Hey, everyone, thanks for all the reviews so far! I'm so glad people like what I'm doing with the characters. Keep the feedback coming, it's very motivational. Also, I just realized I never disclaimed this story, so here it is: I do not own Degrassi or anything relating to it. The title is from Taking Back Sunday's newest c.d. and all the chapter titles and italicized phrases are from TBS's song lyrics. And now, on to Chapter Two…

Bonus Mosh Pt. 2

The keys to the castle are right where I left them.

"We're having a party."

There were many things Sean had never expected Ellie Nash to say to him. In fact, he had compiled a mental list of sentences that, if uttered, could mean she'd actually gone insane. 'I don't think I'll wear black today.' 'This is my natural hair color.' 'Let's go jump on the moon.' 'I'm leaving you for Spinner Mason.' And, of course, 'We're having a party.'

Now, unfortunately, he'd have to cross off that last one. "What do you mean, a party? Like, a birthday party, with streamers and balloons? Or like, a Paige party, with drinks and debauchery?"

Ellie considered. "The former. And the latter, actually. Come on, Sean." She swatted at him gently with her free hand, the other clasped firmly in his. "A welcome-home party."

He grimaced, somehow knowing that had been coming. "Ugh, let's not and say we did."

"Oh, don't be such a joykill," she whined. "Sean, you were gone for months. We need to celebrate your homecoming."

"Can't we do that with, I don't know, dinner and a movie?"

"By which you mean, pizza and whatever game's on t.v.," she countered. "So, no, I'm going to have to veto that bright idea. Besides, it's too late to cancel."

He stopped dead in his tracks. They were walking home, since Ellie had yet to gain access to a set of wheels and Sean's car was sitting in storage until he retrieved it. But given what she'd just said, he wasn't entirely certain he wanted to get there.

"Now, El, darling. When you said we're having a party – when, exactly, did you think this little shindig was gonna take place?"

She hummed a little tune, the smile on her face saying everything she wouldn't. "Oh, no," he said, as realization dawned. "Ellie – not tonight? Ellie, please, say you're kidding."

"Listen, buster, about shindigs, I do not kid. And it's only fair that I spring this on you. You gave me, what, two days' notice before you hopped a bus and got your ass back where it belonged? I've been on the phone ever since, trying to get this thing together!"

She looked so indignant at his lack of excitement that he half expected her to stamp her foot. He chuckled at the vision of Ellie Nash, Ms. Calm, Cool, and Collected, throwing a tantrum on Main Street. "Okay, look, I'm sorry. All right? I was just hoping we could have some alone time tonight, that's all."

"There'll be plenty of time for that over the weekend," she said briskly. "You're lucky you got back on a Friday, otherwise no one would be able to come."

"That'd be tragic," he muttered.

"But as far as I know, everyone will be there," she continued, ignoring him. "I was going to let it be a complete and total surprise, but I figured you wouldn't appreciate it like a normal person would."

"Thanks for the heads up," he said wryly. "I'm gonna run very far away now, okay?"

"Stay where you are, mister," she demanded. "I refuse to let all the work that's gone into this go to waste. I've used up a month's supply of cunning in distracting you this afternoon so that Paige and Hazel could turn our place into Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday."

"Oh, yeah, a whole lot of cunning went into that 'let's stop and get ice cream' routine," he mocked playfully, tickling her ribs. "And the 'want to walk down the pier and make out in the lighthouse?', too, that was craftiness at its best."

"Please, you were clueless. You had no idea anything was going on. I deserve a medal."

"You deserve something, all right. Who's gonna be at this thing, anyway?" He glowered in the general direction of their apartment. "I don't like that many people."

"Mmm, the feeling's mutual," Ellie deadpanned. "Joke, joke! The usual crowd – Craig, Jimmy, Spinner, their girlfriends. Uh, a couple guys from your shop class. Jay and whatever hooligans that tag along with him. Marco, of course, which probably means Dylan. I think that's about it."

"Lovely. Let's skip it."

"No way, Sean."

"Aw, come on. We can go back to the lighthouse …" He leaned in close, leering suggestively. "It'll be dark. We'll have it all to ourselves."

"I'm almost tempted," she said dryly, and pushed him off. "Sean. I wanted to do something nice for you. And I wanted to show you that … well, that you made the right choice, coming back here."

"Ellie. I don't need quality time with Paige and company to know I made the right decision. I wanted to come back. I missed this place." He smiled. "I missed you."

"Aw." She melted, putty in his hands, then stiffened abruptly. "Oh, no."

"What is it?"

"I'm on the of those girlfriends, aren't I?" Her nose wrinkled in distaste. "Sugerpie, honeybee, schnookums. His and Her towels. Matching outfits are next, so watch out."

"I'll let you know when you cross the line," he assured her, slinging an arm around her shoulder. "Now don't we have a party to go to?"

Ellie brightened. "For real? You'll go?"

"It's my house, isn't it? And I could use a little entertainment, so why not? A party in my honor could be just what the doctor ordered."

"You're the best," Ellie beamed. "Trust me, Sean, you won't regret this!"

Famous last words, a little voice inside his head scoffed. He ignored it, kissing Ellie instead, and they walked the final blocks to their home.

-X-

Sean and Ellie had a nice place. It was furnished sparsely, meticulously clean, and currently decorated with an abundance of green streamers and blue balloons. Sean's favorite colors, Emma remembered. It made her heart twinge to know that someone else knew such a trivial detail about him.

"Emma." Paige snapped her fingers in front of Emma's face, needing her undivided attention. "Earth to Emma."

"What? Oh, hi, Paige. What's up?"

Paige flicked an eyebrow up at the lackluster greeting. "Apparently not your IQ. I've been standing here for, like, an hour."

"Exaggeration," Craig piped up, shoving a handful of crackers into his mouth. "I'm an eyewitness. It was maybe thirty seconds, Ms. Michalchuk."

She spared him a withering glance. "Bite me, Manning. Emma, dear, if you'll come just come with me …" She didn't wait for Emma's response, simply grabbed her arm and hauled her through the apartment to the bathroom.

"Paige, what are we –"

Paige shushed her, closing the bathroom door and locking it. "Okay, seriously, hon, we need to outline a plan of attack. I'm thinking, we have you 'accidentally' bump into him – a real 'wham, bam, thank you ma'am', you know, then disappear for a while so he's just thinking about you, torturing himself. Are you wearing perfume? You need to be wearing perfume, because it'll stay with him."

Maybe Paige had lost her mind, too, Emma thought absently. Maybe there was something in the water that was making everyone so goddamn crazy. "Paige, I don't mean to be rude, but what the hell are you talking about?"

The older girl scowled. "Okay, let's review: You and Sean are meant to be with a capital M. He literally saved your life before he moved. And now he's back, and you're at the welcome-home party his girlfriend is throwing him. Are you seeing where complications might arise?"

"You're the one who forced me to come!" Emma burst out, throwing her arms in the air. "I was perfectly content with staying home and watching cheesy Lifetime movies!"

"You're just lucky I wouldn't let you pass on the opportunity of a lifetime," Paige said sagely.

Emma stared. "Please explain to me, in small words because apparently my brain isn't functioning properly tonight, exactly what purpose you think my being here will serve."

"Hon, you are in desperate need of some fun," Paige counseled. "And you're also in desperate need of Sean. Tonight, we can kill two birds with one stone."

"What are you talking about? Like you said, his girlfriend is throwing this party. Sean and I are over. We're past over, in fact. We're so done that –"

"That you still think about him every minute of every day," Paige cut in. "That seeing him makes you nervous and excited and angry and so in love you can't breathe? That you try to prove yourself wrong every day by doing things you know you shouldn't? That you know you wouldn't, if he were around to stop you?"

"How do you …"

"Spin and I have had our share of ups and downs, hon. We just do it more quietly than you and Sean."

It was hard to imagine anyone feeling for Spinner Mason what Emma felt for Sean. But as far as she could tell, Paige was being serious. "I don't … Paige, he's with Ellie now. He's moved on."

"Emma Nelson, look at yourself," Paige chided. She took Emma's shoulders and turned her so they were staring into the mirror above the sink. "You're beautiful. What man could resist those big brown eyes, huh? And the bangs, hon, those were a good call on your stylist's part. They add a little mystery, that 'who, me, sexy?' look that's in."

"I'm a mess," Emma said flatly. "Sean's finally getting his life together. He's made peace with his parents and he's happy with Ellie. And I am the world's biggest train wreck. I'm not gonna be the reason his life gets screwed up again. I refuse to be."

Paige gaped. "Emma –"

"Thank you for the thought, Paige," she interrupted. "I appreciate the advice and the compliments. But right now, I need to stay far away from Sean Cameron. It's better for everyone that way."

-X-

Ellie was extremely pleased with herself. Not only had she pulled off the impossible – a full-scale, all-out social event in two days – but it appeared to be going pretty well. People were dancing, laughing, making conversation, just generally having a pleasant time.

Even Sean, she observed, who was seated on the couch with Craig and Ashley, with Jimmy's wheelchair stationed beside them. The four were involved in what looked to be an animated discussion about eighties cartoons.

Ellie shook her head, bemused. They could be talking about cat breeding, or how to piece together a weapon of mass destruction, for all she cares. As long as Sean's happy. As long as he's laughing out loud, widening his grin when he catches her eye from across the room.

"He's enjoying himself," Marco commented. Dylan must have ducked into the bathroom, because he is for once not two steps behind. "Congratulations, Ellie, you've shown us all that Sean Cameron really is a good guy."

"You already knew that," she reminded him. "You were friends."

"Well, sure, but I still had my doubts. Guy's got a temper. Tonight will be good for him, I think. He's reconnecting with a lot of old pals." His point is proven when Spinner wanders over to the couch and slaps Sean on the back, a friendly, male greeting that Sean responds to with a complicated handshake. Marco shook his head in wonder. "Sean, Spinner, and a secret handshake. Never thought I'd see the day."

Ellie laughed. "Well, I, for one, am glad. I'd rather Sean hang out with you losers than those wannabe punks any day."

"We're definitely a step up," Marco agreed, then straightened as Dylan reentered the party. "Excuse me while I go dance with my darling."

Ellie watched happily as Marco cornered Dylan and swept him into a campy waltz. Good friends, good food, and Sean, she thought to herself in total satisfaction. What more could a girl need?

-X-

Emma needed the room to stop spinning. Perhaps she shouldn't have had the last shot Jay had offered her. Or the ones before it. She hated alcohol, the taste of it, the way it made you stupid and dizzy. She'd only started drinking to try and forget everything she'd told Paige in the bathroom. Everything that was completely true and therefore, hurt that much more.

She stumbled for the third time in two minutes, catching herself on Jay's elbow and nearly dragging him to floor with her. "Damn," she mumbled, "I lost my foot."

"Come on, Nelson," he laughed, his words slurred. Whether that was due to his drunkenness or her own, was anyone's guess. "Let's get you horizontal before you fall flat on your face."

"'Kay," she said vaguely, and allowed herself to be led up the stairs. The music and chatter faded into the background as Jay propelled her to the bedroom. "'S dark up here."

"Trust me, you don't want the light on." Jay threw himself face-down on the bed, his arms and legs spread akimbo. "Never thought I'd be cuddling up in Cameron's bed."

The words sparked some of the wires in Emma's brain into action. She was in Sean's bedroom. Correction – Sean and Ellie's bedroom. The private sanctum of Degrassi's newest lovebirds. She glanced quickly around, looking for – well, she didn't really know what. Handcuffs? Condoms? Had Sean and Ellie even had sex?

"Ugh. Move over," she demanded, swaying on her feet. Jay complied, rolling onto his back and folding his arms behind his head. She filled the space he left and buried her pounding head in the crook of his shoulder. "This drinking thing is … hard."

"You'll get used to it," Jay assured her. "It gets easier."

"Like with you," she murmured, and nuzzled his neck. "When I first went to the ravine with you – remember? I was such a prude. I couldn't stand you. I thought you were disgusting."

"You weren't entirely wrong," he said, and stroked her hair. "But I'm glad you got over it enough to … enjoy my company."

"Jay?"

"Yeah, Greenpeace?"

"I'm drunk. I am completely without inhibitions." She sat up slightly, just enough to make eye contact so that he understood the full meaning of her words. "Wanna enjoy my company?"

He grinned and shifted again, so that she was pinned beneath his body. "Thought you'd never ask."

-X-

"Has anyone seen Emma?"

It wasn't the words that caught Sean's attention and dragged him away from the game of foosball he was kicking Craig's ass at. It was the tone. Paige Michalchuk's voice was higher, thinner than usual – anxious, bordering on panicked. He relinquished his side of the table to Ellie, who'd been cheering him on enthusiastically, and scanned the crowd for blonds.

He found Paige first. She was paused in the doorway of the kitchen, repeating her question to the room at large. She looked irritated, but underneath that, worried. "Anyone seen Emma Nelson?"

Sean sighed. He'd known Emma was there somewhere, he'd heard her name mentioned earlier in the evening. And, yeah, he'd looked for her a little. But she'd obviously left the party, because his place wasn't big enough for her to actually be lost. Knowing this, he moved through the crowd to share his insight with Paige.

"Sean," she greeted him coolly. "Welcome back. You seen Em?"

"I'm pretty sure she's long gone by now, Paige. I've been … keeping an eye on the guests, and I haven't seen her all night." He shrugged. "She probably had to get home, baby sit or something."

Paige let out a short bark of laughter. "Oh, Sean. What you know about your Juliet could honestly fit into a thimble. She's been here the whole time, mostly outside with that lovely little gang of yours – the Montreal Crew, am I right?"

"Emma? With Jay and all them?" His head shook confidently. "You're wrong."

Paige flipped her hair. He wondered how she made the valley-girl gesture seem intimidating. "Let me give you a quick update, Sean. When you left, Emma's life was pretty crappy to begin with. It's only gotten worse. And since you were gone, and she and Manny had that big catfight, and none of her other friends seemed to give a damn, she started to hang out with Jay. A lot."

"What are you – what are you saying?"

Paige paused. She didn't feel right divulging the details of Emma's private life to her ex. But she certainly didn't want to see her friend go any further down the road she'd been on. "Look, all I'm saying is this: I was going to check upstairs next. If you get there before me, maybe because you're tired and want to take a quick break from the party, well, that's your prerogative."

She gave him a meaningful, 'do it or you'll be sorry' look, then retreated to Spinner's waiting arms. Sean ran his fingers through his hair and, leaving his girlfriend celebrating her victory over Craig, climbed the stairs.