My note…there will be one spoiler in this chapter. The rumor is, Hazel is coming back for an episode or two, sometime in the middle of the season…although, I don't know what the reason for her return is. So, you will see her return in this chapter…even though this takes place at the end of the school year.
GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT
CHAPTER 19: SHOPPING FOR GIRLS
"Hey honey, what're up to?", Debbie Brooks said as she walked into her son's bedroom. She laid the files she was carrying, down, and sat on the edge of his bed. Jimmy looked up from his computer screen and gave his mother a half smile. "Nothin' really…I needed a break from studying for exams", he shrugged, nodding to the stack of opened books on the other side of his desk. "So I was just trying to find Ashley the perfect graduation gift".
Debbie looked at him inquisitively. "Romantic weekend getaways?", she chuckled, looking at the screen. Jimmy smiled and shook his head. "No, that's just some stupid pop-up…I don't even know why I was reading it", he laughed and clicked off the browser, revealing the a page of jewelry he was checking out. "Wow, those are beautiful", she complimented, regarding his selections.
Jimmy shrugged and shook his head. "Yeah, they are…but none of them seem right for Ash", he frowned. "I want to get her something really nice…something that shows her how much she means to me". Debbie scooted closer and put her hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "Ashley's not like that Jimmy…you know that. She doesn't need gifts to show her how much you care about her", Debbie assured him, putting a subtle emphasis on gifts.
"I know...I just want to be able to give her everything she deserves", Jimmy said, with a frustrated whisper. Debbie nodded, taking the insurance statements from Jimmy's doctors office, off the top of her stack of papers."I've been meaning to talk to you about this", Debbie said, handing the papers to Jimmy.
"Is everything alright, Honey?", she asked. Jimmy nodded as he glanced at the papers then looked down, embarrassed. "I know you're an adult now..but, I just worry about you so much...you'll always be my baby, ya know?", Debbie stated, scooting closer and taking hold of Jimmy's hand. He gave her a small smile.
"Jimmy, you put so much pressure on yourself...I guess, you get that from your dad", she chuckled a bit. "Extra art classes, extra physio sessions, the band, basketball, coaching the junior girls, assistant coach for the boys, starting a business with Gavin...and now exams...all this stress has to be effecting you...and Ashley", Debbie added, in her concerned mother voice.
"Mom, I'm fine, we're dealing with it...with everything", Jimmy interrupted quickly, becoming uncomfortable with the line of conversation. Debbie ran her other hand across Jimmy's cheek. "You've been through so much...I just want you to be happy", she added, her voice cracking a bit. "I am, Mom", he assured her. Debbie smiled. "Promise?", she whispered, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. Jimmy grinned and nodded.
"Good...well I have some reports to read", Debbie sniffled, picking the files up off of the bed. She stood up and put her hand on Jimmy's shoulder as she leaned forward to look at the pictures on the computer screen. "I like that one", she said, pointing to a gold and platinum bracelet. "Yeah? Me too", he agreed, clicking on the picture to make it bigger. Jimmy studied the picture for a few seconds.
"Get some sleep sweetie, it's really late", Debbie said, kissing the top of Jimmy's head. She walked toward the door, then turned back to him. "And Jim, if that bracelet's not the right gift.…you can always book the romantic weekend getaway", she stated with a grin. "Mom?", Jimmy yelled, giving his mom a shocked look. Debbie laughed when Jimmy started to blush. "Night honey…I love you", she called from the doorway. "Love you too, Mom…'night", Jimmy chuckled as he shut down his computer.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm so glad it's almost summer…is missed hanging out with you, El", Ashley stated, taking a sip from her iced mocha, as they sat at the breakfast cafe. "The only friends I had at Degrassi this year, were my boyfriend, his best friend and my step-brother", she chuckled and rolled her eyes. Ellie smiled and took a bite of her muffin. "Your not kidding.…making friends in college was not as easy as I thought it would be…and having an affair with my older, married newspaper editor definitely didn't help", she replied, a bit embarrassed.
Ashley gave Ellie a small sympathetic smile. "Everyone makes mistakes El, you'll find the right guy someday", she encouraged. "Like you did?", Ellie laughed, nudging her friends elbow. Ashley blushed as she nodded a little and smiled brightly…it was obvious, to just about everyone, that she was totally head over heels for Jimmy. "C'mon…let's hit the mall", Ashley chuckled, getting up from her seat and bumping into Paige.
"It's about time you got here...we were just about to leave without you", Ashley playfully scolded, linking her arm with Paige's and turning her in the opposite direction. "I'm so sorry Hun, I woke up late. My brain is still trying to get re-adjusted to the time change", Paige groaned, as Ashley pulled her along. "Well never mind…we have some serious shopping to do", Ashley stated linking her other arm with Ellie's and walking outside.
"So what exactly are we here to buy?", Ellie asked as they window shopped at the mall. "Ellie hun, it doesn't really matter, shopping is theraputic", Paige chimed in. "It's exam time and Ash needs to de-stress". Ellie gave Paige a tentative nod and looked back over at Ashley. "Well, I need to get a new outfit for graduation...and I really want to get Jimmy a little gift", she stated, browsing the store.
"A gift for our dear James, eh?", Paige smirked, raising her eyebrow from across the rack. "How about this?", she asked, looking from Ashley to the strapless, printed dress she was holding up. "A dress Paige,...for Jimmy? ", Ashley chuckled sarcastically. "Not for him...", Paige rolled her eyes. "A dress for Jimmy to admire you in", she added with a wink. "I don't know guys...it's...", Ashley started to protest as she looked over the form-fitting dress. "Totally you", Ellie finished for her, pulling Ashley toward the fitting room.
------------------------------------
"Dude, what about Jennifer...you know, in Mr. Armstrong's class?", Spinner asked Jimmy as they sat at his kitchen table, going over their weekly business reports. "Huh?", Jimmy asked, not really paying attention to what Spinner was saying. "Jennifer...should I ask her out?", he repeated his previous question.
He stared at Jimmy, who was flipping through the papers. "Or maybe Miranda...from the store. I think she likes me", Spinner said questionably. "Then there's that girl that just started working nights at The Dot...". Spinner shook his head and nudged Jimmy. "Dude, I've got serious relationship issues", he groaned.
Jimmy sighed and looked up from his reading. "Maybe you should give it a rest for a while, Spin...the summer's almost here...we start college in the fall...I'm sure you'll meet someone then", he said optimistically. "I mean, what's the rush? You and Darcy just broke up a few weeks ago. Plus, there are more important things than finding a girlfriend right now...like final exams...graduation...", Jimmy emphasized with a shrug.
"Yeah I know. It's just, I don't do alone, very well", Spinner pointed out. "I hooked up with Manny right after Paige, then after the sho...", he stopped and cautiously glanced at Jimmy. "...I mean, after I got expelled, there was Michelle and...um...that blonde...", Spinner thought hard, trying to remember her name. "I get the point", Jimmy chuckled.
"Right", Spinner continued. "Then came Darcy, then Paige, then Darcy again ...", he sighed. "Don't worry Spin, the perfect girl is out there somewhere", Jimmy insisted as he looked over the invoices. "Like yours was?", Spinner smirked. Jimmy pictured Ashley and smiled. "Yeah, like mine was", he laughed and answered his ringing phone.
"That was Paige...she wants to meet at the Dot for lunch...she has another business surprise", Jimmy stated, shuffling his papers. "P-Paige is back in town?", Spinner stuttered. He got up and sprinted over to the mirror that hung on the family room wall.
He ran his fingers through his hair and frowned when he smelled his shirt. "Dude, can I borrow...". Jimmy laughed and handed him a fresh t-shirt from their inventory. "You're gonna pay for that", Jimmy joked. Spinner smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I know", he smirked and tossed Jimmy his keys.
-------------------------------------
Ashley, Ellie and Paige were sitting at the Dot, at their usual table, when the boys came in. Jimmy gave Ellie and Paige each a hug, then pulled up next to Ashley and kissed her tenderly. Spinner gave everyone an awkward waive and sat down between Jimmy and Paige. "So where's the surprise Paige?", Jimmy asked, looking around the restaurant.
"She just pulled up", Paige answered excitedly, looking out the window. "Hazel?", the group questioned as Paige's surprise walked through the door. "Well, I guess I'll be going", Ellie said sarcastically. "No Ellie, don't go", Paige insisted, raising an eye at Hazel. Hazel sighed. "I'm sorry about how I acted last year...I shouldn't 've slapped you", she said quietly, looking down at the table.
Ellie nodded and accepted the apology, then sat back down in her seat. "Okay, let's get down to business", Paige announced, taking her seat. "I went to visit Hazel before coming home for the summer", she added and looked over at Hazel. "The manager at the boutique I work at, loved the design on the shirt she was wearing", Hazel continued, referring to the t-shirt Jimmy had made for Paige as a Chirstmas present.
Jimmy and Spinner looked at one another, then back at the girls. "His father owns an exclusive art gallery", Hazel added. "I immediately thought of you, so we showed them your work from pictures in the yearbook...and they want to meet with you", Paige stated excitedly, looking at Jimmy. His jaw dropped and he looked over at Ashley, who smiled confidently.
"But Hazel, you live in Montreal...I can't just move...", Jimmy started to protest. "You wouldn't have to move. They are willing to comission your work and have it shipped there", she explained. "And this wouldn't interfere with school or anything?", Jimmy asked cautiously. Hazel shook her head. "You'd just need to fly out to Montreal for a few days this summer, for the meeting", Hazel explained.
"You'll come with me, right?", Jimmy asked Ashley. "Of course", she answered and squeezed his hand excitedly. Spinner whispered something to Jimmy and he nodded. "Okay, I'll go out there and see what happens", Jimmy agreed. Everyone cheered, Jimmy shook Hazel's hand and Paige jumped up, hugging the first available person closest to her, which just happened to be Spinner. "This calls for some serious celebrating", Spinner called out as he and Paige awkwardly broke apart. "C'mon Ellie", Paige waived her hand. "Wait, I'm buying", Jimmy stated as he broke his kiss with Ashley and followed the other to the counter.
"This was so nice of you...Hazel. Thank you", Ashley stated, getting up from her seat. "Oh, I had very little to do with it...it was mostly Paige's idea. I just helped set it up", she revealed, helping Ashley clear off the table. "That little sneak, we were out all morning and she didn't say one word", Ashley chuckled. "She wanted to wait for me...so we could surprise him", Hazel explained.
"I'm glad we have such great friends that care about us so much", Ashley smiled, hoping this would help them mend the past. Hazel smiled back and nodded. "You two look really happy", she stated, placing some extra napkins on the table. "We are...very happy", Ashley smiled and nodded. Hazel looked down at the table. "Jimmy was right, you know", she admitted quietly, glancing in his direction, then back at Ashley. "I couldn't handle it...I couldn't love him anymore, being with my new boyfriend showed me this", she sighed heavily.
Ashley swallowed hard as Hazel continued. "I can be a shallow, heartless person Ashley, and I was jealous of you...not because I still loved Jimmy...but because you could". Ashley gave Hazel a almost pitying look. "He deserves someone who can love him unconditionally. He's lucky to have you Ashley", Hazel stated as the group was bringing the food to the table. "No Hazel, I'm the lucky one", Ashley corrected, looking right into Jimmy's eyes.
------------------------------------------
My note to you...I had some problems with this chapter, trouble with the plot and dialogue...I hope it's okay. But there were some storylines I absolutely wanted to show...the close relationship between Jimmy and his mom. The unconditional love between Jimmy and Ashley. And the possible rekindling of a Spaige romance.
Basically, I brought Hazel back to make amends with Ellie, Ashley and Jimmy. I also wanted her to finally admit that she was only with Jimmy out of pity, not love. And since she's Paige's best friend and I wanted things to be okay between her and Paige's other friends...so now she can go back to Montreal and her new boyfriend.
Reviewers...theyoungandthehopeless...thanks so much for the review, I'm glad you like my story. Raina-Bess...there will be a little more excitement to come and maybe a little more drama...not sure. Ktgymchick...I was hoping you'd telepathically(sp?)send me some help when I was revising this chapter(for the hundreth time)...so much for the thinking with one mind...anyway, thanks so much for the great review and encouragement.
Disclaimer...Degrassi does not belong to me...and, 'Shopping For Girls' belongs to David Bowie.