A/n: Okay so anyone who's still reading this I'm sorry I haven't updated in like 5 months a lots been going on with my life and our internet it was just hard to find the time. But I hope this chapter makes up for it and I'm going to try my very hardest to get Chapter 9 up in a few days but finals are this week so I make no guarentees.
Italics are thoughts, flashbacks, texts messages, when someones reading from a book/etc. music of just to add emphasis on things.
BEFORE YOU READ YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME CUSSING IN THIS CHAPTER. FYI.
Disclaimer:I don't own Degrassi in any way,shape, or form. Only this story idea.
Enjoy(:
Chapter 8: The One That Counts
Eli's POV
Officer Nelson sat down across from us in a metal chair, at a metal table, a bittersweet smile spread across his face. Speaking, his left shoulder twitched after every few sentences. "I'm sorry you had to come down here under these circumstances, I just have to ask you both a few questions before you see Liam." Twitch. "You both can stay in here, and don't worry they'll be simple." Twitch. "Okay first off," He looked down at a piece of paper attached to a clip bored. His eyes scanned half way down the page; his shoulder twitched again. I wasn't sure if it was a normal thing or something he did when he was nervous or uncomfortable. I was leaning towards the second option due to the fact that his face glistened with sweat as one lonesome drop rolled down from his hair onto his forehead stopping at his eyebrow; it was ice cold in the room. "How long has Tyler been her in Canada?"
"About a month or two." We said in unison.
He nodded.
"Where has she been staying at?"
"At my aunt's house." Tyler spoke up, he nodded.
Pointing his pen at me he asked. "Now would this be your address Mr. Goldsworthy?" twitch. This time it was me who nodded rattling off our address to the officer in front of us. "And how long has Liam been missing?"
Before I could even open my mouth Tyler argued, "Shouldn't you know that? You are a cop aren't you." defiance rang out loud in her tone.
Unaffected by her words he just nodded while stating, "Yes and yes. But I need to check to make sure we have all the facts straight." A grunt came from my left where Tyler sat. I gave her a look which she just rolled her eyes at.
"Fine," Tyler crossed her arms, "two years." Officer Nelson nodded his head once again in response, something that was starting to annoy me.
Twitch. "Have there been any clues or ransom letters sent to you about the location of Liam in that time?"
"No," I spoke, taking over for Tyler, not 100% trusting her to say something that wasn't offensive to the officer in front of us. She was hiding her emotions about the situation with defiance and sarcasm, something I had picked up on along time ago that she seemed to do when things got to be 'to good to be true' as she said. Tyler needed to be careful with what she said, to not get her or us in trouble, but that had never stopped her before.
After a few more question; with me answering them all before Tyler had the chance, we were done. Officer Nelson had continued with his twitch through out the last set of questions the time in between becoming farther and farther apart. All of us rising we left the room in a single-file line, like a sad parade. Walking back through the path that we had come from, Officer Nelson was explaining what would be happening in the next few months to come. His twitch was gone now that he was back in his element, where he was comfortable.
Making a sharp left, we followed him down a hall that wasn't part of our original path to get to the conference room that we had just left. "Where are we going?" Tyler piped up.
"To get your brother of course, miss."
Tyler made an 'o' shape with her mouth though no sound came out.
Coming to a stop in front of another battered looking door Officer Nelson pointed his blue ball-point pen at it while saying, "He's in there. We still have to do some processing downstairs before-" Ty pulled open the door rushing in.
The officer looked at me as if I should have control over my cousin's actions. I couldn't even give her suggestions when it came to her 'actions'. I shrugged telling him to continue.
"We still have some processing to do downstairs before he can leave with you guys, but it should only take about an hour or so, tops." Somehow I knew it was going to be taking much longer then an hour to get us out of here.
Tyler's POV
I couldn't get the door open fast enough. After I heard Officer Nelson say Liam was in there I just couldn't wait any longer. I had waited two years to see him, you'd think I'd be able to wait a few more minutes, but I couldn't. It was Liam after all.
My eye's spotted him instantly. He was sitting in one of the metal chairs hardly able to see over the table. The door shut on its own behind me, though I couldn't move my whole body froze. I took in the moment, Liam was at the table with a Transformers coloring book in front of him. He was near the end of the book - he liked to color the pictures in order he always said because that's how books are supposed to be - and a juice box was in his left hand.
He glanced up, his face filling with surprise knocking his crayons to the floor he hopped off the chair releasing his juice box from his hand when he landed. Lee came running over to me tackling me to the ground. "TyTy! You're here!" I picked him up and spun him around; his laughter filled the empty room. "I missed you."
His words brought tears to my eyes, it made me realize he was six now. Two whole years had gone by that I hadn't seen him. Whispering, "I missed you too Lee." I tried not to let my voice give myself away.
It didn't work. Lee looked up at me confused, "Don't cry." He frowned.
"There happy tears buddy, I'm okay." I half-smiled hoping that would reassure him. I gave him a tight squeeze which he gladly returned. I heard muffled footsteps coming from behind me making me turn around to see who they belong to. Eli of course, when Liam saw him he looked at me for a minute then back at Eli and went running towards him. Eli, who was much more ready for Liam then I was, picked him up and hugged him.
"Eli! Your going to squish me!" childish laughter escaped Lee's lips as he tried to pretend to be in great agony. Eli sat him back down.
"So you ready to get out of her bud?" he nodded grabbing both of our hands and walking outside to the hearse.
While Eli was helping Liam into the front seat Officer Nelson came up to me and started to speak, "He can't leave just yet, I need one of you to come back in and sign some papers."
I nodded in response trying to keep the large grin off of my face. "Okay, um what about that paperwork?"
He waved his hand in the air. "Don't worry about it we can do it tomorrow. You just go home and go be with your family, and your brother."
"Thank you sir."
I followed him back inside, once again traveling through the labyrinth of halls to get to his office were the release form was at. Opening the door to a small cluttered room, I took a quick glance around. It was hard to believe this room was cluttered when the only things in here were two tattered leather chairs, an old metal desk from the 80's, and a five foot high filling cabinet no bigger then Clare or Ali. Walking over to the desk he handed me a pen that was attached to the desk like the ones at the bank were; causing me to chuckle to myself. "What?"
The smile quickly disappeared from my face, "Oh nothing just, who'd steal a pen from a cop or would you lose it otherwise?" That got him to smile calming my nerves down some.
"You know I never actually thought about it, but you have a point." Signing the bottom of the page I sat the pen down. "Well, okay you're done here. I'll walk you out."
That's when it happened; as we were walking out of his tiny office I heard a tragic kind of laughter. The kind you would hear from someone who knew the outcome for them wouldn't be good, so all they could do was laugh at the irony of it all. Looking back, my heart stopped and my blood boiled. Officer Nelson grabbed a hold of my forearm and tried to pull me away but I jerked my arm out of his grasp. "You." I said without hesitation. The man looked at me, face contorting into an emotion I didn't quite recognize. "You, disgusting piece of shit who the hell do you think you are? You have the balls to call yourself a priest and go on and on about following the path of God when you yourself can't even stay on the path of holier-then-thou! You're nothing but a coward, stealing someone else's kid for your own sick amusement. YOU DON'T WORSHIP GOD! THE DEVIL IS YOUR FRICKIN' GOD AND I HOPE YOU'RE PUNISHED FOR YOUR SINS! I PRAY THAT YOUR LIFE WILL BE LIKE A LIVING HELL EVERY MOMENT YOUR BREATHING UNTIL THE DAY YOU DIE AND END UP IN THE REAL HELL!" I was clenching and unclenching my fists. I was disgusted by the sight in front of me; this thing was one of my parent's closes friends and look at how he betrayed them. Betrayed us all. I meant every word I said.
"HA! Please, as if you could possibly ever understand. You're just a child, an incompetent, arrogant child who cried every time she didn't get her way. And you know what bitch? I'm glad I did it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat if given the chance to do it over because guess what? Now you'll never forget me no matter how hard you try it'll be me; the monster in your nightmares at night. When you look at Liam you'll think of me even if you don't realize it at first you are. You will be." He was insane he shook his head back and forth like a wild animal laughing all the while. It made me sick. So that's when I lost it. I charged at him ramming my fist into his face cutting open his cheek and splitting his lip in one swift motion. That one punch was all I was able to get in before Officer Nelson and another officer grabbed me from behind. The bastard spit a mixture of saliva and blood on the grimy tile floor, looking back up with me with pure anger. "BITCH!" he screamed trying to break free of the officers hold on him and the handcuffs to get at me.
"Rot in hell you bastard! And don't you ever, EVER say his name again or I swear I'll get to you before the electric chair even has the chance too warm up!" His laughter was gone and he became silent as the cops holding on to his arms pulled him back and dragged him down the hall to an empty room.
Tossing his head back he screamed at the top of his lungs, "This isn't the last of me! You'll be seeing me again and not in your dreams either Tyler!" Those words sent chills down my spine and through out my whole body but I kept the scowl steady on my face as Officer Nelson released me from his grip and walked me to the front doors.
"He's going to be punished Tyler, don't you worry I'll make sure of it. He's never going to hurt anyone again I swear." I could tell by his tone he was just as upset as I was. I mumbled a thanks walking through the open door and backed to Morty getting in beside Liam.
Eli's POV
As I was helping Liam into the seat he looked up at me innocently and asked, "So when are we gonna see mommy and daddy Eli? Are they here, or are they back home?"
My heart broke and I was happy Ty wasn't here to hear what Liam had asked. I know it would've been too much for her. She'd been holding up just fine the whole time because she knew Liam was okay and we were getting him back; it was the only thing keeping her strong, but if she heard this…I don't even know what would have happened but it definitely would not be good. I strapped the seatbelt around his chest with a low click of it locking into place. Liam looked up at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.
I leaned in messing up his hair to try and take some of the tension away, whispering softly trying to explain but not tell him the bad news just yet in the only way that I knew how. "Yeah Liam there home safe and sound where everything's great. They're all better now. Come on kiddo lets get ourselves home so you can see Auntie CeCe and Uncle Bullfrog." This brought a small smile to his face as I slid into the driver's seat.
I caught a glimpse of Tyler walking out of the building and making her way to the car.
Tyler's POV
We were home now; Liam was down stairs playing Monopoly with CeCe and Bullfrog while Eli was upstairs in my room with me. Though we weren't doing much talking. "So I guess I, or one of us should call Adam." I let my voice trail off into the silence.
"Oh then I'm definitely out." I shot him a confused look, why wouldn't he want to talk to his best friend? "You two are always so lovey-dovey though you'll never admit it of course." I rolled my eyes at him as he got up from my desk chair, making his way to the door. Before he had it pulled all of the way shut I tossed a pillow at him getting the back of his head.
Reaching of to my nightstand I picked up my phone unplugging it from the charger. Dialing Adam's number, I bit my lip. What if he was busy? 'Okay Tyler now you're just being silly and you know it.' After about the third ring, a very drowsy Adam greeted me from the other line.
"Hey I'm surprised, you haven't called me yet."
"Oh I was going to but since your brother was safe again I thought you might be a little 'occupied'." I could hear him yawn trying to wake himself up.
Adam's POV
"Thanks, but I'm never too busy for you." when Tyler said this a smile spread across my face and a small blush started to form. Right now I was glad that we were talking on the phone and she couldn't see me. "Besides, you're like my only real friend here anyways."
After about an hour of talking she had told me just about everything that happened while she was at the police station. Though she did mention some type of argument that she promised to tell me about later when she was in a better mood. I just said okay, I mean what else could I say to her? No tell me now? That would just be stupid. I filled her in on the events of the day, though they were nothing close to what she went through this afternoon. But of course, Tyler begged to differ. The only big thing that happened was when I walked in on Ali giving Clare advice on relationships and kissing, something I most definitely did not want to know about. I don't know why I told Tyler about it, I guess it just slipped its way out of my mouth. The story gave Tyler a good laugh though. "Thanks Adam, that's exactly what I need to hear today." I could hear the smile in her voice as she spoke. "Eli mentioned something about you coming over this mourning and waking him up?"
My whole body froze, my brain raced through all the possible ways this conversation could go. What did she know? What did Eli tell her? How is she going to react if she knew what we talked about? Would she look at me the same way? I tried to say something but all I could manage was a small stutter, "Uh, u-uh…u-um-umm…" I squeezed my hand tightly around the receiver trying to think of what to say or how to change the subject, but nothing came to mind. Everything but Eli and my conversation that is.
I shifted my weight on the corner of his bed trying to make myself comfortable without much luck. "Okay so the reason I came here was to talk to you about, some things…" it was hard looking him in the eye, so I opted out for looking directly past his left ear at his closet doors.
"Yeah, Adam I kind figured that but what is it already?"
I sighed putting my head in my hands shielding my face from his view. There was absolutely no easy way of saying this and no way around it. Taking in a big gulp of air I let everything I was feeling out in one big rush of words. "I can't take it anymore Eli, I've tried, and I mean I have tried to no avail to stop thinking these thoughts but nothing seems to work. I can't get them out of my mind, I'm starting to give up hope that they'll ever leave…though I'm not really sure I want them to leave. Sometimes I do because I know it'll never work out for me; nothing ever does so why give up my hopes now? That's just stupid. So I guess…I thought if I came and talked to you about it you might understand and not be furious with me like some people would be. I can't guarantee that you won't be though. I just, I just want her out of my head." I was shaking my head back and forth by the time I finished.
I felt Eli shift positions on his corner of the bed; I didn't know what he was thinking because I was still looking into my hands myself. "Adam…"
"I know I know I'm being crazy getting all worked up over some girl but I can't help it." I took a chance and looked up at him. His face didn't give anything away.
"Adam, I just…are you sure about this? I mean there are only two girls I can think of who you'd be talking about and I'm not really sure if I like either of those choices." he sighed, "But if it's Fiona were talking about here Adam…you need to move on she's an alcoholic for God's sake and when she gets back from treatment - if she comes back - then who knows how she's going to feel about you. Half the time she was drunk or hung over from the night before when she was with you. I don't mean any disrespect to you Adam, your great and all but when Fiona gets back her feelings might not be the same. They could have changed about you two being together romantically or otherwise." I knew it took a lot for Eli to say something so blunt when it came to someone's feelings he actually cared about and it meant a lot to hear him say that even if it hurt to hear. I knew that he was right; every single word. If only it mattered to the situation at the moment.
"Eli, she's…Fiona's not the girl I'm talking about." I looked him in the eye as I talked, looking for any sign, any change of emotion. Good or bad, just a flicker would be enough to tell me where this conversation would be going.
"Damn it Adam." Eli got up off of his bed and walked in the direction of his closet slamming his fist against the wall making the closet doors rattle, and shake in their slots. He shook his head back and fourth in a way of giving up. "Your talking about Tyler aren't you." there was no question, he knew, he didn't need to ask me but had anyways.
"Yes."
He turned back on me taking a few steps in my direction but stopped. I prepared myself for the verbal backlash that would be coming my way. "Adam," - I got to my feet - "this, this is really fucking complicated you know? If things go wrong then its going to make it hard on everyone involved. As for Tyler, I know she's strong and that she can handle a lot. Obviously, but the people at Degrassi can be some of the cruelest I have ever met in my entire life and I don't want her going through any of the shit you or I have to deal with for being ourselves. If she gets involved with you…then all the hate that's directed at you is going to be directed at her too. After everything that's happened to her, I don't want that. Not now anyways, she's my cousin and I love her, so I don't want to see Owen, or Bianca making her life hell like they have to you. Sure it's not so bad anymore with the suspension Mr. Simpson automatically hands out to anyone who says a word, and a lot of people have gotten over it…but that doesn't stop people from talking, Adam." Eli looked at me, almost desperate that I didn't put his cousin through any of this. I understood what he was talking about, and I didn't want to see it either, just thinking about what people would whisper about her behind her back about dating an FTM made me cringe and regret ever bring it up or feeling the way that I did, like it was my fault for feeling this way as if it were something I should be able to control. But I couldn't control it and I couldn't deny or pretend what I was feeling wasn't there because it was and I had to do something about it, no matter the outcome be good or bad for me. Then I thought about Bianca and what she would do to Tyler if she got the chance, I'd never seen Tyler in a fight before so I had no clue if she could protect herself let alone protect herself against Bianca of all people. It made me nervous even thinking about it. Sure even if Bianca didn't beat her up or try and fight her, the things that she would say about her and to her face might just be worse then any punch she could throw at Tyler.
"I know Eli, I know. If I could I wouldn't like Tyler the way that I do. I've tried so hard to get over her and at first I thought it was just one of those things when you first meet someone and you think 'oh they're cute' but after a while you get to know them better and you become friends those feelings just disappear and those thoughts go away…" I wasn't sure how I should continue this in a way that Eli would understand. "But they didn't. So I tried to ignore them but the more we became friends the stronger these feelings grew for her. I've tried Eli, man I've tried. Nothings working, it's like…its like with Clare and you. The way you tried to push her away or get over her, how you thought she wouldn't accept you once she found out about Julia. That's the only thing I can compare it to, I know it's not the same but…I don't know." I dropped into a chair in the corner of the room tossing my head back so I was looking up at the white ceiling.
Eli walked back over to his bed and sat down in front of me. "Do you really like her Adam?" I looked at him like he was an idiot. After all this, did he really have to ask? "Okay sorry dumb question, of course you do. Well I guess, if you feel this way who am I to stop you?"
I smiled that he at least understood.
"Well if you tell her or not I can't say what she'll do, Tyler well she can be a tad unpredictable sometimes but I have a feeling she likes you too."
"Uh hey Adam are you there?" Tyler's voice pulled me back into reality and I had to shake my head back and forth a bit to remember what was going on when I spaced out. Right what Eli told her.
"Yeah sorry spaced out for a minute. Yeah I came over this morning to find him still asleep of course."
"Oh what'd you guys do?" her question was innocent.
"Oh nothing really, just talked and played video games of course." This got a laugh out of her. I guess she didn't know anything about what we talked about or at least I hoped not. There was no way Eli would have told her anyways.
"Oh that's cool; well I should probably get going since tomorrows Monday and all. Are we still gonna walk to school together?"
I smiled, happy, "Yeah of course."
"Okay just checking, Bye Adam see you tomorrow bright and early."
"Bye."
I didn't know when I'm going to tell her since Eli gave me the okay to go ahead and be honest with her. Maybe tomorrow wasn't the best time, it's a Monday, her brother just got back, and the trial against the kidnapper is coming up. I'll just wait until things aren't so busy in her life when she would even have time to consider a boyfriend.
But oh, I was definitely telling her.
Whelp how was that? Hopefully good enough to get people to start reading again. My plans for the next chapter are some family moments and maybe a cute Adler scene of two (Adler = tyler +adam) who are still totaly getting together. I just haven't quite figured out how yet so if you have any ideas about that a message or two would be awesome (:
Review, favorite, follow. I spend hours of my time for you the least you could do is spend a few minutes of yours for me.
Chapter 9 will be out soon I'm gone go start working on it now.