XXIV. I Can't Get Next To You
I Can't Get Next To You is the property of the Temptations.
I can turn a gray sky blue
I could make it rain if I wanted to
I can build a castle from a single grain of sand
I can make a ship sail honey, on dry land
Unhappy am I baby
With all the powers I possess
You're the key to my happiness woman
I can't get next to you
Baby
I can fly like a bird up in the sky
I can buy the things baby, that money can buy
I can turn a river into a raging fire
I can live forever baby, if I so desire
Unhappy am I baby
With all the powers I possess
Girl, you're the key to my happiness
I can't get next to you
Oh baby
I can't get next to you girl
Baby
I can turn back the hands of time
You better believe I can
I can make the seasons change baby, just by waving my hand
I can turn everything from old to new
The one thing I want to do the most honey
Is impossible for me to do
Unhappy am I baby
With all the powers I possess
You got the key to my happiness
I can't get next to you
I got to have your love
Baby
I can't get next to you
I got to have your love
Oh baby
Sean flips on the electric saw, cutting into a nice strip of mahogany. The sound causes Jay, sitting in a car Sean had just attended, wearing sunglasses, his feet propped up on the steering wheel, to roll his eyes. Alex, next to him, pops her chewing gum with her tongue. He turns the saw off, grabs the measuring tape.
"You've been playing with wood all day, Sean," says Jay, lifting his sunglasses. "What type of wood is that?"
"Mahogany, a.k.a. rich people's wood," answers Sean. "Someone gave me some extra from a wardrobe I helped build."
"Wood," chuckles Jay.
Alex hits him with her rolled up jacket. "You are so immature," she says.
"But seriously, you've been here a lot," says Jay. "Do you ever go home?"
Sean hangs his head. He really didn't want anyone to know Emma had left him, or why. After seeing the drama that accompanied Craig and Ashley in the last few weeks, he hoped to avoid the same questions, commentaries, whisperings. At that point, Snake and Spike probably knew, and Manny as well, but he could live with that. He was sure those three wouldn't hate him.
"Just got work to do," replies Sean. "Moving the projects to the garage helps, though."
What isn't helping is that throwing himself into work wasn't solving anything. Ellie had shrewdly gotten her car on a day where Merl was the only one working, so Sean couldn't see her then. Now, work and the case were most likely occupying all her time. And he couldn't talk to Emma without first talking to Ellie. Emma's right, he thinks. He owes her the truth, whatever the truth is.
"Okay, so I'm bored enough to ask you what you're working on," says Jay.
"Nothing special," says Sean.
That's a lie. He'd been thinking about working on it for weeks. He just recently found the courage.
"Forget that," says Alex, hopping out of the car. "I want to know the real reason you're always here. Trouble in the world of blonde that wants to save every baby seal?"
"Leave him alone, Lexi," mumbles Jay.
"Because I told you not to marry that tofu terror," continues Alex. "Said she'd make you wear hemp clothes and ride a whale to work if she could to protect the ozone layer. But no, you went and did it, and now you're miserable."
"Alex, come on," grumbles Jay. "She's hot."
"Ellie is way, way, two thousand infinity way hotter," says Alex. "She's smart, funny, sweet. And now she's single."
"We're not picking out a girl for you, alright?" says Jay. "Sean, tell her everything's fine."
Sean coughs, starts inspecting the cut he made.
"A ha!" exclaims Alex, smiling at Jay. "I knew it."
"Dude," mutters Jay, sitting up and staring at Sean. "Spill."
"No...no," protests Sean. "Guys, just..."
"Sean, we're your friends. Hear to lend an ear," interrupts Alex.
"And mock," adds Jay, smiling at Sean.
"Be supportive,' says Alex.
"But mainly to mock," says Jay.
Sean drops the measuring tape and massages his head. Maybe talking to someone would help. At least Jay and Alex would be somewhat sympathetic.
"A few weeks ago, I came home to Emma just before midnight," starts Sean.
"What was she wearing?" asks Jay.
Alex throws a dirty look at him.
"Just trying to get the visual," defends Jay. "Go on."
"Well, the two days before, I spent with Ellie. And Emma...didn't take it well."
Alex smiles broadly, but Jay looks a bit puzzled.
"Did you guys like...do anything?" asks Jay.
"No...we almost kissed, though. Stop smirking, Alex."
Alex puts a hand over her mouth to hide her smile.
"Just so you know, I care about them both, okay? Emma's basically waiting on me to decide what to do. The thing is I can't even start thinking."
"What's to think about?" exclaims Alex, taking her hand down. "I understand all that stuff...the until death do you part thing. But can you honestly tell me that you can let Ellie go?"
"I can't...that's the thing," says Sean, kicking the tire of the parked car.
"Hmm, here's what you gotta do," starts Jay.
"Like he's going to take advice from the Ravine Rat," says Alex. "Just drop the blonde."
"Let me speak my piece. Okay, first you ditch the wood, even though I haven't used my best wood jokes yet. Then, you find Ellie, and you kiss the girl, just like that movie says. See if there's anything there."
"What movie?" says Alex.
"The one with the crab that talks...the one with the hot fish."
"Wow!" exclaims Alex, giggling. "You watched a Disney movie?"
"Hey, shut up! I was eight...and bored."
"I think I'm going to choke on my gum!" says Alex, laughing more hysterically.
Jay gets out of the car, starts tickling Alex. They aren't paying attention to him anymore, so he considers Jay's advice. He did want to see her again, and Emma gave him the okay. Not to kiss her, but to at least discover if the feelings were still as strong. Packing up his stuff, he turns to Jay and Alex, who have finished their horseplay.
"I don't know where to find her," says Sean.
"You heard the man," says Alex, punching Jay in the gut. "The movies. I think I know which one."
II.
Emma peers from behind two scantily clad women in line, seeing a large, tattooed man letting a few people behind a velvet rope. She's modestly scanty, letting Manny dress her up in a sleeveless, sparkly red top and a white miniskirt with a gold belt. Manny told her Nicole Richie wore a similar outfit to a Hollywood club, but Emma had to ask her who Nicole Richie was and by then it was too late; the outfit was on, and Manny was pulling her to Inferno, Toronto's hottest club.
Manny starts dancing, shaking her hips to the beat as booming music from inside wafts to their ears. She wears a short, hot pink dress and matching shoes.
"We're not inside yet," says Emma, covering her face in embarassment.
"You dance whenever the door opens," says Manny, stopping when the door shuts. "It gets your blood pumping."
"I can't believe you got me to do this," murmurs Emma.
"What? You look hot. The track is blazing, as Chris says. And it'll be really hard for you to think when the music's pounding in your head," says Manny.
Emma sighs, glances down the line. To her surprise, she can see Derek, in a blazer and jeans, and Darcy, in a spangly green top and tight pants, pushing through people to get to her and Manny. Darcy screams happily, and hugs her.
"You're alive!" squeals Darcy. "Ugh, please come back to work."
"Seriously," agrees Derek. "With you and Ash gone, they hired this temporary replacement that's a total wench."
"She said I needed a geography lesson. Can you imagine that?" cries Darcy, reapplying some lipstick.
Manny snorts behind Emma's back. Emma thought that was a wise piece of advice, but yeah, she missed her job, including being with the two of them, something she never thought was possible.
"What are you two doing here?" asks Emma.
"I called in reinforcements," explains Manny. "We only need..."
Before Manny can finish, Emma sees a hand wave in her face. J.T. Emma claps, jumps up and down.
"I haven't seen you in like...," begins Emma.
"A century," says J.T., hugging her. "I know. I know. I stop by when I can."
"Which is never enough," interjects Manny. "Okay, rule for tonight is to not mention the S-word, mkay?"
"Well, I don't really use profanity so that's easy for me," says Darcy.
"Not that word," says Manny, rolling her eyes. "The S-word I told you over the phone."
Darcy nods, seems to get it.
Manny grabs Emma's hand and they head towards the bouncer, who is reading a clipboard. The bouncer frowns at them, looks skeptical.
"Name?" he says.
"Hello? Manny Santos, star of every popular romantic teen comedy in the last few years, though I've done some more mature parts. Anyway, I think it's pretty obvious who I am. And this is my entourage."
The bouncer eyes her, then grins. "You played a sorority girl in the police force! I loved that one!"
Manny nods exuberantly, then yells at the people behind them. "Sequel's in theatres in December!"
They cheer wildly, as the bouncer lets them past the velvet rope.
"Enjoy yourself. I've got to tell my wife I met Manny Santos!" says the bouncer as they head in.
"Love ya," says Manny, blowing him a kiss.
Manny was right about the music. As soon as they enter, Emma can't hear anything else, think about anything serious. J.T. puts an arm around her, smiles. In their company, she almost feels thirteen again, without any cares in the world.
Don't dance, we just pull up our pants
And do the rockaway,
now lean back, lean back, lean back, lean back
(Come on!)
"Woot!" exclaims Manny, bumping Darcy with her butt. "Lean back, baby!"
"An oldie, but a goodie," compliments Derek, nodding his head to the beat.
J.T. starts rapping along with the lyrics, while Manny runs to the bar and orders martinis all around. Before Emma knows it, a cute waiter appears with their drinks.
"Some service," says Emma, sipping hers, enjoying it.
"Go to the right clubs and doors open for you," assures Manny. "Now a toast to staying in touch, keeping it real..and..."
"And living through Degrassi," adds J.T., raising his glass.
"I'll drink to that," says Emma, as they all clink glasses. "Surviving Degrassi should be a reality show or something."
"Maybe I could film it?" says a voice behind her.
Emma looks over her shoulder, her mouth falling open.
"Peter?" she says, her glass nearly falling.
Peter chuckles, hugs her. "Hey. I've never seen you guys in here. I come here most weekends."
"It's our first time," explains Manny.
"You look good, Em," says Peter, beaming at her.
"Manny's doing," says Emma. "I look like a scrub most days."
"Nah, I've seen some of your broadcasts. You always look good," compliments Peter. "You want to dance?"
Emma shakes her head, laughs nervously. "Me and rap music? Not good. Just ask Chris Sharpe."
"Aww, go ahead, Em," nudges Manny. "I'm about to embarrass J.T. on the dance floor anyway. He'll take all the focus off of you."
J.T. raises his eyebrow. "What?"
Manny puts her glass down, then J.T.'s, and she guides him to the dance floor. She starts to shimmy to the rhythm, and indeed, J.T. can hardly keep up, starts doing something like the Electric Slide. Derek twirls Darcy, and they start to dance as well.
"Just one dance. I probably have equally bad rhythm," says Peter.
Emma puts her drink on the bar, his hand in his. They're at a safe distance from each other, begin to sway to the music.
"Go Emma! Go Emma!" chants J.T, Manny, and Derek circling them.
"It's your birthday! It's your birthday!" yells Darcy.
Emma laughs, continues to dance, glances up into Peter's eyes. They're just as blue and captivating as she remembers, the eyes that convinced her to have a secret relationship with him. He places a hand on her hip, starts to groove with her. Emma brushes some hair out of her eye, looks awkwardly down, then up again. His eyes aren't Sean's, she thinks. They just aren't.
"I'm sorry," she says to Peter. "I'm sorry."
She brushes past the club goers, heads for the exit, finally breathes in the cool night air. Going to a street corner, she lets tears fall down her nose into an open, smoky grate. The smoke bothers her eyes, so she turns away. After a few seconds, she feels a hand on her shoulder, and through her blurry vision she can see Manny.
"I can't do this, Manny," says Emma. "I don't understand why it's taking this long. What am I doing wrong?"
"Shhh, you aren't doing anything wrong," says Manny, smoothing her hair. "It's okay. I'll take you wherever."
"Not home," begs Emma, crying more intensely. "I can't..."
"I got you, Em. No matter what, I've got you."
III.
Ashley had felt her phone vibrate all through the drive to her mother's, but she was too depressed to answer it. Ellie cutting again? She lays her head against the carseat, hoping that will stop the throbbing. When she and Craig were in the woods, she didn't think it would cause all of this. Believing in some miracle, she thought Ellie would understand, that Jimmy would yell at her but understand nevertheless. Custody battles, cutting, and Craig ditching her didn't cross her mind.
Kate gives her a warm smile as she pulls into the driveway. They get out of the car, and Ashley's surprised to see the living room light is on.
"I thought Jeff was at a convention," says Ashley, as Kate unlocks the door.
"He is," says Kate, winking at her.
When Ashley enters the room, she immediately grins, viewing her father, Chris, and Toby smiling at her. Toby's model wife also sits by her husband, Toby's arm around her.
Robert Kerwin stands, and wraps his arms around his daughter.
"How you holding up, kiddo?" he asks.
"Pretty well considering," replies Ashley. "I'm so glad you guys are here! What, Toby? Microsoft didn't need you anymore?"
"Ah, they can survive without me for a little while," says Toby, getting up and hugging Ashley.
"Hola, Estella," greets Ashley.
Toby's wife looks relieved, a greeting she can finally recognize.
"Hola!" replies Estella.
Chris also comes over for a hug.
"Well, at least you look stunning on camera," he says.
Ashley's face reddens. "Nah," she says.
"How's Craig?" asks Robert, glancing down for a quick second as Whistler circles his feet.
Ashley frowns, but Kate quickly interjects, offers everyone some wine. They agree, and head for the kitchen. Whistler follows them. Ashley hangs around her mother as she uncorks the wine.
"Thanks," whispers Ashley.
Kate nods. "No problem."
"And thanks for bringing Dad and Chris here. Toby too. The more people I know that care about me the better I feel."
"You're still not taking those stress pills, are you?" asks Kate. "The ones you took when you were first starting out at the station?"
Ashley scrunches up her face, not wanting to lie to her mother.
"I know, I know. I worry too much," says Kate. "I'll leave you alone for tonight. Let's enjoy your father, Chris, and Toby. Estella, well, I guess I get to try out my Spanish."
"Yeah, no distractions," says Ashley, putting her cell on the kitchen table. "I need to go wash up, though."
Kate walks over and starts pouring the wine into glasses for everyone. Casting a quick look over to them, Ashley grabs her purse, heads towards the bathroom. Taking out the pill bottle, she pulls out two tablets, gets a plastic cup filled with water, and swallows the pills.
A part of herself thinks she deserves this. Being with Craig is making her ex-best friend cut. Choosing to marry Jimmy was hurting everyone, including Jimmy. She just wanted to do the right thing. What is the right thing?
IV.
Craig walks slowly to the door of his studio, fumbles with the key when opening it. The alcohol has put him off a bit, but he had the sense not to go back to the house. Their house. Seeing the doused candles, the Monopoly board they didn't clean up, the bed they made love in would just pound in the emotional rollercoaster of the day. Then he realizes they'd spent a lot of time in the studio too, her singing to what he thought was only him, her sleeping on the sofa bed. Why hadn't she picked up her phone yet? Was she that mad at him? Probably, he thinks. He lays his head against the door of the studio in defeat.
Suddenly, the door opens, and he falls on the floor.
"Another drunken night, Craig?" says a voice above him.
Craig stares upward. Mickey. Part of him wants to stay on the floor.
He stands, brushing off his pants. "When did you get in?"
"Tonight, when you were apparently kicking back a few. You smell."
"You should talk," mumbles Craig, plopping down on the sofa.
Mickey sits down on the sofa with him. "I'll ignore that comment."
"Why are you here?" asks Craig.
"Damage control," says Mickey. "That Tokyo thing. People can forgive drunken stupidness, Craig, but pushing a girl? I did my best to cover it up, but that Arrow woman's got the Midas touch or something because she found out about it. We gotta do a press conference tomorrow."
"What?" exclaims Craig. "I have to go to court tomorrow."
"No, you don't," says Mickey. "You've already testified. I doubt the judge is going to let you back in, especially after the whole Ellie thing. You can't just yell in court and not expect it to have consequences. Cool your head."
"Ashley needs me," says Craig, sternly. "I'm going."
"To do what, Craig? Sit on the court steps all day? Here's what you do. We'll do the press conference in the morning and I'll have you back before the court session ends for the day. You can be her emo Romeo as soon as the door opens and she comes out."
Craig shakes his head. "I don't need any stupid damage control. The fans...they're supportive, it seems."
"Uh, that's because I've been protecting you from the bad," says Mickey, going over to his briefcase and taking out a mound of paper. "You think everyone likes that you're going after a married woman?"
Mickey tosses the paper in his lap, and Craig starts to read. He sighs as his eyes find each inflammatory word. Adulterer, homewrecker, jerk, and those were the nicer ones. They threatened to stop buying his albums, attend his shows.
"I don't...," begins Craig, his brow sweating.
"You don't care?" interrupts Mickey. "Judging by that face, I think you do. And I know I care, or else I wouldn't have hopped on a helicopter to come here. Craig, both our careers are riding on this. I've got other acts, but you're what's getting me the income. We can clear all this up in a flash. If you really want a home with Ashley, you'll need money, right? That's what that Arrow woman was arguing. What a witch, by the way. In any case, now's the time to show everyone that you're down for the count, that you're a good guy. You gonna pass that up?"
Craig bangs his forehead. "You'll get me back here tomorrow afternoon? You swear?"
"I swear," says Mickey. "Okay, let's head to the airport. The conference is in Vancouver. I already got a fresh change of clothes for you."
"Not from Robertia?" says Craig, wincing.
"Yeah, Robertia. What's wrong with that?"
Craig didn't push it any further. He has too many other things whirling around in his mind. They reach the airport in record time, and Craig boards the helicopter. The pilot, chewing an apple, waves to him as Craig and Mickey take their seats.
"Is this thing safe?" asks Craig.
"Of course," assures Mickey. "Pete, take her up."'
Craig pulls out his phone, starts to dial Kate's.
"No cellphones, sir," yells Pete over the sound of the propellor.
"But...," says Craig.
"You heard the man," says Mickey, putting Craig's phone into his briefcase.
As the helicopter takes off, Craig glances out of the window, at the planes, the trees, the lights. It's all so small. The biggest image in his mind, however, is the woman he left behind.
V.
A werewolf scratches a teenage girl's leg before she and her boyfriend climb to the safety of the tree. Ellie rolls down her car window, chews her popcorn thoughtfully. On the movie screen, the werewolf begins slamming into the tree. Usually, she does a running commentary on the movie in her head, part of being in the film business, but tonight, her eyes are glazed over, and tears coat the popcorn kernels as frequently as the butter. She rubs her red eyes, keeping them focused on the screen. The girl and her boyfriend start to scream, as the werewolf has somehow managed to break the tree in half. It advances to the girl, who her boyfriend hides behind.
Suddenly, there's a tap on the other window. Ellie screams, jumps, a few kernels falling on the seat as she raises the bag.
"Sorry," says Sean, his voice carrying so that she can hear him from her window. "I'm...so...sorry."
Ellie beams, rolls down the other window so she can hear him better.
"Hey...that's okay," says Ellie.
"Mind if...," starts Sean.
"No," says Ellie, unlocking the door. "Come in."
Sean slips in, closes the door behind him. Ellie thinks back to their recent Wasaga trip and smiles. He'd taken such good care of her. And then the almost kiss. But she had so much trouble facing him after it. When she went to pick up her car, she did want to see him, but she figured he would and should be the one to find her. And he has, she thinks, glancing happily at him.
"The movies, huh?" says Sean, awkwardly.
"Yeah, they're my escape," says Ellie. "Why do you think I got into this business?"
"Free Mallomars?" jokes Sean.
Ellie laughs. "Twizzlers are where it's at."
Sean grins, pulls a pack of Twizzlers from his jacket pocket. Ellie blushes, thanks him, and takes them. They both stare at the screen.
"What is this mess?" asks Sean.
"Some lame movie they always show at drive-ins," says Ellie. "I already forgot the title."
"This has to be the last drive-in in the entire country."
"They're romantic...and classy. And good for girls who have had horrible days."
"How horrible?"
Ellie closes her eyes, hugs her small popcorn to her chest.
"I had to say I was a cutter in front of fifty people, and now the whole world knows. Days of privacy...completely gone."
"What?" whispers Sean. "Wow. I'm sorry you had to go through that, El."
Ellie opens her eyes. "And I get to take the stand tomorrow. What a lucky girl I am."
Onscreen, the boyfriend runs wildly in the woods after the werewolf claws his girl to death.
"This movie's so lame," says Ellie, laughing a little. "At least I'm not thinking about anything serious when I watch it."
"Why doesn't he use the gun around his belt and shoot it?" says Sean.
"Because that would require sense, which teenagers don't have in these type of horror movies," says Ellie.
"Fair enough," laughs Sean. "But I guess even we don't have the best sense sometimes."
"No...no, we don't."
Ellie stares into his eyes, the screams of the boyfriend filling her ears. Sean stares back, puts his hand on her cheek.
"Sometimes it makes complete sense," whispers Ellie.
"Sometimes it doesn't," whispers Sean, leaning in, his lips inches from her lips.
Just then, a horn blasts, and they're both illuminated by the headlights of a car. A man in a leather jacket gets out of the car, and walks over to Ellie's window.
"This is my space," he says, crossing his arms.
"Who says?" says Sean, getting out of the car.
"I say," replies the man.
"I was here first," says Ellie, joining Sean by his side.
"Vinnie, leave them alone," calls a woman from the man's car.
"Theresa, quiet!" yells the man. "I'm talking to Eminem and Fiona Apple here!"
"Fiona Apple!" exclaims Ellie. "I know you're not talking, Danny Zuko!"
"Danny Zuko?" says Vinnie, a confused look on his face.
"Guy from Grease!" yells Theresa.
"Shut up!" shouts Vinnie. "Move your car, and I'll slam my fist in your face, buddy."
Sean nudges Ellie to the side. Ellie's heart begins to race, and she's hoping they can solve this without it coming to blows. Theresa glances at her, appears to be enjoying the spectacle. Ellie rolls her eyes.
"I'll pay you for the spot," offers Sean, taking out his wallet.
Ellie is grateful Vinnie seems to be considering this.
"How much?" questions Vinnie.
"Twenty-five bucks," says Sean.
"Mmmm, okay," says Vinnie. "That'll get me popcorn, cola, nachoes...yeah, that's good."
Sean hands him the money, and Vinnie gets in, backs up, finds another spot. Ellie laughs, hugs Sean.
"That was classic," giggles Ellie.
"Eminem and Fiona Apple," laughs Sean, rubbing her back as they hug. "Some people are straight up freaks."
"And some people are straight up crystal clear," says a voice to their left.
They pull out of the hug, and face the speaker. Emma. Manny stands awkwardly beside her, Slurpee in hand.
"This is a bad type of convenient," mutters Manny, taking a slurp.
"Emma...we were just...," says Sean.
"Enjoying the movie? That's what we came to do too," interrupts Emma.
"In my limo," adds Manny. "It's the pink one."
Ellie glances at a long, pink limo parked near the concession stand. They must've pulled up in the last few minutes. It looked like a moving bottle of Pepto Bismol.
Sean appears taken aback by Emma's clothing, but Ellie guesses he decides to say nothing.
"We went clubbing," explains Manny.
"And I was still crying over you," says Emma, wiping her eyes, which were covered in glitter. "Meanwhile, you're here with her. About to kiss...on a date!"
"Emma, I can explain," says Sean.
"Don't bother. I suppose no one believes in marriage anymore. Not Ashley, not Jimmy, and definitely not you, Sean."
Emma takes off her wedding ring, puts it in Sean's hand.
"Since it means nothing, you can have it back," says Emma, her eyes shining. "I'm going back to work, getting on with my life, forgetting about you."
Emma starts to walk away, Manny staring angrily at Sean as she walks with her.
"This is all screwed up," says Sean, a tear falling down his face.
"Should I leave?" asks Ellie, another scream coming from the screen.
"Yeah...yeah, I think you should," answers Sean.
He walks down another road, the road Emma didn't take. Ellie gets back in her car, then heads towards her house. The look on Emma's face. Why did it keep replaying in her mind, like it was rewinding, then playing, rewinding, then playing? Was it because she could understand how she felt? Ellie blocks that out of her mind after a minute or two. It would require more thought than she was prepared for.