My note…We had a really strong start, but now I'm a little worried that the following for this story is waning a bit. Hope you're all still with me. Here goes...
A DAY AT THE BEACH
CHAPTER 5: SUMMER NIGHTS
"Spin?", Marco called out as the group entered the quiet house.
"Hun, you can come out now…", Paige sung. "…no more shark jokes, I promise".
"I guess he's not here", Jimmy stated, looking around the darkening room.
"Not upstairs either", Ellie confirmed on her way down.
"That's funny, I could've swore he was running this way", Paige shrugged.
Through all of this, Ashley was silent. What was there to say? Spinner's probably hiding out somewhere because he can't handle the sight of his best friends scars? The scars that he probably still feels somehow responsible for inflicting. No, that wasn't her place.
Jimmy's hand tugging on hers, brought Ashley out of her reverie. "I'm gonna go take a shower", he announced, his grin growing wider as he pulled Ashley down. "Care to join me", he whispered into her ear so Marco couldn't hear and kissed the base of her neck.
"My my, someone's frisky", Ashley giggled softly and slid onto his lap. "As much as I'd love to, I can't", she declined miserably. "I need to start dinner".
Jimmy frowned and kissed Ashley deeper. "Maybe later then?", he asked hopefully, biting his lower lip.
"Definitely", Ashley agreed with a kiss, and reluctantly stood up.
"Hey Jim, can I take one after you?", Marco called out from the kitchen. "Between those two, I'll never even get into the bathroom before dinner", he joked as arguing between Paige and Ellie could be heard on the second floor.
"I swear Paige, I'm giving you ten minutes and if you're not out of there by then I'll pull you out by your hair…even if you haven't rinsed all the shampoo out yet", Ellie threatened.
"Relax Hun, I'll be out when I'm ready", Paige protested. "Beauty takes time Sweetie…not that you'd know anything about that anyway", she trailed off with a slam of the bathroom door, followed stomping and a second slam of the bedroom door.
Marco flashed a frustrated 'this is what I live with every day' look, so Jimmy and Ashley both took pity on him. "Of course, man", Jimmy chuckle ending when he cleared his throat. "But you might wanna go first, it takes me a little longer...", he trailed off slightly.
"No worries", Marco assured him. "I guarantee it can't be any longer than those two", he added, pointing to the ceiling. "I'll help Ash start dinner". Jimmy nodded appreciatively and headed down the hall.
"Thanks Marco", Ashley stated, taking the food out of the refrigerator and laying it on the island. "Could you fire up the grill?", she asked motioning to the deck outside. "I'll go get the grill tools….I think they're still packed away in the shed". Marco playfully saluted and with a quick turn, walked out the patio door and onto the deck.
Ashley took the steps down to the front of the house and headed in the direction of the shed. Something caught her eye from the side, she turned to see Spinner sitting on a boulder at the end of driveway and she stopped in her tracks. Ashley fought between her head telling her to let Spinner be, get the stuff she needed out of the shed and return to the house and her heart telling her that Spin was hurting and needed a friend...her heart finally won out.
"Hey", she greeted simply, taking a seat on the corner of the boulder, next to him.
"Hmm", he grunted, starring straight ahead.
"You okay?", Ashley asked concernedly.
Spinner shrugged indifferently. "Fine", was all he mumbled.
"Wanna come back to the house...", she offered sincerely. "...were gonna start dinner in a few..."
"Not hungry", he snipped.
"Must be a first...Spinner Mason, not hungry?", Ashely tried joking.
Spinner finally turned his head toward Ashley, she could she all these different emotions playing across his face...sadness, anger, guilt. "Kinda lost my appetite", he answered, his voice betraying him and falling to a whisper as he looked straight ahead again.
Ashley sighed, it was worse than she thought. She was just about to open her mouth to speak, when Spinner cut in, "I did that to him", he whispered.
"Spin?", Ashley groaned compassionately, placing a comforting hand on his back.
Spinner shrugged it off and scooted away from Ashley. "I did Ash", he insisted angrily.
"No Spinner, you didn't", Ashley protested. Spinner turned and looked at her oddly. "You could lay the blame on just about anyone for what happened that day, if you really wanted too. Me, Ellie and Marco for ignoring Rick, pretending that he didn't even exist. You, Alex and Jay for bullying him and setting up the prank. Mrs. Murray, Mr. Raditch and the school board for getting him back in Degrassi. Even Hazel, Paige and Jimmy himself, for teasing him", she explained. "It all added up to Rick bringing that gun to school".
"But I'm the one that blamed the prank on Jimmy...I did get him shot", Spinner spat and jumping to his feet, he began pacing.
"And he forgave you for that Spinner...why can't you just forgive yourself?", Ashley stood up and asked pleadingly.
Spinner shook his head furiously. "I can't believe I didn't see it before...", he replied cryptically. Ashley starred at him with a mixture of concern and confusion. "...this past year has been a total and complete lie".
Ashley was starting to worry now, "What are you talking about Spin?".
His eyes locked on hers and widened with a sudden sense of realization. "All this time I've been pretending that things were back to normal...ya know, how they used to be...", a frustrated Spinner admitted, sitting back down on the boulder and placing his head in his hands. "It was just so great to be his friend again, the two of us, like the good ol' days. But they're not...nothing's ever gonna be the same Ash...it, will always be there".
"Your right Spin, the anniversay of the shooting, the scars, Jimmy's chair, they're all permanent...they're never going away", Ashley replied tentatively, sitting back down next to him and putting her arm around his shoulders. "But neither are your feelings for one another", she added quickly. "You two are like brothers and that'll never change", she emphasized.
Spinner looked at he with searching eyes, he wanted so bad to believe her. "You can't go back Spin, but you can move forward", she suggested and gave his shoulders a slight squeeze.
"I don't know how", he whispered.
"Hey Ash, grill's ready", Marco's voice interrupted from the porch. "Did you find what you were looking for?".
Ashley smiled and stood up. "Yeah Marco...be right in", she answered and turned to Spinner. "You can start by coming back into the house and helping with dinner. We need a expert burger filpper to man the grill", she offered, extending her hand to him.
Spinner smiled and accepted Ashley's hand. "I'm more of an expert server", he corrected as Ashely pulled him up. "But I guess I could give it a shot", he added, and headed into the house.
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"Dinner was delicious", Paige praised, pouring herself another glass of lemonade. "My compliments to the chef".
"Yeah, not bad Spin", Jimmy grinned in agreement.
Spinner shrugged humbly and blushed. "Well, ya know...".
"So now what?", Ellie asked as they all sat around the table on the deck.
"Dessert?", Spinner questioned hungrily, raising his eye brow.
"Bottomless pit", Paige grumbled as she walked back into the house to get what they needed to make strawberry shortcake. Ashley and Ellie quickly followed inside with the dirty dishes while the boys cleaned off the table. Instead of making another mess, the girls decided it would be better to assemble the desserts inside and eat them outside.
Spinner was fairly quiet throughout dinner, physically and emotionally drained from the days activities. He found himself only half listening to Jimmy and Marco's conversation while he looked out at the rippling water. "...your coffee?", he heard distantly, "...Spinner?".
"Huh,what?", he asked, turning around toward the table.
"Ashley asked how you want your coffee", Paige repeated, rolling her eyes.
"One cream, two sugars", her and Spinner both answered in unison. They forced a smile to one another and Paige took her seat next to Marco.
The slightly uncomfortable silence continued, even after the group was finished with dessert. "Do you guys wanna play something?", Ashley asked after recieving a helpless look from Jimmy.
"Cards?", Paige offered.
"Yeah, just not poker", Marco said glumly, not so subtly reminding his friends what he was in therapy for.
Slience again...this time much heavier.
"How 'bout strip Euchre", Jimmy suggested, grinning deviously, elicting an elbow in the ribs from Ashley and a hearty chuckle from Ellie and Marco.
"Ow", he complained rubbing his side. It never failed, Ashley always managed to get him right where he had full sensation.
Ashley smiled and leaned in to him. "That's what you get 'mister I'm to embarrassed to wear shorts in front of my friends'", she whispered into his ear. Jimmy laughed back and quickly kissed her.
"Okay, so no cards", Spinner pipped in. "Any other suggestions?".
"We have some board games in the front closet", Ashley stated, resting her head on Jimmy's shoulder. "I think I saw Monopoly, Scrabble, Clue..".
"Twister?", Jimmy cut in jokingly, this time bracing himself for Ashley's attack. She caught him and only shot an amused look of warning. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the playful banter.
"Unfair advantage Jimmy, you'd be sitting", Paige smirked.
"Not really Paige...", Jimmy stated, patting his abs. "...no sense of balance".
While everyone else was taking Jimmy's light-hearted quips at his disability, in stride...Ashley noticed Spinner's face fall slightly. She watched him for a second until he looked up at her with a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Dude, I know whatcha mean", Spinner chuckled, attempting to make fun of his own lack of stability in the balance department. It was common knowledge that Spinner was not the most sure-footed person in the group. Jimmy nodded in agreement as he held his hand out for Spinner so they could clap their famous hand shake.
The laughter continued for a few more minutes before Ellie asked, "What about truth of dare?". A collective groan was immediately heard throughout. "What?", she asked incredulously.
"What kind of dares would you have us do out here in the middle of nowhere?", inquired Paige.
Ellie shifted nervously and chewed on her bottom lip. "Um, well...okay, the dare-ee could sleep out here on the deck all night, or make all three meals for the rest of us tomorrow, or...", she trailed off. The others looked less than thrilled with her choices. "Fine, then how about skinny dipping in broad daylight or run streaking through the sand", she snickered.
"Yeah okay, I'm up for that", Spinner was the first to announce, the others soon followed with nods and shrugs.
"Hey guys, I was just kidding about the last two", Ellie nervously tried to clarify, but her words fell on deaf ears. "Um, guys?".
"We could always do the truth without the dare", Ashely offered.
"What's the fun in that?", Spinner protested. "Okay, I'll go first".
"Truth or dare?", Marco smirked.
"Truth", Spinner answered simply.
"Oh, this should be fun", a very delighted Paige mumbled under her breath.
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"Well this was an interesting night", Ashley stated, both of them still laughing when they reached their bedroom.
"Tell me about it", Jimmy chuckled. "Who knew Paige was in the market for a new boyfriend?".
"Definitely not her current girlfriend", Ashley quipped back. "Alex is really gonna be surprised when Paige gets back and tells her she's not interested in being "that way" with her anymore...not gonna be pretty".
Jimmy grinned at her."I think Spin's hoping for another reunion?".
"That's just another disaster waiting to happen", Ashley replied. "And what about Marco dropping the bomb that he might move to Zurich with Dylan?".
"Not looking forward to that", Jimmy groaned. "Oh and that story El told about her mom?".
Ashley shuttered slightly, "Even I'd never heard that one before". She walked over to Jimmy who looked equally grim, recounting Ellie's words.
"Our answers were so boring compared to theirs...I guess we're the most normal out of all our friends", Ashley joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well not entirely normal", Jimmy quipped motioning to himself, earning a slight warning glare from Ashley.
"I love how Spinner changed his answer to dare everytime, after he heard the question", Ashley giggled.
"Can wait for tomorrows dare", Jimmy smirked.
Ashley sat down on his lap and looked at him sternly. "And just what are you supposed to do while he's spending the entire morning in your chair?".
Jimmy shrugged nonchalanly, "I'll get some sketching done...park my ass on the lounge outside for a few hours".
"That sounds reasonable...as long as you're in the shade", Ashley insisted and Jimmy nodded dutifully. "So, can I cash in my raincheck for that shower now?", she offered, quite seductively.
Ashley could see the hesitation on his face and giggled. "You're tired", she stated, rather than asked. Jimmy sighed heavily. "It's okay. Why don't you go in there first and get ready for bed", she nudged him toward the bathroom.
After her shower, Ashley came out of the bathroom to find Jimmy sprawled out on the bed, fully clothed. "You've got to be joking?", she chuckled, eyeing him up and down.
He lifted his arm from his eyes and blinked a few times. "What, it's what I sleep in?", he aswered incredulously.
"Not tonight it's not", she protested."...it's hot in here".
"I don't get hot, remember?", he quipped sarcastically.
"Maybe not your lower half, but the rest of you does", Ashley reminded him casually while pulling off his socks. "...and too hot isn't good for you".
Jimmy rolled his eyes and smirked as Ashley tugged at the ankles of his pyjama pants, signaling for him to help from the top. "Shirt off too", Ashley demanded with a flick of her head.
"Yes ma'am", Jimmy snickered and hasitly followed instruction as Ashley came around to shimmy the balnkets out from underneath him. She quickly swatted him on the chest and got back to her original task. Once that was accomplished, Ashley flipped off the light and slid into the bed next to Jimmy, covering them both with a light sheet.
Ashley laid her head onto Jimmy's chest and snuggled tight, placing her left leg over both of his. Jimmy sighed contently and finally let himself relax, until his other senses kicked in and he noticed the sheets rustling at the foot of the bed. "What are you doing?", he chuckled questionably.
"Playing footsie", she giggled in reply, but stopped the movement and proceeded cautiously. "I'm sorry, is that bothering you?".
"Why would it...can't feel it anyway", he snickered playfully, but Ashley could hear a hint of wistfulness in his voice.
Ashley frowned slightly. "I know...", she whispered, her frown pulling upward as she snuggled closer to Jimmy. "...but I can...and I love the way you feel".
Jimmy smiled, resting his cheek against the top of Ashely's head as he pulled her tighter, "I love the way you feel too Ash".
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This one was a little longer than the rest. I actually like longer chapters but sometimes have to cut them short due to the storyline(I really like cliffhangers, lol). I hope I got the characters in check and Ashley comforting Spinner wasn't too ooc. I really think there's still a lot of hidden pain associated with the shooting, on both sides(if only the writers would show a little of that, instead of some of the storylines they went with). I had to end with a little JimAsh fluff, I was so in the mood for it...gotta love the snugglebunnies.
Huge thanks to my buddies...havocmangawip and lilfiftyfour for their much appreciated loyalty to all of my stories. Luv ya guys!!!
Degrassi is not mine and neither is 'Summer Nights'.