Author's Note: I debated whether or not to do this episode at all. Doesn't seem like there wouldn't be anything in this episode to help Sean's arc. Thought it through and this episode is gonna another short installment, with fitting scenes with Sean or anything that are hints of what's to come. Especially the ship that will form in the future. A ship no one has ever done before. (I mean if someone has written a story with this ship I'm planning, more power to them. I'm trying something no one hasn't done because it might be fun.)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, I'm just having fun with the world and its characters.
That being said, these are the bits of Bark at the Moon
As Manny is giving Chester the grand tour of the school, Craig and Sean are walking together to class and Manny sees the two of them. "This is Craig Manning from grade eleven. And Sean Cameron from grade ten. This is Chester's first day." Craig awkwardly waves while Sean just shrugs.
"Oh cool. Welcome." Craig said to Chester then he looks at Manny. "Hey, can I talk to you?"
"Actually, I'm just-"
"This way to los burritos?" Chester asked.
"I'll lead the way, Chester," Sean said to Chester as he looks back at Craig. He knew exactly what Craig was doing and he didn't want Craig to have an audience.
As Craig talks to Manny, Chester glances at Sean and recognizes him. Something Sean picks up on and raises an eyebrow. "What?"
"Aren't you that guy from the paper? The guy who stopped the shooter?" Chester asked.
Sean scoffs. "Yeah, but don't hold it against me."
"That must've been really scary. A lot of people called you a hero for what you did." Chester said, not reading the room.
"And being a hero comes with a lot of perks. People staring at you. Whispers in the halls." Sean explained. "Having to talk to the school counselor every other day when you're not-"
"Sorry. I should've known better. I read somewhere that first responders go through a ton of trauma after events like that." Chester replied. "I should have known better."
"Yeah, not the best way to make a first impression," Sean said then he pats Chester on the back. "But I will remember you, that's for sure."
Chester smiles awkwardly.
Just then, Ellie walks over to Sean and taps him on the shoulder. "Hey, stranger. Missed you this morning."
Sean looks at Ellie and then back at Chester. "You can handle this yourself, right?"
"Yeah, totally. I'm good." Chester said as he hops into the lunch line.
Ellie pulls Sean out of the cafeteria so they can have a conversation. "You okay? What time did you leave this morning?"
"It was super early. I had to get to school early. Nothing major." Sean said told Ellie.
"Way before school started?" Ellie asked, a bit confused.
"I had to help Jay with something before school started," Sean said.
"Nothing illegal, was it?" Ellie asked, knowing Jay's reputation.
"If you call fixing his carburetor illegal, then yes." Sean joked which made Ellie chuckle. "Jay and I came to an understanding. We can stay friends if he keeps me out of his… after-school activities. We're mostly cool now."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ellie asked.
Sean raised an eyebrow. "I didn't want to bother you. Besides, it was no big deal."
"You making an emotional breakthrough is 'no big deal' to you?" Ellie asked, sounding mildly upset.
"They're called baby steps for a reason, El," Sean said. "No big deal."
Ellie shrugs. "Okay, fine."
Ellie hugs him and Sean looks around, feeling he's being stared at.
[This scene takes place after the scene in yoga class with Paige and Marco]
Craig and Sean were talking at Sean's locker where he is telling Sean how he handled things with Manny. "You actually said that night was a mistake?" Sean asked.
"I didn't use my words properly, okay?" Craig stated. "I just thought she had the right to know."
"You do realize who you told that to, right?" Sean said, closing his locker. "Manny's more delicate than if you said that to Ashley."
Craig blinks and stares at his friend. "Did you just call Manny delicate?"
"I've hung around her since Grade 7, man. Despite how much she's…" Sean clears his throat. "Developed… Manny's still got a stained glass heart that, if you're not careful, will leave it in pieces, and her looking for a way to fix it."
"Should I talk to her again?" Craig asked.
"Think the damage has been done, buddy." Sean said.
"You really need to stop watching talk shows. You're starting to sound like a fortune cookie." Craig joked.
"Sorry, going to therapy has opened me up to some really weird feelings," Sean said as Ashley and Ellie walked up to them.
"Tell me about it," Craig told him then he walks up to Ashley and kisses her. "Hi."
"Hey," Ashley said, smiling.
Ellie walks up to Sean and hugs him, Sean responds with a kiss on the forehead. The act of affection wasn't what Ellie was expecting. "What were you two talking about?"
"We were- uh- just talking about how sad it's gonna be when Raditch," Craig said, seeming to cover for Sean.
"Yeah, totally devastated," Sean said, doing his best to act like he was sad about the news.
"Oh, that is an absolute lie." Ellie teased which made the group smile as the three walked off to class.
While at the school assembly to say goodbye to Mr. Raditch, Sean stood next to Ellie who was taking pictures for the Grapevine. Jay slinks up next to the two as the students listened to Raditch's speech.
"Is it weird that I wanna sing 'Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead'?" Jay whispers to his friend.
"Which old witch?" Sean joked back with his friend which made Jay smirk.
Ellie looks at Jay with a bitter scowl as Raditch announced Ms. Hatzilakos as the new principal.
As they watched Marco present Mr. Raditch with his goodbye present, Sean started to have flashes of what happened in the hallway the day of the shooting. He winces which Ellie notices.
"You okay?" She asked her boyfriend.
"Yeah, I need some air," Sean said as he slinks off into the crowd.
Jay and Ellie watch him leave as Jay whispers to her. "Jack having a problem, Sally?"
"That's none of your business, Rebel Without a Soul." Ellie snidely teases.
"He is still my friend, Nash," Jay said. "Besides, he hasn't even asked you to the dance, has he?"
"We aren't going. He doesn't do well with crowds these days." Ellie told him. "He just wants to stay with me."
Jay just smirks and walks off. "Keep telling yourself that, Wednesday."
Ellie groans quietly as the assembly draws to a close.
[This scene takes place after Manny changes her profile to be compatible with Chester but before the start of the dance.]
Ellie sat on the couch to set a small movie night for her and Sean as she channel surfs looking for something to watch. She hears the door to the bedroom open and close. "I haven't found anything to watch yet. Do wanna just-" She turns to see Sean was nicely dressed, by his standards, and looked like he had showered. "Well, someone's very overdressed."
"I had a good reason for that," Sean said as he pulls out tickets to the school dance. "I kinda wanted to take you out tonight. Figured the dance was a cheaper option."
Ellie was dumbstruck by this and stammered out "But I thought you hated school dances."
"I know… but I'm trying to branch from being a social outcast," Sean said. "Besides, I thought you wouldn't mind me having a breakthrough or whatever."
"I don't. I just- you're starting to scare me, Sean." Ellie admitted. "You're acting like a completely different person."
"I'm trying to be a better person, El," Sean told her, slightly offended at the admission. "I thought you wanted me to be more open."
"I do but… I want you to be a better person for you. Not for me." Ellie told him.
"I'm trying not to push us to-"
"Are you dumping me or something?"
"NO!" Sean yelled which made Ellie flinch. He manages to calm down and sees the look on her face. "I want to change for me. No one else."
"Then why did you ask me if that was what I wanted?" Ellie asked.
"Because you've already been through so much," Sean admitted. "I don't want to force any of this on you."
"You're not- I'm glad you're trying to better yourself," Ellie said as she hugged him. "I just don't want you to leave me behind while you're doing it."
Sean sighs as he hugs her back. "I won't, I promise." He looks like this might not be the right thing to say to Ellie.
Today wasn't the day to tell her that.
So that was a bit different than what I had planned but as I said before, all of this is set up for the future. I really wanted to do something out of the norm of that episode so here it is.