Chapter Twenty-Two: Everything Just Got A Little More Complicated

Jesse

I pretended I hadn't heard Rex's little conversation with Alyssa the other day. Besides, it wasn't too bad, he was just making plans to see his daughter on Christmas. I can handle that.

We've already been at Andrew's for three days. Only eleven days left of vacation. So far, all Rex and I have been doing is spending time alone together. And it's not all sex either. We've been having discussions about important issues, like we used to. I feel so great to be able to have everything back to normal.

"Hey Nate," I said as I sat next to him at the table. "How are you doing?"

"Great actually. I talked to Craig last night. He said he's definitely telling his dad about us while he's home," he told me, finishing up his breakfast.

"That's good. Hey, do you want to go shopping for Christmas presents with me? I haven't exactly started at all yet," I confessed.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll ask a few other people to come too."

"Just not Marco," I warned. "Or Andrew. Or Rory…" I trailed off.

"I wasn't planning on it. Don't worry. But what about Remy?" he asked.

"Remy's fine, I don't care about him."

"Okay then. I'll see who wants to go and we'll meet you in a half hour outside," he said before walking off.

"Where are we going?" Rex asked, walking up behind me and throwing his arms around my neck. He planted a kiss on my cheek before walking toward the food heaped on the counter.

"You're not going anywhere. I'm goingChristmas shopping, and you're not allowed," I said, walking up behind him and grabbing his waist. "But I've got time for some breakfast," I told him. He turned around and kissed me, gripping my hands.

"Who needs breakfast when I've got you to taste?"

"You're right. Let's go upstairs for a bit."

Nate

I hated to admit it, but things were better without Craig around. Maybe we just needed a break from each other. I'd never tell him that though.

But I haven't taken a pill since we said goodbye to each other. Because I only need them when he's around. Bad sign?

I was just about to walk up the stairs when someone burst into the apartment.

"I'm here!" a familiar voice yelled.

"Hey Theresa," I said as I hugged her. "Looking for Remy?" I asked, closing the door and leading her into the living room.

"Hell no. Didn't you hear that he was cheating on me?" she asked, tossing her coat onto the couch.

"I meant to tell you about that…but…well…" I trailed off, unsure of what to tell her.

"You knew and you never told me?" she said, pretending to care. I could tell that she didn't.

"I would have, but none of us ever saw her…so we figured he was lying," I said.

"Her?"

"Yeah…Kelly. That was her name," I told her.

"Sweetie it wasn't a her," she said, laughing. "Kelly is a him. Kelly James…sound familiar?" she asked.

"Our chemistry teacher?" I yelled. I couldn't believe it. "I'm gonna kill him."

"Well, don't do it for me. I needed a reason to break up with him anyway.

I don't believe this! First Rex with a teacher, and now Remy?

It's understandable. I mean, Mr. James is gorgeous. Every gay guy fantasizes about being with him. Even some of the straight guys do. Well, I'm sure they would. Why does Remy get him and I get…Craig?

Marco

"What is it now?" I groaned, rolling over into Andrew. He was repeatedly poking my side.

"I can't poke my boyfriend?" he asked, smiling and giving me a quick kiss.

"Not when I'm trying to sleep," I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.

"Come on," he pouted. "I need some lovin'."

The truth is, I couldn't stop thinking about Rory since I saw him the first night we were here. Something just wasn't quite right. There was something going on with him and I was trying to figure it out.

"Earth to Marco…" Andrew said, waving his hand in front of my face. "You there?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said, snapping out of it, turning to him, and smiling.

"Well, I was thinking of getting some shopping done today. Do you want to come?" he asked, wrapping his arms around my waist and hugging my chest.

"No. I think I'll stay here and sleep," I said, yawning and kissing the top of his head.

"Okay. See you later then," he said. He gave me a quick kiss and left.

Instead of sleeping, I got up and went into the bathroom. I peed and then moved onto the mirror.

I looked into it at the person I had become. Sure, I look exactly the same, but I'm not me anymore. I used to be the Degrassi resident queer, who only depended on Dylan and basically Ellie to help me run my life. But now…now I'm the MGA resident whore, on who so many people depend to help them; to satisfy them.

I've had two boyfriends in the past few months. I've had sex with both of them. I fooled around with my roommate, creating a long-lasting friendship that didn't really last at all. And through all of it, I criticized everyone else, and acted like I was better than them. Is this the end of my transformation? Or only the beginning?

I gave up trying to 'find myself,' and left the room. I plopped back on the bed and lay there, only to realize a few seconds later that I was no longer alone. It wasn't Andrew lying next to me either; it was Rory.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked him, surprised. It was sort of a happy-surprised type of thing.

"Lying next to you," he replied, looking up at the ceiling.

I propped myself up on one elbow and looked at him. Without thinking, I reached out and brushed a hand against his cheek. I felt the wetness and pulled back.

"Why are you crying?" I asked him.

"Because I'm here. Next to you. And I can't do a thing about it," he said, still looking up.

"Why won't you look at me?" I reached over again, this time running a hand through his hair. I moved my hand down and grasped his, clinging onto him with a fear that he'd break the connection.

But he didn't.

"Because then I might try and do something about it," he finally answered.

"Then do something," I said, almost begging him.

"I can't Marco."

Here I was, being a whore again. I'm happy with Andrew, I really am. Then why am I lying here, next to my ex-boyfriend, hoping, no…praying, that he'll kiss me.

"I won't," he added.

It was me who broke the connection, pulling away, trying to distance myself from him.

"Then why are you here?" I asked, tears forming at the corners of my eyes. Don't cry, Marco. Don't cry over him. Your ex.

"Marco…" he said, breaking my thoughts apart. "We have to talk."

Rex

Jesse left, taking with him Nate, Theresa, who showed up suddenly, Thomas, and even Andrew to go shopping. Why he tolerated Andrew is beyond me. I guess he didn't have the heart to tell him no. Jesse could never say no to anyone. That's how we ended up back together.

I only have to worry about Marco and Rory, which was unlikely since they were holed up in bed together. I guess they didn't learn from my mistakes. But then again, how would they, when I have Jesse back?

And Remy left a few minutes ago, when he found out that Theresa was here and now with all the guys, including Thomas. He looked pissed.

I'm not trying to be a terrible person. How much is it to ask that I be with my boyfriend and get to see my daughter? Alyssa really means nothing to me. Of course, it was all experimental back then, but now…now I have a child. And I can't change that. I also can't just let her be raised without knowing a single thing about me; her real dad.

I wish Jesse would understand that. And I wish Alyssa would too. I also wish that I could sit down and talk to Jeff; to explain it to him. I think he'd be understanding. He's a nice guy, and I'm not sure who he would blame for it all, but I still think he wouldn't be that bad to talk to.

Andrew

I'm not so sure why I decided to tag along with Jesse. I'm pretty sure he hates me for taking 'his' man away from him. Of course, Marco wasn't even with him to begin with. And he has a boyfriend.

He kept sending me angry glares, so I left their little group and went my own way. I have to find the perfect Christmas present for Marco. He's so hard to shop for. And of course, I need to buy presents for everyone else, including Jesse. I just feel obligated.

Rory

"Thanks for telling me," Marco said, moving closer to me and holding onto my hand.

I'd just told him that I was HIV positive and he took it quite well. I thought he'd be pissed that I didn't tell him before we had sex.

"Is that why you look so horrible?" he asked, squeezing my hand. "Are you sick Rory?"

"No Marco. I just look like shit because I'm having trouble sleeping lately, that's all. I don't have AIDS. That's different. People can live their whole lives with HIV and never get sick. I just hope I'm one of those people," I explained, letting a sigh escape my lips.

"Aren't you scared?" he asked, rolling over and resting his chin on my shoulder. He was so close to me. I wanted to kiss him, but I wouldn't do that to Andrew.

"Not really, no," I said confidently.

"Who'd you get it from?" I wasn't ready for that question. Mainly because I didn't know the answer. But I didn't want Marco to be burdened with my past. I just didn't feel like getting into it.

"You should get tested Marco," I said firmly, changing the subject.

"Yeah, I guess I should, huh?" he said, pulling away from me again.

"Let's go right now. I know a good clinic in the city," I said, getting up and stretching.

"Okay, just let me get dressed."

Remy

"Why are you here?" I yelled to Theresa. I had just caught up with the little shopping group. She was walking along with all of them, her arm linked with Nate's.

I grabbed her free arm and spun her towards me when she didn't answer.

"What do you want Remy?" she spat, glaring at me. Everyone else stopped and watched our argument.

"You have no right coming to my house over break when you broke up with me!" I yelled. I didn't care that they saw. I was too pissed to care.

"You cheated on me remember? And you failed to tell your friends that Kelly is a guy, not a girl. Your teacher, might I add," she said, smirking. No one looked surprised, which means that she must have already told them. Either that or they all think I'm a total whore.

"I want you to leave Theresa. You have no right being here!"

"Look Remy, my being here doesn't even have anything to do with you. I came to see my brother!" she shouted. Brother? Since when does she have a brother?

"Oh right Reesa. Your brother. Who is it then?" I asked, sure she didn't have an answer.

"Nate's my brother you idiot!"

Nate? Okay, this makes no sense. Theresa Nuñez…Nate Harwood…still not making sense. Theresa is a gorgeous hispanic girl with dark brown hair and rich, beautiful brown eyes. Nate is a geeky, skinny little kid with light reddish/brown hair, well, chestnut colored, and green eyes. Theresa must have noticed the confused look on my face.

"Our parents are divorced stupid ass. I live with our dad and have his last name. Nate lives with our mom and has her last name. Get it now?" she asked, annoyed.

I still didn't say anything because I was letting it all sink it. So that's how she found out about me and all those guys in ninth grade. And how Nate knew that she cheated on me with Thomas in tenth grade. How could I have been with this girl for nearly five years, since eight grade, and not know that she has a brother at my school? In that moment, I realized how little I knew about her. Our relationship has always been about sex, and only sex. Even in eighth grade, when we were fourteen. That is entirely fucked up on every level.

"Now that you're done making yourself look like an idiot, you can go," she said. "I need to talk with Thomas alone anyway," she added.

I stared at her, open-mouthed. She's only gonna do that because she knows how much I hate him.

Thomas

"Can we talk?" she asked me.

"Sure." I can't believe that Remy, of all people, never knew that Nate and Theresa were brother and sister. What a dipshit.

Theresa grabbed hold of my arm and dragged me off to the side, whispering in my ear. Remy was fuming, and it made me happy.

Remy Michaels, asshole of the universe, who always had the gorgeous girl, was now jealous of me. It made me feel better about my own problems. For the time being at least.

"So," she whispered. "Let's make him really jealous. Would you kiss me and grab my breast?" she asked.

Like she even had to ask.

I nodded in astonishment.

"Don't forget to use your tongue."

I did as she asked me to. After we broke apart, Remy was on his way over. Theresa grabbed my hand and whisked me into the men's bathroom, which was right next to us. She locked the door and pushed me against the wall, kissing me hard and undoing my belt. Remy was banging on the door and yelling at both of us.

I think my dreams are about to come true.

A/N: I know Andrew's POV was short and pretty pointless, but I just wanted to add him in there. What do you think will happen with Marco at the clinic? And what do you think about Marco and Rory getting close again? I've got to admit, when I got my idea for this story, I knew exactly who Marco was going to end up with…and now, I have no clue. I never even intended him to be with Rory at all, but during the writing of a few chapters, it just happened. Anyway, I think I have a pretty good idea right now, but be warned: I'll probably change my mind! Oh and what do you think of the little scene with Thomas and Theresa? He finally has what he wants…or does he? o.O