Musical Undertones

ATaintedStarsNightmare

Chapter 20

Author's Note:

Well I'm guessing no one really liked the last one? Haven't heard anything good or bad, but I still need your opinions guys. I've got some concrete ideas and some that suddenly popped in there. But I think I'll continue with both of them and give you guys a little surprise.

DO NOT OWN DEGRASSI.

Come As You Are

- Nirvana

Come as you are, as you were, as I want you to be.
As a friend, as a friend, as an old Enemy.
Take your time, hurry up, choice is yours, don't be late.
Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memory.

Memory ah, Memory ah, Memory ah.

Come doused in Mud, soaked in Bleach, as I want you to be.
As a trend, as a friend, as an old Memory ahhh.

Memory ahh, Memory ahh, Memory ahh.

Chorus:
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun

-Instrumental-

Memory ahh, Memory ahh, Memory ahh, Memory ahh. (Don't have a Gun.)

Chorus:
And I swear that I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
No, I don't have a gun
(Memory ahh, Memory ahh)

I rushed to get dressed and looked outside my window.

Craig PoV

I sat in class, staring outside the window, just thinking what I had seen Rick do. This couldn't really be the way I was acting...was it? I thought back to all the times with Manny, going back over the things that happened. It was like suddenly I could see the haze that had drugged my mind and remember everything. I could see her face, the tears streaming down, and most of all, the bruises I had left on her fair skin. I didn't feel like these memories were real, they simply couldn't be. But I remembered them clearly, I remember the rush I had felt after the coke hit and I had just finished beating her black and blue.

I let my head slip through my hand and bang on the desk. Seeing as how I was considered an abuser and associated with the Hurst gang, no one even bothered to look over. Lucas glanced over and gave me a questioning look, his eyebrow raised. He ran his fingers through the dark mop on top of his head and looked back towards the teacher, getting right back to writing a note. I had a feeling it might be towards Mia but I couldn't be sure, he had other things on his mind today. I knew he wasn't like Rick (or apparently me) but he did have issues of his own to deal with, including with her.

I couldn't help but think that maybe that was why we all got along so well. The fact we were all fucked up in the head. Fuck. I didn't want to be like this, I didn't want to be like my father. I wasn't him; I wasn't a fraction bit like him. This couldn't be the truth.

The bell rung, waking me from my stupor, I shook my head as if that could make the thoughts go away. It didn't help. I continued getting all my stuff and Lucas waited on my side.

"Rick isn't here."

His look said it all.

SWITCH

Jay's POV

I pressed the clutch and switched into 4th gear, weaving through the traffic on the highway. Being on the highway during school hours made it pretty empty, but just not clear enough. I gave a sigh and took a sip of the soda that was just sitting in the cup holder and winced at the flatness. My wish my girls were here or that anyone was here. I got stuck doing a drug deal with Peter driving to some nameless place out in a suburb. Things were just peachy. I heard my phone go off and decided to check it, fuck the risk.

FROM: Ravine Baby ;)

Hey baby

come back to bed

we miss you ;)

I laughed; I guess she changed her name so I would always have a reminder of what we used to be. It didn't bother me much, and I knew she didn't put it to be mean. But reading back over the message, I got insanely jealous, they were starting without me? Damn bitches, but I loved them. Still haven't told them that, but oh well. I turned on the right exit and went to get some gas.

TO: Ravine Baby ;)

Don't have too much fun w/o me

I'll be there ASAP

or you could always send a pic? ;)

Hey, it never hurts to try. Those girls together were something else entirely. I knew I had to get my mind off of them because I couldn't very well pull off a deal with my head in the clouds and a pitched tent in my pants. Once I filled the tank and got the appropriate munchies, I set off on another whirlwind adventure. But only right after I smoked this pretty little joint in my hand. Ha this would be fun, even if I was by myself. I threw the phone into the passenger's side and turned up the music, blaring it out into the world.

REGULAR POINT OF VIEW

Manny closed her closet, throwing the clothes in her hand on the bed and gave a sigh. Waking alone wasn't her most favorite thing in the world. Even though Sean had left her a little note on his pillow, it just wasn't the same to her. She looked at the clock and just rolled her eye, of course she was late for school. This day was just getting better and better. Flinging herself back onto the bed and breathing to stop herself from stressing out even more, today had to get better. She began thinking about how things had so quickly changed in such a little amount of time, and seemed quite possibly for the best.

She was beginning to relax and get comfy when there was a knock at her door, disturbing her little paradise.

"Yeah, what is it?" Being a little grumpy about losing a probably much needed nap, she barked it out.

"Uhm, hey Manny, I was just wondering if I could talk to you for a little bit. I mean if that's alright and I'm not bugging you." Alex's voice quietly penetrated through Manny's quiet little world. "It's cool if you're busy or something. I wouldn't wanna bug you"

Manny walked to the door, her little pink bunny slippers dragging across the floor. She took a quick look in the mirror when she passed by, making a face at her slightly ruffled appearance and stuck out her tongue.

"Oh, don't worry you're not bothering me at all. Its all good, I had nothing better going on." She opened the door and gave Alex a smile. "So, what's up?" She opened it wide and moved to the side to let Alex walk into the room.

"I just. I don't even know. I had some questions about what I should do with the whole Emma situation. And since you're her best friend and know her the best, I thought I would come to you. I just I'm kind of confused on this whole situation." She gave an exhausted smile and ran her fingers through her hair. "I've just been so stressed lately and though we never fight, it's just like something might be missing." She sat down on Manny's bed, then turned and laid down. "It's like all three of us together, it's meant to be. I don't know how else to explain it. It's just like lying in their arms is all I would ever need. I feel complete and whole. Ahh, I'm just babbling." She gave Manny a semi-frustrated smile.

"Actually, I completely understand you. I feel that way with Sean and I don't know what it would be like to be without him. We would lay in bed if we ever got the chance." She gave a small laugh and sat cross-legged facing Alex. "Just simple perfection words can't decide? People say we're too young to feel things like this, it might be true but I know what I'm feeling right now and that's all that matters. It might not last another day or even another minute, but it might last the rest of my lifetime and I wouldn't need anyone else." She seemed to be staring off into space, absorbed in her own world and the impact of her words.

"Ha wow, I never thought you would get that deep on me, Santos. I didn't ask for that gooey stuff about your love life." Alex smiled and stuck out her tongue at Manny. "But maybe possibly I could see what you're saying. But that might just because of all those horrible illegal drugs having an affect on my brain." She hopped up and out of Manny's bed. "I've decided I should probably talk to them rather then a fortune cookie, which you turned out to be."

Manny just calmly flipped her off while Alex walked off and fell back into her bed, trying to convince herself to get dressed.

"This day just sucks."

With Emma and Sean

Emma was working on her baby while Sean sat to "advise" her; mostly he just sat there and bounced ideas off of her.

"So, like, what if there was a zombie surprise attack? Who would you take with you? And what would be your plan to stay alive? Cause this might happen one day, and is totally important." Sean was leaning back in an old beach chair, a bag of chips lying on his stomach. "I mean you never know when things like this would matter!"

"Ha well, I'm guessing everyone would be good enough to stay alive or else they're just simply fucked. I mean there are some people I would be tempted to trip if we're getting chased…" She continued looking for a tool to help her work on the engine. "Like I guess I haven't really thought about it, considering there's no such thing as a zombie." She took enough time to look at him, take the lollipop out her mouth and stick out her lightly blue tinted tongue.

"SMURF JIZZ!"

"What an idiot."

"I am not. You are. And that's final."

"Sean, you're idiot and you just don't want to admit it. You know lying to yourself is very bad for your health. It'll make you go blind if you're not careful, betcha didn't know that!" Her laughter rang out and echoed in the garage as well as the sound of a door opening.

"Hey you guys!" Marco popped his head in. "I just texted Darcy and she's at school all by herself and she really isn't liking that. So either we save her or join her. Plus she had some weird conversation with Sav." He rolled his eyes and walked down to the two and sat in a chair by Sean, he legs propped up on an old table. "So I think the plan is we'll come steal her and then just hang around and do nothing like usual. You know, that old chestnut." He winked at Emma and they both giggled.

"Who's going to pick her up? And where's Jay, I thought he was only gonna be gone for a little bit and now it's been like 3 hours. Last time I talked to him was around like an hour ago, around like 12-ish."

"Yeah but its Jay, he's probably whacking it in the bathroom or something. You know how us boys are, just can't it in our pants for like 5 minutes." Marco wiggled his eyebrows and laughed again.

"Speaking of keeping it in your pants, how are you and Jimmy doing? Wait, Marco…why are your eyes red? You smoked without me? You turd-nugget." Emma tried her to best to look annoyed but couldn't pull it off very well once Marco started giggling again. She stepped away from her car and sat in Marco's chair, making him scoot over and share the seat.

"Oh girl, you're such a gossip." Throwing his hand around very feminine like but giggling before he was able to complete the movement. "I don't know how those gay gay guys do it; it hurts my wrist too much to be throwing it around like that." He started flinging his wrist around this way and that. Which was his little way of trying to subtly change the subject, but he didn't know if it was working.

Emma just slightly glared at him, letting him know she definitely knew what he was trying to do. "You're very bad at changing the subject Marco. So I suggest that you either tell me the truth or something very bad will happen to you and definitely won't be linked to me in anyway." She turned face to face with him and smiled while she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Oh fine, we're doing okay. We've decided to take it slow and let it flow naturally. You know you can't rush perfection." He gave a soft smile at the thoughts of Jimmy appeared on his mind. "We might have been moving faster if his ex wasn't interfering all the time. She texts, calls, and bugs him at every minute it seems! It's like she doesn't realize that's he's not straight as an arrow anymore or at least finally admitted it." He gave a sigh and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I mean I guess I encourage it because she would say something like her aunt or something will be in the hospital and she would be upset but he keeps saying she's just using that to talk to him. But I don't want it to be an emergency and it be ignored, ya know? I just don't know what to do. Part of me is scared that maybe this is just a faze or some type of joke. Like as soon as we try to go further he'll realize this isn't what actually wants and just leave. I know it's too soon for love or anything but those damn butterflies just make it so amazingly awesome." He had a little blush talking about one of his first real lovers. "Its weird for me because usually I'm the one not knowing what I'm doing, and now he doesn't know what he's doing either!" Marco started pouting slightly and leaned his head back over the chair's edge. He made an odd sound as if spitting out something nasty. "Pleck."

SWITCH

Terri's PoV

I couldn't believe this was happening right now. I started hyperventilating and had to sit down. All the fear and hatred I had because of him starting coming back, hitting me hard. It felt like all those emotions almost knocked me off the bed I was sitting on. I couldn't act like I was home, I had to hide, to get out of here. I ran down to lock the doors and see if he really was pulling up. I was about to have a panic attack. He would hurt me, I knew this for a fact. What could I do? Call 911? That seemed like a good option but I was scared to make it. This could end up badly if I didn't play my cards right. I picked up my phone and decided to send some 'help me' texts before I made up my mind, I didn't know how long till he would be here.

TO: Sav, Ashley, Mom

I think Rick is on his way.

I don't know what to do.

I'm scared to call for help

Please help me!

Yeah, I probably should of called the cops instead of just sending out a stupid text, but maybe they could think of something. I decided to hide in the bathroom, it was the farthest room from the doors and might help me pull of not being home. I wished my mom or even my dad was home today, that would of helped a lot. I slowed my breathing and starting regretting picking a room without a window. I held my cell phone in my hand and let the stillness of the house give me some strength. Maybe he was just trying to see if he could rattle me? It wouldn't be the first time he would have done something like this. I wouldn't put it past him. My phone buzzed, alerting me to a message, then quickly again.

2 NEW MESSAGES

FROM: Sav

Are you serious? I'll try to head over

I'll call some people

Stay safe, leave if you can!

FROM: Ashley

R u kidding?

Where r u?

R u safe?

Call some people? What did he mean? I knew for a fact no one would care if something happened to me. I checked my phone every five seconds for a text back from my mom and there was nothing. I was praying she was alright. I checked the time he sent the text and it had been 15 minutes. 15 horror-filled minutes. And it only took about 25 minutes to get to my house from school. I could still run away from and hide. But where would I go? I sat on the cold floor just hoping everything would be okay.

SWITCH

RICK'S PoV

I couldn't believe she would do this to me. I had patience but she was pushing it, and I would let her know the punishment. It only took 25 minutes to get to her house from school, but I was taking my time. I figured there was only place she would be, hopefully, and that would be at her house. I walked slowly to my car, enjoying the sunshine hitting my face. I could hear people behind me though, I turned around and saw Craig and Lucas. It didn't concern me why they would follow me, I honestly didn't care. I was already angry at Terri, and if it had been a teacher…well too bad for them. I stopped and turned, looking at them with a questioning look on my face.

"What are you two doing? Ditching school or planning on joining me?" It wouldn't hurt to have a simple chat for a few minutes, after all I had all the time in the world. I knew Terri, I knew her reactions. She would be too scared to call the cops or even run. She was too stupid to think for herself.

"Well, we were wondering what you were doing, actually. Cause you were so pissed off at Terri when you decided to leave before class. Are you going over there?" Craig was a nosy motherfucker, end of story. I heard the things he did to Manny when they were dating, he probably wanted to join in on what was about to happen. "I mean dude, like what exactly set you off?"

"Are you trying to have a god-damn Oprah moment with me?" Oh hell no, this shit was not happening.

I looked towards Lucas for an answer and he was off staring into space, not even trying to look at the current situation. As if ignoring anything ever worked. I decided I would try to rile him up, just for the fun of it, wasn't going to try too hard but till I got to Terri.

"Nah, got to keep these bitches in line you know. Can't have them going around being whores, pregnant, or sluts." When I said the word pregnant I looked right at him, trying to gauge his reaction. I noticed he locked right at me, kind of shocked of I would say that. "Can't have them thinking they cant get whatever they want and then disobey."

"Dude, just drop the whole Terri situation and go back inside. There will always be girls that are going to be better than that fat cow." Oh, Lucas thought he could go around calling MY girl a fat cow, when his was a whore?

"What, like your girl? That wasn't even your girl, she didn't want to put up with such a lame-ass fucktard. She knew you weren't shit but she's probably mad at herself for getting pregnant with your kid. She'll get to look at that fuck-up everyday. Knowing that she won't get away from someone so pathetic." He just fucking crossed the line. I wasn't going to let him go away without showing him how I felt. He didn't even blink as he walked closer to me, making us look into each other's eyes.

"If anyone is the piece of shit, its you. You think just because you can get a girl so damn weak and dependant, it makes you a man? You've seriously got something wrong in that small ass brain of yours. There's something wrong with you. And I'm not going to sit here and let you go to Terri's. A simple fuck-up like you has got to get some sense beat into him and know how it feels to be the victim for once. I'm not going to let you get away with this."

He pushed me slightly, just barely knocking me off balance. He stepped back up into my face, his eyes looked as if they could kill.

"And as a matter of fact, I'm trying to fix my mistake with Mia and take care of her. I'm trying to be the bigger man here and take care of what I've messed up. That's going to be my kid, that's something I'm not going to be able to take back. And I'm going to be the bigger man here and leave. You're just a piece of shit."

Lucas walked off, but Craig had disappeared. I couldn't believe he had said those things to me of all people. I shook off what he had said, I was a better man than they would ever be. I continued walking towards my car, Terri would hate for me to be late. And too bad for her, she was getting the punishment of those two dumbasses in combination with hers.

"Rick, where do you think you're going?"

I turned around to whoever had the balls to ask me that question, all these hold-ups were pissing me off even more. Whoever said it would be getting half of her punishment.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I would like to thank to all those who've viewed the last chapter [but you guys haven't reviewed it!] I've decided to continue on with this format [using the text messages and such] and also with the idea [that shall remain a mystery] I hope you guys like the story so far, I enjoy writing it. But I was thinking of stopping it since I can't tell if you guys like it anymore. And I don't feel like spending my time writing this story if no one is enjoying it anymore, ya know? And also, I'm in the need for some music, I have the ideas but finding the songs sometimes is what takes so long. And I can't have a music story without music, that's like the whole point! but to those who keep reading the chapters [even though you don't review] thank you.

-atsn