I DO NOT OWN DEGRASSI. SHOUTOUT TO GYMNAST1150 FOR ALL OF THEIR WORK ON THIS STORY.

The Dot. The Next Day.

As Zack biked over to The Dot, it was safe to say that he was a little nervous. He had never really been on actual date with an actual girl in his life. Young Zack tried to calm himself with the knowledge that it was not a date, despite him wishing that it was. Jane was already taken and even though it sucked super hard, he was going to respect that.

He arrived at The Dot and after leaving his bike at the rack, Zack went inside and found a very cool looking joint. The Dot had a very nice set up as a sort of high school hang out. As many people flooded the place, he saw Jane Vaughn sitting at a table.

"Over here, Zack," she said as she waved him over with a smile. Zack sat down at the table across from Jane and tried to hide how happy he was to be here with her.

"You were right, Jane. This place looks cool," he replied.

"I told you, it's the only decent place close to Degrassi," she insisted as a waiter came by to take their orders. The waiter had dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, very big and muscular and very good looking.

"Hey there, beautiful," he said as he flashed a smile at Jane.

"Hey there yourself, handsome," Jane replied before she turned to Zack. "This is my super hot boyfriend, Spinner. Spinner, this is my new friend Zack." Zack felt his stomach drop a bit, but plastered on a smile and nodded his head.

"What's up, new friend Zack?" Spinner teased as he was glaring at Zack in an attempt to size him up.

"Not much, super hot boyfriend Spinner," Zack teased in return.

"I only go for girls man," Spinner shot back as Zack scoffed.

"Very funny," Zack replied as he was losing the battle to keep a smile on his face.

"What are you having?" Spinner asked as he turned his attention back to his girlfriend.

"I'll have a cheeseburger, french fries, and a chocolate shake," Jane decided as she gently drummed her fingers on the tabletop.

"I'll have the same," Zack replied. As fare as he was concerned, you could never go wrong with the classic burger and shake combo.

"Sure thing," Jane's boyfriend replied disinterestedly as he went off to deliver their orders to the cook. Once he was gone, Zack turned to Jane.

"I get the feeling that your boyfriend wants me to give you a wide berth," he replied nervously, earning an eye roll from Jane.

"Don't worry about it, Spinner knows that I would never cheat on him. He's just being a dumb macho man," she replied with a grin as Zack was able to calm down a bit.

While Zack and Jane devoured their food like ravenous dogs, she was mining him for information about his previous life in the United States.

"Well, my last school was decent enough. There were some jerks, but I showed off some of my taekwondo moves and they left me alone after that," Zack said as he polished off his shake.

"You know taekwondo?" Jane asked as she finished her burger.

"Yep, you're looking at a full-on black belt. My parents insisted that my brother and I learn so we wouldn't be afraid if some asshole ever pulled a glock; those were my dad's words," Zack explained.

"You said that your brother was older than you. Is he going to college?" Jane inquired as Zack grew quiet.

"He was expelled from high school," he said as Spinner came back around with the bill. The two friends decided to go dutch and pay for their own meals separately.

"What happened?" Jane asked as Young Ayers waited until they were outside of The Dot before explaining further.

"My brother has issues," Zack replied as they walked.

"I get that. my brother is a deadbeat who can't get a job," Jane said with a smirk as Zack leaned up against a wall.

"My brother's addicted to Crystal Meth," Zack remarked as Jane's smile fell off her face.

"Oh...I'm sorry," she replied as Zack heaved a sigh.

"Xavier tried it at a party and after that...he was hooked. He got expelled because the principal caught him with a teenth of meth in his locker," Zack continued as Jane leaned against the wall next to him.

"I have to ask...is he the reason you and your parents moved up here?" she asked, and Zack sadly nodded.

"After he got expelled, Xavier just got worse. When Mom and Dad cut him off from their money, he started running with a gang and dealing drugs to fund his meth habit. We had a few close calls-our house even got shot at one time. Eventually, they just gave up. They threw Xavier out and my dad asked Country Inn to relocate him. Their only opening was here in Toronto." Zack started to tear up as Jane put her arm around him.

"I'm really sorry that you have to deal with his crap, Zack," Jane said as he looked at her.

"You know what the most screwed up part is? Despite everything, I still love that jerk!" he bawled as Jane slowly wrapped her arms around her friend. Xavier had been his role model, someone he went to for advice before the drugs, and now he had no one? Zack's brother had not just been a role model for him, he had been good at school with a bright future ahead, and he just threw it all away like an fool.

Jane continued to console him softly, assuring him that it was OK as Zack cried in frustration. He had not yet told anyone else about Xavier, and he didn't really know why he was telling Jane now. All he could think of was that she seemed like a good person and a good friend. Zack was surly in need of one of those.

REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.