Jimmy served his detention at six the next morning, meaning he had to start his morning routine almost two hours early. He struggled during his lunch time physio and was completely wiped out by the time his next class started. Jimmy was nodding off when Ashley gave him a sharp pinch on the arm.
He whispered, "What was that for?"
Ashley smiled. "You're sleeping in class Brooks."
Jimmy gave her a look of mock disbelief and went back to work. The rest of the day went by with Jimmy torturing himself trying to staying awake. He decided to shirk his coaching duties and go straight home. Ashley walked outside while Jimmy waited for his dad to pick him up. "I'm surprised you're not coaching today."
Jimmy turned towards Ashley. "I'm exhausted, so I decided to hang up my whistle today. I'll be back in the game tomorrow."
Ashley playfully punched him. "I believe you Coach Brooks. Never let a silly basketball team get in the way of some good sleep."
Jimmy rolled his eyes in exasperation. Ashley offered to take him home and he politely declined. Never one to give in, Ashley insisted and began pushing him towards her car.
"You know you can go to prison for kidnapping the disabled," Jimmy quipped. Once they reached the car, Ashley asked Jimmy if he needed help getting in.
When ignoring her failed, Jimmy snapped. "Ash, I got it, okay." The drive to Jimmy's house was spent in silence. After parking, Ashley jumped out of the car and had grabbed Jimmy's chair out of the backseat before he could get his seatbelt off. She opened his door and then stood behind his chair as he transferred. Jimmy had to laugh.
"You just don't give up, do you?"
"You sound like Toby."
"Whatever. Since you're feeling so benevolent, why don't you keep me company for awhile?" Jimmy and Ashley spent the next three hours watching TV and reminiscing about the "old days". Ashley only left when her mother called saying that Toby needed to be picked up from the library.
Over the next few weeks, Ashley and Jimmy fell into a routine. They would go to Jimmy's house after school, doing homework and hanging out for hours everyday. Jimmy seemed to be letting his guard down for the first time since the shooting. Ashley had a way of getting him to open up without even realizing it. It seemed like the old Jimmy Brooks was coming back.
Marco was leaving a student council meeting when he ran into Jimmy in the hallway.
"Jim, what's up?"
"Nothing much man, just finished physio. How's everything in the world of Degrassi politics?"
"Everything's good. You're jolly these days, what's gotten into you?"
Jimmy blushed and looked at the floor. Before Marco had a chance to say anything, Ashley ran up behind Jimmy and gave him a hug. Jimmy blushed and looked at the floor, again. Marco politely excused himself but not without giving Jimmy a knowing look.
"What was that about?"
"Marco's just being Marco."
"Okay, I guess. Jimmy, aren't you supposed to be in class?"
"Yes, mother, but I'm so late that I might as well skip."
"Cool, lets go get ice cream."
"Ashley, I have a permanent hall pass." Jimmy looked at his chair and back up at Ashley. "How are you going to get out of here?"
Ashley scratched her head for a second before responding. "Let me push you and if we get stopped, I'll do the talking." Ashley and Jimmy walked out of the front door safely and were weak with laughter by the time they pulled out of the school parking lot.
"That was amazing Ash. We just left school in the middle of the day, no questions asked." "I told you I could handle it, but I almost broke when we passed Mrs. H. You were so nervous."
"Whatever." Jimmy tried to pout but was unable to hold back a smile. Ashley continued to tease Jimmy the entire five minutes that it took to get to the ice cream shop. Jimmy took his turn teasing when they got in the shop. "It takes ice cream to shut you up? I wish someone would've told me that a long time ago." Their playful banter was interrupted by the older woman working behind the counter.
"Can I take your order Miss?" Ashley ordered a double scoop of mint chocolate chip and was beaming from ear to ear. The woman stared at Jimmy and then turned to Ashley.
"What can I get your friend?" Ashley was taken aback and immediately turned a deep red. She was just about to tear into the elderly woman when Jimmy grabbed her wrist to quiet her. He moved closer to the counter, sat up as tall as could, and ordered his ice cream in a quiet but clipped voice.
The woman was clearly clueless to her faux pas as she continued. "It's so nice to see such a pretty young girl volunteering with the disabled. When I was your age honey, all I could think about was boys and clothes. It touches my heart to see you taking your time with him."
Jimmy was hurt, angry, and embarrassed. He threw enough money on the counter to pay for their ice cream and quickly wheeled out of the store. Ashley gave the woman a look that could've been responsible for hell freezing over and ran after Jimmy.
