I do not own any part of Degrassi. The only thing I own is the plot and any made up characters.
I also don't this song. It's Secret , by Maroon 5, and it's the shit.
A/N: So, I was thinking, what's fun to write about? L-o-v-e! (Awww!) And what's better than..Taboo love? Yeah. Not much. Here we go!
A/N2 This is set sometime after Ashley finds out about Manny and Craig
Watch the sunrise
Say your goodbyes
Off we go
Some conversation
No contemplation
Hit the road
Ashley Kerwin slid into her seat in English, too distracted by the thoughts running a mile a minute in her mind to pay attention to anything that was going on around her.
Craig and Manny. Manny and Craig. I can't..this doesn't..I can't even form coherent sentences! How long had this been going on! Why didn't I know, or feel something was wrong? I can't believe I was this stupid.
Ashley shot up in her seat, ready to ask Mrs. Kwan for a pass to the bathroom, or the nurse or anywhere, when she realized Mrs. Kwan wasn't there. In her place a tall, dark and very attractive young substitute teacher was standing there. He was looking around at the mayhem surrounding him, high school kids taking advantage of having a sub.
"Car overheats
Jump out of my seat
On the side of the highway, baby
Our rope is long
Your hold is strong
Please don't ever let go
Oh no "
The teacher cleared his throat. Nothing. A few of the kids in the front turned around, then whipped right back when they saw that Mrs. Kwan wasn't standing there. He sighed, then picked up an English text book from a students desk, and dropped it on the floor. The class jumped collectively, then quieted down. He handed the bewildered student back her textbook.
"Ok. So now that I've got your attention, let's get down to business. I'm Mr. Senate, and I'll be your sub for a couple of weeks while Mrs. Kwan is out, dealing with her husbands cancer. Alright?" He looked around at the students surrounding him, most of them looking bored and tired. All but one. She was sitting up straight, and gazing at him intensely. She looked like someone who lived, ate and slept creative writing. He smiled at her. This was why he taught. To see a persons face light up as they entered their favorite class, or to read a beautiful piece of writing. It was all worth it.
"I know I don't know you
But I want you
So bad
Everyone has a secret love
Can they keep it?
Oh no they can't"
After Mr. Senate smiled at her, Ashley felt herself blushing. What was wrong with her? He was a teacher, and not to mention at least 10 years older than her. Still, the way he smiled at her made chill run up her back. She realized he was talking, probably about the assignment so she decided to pay attention.
"..So this assignment isn't really..well.." Mr. Senate faltered, then smiled a devilish grin, the smile lighting up his face. "This isn't the assignment Mrs. Kwan left for you guys. But..I think it'll be more interesting than," Here he paused, leaning over to read the post-it stuck to a stack of packets, "Than doing Grammar Corrections"
The class nodded in agreement.
"Alright. I want you guys to do a writing exercise called 'I remember' I won't put a limit on it, it can be as long or short as you want it to be. Just say those words to yourself over and over. 'I remember' then write what you remember."
Ashley got to work, repeating the phrase over and over, but it was hard to concentrate with Mr. Senate walking by her desk so often.
"I'm driving fast now"
She glanced up from her work, only to find Mr. Senate looking down at her, smiling.
"Hey, I never got around to taking attendance" he whispered, crouching down next to her desk.
"Can you give me your name?"
"Ashley Kerwin" She whispered back, looking into his blue green eyes, and for a moment forgetting where she was.
"Don't think I know how to go slow"
He stood up. "Thanks. You can go back to work"
"Oh where you at now"
She attempted, again to buckle down, pushing all thoughts of Mr. Senate out of her head. And she succeeded. But, instead, thoughts of Craig and Manny came back.
"I feel around, there you are"
So she went with that, writing furiously, until Mr. Senate called for them to stop
"Cool these engines
Calm these jets
I ask you how hot can it get
And as you wipe off beads of sweat
slowly you say
I'm not there yet"
"Would anyone like to volunteer what they wrote? This will not be a critique, just a chance to practice reading your writing to people." He looked around the room, watching as students shrunk away from his glance. All but one.
"Ashley, would you like to read for us?
She looked up, completely surprised, but willing. She loved to read her writing aloud, even if it was about something as personal as her break-up with Craig. Ashley stood up and cleared her throat.
"I remember you telling me you'd never leave me. I remember being happy in your arms. I remember how the sight of you made a shiver run up my back. But I remember the bad too, how sometimes people would look away when I mentioned you, and our plans for the weekend. I remember the feeling of not knowing everything and the feeling of suspicion. I remember realizing I wasn't your whole world. I remember trying to be ok with it."
The class was quiet for a while, because all of them knew what it was about.
Mr. Senate nodded at Ashley. "Thank's for being so brave Ash. Anybody else willing to go?" But the bell rang, and everyone sprang up, gathering their things and getting out of there, on their way to lunch.
As Ashley was gathering her things, Mr. Senate stopped by her desk. "Ash, I really meant it when I thanked you for being brave. Not many girls would write about such a personal subject and volunteer to read it." He put a hand on her shoulder. "If you ever need to talk about anything...I'm here for a while" He let the sentence hang in the air between them, and Ashley gulped. "Um..Ok. Thank you. I'm late for lunch so.."
He nodded. "Have a good day Ashley"
"I know I don't know you
But I want you
So bad
Everyone has a secret love
Can they keep it?
Oh not they can't"