"You told her what?" Toby sputtered indignantly as he sloshed his bottled water all over his turkey sandwich. J.T.'s cheeks flushed bright pink and he sighed.
"Yeh, I know, I'm sorry." He muttered lamely.
"Sorry!" exclaimed Toby, perturbed. "You know, she's going to tell Kendra you said that-"
"Tell Kendra he said what?" Kendra said brightly as she slid into the chair next to Toby and pecked him on the cheek. His face was warm against her lips and she noticed he was staring resolutely away from her. J.T. was staring blankly into space a foot to the right of her head, and she shook that head and muttered: "Boys."
She picked her tray up and stared at Toby with amusement. "Well, whatever. I'm gonna go talk to Paige." She glanced over to Paige's table and nodded. Toby shrugged, and she sighed, exasperated. "Whatever." She muttered again, and walked swiftly away from their table.
Toby brought his gaze sharply into focus and fixed a hardened glare on J.T. Why is he such an idiot? He thought, annoyed. The first half of the school day had gone on with a stony silence being shared between the once sickeningly happy couple of J.T. and Liberty, and Toby had been extremely confused.
Until now, that is. It was lunch and Manny, Emma, Liberty, and Darcy were sharing a table across the lunchroom from them, and Toby didn't really like the silence. Plus, J.T. was a complete idiot, and, though it seemed remote, could have put Toby's relationship in jeopardy.
"You, my friend, are an ass." Toby stated matter-of-factly. "Tell me exactly what you told her. Now." He commanded sharply as it looked like J.T. was about to refuse.
"I just told her that I wished she'd loosen up." He said faintly. He saw Toby's glare, and continued with: "And I may have mentioned a few names of people who were, well, loosened up?" He ended his disjointed thought as a question. Toby looked furious.
"And you just might have mentioned that Kendra and I make-out all the time? Happen to slip out?" He asked in a very quiet voice. "Do you get it, you idiot? Liberty is going to tell Kendra that! Kendra's going to think that I told you that we make-out all the time!" Toby sloshed more water on his sandwich. "If she gets mad at me-"
"I'm sorry, man!" J.T. exclaimed. "I didn't mean to get you mad at me too." He rubbed his hands over his eyes. He was so tired. He hadn't gotten any sleep last night. "It's not like I planned it!" he burst out, frustrated with himself. "Ah…I am an ass." His voice was strained.
Toby stared at him, and sympathy flashed through his eyes. He grabbed the cookie he had been about to eat. "Here." He said and chucked it at J.T. It hit him in the head. "We're even." Toby said heavily, and looked at his sandwich. It was all soggy. Oh well, I'm not really hungry.
"I mean," J.T. continued, sounding depressed. "It's not like I broke up with her 'cause she's not 'fast' enough for me-"
"'Fast?'" Toby interrupted incredulously. "They say I'm the nerd." He muttered wryly.
J.T. glared at him. "It's just that I had been thinking about it. I mean, she's really uptight." He said as though that explained it all. He caught Toby's look. "I don't mean physically!" He exclaimed, and then thought about what he had said. "Well," he rephrased. "I mean, she is and all, but that's not why I wanted the break up." Toby shot him another look.
"Ok!" J.T. shot out, as though someone was interrogating him. "That was part of it. But, mostly," His voice quieted, and Toby thought he was being serious, "it was stuff like not being able to be one solitary minute past curfew. Or not being alone at my house. Or not drinking caffeinated soda, 'It's not good for you!'" He imitated Liberty quite well. Toby sighed.
"I hate to say it- I told you so." He said without a smile. "I mean- it's Liberty. What did you expect?"
J.T. glared at him. "Don't talk about my-" He stopped mid-sentence and looked down at his tray. "Whatever." He finished weekly. "I really did need to think about everything." He muttered softly.
Toby either nodded his head, or shook it; J.T. couldn't tell.
OoO
Ellie sat down at the table and looked into the faces of its occupants. They were all staring into space, and not one of them seemed to notice that Ellie had taken a seat. She coughed.
Their eyes didn't move at all. Ok, what the hell? Ellie thought wonderingly to herself, Ashley looks like someone kidnapped her and turned her into her exact opposite. Ellie turned to gaze at her best friend. She was wearing pink for crying out loud. And her hair was brown again. Ellie couldn't seem to get over how different she looked. It had been a shock that morning to see Ashley come walking down the hallway looking so… preppy. Ellie had not said anything about it to her; she thought there had to be something up with her. And now, Ellie was sure there was. Ashley looked positively miserable. She just hoped Ashley would share whatever it was with her soon.
Ellie turned her focus to the blonde teen sitting across the table from Ash. Paige's eyes are so open she looks permanently surprised. Miss Little Ray of Sunshine looked seriously upset as well. Ellie stared at the once open face that was now pinched and closed up. Paige's jaw was clenched, and she looked like something had either depressed her, or made her extremely mad. Ellie couldn't tell. Maybe it was both.
A shuddered breath made her turn to Hazel. Now, Ellie was not normally a big fan of Hazel- when she did talk to her it was mostly because Ashley was friends with Paige, who was friends with Hazel. Come to think of it, that was pretty much the only reason Ellie was sitting at this lunch table now- but, she thought the girl needed a friend. She looks like she's about to start sobbing. Ellie opened her mouth to say something comforting, when Hazel stifled a sob, and jumped up from the table, and threw out all of her uneaten food. She rushed out of the cafeteria; everyone's eyes on her. Ellie suspected she was going to the bathroom.
They all think I'm the crazy one.
Hazel's hasty exit seemed to snap the other two out of their daydreams. Paige and Ashley both turned to Ellie; noticing her for the first time. Ellie smiled benignly.
"Sad, really. We've only been here five hours, and she already can't cut senior year." It was a joke, but no one smiled. Ellie frowned at them. "Ok! I want the effing story!" She glared at them, and they both seemed to jump. "What the hell is wrong with you two?" Ellie said in a less harsh voice.
Ash shook her head, and stared at her tray. She didn't want to say. She began the rip her tuna wrap into smaller and smaller pieces. Ellie just stared at her. "Ash!" She looked into Ellie's eyes. "Spill! Now." Ellie commanded.
Tears pooled in the depths of Ash's large eyes, she shot Ellie a look, pleading with her. Ellie just shook her head. "I'm your best friend, Ash. You don't just get to be depressed, and not tell me why." Ashley looked terrified. Ellie noticed. "It can't be that bad. What happened?" She asked softly.
Ashley's eyes unfocused and she drifted into thoughts.
"You're so…so…beaut…beau-ti-ful!" The dazed 17 year old boy whispered into her hair.
"No…not now. Give it to me!" She giggled haplessly, and reached out a useless arm to the table where his equipment was spread out. She gave him a resigned look. "How much?"
He winked.
Ashley shook her head violently and picked her tray up. She didn't want to remember that. She didn't want to remember anything. She didn't want…
"I have to go." She said quickly. "S.I.T.E. meeting…" She muttered lamely as a tear fell down her cheek. She followed in Hazel's footsteps and threw out all of her food. Ellie watched her retreating back in shock.
"And what the hell was that?" Ellie muttered under her breath, looking at Paige. She was staring off into space again, but this time her mouth was moving; she looked like she was telling someone off in a whisper. Ellie looked at her suspiciously.
"If I asked- I don't suppose you'd actually tell me, would you?" Paige continued to mutter at her invisible enemy, and Ellie stood up abruptly. "You know what? Forget it!" She too strode out of the cafeteria and by this time people were whispering about what was going on at that table. She glared at a particularly loud freshman, and threw all of her food into the trash can. She gave Sheila a glare with her tray and stomped out of the room.
OoO
Paige didn't even notice she was gone. She was too busy yelling at her mother. She was too busy telling her all the things she should have said last night.
Paige lay in the crevice between Matt's arm and chest and sighed happily. This was what it was supposed to be like. Her hand reached up, and his joined it. They were holding hands.
A tear fell down Paige's face, and Matt noticed immediately. "What's wrong, Paige?" He asked anxiously. "Did I hurt you?" Paige tilted her head so she could see into his eyes, and began to cry in earnest. He sat up and pulled her close to him. "Shh…what's the matter?" He asked, running his hands through her hair.
"No-nothing." She muttered between her tears. "I'm fine." She snuggled her head closer to him and continued to cry. "It's just, this is what I wanted my first time to be like, you know?" She pulled their hands close to her, and kissed his. "It's so perfect, but it's not my…" She trailed off, and pressed herself closer to him.
"Paige…" Matt said and hugged her closer to him. He kissed the top of her head. "You don't have to say it. I get it." She looked into his eyes, and more tears fell.
"I know." She said with a shaky smile.
"Then stop crying. I don't like to see you unhappy." He said with complete sincerity. Paige's heart skipped a beat, and she kissed him quickly.
"But I'm crying because I'm happy." She said in a whisper. More tears fell, and he smiled.
"That's alright, I guess." He kissed her again, and lay back down, pulling her close to him. They shared a lengthy kiss, and didn't notice the front door open.
"Surprise!" A loud voice rang out, and startled the two people lying on the couch. Paige jumped up and wrapped the couch blanket around her. Matt leapt to his feet and stood behind her. His worse fears were realized: it was Paige's mother.
She walked into the living room via the small room that basically held the front door, talking all the while.
"They let me take a few hours off tonight. I was so thrilled. I mean, I realize that it's late and you need to go to bed soon- big day tomorrow! But, I figured since I was lucky enough to have my business meeting rescheduled, we might break a few rules-" Her chatter broke off as she entered the living room. Her eyes found Paige's and they held each other for a moment.
"Mom…" Paige said weakly. She pulled the blanket tighter around her, and stepped back towards Matt.
But her mother didn't seem to notice she had spoken. "You get yourself out of my house this instant!" She snarled at Matt, pointing a finger at him menacingly. "I said get out!" She shouted again as it appeared he wasn't going to move. She took a step toward him and continued to scream, "Paige, did he do it to you too? Did he?" She glared at Matt, and advanced another step. Paige's mouth seemed glued shut, and she felt as though everything was going wrong. "Don't worry, sweetheart! We'll get this one! Don't worry!" Her mother turned away for a second and grabbed a fire poker from its stand next to the living room fireplace.
She brandished it at Matt, and Paige felt certain she had gone insane. "Mom…" barely more than a whisper escaped her lips. Matt was backing away from her.
"Ok, ok. I'm going." He reached down and grabbed his pants, and pulled them on rather quickly, forgetting the underwear part. "See?" he asked with a slight edge to his voice. Once he had the pants buttoned, he frowned at Paige and pecked her on the cheek. "I'll talk to you later." He whispered before grabbing his car keys off of the in table behind him and rushing out the back door.
"Don't you touch my daughter, you filthy little rapist!" She snarled at his retreating back. Paige's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Her heart was racing, and her mind was demanding that she clear this up; demanding that she find words to convince her mother of Matt's innocence.
"Mom…" was all that came out as she watched her mother put a hand up to silence her.
"Not now, sweetie." She said softly as she whipped out her cell phone. "Let me call the police first." Paige's mother gave what she probably thought was an encouraging smile, but what looked more like a grimace. "You can tell the story to us all at once. Then you won't have to relive it so much." She stopped talking to Paige abruptly as the operator picked up.
Paige heard none of the conversation; it seemed as though all senses and thought were being erased by the blinding terror that was building in her chest. She seemed to wake up when she heard a car pull into her driveway.
"There they are." Paige's mother breathed. Paige partially snapped out of it; she still felt she couldn't hear over her pounding heart. She pulled the blanket closer to herself and told herself it was all a bad dream.
"No…" She whimpered. "No…it wasn't…no Mom…you don't…" Paige was fighting tears. She couldn't understand what had made her mother jump to the conclusion she had.
"Yes, hunny. I'm sure you said no." Her mother said soothingly. "I understand hunny." The police were now standing in the foyer, looking at Paige with sympathy.
"No…" Paige said in a somewhat stronger voice. Their sympathy, their understanding…where was it when she had needed it? It made her mad enough to find her voice. "NO YOU DON'T!" She shouted with tears streaming down her face. "You DON'T!" She yelled. Her mother looked taken aback.
"Then tell us dear. Tell us what he did to you, so that we can get him for it." Her mother said gently. The policeman brought out their pads of paper and began to start scribbling down things.
"He didn't do anything to me." Paige said sharply. "It was consensual." Now it was her mother's turn to open and close her mouth.
The police had been ready to leave right then, but Paige's mother had simply not been able to accept her daughter's version of the story. After a half an hour of heated discussion between police and mother, in which the police explained that they could hardly charge Matt with rape if Paige said it was consensual, Paige's mother, clearly distraught, rounded on Paige.
She had muttered something about being severely confused and brainwashed, and then… with an odd glint in her eye, she had asked how old Matt was. Paige had answered her reluctantly, and Paige's mother had turned back to the police.
She had made them fill out the paperwork for statutory rape charges, and asked them for a restraining order. This time Paige had nothing to say; they were guilty of that. Her tears had started to come so quickly she hadn't been able to make it to her room before the racking sobs made her chest ache.
OoO
Kendra Mason set her tray down at the table, and stared at Paige. She could tell that something was up with her, because there were tears swimming in her eyes.
"Paige?" Kendra asked softly, easing herself into the chair across from her. Paige's eyes snapped up and focused on Kendra.
"Oh, hi, Kendra. How are things?" She asked with a shaky smile. She was still trying to be the same old Paige, smiley and popular, a cheerleader through and through. Kendra gave her a look full of I don't buy that.
"I'm fine." She said and opened her milk carton. "How are you?" She asked as she took a sip.
Kendra and Paige had never been best friends, to any degree. In fact, for most of the time that Paige was dating Kendra's older brother, Kendra had found her annoying. But, the fact remained that Paige had spent a lot of time at the Mason residence. And, in so doing, Kendra had gotten to know her a bit. Paige really was a big sweetheart, you just had to look through all the superficial stuff she piled on the outside.
And one time, after Paige had found out about Spinner and Manny's flirt fest via Hazel's photos, after Spinner and Paige had broken up, Paige had shown up on Kendra's doorstep with a large box in her arms and tears streaming down her face.
Kendra had muttered something about Spinner not being there because he was at work and Paige and said "I know", in a barely audible voice. She had brought over all the stuff that Spinner had left at her house, and she looked severely broken up. Kendra had been extremely surprised to see this side of Paige. At school, she had looked completely together, like she was already over him, but Kendra could see, as she threw the box roughly unto the couch, and turned around to leave, tears still streaming down her face, that she was human, and she was hurt.
Kendra and Paige had started to bound a little after that, and every once in a while they would sit together at lunch and talk, or once Paige gave Kendra a ride home. Paige thought Kendra was a sweet kid, and Kendra saw Paige as a bit of a protector from the harshness of high school.
So, Kendra was concerned to see Paige look even more hurt than she had that day, a few months ago.
Paige looked into Kendra's eyes and her tears fell. She opened her mouth and the story fell out just as quickly as her tears. For some reason, Kendra was just the person she needed to talk to.
OoO
Manny Santos sat down next to her friend Emma Nelson and sighed. It was the last period of the day, and she just wanted to get home.
"MI, oh the joy!" She exclaimed with sarcasm. Emma didn't say anything, she was just staring straight ahead, the look on her face, grim. Manny nudged her. "Em?"
"Huh?" Emma said, looking at Manny with wonder. "Sorry, Manny, I didn't realize you were here." She said and turned back to the front of the room. She was staring at the white board as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.
Manny shot her a confused look. "You ok-" But she was cut off as a depressed Liberty slid into the chair beside her. As she too sighed, Manny turned her attention to her.
"What's the matter?" Manny asked exasperated. If this was still about J.T….
"Him!" Liberty muttered savagely. "He smiled at me-"
"Liberty!" Manny said with an angry look. "We know, ok? We know you're pissed at him, but give it a rest, geez." Liberty shot her a hurt look, but Manny continued. "I hate to say it but- I told you so. I mean what did you expect- it's J.T." Manny looked at her with impatience.
"Hey! Don't talk about my…" She trailed off and stared at her keyboard. "Never mind." Manny smiled grimily.
"Now, I know that this seems like the end of the world and all, but I think there's something up with Em." For the first time, Liberty turned to look at the other occupant of the table. She saw Emma's empty gaze and shot Manny a worried look.
"Em? You ok?" Liberty asked soothingly. Manny rolled her eyes.
"Wow, why didn't I think to ask that?" Her voice was laced with sarcasm as she turned away from the unresponsive blond next to her. Liberty shot her a hurt look.
"What's wrong with you?" Liberty asked her tartly.
"I feel like shit." Manny said and took a deep breath. Liberty eyed her critically.
"You look like shit." She said matter-of-factly. Manny glared at her. The fact was, Manny couldn't argue with her. Her hair was kind of dull. She didn't know why, but after she had gotten out of the shower that morning, it's usual shine just wasn't there. And she knew she looked pale, which totally sucked, because she had a tan. She'd worked on it all summer. And then there was the matter of the dark circles under her eyes…
"Gee, thanks. You're such a supportive friend." Manny said and looked down at her keyboard. "I think I'm getting the flu."
Liberty just shrugged and said wryly: "God, this year really sucks. One whole day back, and everyone looks like they're dying." Manny sighed again, and turned to ask Emma something, when the teacher walked in.
"Ok, class. I'm Ms. West. I'll be your substitute for the next few days." She smiled brightly at the class, and Manny saw Emma blink her eyes rapidly.
Well, Manny though with a bit of shock, guess I know what's bugging her…
OoO
Hazel Aden scanned the crowd outside of Degrassi Community School. Where is he? She thought with a pounding heart. Where… Her heart constricted as she saw him talking with Craig at the bottom of the wheelchair ramp. Craig was gesturing wildly, and looked extremely annoyed. Jimmy placed a hand on his arm, as if to calm him down, and Hazel started to walk towards them.
She had wanted to break up with him somewhere private. She had wanted to ask him to go to the Dot with her, wanted to tell him how sorry she was, wanted to explain the whole situation away. But now? Now…she didn't think she'd be able to be around him for the amount of time it would take to get somewhere private. She could feel her heart breaking.
Her feet were slapping the pavement closer to them, but they still hadn't heard her approach.
"-broke up with you? Just like that?" Hazel heard Jimmy say with some confusion. Craig nodded, and clenched his jaw.
A group of three giggling girls rushed past and Hazel only caught the last word of Craig's reply: "…explanation!" He crossed his arms and looked up. He saw Hazel coming, and nodded. He looked down at Jimmy, and jerked his head upward.
"See ya." Craig muttered, and turned to walk away.
"Bye, dude." Jimmy called after him and turned his wheelchair to face Hazel. He smiled brightly at her, and her eyes welled with tears. You have to do this, she thought with an aching heart, You have to do this. She blinked, and looked into his eyes. She did not smile back at him, and his wavered. He seemed to notice that she looked upset.
"Haz? You ok?" He asked quickly. She took a deep shuddering breath.
Allah…
All of the things she had planned to say just escaped her mind. She was drawing a blank. She just wanted to go home and cry; she just wanted to hide under her covers and wish the world away. She just wanted…
"We…We…We…" She stuttered. Her tears overflowed their banks. "We have to break up." She spat out quickly. Tell him why. Her mind ordered, but her mouth wouldn't obey.
He looked hurt and shocked, and his mouth opened once, and then closed. As it opened for the second time, she realized she couldn't bear to hear what he had to say. She broke into a sob, and ran past him, barely hearing as he called her name…
OoOoO
A/N Right, so there is Chapter 2. I am a bad bad bad person for updating this story again before Captured Time, and to anyone that is reading both, I'm terribly sorry. BUT, you should know that before I started to write this little ditty, I re-wrote Chapter 5 of Captured Time. (I personally feel it flows better, and, well, is better in general.)
My only problem is that at the moment I'm having a bit of trouble capturing (no pun, eh?) Emma for Chapter 6. It's being so darn stubborn, because I have totally rethought the plot direction for the story, I've got it all in my head, I know exactly what I want, but this Chappie is giving me sooo much trouble! It just won't come out right, and it feels stilted (be prepared, this is my word of the day). So I'm going to take it really slow and see if I can coax it out. Laugh and Giggle.
…You know what? I actually had an Author's Note that concerned this story, isn't that amazing? Well, perhaps I'll get to that right now. Tee-hee.
So… One thing that I am unhappy with myself for, and don't really know how to fix, is my stilted-ness when it comes to sex in this (and probably most) of my stories. I certainly don't want to go graphic (as if I could), so the writing of such scenes may seem…stilted. (I can't really think of another word, sorry.)
Oh, and another thing. I was re-reading, and I realized that in the first chapter I started with Matt and Paige sharing a kiss, and only said 'They were so into each other that they didn't notice the front door open…', which, I know, makes it seem as though the person that walked in would only see them kiss. (Again, I'm so stilted.) Enough time really did pass for what happened to happen. I just wanted you all to know a bit more with the last chapter than just Matt and Paige kissing on her couch. Besides, I 3 cliffhangers. Bwah ha ha.
Anyway. Please review this, and any other story of mine you see fit. I greatly appreciate all feed back. Also, I would like to specially thank Maibe Josie, as she reads a lot of my stuff, and leaves me wonderfully useful reviews.
Much 3 (Wow, that was a really long note. Sorry about rambling.)
