Eleven;

The whole night ends with a blur

(Josey-Hey Monday)

Veronica had planned on being mostly quiet and reserved on the trip. But Jay nor Spinner were having it. To keep her talking they asked her everything under the sun. From her favorite color to why she's home alone a lot. They never mentioned Craig directly to her but made sure she knew they were all ears if she just wanted to talk.

"So what grade are you guys in?" Veronica asked.

"We got into some trouble last year and got expelled," Jay peeked at her in his rear view mirror, "I've got my job at Tony's but Spin here is going back for his senior year, aren't ya?"

Spinner elbowed Jay, "I'm trying to put that in the past. I tried to get Jay to come back with me but he wouldn't."

"Is Degrassi that bad?" Veronica leaned her head on the the back of Spinner's seat and looked at Jay.

Jay pulled up to the car show and found a place to park in the dirt, "School isn't my scene. This, however, is."

He put the car in park and got out. Veronica realized when she got out that what he meant by a car show was street racing. She wasn't sure where they were exactly but she recognized a few of the guys from school she never talked to milling around. Jay slung his arm lazily around her shoulder as if they had been friends forever. He pushed his sunglasses from his face up to his turned around baseball cap.

He looked to Spinner and then to Veronica, "I don't know about you two, but I could use a beer."

Spinner shrugged and Veronica had never drank before and it was something she seemed to avoid when she did attend a party. But with the luck she's been having maybe she should try something different for a change. Maybe what she thought was right wasn't working for her.

"Absolutely," Veronica said. Maybe after everything that happened with Craig this was exactly what she needed.

"See I knew you and I would get along great," Jay squeezed her shoulder lightly, "I bet the Montreal Boys would have some and I can guarantee they're here."

Jay led them directly to where he thought these guys would be. Sure enough they were exactly where Jay had thought. Spinner didn't interact with them as Jay did, he hung back and observed where as did a stereotypical 'bro' handshake with each of them before asking for a few beers.

They exchanged the beers for their company during the race. Jay made sure Veronica was comfortable with it before fully agreeing. She was fine as long as she stayed close to them. They were familiar faces to her. One of the guys brought a pickup truck for their group to tailgate in, Spinner was the first to climb in and Jay quickly followed. Veronica was hesitant until Jay offered his hand to pull her up into the truck.

"Come on," He grinned at her. His grin was much more mischievous in comparison to Craig's but not mischievous enough to alert her to stay away. It was almost in a charming and daring way, "It'll take your mind off of what a jerk Manning is."

Veronica immediately accepted his hand and let him pull her up into the truck. Spinner was already sitting on one side of the truck with one of the other guys. Spinner handed her a beer while Jay offered for her to sit next to him. She was nervous before but what Jay said reignited her heartache. It was never gone but it was just put on the back burner for the time being. Instead of tears, she was met with anger.

Veronica cracked the top of the beer can open, "You know I told him literally everything about me. He promised a lot to me and in return I learn he has a girlfriend."

"He didn't say anything to you about Ashley?" Spinner said after taking a drink.

Veronica shook her head. She had a hard time choking down the first bitter sip of her beer. She learned to accept it by the fourth drink.

"I'm not surprised," Spinner looked at Jay, "You wouldn't be the first one it's happened to. Just ask Manny Santos."

Veronica felt embarrassed, was Craig just waiting to humiliate her in front of the whole school? She responded to Spinner by chugging the rest of her beer. It shocked both Jay and Spinner when she did it.

Veronica picked at the tab, "I need another one."

"He messed you up good, didn't he?" Jay said as he passed her a fresh beer.

"He wouldn't be the first to do so," She said as she opened the can.

By the end of the night, Veronica had done her best to keep up with Spinner but she was laughable in comparison. Jay had stopped drinking a couple hours before the end of the races because he had to drive back.

"So tell me, sweetheart," Jay had to guide her back to the car, her cheeks were flushed red. She would go from talking a million miles a minute to silent like it was nothing, "Did you at least enjoy the end of your day?"

Veronica looked up at him lazily, "Yup."

When they reached Jay's car, he had to help her inside. Jay felt slightly guilty for getting her essentially trashed. Among one of the times she word vomited, she admitted to them that she hadn't drank before. But he was happy that she was no longer crying.

Spinner had fallen asleep with his head against the window leaving Veronica for Jay's only company.

"Can you take me to Craig's? I-I think I need to talk to him." Veronica finally spoke up.

"I think you need water and some sleep," Jay shook his head, "And more than likely some Advil."

"But-" Veronica started.

"You'll do something you would probably regret," Jay finished.

Veronica thought he was probably right but his word wouldn't stop her from IM'ing Craig when she got home. If she got the chance to.

"That's why I'm taking you both back to my place," Jay said, "I feel responsible for once and I don't want you to be hungover and alone."

"You don't have to do that," Veronica said softly.

"But I'm going to. First time I drank I ended up alone and it wasn't great," Jay told her.

She kept quiet for a while before thanking him for being there for her even though they hardly knew each other. They remained quiet after that until they reached Jay's small apartment. He shook Spinner awake before he got out of car. Once Spinner was out of the car, Jay helped Veronica out and led them inside. Spinner hit the couch as if he's at his own home but Veronica felt lost.

Jay showed Veronica the one and only bedroom. "You can have my bed, I'll figure something out."

She sat on his bed, "Are you sure? I can sleep on the floor in the living room if you want me to."

Jay ignored what she said while he dug through his dresser and pulled out a over-sized shirt and showed it to her, "If you want something more comfortable to wear."

She stood up to take the shirt and Jay immediately left the room so she could change. He was never this compassionate towards many people, especially newer people. But she clearly needed someone and Jay could always use a friend.