Flip of a Coyne

A Coyne Twins Story

Chapter 11: Declan and Fiona

"Hey, is everything ok?" Holly J asked, squeezing Declan's hand. Declan looked over at her, nodded, and forced a smile. Holly J sensed that something was bothering him since he entered school that day. He seemed slightly jumpy and he was more glued to his cell phone than usual. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," Declan replied, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Why wouldn't I be sure? I'm with the best girl in the world." He gently placed a kiss on the side of her head and she beamed and blushed lightly. "And to make sure people know that you're mine…" he put his free hand into his coat pocket and pulled out a box.

Holly J took it, smiled at him, and lifted the lid, gasping lightly. "Declan, it's so…I don't know what to say," she said she stared at the sterling silver pendant that was dangling off of a chain.

"Say…you'll always be there for me," Declan said as he pressed his mouth against the side of her head again. "Ok?" Holly J's eyebrows knitted together at the neediness in his voice. It was…strange. It wasn't like the self-confident Declan she knew at all. "Please?"

"I…I promise I'll always be here for you," Holly replied, putting the necklace back into the box.

Declan kissed the side of her head again. "Thank you." He squeezed her shoulder, smiled, and continued to lead her to his car. "I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm glad to be back at Degrassi."

"You didn't miss me at all?" Holly J teased.

"Of course I did, you're what I missed the most. But I also missed the delicious scandals that ran around every day. I mean, Vanderbilt was so ho-hum compared to this school."

"And your Mom just let you up and leave?" Holly J asked, knowing that their mother was sort of uptight about where her kids were going to get their education. She practically hit the room when Fiona told her that she wanted to go back to Degrassi for school.

"She has to know that she can't control me and it's my decision."

"But it's mainly hers. They're the ones who are putting their money towards your education."

"I don't have to worry about that part," Declan replied with a small chuckle. "Now, plans for the break I was thinking that you could come with Fiona and I up to New York so we could check out Fashion Week together. It's the one week that you don't want to miss."

"Thanks, that's sweet, but I don't have enough for airfare what with us moving and all," Holly J replied as they finally approached his car.

"You don't have to worry about that," Declan said with a wave of his hand as he opened her car door. "I can take care of it for you. I can take care of all of it for you if you say you'll come." He flashed her a charming smile before closing the door and going around to the driver's side.

"Um…I'm going to have to ask my parents for permission," Holly J told him.

"Let me talk to them. Let me talk to your mother, I'm sure I can get her to see things my way," Declan said, squeezing her knee before turning on the car and pulling out of their parking space. He kept one hand on the wheel and one on her knee, squeezing it and smiling at her from time to time. The car ride was silent. Holly J stared out the window most of the time while Declan hummed very softly to the music that was coming on over the radio. He pulled into her driveway and put on the brakes. "I'd walk you to the door but I know that Fi's waiting up for me. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

"What about Fiona?" Holly J asked.

"She can get a ride like she always does, it's no big deal," Declan said with a shrug. "But I have to go before she gets all motherly on me." He leaned forward for a kiss. She quickly pecked him on the mouth and pushed open the car door. "What? That's it?" He asked, dumbfounded.

"You said you had to get back to Fiona," Holly J called over her shoulder, waving, and dashed into her house.

Declan sighed and backed out of the driveway, driving in the direction of the condos. His grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit when he heard his phone buzzing again. It was silent for a few more seconds and then it buzzed again. And again. And again.

He was about to throw his phone at the wall once he got back to the condos. He didn't understand why the date didn't go well. To him it did but she was acting funny. She was pulling away from him all night. He wracked his brain trying to figure out what he had done but he couldn't come up with anything. Sighing, he ran a hand through his hair and unlocked the front door. "Fi, I'm back," he called, closing the door and passing through the bright white arch, only to stop in his tracks when he saw that Fiona had positioned the couch right in front of the door and she and Mack were sitting on the couch, containers of ice cream in their hands. "Way to ambush me, Fi," he chuckled, hanging his coat up.

"I couldn't wait to see how it went," Fiona replied, scooting over and motioning for him to sit down next to her.

He laughed at her pajamas: one of his old t-shirts, lounge pants, and brown fuzzy slippers. Her hair was pulled back into a bun and her face was scrubbed clean. "Now this is a side of Fiona I'd love to see all of the time," he said, kissing her forehead and sitting down next to her.

"How'd it go?" She asked.

"Fine," Declan replied, reaching for her spoon to get some ice cream but she held it out of his reach.

"Just 'fine'? That's it? Nothing happened?" Mack asked, lifting her eyebrows. "Come on, don't hold back on us." She shoved a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth.

"Isn't your brother wondering where you are?" Declan asked, leaning forward to look at her.

"He knows I'm here. He's trying to help Max with her homework. Now spill the dirt."

"Yeah, spill the dirt," Fiona echoed. Declan raised his eyebrows. "If you don't tell me Holly J will, I can always just call her up."

"Aren't you going to do that anyway?"

"Yes and you're stalling," Fiona said with a pleasant smile.

Declan sighed. "It was a great night. We had fun. I loved being around her and talking to her again. Dad texted a lot so I had to turn off my phone after a while but otherwise the date was great."

"Geeze, you're as boring a sack of potatoes," Mack commented, getting to her feet. "See you in the morning fee."

"Ok. Hey, don't forget," Fiona said in a warning tone, pointing at her.

Mack stuck out her tongue. "Yeah yeah. Later, Declan." The twins watched as the dark haired girl walked under the archway and disappeared from view.

Fiona didn't speak until she heard the door close. "What did Dad want?" She asked.

"Well, after a while I figured every text was the same. 'Get your ass back here'. 'Don't think I'm messing with you'. 'Get back here or I'll make your life a living hell'. Blah blah blah…" Declan sighed.

"Sorry, Decs," Fiona said as she curled up into his side. "When did Dad start hating us?" She whispered.

"Dad's always hated me, he just never admitted it. I always knew, though," Declan replied, lightly rubbing her arm. "There was the certain way he'd look at me that I could tell that I was pissing him off, even though I wasn't doing anything. Now he's mad because I don't want to be a politician like him."

"And Dad doesn't like me because I'm a 'drama queen'," Fiona said with finger quotes. "So why'd he have kids again?"

"For the media," Declan replied bitterly. "But I'm glad you're here."

"I'm glad too," Fiona agreed with a smile.

"Now what was that little exchange between you and Mack?"

"Oh, that. We're in a bet," Fiona replied. "She thinks that I can't live in the 'real world' and I don't believe that she can actually act like a girl. She bet me that I can't fix a problem without using money to help and I bet her that she can't change her ways in time to get a date for our fall formal."

"Wow, that will be interesting to see," Declan joked. Fiona lightly slapped him on the chest. "Where's Ms. Cartwright?" He suddenly changed the subject, looking around.

"Probably drunk in her room," Fiona replied with a shrug,

"Huh, and Mom wanted her to come out here with you too."

"I know, what was Mom thinking?" Fiona giggled and hugged Declan's side. "I missed you. I wish you had come with me when I first got here."

"Dad was going to blow his top. I had to stay there to protect you."

"Why don't you ever press charges, Decs?" Fiona asked, lightly running her fingers over a barely visible scar that was on his arm from when he 'fell' out of a tree when they were younger.

"Our name would be back in the tabloids and Mom would probably testify against me," Declan replied Fiona scoffed "You know it's true, Fi. Mom turns a blind eye whenever Dad gets mad. Mom is all for Dad's support and his money and as long as we don't get in the way she's happy."

"What about the case against Bobby? Mom's pushing for me to testify," Fiona said as she tugged at the end of her hair.

"Don't you want to testify?" Declan demanded. "He beat you up, Fi. That's not right. Hell, he beat me up because he was so mad at you."

Fiona sat up and looked him in the eye. "He beat you…that's why you're here? Because you didn't want to deal with him? You ran away?"

"I didn't run away, Fi," Declan denied. "If I stayed at that house I'd either be hit by Dad or I'd be hit by Bobby and there wasn't anything I could do about it but know that if I wasn't there you'd take it instead and I'd die before anything happens to you."

Fiona buried her face into his chest and held onto him tight. "I love you Decs."

"I love you too, Fi. I love you too."

She sighed. "When'd life become so complicated?"

"When we grew up," Declan replied, running his fingers through her hair.

"Can we stop?"

"Sure, if you help me find Neverland."

"I don't know…I don't think you'd look good in green tights," Fiona laughed.

"Wow, don't even go there, Fi," Declan said as she shook his head.

"What happened?" Matt demanded, marching over to the car that was now spewing smoke from the front of it.

"I don't know," Mack replied, waving her hand in front of her face, leaning against the frame. Fiona stood by, arms crossed over her chest. "All I did was turn the ignition to play some music while I wait and then…it exploded."

"You'd know if it exploded," Matt commented, squinting through the smoke. "Great, I don't even have time to check this out. How are we going to fix it?"

"I don't know. My tips won't cover this," Mack replied, throwing her hands up into the air. "You're the one who needs to get a job as well."

"You know I can't with football in the way."

"So I'm supposed to take care of everything like your mother?"

"Don't put words into my mouth, dear sister."

"Um, Mack, why don't we get to homeroom? We can tell the teacher why Matt's late," Fiona said, grabbing Mack's elbow.

"Fine," Mack sighed, grabbing her backpack and turning to follow Fiona into the school.

"Hey Mack," Matt called after his twin. She turned around. "I love you."

"Love you too, bro." She flashed a peace sign and ran to catch up with Fiona. "He really irks me sometimes."

"He's your brother, he's supposed to get on your nerves," Fiona told her.

"Yet I've never seen you and Declan fight," she pointed out.

Fiona smiled smugly. "Maybe we're just…better twins." She shrugged.

"That's a laugh," Mack said with an eye roll. "Matt and I have you beat. We look more alike than you and Declan do."

"Yes, well…we dress better."

"Oh, you got me there." Sarcasm dripped from Mack's words and Fiona laughed. "Did you ever find out how the date went?"

"From Declan's side, it was great. From Holly J's side, well, let's just say Declan giving her that necklace and saying that he'll pay for her for whatever they do is not the best idea. For Holly J at least. I mean if a guy offered to pay for everything for me I'd marry him in a second," Fiona said as she opened her locker.

"Of course you would, gold digger," Mack said in a joking tone.

"I'll have you know I don't own anything gold. I'm a silver girl." Fiona stuck her tongue out and grinned, gathering her books.

"Hello ladies, you're looking good this morning," Fitz said with a grin as he walked over to them.

"And you're looking like slime as always," Fiona responded, closing her locker.

"You stole my line," Mack grumbled. Fiona gave an innocent smile and adjusted the purse that was on her shoulder. "What do you want, Fitz?"

"I think you know what he wants," Fiona commented, elbowing her shoulder. Mack glared at her. "I'm just sayin'…" she held up her hands in defense.

"I just wanted to be in the presence of an angel this morning," Fitz replied with a smile.

"You're about to be in the presence of my foot In a second," Mack threatened. She grabbed Fiona's arm and the two quickly walked down the hall. "Geeze what is with the guys in this school? They don't know when to give up."

"Hey, think of it this way, you have two good candidates to help you win your side of the bet," Fiona pointed out.

"You want me to go to the dance with Dumb or Dumber?" Mack questioned.

"No, I'm just saying you have options. It's still about a month and a half, two months until the dance before break and you could easily beat me if you went with one of those two."

"It'd rather cut off my own tongue."

Fiona grinned evilly. "Exactly."

"You suck."

"Explain to me how lifting weights and grunting like an animal makes you a 'man'," Declan commented as he watched Matt lift the barbell off of his chest and push it into the air slowly, letting out a breath before bringing it back and repeating the process.

"A show of strength never hurt anyone," Matt replied through clenched teeth.

"Neither does working with your brain which should be the number one thing that appeals to women instead of something so superficial," Declan said as Matt returned the barbell to its holder and sat up, pinching the front of his shirt and pulling it away from his sweat-slicked skin.

"Is that a cry for help?" Matt questioned, reaching for his water bottle.

"For?" Declan asked, raising his eyebrows.

Matt shrugged and squirted water into his mouth and swallowed before speaking. "Like I said, your arms resemble toothpicks. If you got into a fight you'd lose, no offense."

Declan didn't respond but thought back to how easy it was for Bobby to beat him up. He still didn't know what had stopped him from fighting back. The idea of his name being in the tabloids again or fear or lack of strength? He slightly shook his head. "I don't need to play a sport to prove where my strengths are."

"Right, that's what your last name is for," Matt said sarcastically. "Let me ask you something."

"Go ahead." Declan nodded.

"I can't deny that I haven't heard about what had happened over the summer," Matt started, gauging Declan's reaction before he continued. The expression on Declan's face never changed so he kept going. "It makes me wonder how you deal with the accusations." Declan lifted an eyebrow but still remained silent. "You two are close, everyone can see that. Doesn't it bother you that everyone thinks you're…too close?"

"Why?"

"Curious."

"No one's just curious," Declan shot back.

Matt sighed and ran a hand through his sweaty black hair. "Last year Mack and I were in this play together. A play that a student wrote about teenage love and all that junk. We decided to do it together just for fun, we didn't even expect to get parts but we did. We got the lead roles. We read through the script and everything was fine. We figured we'd portray the characters more as friends than as lovers and everything would be fine. Everything went well at first until the director gave us the last page and said our characters had to kiss. Mack made a joke about it and said something along the lines of 'oh, I've always wanted to kiss my brother' or something like that. It was a joke, everyone in the theatre group could tell but it got around school and a lot of people took it too seriously and…let's just say, there were a lot of concerned parents and students treated us like the plague."

"Is that why you left your old school?" Declan asked.

"No, sending us here for our last year was cheaper," Matt replied. "It did help that no one knew us here, though. I was just wondering how you dealt with it. I mean, Mack acted like it was the end of the world but that's just because she's a drama queen. I wanted to know how Fiona's holding up."

"Fiona's a tough kid, she can handle a lot of things what with the Coyne name being attached to her," Declan replied. He squinted. "Why?"

Matt's eyes shifted. "Why what?"

"Why are you so worried about Fiona?"

He shrugged. "I was just making sure everything was ok. She's been kinda antsy lately. Is that a crime? She is my neighbor."

"No harm, no foul," Declan said as he held up his hands. "It just sounded like you were interested in my sister and I'd have to tell you that I guard her with my life."

"I hear what you're saying man, but I'm not interested in Fiona," Matt said with a dismissal wave of his hand. Just then the door to the weight room was flung open with a loud bang. They turned to see Fiona at the doorway. Declan immediately noticed the troubled look on her face. Matt's heart sank. "What'd she do now?" He asked, referring to his sister.

"She's in a fight outside," Fiona replied.

Mack had been going through her day like normal: going to class, talking to Holly J and Fiona whenever she got the chance, got distracted from her homework by Holly J and Fiona, and ward off any advances Drew and Fitz made at her. She had been talking to Eli who—as if he had appeared out of nowhere (which she wouldn't put past him)—said he could help fix her car because "Morty" breaks down once every week and he knew something about cars.

As she talked to him about it she had felt a strange rippled going through the school. It wasn't until the end of the day that she had heard what happened: Bianca had found out that Adam was really a girl and told Fitz and Owen who then took him out of the guy's bathroom and threw him, effectively leaving a large crack in one of the doors.

She always thought Bianca was somewhat of a decent person. Mack could hold a conversation with her and they bonded a bit over music and their mutual dislike for some classes. She knew that Bianca also hung out with Fitz but didn't really hold it against her until now.

Mack, leaving her stuff behind and ignoring Fiona, went in search for Bianca. She finally found the tough girl by her locker, listening to music, looking down at the screen on her ipod. Mack yanked the earbuds from Bianca's ears and the girl looked up. "Rude, much?" Bianca scoffed. "What's your problem?"

"You. How could you let Fitz and Owen treat Adam like that?" Mack demanded.

"What do you care about that freak, anyway? He, I'm sorry, she doesn't belong," Bianca sneered. "What, you have some sort of lesbian crush on her?" Mack turned her back on Bianca in disgust and went in search for Fitz. "She's a freak, if you're smart you'd leave her alone!" Bianca called after her but it fell on deaf ears.

Mack pushed open the doors of the school and spotted Fitz tossing a ball to Owen. Anger boiling inside her with each step, she marched over to Fitz. Owen caught the ball and nodded behind him. Fitz turned around, flashed Owen a cheeky grin, and turned to face Mack. "Ah, I knew you couldn't resist my charm," Fitz started.

"What did you do to Adam?" Mack snarled.

Fitz lifted his eyebrows. "All I did was show a girl her place. She didn't belong in the boy's bathroom."

"What does it matter if Adam's a boy or not? You can't just treat people like that!"

"Why do you care about the freak so much?"

"You're the freak for going after someone defenseless like that," she said, shoving him a bit. He took a step back, surprised at her strength. "You could have hurt him, jerk!"

"I'll hurt you in a second if you don't get out of my face," Fitz growled.

Mack was about to open her mouth and shoot something back but Drew's voice stopped her. "Hey, I heard you were messing with my brother," he said in a steely tone, glaring at Fitz.

Fitz laughed. "Last I checked, you had a sister."

"Shut up!" Drew hissed, shoving Fitz with one hand. Mack raised an eyebrow at the fury that was burning in Drew's eyes. "You don't know anything."

"Getting defensive," Fitz said with a laugh. "You hiding a secret too?"

"Come on, let's just go," Adam begged, pulling at Drew's arm.

"Run along ladies. Freak show's waiting," Fitz taunted.

Drew stopped walking, turned back, and shoved Fitz harder, effectively knocking him to the ground. As Fitz got back up Adam and Mack both started forward but Owen held them both back. Drew started towards Owen, reaching out to get him to let go of his brother and the girl but Fitz stopped him by spinning him around and punching him in the face. Owen started laughing as Fitz and Drew started to fight. Fitz quickly gained the upper hand and started to attack Drew as he held up his arms to shield himself, all the while Adam and Mack were yelling at Fitz to stop. Fitz punched Drew across the face one more time and he slid to the ground. Owen finally let the two go and Adam immediately ran to his brother's side.

"Mack, wait," Fitz said as he grabbed the sleeve of her shirt.

"Get off me," she hissed, shoving him away before rushing over to Drew and kneeling by him as Adam was doing.

"Are you ok?" Adam asked, looking at his injuries. Drew set his steely tone on Adam and slowly shook his head.

"Come on, let's get you to Simpson," Mack said as she held out her hand. Drew looked at it before looking up at her face and grasping it, allowing her and Adam to help pull him to his feet.

"Why are you helping me?" Drew asked, his voice low.

"I don't know," Mack replied honestly.

So what'd you guys think? My Body is a Cage was one of my favorite episodes so I had to add that in here. More Coyne drama up soon. Please leave a review. And for those who keep asking, no this isn't a twincest.

~Crystal