Sorry for the lateness of this new chapter. I've been working on this chapter since June 2019. Work and having no energy from my job was the major contributions to my lack of work. That being said; enjoy.

Chapter 30: Stay Free

"What do you think about this?"

Alyson looked up from the rack. She looked over a few racks and saw Shane holding up a blouse. Alyson cocked her head to the side and squinted. She put down the shirt that she was looking at and walked over to her boyfriend's best friend. She gently took the item from his hands and looked it over.

"Better. This time, you got the style choice and size right." She looked at Shane. "I'd go with a different color though. This one doesn't go with Ronnie's skin tone."

Alyson handed the blouse back to Shane without looking. She had taken a couple steps when Shane spoke up.

"True, but it really brings out the color in her eyes."

Alyson turned on the spot and looked over at Shane. She nodded to him. "You are learning young Padawan. Some day; you might use those Jedi powers for good." Shane merely made a face at her. He scratched his forehead with his middle finger.

Alyson burst out laughing; receiving a few dirty looks from other shoppers. She turned and walked back to where she was looking originally. She had to admit to herself that she was having fun.

She had found it odd to get a text early on a Saturday morning from Shane Milligan. He wanted to know what her plans were for the day. When she let him know that she wasn't going to be with Gabe or Ronnie that day (they were away on a family weekend); Shane jumped at the chance. He asked her if it was possible to meet at the main shopping district later that morning. She checked with her mother; who gave her permission and suggested that Alyson get an early start on her Christmas shopping. She had to admit that getting started on this would be a great idea. Alyson admitted this to Shane and agreed to go.

Shane was happy about this. He let Alyson know that he was trying to get a few people together to do the same thing. He figured that it might be fun to do something that wasn't with the Mason children. Alyson was somewhat apprehensive to this idea.

Still, she said that she would meet up and decided to make a day of it. She had breakfast with her parents and then took a quick shower. She slipped on a pair of gray thermals to protect her from the cold. Alyson then slipped on a pair of torn-up blue jeans and combat boots. She threw on a Descendents t-shirt and grabbed Gabe's hoodie (she took it from his locker on a warmer day and never returned it). She left the house and ended up catching a bus to the shopping center.

She stood outside the shopping area for about an hour. She had a smoked a few cigarettes and kept an eye out for anyone she recognized. It was a chilly morning; so, she pulled the hood up to try to keep her half-frozen ears warm. She was about to head to the bus stop and call it a wasted day; when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned around and was surprised to run into Jeremy Kerwin.

Jeremy, or Jem as he was known by; was a pretty cool guy. He was tall with a solid build. He had long brown hair that seemed to have its own natural curl. Jem had blue eyes that looked like a clear summer sky, which were hard to see behind the dark sunglasses he was wearing. He was well dressed (as usual) in a nice heavy sweater and khakis; with a stylish pair of boots to finish the ensemble. Throw in that he knew how to play the guitar and he was very charming.

"Thought that was you Ally." He smiled at her. "What are you doing here, waiting on your boyfriend?"

Alyson had to take a breath. She let out a laugh that sounded louder than usual. "Gabe? No, he's out of town this weekend."

Jem nodded at her. "Early Christmas shopping?"

Alyson felt her cheeks warm up a bit. "Yeah. Meeting up with some friends and we're just making a day of it."

Jem just nodded again. "My mom and I were just getting a few things. We should be all done now." As if on cue, Ashley Kerwin was just behind her son. She looked fairly similar to her days at Degrassi, but there was an air of arrogance to her.

"Jem, who is this? One of your friends at that community school?"

Jem rolled his eyes and turned to his mother. "If I recall, it was the same school that you went to when you were my age."

Ashley put on a fake smile. "Of course, I didn't have much choice back then. Then I experienced the world."

Jem turned and began to introduce Alyson. "Mom, this is Alyson Manning. We're in the same music class together."

Ashley took a long look at Alyson. Alyson started to feel really self-conscious under Ashley's gaze. It was the words that Ashley said next that caused a chill to cut through Alyson.

"Manning. You wouldn't happen to be Craig Manning's daughter, would you?" Ashley watched Alyson again, feeling Ashley's stare go right through her.

"Yes ma'am, he is." Alyson gave an involuntary shudder at Jem's mother. Ashley merely nodded and continued to watch Alyson, as if judging her. Ashley smirked and turned to her son.

"Come Jem, we need to be somewhere else at this time." She turned away from Alyson with her nose in the air; the sound of high heel boots click-clacking on the sidewalk. Jem turned to Alyson, offering a quick apology about his mother. He took off after her; stepping in line behind his mother. She watched the two of them walk off to the tram line, completely stunned at the exchange. Jem was a real laid-back type of guy; his mother was the complete opposite to him. She didn't have much time to ponder this, as Shane had found her moments later.

The two hit several stores, making purchases as they went. Shane had apologized on being late; he stated that he was trying to find others to come out and go shopping. They all had stated that they couldn't or had other plans that day. It didn't really bother Alyson too much; she could complete her shopping with little issue.

Shane had found a few items and headed towards the registers. Alyson had followed a moment later, not finding anything in particular. Shane paid for his items and he suggested that they get lunch. Alyson nodded, finding herself quite hungry. They found an eatery in the food court and found a table. Shane was happily munching on his food; Alyson was just picking at hers.

"Not hungry punk rock girl?"

Alyson looked up at her companion, snapping out of her own thoughts.

"Starving actually."

Shane looked at her puzzled. "You could've fooled me."

Alyson took a bite of her meal. "It's not that. Hell, I could have finished that burger and fries that you're enjoying right now and still finish my meal."

Shane snickered. "Yeah right." He tossed a few fries in his mouth. "I know when a woman is thinking serious about something. You want to share or is it too private? Something about that boyfriend of yours?"

Alyson sighed. She knew Shane and knew that deep down, he wasn't a bad guy. He was rough around the edges, but was a decent person once you took the time to get to know him.

"Did I tell you I saw Jem Kerwin here while I was waiting for you?"

Shane cocked his head to the side. "Jem Kerwin…" He took a drink. "Yeah, that tall kid in your music class with the long curly hair. Dresses like he's some preppy at the wrong school."

Alyson smiled. "Yeah, that's him."

"What about him?"

Alyson shook her head. "I met his mother today too."

"Any resemblance?"

Alyson nodded. "That's not what I'm getting at." Shane motioned for her to continue. "He's a real down-to-earth guy. His mother though…"

"Real bitch?"

"Elegant."

Shane shrugged. "So? He's nice and the mom's a bitch. I used to feel the same way about my mom there for a while. Things change." He took a bite of the burger. He finished chewing and continued. "So, she took a look at you and didn't like you or something?"

"Shane, she stared right through me. Like I was beneath her."

"Wow." Shane blinked. "Never thought some rich bitch could actually rattle the punk princess of Degrassi." Alyson glared at Shane while he chuckled. "Oh, come on, you don't rattle that easy. Didn't you just clobber Ogre Morgan with a folding chair the other week?"

Alyson threw her hands in the air. "He was trying to take advantage of those two freshman girls. It was the only thing I could think of using to stop him."

"It was admirable." Shane said laughing. "You gave time for those girls to run and you stood your ground. Most people would've run, but you stared him down."

"I would've broken his nose if my boyfriend didn't clothesline him." Alyson grumbled. "But it was just weird. I mentioned my last name and she got even colder."

"You have somewhat famous parents." Shane motioned with his drink. "Your dad; while now a music teacher, was a singer in the public eye. Your mom is a world-renown journalist. You have a last name that carries some weight. Maybe she didn't like something your mom reported on."

Alyson shrugged. She took a couple more bites of her meal. She mulled this over as she enjoyed the bites she took. Maybe Shane had a couple of good points. She swallowed and looked at her companion.

"It's strange."

"The fact that you and I are sitting here having lunch?" Shane replied.

"Well, that is part of it." Alyson smiled. "The truth of the matter is that you and I are sitting here; having a decent time and conversation. You really have changed from when I first met you."

Shane chuckled. "I guess it took a good influence to get me to see what I really was." Shane stopped for a moment; as in deep thought. "I have to admit; I really didn't like who I was or becoming. I guess I'm too similar to my dad."

Alyson looked confused; causing Shane to continue. "My dad was kind of a dick when he was my age. You know the type; alpha male jock type of person. I was heading that path and not caring about a damn thing. Dad was the same way; until he met my mom. They met in senior year after mom got over this Sav guy. They started to hang out and dad really fell head over heels in love with her. Well, she wants to join the army. She needed to get into shape and dad was there the entire time, getting her ready. She never forgot that it was all of his hard work that got her in the service. She was in boot and had to do two years before she could get out. She wrote to dad all of the time; thanking him for what he did, really helping her achieve her goals. They kept in contact all that time."

"What about your dad?"

Shane continued. "He was playing hockey for some of the Indy leagues in Toronto. He would've gone to the professional level too. Instead, he decided that training the youth was the way to go. He went to college and majored in teaching and physical education. He came back to get a job at school and he's been there ever since. He's pretty damn good at his job."

Alyson nodded. She spent a year under Coach Milligan. She had gotten in better shape than she ever had. She even kept up doing some of the exercises that she learned at home. She smiled at Shane. "So, they ended up getting together after her first stint?"

"Pretty much." Shane answered. "Mom wanted to stay in the service and dad wanted to keep teaching. They ended up making things work for a while. I came along and things got tense. Mom took off and focused all of her time on being the army girl she became."

"No need to bring up bad blood." Alyson interrupted. "I'm familiar with that part. So, what was your change? What caused it?"

"Besides Gabe and you?"

Alyson nodded.

"Ronnie." Shane admitted. "We connected that afternoon after her assault on Lizzie Coyne. We went on that one date and I was smitten. No other girl caught my attention or was appealing as Ronnie."

Alyson smiled. "She's something else."

"Yeah, she is." Shane barely smiled. "Which makes us dating a bit difficult."

Alyson looked at Shane in confusion. "This is new. Could you define difficult?"

"When we had dinner that Saturday, she was asking me questions beforehand."

Alyson snorted. "We all have questions." She took a sip from her drink.

"About fucking Tricia Parker."

This caused Alyson to do a spit take. Luckily, she missed Shane. "Are you kidding me?"

Shane shook his head. "Not just that, but she's been trying to get me to have sex with her. This has been going on for the last two weeks."

Alyson was wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Constantly?"

"Everyday. When we're alone, she's trying to do anything she can to have sex with me."

Alyson appeared embarrassed. She cleared her throat. "You're kidding me."

"Wish I was." Shane replied. "Let's put it this way; I know how a girl feels when her boyfriend is constantly pressuring them for sex. It's kind of a pain."

"I'm going out with the wrong Mason." Alyson whispered, causing Shane to look at her confused. She cleared her throat again. "I wouldn't know; Gabe and I don't have that problem." She shuddered as she continued. "Why are you telling me this?"

Shane looked meekly at her. "I'm in over my head here. I don't know what to do and I can't go to Gabe about this. In the past: I'd go to Jimmy or one of the other guys and I know their answer on this."

Alyson looked at Shane confused. "So, what do you want me to do?" Shane looked at her pleadingly. It was at that moment, that it clicked in Alyson's mind why it was just the two of them out and about today. He needed some insight on his situation and talking to Alyson about it could help him. She quickly stood up.

"Shane, wow. I'm not sure that I'm the person that you should be talking about on this…"

Shane gently grabbed Alyson's hands. He looked at her; his eyes saying it all. I need help and I don't know what to do."

"Look, part of today was a sinister motive." Shane was practically begging her to take her seat. "Yeah, I needed to do some Christmas shopping. That wasn't total bullshit. I got to hang out with you and we really did have fun." He sighed. "I just really needed an opinion that wasn't the answers that I usually get. Please Alyson, can you help me?"

Alyson looked back at him. She felt for Shane, being in a similar situation. She wanted to be with her man, but it had been difficult. She didn't want to pressure Gabe like Ronnie was pressuring Shane. It was the tell in his eyes; the sincerity.

"Fuck." Alyson sighed as she sat down. "I'll tell you what I think you should do; only if you help me." Shane nodded and Alyson sighed again. "Well…"

So a chapter without the Masons. Weird.

Actually, I find a change in the writing process welcoming. You can take out the fun parts of a story and make new fun parts. At least, that's what I hoped for.

I had a lot of fun writing for these two. They are characters that really just write themselves. While Gabe and Ronnie are major parts of my personality; Alyson is probably the closest to the real me. She's no-nosense, says what's on her mind, punk rock chick with the mouth of a sailor.

I'm just not a chick.

I'm glad that people are still finding this story and are reading it; at least the first chapter. I started this story way back in 2012. Here it is eight years later and people are still checking it out. It may not be an insane number, but damn it; Thanks.

All I ask is that you push past the first couple of chapters. I've developed as a writer and later chapters I feel are better overall. I'll let you guys be the judge of that.

In the meantime, I'm hoping to continue with updating this story more than once a year. I've got a few ideas for Bits and Pieces as well. Stay Tuned.

Stay safe and be excellent to each other.