My note…OH…MY…GOD…I can't believe how many things I've had to neglect because of RL. I haven't had time to think let alone write, but I never, ever forgot about my stories or my great friends here on FF. So, in honor of Kelley's 17th birthday(I started this piece last year, as a sweet 16 present….Yeah, that's how busy I'vebeen), I worked so hard this week to at least update this story for her. I hope it was worth the wait. Happy Birthday Kelley!!!
REDEMPTION
CHAPTER 3: FATHER MARCO, SISTER DARCY AND A FIERY REDHEAD pt.1
MARCO
It feels like I've been pitted against two of my best friends forever now. Well, not exactly two best friends...
Anyone who knows the history between the three of us would be insane if they said that Jimmy Brooks wasn't a better friend to me than Spinner Mason was.
Jimmy has always been a true friend, someone who has stuck by me no matter what. He was there for me when I came out, accepted it as if it were no big deal, and helped me through the tough times...the gay bashing, my breakup with Dylan, etc. Spinner? Well, it took Spinner a little longer to come to terms with my sexuality...and by a little, I mean a lot.
But in the end he did.
Even though it was something he struggled with, a lifestyle he didn't maybe agree with...He overcame his homophobia and remained my friend. And how did I show my appreciation to him? What did I do in return?
I shunned him like everyone else.
I know it may not have been fair, but my loyalty had remained with Jimmy. It was the right thing to do, right? I mean Jimmy was the victim in all this, wasn't he? He was the one who got shot because of some stupid prank Spinner and Jay concocted. He was the one who's life was irrevocably changed because of what should have been a simple misunderstanding...
Only it wasn't just Jimmy's life that was changed that day, it was all of ours. Spinner included.
Spinner especially.
In a matter of seconds, he nearly lost his best friend...his brother. And for months, to have to live with that knowledge that he was partly responsible for it.
I know what it's like to have a secret. I know what it's like to have that secret eat away at you. To be so afraid to tell anyone, for fear of how they'd react. But I also know the feeling of relief that comes with letting the truth out, and to know that your friends still accept you and love you for who you are.
Only when the truth came out for Spinner, there was no feeling of relief or peace. No friends there to help him through that. He ended up, not only loosing the rest of those friends, but also his entire junior year of school... his life as he knew it.
It was because of that, that I decided to give him a second chance. And it almost didn't happen, not after what took place at the safe sex seminar, with Friendship Club...and Linus. But Spinner sought me out after that, apologized for what happened, practically begged me to be his friend again. It was there, across from the Dot that I realized just how lost he was, how much he needed me, how he had changed, and that yes, he did deserve another chance...
Now I just have to find a way to get Jimmy to see that too.
DARCY
I guess I never really realized why Spinner felt he needed to be friends with those people. I can clearly remember when I first started at Degrassi, there was some sort of tension or something between all of them...none of them hung around together, and they seemed to talk to each other even less. I didn't even know they were supposed to be friends.
I guess it's the years of being with the same people, growing up with them, getting to know everything about the other. I wouldn't know, I never had anything like that. With my dad's job, we were forced to move every few months and I was barely even able to make any friends.
What I do know is that Jimmy and Spin had been friends since before nursery school. In fact, that's where they met Paige Michalchuk, that Ashley girl who's in London, and Rick Murray's former girlfriend Terri. And while they may have added a few more members and lost some throughout the years, the fact still remains that that group probably wouldn't have even known one another if it wasn't for the friendship of Jimmy Brooks and Spinner Mason.
How can people just throw all of those memories away like that? And all because of a freak accident.
I know what happened to Jimmy was a tragedy, but it wasn't entirely Spinner's fault. Sure he and Jay Hogart led Rick to believe that Jimmy was behind the prank, but he wasn't the only one who teased Rick and he wasn't the one who brought that gun to school, or the one who fired that bullet into Jimmy's back. Spinner was the scapegoat, plain and simple. They all needed someone to blame and Spinner was the easy target. I mean, it wasn't like Rick could be held accountable anymore...he was already dead.
Seriously, if somebody treated me the way that they treat Spin, I wouldn't even want to be around them. Heck, I'd probably go home, say prayer, and light a candle for them. But that's not how Spin sees it. He loves them like they were his siblings...he doesn't know how to live without them.
And while I may not totally understand it...I'm going to make sure he doesn't have to anymore.
ELLIE
I've known both Spinner Mason and Jimmy Brooks for the same amount of time, just over three years now. Two totally different people, from totally different backgrounds...
But they work.
Or at least they did.
Those two were always in some kind of competition. One always trying to out do the other. I remember that time when Jimmy and Spinner both wanted my phone number, and I gave it to Spinner. I know that burned Jimmy, probably more so now than ever, but it wasn't anything personal. And I didn't do it because I liked Spinner more than him. I did it because Ashley was my best friend and I knew how she felt...and probably still feels...about Jimmy. That's why I did it.
Maybe I should tell Jimmy that. On second thought....No. I don't think drudging up the past between him and Spinner will make anything easier right now. In fact, I'm not really sure there's anything I can say or do that will change Jimmy's opinion of Spinner Mason. I'm really not the type of person who enjoys being in the middle of conflict of any kind. I a pretty passive person when it comes to that. And I really don't think I should be getting involved in things that are none of my business. But Marco has other ideas. He seems to think Spinner deserves another chance, and he also believes that I'm the 'perfect' person to convince Jimmy of this.
I don't know.
I guess I could talk to Paige...no, she pretty much hates me. Then there's Hazel...uh no, not gonna happen. She hates me and Jimmy. Okay, so that leaves Craig...oh wait, he's out in Vancouver working on his music thing and happens to totally despise Spinner.
Great. So that just leaves me, Marco...
...and?
You know I couldn't help myself from sneaking in a possible future pairing in there(hint, double hint). If you haven't already figured it out(I know season 5 seems like a lifetime ago), this one is set during/right after 'I Against I'. I originally planned on giving each character their own chapter(with dialogue of course...and Jimmy), but in the end, decided to just go with quick snippets of their thoughts instead. The next chap will make more sense(I hope).
Yessss, I live. Helllooo everyone. God, I've missed you all, it's been sooo long.
I know I don't have the time or space to fill you all in on everything that's been going on lately, so I'll spare you. Life is great, school is great(almost done! I have the days figured out somewhere...but it's less than six months to go:), family is great...
Super busy time for me these next few weeks(finals, Nutcracker, etc), so you probably wont hear from me again 'til around Christmas. But I will definitely get back into the groove over the holiday break(who knows, maybe sooner). Hugs to you all and a very Happy Birthdayx17, to Kelley!!
Degrassi is not mine.
