Chapter Three; Situations

Disclaimer; You know we'd love to own Degrassi, you may say we're dreamers. . but we're not the only ones. Anyways, we don't own Situations by Escape The Fate either (amazing song by the way.)

The next afternoon, Emma was sitting on the porch for it was still nice enough out that she could knit some stuff, lately she's been knitting especially after the night before's events. Jay believes Skye could be his, part of Emma believes there's few doubts but she knew she'd have to keep everything under wraps, in her thoughts she messed up the part she had been doing when she sees Jay's old orange car. She shakes her head, wondering how it's still running as he pulls up the driveway with Skye in the passenger seat she noticed the school days go quicker when she herself hasn't been in school but waves politely to them.

After Jay had picked Skye up from school, which was his duty because Sean took Emma's car everyday to work, he brought her home. He nodded his head to Emma as he walked towards her, "Hey Em." He said semi-happily, a little confused about the night before's events.

Emma nodded and then looked at her daughter, "So anything eventful happen today?"

Skye shook her head, blonde locks twirled everywhere. "Nope, I went to my classes and I was bored the whole time. First days are always so boring." She paused, frowning. "But my and my friend Misty walked past JT Yorke's locker today, it's all sealed off, nobody can use it."

Emma swallowed hard and looked at Jay and then back at her daughter, "It's time you know a little something. . J.T. Yorke and I were good friends when I was your age. . Manny will be a wreck if Misty brings it up." Emma silently hoped Skye didn't go to the west wing of the school, near the place she hoped she'd never talk about but she knew eventually Skye would want to know why of all people her mom was the one who felt the worst about the shooting, why it hit so close to home.

"Aw. I'm sorry Mommy." Skye gave her mom a small hug. "I gotta go do my homework; my English teacher already gave us work! She's so mean!" She sighed and walked inside.

"What's her name? I never got to see your schedule." Emma followed her and Jay shrugged and let himself in behind. Skye dropped her things left and right carelessly and Emma trailed behind wanting to know most anything she can think of as she hung things, "Did you see your grandpa?"

"Yeah, he's my Media Immersion teacher. And her name is Ms. Kwan; I guess her mom used to teach at Degrassi too." Skye looked up at her mom, "But really mom, I gotta do this work so can you go? Go hang out with Jay. ."

"What excuse me for drillin' you, I'll talk to you at dinner." Emma then walked to the next room and saw Jay, and just opened up forgetting everything, "I can't believe she's going to that school. . I swear I will not be a happy camper during parent's day."

Jay laughed a little, "Neither will Sean. I'm so glad I'm not the. . parent." He said, sarcastically rubbing it in her face. He knew that there was a good chance Skye was his, but there was also that chance that there wasn't. And when it came to things like Parents Day, he was glad to take the second choice.

"I just hope she doesn't being up the whole Rick incident, she's bound to find out I even went to the school that year."

"She already brought it up once, and you ran away. I know it sucks that you got a gun pointed at your head, but you can't run away from it forever, especially when it's coming from your daughter."

She sighed, "What do I tell her, oh I was a terrible student. . I managed to be so horrible I ended up almost getting shot?"

"You weren't a horrible student, Em." His tone was softer this time. "You were probably one of Degrassi's best students, you just made friends with the wrong people and through turn of events got the school freak to like you. ."

"I felt sorry for the kid, it was the last time I ever was nice to someone who I thought needed help." Emma smiled and shook her head. Emma honestly thought the kid was psychotic and never really grasped the whole 'relationship' out look, after all she knew well about Terri and Rick's tragic relationship gone horribly wrong.

"See that's you, you're nice to everyone, I don't think you can ever be mean. ." He looked at her, "It's just not you to be mean. And sometimes, it can screw you over."

"I know what you mean, it's. . like I can never win. I'm too nice." Emma told him honestly. She felt with Jay coming over for the past few years she can talk to him about anything and everything and he can tell her anything and everything she would need to know. Jay is the one person you can tell something to, and he'd make you feel like your the only person, but occasionally it can backfire on the person he's talking to because with Jay you can never get too close.

"Nobody is perfect." Emma tells Jay matter of factly, "But for the record, when?"

"I don't know, like the time I wanted Sean to come hang out with me, back when you were a sophomore, and you wanted him to clean the ravine with you."

"I was not. You were being rude to me."

Jay laughed again, "Okay I'll admit that."

"Any other times? Or was that your only thought?"

"That's my only thought, you know I don't think a lot."

"Good so you were implying I was always a nice person to you."

"Not always, there were a few times you pretty much hated my guts. Granted I deserved it then, but you still hated me."

"That's where you're wrong, I was just moody, I was moody practically twenty-four-seven when I went to Degrassi."

"Oh so you didn't hate me?"

"Eh, actually? I don't remember." A smile played on Emma's lips as she laughed, going into the refrigerator in the room they had been standing in and she got out a pitcher of iced tea, "Want any?" she asked while holding back a laugh.

"Sure." He said, brushing away the hate subject. He didn't want to bring up the whole STD scenario. He was glad that had stopped playing a role in their friendship, now they could just be friends.

She giggled, scooting Jay a cup filled with iced tea she had poured while he asked, "I used to have an environmental page and I had a few pictures up and this 'kid' Jordan got my email and started talkin' to me."

"And you met him? Em, I'm sorry for saying this, but that's really bad."

"Yeah. . and he turned out he was in his late twenties and he was a repeat offender and the last girl he had actually harmed - I got away. I should've given him more credit the password to the email was in a picture of my mom and me - she was wearing a tee shirt with it and my friends were pretty smart. "

"Wow. . that sucks." That was all he could say, what else was he supposed to say?

"Yeah I was dumb. I'm still dumb; I'm always mentally kicking myself." Emma honestly was mentally kicking herself for getting in this mess between Jay and Sean and she doesn't know how she sleeps most nights.

"That's bad for your brain ya know." He said jokingly.

"So is alcohol." Emma pointed out matter of factly.

Jay rolled his eyes, "It's too late to try to stop that now."

"You know it's not pretty when I drink." Emma sat down on the stool next to him and started to drink her iced tea.

"Oh yeah? What happens?"

Emma shook her head as if to say never mind. She didn't want to be an open book and usually when a question is answered there's no debate on it it's usually - what's done is done. She can't say that her and Sean are happily married, they tend to argue a whole bunch lately - between Skye's constant fits and her age they seem to find more and more to nit pick about; where with Jay there's little arguments but never will Emma give up when the going gets tough.

"Okay fine, don't tell me." Jay said stubbornly.

She lightly laughed, "I'm surprised you don't know how I get?"

"Sean never has me around when you're drunk." He shrugged, "But I want to see it, I'd imagine it's hilarious."

"I trip and fall, say dumb things - kind of like me being sober except clumsier."

Jay nodded, understandingly, "Well, I still wanna see it. ."

"Maybe you can. . funny you should say because you see tomorrow Sean's going to his brother's in Alberta to fix his bike. ." Emma told him, she could've been kidding but Jay could assume she wasn't kidding.

"What about Skye?" He asked, semi-jokingly, he was playing along with her little game. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel eager to spend a day, just him and Emma.

"I think she mentioned going to Misty's like she always does."

"Oh well then, I get the pleasure of spending the day with you."

Emma beamed, "So what should I cook for dinner?"

"Tonight or tomorrow? Because you know I'll be here both days. ."

"It's nothing new, you're here everyday."

"I think you guys should get me a bed here."

"Why do you even have a house if you don't even go there. . we so should besides Skye would love it."

"Would she be the only one who would love it?" He asked, playing with her mind.

"Sean would too."

Jay sighed, "He would. ."

"You're practically family."

"In more ways than one." He eyed her.

She eyed him and broke the eye contact within seconds, "So what should I make, since you are here all the time?"

"I have no clue, how about. . fried chicken?" He shrugged.

"Hmm. Maybe I don't know if we have any in the freezer."

He opened the freezer, "Nope. But I see some hamburger. . . if you want, I can barbeque some hamburgers?"

"I'd like that."

"Okay." He smiled, taking out the meat so it could defrost. After a long silence he spoke up, "So, Em, how's life?"

"How's you fishing for a topic. . what about last night?" She told him not looking at him but just waiting for an explanation. She for one didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry about that. . I shouldn't have kissed you." He stared down at his cup of Iced Tea, watching the ice melt.

"You shouldn't be. ." she told him an a near inaudible way.

"Why not, Em? You have a husband! And he's my best friend!" He whispered loudly, to assure Skye wouldn't hear him.

"It's not your fault. .it's my fault too. I'm sorry. Just forget this." Emma shook her head outraged, she honestly felt her head spin and she didn't want to say more to agitate the cut she felt slice her heart.

"No, Emma, you have to understand. You gotta understand how long I've wanted to kiss you, how long I've waited to hold you in my arms." He said, frustrated. "I know it's the worst time possible, but I can't stop my feelings." He sighed, relieved and surprised that he had just told her that.

She bit her lip, trying to hold back everything she couldn't believe what Jay was saying it was as if he pulled out from her mind, right from under her but he couldn't of possibly known. And sure on some days Emma feels low and scummy for what she does, what she thinks every day while she's still with Sean who knows nothing at all.

He sighed again, this time out of aggravation because Emma was still silent. "I'll be outside, I'll come back whenever to make the hamburgers." He walked away from her and sat down on the porch, he pulled out a beat up box of cigarettes that he only smokes when he's stressed out. He lit up and inhaled the toxic smoke.

Emma saw him when she looked up she was really scared now, especially when Jay is smoking because she knows why. It also bothers her that she knows she caused the argument and now here she goes, Emma mentally kicking herself yet again, Jay always does that to her and even if he says it's bad for her brain she does things that merit it each and everyday.

Jay continued to inhale and exhale, inhale and exhale. When the cigarette couldn't be smoked anymore, he lit another one. It was a bad, dirty habit and he hated Emma and Skye to see him smoke, but it was the only thing that would calm him down. If he hadn't been smoking right then, he probably would have either just left and not come back for a while, or just start kissing Emma again. And both ideas sucked.

Emma didn't go outside, she just watched him until she heard the front door open and moments later Sean joining her in the kitchen, "Hey Sean, how was work?"

"It was. . work." He laughed lightly, his dimples showing. "How was staying home all day?"

Emma smiled lightly, "Good, everything is good. Kwan gave Skye homework on the first day which is no surprise."

"Why is Jay outside smoking?" He asked, glancing back at him.

"He just went out there." Emma shrugged trying to play it off like she didn't know.

"Oh, well, what's for dinner?" He smiled, "I'm starving!"

"Jay offered to make burgers outside."

"Oh, Okay. Well then I better tell him to get started on them." Sean headed outside, "Hey Jay, when are you gonna start those burgers?"

Jay threw the still burning cigarette agitatedly on the lawn smothering the dying flame with his shoe, "Right now." as he stood in front of the grill and put six burgers on because he knew him and Sean would eat two.

Sean brushed off the anger that was Jay, and headed up to his and Emma's bathroom to take a shower. Emma walked out to the backyard and sat on one of the swings that were close to the barbeque, she sat there silently, not wanting to anger Jay any more than she already had.

Jay looked at Emma as she was swinging but said not a word to her, but he waited so he can flip the burgers. He knew she went out there just to see him but the fact that Sean's oblivious is something that hurts Jay even if he is his best friend who should know practically everything.

Emma swung in awkward silence. She sighed, frustrated, "Jay, say something, please."

"What should I say Emma?" Jay asked her angrily.

"I don't know, how about explaining why you're suddenly so angry?" She asked, even though she knew the answer, she wanted him to talk again.

"Maybe because I already messed up things with me and Sean before for awhile and I don't want to have it happen again."

"So you'll risk your friendship with me and maybe even your relationship with Skye?"

"Em you know, Skye means a lot to me, and you do too and Sean's my best friend and I can't do something like that to him. . as much as it'd save me from problems it's just - I can't."

"You sure weren't acting like that a half an hour ago. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to hurt Sean or Skye, but Jay you're confusing the hell out of me."

"Maybe I should go away for awhile."

"No Jay. If you don't want to stay for Sean, or me . . at least stay for Skye."

"Only for the kid." He muttered as he opened up the grill and flipped the burgers over.

Emma sighed again, "Okay, well, since you don't like me right now, I'm going to go make the salad and stuff to go with the burgers." She got up off of her swing and headed in to the kitchen.

Skye finally emerged from her bedroom and found herself walking outback to see Jay in a state she has never seen him before, he didn't look normal, she opened the French doors and sat on the patio chair and remained friendly, "Hey Uncle Jay."

"Hey Skye." He did his best to smile but it didn't hide the anger in his eyes.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm great. How are you?"

"Alright. . I need to know some things - my mom graduated in the class of '07 right? She was there in '05 which means she knew about the Rick Murray incident - why does she act so funny about it?"

"It's a very very long story, Skye. No one really likes talking about it. But let's just say, Rick Murray had a. . thing. . for your Mom when he brought that gun to school."

"A lot of guys had a thing for my mom. The music teacher Mr. Sharpe did. . uh well I saw in the '04 year book anyway. I just have no idea why my mom hides stuff about high school I mean shouldn't moms tell and warn their kids about things?"

"Degrassi has changed a lot since your mom and your dad and I were in school, it's more secure and just. . better, I guess."

"I might sign up for the school play. I don't know what I'd like to do; I just want to get involved. . what's better for me stage crew or should I try out. Do you think they'd give a grade seven a part? I ask you because - well you seemed to know the school well. "

"Oh trust me Skye; you don't want to get involved in the school play." Jay shook his head.

"Oh you're such a guy." she hit his shoulder, "Why not? It sounds like fun, Misty's mom was in it a few times when she was in high school."

"So was your mom, and unbelievably, I was stage crew once. And that is exactly why I say - don't join the school play."

"But I want to kind of. . even if it is a commitment. I don't know. . "

"It's not fun Skye. ." Jay told her then thought "Don't talk to me, don't touch me, or I'll deck your smug face too."

"You wanted to get a part - but instead they made you work in the stage crew, right?"

"No, no, no. I can't act for crap."

"Tell me." She told him convincingly. She hated how she wasn't ever told anything, Jay usually tells her everything this is one of them times when he for some reason didn't want to tell her, "You don't even have to use names."

"I started to like a girl, she, I think, liked me too. We did something we shouldn't have. Something else that shouldn't have happened happened, and opening night, after her leading scene she yelled at me."

"Well the thing that sucks about high school is - you see the person every day until you graduate - right? You probably haven't seen the girl in years, she's probably married. . got kids - a nice house far far away. Just look on the Brightside of that. Some girls are just plain mean though like Rachel Mason - she called me monster because today at shop I got some oil on my hands because Mr. Elh used me for a demonstration."

"Rachel Mason? As in Spinner's daughter?" He asked, laughing. "Spin was a cool guy."

"Yeah the girl's rude. Who else did you know?"

"I know. . Tara Nunez, Paige and Alex's daughter."

"Tara's in the shop class, she's my partner this semester actually. She always tells me how the one mom hates her being in shop because she gets her hands dirty. She always tells me there's a lot of perks to having two moms."

"You'd probably like having a mom and a dad better." He laughed.

"Not when my dad's always working it's more like my family consists of mom and uncle."

"Well, that's kinda like a mom and a dad, right?"

"After all we get along so great."

"Oh so great." Jay agreed.