My note, contains (spoilers)…..and now, the return of Craig….in the spoilers, it says he comes home for a music festival, so that's what I will write. But it also says that he and Manny break up, not sure if I'm going to go that far. And Manny throws a party, where something happens(?), there is a rumor that a character dies this season….I really don't think I can kill anyone off…slap some of them silly, but not kill them.
GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT
CHAPTER 17: STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART PT.1
Ashley rolled over in bed, pulling her pillow over her head to drown out the noise. "Toby, turn the radio down", she grumbled, after the pillow didn't seem to work. When the music continued, she decided to get out of her nice cozy bed and turn it off herself. "Toby, I swear…you're gonna pay for this", Ashley warned as she knocked on her brother's bedroom door and carefully opened it.
To Ashley's surprise, Toby was still sound asleep…so asleep, he didn't even stir when she opened the door. She quietly backed out of Toby's room. The shower was running and she knew it was her mother, because Jeff always left for work early on Fridays. Ashley followed the sound, downstairs….it sounded like it was coming from outside. She peeked through the side windows, but couldn't really see much.
She tentatively opened the door, and walked onto the porch. As soon as she did, a figure turned around and Ashley's jaw dropped. "Craig?", she gasped as he stood up from the step he was sitting on and smiled. "Surprise", he yelled, putting his guitar down and holding his arms up. "Shh", Ashley hushed him, running down the front stairs. "What are you doing here?", she asked, confused. Craig chuckled. "I'm here for the music festival", he answered, nonchalantly.
"Right, but why are you here...singing on my front steps at seven o'clock on a Friday morning?", she questioned, uncomfortably. "You're my first stop.…Leo dropped me off, then headed over to the university", he winked. "I wanted to make sure you were coming tomorrow night", he added with a hopeful smile. Ashley nodded. "Yeah, Jimmy and I are driving up there, tomorrow morning", she answered quickly.
"So you and Jimmy…pretty serious, eh?", he asked uneasily, looking over at the custom ramp to his right. "Yeah", Ashley answered sarcastically. Deciding her private life was none of Craig's business, she quickly changed the subject. "Isn't it beautiful?", she asked, patting the wooden railing. "Jeff and Toby built it from scratch, last summer when I was in London visiting my Dad".
Craig nodded slowly. "It looks pretty permanent", he blurted, looking from the stained wood, to Ashley's face. "Well, if you haven't noticed, Jimmy's condition is pretty permanent", Ashley spat angrily…not sure if the permanent he was talking about, was the ramp or her and Jimmy's relationship.
Craig nervously cleared his throat. "I have to get ready", Ashley snapped, motioning to her house. "Yeah, and I need to get to Joey's before Ang leaves for school", Craig chuckled. "Remember, tomorrow night, university square?", he added, not moving from his spot. "Got it", Ashley said, giving a half smile and opening the door. She looked back to see Craig still smiling at her….and quickly ran inside.
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Ashley was quiet during homeroom…listening to Manny rant about how Craig blew up at her when she told him Spike and Snake wouldn't let her go to the festival, because they would be out of town. "Manny, I know we're going to hear about this tonight at home, so can it please wait 'til then", Mr. Simpson scolded, folding his arms then walking over to his desk to take attendance. Manny frowned and nodded angrily.
"What are you complaining about Manny? No adult supervision...so have a party", Derek suggested quietly. "For what Derek, to celebrate the fact that my boyfriends being an ass?", she whispered. Ashley and Jimmy chuckled under their breaths, from the next table. "Well yeah", Toby joked. "But seriously, Liberty's birthday is next Tuesday…and ever since JT started dating Mia, Lib's been depressed", he pointed out. Manny smiled. "Then it's settled….a party for Liberty, tomorrow night", she declared.
"Emma?", Sean called, nudging her shoulder. Once Emma recovered from her shock, she was able to speak. "Manny, are you crazy…did you forget you live at my house?", she whispered. "We cant have a party". Sean shook his head. "Besides, Em and I planned on having some alone time this weekend", he announced. "Well you really wont be alone anyway, since I'm not going to the festival", Manny snapped back. "So it's either hang out with poor, pitiful me all weekend, or we have a party", she offered.
Emma looked pleadingly at Sean, who gritted his teeth and looked away. "Fine Manny…a small party", Emma whispered. "But there will be conditions…". Mr. Simpson looked up. "Emma, is there something you'd like to share with the class?", he asked, getting annoyed with all the talking. "No", Emma replied, shaking her head. "Then I suggest you get going to first period", he stated just as the bell rang.
"So Toby you can bring Derek and Danny, but no JT", Manny explained as they walked slowly down the hall. "And you can ask your sister and Jimmy if they'd like to come", she added, nodding to the couple in front of them. "Thanks Manny, but they're going to the music festival", Toby revealed cautiously. "You're going to the festival?", Manny called out, aimed mostly at Ashley.
Jimmy and Ashley both turned around. "Ah, yeah.…Craig invited us", Jimmy stated with a shrug. "Well then maybe I can go with you", Manny suggested, raising her eyebrow. "Sorry Manny, I would…but I don't wanna get on Simpson's bad side. If he finds out we snuck you up there, while they were out of town.…", Jimmy started to say, but Manny interrupted. "That's fine Jimmy, I understand", she said spitefully, looking over at Ashley. "C'mon Toby…we have a party to plan", she ordered, pulling him by his shirt.
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"Yay, you guys are finally here", Ellie cheered as Jimmy's van pulled up. "We were waiting for Ash", Spinner smirked, jokingly. "Ashley said she didn't want to come, but I convinced her", Jimmy stated with a great big smile. Ashley smiled back at Jimmy as she took his hand and walked down the vans ramp.
"Is everything alright Ash?", Ellie asked as they walked behind the guys. Ashley nodded and waited for the guys to go around to the side entrance. "It's just, Craig came to my house yesterday morning...he was acting...strange", she said concernedly. "Yeah, he came here last night...crashed on our couch", Ellie explained. "He did seem a little...off", she agreed. "But it was probably because he had a huge fight with Manny".
"Ellie", Ashley scolded, disapprovingly. "I know, but he was so broken up...I couldn't help but feel sorry for him", Ellie sighed. "You're just starting to get over that disaster with Jesse...don't do anything you might regret", Ashley pointed out, knowing how persuasive Craig could be. "You're right, Ash...but old feelings die hard", she groaned, flopping down onto the couch. Ashley nodded. "Yeah, I guess they do", she mumbled under her breath.
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After the festival, the gang went back to Marco, Dylan and Ellie's house, for a little catch up session. "Marco, I'm gonna go make some tea", Ashley stated trying to shake off the chill she was feeling. "Does any one else want some?", she asked the group. Ellie, Jimmy and Dylan raised their hands. "I'll help you", Craig said, anxiously jumping up from the couch.
"I wanted to talk to you alone", Craig stated hurridly, pacing around the kitchen. "Ah, Leo was really inpressed by that duet we sang back in Vancouver...he wants to sign you...we'd go on tour together", he rambled incoherently. "What? Craig, I cant...I still have six weeks of school, before graduation," she stated, shaking her head. "And besides..."
"That's fine, we can pick the tour up after graduation", he insisted. Ashley stood straighter and sighed heavily. "Craig, you're not listening...we want to graduate college, with our original class, in three years; so we're taking summer courses and night classes...I don't have time to..."
"School will always be there Ash...this is a once in a lifetime chance...", he pleaded. "...to fulfill your dream". Ashley smiled and shook her head. "But that's not my dream anymore, Craig", she explained. "Sure, I'm still going to major in music and dance, maybe teach or something...", she shrugged."...but music is not my life, I have different priorities...I have Jimmy now, and..."
"So, you'd give all of it, up for him?", Craig interrupted angrily. "What?", Ashley gasped. "I'm not giving anything up for Jimmy", she stated firmly. "Yes you are Ash, don't you see?", he question, loudly. "You have the opportunity to be a star...to have this amazing future...to sing, with me".
Ashley swallowed hard. "No Craig, the only future I can see myself having, is with Jimmy", she admitted firmly."Ash?", Craig called out, rubbing her shoulders. "You just need some time to think...", he started to say, tightening his grasp. "Craig, please stop, you're scarring me", Ashley stated loudly, on the verge of tears, as he backed her up against the counter.
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My little note to you...Sorry about the cliffie, but it was the best place to end the chapter(plus I like to leave my readers wanting more). Next chapter will be up soon, I promise.
Reviewers...Unmei06, thanks so much for the review. I too, liked the Darcy/Spinner pairing in the beginning, but it fizzled fast...she's just not right for him. And, yes, Craig is totally unpredictable...as you can see from this chapter.
Ktgymchick...I am so glad Jimmy and Spinner are friends again, too...and thank you for the great review(he, he, he...that rhymes).
Tweek's Panda...I couldn't agree more, Darcy has officially lost all of my respect. I'm glad you liked it, thanks for the review.
Disclaimer...Degrassi is not mine(but you already knew that)...and 'Straight From The Heart' belongs to Bryan Adams.