Finallly! Been awhile and you've been so patient! New chapter, with notes at the end!
Chapter 31: Out of the Blue.
"And here is the pass. Pass to Werzner; who shoots… Score!"
Gabe rolled his eyes and groaned as he leaned back onto the couch. He sat back up and grabbed the bowl of popcorn from the coffee table. He tossed a few pieces into his mouth and grumbled. He heard his mother laugh from the kitchen.
"Ma, this isn't funny."
Jane took a drink from her glass. She smiled at him and put the glass down. "Gabriel, you're just like your father. You root for the Jays or the Leaves; knowing that they haven't won a championship in years."
"This has got to be their year." Gabe grumbled. This caused Jane to laugh harder. Gabe glared at her; which she smiled back at him.
"Ever the optimist." Jane commented.
This caused Gabe to smile. "You better believe it." He turned his attention back to the game when he heard a knock on the door. Jane made to move towards the door, but Gabe got up and stopped her. Jane smiled at her son as he made it to the door.
"Hey Shane." Gabe smiled as he opened the door. "You here to see Ronnie?"
Gabe backed away from the door to let his friend in. Shane entered the home, taking off his leather jacket. Gabe took the jacket and hung it up.
"Actually, I'm early." Gabe offered him a spot on the couch. "I was supposed to get Ronnie in about half an hour. My parents kind of chased me out of the house." Shane shrugged. "I guess they have some lost time to make up for…"
"I doubt that." Gabe commented. "Knowing you, you were getting antsy and they got tired of you pacing the house."
Shane grinned at Jane and Gabriel as he spoke. "Actually, my dad said something to the effect of get out so Anya and I can have some quality time." Jane snickered as Shane finished.
"I'll give Owen credit; he doesn't beat around the bush."
"That's dad for you." Shane he sat down on the couch; Gabe joining him a few seconds later. The two sat and watched the game for a few minutes.
Jane watched the two for a few moments. They really had become great friends and Shane really had impressed her on how he was. She was happy to see the changes in both the young men. She got up from her seat in the kitchen and headed towards the stairs.
"I'll go and see what's going on upstairs. Nikki came by earlier to help Ronnie get ready." With this, Jane headed up the stairs to the bedrooms.
Gabe offered some popcorn to Shane; who took a decent handful for himself.
"No Alyson tonight?" Shane asked, taking another handful of popcorn.
Gabe stood up. "Nah. She's working on a project with Jeremy from music class. She didn't want to sit around and being bored all night while I watched the game." He turned to Shane. "Drink?"
Shane stood up. "Commercial." He headed towards the kitchen with Gabe. Gabe offered him a couple of choices; Shane taking a water. He twisted the cap off and took a drink. "Do you trust that Jeremy guy with her?"
"I trust Alyson; personally, that's enough." Gabe replied. "We've talked about trust and boundaries. I don't want to be the jealous boyfriend."
Shane glanced at his friend, smirking as he spoke. "Should I be worried?"
"You're a different situation, Shane." Gabe took a drink from his water. "I trust Ally and I trust you. That's enough for me." He glanced back at Shane. "Unless you're pulling some weird master plan against me."
Shane shrugged. "Works for me." The two headed back to the couch. Gabe took a seat while Shane stood and watched the stairs. The two heard footsteps on the stairs. Nicolette led the way with Jane following her. The boys noticed a look on Jane's face that was unreadable. She realized that they were watching her. Jane's demeanor changed back to happiness.
"Gabriel, I'm taking Nikki home and I plan on staying out for a while. Are you gonna be okay by yourself for tonight?"
Gabe glanced at Shane again; whom merely shrugged back to him. Gabe nodded. "Yeah mom, I'll be fine. Go out and be you. If anything changes; I'll update you."
Jane nodded. "I'll be right back." Jane headed towards her room. The three of them watched the stairs as Ronnie came down. She was wearing a simple outfit of khakis and maroon sweater. Her hair was done up in a elegant bun. She smiled at the three of them as she reached the landing. Shane had made a point to meet her as she made the landing. He took a jacket off of the hook and helped Ronnie with it. He then grabbed his jacket and put it on.
"We're heading out Mom." Ronnie called out. She turned to her brother. "Have fun watching the Leaves lose tonight."
Gabe turned towards his sister and grabbed a handful of popcorn; ready to throw it at her. She was halfway out the door, sticking her tongue out as she left. Shane turned to his friend, shaking his head at them.
"It never gets old; watching you two bicker back and forth."
"At least, you get the luxury of not having a sibling." Gabe snorted. "Have fun on your date." Shane nodded and closed the door as they left. Gabe turned his attention back to the game. He felt a weight join him on the couch. He saw a slender hand reach into the bowl of popcorn.
"So, whom are we rooting for to win?"
Gabe looked at Nikki intensely, a wariness came over him. He didn't know why, but the last few weeks; Nikki had made it a point to talk to him whenever they were alone. He couldn't get the words that Alyson said to him. She didn't trust her; plain and simple. Nikki stared intently at the screen, munching on the handful of popcorn.
"The guys in blue and white. That's the Maple Leaves." Gabe mumbled.
Nikki cocked her head as she watched the game. "Hm, I like the guys in red and black. The colors are more striking." She munched on another handful of popcorn. "Seem that they move better on the ice than our team."
Gabe stared at her. "The Hawks suck!"
Nikki didn't turn to him; she watched the screen as she spoke. "Is that why Toronto lost the last couple of games in Chicago? I mean, statistically; Toronto has lost their last ten road games. Not only that, but their home performance has been pretty lackluster. Our boys just don't have it this season…"
Gabe watched her in surprise. She munched on another handful of popcorn as the screen changed to a commercial. She turned her attention to Gabe. "Something wrong?"
"Not saying that a girl can't be interested in hockey, but…"
She smiled at him. "Dad has season seats for all the home games." She took a piece of popcorn and tossed it at his nose, watching it bounce off and land back into the bowl. She smiled bigger at him. "What? It's a fun game to watch."
Gabe shook his head. "Alright, what's your game here?" She turned at him confused. "I mean the last couple of weeks; you've been talking to me! You've barely said anything to me until you slept in my room and now, you're all interested in what I'm into all of a sudden?"
"Oh Gabriel," Nikki whispered. "I've always been interested, just like I've been interested in Ronnie." She shifted in her spot, turning her full attention to Gabriel. "But Ronnie and I just aren't working out. I mean, she's my best friend. The actual girlfriend/girlfriend thing isn't working out too well. We were talking about it just today and we admitted that we love each other very much, but sexually; it's just not us."
Gabe sat there, slack jawed. This wasn't the conversation that he was expecting from his sister's best friend. He shook his head and stared at her. "You and Ronnie?"
Nikki shrugged. "It's just casual sex Gabriel. We were safe and no one was hurt."
Gabe shook his head. He couldn't believe what he hearing. The two were in a relationship?
"I'm sorry Nikki, but I have a girlfriend."
"A girlfriend that is at another boy's house right now? Are you sure they're working on homework? Or maybe he's studying something else…" She shrugged at him. "I'd be careful if I were you. There are girls out there that are begging for a chance to be with you." She stood up and went to her coat. She put it on and headed towards the kitchen; meeting Jane there. The two headed out the door, Jane stating that she would be back later. The door clicked closed and Gabe came back to his senses.
What did Nikki mean that there were others that wanted to date him? And what about his girlfriend? Was she just studying? What about Jem? What was his play in this? Gabe shook those thoughts out of his head. He trusted Alyson, he loved her very much. If he really thought about it, there wasn't another woman he was interested in. Was he?
He turned the game off and stood up. He took the popcorn and drink into the kitchen, taking care of their contents in the proper area. He cleaned up after himself and headed back to the living room. He grabbed his phone and headed up to his room.
He closed the door as he entered his room. He flopped down on his bed and stared at his phone. He unlocked it and sent a text message to Alyson.
Hey, you busy?
He lay there on his bed. He didn't want to think that Alyson would cheat on him. She didn't seem like the type. But there was that hint of doubt. She had been pushing to their relationship progressing to another level, but he kept holding her off. He just didn't feel like he was ready to take that next step.
Hey! How's your game going? I just got home. Jem was nice enough to drop me off.
Gabe smiled at the message.
Don't know. I turned it off.
He waited for a moment, then continued.
Can I come over? I'd like to talk to you…
Everything ok?
Not sure. I think I'm being stupid, but I really need to see you.
He sighed. He felt he was being really dumb.
Mom and Dad aren't home, but we can meet at the park across the street. I'll make hot cocoa!
Gabe leapt off the bed, grabbing his heavier hoodie and keys. He headed down the stairs and put his shoes on. He left out the front door, locking it at he left. He had to see her.
Yeah, it's been a LONG while since I've uploaded a chapter.
I know that I really stopped with Degrassi a long time ago. The show just changed and not in a direction that I was happy with. I lost interest in the show, but never this story. I actully wanted to see where I wanted to go with it. I wanted to see this story come to completion, but just needed to get away from the show and use the characters in name only. I guess that's the fun of Fanfiction; to make your own world to play in. You just get to use characters that have been created already and expand.
So I'm gonna try to get back to a regular schedule here. I'm hoping to have a chapter a month again. I also intend to jump back and forth with this and Bits as well. There are some expanded stories I've been meaning to get to that relate to this story.
Thanks for reading!