"The One" – Part 44

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Time for some drama, right?

This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

"Okay, what's wrong?"

Adam threw Naomi a quizzical expression. "What are you talking about?"

She smirked. "Why are you in the kitchen?"

"Um, I'm putting dishes away. You know, since dinner is done?" he said sarcastically.

She studied him for a moment. "Right, and that justifies leaving your new girlfriend to the wolves?"

Adam snorted. "Really? You're reaching there!" At times she displayed a flare for the dramatic. "Everyone has been nice and inviting all evening."

"And you've been a bit… distant towards her. Why?" Naomi grilled him.

He stared back at her for a moment before slumping his shoulders in resignation. "It's really stupid," he stated under his breath.

Naomi caught his words and smiled victoriously for a moment, before switching to a neutral expression. "I'll be the judge of that. Spill."

He gave her a look. "When I pulled you aside earlier to talk, you stonewalled me. Now you want me to spill my guts to you?"

Naomi looked away. "I… I don't want to think about Thomas. Every time I do, I get either really angry or really sad. Today has been a really good day. Tomorrow is going to be an even better day. I just need to keep him off my mind."

Adam was humbled by her honesty. "My girlfriend… asked me if I hooked up with Joe."

Naomi burst out laughing. "Oh, you're serious?" she stated when she saw his face.

Adam lowered his head. "Fiona's very open-minded. I know it shouldn't bother me, but it does!"

Naomi wanted to be helpful, but she couldn't help getting one little joke in. "You guys do have some Ho Yay action going on at times."

"Thanks," he said sarcastically.

Her brown eyes shone with amusement.

Just then Joe joined them in the kitchen. "There you guys are! Naomi, your cupcakes are the bomb." He walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He glanced at Adam. "Why the long face?"

Naomi quickly filled in him on the situation.

Joe laughed and turned to Adam. "I'm honored that she thinks you fell for my wile charms!"

He had to admit, it was rather ironic. At one point in time he did have a crush on Adam! Eventually he realized it was futile and was happy to call him a friend. The two shared a close bond, being that they understood each other in a way others could not. They were both FTMs and had gone through similar experiences and struggles.

"You guys are so helpful," Adam quipped, annoyed.

Naomi looked at him. "Okay, so what about her open-mindedness bothers you?" she asked, getting back on track.

"Well, I know she didn't mean anything by the question. After all, gender isn't a factor in who she dates. But, I'm bothered that she asked me that. It makes me wonder if she knows me at all," Adam explained.

"Whoa, back up," Joe told him. "That's a pretty big leap to make from asking one question!" he noted.

"I think I get it," Naomi stated.

"Oh? Enlighten me." Joe thought Adam was dialing up the drama here. Sure his relationship with Emily was a rollercoaster, but not all relationships had to be that way! Fiona seemed to really love him, so it would be a shame if a misunderstanding derailed things.

"Being transgendered you had to fight to be seen as a guy, and you also had to fight to been seen as a straight guy. Both are integral to your identity, so her question struck a nerve," she analyzed him.

Adam and Joe shared a look.

"How does she do that?" Joe questioned.

Adam chuckled. "Her accuracy is almost scary."

"Yeah, I'm right here," Naomi ribbed them.

Adam sighed. "Perhaps you have a point."

"Talk to her," Naomi insisted.

Joe nodded. "Yeah, don't go the passive aggressive route. Unless you want to screw things up before you reach the one month mark." He and Naomi bumped fists.

-oOo-

When they returned to the living room Robin and Jake were telling Fiona about the wedding. They had flown down the Bahamas and witnessed the ceremony. Afterward, the couple took a short cruise that departed from there and enjoyed a romantic holiday together.

"I filled in as a groomsman," Jake revealed. "I'm no Adam, but it worked out okay."

"What that's supposed to mean?" Adam asked with a smile as he took a seat next to Fiona. She smiled warmly at him and took his hand.

"We were talking about the wedding. I'm not Mr. Matchmaker. We really missed you, man," Jake told him.

Adam was touched. "I wish I could have been there. I feel crappy about it."

Naomi waved him off. "Everyone understands!" she assured him. "Besides, you're not the only who couldn't fly down there." She was unable to go as well.

"Emily was there, right?" Chris asked. Her older sister was bridesmaid and last he heard she planned to tag along.

Naomi and Joe sent him a warning look.

"Oh… Forget I asked," he backtracked.

Adam rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Very subtle!" Joe quipped.

They all laughed.

Fiona glanced at Adam. He told her that Emily and Carla weren't really friends, so she was a little confused as to why she would attend the wedding.

"She was there," Jake confirmed. "Talking to her was a little awkward."

He and Robin briefly grimaced. Joe caught it and smirked.

"I wonder why…" he teased. Naomi swatted his arm.

Adam was annoyed and wanted to switch the topic. He opened his mouth to speak, but Jake spoke up first.

"Twenty bucks says she comes to the reception," he laughed. Since they were talking about it, he figured he might as well make some easy money!

"Fifty bucks says she doesn't," Adam fired back. The last time they spoke, she told him that she was going to be out of town the week of the reception.

"Ooh. This is getting good!" Joe quipped.

"You're on! Thanks for lining my pockets, bro!" Jake laughed.

"We'll see about that," Adam said coolly.

"Okay, change of subject?" Robin said pointedly. They had been talking about Emily for far too long! She could tell both Adam and his girlfriend were getting uncomfortable.

"Now I want I want to go the reception, just to see how things turn out!" Chris entered the conversation, completely missing the hint. He didn't work with Naomi and the rest of them, so he wasn't on the guest list.

"Me too," Joe laughed. He also didn't work with the group. However, he already had plans for tomorrow night.

"You can be my plus one, Chris," Naomi told him. She certainly wasn't attending with Thomas!

"Deal!" Chris responded excitedly.

"Are they close friends or something?" Fiona questioned. She wanted to wait until she was alone with Adam to grill him about this, but she hated being out of the loop.

Everyone paused and looked at Adam.

He turned to her. "No. I told you they weren't," he reminded her curtly.

Things were slightly awkward before, but it didn't hold a candle to the present mood…

.

tbc

A/N: Naomi and Joe were made full of win in the kitchen scene! But... Oh Adam! That didn't come out well at all! Better fix that quick, buddy! :-x

Review! You know you wanna! :D

In the next chapter… a whole lot of angst!

Off topic: Had such a busy day so far! Did a lot of walking (the trains are really crappy today!), shopping, and went to a street fair - where I actually tried some Chicken Satay! It was really good and amazingly cost just a dollar :D (you gotta love New York, right?)