A/N. This is our first Degrassi fic, and my first fic in general, so please be nice. Ash did most of the writing, but under a lot of my direction. He's gasp not really a fan (yet), but I'm working on it! This is the first of our "Torturing Marco" series of stories. For more author's notes, see our profile.

The story is not yet completely written, and sometimes updating may be slow. The story will be finished, but I can't promise anything more than that.

Disclaimer: We don't own the characters of Degrassi. The plot isn't completely original, either, but hopefully we've put a nice spin on it (no pun). (It's from Spinner's POV)

Chapter One:

I was such a dead man.

I didn't mean to do it. I swear I didn't. It was just the usual run-of-the-mill case of footinthemouthitis. You know me. It happens. I don't mean it to, but...I guess my mouth runs faster than my brain sometimes. Most of the time. No surprises, there, huh? But I still didn't mean to do it.

I was working at The Dot when it happened. Paige and Marco had just left--off to do some shopping before Marco's "big" date with Paige's brother. I still don't get that. I mean...Marco and Dylan? They're both really popular guys. I bet either one of them could have just about any girl on campus! They're cool, but...them being together still kinda creeps me out. Don't tell Paige...or Marco. Or Jimmy. Hell, don't tell anyone. I really don't have nothing against them. I'm just sayin'...I dunno. I just don't get it.

Anyway, back to what happened.

So, I'm there cleaning off the table that Paige and Marco were sitting at and in comes Mr. Del Rossi.

"Hay-lo, Speener!" he greeted me with a giant grin on his face. It's easy to see where Marco gets his goofy expressions.

"Hey, Mr. Del Rossi," I replied, wiping off the table.

"You have seen Marco around, hey?"

"Him and Paige just left." (I know, I know, it's 'he and Paige' but like you talk all proper all the time?)

Mr. Del Rossi's face fell like a...well...like something that falls. For just a moment, though, but then he brightens again. "My son. He always out with the pretty girls," he looked so proud. "She is pretty, this 'Paige'?"

I smiled. "Yeah she's pretty," I sighed.

"Any girlfriend of my son would be," Mr. Del Rossi boasted.

And that's when it happened. I didn't mean to do it. But I laughed. "Paige? No, she's my girlfriend. She's just helping Marco get ready cuz he's dating her broth...er..." See, I even tried to stop myself. But it was too late.

"Scusi?"

"Er...I..." I couldn't even think of how to make that sound better than it did.

"You make joke?" Mr. Del Rossi questioned, his eyes looking more serious than I'd ever seen them.

"Yeah! I mean yes! I was joking!" I sighed with relief. Thank God. Good cover. I let out a laugh to emphasize the point.

But Mr. Del Rossi didn't look too convinced. "Why you make joke like that? Why you challenge Marco's honor?"

I backpedaled quickly. "No! No. I'm not challenging his honor. I just..." I licked my lips and shook my head, trying to come up with something again.

"You challenge family honor. My honor."

I held up my hands defensively. "Sorry. No. I was just...joking. 'Cuz...Marco hangs around with Dylan all the time and..." I could see Mr. Del Rossi's eyes growing darker. "Not like all the time," I amended. "Just...um...when Paige and me go out." Oh that made sense. Damn, Gavin, think! "Cuz they don't have girlfriends...and so they...hang out. Otherwise they would get bored." Oh my God, how lame am I? Like anyone would buy that?

Mr. Del Rossi frowned. "Marco no have girlfriend?" His brow furrowed in confusion. "He said he had date tonight."

CRAP!

"Um...no. He broke up with Ellie, you know, and...just..."

"Well, he a good boy. Smart. Strong. Should find another girl in no time." Mr. Del Rossi looked happy again, thank god.

So that would have been a good time to keep quiet and let the conversation die, right? Right.

But remember how my brain moves faster than my mouth sometimes? "Yeah, he could date pretty much any girl he wanted! I mean, Hazel jumped at the chance to go out with him, and she's like one of the most popular girls in school, but he just..." Oh. My. God. What. Had. I. Done? "Wasn't interested. You know. In Hazel." SHUT UP, GAVIN!

Mr. Del Rossi was giving me a strange look, but I just flashed a smile back.

"He rather spend time with this...Dylan boy, then go out with this Hazel?"

"She's not his type?" I suggested, sounding hopeful that he'd buy it.

He seemed to get a look of understanding on his face. But, I could see that he wasn't exactly happy with my answer.

When he left The Dot, I really thought that maybe I should give Marco a call and give him a heads up that I might have screwed up. Except then I got sidetracked when Craig stopped in. I didn't mean to forget, but what's the worst that could happen?

Don't answer that.