The Long And Winding Road
Notes: Just a reminder of what was stated in the note preceding Chapter 1 – All episodes that came after "Holiday" and "This Charming Man" aren't canon in this story. The only similar content is that Simpson regained his health at some point during the time after those 2 episodes and before Chapter 1. Thus, the Sean/Ellie relationship didn't happen and is not part of continuity as far as this story is concerned. So Emma's dislike of Ellie isn't Sean-related.
Thanks to PsYcHoJo, YellyBelly, Neviegirl, kristine and almost-never for all the great feedback.
Chapter 40 - I'm A Believer
After leaving Simpson's classroom, Liberty walked quickly – but calmly – toward her newspaper office. As she anticipated, when she looked through the window she saw JT sitting alone at her computer, staring off into space.
"Have you been waiting long?" Liberty asked him after opening the door.
"Huh?" JT asked, having lost his train of thought. "Oh. Hey Liberty. Waiting? No, I was just…busy. Figured nobody would need the room."
"Busy?" she asked, looking doubtful.
"Yeah. Busy. You know me, I've always got something going on."
"So what are you busy doing?"
"Doing? Oh. Right."
JT, suddenly on the spot without an answer, thought for a moment as Liberty looked on.
"Okay," JT finally said. "Isn't it obvious?"
"What would that be?" Liberty asked, trying not to smile.
"A screen saver," he declared, pointing toward her computer.
"Okay…"
"I've been promising for years to fix you a screen saver of Raditch puking green slime while his head spins around in circles. You know, so he could be like that girl in 'The Exorcist.'"
Liberty finally started to laugh.
"With only a couple months of school left," JT continued, "I figured I'd better get it done while there's still time."
Liberty walked toward him and saw that the computer wasn't even turned on.
"Or perhaps you simply needed a break from everything?" she suggested, noticing that he had a lost expression on his face. "Would you like to talk, JT?"
JT nodded in the affirmative, but then didn't say anything for several moments.
"Do you think I'm crazy, Liberty?" he finally spoke up to ask.
"Absolutely," she replied with a smile.
"Gee, thanks. Care to spend more than two seconds considering your answer first?"
"Crazy in all the good ways, JT."
"Oh. Well, good. And you don't think my upcoming purchase is ridiculous?"
"I already said this morning when you told me the news that I'm happy for you. It's exactly the kind of exciting challenge you thrive on. It was sudden, but not completely unexpected."
"How's that?"
"Remember when we were at the steak house?"
"How can I forget?"
"Do you recall what I said about you?"
"I remember you described me as your adorable popcorn kernel," JT replied, rolling his eyes.
"True, but I also bragged about how someday you were going to own your own theater."
"Yeah, I remember that too."
"My behavior that evening," Liberty continued, "was purposefully over-the-top in the hope that you'd turn your attention toward communicating with Emma. Even so, I wasn't kidding when I made that particular statement. I've felt for some time that this was one of your career options. I didn't expect you to pursue it – or any career – this soon, but I know you are more than capable of meeting the challenge."
JT smiled.
"Although my having faith in you shouldn't come as a surprise."
"It doesn't," JT agreed.
"Emma has that same faith, JT. And then some."
"I've always thought so, but…"
"She believes in you. She'll come around. Now you need to show her that you believe in her."
"What are you talking about, Liberty?"
"Tell me, JT…What sort of comments did she make when you first discussed with her the idea of buying the theater?" Liberty asked knowingly. "After all, I'm certain she was able to voice her concerns before you approached your boss about the purchase. Right?"
"Well…um…not exactly."
"Oh?"
"She was at home asleep. I was at Ryan's thinking. There really wasn't a lot of time. And before you know it, it happened. The deal was available and I took it."
"I see," Liberty responded, having already assumed that JT, in his eagerness, made this move without stopping to consult Emma.
"I knew she'd be disappointed about my canceling out on university, but still…"
"JT, we've known each other for quite awhile. I'd say we're good friends. Great friends. Wouldn't you?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Then I think that it's time I finally told you those three little words. The ones that mean so much."
JT looked confused.
"Liberty, I…"
"Just know that it comes straight from my heart, JT," she interrupted.
"Um…"
"JT…" Liberty began, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're. An. Idiot."
Meanwhile, Emma was alone at a table in the school cafeteria staring at her untouched bowl of fruit salad when Manny approached.
"Having lunch alone today, Em, or do you want some company?"
"I don't mind," Emma replied, giving a half-smile.
"How's your day going so far?" Manny asked while placing her tray on the table and sitting down.
"I've had better."
"Let me guess," Manny said after taking a bite of her sandwich. "The talk didn't go so well."
"The talk?"
"The talk that you and JT were going to have this morning in order to clear the air."
"Should I even bother to ask how you know we talked before we went to Math?" Emma asked.
"Sean mentioned it during MI. Remember, we have that class together the period before you and JT."
"I didn't realize that you and Sean were the new gossip duo of Degrassi. Tell me, Manny – which one of you plays the role of Paige and which one is Hazel?"
"We take it in turns…hon."
"Funny. Anyway, I know you've stopped giving Sean a hard time, Manny, but what's up with you two talking about me and JT?"
"Look, Sean told me that JT's buying TMD and that the news didn't go over so well with you. He said JT was planning to work things out with you today and that when I saw you I might want to make sure you had given JT a chance to have his say."
"Oh, he asked you to do that, did he?" Emma asked, annoyed.
"He was concerned, wanting things to go well for both of you. Especially for JT. I think Sean's trying to play the part of protective older brother to him or something. Anyway…well…Sean and I both know that you can overreact sometimes."
"Overreact?" Emma frowned.
"Just a little."
"Overreact! That's a laugh. Ha! Let me say it again. Ha!"
"Emma…"
"Overreact… I never overreact. Anyone who would think that I could ever overreact is…"
Emma then looked at Manny, who was rolling her eyes.
"Fine. Maybe I do have a tendency to overreact. On occasion."
"That's all I'm saying, Em."
"JT was really coming over toward me this morning to work things out?"
Manny nodded her head, causing Emma to sigh.
"And before he could say more than a couple of words, I tore into him about not calling last night. Manny, I swear sometimes my brain must be on a 10-second delay, never quite catching up to what my mouth has already started saying."
"I can believe that," Manny replied, but then smiled which in turn made Emma smile.
"Last night after thinking about it for awhile as well as talking it through with Archie, I was starting to get used to the idea of JT owning the place, but then he didn't return my phone call so I got annoyed all over again when I saw him today. Then he has that friendship with Ellie Nash, and she's apparently giving him the kind of support as a friend that I should have been giving as his girlfriend."
"Wait. Back up, Em. JT and Ellie are friends?" Manny asked in surprise.
"For a year or two. Crazy, isn't it? With him working at the theater and her stopping in regularly to see movies, I suppose that's how they connect. I've never had much use for her. To think that a bright woman like Caitlin would ever consider that girl worthy of a research job, even a part-time one. That girl is so pathetic, Manny. She seems to think that wearing some black clothing every once in awhile makes her this deep person."
"I never would have guessed that you weren't fond of her," Manny said sarcastically.
"But JT seems to enjoy his occasional conversations with the little wannabe member of the dark side, so I leave it alone. I don't try to pick JT's friends for him."
In response, Manny made exaggerated coughing sounds.
"Hey," Emma protested, "I never said I didn't try to pick his girlfriends on occasion in the past. But not his friends."
"Fair enough," Manny accepted. "But you need to forget about her, Emma. Or do you want to go into some jealous frenzy because JT has good friendships with girls. Because if so, you're going to need more hours in the day since he's friends with Ellie, Liberty, me, Paige…"
"Manny," Emma interrupted coldly, "when is it going to sink into your head what a joke it is for you to give me advice about how to manage a relationship with JT? Anytime JT ever looked your way, you acted like you had about as much use for him as a blind man has for a big-screen TV. So don't pretend that you have anything worthwhile to say on the subject."
The two young women looked at one another in silence, with Emma expecting Manny's comeback comment.
"It's going to be okay, Em," Manny finally said, calmly breaking the silence and refusing to turn the conversation into a confrontation.
"I trust him more than I do anybody, Manny," Emma quietly explained. "I'm not jealous of anyone, including Ellie. Especially Ellie. I just hate that I wasn't there for him like I should have been. That we've had all this miscommunication during the last two days."
"Ellie, me, Sean, Liberty and whoever else…we can tell JT how happy we are for him, and he's glad to hear it because he knows that his friends are supporting him. But you're still the one he wants to hear it from the most."
"I'm sorry about before, Manny. That was a stupid thing for me to say."
"You're forgiven," Manny replied. "After finally getting you back as a friend a few months ago, there's no way one comment could mess that up. Just like a couple of bad days isn't going to destroy the most stable couple around here. It's just that since you and JT got together, you two aren't used to arguing over anything more serious than what to eat for dinner."
"I know. Even in class a few minutes ago, as annoyed as I was with him, my heart just about melted when Archie told JT how proud he was of him. JT had this look in his eyes…I don't know if I can even explain it. It was like he had gotten his father's approval and knew it was all going to be okay. Genuine, heartfelt approval that should be a constant in his life but for the fact that his own father is such worthless scum. So to get this positive reaction from Archie, whom JT respects like a father…it was obvious by looking at JT just how much that meant to him. He was so happy that I just wanted to grab him and hug him tight and not let go."
"But…" Manny interjected.
"But…instead I let things get out of hand and told him he should look to Ellie for comfort."
"Good job, Emma," Manny said sarcastically.
"I know. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Feel free to interrupt at any time, Manny."
"No, that about sums it up."
"True enough," Emma agreed.
"Look, no matter what's been going on the last couple of days, you still love him, right?"
"That's a ridiculous question, Manny."
"Then give me a ridiculous answer."
"Of course I still love him. More and more every day. Even on those occasions when I want to wring his neck. And I believe in him."
"Then work it out. Talk without letting it get out of hand. And when that's done, enjoy the best part of getting through the argument."
"And that is…?"
"Making up," Manny grinned.
Back in the newsroom, Liberty's declaration caught JT off-guard.
"Those are the three little words you had in mind? The words straight from the heart?"
"Afraid so," Liberty replied.
"Great. Just what I wanted to hear."
"No, but it's what you needed to hear. Relax, JT. It's not an ongoing thing; merely temporary."
"I see. Hope you're not expecting a fee for this counseling session."
"Come on, JT. You know how gung-ho Emma has been about university. But once you decided that you wanted to do something else, you didn't even mention your plan to her, much less discuss it in detail. You went right ahead and made this enormous decision that's going to have a major impact on your life, which naturally means it will have quite an effect on Emma's life as well.
"The two of you don't have some trivial high-school romance that's going to be discarded the moment you graduate. You've both made it abundantly clear that this relationship is much more than that. One that's going to last. As a result, you should have given her much more consideration when it came to making this huge commitment to TMD. Even though it's still ultimately your decision to make, she deserved the opportunity to discuss it with you before it became a done deal."
Liberty noticed that, though JT wasn't saying anything, he was processing her words and seemed to understand what she was getting at.
"Don't worry, though, JT. Emma's not blameless, either. It hasn't escaped my attention that in her eagerness to share the college experience with you, she hasn't appeared to give you much room to voice a differing opinion. I think, deep down, Emma has known that her plan wasn't what you wanted, but she thought that if she kept moving forward you would eventually come around to her way of thinking. You both want the best for one another, which is why I know this situation is easily fixable."
After a moment, JT finally broke the silence.
"Got it. Point taken."
"Glad to hear it."
"No need to get insulting, though," JT joked.
"Drastic times, drastic measures. You're far from an idiot, JT. You're bright, caring and extremely enthusiastic. This was more like a temporary blind spot."
JT laughed, leaving Liberty relieved that her momentary harshness earlier was accepted in the helpful spirit that she intended it.
"I wasn't trying to shut her out. At least not on purpose. I do believe in her and trust her, and I still want to talk to her – if we can actually have a conversation this week without anyone getting mad, jealous or walking away."
"It will all work out, JT. I know you. You'll make sure it works out if it's the last thing you do. But I don't think it will take that long."
"You knew I would be in here, didn't you?" he then asked.
"I had a hunch," Liberty replied.
"You made a lot of sense."
"That doesn't surprise you, I trust."
"Not at all. I had a hunch, also. Why do you think I ended up in here? I figured you'd show up eventually."
"So I suppose I can forget about actually getting a puking, spinning Raditch screen saver. Whether missing out on that is good or bad, I haven't yet decided."
They laughed, and then Liberty looked at her watch.
"There's still plenty of time left before the next class," Liberty told him. "Plenty of time for you to locate her and for the two of you to begin talking."
JT reached down and picked up his bookbag from the floor and then stood up.
"I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding her, JT."
"That's right," he agreed. "I shall leave no stone – or girls restroom – unturned."
"I hope that's not the slogan for your first official ad campaign," a voice spoke from the doorway.
JT and Liberty turned toward the door and saw Emma standing at the entryway.
"Granted, it's a unique approach – spot checks of the girls room by the male owner, but still…" Emma continued, walking hesitantly into the room.
"Hey Emma," JT greeted, happy to see her but nervous in his desire that nothing bad happen.
"Hi," she replied.
"I'm glad you're here, Emma," Liberty said, "because there are a few things I want to say to you as well. For starters…"
"Liberty," JT interrupted. "Don't worry about it."
"Hey, I lectured you, so it's only fair that I give Emma equal time."
"It's okay, Liberty," Emma said. "Manny already beat you to it."
"Manny as in Manny Santos?" Liberty asked in disbelief.
"That would be the one," Emma replied.
"She was helpful? AND she made sense?"
"Yes to both questions."
"Obviously this is one of those signs of an impending apocalypse," Liberty concluded. She then noticed that JT and Emma were looking at one another. "I think I'll grab a quick bite to eat and leave the two of you to talk."
"Thanks, Liberty," JT said as she was about to leave the room. "For everything."
"Just remember that both of you need to shut up and listen to one another," Liberty instructed the pair.
"Will do," JT said.
"Of course, if you're both listening, that would mean neither of you is saying anything. So scratch that. Take turns shutting up and listening to one another."
"We got it," Emma responded.
"Except you shouldn't fight over who has to shut up first. I suppose you could flip a coin, but then you'd probably argue over who gets to decide between heads or tails."
JT and Emma grinned at one another as Liberty kept talking.
"I suppose you could try the 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' method, but I've always found it rather silly looking when done by anyone over the age of 5. So I'd suggest…"
"Liberty!" JT finally stopped her. "We'll figure it out."
"Oh," she responded. "Right. Okay then. I'll just shut this door for you."
Liberty then left the room, shutting the door behind her.
"So," Emma began nervously, "how have you been, JT?"
"I've been okay. Got married. Had a couple of kids. Hellooo…it's only been about ten minutes since we last saw each other."
"Right. Of course."
They both laughed slightly.
"How did you know I'd be in here?" JT asked.
"First I went back to the MI lab. When I didn't see you, I asked if anyone in there had any idea. Sean wasn't sure, and Patrick just grumbled something about Liberty that I couldn't understand. I took a chance that one or both of you might be here."
"Smart thinking," JT responded. "As usual."
"Thanks, though I don't know how smart I've really been these last couple of days."
"And now, here we are."
"Here we are," Emma repeated. "Feel like talking for awhile?"
"We're good at that. At least usually. You don't think we've lost our touch, do you, Emma?"
"Not a chance, JT. This…these last couple of days…it's just a tiny blip on the radar. Far from the norm."
"Okay, then." JT said as he put his bookbag back down on the floor. "Let's try this again."