, what I heard from Fiona she was doing well. I don't want to ruin that. I don't even know what I'll say to her, Drew, or Aud… my mom. Hi, you thought I was dead. But, surprise! I'm alive!... No, I can't do that. I'd throw off the lives they're living right now. A life which doesn't include me. If I'm going to see them I want to do it slowly and separately. Starting with Drew and my mom. I was thinking maybe tomorrow night. Could you guys maybe make sure they both are at home tomorrow night. But don't make it obvious. Don't tell them about me either just in case I chicken out." I told them.

"I got the perfect plan. Don't worry Eli and I will do something to make sure that Drew and Audra at the house tomorrow by 5 the latest." Claire said gripping one of my hands.

"Yea Adam. We got you. But honestly. We need your phone number because the next time I have to find you I don't want to be bulldozed by you on the straight so hand that phone over." Eli said. I chuckled as I chucked my phone over to Eli and watched him put Imogen's, Claire's, and his phone numbers in and texted all of them off my phone.

"Adam? Why do you have GiGi Hadid's phone number? She's a fucking model!" Eli said as he lifted his fist for me to bump, which I did.

"My stepsister Marty does modeling so she's one of her friends. We all kind of run in the same friend group." I said nonchalantly.

"Hook me up with a hot model. I want." Imogen said interestedly. I exchanged knowing looks with Claire and Eli.

"Um. I think we all know you only belong with one person. But I mean if you want I have the perfect friend to introduce to you. She lives in New York and she's extremely talented in fashion. She sometimes styles me for events. The only downside to introducing her to you is that she's my Princess." I said smirking. Eli coughed slightly off to the side to hide his awareness to who I was trying to "introduce" Imogen to in the future. All of a sudden, Imogen's phone started to ring. She picked it up and looked up at me. She picked up and started to talking. After the call ended she turned back to me.

"It's Becky. I was supposed to meet her soon to go do a little shopping. I totally forgot. I gotta go." Imogen told me.

"Alright. But remember not to tell Becky I'm back please. It was good seeing you again counselor Imogen." I saluted Imogen. She saluted me back. Before she walked off. I gave her another hug and walked her to the door.

I spent the rest of the day hanging out with Eli and Claire. We ordered in and I played them some of my music. We watched a movie and talked the night away. I had two of my best friends in the world back with me and I felt amazing.

Author's Note: Just wanted to say hi to my readers and hope you enjoy the story. I also don't really know if I'm going to be posting with a set schedule. I think it'll happen more sporadically if anything. Just look out for my story through the week or follow it if ya want. Love to hear from yall if ya think the story's not to shabby.