Chapter Ten: Made Of Steel
Sydney sat at the kitchen table eating a bowl of Cap'n Crunch silently and reading through a magazine, she was still dressed in her pajams. Her dad sat across from her in his pajama pants reading a the paper and eating a bowl of Cap'n Crunch, too. He would periodically glance up at her but, she never checked up. Emma had told him many times to try talking with her just to re-enforce that he didn't hate her, he was just disapointed. He cleared his throat while swallowing a spoonful and gave it a shot.
"Anything interesting?" He asked about what she was reading.
"Just figuiring out my porn star name." She mumbled still reading.
"What?" He sat alert like a concerned father. "What trash are you reading?"
She held up it up and he was relieved to see it wasn't one of those Cosmo magazines but he was appauled to know they were printing those in TEEN.
"Remind me to stop buying those for you."
"You didn't buy it, Mom did." She just mumbled.
Gavin was put back in place but, Emma's voice rang through his head and he just kept trying to make conversation.
"So what's your pornstar name?"
She finally looked up at him and scratched at her messy bed hair.
"You take your first pet's name and your mom's maiden name." She explained.
"So you'd be," He squinted to think about it. "Siggi St.Louis." He put it together.
"What would you be?" She asked back.
Gavin couldn't believe it was working, he had to try this conversing thing more often.
"I'd be Dexter Biggit." They both just laughed lightly. "What else?" He nodded at her magazine and while swallowing some cereal, she checked out the page.
"Take your middle name and the name of the city you were born and that's your soap opera name." She read aloud. "I'd be Patricia Toronto." She told her dad.
"You do have the dramatic flare to be in a soap." He nodded in memory of the last few nights. She just sort of giggled. "You should probably go get ready for school, eh?"
"Yeah." She picked up her bowl and left it in the sink then wandered up the steps to get ready.
"Tori! Tori!" Penny dashed away from her brother as soon as they entered the school and ran over to her best friend who was bent down and digging through the bottom of her locker. "Guess what?" Penelope stood against the locker next to Tori Hogart's.
"What?" Tori asked, her voice muffled.
"I got a call from Vin on Sunday, he wants me to come over and jam tonight. I owe it all to you!" She excitedly exclaimed as Tori stood up, still facing her locker. Penelope walked up behind Tori and gave her a huge bear hug. "Thanks so much."
"No problem." Tori slowly turned around slowly.
Penelope's smile disappeared the moment she saw Tori. Her face was swallowed and a yellowish-blue bruise appeared over her eye like sh'ed tye-dyed it that way. Penelope covered her mouth with both hands and gasped.
"Tori?" She had just seen her Saturday night, how did this happen? Penelope had figured that the rumors about Tori's dad were just rumors.
"Don't fuss." Tori sounded just like her mom would. Penelope wrapped her in another hug, this time facing her. Tori flinched and let out a sigh of pain. Penelope backed up cautiously and hesitantly, Tori rolled her hoody up a little to reveal purple and red bruising and scabs. Penelope's eyes almost welled over. Neither of the girls realized, Spencer watching them from the doorway.
The lunch room was jam packed as always when Sydney entered. It was the first day at school this semester that she'd actually put effort into looking good. She played with the zip up on navy Juicy sweater when she approached her usual lunch table where Giselle and Collen and their posse always sat. The moment Giselle noticed her best friend, she occupied herself with the girl next to her. Sydney went to sit down besides Colleen but before she could, Colleen put her tote bag on it.
"Go sit with Hogart." She didn't even look up at Sydney. She just shooed her away with her hand. "You two never did finish your round at The Fyxx."
Sydney put the pieces together on her own. She wasn't allowed to sit with the girls because Colleen had seen her with Jayson. She just scoffed and shook her head.
"I'm surprised you could see anything with Austin Walters face plasted on yours." She just commented before traipsing away.
Giselle's eyes burstedopen on her older's sister.
"Collie, did you even hear Mom?" She asked with concern in her voice.
"Oh shut up, Giselle." Colleen turned away.
Sydney stood behind Hogart who was standing outside by his car, dressed in his winter coat and hanging out with a bunch of the gys Sydney recognized from the Ravine.
"Hey you guys." She waved at them all. Most of the guys waved back since she was one of their "Ravine girls" now even though none of them had been with her. Jayson hadn't even got that much action which was only half the reason he didn't turn around to notice her. She wandered over and rubbed her hand on his back.
"How you doin'?" She reached up on her tip toes expecting a kiss.
"Whatever." He shrugged the shoulder her hand was on and she placed both feet back on the ground.
"Jayson." She grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
"What the hell, Syd?" He pulled away from her.
"What's going on with you? Why are you being a jackass?"
"Why don't you go ask your counsellor?" Standing in the atrium in the school was Emma and Jayson nodded up at her. Sydney glanced behind her and just sighed. She knew what this was all about.
"Jayson, that was a one time thing. It won't happen again." He just turned away and headed back to her. She was right on his heels though. "Jayson!" She cut off in front of him. He stared his face down at her but, averted his eyes away from her. "I'll make it up to you." Like the desperate girl she didn't realize she was becoming, she spread her hands up his chest and around his neck.
"How?"
"I'll see you tonight by the vans." She gave him a peck and then let go.
He went back to his friends with his mischevious smile on his face. Sydney looked back at Emma who was waiting for her in the atrium. Sydney just dashed away and walked home for lunch.
She let herself in through the back door since she noticed her dad's car in the driveway. She thought he had to go to work but, something must've came up. She tip toed over to the pantry and found a box of Kraft Dinner. She took it out and shushed it while it shook. She looked around to see if her dad was anywhere around but, he wasn't. The sound of Dean Martin was coming from his bedroom, though.
It baffled Sydney. Her dad hated Dean Martin or any Rat Pack music. He used to tease her mom when she'd put the CD on. It was her mom's favorite. She put the box down and tip toed up the stairs and listened in from his bedroom door. Just the sound of Dean Martin's voice brought back her mom to Sydney, if only for a second. She tuned Dean Martin out the moment she heard sniffling. Was her dad really crying? She looked through the crack of the door and there he was. He was sitting on his bed with a box open and packing his deceased wive's clothing into it, his face pink from crying and his eyes plastered and salty. Sydney was swarmed with miserable and sympathetic feelings. She wandered over to room to sit in silence and contemplate but when she checked out her window, she saw Ashley and Jimmy loading other boxs into their car, Sydney knew they were her mother's things and they'd be leaving her house for storage. It brought a fury of sobs out of Sydney's eyes.
The day couldn't of been any longer for Tori. Mondays weren't a picnic for anyone but, with all the looks she'd been getting from people in the hall and from teachers, she just wanted to find a big boulder to crawl behind. She ignored her brother outside when she left Degrassi. She wasn't ready to go home. She was going to walk to give herself more time. She passed the bike racks where Penelope was sitting, waiting for Tori.
"Hey." She peeped.
"Hey girl." She conjured up her most believable smile.
"Aren't you going home?" Penelope had seen Tori ditch her older brother.
"I'm going to walk."
"Want to come over to my place?" That was the best offer Tori had gotten all day. It beat out Spencer's offer for Tori to have lunch with him in the atrium. Tori just nodded down at her shoes. "Good." Penelope agreed. "I just have to stop and pick up groceries first, is that alright?"
Spencer hopped in the front seat of his dad's car. It smelt like hockey gear which was understanble seeing as his dad's hockey bag was taking up the whole back seat.
"How was school today?" Dylan asked, his curls framing his face benath his winter tuk.
Spencer just shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't that great - the janitor still hadn't cleaned his locker and Tori still wouldn't give him the time of day. Plus, it broke his heart to see her all banged up.
"You gotta give me more than that." Dylan nudged his son, playfully, while driving out onto the street. "Come on, you never talk to me anymore."
Spencer thought about it for a moment. He didn't really confide in his parents like he used too. It was just all the chaos at school that prevented him from talking about it. Still, if he had to choose he'd talk to Dylan about girls before he'd discuss it with Marco.
"There's this girl..." He began slowly and catiously.
"Are you sure this is going to be okay with your dad?" Tori asked as she helped Penelope unpack their bags of groceries.
"It'll be fine." Penny assured Tori for the umpteenth time.
Wearing only a towel around his waist, Sean entered the kitchen straight from the shower his mane dripping down his chest. Tori was throughly impressed with the sight she saw. The Cameron boys sure had hot bodies.
"Dad!" Penny exclaimed tossing a shirt at him from the laundry hamper on the kitchen table.
"Tori, I didn't know you were here." He pulled it over his chest.
"I don't mind." She joked, she turned around so fast to face their cupboard, so he wouldn't see her bruises.
"Dad, can you come with me?" Tilting her head to the side, Penelope led her dad to the living room.
"Penny, I'm running late, could this wait?"
"No." Penny shook her head. "Can Tori stay here?"
"If it's okay with her parents, sure." Sean was smart enough to know that idea would never fly with Jay Hogart.
"I mean like stay here...for a long time." She wanted to make sure her dad understood.
"Penny, I can barely handle you and your brothers." The idea of another teenager in the house terrified him. Still, Penelope didn't move. "She's got her own family."
"Dad, she gets beaten." She had sworn to Tori that she wouldn't tell her dad that but, this was important to Penelope. "Her dad hits her. Really bad."
This put Sean in an awkward poistioned. It wasn't really his desicion to make. He stood up straight and sighed deeply. He was grateful that he had a date with Emma tonight, he could maybe bring it up and she'd have some expert advice to give. Of course, he hadn't mentioned anything about his seeing Emma to either of his kids.
"She can sleep over tonight, that's all." Sean caved in a little.
"Dad!" That wasn't good enough to Penelope.
"We'll talk about it tommorrow." He left Penelope to go back to unloading the groceries and went to get ready for his big date.
"It's okay." Tori assumed what the answer was by Penelope's angry face.
"No, it isn't, Tori! This isn't okay for you."
"Penny, please - " Tori closed the fridge door finally finished with the groceries.
"I'm going to help you, you're my friend!" Penny proclaimed loudly. "I can't believe this happens to you. I hate him! I hate your dad!" Penny was getting herself worked up to the brim. She was dizzy from all the energy it took for her to yell. She collapsed back against the counter, her head hanging low and drowsy.
"Penny!" Tori shouted and dashed over to the little brunette who was getting smaller and smaller. She held her up by the waist and placed her palm over Penelope's forehead.
"Sorry, I just got myself really worked up." Penelope exhaled.
"Are you sure?" Tori double checked.
"Yeah, look, why don't you come to my jam session with The Manning Twins? I don't want to leave you alone."
"No." Tori backed up and shook her head.
"Well Cody isn't going to be here and my dad's going out."
"Hot date?" Tori teased trying to take Penelope off topic.
"No." She stuck out her tounge. "Please come, Tori, you know you want to see Vin."
"I do, yes." She nodded, holding her hair back to put into a low pony tail. "But, I don't want him to see me like this." She admitted in a soft tone. Penelope understood that. She led Tori to her room to get settled and then got ready to leave. She wrote down Vin's cell number in case she needed to get a hold of her.
"Dad!" Vin called while storming the halls of the Manning bungalow.
"Yes?" Craig called back imitating his sons loud booming voice. Craig was eating a cup of yogurt from the fridge and reading over a Memo he'd gotten at the studio. "Can you believe this band still wants me to produce them?" He handed his wife the memo to read over. She was sitting at the kitchen table typing up an article on her laptop.
"Alright, Dad, from a business stand point, you're presented with this incrediable bassist that you want to hire but your dummer doesn't want to," Behind Vin, Hartley appeared with an annoyed look over his face. "Do you go with the democracy and find yourself a different bassist or do you screw what the drummer says and hire him?"
Craig glanced down at Ellie who just kept typing away.
"Talk it over with your brother." Craig agreed, spooing some yogurt in his mouth.
"That's the worst advice." Vin muttered and then turn to stomp past his twin brother.
Craig mischeviously pulled up a chair next to Ellie.
"Looks like somebody got to Hartley." He mentioned, still eating the yogurt.
"What do you mean?" Ellie was typing vicsiously and pouring all her concentration into her work.
"Vin wants to let Johnny Santos in their band, Hartley doesn't."
"What's your point, Craig?"
"You know the only thing that Hartley would put before the band is his mom." Craig's bug eyes were completely open and staring down his wife.
"If you think I gave hima guilt trip and spilt my feelings towards Johnny's mom, your ex-girlfriend, on our son, you're diluted." Ellie only glanced away from her article for a second.
"Sometimes, Ellie, you can be so childish." Craig got up to chuck his empty yogurt cup in the garbage.
"Excuse me?" She closed the lid of laptop and turned herself around to face Craig.
"What happened between Manny and me was decades ago!" He tossed his arms to the side to prove his point to Ellie."Manny and I." She corrected.
"Ellie, I know I have a history with Manny but, I have a history with Ash, too. We still visit Jimmy and her all the time."
"It's different!" Ellie shouted.
"How?!"
"You never got Ashley pregnant."
The boys who were listening from behind the wall were shocked. It was like listening to a radio soap opera.
"Ellie, you have to get over that."
Saving the day, Penelope rang the door bell. Walking away from the fight that was exploding in her kitchen, Ellie went to answer it.
"I can't believe this." Emma slipped her hand into Sean's with a smile beaming on her face while they walked through the park in her neighborhood.
"Me either." He shook his head. "It's been a long time since I've been out of my jumpsuit." Emma had commented on how nice he looked all dressed up earlier. "Or that I've been out on a date with a goregous girl." He smiled over at her, pulling her closer to him. She thanked God that the only light on them were the few dim streetlights and the moon because she didn't want him to see her blush. "Do you want to go back to my place?" He offered, slipping his arms around her waist.
"Is that okay with Penelope and Cody?" She asked, pressing herself against his sweet smelling skin.
"Penelope's out and Cody's at work." Sean mentioned. "I've got the place to myself."
They felt like two high school kids again just hung up on one another and infatuated. They wandered back down the park pathway, hand in hand, and got back into Sean's car. The drive back to his place was full of laughter and light hearted conversation. It completely took away the idea that dating Sean was wrong for Emma. He got out of the car and opened the door for her as they parked across the street from his house.
"I'm going to warn you, it's a bit of a mess." He said while walking her up the drive.
"I assure you, I've seen worse."
They were stopped at the sight of Jay Hogart standing against his car by the house. Alex was sitting in the passenger seat with a black eye and a flask in her hand. She didn't even look up at them. Their son was nowhere to be seen though.
"Well, isn't this a blast from the past?" Jay cackled and wobbled. He was clearly tipsy.
"Jay, what are you doing here?" Sean groaned, still holding onto Emma's hand.
"I should ask Emma that. Are you two lovecats rekindling?"
"Jay, leave."
"I think you have something that belongs to me."
"What now?" Sean rolled his eyes.
"You took my job from me, Cameron, you're not taking my daughter."
Sean let go of Emma's hand and stepped foreword.
"See, I didn't know if you knew she was your daughter seeing as most dad's I know don't use their kids as punching bags." He got right up into Jay's face and spoke casually and calmly. Jay was furious though, he grunted and pushed his fist right into Sean's fist causing him to fall onto the pavement. Emma gasped and ran over right away, never a dull day with Sean, she thought to herself. Jay pounced down on Sean and the two men wrestled one another like they were back at Degrassi and teenagers. Alex leaped out of the car and tried pulling her husband off Sean.
"Jay, stop!" Emma called.
"Jay!" Alex tugged at his shirt.
Cliffhanger!!!!
Read and Review please.
Made Of Steel - Our Lad Peace
I've got some good romantic/drama ideas for the next chapter, so keep reading!