"You Don't Want Me" – Part 6

Summary and notes in part 1.

Disclaimer: Do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

Adam absentmindedly threw his mini basketball in the air as he lay on his bed. His earlier conversation with Fiona weighed heavily on his mind. He wasn't sure what to do.

"Okay, what's the matter?" he suddenly heard from the doorway. He looked up to see Drew leaning against the frame.

Adam sighed. "Am I that obvious?"

Drew entered his room. "The only time you throw that ball around is when you're brooding," Drew told him. He then sat beside Adam on the bed. "Girl trouble?"

"I don't know to do about this situation with Fiona," Adam confided.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Drew asked.

His younger brother frowned. "It's not that simple…"

"Yeah, it is. Answer the question!" Drew pressed.

"I don't want Fiona to be targeted because of me," Adam protested.

"I asked what do you want to do. Not what you don't want to happen," the older boy countered.

Adam paused for a long moment. "I want to kiss Fiona."

Drew slapped him on the shoulder. "Well, there you go! You have your answer," he smirked.

"Well, she hates me now," Adam said sadly.

Drew snorted. "I'm pretty sure that's not true."

Adam ran his hand through his hair. "She called me a liar, Andrew. Plus earlier today Clare called me a coward. I think my chances are slim to none."

"Well, you did kind of shoot yourself in the foot by bottling things up for so long," Drew observed.

"Tell me something I don't know," Adam retorted.

"Instead of talking to her, you did what was convenient for you and tried to cover your tracks."

Adam looked at his brother surprised. When did he get so smart?

Drew raised an eyebrow. "Open communication. It's relationship 101."

-oOo-

Fiona hated that she spent so much time with Adam here. Now when she was home there were memories she couldn't escape. They had one week. One perfect week, and now it was all ruined. She resented the question behind the eyes of Adam's family and friends. They were worried that she would one day break his heart. Little did they know, he would sabotage their relationship.

She felt sick listening to Fitz's hateful words about Adam. It was nothing compared to realization that their relationship only existed in a bubble. Adam was fine with that, but she could never be. She suspected he knew that about her, which is why he lied.

Fiona knew Adam struggled with self esteem issues in the past. But she couldn't understand why he was okay with everyone thinking she was too good for him. Perhaps that's what bothered her the most.

She heard a few knocks on the door, and then it opened.

Holly J walked towards her. "I'm here! Got out as soon as I could," she told her friend. The two girls hugged.

"Would you like something to drink?" Fiona asked.

"Stop stalling. If I want something I can get it myself. Now sit." Holly J was in full on bossy mode.

They moved to the couch.

"So Adam and I broke up," Fiona said.

Holly J sent her a sympathetic look. "I figured from the cryptic text. What happened?"

Fiona let out a wry laugh. "You know how Adam and I were dating?"

Her friend raised an eyebrow, not following.

"Apparently that was a secret only a select few knew. Everyone else thought we were still friends," Fiona revealed.

Holly J furrowed her brows. "Wait, back up."

"No one else was aware. Oh, and when someone would imply otherwise Adam would lie about it."

"What!" Holly J said shocked. "Are you kidding me?"

Fiona shook her head.

"Shouldn't he be screaming at the rooftops that he's dating you? I mean, you're a catch!" Holly J questioned incredulously.

Fiona genuinely laughed. "Thanks Holly J."

"I just don't get it. Why would he deny your relationship?" Adam seemed really into Fiona. It just didn't make any sense.

Fiona paused. "He said he didn't want us to get harassed."

Holly J's expression changed.

She continued, "He said no one bothered us now and he thought it was better if we kept our relationship to ourselves."

"Oh," Holly J said sadly.

"What?" Fiona questioned.

Her friend sighed. "It just… I kind of see his point."

Fiona was silent as she waited for Holly J to continue.

"I mean, he was bullied pretty badly when everyone learned that he was born a girl. Things have died down a lot, but today I heard he had a run in with Fitz. I can imagine he's worried about you," Holly J said thoughtfully.

Fiona considered her words. "You're right, but he shouldn't have lied. He should have talked to me about it."

Holly J shrugged. "I know, but he is a guy."

Fiona scoffed. "And that lets him off the hook?"

Holly J gave her a look, "No, that's not what I meant." She searched for the right words. "Guys don't do well when confronted with things they can't change. They don't want to talk about it because they're afraid to look weak."

"I wouldn't think Adam was weak," Fiona argued.

Holly J nodded. "Yeah, but it's not just about you. Sure, it was shortsighted and selfish for Adam to lie about your relationship, but maybe that was the only way he felt he could protect you. I think we're all in agreement that if Adam and Fitz got into a fight, Adam would be in trouble."

Fiona questioned, "Why would they have to fight?"

"I'm just saying, in his view, if Adam can't push back then he doesn't have leverage to stop insults from coming your way. If he can't protect you from harassment, then he feels weak."

Fiona finally understood what Holly J's point was.

.

tbc

A/N: Thanks for the reviews last chapter. It's awesome hearing what you guys think :-)

And also awesome - tonight Degrassi is back! I'm so excited! Boo yah!

FYI, I will continue to update this story regularly. I'm still writing it. So far there's 15 chapters and counting.