My noteā¦I never thought I could write a JimAsh story with so much turmoil, but I'm actually enjoying it...a little. The last part flip-flops back and forth a bit, basically, it takes place during the same time frame, but in two different places, then ends up with the all characters involved...in the same place at the same time(then the sparks will fly). I hope it's not too confusing.
YOU'RE STILL YOU
CHAPTER 3: GETTING TRICKIER pt.2
Jimmy felt as if the wind had been knocked from his lungs. He sat stunned, starring up at Ashley, who in turn, looked like a deer caught in headlights.
"Hey Jim", Marco greeted questionably, while Paige narrowed her eyes at Trina, and Ellie looked on, totally shocked.
Jimmy cleared his throat first. "H-hey guys", he stuttered uncomfortably. He knew Trina was standing to his side, but Jimmy was unable to take his eyes off of Ashley.
"Didn't know you'd be here", Marco prompted, curiously.
Marco's tone shook Jimmy out of his reverie. "Me neither, it just sorta happened that way", he recovered slightly, titlting his head over his shoulder, in Trina's direction and sitting a little straighter in his chair.
"Guys, this is Trina", he introduced casually. "Trina, these are my friends...Marco, Ellie, Paige...and um, Ashley". Trina shifted her crutches to her left hand and offered her right for them to shake. "Trina's a friend from physio...we met a few weeks ago...she's been helping with my...", Jimmy tried, but by looks on the faces of his friends, all of his attempts at an explaination were futile, so he just trailed off softly.
"Jimmy's a great guy", Trina stated genuinely, placing her free hand atop his shoulder.
Ashley's heart sank to her knees as she watched Trina use the gesture...that was her sign of affection. How she longed to touch Jimmy like that again, to feel the warmth and strength of his shoulders under her hands, his lap underneath her, his lips on hers.
"Yep, he's a peach", Paige quipped, shooting Jimmy a firey smirk. Oh Paige loved Jimmy, she always would, but right now he was right at the top of her naughty list. Jimmy challenged her gaze and blew out an uneasy breath.
"You go here, right...to TU?", Marco asked, finally placing Trina's face.
"Yeah, it's my second year", she replied.
"Trina's majoring in social work too Marco", Jimmy added, trying to cut through the heavy air that was surrounding the group.
"Okay", Marco acknowledged. "That's probably where I recogize you from", he smiled politely at her. "I'm a first year, in the same program".
"Small world", she chuckled and nodded.
Jimmy blew out a soft "Yeah". It was a small world...and becoming smaller by the second.
Trina noticed Jimmy had become somewhat uncomfortable. "So, did you wanna go catch that movie?", she asked casually, figuring he was looking for a out.
His head shot up and his jaw dropped open. "I...um, I...", he stuttered slightly. Then, with a quick and painful glance at Ashley, he was finally able to answer, "I really should be getting home".
"Now?", she asked incredulously and laughed softly.
Jimmy shifted slightly as he spoke, "Ah yeah, I forgot I have this assignment to finish...".
"On a Friday?", Trina teased. "C'mon, you wanted to see that movie...let's go see it". Jimmy did want to go see this new movie, and he'd planned on seeing it with Ashley, but that wasn't likely to happen anymore. He glanced up at her, all of the pain and disappointment from the past few weeks resurfaced and he gave Trina an indifferent, yet slightly hesitant shrug.
Ashley couldn't take it anymore. "I have to use the wash...", she blurted suddenly. "um, it was nice meeting you Tri...", she held her hand out but faltered and the tears started to fall. "Excuse me", Ashley cried and ran toward the restroom.
"Is she alright?", Trina asked concernedly.
"She just lost her dog", Ellie spat sarcastically, looking pointedly down at Jimmy, as a slight mist of tears filled her own eyes.
Ellie and Paige were disappointed in him and Jimmy knew it. He lowered his head in frustration, but came to the conclusion that they'd only gotten one side of the story...Ashley's.
Trina nodded obliviously, then turned to Jimmy, "Should we go?".
With a backward glance at the restroom door Ashley had just ran through and one last look at the conflicted expressions on the faces of his friends, Jimmy decided he didn't need their...or anyone else's approval. He gave Trina a confident nod, and they both headed for the door.
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The group ended up ordering take out from the diner and bringing it back to the house in complete silence. When they returned home, Marco found a message from Eric, confirming their date...this being their third attempt...for nine o'clock. A frantic one for Paige from her boss reminding her that she needed the new fabric swatches...an hour ago. And one for Ellie from Jesse, who was wondering where her article was, as there were only four hours, thirty-seven minutes left until her midnight deadline.
The next morning, Ellie, Marco and Paige sat at the kitchen counter, feeling guilty for leaving Ashley in the house all alone, and contemplating what they were going to do about the situation steming from the events of last night.
"I just can't believe Jimmy would do something like that", Ellie stated, her voice low and hushed as not to wake Ashley, who was still asleep on the couch in the living room.
"I don't see what the big deal is", Marco replied.
"Marco he just cheated on Ashley", Ellie argued.
"How did he cheat El?", he asked incredulously. "All he did was have a burger with a friend, who just happens to be a girl, after his therapy session".
Paige sighed heavily. "Marco, you going out for a burger with a friend, who just happens to be a girl, equals a typical evening...Jimmy going out with a friend, who just happens to be a girl, equals a date".
"I still don't see it", Marco defended, shaking his head in disbelief. He padded over to the coffee pot to pour himself a refill. "I mean, c'mon guys...Jimmy's absolutely crazy about Ash".
"That was before she cut his rap from their demo tape", Paige cut in quickly, and held her mug out for Marco.
Marco topped off Paige and Ellie's mugs before returning the carafe to the base and reclaiming his seat on the stool. "That's still not reason enough for him to cheat Paige".
"Whatever", she sighed and rolled her eyes. "But there was definitely something there between those two last night".
Ellie crossed her arms over her chest. "What does she have that Ashley doesn't?", she questioned bitterly, in defense of her best friend.
"A disability", Marco answered simply. Ellie and Paige leaned in curiously. "Maybe that's all this is guys...a harmless connection between two people".
Paige pondered the notion and nodded slowly. "I hope you're right Marco", she said softly when she heard the blankets on the couch rustle.
"Me too", he muttered and walked over to the cabinet to get Ashley a coffee mug.
"Hey Ash", Ellie greeted, her voice sounding forced, and a little too sweet.
"Morning", Ashley replied softly, accepting the coffee from Marco with a small smile.
"How're you doing Hun?", Paige asked carefully.
"I'm fine Paige", she answered quickly, trying to ward off any concern.
"Did you sleep well?", Marco asked thoughtfully, placing his arm around her shoulder.
Ashley smiled appreciatively at his attempt to make small talk and was just about to answer when a deep voiced boomed out from behind her. "Good morning all", Griffen addressed the group huddled in the tiny kitchen. "Hey Ashley...I didn't hear you come in", he added, only remotely noticing the new addition.
"I spent the night", she replied incredulously, motioning to the over-sized nightshirt she was wearing.
"Oh, that's cool", Griffen stated indifferently, as he sniffed around the kitchen. "Coffee's gone?", he moaned, looking longingly at the empty pot.
"You could always make some more", Ellie hinted sarcastically.
"Here, take mine", Ashley offered, holding out her mug. "I didn't touch it".
"Thanks". Griffen smirked and snatched the mug from Ashley hand. "Hey, I'm glad you're here Ash", he stated, usuing the nickname he wasn't exactly qualified to use. He scooped a few spoonfuls of sugar into the cup before continuting. "I talked to my A&R guy Tom at the open jam last night and he really wants to see Jimmy as soon as possible...".
"That's great, but what does it have to do with me?", she asked questionably.
Griffen shot her a confused look, "Well, Jimmy told me to run everything by you first...".
"Why would he do that?", she asked, interrupting again. "This is his thing...".
Griffen shrugged, his face covered in disappointment and confusion, "Yeah, but when he came by last week, he told me he wanted out".
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"Hey, I didn't expect to see you here at this time", Trina exclaimed when she walked into the therapy room to see Jimmy sitting on one of the tables, seemingly dressed for a session. "No school today?".
"Ah no, I have school...just got the morning off. My PT said I needed a new set of braces with a little more support", he replied dishearteningly, looking down at his legs as he did so. "This is the only time I could squeeze in a fitting with the ortho guy".
"How about you...not your usual time slot?", Jimmy inquired curiously.
"No classes on Mondays", she replied turning her right crutch upside down to show Jimmy the worn rubber bottom. "Needs a new grip and some adjusting".
He nodded slowly and began sliding over to the edge of the table, to where his chair was sitting. "So, um...", Trina paused, proceeding cautiously. Jimmy seemed distracted lately, especially during the movie on Friday...maybe this was the reason "...more support, huh", she stated, more than questioned.
"Yeah", Jimmy grunted, completing the transfer. "That right knee hinge wasn't locking properly...", he explained as he was getting situated. "...hopefully with more support at the knee and better locks, I'll be able to get my legs straight enough to actually keep me upright".
Trina could hear the disappointment in Jimmy's voice. "The whole process is about trial and error Jimmy", she explained casually. "I've been through probably ten or so different sets of braces...and it took forever to get these right", she added, lifting her pant leg up a little, to show Jimmy the slender plastic insert supporting her ankles.
Trina was trying to make Jimmy feel better, and that, he appreciated. His lips turned up slightly, into a soft smile as he looked up at her. "I just thought after all the work I put into it, I'd finally get somewhere...but now it feels like I'm going backwards...", he paused, his voice conveying his frustration. "...I need new braces with added support, I'm supposed to find a quick way to increase my arm strength, and try to work on abs that don't work anymore".
Trina's face softened with sympathy and understanding. "Well, sometimes you have to take two steps back before you can get that one step forward", she tried to sound positive.
"Never even got to the actual steps part though", Jimmy quipped, ruefully. A soft chuckled escaped Trina's lips, and when Jimmy looked up, he couldn't help but smile back. "What's so funny?", he asked with mock irritation.
"You", she teased playfully.
"Oh, so it's funny to see a guy completely miserable", Jimmy joked back, trying to hide his embarrassment with some selfdepricating humor. "I knew it wasn't a good idea to dump all of my problems on you", he added apologetically.
"No, no Jimmy", Trina stepped closer and reached down for his hand. "Don't ever apologize for venting...that's what I'm here for...", initially, Jimmy cringed at those five words, remembering the pitying look that accompanied Ashley when she spoke them a few weeks back...but coming from Trina, it didn't bother him so much. She understood him.
"Thanks", Jimmy replied sincerely, with a slight blush and a slow nod. "But I am still sorry. I..I just get so damn frustrated...", he sighed deeply and tried to rub the tension from his forehead. Looking up at Trina with almost pleading eyes, Jimmy continued, "Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this...why I'm even here...".
Trina spotted one of the therapists stools and carefully lowered herself onto it, she took both of Jimmy's hands in hers and held onto them tightly. "Jimmy, only you can answer that. Think about what you're trying to achieve...what your goals are...", she squeezed gently to get her point across. "What do you want Jimmy?".
Jimmy shrugged soberly. "Realistically...I don't even know", he answered. "Optimistically?", Jimmy looked from Trina, down to his legs and up again. "I wanna get outta this thing".
Trina grinned from ear to ear, grabbed for her crutches and stood up. "Then let's go", she called out over her shoulder.
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Ashley looked up at the clock on the wall for the ump-teenth time that day. Jimmy never purposely ditched school, in fact, he was hardly ever absent or even tardy, considering his circumstances, so his truancy was starting to worry her. Checking her date book for any clues; she'd been keeping track of his entire schedule as well as hers, for months now, so their time together would be maximized, but page after page, she was coming up empty.
Ashley tried to keep her mind from wandering, but she couldn't help it...she loved Jimmy, even if he was angry with her at the moment. Figuring something came up, but hoping it wasn't serious and Jimmy was alright, Ashley continued with her day...but not without incessantly studying the clock.
Meanwhile, Jimmy followed Trina out of the medical building and into the parking lot. "Trina...what are we doing?", he asked quizzically as he pushed slowly, in time with her steps.
"You said you want to get outta that thing right?", she questioned right back, motioning to his chair. Jimmy nodded hesitantly, not exactly sure where she was going with this. She stopped in front of a red car, parked in the second handicapped space, right outside of the building. "So get out".
Jimmy looked at the car...Trina's car, and smiled. "Where are we going?", he asked as he started to pivot, preparing to swing over to the passenger side, when the jingling of keys in mid-air stopped him.
"Wherever you want...", Trina exclaimed suggestively as Jimmy deftly caught the keys one-handed. "...you're driving".
Back at Degrassi, the day was nearing an end and Ashley still hadn't heard from...not that she thought she would...or seen Jimmy. No one had. She nonchalantly inquired about Jimmy to a few teachers, asked a couple of his classmates if they had seen him and finally headed over to the office to see if Jimmy needed her to pick up his assignments. "No sorry honey, he said he was only gonna be out for a few hours in the morning and would pick up his assignments when he got back", the secretary stated. And gave Ashley a polite smile as she added, "Whatever appoinment he had must've ran over".
Spinner had all but laughed in her face when she asked if he knew where Jimmy was. "What happened...doctor finally seperate you two?", he joked, as usual, about them being attached at the hip...or as he called it hip to shoulder. Obviously Jimmy hadn't told Spinner of the problems they were having, which was just as well...he had enough of his own stuff to deal with.
Jimmy settled in the drivers seat of Trina's car and stared nervously at the numerous controls and gadgets. "I've haven't driven since before I was shot", he told her.
"Yeah, I kinda figured that", Trina laughed in reply. "I just thought maybe you wanted to take that first step forward...so to speak", she added encouragingly. "So what better way then to do something that almost everyone else can do".
Jimmy smiled at her consideration and nodded with a renewed excitement. "Okay...let's do this".
The last bell had just rung and Ashley slowly made her way down the hall to her locker, scanning the halls for any signs of Jimmy. After stowing her books away and sifting through her papers, Ashley packed her bag and headed out.
The roar of an engine a the squeal of tires caught Ashley's attention as she descended the front steps. The car was unfamiliar, but the music blasting from the speakers wasn't...and neither was the grin that graced the face of the driver.
Jimmy laughed with delight as he shifted the car into park, and turned off the engine. "That was great Trina...thanks", he said genuinely, as he began to pull the pieces of his chair out from the back seat.
"No problem", she waived off his gratitude. "I'm just glad you're a quick study...only one mix-up when trying to brake. I'm impressed".
"And there was that small confusion with the cruise control", Jimmy quipped playfully.
From the steps, Ashley watched what could only be perceived as flirting, from inside the car. She saw Trina come around to the drivers side just as Jimmy was transferring out, and stood in front of him.
"Are you sure you don't need a ride home?", Trina asked again.
"Naw, I had plans to meet a friend anyway", he assured her. "I just need to pick up my assignments and find...".
Jimmy didn't have time to finish, before he knew what was happening, Trina was leaning over him, one arm around his shoulders in a loose hug. "I'll see you soon", she said as she straightened, then slid into her car. "Oh, looks like you ride's waiting for you", she exclaimed, catching a glimpse of Ashley in front of the school.
Jimmy looked up to find a pair of crystal blue eyes fixed on him. He never noticed the hum of Trina's car engine or the muffled "bye Jimmy" as she pulled away...all he saw was same pain and anger he'd been feeling for the past few weeks...only now, it was on Ashley's face.
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Not much to say except I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'd love to hear what you think.
My extreme thanks to...havocmangawip, Sunshyne08, lilfiftyfour and 3DTNG 3, for their amazing reviews.
And as always, Degrassi is not mine.
