Flip of a Coyne
A Coyne Twins Story
Chapter 29: Declan's Escape
"Your smile is rivaling the sun, you mind turning it down?" Declan grumbled, rubbing his eyes as he descended the staircase. Fiona chirped an apology and Declan chuckled at her happiness. Ever since she won her court case against Bobby she's been a ray of sunshine. She didn't even seem to care that Laura was making plans for them to move. Either that or she ignored it. Fiona practically floated around the house. Declan liked seeing his sister happy but it was starting to worry him. They've never been too happy for so long and he was afraid of what it was going to be to deflate her attitude and whatever it was he hoped it could wait.
"Deccie, why are you so grumpy on such a beautiful day?" Fiona asked, spreading her arms out and spinning around, giggling. Declan didn't respond but let out a yawn, shuffled over to the couch, and dropped down onto it with a heavy sigh. Fiona sat down next to him and put an elbow on his shoulder, propping up her cheek. "What's wrong?" She asked, looking at the side of his head, counting the freckles by his neck and ear. "Aren't you excited to be going back to Degrassi?"
"I was," Declan replied. "But…I have to see Holly J and I just don't understand why she wanted a break. I just don't."
"Because you were throwing money into her face?" Fiona guessed. "Trust me, it's weird that she won't accept our money, but it's Holly J we're talking about. Stubborn, hot-headed, I'll-do-things-my-way Holly J. Isn't that what you like about her?"
"Yes," Declan replied.
"So…give her the space she needs but be supportive. Give her a reason to trust you and want to be close to you and soon she'll come back to you," Fiona replied.
"It's that easy?" Declan asked in suspicion.
"Yes," Fiona replied, nodding.
"So why are you talking to me as if you're keeping something from me?" Declan demanded. Fiona blinked once, twice, three times under Declan's suspicious gaze and he automatically knew she was going to tell a lie before it even came out of her mouth. She wasn't that good at hiding her ticks when she was trying to come up with a lie.
"I'm not," Fiona replied, turning and grabbing the TV remote. "Oh look! Music Videos! We haven't picked them apart in a long time. And it's a Miley Cyrus one. We can bash her for hours. Remember how much fun we had with that?"
"Fiona," Declan sighed, grabbing the remote from her hands. "What's going on with Holly J?" Fiona didn't reply. "Is she sick? I she hurt or something? Come on, Fi, not knowing will kill me!"
Fiona sighed. "Remember, I'm telling you this because you wanted me to and—"
"Fiona!"
"Ok, ok!" Fiona held up her hands as if blocking his words."She's…kinda…hanging out with Sav now," Fiona said in a rush. "It doesn't mean they're together, they're just spending some time together. They're on Student Council, it happens right? It doesn't mean it means anything right? No? Good, so about those music videos." She turned her attention back to the screen.
Declan felt numb. He gave her the space she needed, he waited patiently for her and then she goes and starts something with someone else? Didn't she say she needed a break to be by herself? Or did I just think that? But Sav? Him of all people? What does Sav have that I don't? He doesn't nearly have as much money as I do. Or is that the reason?
"Decs, don't get all mopey on me," Fiona pleaded. "That's why I didn't want to tell you. Now when you get back to Degrassi things will be so weird. I mean, I wouldn't know if I should comfort you or talk to Holly J and I'll end up in the middle and pulled at both sides and this is silk and it should never be stretched!"
"Always have your priorities straight, huh?" Declan asked dryly. "Besides, you won't have to worry," he replied, a slow smile forming on his face. "I'm sure this little…fling they have will only be temporary. I mean, come on, going from me to him? She'll come to her senses soon. Trust me. I mean, he's not a bad guy…"
"But he's no Declan Coyne," Fiona replied, knocking shoulders with her brother. He chuckled in agreement and turned his attention to the TV. Fiona glanced at the phone when it started ringing, checked the ID, and hit the speaker phone button. "Heyyy," she greeted the person on the other end.
"Wow, I've never heard you this chipper before. How'd the trial go? No one called or anything, I practically pulled my hair out since no one answered the phones around there apparently," Mack's voice came in.
"I won the trial! Bobby's going to spend up to two years in state prison with a possibility of parole," Fiona gushed, clasping her hand together. She laughed when she heard Mack's and Holly J's cheering on the other end of the line. She leaned towards the phone and tucked her hair behind her ears. "How did Fitz's trial go? Did you end up going?"
"If I didn't go I'd be taken there in handcuffs," Mack replied."And I would've rather got it over with. The trial was pretty long, both lawyers were good. They went back and forth over Fitz for a long time. Eli and Clare spoke before I did."
"But how did it go?"
"She started freaking out," Holly J's voice rang through the room. Fiona felt Declan stiffen but he didn't say anything as he changed the channel on the tv. "They had a recess before she was brought up as a witness and she started pacing and talking to herself."
"Sounds like the sister I know," Matt commented, coming into the room. He dropped down on the couch next to Declan and was instantly sucked into the show that was on tv about some high school that seemed to be live off its students' drama.
"Anyway!" Mack's voice came back. "Fitz's lawyer was nice and everything but I wanted to punch Eli's lawyer. Most cases he didn't even wait for me to finish an answer."
"That's a lawyer trick. Try to get the witness so aggravated that they'd spill something. It's elementary in law," Fiona replied. There was silence on the other end. "I wanted to be a lawyer. Keep going."
"Ok, so I talked. The lawyers talked a bit more. Got a police report, a short one at that. In the end Fitz was found guilty of a misdemeanor so now he has to do 35 hours of community service and got two weeks suspension."
"Better than jail time. Personally, I think they blew everything out of proportion. It's not like Fitz actually stabbed him," Fiona commented.
"Fiona Coyne, are you defending someone below your status?" Holly J asked in a joking tone.
"Ha ha," Fiona laughed sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "So what're you guys going to do for the rest of your break?"
"Have dinner here and maybe take a day trip to Ottawa," Holly J replied.
"Wait, is your sister going to dinner?" Fiona asked.
"Maybe," Holly J sighed. "Another Sinclair dinner filled with Heather and Mom going at it and Dad bending over backwards for her. It's disgusting, really. You're going to have a lot of fun here," she obviously added towards Mack.
"Greaaat," Mack replied.
"Do you mind if we keep your brother and sister hostage for a bit longer?" Fiona asked.
"No, keep 'em as long as you want," Mack replied offhandedly. Shouting suddenly came from the other line.
"The Great One has returned," Holly J said sarcastically. "Gotta go."
"Oh yeah, thanks for the help Fi," Mack added.
A grin formed on Fiona's face. "Help for what?"
"Don't play coy, you know what you did. I'm all ready thanking you."
"Yes, but thanking me for what?"
Mack sighed. "Thanks for getting Fitz his lawyer. Without him he would've gone to jail for nothing."
"How'd you know it was me?"
"Who else has enough money to get a lawyer as good as that? Why'd you go it?"
Fiona shrugged even thought she couldn't see her. "You trusted him for some reason, might as well made his life a bit easier on him. And you're welcome…er, he's welcome…whatever. See you later."
"You too. Bye."
Fiona pressed a button on the machine and settled back onto the couch. She glanced at Declan out of the corner of her eye and sighed, noticing that he wasn't paying attention to the show at all but was staring off into space.
That it's, I have to get those two back together ever if it kills me.
The rest of the week flew by and before they knew it the gang in New York packed their bags and flew back to Toronto in time for the rest of the semester to pick back up again. Declan couldn't fully grasp why Fiona was so excited to get back. Was this really his sister, the one who used to hate the idea of public schools? It was amazing how quickly things could change. Or maybe it was because she just wanted to get away from New York and all of the pain and suffering she had to go through. It was as if she were two different people now.
He dropped his bag next to his bed and laid down on it, letting out a slow breath. He didn't know how he was going to deal with seeing Holly J again. He went over different scenarios in his head but they never played out the way he wanted them to. Maybe Fiona was wrong? They worked together on student council, it didn't mean they were actually together together, right?
"You're not even going to unpack? Do you know what I went through to get this room perfect for you? I didn't even get a thank you!" Fiona huffed, standing in the door way of his room, arms crossed over her chest.
"Thank you," Declan replied dully.
Fiona let out an annoyed breath. "Declan, get up," she insisted. "Are you really just going to sit around and let Holly J have fun with someone else while you wait on the sidelines? Do Coynes stand on the sidelines? No! We barge in and take charge and turn things in our favor!"
"She said she didn't want to be with me, Fi and your advice isn't helping. First you told me to sit back and wait for her to see what's missing and now you're telling me to take her back," Declan groaned. "I sat around for weeks and she only called me once."
Fiona sighed. "I want you to do what you think is right," she replied, sitting down next to him on the bed. "I'm just trying to help considering I know girls a little bit more. Give Holly J her space but be Declan Coyne too. You can do both. Trust me, I've seen it. Now get up," she added, slapping his knee.
"Why? Where are we going?" Declan asked without moving.
"To the Dot. I know you're still used to New York food but you need a good smoothie and a Panini. It does wonders to your mood," Fiona replied, grabbing his hands and trying to pull him off of the bed. Declan laughed when he didn't budge and Fiona continued to try and pull harder. "Dec…lan…come…on!" She groaned. She dropped his hands with a huff, crossed her arms over her chest, and marched out of the room. Declan jumped up, ran after her, and wrapped his arms around her waist. She let out a little squeal of surprise but laughed. "Geeze, who knew mentioning the Dot would get you out of your funk?"
"I'm just glad you didn't say Little Miss Steaks," Declan replied honestly, letting her go and following her to the front door. "You think we should ask if they want to come?" He asked, nodding towards the closed door of the Montgomery condo.
"They're still suffering from jetlag. We'll just bring them something back," Fiona replied, wrapping a scarf around her neck. Declan bowed with a flourish and held out his arm. Fiona smiled and took it and together the two walked down the street. Fiona happily greeted other walkers as they braved the Canadian cold and Fiona's cheerfulness brought a smile to his face. He reached over and put his other hand on top of hers, giving it a little squeeze. Fiona, in return, moved closer to his side. Let his parents get divorced, as long as Declan had Fiona he felt that he could go on with his life.
Thanksgiving was hard for him despite his friends being there. Their mother was really quiet, only talking when asking for them to pass the pepper or salt or calling their butler when wanting more wine to drink. And when she wasn't silent she was bawling in her room so loud that Declan had to turn up the volume on the movie they were watching. Declan hated that his friend was there to witness his family falling apart, but at the same time he didn't know anyone else he'd let see their family fall apart. He knew that they knew what was going on with their family from the beginning with the "taboo kiss" and they hadn't judged him, which was what he really needed but didn't think he'd ever get in his life, someone who didn't judge him. He had that with Holly J but now he felt as if she had slapped him in the face. Maybe going back to Degrassi wasn't such a good idea?
Declan let out a little breath, smiling subconsciously at his breath that was seen in the air. He had to deal with seeing her for a whole semester and a few months. And then Yale if she got in. Declan considered going to Stanford instead so he didn't have to worry about seeing her but Fiona didn't apply there and they had promised back in grade 11 that the only colleges they'd attend were ones they applied to together. Declan didn't believe that Fiona would ever apply to Yale or Stanford; he thought that she would pick a different school but that was Fiona for him, always full of surprises. Her wild tales were what gave her the rep she had. He still kicked himself for not believing her about Bobby and automatically thinking she was crying wolf just like the others thought. He didn't know why she forgave him but he was thankful for it. Declan sighed again thinking of ways of being able to survive at Degrassi without being with Holly J. She was trying something new and they said they were on a break, right? That didn't mean he couldn't try something new either…
Declan inhaled the familiar grease meets fruit scent of the Dot as Fiona eagerly hung up her coat and took a seat at the table by the window. Declan hung up his coat as well and sat down across from her, resting his elbows on the table and clasped his hands together. He then turned his attention to the snow covered streets and people walking down the street, large bags in their hands; obviously getting early Christmas shopping done.
"Do you think Mom and Dad would really go through with the divorce?" Fiona asked, breaking Declan from his trance.
He turned to meet the concerned look on her face. "In public? No. In private? Yes. Mom's not hesitating to move us, after all," Declan replied.
"I know," Fiona replied, biting her thumb nail.
"Fi, your French manicure," he said, pointing.
She looked down at her thumb and waved her hand. "It doesn't matter, I can get it touched up," she replied.
"Since when did you stop caring?" Declan asked, lifting his eyebrows.
Fiona gave him a sad smile."Since I was forced to grow up," she replied. He blinked and she let out a little breath. "You're right, though. Dad wouldn't dare let this slip out into the media. I just wonder who he was with and who his daughter is and where she is."
"Fi, it doesn't matter," Declan told her. "Dad didn't tell us about her for a reason."
"But Decs, she's our half-sister. Don't you want to know anything about her?" Fiona asked.
"I don't need another sister. All I need is you."
"And it's comments like that that make people wonder if you're a little bit too close," Mack said with a teasing laugh as she approached their table. Fiona let out a little squeal of happiness, jumped up, and hugged her friend. "Fi, I've only been away from your for a week! Not a year! Lay off," she laughed once she finished hugging her friend and gently pushed her away before turning to Declan. "What's going on, Eyebrows?" She asked with a teasing smile. Declan rolled his eyes but gave her a brief hug.
"I told you I could wax them for you," Fiona said as she shook her head in a disapproving way.
"The last time you got near my eyebrows with wax you took the whole thing off. It took ages for them to grow back," Declan pointed out.
"I was nine and no one noticed," Fiona said defensively. She then turned to Mack and added, "I'm a wiz with eyebrow pencils." Declan stuck his tongue out at her.
"Not that I don't want to catch up but I do have a job to do. Hot chocolate? Tea? Cider?" Mack asked waving around her pencil and notepad.
"Hot chocolate," Declan replied. "Two. Whipped cream, mini marshmallows and caramel sauce."
"Fiona's actually going to let all of that sugar past her lips?" Mack asked. Fiona smacked her on the arm and she laughed as she said she'd bring their drinks back and then get their orders.
"I'm glad you two became friends," Declan suddenly commented.
Fiona laughed. "Why? Didn't want to see poor little sis get lonely?" She asked with a small eye roll.
"No," Declan insisted. She lifted an eyebrow. "Ok, that's part of it. But you two seem to bring out the best in each other. I haven't seen her smile that much since I met her. You had to have used your Fiona Charm somehow. She's changed you too; you're not as…sensitive as you used to be."
"Life doesn't have time for sympathy," she sighed. "I'm not the only one who's changed either, Mr. Coyne. I know a certain brother who's changed his womanizing ways for the better." She tapped the table a little bit and looked around. "I know how much of a fight I put up before we moved but I'm glad we moved here. Maybe we could apply to colleges in Toronto? I don't want to leave. If it makes everything stand still, I don't want to leave."
"Us leaving isn't going to stop Mom and Dad's divorce," Declan pointed out.
"But what if they decided to split us up?" Fiona asked, eyes wide. Declan didn't have a response. He didn't expect that as an option. He didn't even consider the options. They were eighteen so their parents didn't really have a say over if they moved or not, did they? They were adults, they couldn't just be shipped around anymore, could they? "Declan?" She grasped his hand. "They won't split us up, right?"
"No," Declan replied, squeezing her hand and smiling at her until she relaxed. "They won't split us up. They can't. We go off to college soon. They can't split us up and Mom can't send us to live with Adele."
"How can you be so sure?"
"You're going to have to trust me."
Fiona nodded and let go of his hand and leaned back in her chair. Declan excused himself and went to the bathroom. He splashed water onto his face and cursed himself for lying to his sister. He was surprised she didn't know he was lying. He didn't have any grasp on his life at all anymore. It was if Fiona took who he was. It was if Fiona took his confidence, his charm…his whole personality and switched it with hers. She could still be the needy, somewhat clingy, but loveable sister that chased after him and he could protect. But now it was as if she was the older one, the protector, the one would make everything ok.
He grabbed the roots of his hair and let out a shaky breath. He had to get a grasp on his life but how? Everything he knew was slipping through his fingers too quickly. He splashed water onto his face again, grabbed a piece of paper towel, and dried his face. He pulled the handle of the bathroom and made his way back to the table his sister was sitting at.
"Hey Hollywood, what brings you back here?" Declan stopped in his tracks and turned to look at who had addressed him. Bianca leaned back in her chair but kept her eyes on him. Declan lifted an eyebrow, not at her attire (who would wear a tube top in winter along with ripped jeans) but at how shiny her lips were, as if they were coated in saran wrap. "Are you deaf now? Does money make you unable to hear us scrubs on the social ladder?" Bianca asked, a smirk pulling at her lips.
"School brings me back," Declan replied.
"Last I heard it made you run away," Bianca said as she crossed a leg over the other, reaching out her heeled foot. Declan pressed his lips into a line when she rubbed her foot against his leg. "Or someone made you run away. Maybe that's your problem. You were with someone that doesn't know how to deal with your status. You picked the wrong person to become attached to your name."
"And let me guess you think you're better," Declan responded, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I didn't say anything," Bianca pointed out.
"You implied it."
"You filled in the blanks. Don't you know if you jump the gun you'll only get hurt? Whoops"—she laughed coyly—"that all ready happened didn't it?"
"Going straight for the pockets? That's how you operate?" Declan questioned.
Bianca shrugged. "I'm just looking for a good time, how fat your daddy's wallet is has nothing to do with it, nor does your name. However it does seem to roll off the tongue, now that I think about it." Her smile got a bit bigger and she spun a strand of her curly hair around her finger. She then glanced out of the corner of her eye. "Maybe we'll run into each other at school, this was fun." She uncrossed her legs, stood, winked at him, and strutted out of the Dot.
Declan made a grunting sound and walked back to his table. Fiona was happily lifting whipped cream covered marshmallows out of her mug and biting them. "What were you talking to Bianca about?" She asked, licking the cream off of her spoon.
"I have nothing to talk about with her," Declan replied.
"Good." Fiona put down her spoon. "She's bad news. Very much like Chelsea, one of your exes, but worse. She goes out of her way to ruin relationships and goes from one thing to the next if it's better or if it's a catch and you, Mr. Coyne, are the biggest catch at Degrassi. Just ask your fan club." Fiona laughed a little at her joke and Declan sighed.
"Don't worry. Once I get back to Degrassi its school, school, and more school for me. Nothing will distract me."
"You're a boy, Declan, you can only stay on track for so long," Fiona pointed out.
"I know," Declan replied.
"Ok, is it just me or has Declan been acting weird all day?" Mack asked as she walked into the Zen Garden and sat across from Fiona. Fiona lowered the chopsticks that were halfway to her mouth and put the sushi back down onto the little container that was in her other hand.
"What do you mean?" Fiona asked, although she couldn't miss it. Since the school day started he's been going around flirting around girls, but he only seemed to flirt with them whenever Holly J was near. If she wasn't around he'd ignore girls that threw themselves at him.
Mack squinted. "What kind of advice did you give him?" She demanded.
"What makes you think I said something?" Fiona asked.
"Because my brother wouldn't give him as ridiculous advice that you would. Out with it, Ms. Coyne. What did you say to Declan?"
Fiona sighed. "I just suggested that he try and move on for a little bit, give Holly J her space." Fiona bristled at the scoffing sound Mack made. "I didn't suggest that he flirts with people in front of him! He took my advice his own way. That's his fault!" She picked up the lid to her sushi and closed it with a loud snap.
"Oooh, you know shit's about to go down when Fiona doesn't eat her sushi," Mack joked as she stood.
"Ha ha," Fiona laughed sarcastically and made her way out of the glass-box of the zen garden, her partner-in-crime was at her heels. Fiona checked the library, then the science classrooms, and then the cafeteria before going to the theatre. The two found him sitting on the edge of the stage, a large stack of papers in his hands, bobbing his head to music that was playing through his headphones. She marched over to him and pulled the headphones off of his ears. "What're you doing?" She demanded.
"Looking over the script for the play they want us to start," Declan replied, waving the thick packet. "You'd think they would've started this earlier to get it done before Christmas like Space Awakening but things have been pretty crazy around here."
"She means what're you doing flirting with a bunch of girls in front of Holly J?" Mack replied, crossing her arms over her chest. "What kind of mind game are you playing?" She asked
"I'm not playing any game," Declan replied. "We're on a break so I can do whatever I want. I'm not tied to her." A tiny smirk was on his face. "If she can move onto another guy than I can move onto another girl." A look of disgust formed on Fiona's face. "You said I should leave her alone but still be Declan."
"But I didn't say be a jackass," Fiona shot back. He just shrugged.
"Hey, do you want to be wardrobe mistress again?" He asked, waving the packet in her face.
"Don't change the subject," Fiona grumbled although her eyes followed the pages. "What's the play?"
"I don't know, it was written by a student. Called Arsenic and Old Lace. Set in old times, the 40s I think. Maybe the 50s," Declan replied. "It's not a musical this time," he added and Fiona stuck out her tongue. "Come on, I need my favorite sister helping me out."
"I'm you're on…" Fiona stopped herself and gave a pleasant smile. "Sounds like fun. I could stand to meet new people."
"How's that possible if you're always connected to my brother's side?" Mack asked with a small laugh.
"You don't see me with him now do you?" Fiona asked somewhat bitterly.
"Chill, I was just joking," Mack said as she held up her hands in defense.
"Ok Declan, I'll let you off the hook now but we'll talk later, got it?" Fiona demanded.
"Yes ma'am," Declan replied with an eyeroll. He looked through the script again and listened to the two girls as they walked in the direction of the doors.
"Trouble in paradise? He didn't impress your parents or something?" Mack asked.
"My parents' opinions don't matter. Not that they'd care, they're too worried about how to split things up," Fiona replied, looking through the script.
"They're divorcing?" Mack asked, lifting her eyebrows.
"Looks like it."
"You think that's why Declan's been acting funny?"
"Maybe."
Declan stuck his tongue out at the back of Fiona's head. Just because she didn't seem to care that their parents were splitting doesn't mean that he couldn't. Sure his Dad hit him sometimes when he got mad but that doesn't mean he wasn't his father still and that didn't mean that Declan shouldn't care, especially since he knew that there was a large possibility that he would be stuck with his dad for the rest of his life. Karma was that much of a bitch.
He sighed and pulled his vibrating phone out of his pocket. He frowned at the unknown number but opened the text anyway. He practically choked on his own spit when a provocative and semi-nude picture of Bianca filled his screen. He quickly clicked out of it but couldn't ignore how fast his heart beat. He couldn't help it.
He was human after all.
Sorry about the long wait, guys. Exams were in the way but now I shall have a lot of time on my hands to get the next one up soon. I hope you liked the chapter on Declan. I told you the Bianca/Declan idea wouldn't go away. Please read and review! Don't hesitate to tell me what works and what doesn't.
~Crystal Manning
