Chapter Eight: Like Toy Soldiers Part Two
DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Degrassi. I just own the made up characters of Gia, Jesse, and Wes.
"Thank you so much, Jay." Paige was extravagantly grateful to her new possible-friend, Jay Hogart.
"Don't thank me until she shows up." Jay checked his watch around his wrist as the two former Degrassi students waited in a secluded booth at the Moxie's they were waiting at. "I told her to meet us here at quarter after seven." He explained to her.
"Don't worry about it." She smiled and glanced over the wine list. "I know she's busy."
"Gia's never been very punctual." He excused his late wife.
"It's not my strongest point, either." Paige put the wine list back against the wall and folded her hands over the table. "Do you think she'll like my idea? I mean, at least consider it?" Paige asked Jay, but they both knew he wouldn't be able to have an actual answer. "I've been trying to bring it up in full staff meetings, but I haven't be able to get a word in yet."
"Well, you won't have that problem now. She'll be all yours."
"Thanks again for setting this up, Jay."
"It's the least I can do."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Her heels clicked at a fast speed over the dark stained wood of the restaurant floor. She appeared in front of the table and wrapped her arms around her husband first. It was strange how strong their relationship was even through out the years. They managed to keep each other on their toes and interested in one another day in and day out. She pressed her lips against his and she'd have kept them there happily if Paige was sitting anxiously across from him. "Paige, hey, I'm sorry I'm late. Jennifer had many issues with the last issue, you know how she can be."
"Oh, do I." Paige was no stranger to lectures from the editor in chief of Energy magazine. "Thanks for coming at all." Paige told her boss while watching Jay stand up out of the booth so his wife could slide in before him. It was a shock to her. She was aware Jay was attempting to make up for how he used to be, she knew he had reformed, but seeing the boy who used to jack cars and smoke up in the guy's washroom every second period treat his wife like a queen was still a strange shock.
"So, what's this great idea you've got?" Gia's glossy lips shone in the dim lights of the restaurant and she folded her menu opened before her.
X
"Why the hell are we out here?" From the backseat, one of Jesse's sloppy haired friends asked. He was smoking on his third cigarette in the last fifteen minutes. "I thought we were going to that party." He hollered between puffs.
Jesse ignored speed bumps while driving in Tweak's car along with the speed limit and potholes. Tweak was fully loaded and everybody in the car called Jesse the greatest drunk driver in Toronto. Jesse's hand was sloppily hanging over the wheel holding his half drank beer can while his other hand fiddled with the volume dial. Sublime pumped through the speakers and out of their windows to disturb the entire neighborhood.
"Why are we out here? Spying on your sister?" Tweak asked while sticking his head out the window for a little more air.
"Maybe. Is that an issue?" Jesse said underneath the music. "If you guys want to go to that party you can,"
"Let's go then!" His friend in the backseat yelled. One wheel over the curb, Jesse's brakes screeched as he pulled over sharply.
"There. Get the fuck out!" He shouted. His friend in the backseat was quick to comply. He'd suffered the wrath of Jesse many times and he was still dumbfounded he'd live to tell the tale. Tweak, on the other hand, Jesse's best friend, only laughed. "Fuck you, bitch." He pushed his best friend against the door. Tweak had given control of his body over to the alcohol and limply slouched out of the car onto the bare midnight covered street. Before the passenger seat door was closed, Jesse had taken off.
He was cruising and finishing his drink when the bright lights shone back at him and he drove his car right into the parked car on the side street, only thirteen minutes after pushing his friends out of his vehicle. Jesse didn't understand, he didn't have time, too. He knew he didn't have his brights on or his headlights on at all, what was so bright? Was he dead?
He lifted his face off the steering wheel and out of the air bag that had exploded. Blood came slipping out of his forehead smoothly like that was what it was supposed to do.
"Step out of the car," A policeman called from his car, standing behind his open driver's seat door.
X
"Well, you've given me a lot to think about." Gia finally said while taking a large gulp of iced water with lemon at the bottom of the glass. "I do like your first idea, but I have to run it by the rest of the groups." Gia couldn't just snap her fingers and make all of Paige's dreams come true like her husband would've loved her, too.
"Oh, I understand. I'm just glad I could get this time to sit down and fully explain what I've been working on these days."
"I promise to share it with Jennifer and the rest of the editors. We are all aware of your continuous great work. I swear we will consider everything you've said, except - "
"Except what?" Paige's entire body froze tense and her mind worried quickly.
"Well, I love the health make over idea, taking people who've been self destructive and unhealthy and who've recovered, giving them full life makeovers, whatever they need it. It's sweet and wholesome, just what Energy is missing, but…" Paige was unprepared for whatever Gia was going to say. "Your other idea, involving Ellie Nash to do a piece about mass media's projection and mutilation of society's health. I can almost guarantee the office will say no."
"Why?" Ellie was Paige's friend and had been for a long time. Jay was also a little surprised, even though he didn't understand most of Paige and Gia's conversation. He just viewed it as a great way for him to get on Ellie's good side, she was defiantly on the list of people he needed forgiveness from.
"I like some of her pieces, I've read all three of her books, I went to one of her lectures, I like her, I do. She's very honest and cutting edge, but she's controversial and she's always got pressing law suits on her for the things she says."
"But, they're the truth." Paige argued.
"That's not Energy, though. We like to stay as far away from trouble as we can. You can understand that, surely."
Jay was happy when his cell phone started to furiously buzz inside his pants pockets. It gave him a reason to excuse himself from the girl's intense discussion over things he didn't really understand.
"Girls, will you excuse me?" He smiled at them both and waited for his wife to move, so he could scoot out and into the men's room. He needed to talk away from the noise.
"Jayson speaking." He answered his phone. He didn't recognize the number and liked to sound professional, just in case it was a customer or work.
"Mr. Hogart, this is officer Sexsmith from the downtown police station, number 62, we have your son, Jesse James Hogart, under arrest here."
"What?!" Jayson wished he could've honestly told the officer that he probably had the wrong Hogart, but getting arrested was more than likely something Jesse was capable of.
X
Gia was pissed that she couldn't directly go to the cell where her son was being held and just cut off his circulation. She couldn't believe she had to cut a business dinner short on account to her son being arrested, nevermind that, she couldn't believe her son had managed to be arrested for driving under the influence, open liquor in a vehicle, driving an unregistered car, driving without a license, disturbing the peace, and going over the speed limit.
Jay, on the other hand, his face was fully holding all thirteen shades of red and his insides were burning with all the hostility he had worked up. He felt like he was sixteen again, just angry.
Officer Sexsmith led them behind the thick black door to an office where Jay had no choice but to be humiliated. He knew he'd look like a tool of a father considering his son had just been arrested but, now he was embarrassed as a person.
"Mr. and Mrs. Hogart, Sergeant Mason." Officer Sexsmith introduced the two parties to one another.
"Jayson Hogart, I always thought you'd darken my door, not your son." Hastily, Gavin "Spinner" Mason said, a smile snickering smile pulling over his face.
XXX
Not the best chapter, but let me know what you guys think! Suggestions and comments are always appreciated.
- Chellie.