Degrassi Season 15
Episode 6 "Line of Fire"
The bell rings as English class is finishing up. Everyone is packing up their belongings and exiting the classroom.
"Make sure you work on your narrative essays over the weekend," Mr. Yates called to the class as everyone was leaving.
"Are you okay?" Maya asked Tristan.
"Never better," Tristan replied faking a smile.
"Tristan, may I have a word with you real quick?" Mr. Yates asked.
"I'll catch up with you guys," Tristan said to Maya and Milo. Maya nodded and they left. Tristan took a deep breath and walked up to Mr. Yates. "Yes?"
"I just wanted to say that after everything that happened between us, I hope things won't be awkward," Mr. Yates said.
"What are you even doing here?"
"They couldn't find enough evidence of our affair to prove I was guilty, so they let me off of my suspension."
"So, what? You get your job back and I'm the laughingstock of my friends? How's that fair?"
"Come on, Tristan. No hard feelings."
"Sorry, Mr. Yates. I have very hard feelings." Tristan walked away, leaving Mr. Yates standing there as the theme music begins to play.
*Enter Theme Music*
SCENE 1
Miles joins Frankie as she's walking through the halls.
"Big news," Miles said. Frankie smiled.
"You actually studied for a test for once?" Frankie joked.
"Nope. Milo forgave me."
"That's great!"
"It gets better. He's now my boyfriend!" Frankie is shocked.
"Oh... That's great." Frankie becomes nervous.
"Don't start."
"I'm not, but don't you think it's a little too fast?"
"It's not like we said 'I love you.' We're only starting out."
"So, you're taking things slow?"
"Of course. I'm not messing this up."
"Well then, I'm happy for you. Really! Just don't blow it."
"I don't intend to." Miles smiled and walked away, passing Nilo who is approaching Frankie.
"What's up with him?" Nilo asked Frankie.
"He and Milo are official," Frankie replied.
"Let me guess, you're not happy about it."
"No, I am. I'm just worried that they're rushing things."
"Stop worrying so much!" A guy bumps into Nilo.
"Watch where you're going, rab!" he shouted angrily.
"Sorry," Nilo said. Frankie looks confused.
"What did he call you?" Frankie asked.
"Nothing," Nilo replied. "Don't worry about it." Frankie gives her a concerned look. Nilo changes the subject. "Are you ready for heritage day in history class?"
"I guess, though I'm not sure what my heritage is." Nilo laughs at her.
SCENE 2
Tristan meets up with Maya and Milo in the hallway. He is distracted by his thoughts.
"Hey," Maya greeted. "What did Mr. Yates want? Did he touch you?"
"What the hell, Maya?" Milo exclaimed. "He's our teacher, that's gross!"
"No, he didn't touch me," Tristan said. "And Milo, it's a long story."
"Well, we have five minutes before the bell," Milo said. "Fill me in. What's the deal with Mr. Yates?"
"No judgement, but Mr. Yates and I had a thing last term, and it didn't end well."
"What?"
"It was a mistake. I thought we were in love, and I found out we weren't when Maya went and blabbed to Simpson about him and me."
"I was only concerned about you," Maya said. "I thought we moved past this."
"We have," Tristan said. "We just need to get Milo up to speed."
"How are you feeling?" Maya said.
"A little scared, actually," Tristan replied. "I feel like I'm back to being on thin ice. Like one wrong move, and I spill the beans, and he ends up getting fired."
"Well, shouldn't have come back in the first place," Maya said.
"There wasn't enough evidence to prove he and I actually did anything," Tristan said.
"As long as you don't get intimate with him again, there shouldn't be a problem," Milo said.
"Trust me, that is not happening," Tristan said biting his lip.
"It better not!" Maya demanded.
"It won't! Don't worry guys. I got this."
SCENE 3
Frankie and Nilo are in Mr. Perino's class, giving their heritage presentations. Frankie is finishing up her presentation.
"And that's how I have no clue what my heritage is, other than my descendants came from somewhere in Europe," Frankie said wrapping up. The class applauds and Frankie takes her seat.
"Thank you, Ms. Hollingsworth," Mr. Perino said. "Hopefully your lack of knowledge of your background will inspire you to dig a little deeper into your family history. Ms. Mahdavi, you're next." Nilo smiles and walks to the front of the class. She's very confident in her presentation.
"Hello, my name is Nilofar," she began. "In Arabic, my name means "water lilly," however, Arabic isn't the original language of my ancestors' heritage. Farsi is. Farsi is the language of the Persians, my heritage. Persia is known as one of the most power civilizations in ancient world history, which stretched from Central Asia, into the Middle East and into Eastern Europe and Northwestern Egypt. Eventually, the Persian Empire fell to Muslim conquests, and a large majority converted from the native religion of Zoroastrianism to Islam." A guy in the back of the class folded his arms, his cross necklace dangling over his chest, and glared at her. "Today, most people of Persian descent live in modern Iran, a predominantly Muslim country. Farsi is still widely spoken within Iran, and Zoroastrianism is practiced by a small population. I'm proud of my Persian heritage. It makes me who I am." The class applauds as Nilo takes her seat.
"Very nice presentation, Ms. Mahdavi," Perino said. The guy in the back leaned into Nilo's ear.
"Yeah, nice presentation, rag-head," the guy whispered.
"What?" Nilo asked turning to him. The guy didn't answer, and sat back in his seat, glaring at her. Nilo turned back around in her seat, becoming slightly nervous.
SCENE 4
It's after school, and Tristan is standing at the door Mr. Yates' apartment. He starts to knock but is hesitant. He starts to walk away but Mr. Yates opens the door. Tristan turns around.
"Tristan?" Mr. Yates asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I was asking myself the same thing," Tristan replied.
"I'm confused."
"I am, too, but something tells me that I shouldn't be here."
"That's probably a good idea."
"I guess there was just some part of me that thought we would pick up where we left off." There's a pause. "I'm so stupid. I'm so sorry I bothered you!" Tristan starts to walk away again.
"Wait!" Mr. Yates called. Tristan stops. "There's got to be a reason why you came to my door." Tristan turns around and sighs."
"I'm lonely, okay? I really like this guy from school, but he's with my ex boyfriend." Mr. Yates looks at him confused.
"I'm not dating another student."
"I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about Milo. He's in the same English as me." Mr. Yates still looks confused. "Dresses in tight, punk clothing, pretty face, has awesome hair."
"Oh, him," Mr. Yates said.
"Yeah. I thought maybe since he doesn't want me, and you're back to teaching at Degrassi, maybe there was some chance that we could pick up where we left off." There was a pause. "But, I'm just stupid."
"No, you're not. It's natural to be curious, but I don't think it's a good idea for our relationship to be anything more than a student and a teacher."
"I understand." Tristan starts to walk away.
"But since you came all this way, maybe I can help you with your paper." Tristan pauses and turns to him. "It seems you have a great idea for a potential narrative." Tristan hesitates, but follows Mr. Yates into his apartment.
SCENE 5
It's Monday morning, and Tristan is at his locker. He looks over to see Milo and Miles together, flirting and laughing. Tristan sighs deeply in sadness.
"Tris!" Maya greeted from behind him.
"Hey, Maya," he said putting on a smile. "What's up?"
"Just came to walk you to class." She notices something is wrong. "You okay? You seem down."
"I'm fine. This narrative essay has just taken a toll on me." Maya looks over at Milo and Miles.
"You sure it just doesn't have to do with them?" Tristan looks at Milo and Miles.
"That's kind of what my narrative is about."
"Tristan, I thought you were okay with them."
"I am. I just don't know if I'm okay with myself."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Tristan shut his locker.
"You'll just have to find out." Tristan smiled.
The scene cuts to everyone in the English class settling in as the bell rings. Maya and Tristan are already at their desks. Milo kisses Miles goodbye and walks into class.
"Hey, dynamic duo," Milo smiled sitting at his desk.
"Hey, Momo," Maya greeted. "Looks like you and Miles are getting along."
"Yeah, it's great!" Milo smiled. "Miles is the best!"
"The very," Tristan said sarcastically. Milo eyes him up and down.
"Okay, who would like to present their narrative essay first? After all, narratives are stories, so why not become story tellers."
"I'll go first," Tristan said getting up and walking to the front of the class. "'How pathetic are you? I treat you like crap and you keep coming back. How badly do you want somebody to love you?' These questions were asked to me when I broke up with my boyfriend. At first they didn't bother me. Now, after meeting an incredible guy who sadly is now with my ex, I'm rethinking everything. I feel so lonely right now, but is it because I feel jealous that my ex has him and I don't, or am I lonely because I just got passed over again for someone else? Someone better than me? As I write this, I start to think, I'm not lonely for myself. I'm lonely for you." Milo looks down ashamed. "Yes, you're my friend, but you messed up big time because I'm the better catch. I have so much to offer. I'm caring, I'm sensitive, I give my all even when I know I'm not getting your all in return, but that's okay. I'm fine with you two being together, because even though you're my friend, I cannot and will not bring myself to caught in your line of fire." Tristan takes a breath and signals that his essay is complete. The class applauds, except for Milo and Tristan returns to his seat.
"Who's next?" Mr. Yates asked. There was a pause and Milo got up, and walked to the front of the class. "I guess Mr. Walz is next."
"'Tug of War,'" Milo announced as his title. "I'm a new student, at a new school, in a new country. My biggest fear was that I wouldn't fit in, or that I wouldn't make friends. To my surprise, I became very popular, and have already made some pretty fantastic friends who I would do anything for, and know that they would do the same in return. I also have already found myself in an awesome relationship, with an awesome guy." Maya listens intently. "I've never met anyone like him. He's had a bad reputation, but his efforts to turn over a new leaf are boundless. However, I still feel as though I'm playing tug of war between my boyfriend and a really good friend that I've made. For a split second, I thought I would choose him over my current boyfriend,." Tristan looked up. "But the last thing I would want to do is hurt him, and I knew that in my heart, I would rather have him as a friend, then risk losing a friendship so pure, and so amazing, unlike any that I've ever had before than lose all of our laughs, good times, and memories. I never meant to hurt him, and I wish he would stop making me play tug of war, because the reason I didn't choose him was because I had too much to lose if things didn't work out." Milo folds his essay and looks at Tristan. "I know he can find someone better, who can truly appreciate him on a romantic level, because I know that I can't. I took you out of the line of fire." Milo nods his head the class applauds as he sits down. Tristan ponders over everything that he has just heard.
SCENE 6
After class, Tristan finds Milo at his locker, and walks up to him anxiously.
"So, how much do you hate me?" Tristan asked. Milo smiled at him.
"I don't hate you, Tris," Milo said. "Actually, I'm kind of upset at myself." Tristan looks confused.
"I don't get it."
"I'm upset because instead of actually talking to you one on one about how I felt, I let Kitty and Maya do it for me. We should've just talked to each other from the beginning. I should be the one asking if you hate me." Tristan smiled.
"Well, I don't. In fact, I some how feel relieved. Before, I was dying to say 'I want you to be with me, not Miles," but now I feel like I'm at peace, finally. I feel like we just had the conversation that we needed to have. Granted, it was in front of the entire English class, but I guess it will do."
"I feel the same. Tristan, you really are one of my best friends, and I'm sorry that I don't feel romantically towards you, but I cherish our friendship, and that means more to me than anything in the world."
"You don't have to apologize. I'm the one who needs to say 'I'm sorry.' I've been a jerk about this whole thing with Miles. And I agree, I cherish your friendship a lot, and you're a great friend."
"So, how about this? I'll forgive you, if you forgive me." Tristan smiles.
"Sounds like a deal." They smile at each other as Milo shuts his locker and they start to walk off. "So, 'Orange is the New Black' at my house tonight?"
"No way, my house. My dad just set up the new HD TV."
SCENE 7
Frankie and Nilo are in the cafeteria eating lunch. The Muslim Community Group is hanging up flyers on the bulletin board in the cafeteria. Frankie takes an interest.
"Hey, have you ever thought about joining the Muslim Community Group?" Frankie asked.
"No, why?" Nilo asked. Frankie pointed to the bulletin board.
"It looks like they new attendees." Nilo read the flyer from a far. "You should go. Maybe it will do you good." Nilo turned away.
"I'm too busy to join a club or group."
"Too busy? Nilo, with all the free time you have to spend with me, maybe you'd want to devote to it spending some time with people of like minded interest." Nilo gets offended.
"People of like minded interest? Frankie, it sounds like you're trying to get rid of me."
"No, not at all. I just thought maybe joining a club would be good for you. You're not involved in anything."
"Well, excuse me, but when I find a club that I'm interested in, I'll join."
"Okay, sorry. I was just trying to help." Frankie looks back at the bulletin board and sees the guy from their history class ripping up the flyer. "What's that guy doing?" Nilo looks back at the bulletin board. Frankie gets up and walks over to him. Nilo follows behind at a safe distance. "Hey! What are you doing?"
"Ripping up this garbage," the guy said angrily. "Freaking muzzies dirtying up the bulletin board."
"You have no right to do that! They have every right to use the bulletin board just as much as you." Nilo watches anxiously as the whole cafeteria turns their attention to the bulletin board. The guy glares at Nilo and then back at Frankie.
"What are you? Their ally?"
"I'm an ally of freedom of religion." The guy crumples up the ripped flyer and throws it in her face. He gets closer to her. Frankie stares him down.
"You might want to think about what you're doing." He glares at Nilo. "Start thinking about who your real friends are." The guy glared at Frankie and walked away. Frankie shakes her head in disgust.
"I can't believe there are people like that in this world," Frankie said to Nilo. Nilo didn't say anything, slightly shaken up from the encounter. Frankie looks at Nilo worried. "Nilo? Nilo, are you okay?"
"Yeah," Nilo replied. "Just a slight adrenaline rush. I'll be fine." Frankie gives a slight smile and heads back to the table. Nilo stays behind, her mind racing as she looks at the ripped up flyer laying on the ground. Fear, suddenly, taking over her body.
END EPISODE.
