My note…this is where the story turns a bit and goes from slow and emotional, to fast and dramatic. It will jump three weeks time after the first paragraph then continue through a few hour period of one day. Please let me know if you like it.

ONE SMALL STEP

CHAPTER 7: CAUGHT IN THE ACT

Jimmy Brooks could be a very stubborn young man when he put his mind to something...which may or may not be a good thing. After his fall onto the mat, which wasn't his first and certainly wouldn't be his last, coupled with the guilt that consumed him from lying to Ashley about it….Jimmy was determined go ahead with this 'project' of his that warranted him keeping these secrets and telling lies to the people he loved most.

Anya stepped into therapy room three to find her father, but who she found there instead was quite an unexpected surprise. She whispered what she came to tell Boris, into his ear, then walked over to the parallel bars and stood against them. "I see you've changed your mind", she called out to the back of the figure making his way across the mats.

Jimmy hadn't mastered turning around, in fact, he'd never even tried it alone, and after his emergency room visit on Saturday...didn't particularly want to, right now. "More like a change of heart", he replied to the voice as he motioned over to Lana that he was ready for her to help him turn around. With a little maneuvering and a lot of effort, Jimmy was now face to face with Anya. "Guilt got the best of me", he added sheepishly.

Anya blushed slightly and hung her head down. "Yeah, me too", she muttered softly. "I'm sorry for what I said the other day".

Jimmy grinned and managed an almost imperceptible shrug. "You were right though", he admitted.

"I was?", she asked questionably.

Jimmy chuckled and nodded. "Yeah. I was just making excuses", he acknowledged regretfully. Anya was a bit surprised by Jimmy's frank relvelation. She came around to stand next to him and slowly took the four steps back to his chair, with him. His eyes stayed on the seat that he spent the majority of his time confined to, for a few lingering seconds before they traveled down to the disembodied feet he was standing on. "Ya know...they look different from this angle", he blurted out of nowhere and Anya gave him a quizzical look. He smiled when he looked up to see her perplexed frown. "My feet", he clarified with a slight chuckle.

Anya began to understand and her expression softened. "Everything looks different from this angle", Jimmy sighed wistfully, then caught her gaze. "I didn't want it to be different, ya know? I wanted everything to be the same...just like it used to be".

"And when it wasn't, you were disappointed", Anya stated, more than questioned.

"Yeah", Jimmy half-heartedly agreed. "But, my biggest fear isn't me being disappointed...it's me disappointing everyone else".

"And you think you would?", this time it was a question.

Jimmy let out the breath he was holding. "I guess I thought that being able walk normally would justify five months of keeping secrets and telling lies", he answered softly, his eyes falling back to the chair he was facing. He looked back up at Anya, hoping she'd get the vibe he was sending her...she did, and silently moved his chair behind him and helped him ease down into the seat.

"What's the fun in doing things normally?", Ayna joked, trying to lighten the mood as she took the crutches from Jimmy and left him to get situated.

He looked up at her and smiled sincerely. "That's what I also learned from you...", Jimmy paused, taking her hand is his. Anya's heart skipped a beat...it felt just like she'd imagined...calloused, yet soft...strong, yet gentle. "I learned that things being different or a-typical or unique...is a really good thing". Anya could hardly breathe at this point, all she could manage was a dreamy smile and sweaty plams.

Jimmy slowly let go of her hand and wheeled past her to his storage locker, Anya followed close on his wheels "So, even though I'm starting to accept my...unique style of walking", he chuckled softly. "...there are still a few things I want to polish up on, for graduation", he explained as he worked his legs out of the braces. "And I was wondering if you'd like to help out. It'll have to be everyday after school and a few hours on Sunday too, so if you can't I understand...".

"No, I'll do it", she jumped in, very eagerly.

Jimmy smiled happily over his shoulder at her. "Great", he declared and pushed off toward the door. "I've got a session with your dad now...but I'll see you tomorrow, right?".

Anya swallowed hard and nodded, "Yeah...tomorrow", she called out as Jimmy left the room. She looked down at the hand he'd just touched and smiled...and that grin stayed on her face for the rest of the day.

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Jimmy worked the hardest he ever had in the three weeks that was left until graduation...and it was starting to pay off. Although the form of his gait hadn't changed any, he was still doing the crutches first, then sliding his lower body next, and ending with the 'step'...he was now able to get up and down and move more fluidly and confidently, and everyone on the team was extremely proud that he was up to about six steps per minute.

"So,we have the rest of the day to kill...what'd you say we go over to Marco, Ellie and Paige's now", Ashley whispered to Spinner, just as they were finishing up with graduation rehersal. He nodded agreeably and looked over at Jimmy, who was just to his left, but off of the riser.

"Dude, you ready to go to Marco's?", Spinner asked a distant Jimmy.

Jimmy sat intently, mentally sizing up the length of the stage and gauge the proximity of himself to Ms. Hatzilakos, for tomorrows ceremony. Spinner tried again, "Dude!".

Jimmy snapped out of his reverie to find Spinner standing one side of him, nudging his shoulder and Ashley on the other side, starring at him worriedly. "Huh? Sorry man...I didn't hear you", he apologized to his best friend, and smiled weakly at his girlfriend.

"Marco and El's...Ash wants to know if we wanna go there now", he repeated, enunciating each word for emphasis.

"I thought we were just going there for dinner", Jimmy pointed out.

"Well yeah, but it's almost lunch time, so I just thought we'd go there now, maybe catch a movie or something, then have dinner", Ashley suggested hopefully.

"I don't think...", Jimmy paused when he spotted Anya in the corner, helping with the preparation of the gym. "I can't".

"Can't...why?", Ashley balked, looking expectantly at Jimmy.

He chewed nervously on his lower lip, unable to look up at Ashley, "I've got the last part of that project...".

"What, that stupid secret art poject that's got you so busy...I hardly ever see you any more", Ashley spat angrily, causing Jimmy to sigh guiltily.

"Dude, art class ended like three days ago when you took your final exam", Spinner chuckled. "Let it go, man".

"Yeah I know, but I promised to see it through, and...", Jimmy trailed off softly as he picked up Ashley's hand. "I promise I'll be there for dinner".

Ashley frowned slightly but nodded understandibly. "Just call when you're ready to be picked up", she said, in a soft but clipped tone.

"I've already got that covered...don't worry", he added with a gentle squeeze of her hand, but Ashley just pulled it from his grasp.

"Whatever", she replied disappointedly and walked toward the exit. Spinner smirked and gave Jimmy an 'I'm so glad I'm not you' look, before turning on his heel and jogging to catch up with Ashley.

Jimmy let out a huge, frustrated sigh. He glanced to his right to see the sympathetic look Anya was giving him...and started to wonder if this had all been worth it.

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"Okay Jimmy, last official rehersal before showtime, tomorrow", Lana teased as they readied themselves for the his big day.

Jimmy looked at her anxiously. Boris chuckled and clapped Jimmy on the shoulder. "We might have time for a quick run through before you take the stage tomorrow", he added excitedly.

"Like a full dress rehersal", Anya giggled.

Jimmy didn't understand what was so funny...today he was doing this in front of his two therapists and an aide, tommorrow, he was going to be doing this in front of hundreds of people...friends, family, classmates...Ashley.

Walking. Actually walking.

"Okay, we're gonna do this just like we planned", Lana announced and took her place to the right of Jimmy, while Boris took the left and Anya stayed behind him, carrying the crutches.

Jimmy stopped just behind the tape line on the floor, set his brakes and paused to place his feet on the floor. Anya stepped forward, handed him the crutches and quickly slipped away. "Now position your crutches properly on the ground...", Lana instructed. "Good", she praised.

She waited until he signaled and braced herself for what came next. "Easy now", she coaxed as he slowly rose on his own and the knees of the braces locked. Lana smiled proudly. "Take it slow", was her next bit of advise. She and Boris were following a half a step behind Jimmy and Anya was right behind them, with his chair.

Jimmy stopped near the other line marking the floor. Boris stepped around to where Ms. H would be standing. "Remember to shift your weight to your elbows before loosening your grip to take your diploma and shake hands". Jimmy did what he was told, albeit a little hesitantly and stiffly. Boris held out a file to act as a diploma, then shook Jimmy's right hand carefully, as to not offset his balance.

With that complete, Boris stepped back into place and took the folder from Jimmy, and followed as he took three more steps before stopping again. "Then Ani will bring your chair up behind you", Boris stated, looking pointedly at his daughter and she did what she was told. Jimmy nodded and slowly began to ease himself down into the seat, a far cry from the ungraceful 'drop and plop' he'd been doing up until a few days ago.

"That's it", Lana clapped her hands together with satisfaction. She smiled and cupped Jimmy cheeks in her cool hands, and placed a small kiss on his forehead. "You're ready", she declared, without any doubt in her voice, but tons of emotion. "Now, get out of here and enjoy the rest of the day...I'll see to tomorrow", she ordered sternly, as to hide the slight crack her voice made. Lana made a mental note to hide some tissues in her skirt pocket tomorrow...she had a feeling she'd be needing them.

Jimmy just nodded, his own emotions rising dangerously close to the surface. Anya smiled down on him. "Well, I think this deserves a celebration", she stated suggestively.

Jimmy looked up at the clock on the wall and frowned, almost disappointedly. "I've got dinner plans in about an hour...", he said and hesitated slightly, until he saw the hopeful look on Anya's face. "...but I think we might have just enough time for a celebratory ice cream cone". She nodded exuberantly as she followed Jimmy to his storage locker, where he would stow his things for tomorrow.

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"He should've been here by now", Ashley sighed as she looked at her watch, for about the tenth time in an hour.

"Well, I just put the pizza order in, it'll take about thirty or forty minutes Ash...he'll be here in time", Marco replied.

"On a more pressing matter...what're we supposed to do about dessert?", Paige asked dramatically.

"All I know is it better be something chocolate", Spinner demanded.

Ellie giggled. "Well we have brownie mix...but no eggs, and pudding mix...but no milk", she stated, looking pointedly at Marco as she rummaged through the kitchen.

Marco hung his head down, he'd forgotten to go grocery shopping...again. "I can call the pizza place back and see if they have anything good on the dessert menu", he offered sheepishly.

"Like those stale apple pie pockets?", Paige asked incredulously. "I think not".

Ashley smiled and put a comforting hand on Paige's shoulder. "I've got dessert covered", she insisted and grabbed for her purse and car keys.

"And this improptu excursion has nothing to do with the MIA boyfriend...does it?", Ellie teased playfully.

Ashley rolled her eyes. "I may happen to swing by the school on my way to Palmer's...just to see if Jimmy needs a ride", she shrugged innocently as she walked to the door. "If he calls, tell him I'm on my way", she smiled, calling over her shoulder on her way out.

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Jimmy and Anya sat at a corner table inside Palmer's ice cream parlor...a favorite spot of Jimmy and Ashley's. They smiled graciously as the server brought them their order. "So?", Jimmy said, a little awkwardly.

"To success", Anya toasted, and held her dripping spoon up.

Jimmy shook the thought from his head. "We're not exactly there yet", he sighed nervously. "We've still got to get through tomorrow".

Anya could see the trepidition in Jimmy's eyes and reached over to lay her hand over his. "You're gonna do great Jimmy", she stated adamantly and squeezed his hand for emphasis. Jimmy smiled back at her.

Ashley inhaled the smell of fresh made waffle cones, the minute she stepped out of her car. She anxiously walked up the front steps and was about to reach out for the door...all the air was suddenly knocked from Ashley's lungs as she saw Jimmy sitting at their table, laughing and holding hands with another girl.

The little bell rang as the door was pushed open and a young father with a toddler stepped through. "Are you going in Miss?", he asked politely as he held the door open for her.

Ashley shook her head feverently as she regained enough oxygen to gasp out, "No thank you...I've changed my mind"...and ran tearfully, back to her car.

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"Ash that's rediculous", Spinner replied incredulously to the story he'd just heard.

"Are you sure it was Jimmy?", Ellie suggested cautiously.

"El", Ashley groaned miserably. "Okay I could've been mistaken with the tall, dark and handsome part...but I think the clothes and wheelchair kinda gave it away", she sighed and wiped away the tears that were still falling. "I never thought he'd do this to me".

"Maybe he isn't cheating Ash", Paige insisted.

"Yeah Ashley...I can't see Jimmy cheating on anyone...especially you", Marco added, placing a comforting arm around Ashley.

She looked up at him appreciatively but shook her head. "I know what I saw guys", she sniffled. "It makes perfect sense now...his excuses, his distant behavior...this Anya girl was his big secret art project", Ashley added spitefully.

"Ash you don't know that...maybe it was just a friendly gesture", Ellie said pleadingly.

"Ellie's right", Spinner cut in. "Jimmy sould be here in a few minutes...just ask him what's going on".

Ashley shook her head. "He's not coming", she spat and four sets of wide eyes fell on her. "I sent him a text...told him dinner was cancelled".

"Why'd you do that?", Marco asked softly.

"Because I don't want to see him right now", she whispered and cuddled into the safety of Marco's chest. He could tell her heart was breaking. "I'm not sure if I ever want to see him again".

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Ooooh, I left you all with a cliffie...sorry(not)!!! I really don't mean to be so cruel. The next chapter is the last, so stay tuned to see how it all ends.

Huge hugs to Kelley(lilfiftyfour) for my one and only review for the last chapter...thank you!!

Degrassi is not mine.