Building Character (Donnie)

[Drew Torres]

Situations, things had been very stressful since Katie was prancing around with another male, and though Drew caused this himself he couldn't help to regret. He had writing in his notebook a sorry letting a million times, spending his nights alone tossing paper balls at his waste barrel, he had even skipped the last two days of school. It wasn't normally like Drew to just skip, school let alone practice but he'd cheer from the side lines of need be because he was a team player. Drew went to his first two classes, he was feeling a bit better actually becoming himself again and having conversations with his friends. The rumors were dying down some how and they were becoming less and less because Katie was attending school, and though she may not have been okay on the inside fully she was playing it off somehow. Drew walked to his locker putting away his books he had AP Biology next, but he head footsteps and he saw Katie, she was looking better then the last time he saw he puffy red eyes and all, but Ryder followed, her new thing, affair, rebound whatever you wanted to call it.

Drew scowled and tossed his books into his locker, he was skipping this class. Everyone knew Drew for one of two things, his aggression in the work out room, or his pretty boy, popular reputation. Drew grabbed his gym shorts and his tape and walked to the bathroom, changing into his shorts and wrapping his knuckles. This stress was overwhelming, and eating at his ego now. He practically jogged to the work out room, placing his folded clothes on the bench before walking over to the punching bag striking it aggressively. Drew imagined with every punch it was everyone who ever pissed him off. Fitz, Vince, Himself. Drew hit faster, then kicked hearing the door open. He collected his thoughts, to stop his PTSD from being triggered and he looked over his shoulder beads of sweat pouring down his chest and forehead. When he saw it was just Donnie he turned around and round house kicked the punching bag panting for air. He placed his hands on his knees and bent over a bit when he was a bit more calm he looked up.

"Sorry about missing practice the last couple days I've been...sick." He said coming up with the quickest excuse that came to mind.

[donnie]

Donnie had just got done shooting a few hoops and he was roaming the hallway, en route to the weight room. Headphones blasting in his ear, he stopped once he reached the double doors of the weight room and opened them just in time to see his teammate, Drew, kicking a punching bag. He hadn't seen Drew at school or at practice this week, so seeing him here was quite a surprise. Donnie had called Drew earlier in the week to see if he was okay, but no answer. Donnie didn't bother going to Drew's house either because, well, he figured Drew was probably going through some things and needed time to himself. Understandable. But Donnie needed to know if Drew was okay. Although Donnie was captain, he was a junior. Many of the players often looked to Drew for advice when Donnie wasn't around. Hell, Donnie liked hanging out with Drew often because he provided good times as well.

Donnie raised a brow when Drew went back to punching the bag before saying, "You know it doesn't matter how many times you punch it, the bag won't burst open, man." Donnie laughed as he took a seat in front of Drew and the punching bag when the boy went to his knees gasping for breath and profusely apologizing about missing practice. Donnie shrugged and said, "I can read you like a book dude. I've known you since I came to Degrassi. I know when something's bothering you man. Fess up." Donnie was good at reading people, but he seldom said anything because he didn't feel like butting into anyone's business. Drew was an exception since he was a good friend of Donnie's and he hated to see him like this. "C'mon, I know it's something."

[Drew Torres]

When Donnie said something about the bag not bursting he looked over between the bag and Donnie himself. "I Don't want it to burst, I want it to feel." Drew said walking over to his friend when Donnie asked what was wrong he looked away. So many thoughts could capture his mind, so many answers but he hide them within himself before admitting. Drew bit his bottom lip skimming it with his front teeth and he took a seat beside Donnie. "You know man,I know you have heard the rumors about me cheating on Katie with Bianca...well I did but now this new dude thinks he can invade and I have mixed emotions because she did mean a lot, not nothing seems to matter." Drew admitted, Donnie was his boy, he knew the kid since he got there showed him a little bit about Degrassi. Donnie was a good kid, not a thug or a wannabee and that's what Drew liked about him.

Drew thought for a moment then looked over to Donnie, he needed someone on his side that knew him a bit better chicks were not a good answer to his problem. "Donnie, can we go grab a burrito and maybe just chill after school we'll find something do do, I just need a bro friend that ain't gunna judge me right now." Drew admitted looking to Donnie. There was hope in his eyes, they were both pretty popular and they never seemed to argue at practice but Drew's game was off and he was hurting maybe spending so much time around Bianca wasn't the way to heal this pain he felt internally.

[donnie]

Donnie laughed out loud a little at Drew claiming that he wanted the bag to feel. He shook his head and said, "Well, when that happens, you let me know so I can get me a female punching bag for my trouble." He sighed off his laugh as he realized that Drew seriously was out of it. It was about Katie and Bianca. Donnie really couldn't say he agreed with what he did to her because it was messed up how he cheated on her. Now he was regretting it and Donnie could see it in his eyes. With a raise of his eyebrows, Donnie said, "Well man... That's how it is some times. Women always complicate things... Why you think I'm not in relationship?" Well, it was that and Donnie really was picky with what he wanted in a woman. Most tried to figure him out. All have failed.

"A burrito sounds good, though I prefer some Locos Tacos from Taco Bell, man," Donnie grinned as he went over to the boxing bag and pushed it before stopping it with his fists. "One thing I will say is if you really want Katie back, talk to her. If she still has feelings for you, she'll listen. And if not, then well..." He pushed the bag out of his way, "...maybe it wasn't meant to be in the first place. Bianca is cute, right?" Donnie chuckled as he said, "But I do need you at practice though man... woman problems or not. The teams needs you. This is your last year here and we've got to win the championship." Donnie helped his friend off his feet as he wrapped his arm around his shoulder saying, "Us guys gotta stick together... can't let the female species ALWAYS bring us down."

[Drew Torres]

Drew narrowed his eyes then cracked a hint of a smile, Donnie was right why sweat over girls? Katie had been away he had always loved Bianca but what was he thinking? "Dude I've been there, I've had many girls but you ever have that one that meant the most?" Drew said admiring his own compassion he walked around a bit a threw punches in the air. MMA was no joke he knew he could hurt every boy in this school but Katie, she taught him better. She taught him how to control the rage with in and now without her he was ont. When Donnie agreed to dinner he skirked, he;d like a day out with one of his boys. Donnie was trust worthy, and didn't seem like most of the people he hung out with and with this he should friendship.

Drew let a smirk hit his lips. "Yeah food maybe we can hit up the half shell for a concert, maybe some buds." Drew offered. He had be contemplating on coke for a bit but he bought some weed. The half shell was nice and he got some weed last night. Drew thought for a moment he wanted guy time, it would help him a bit overall.

[donnie]

Donnie thought about it for a moment and said, "Actually, I've never really felt that vibe from another girl, y'know? Like... I've been on dates, but the girls are as bad as guys. All they want is to get the goods man, it's crazy." Donnie laughed before saying, "Don't they know that only guys are capable of doing that?" He was only fooling, but Donnie joked around his boys and Drew was one of them. Donnie always liked being a bit of a jokester around his guys. Being in the locker room made you that way. Of course, Donnie was completely different in other settings but he had to make Drew laugh one way or another. It seemed to be working for now.

"Half shell sounds cool with me... We should round up some more fellas though, man. Make it a complete guys night out," Donnie knew that hanging out with Drew was fun, but surrounding him with more of his guy friends would make for an even better time. Chilling with guys, checking out girls, getting a little drink, it was always a good time in Donnie's book. Throwing on a hoodie, Donnie put the hood on his head as he got into the hallway and chuckled. He did have his own thoughts on a certain girl, but they were mere associates, nothing more. She was cute as hell though. "So about Bianca... why?"

[Drew Torres]

Drew listened for a moment and he walked over to his clothes gathering them nodding at Donnie's suggestion. He couldn't help to crack a smile about his comment about the girls at Degressi, this was true they were just as bad when it came to lying and cheating. "Your right about that, then they parade around and talk shit, telling rumors about us." Drew replied walking with Donnie into the hallway and at his question about Bianca, Drew cracked a smile. Everyone knew about how he got jumped and almost kill for hanging around her, most questioned why he still did. "She's special, she seen me at my best and my worst and always believed in me...it's my turn to believe in her." Drew explained, Bianca wasn't ordinary she was a challenge, and Drew himself enjoyed challenging his limits. "We've been through it all, and just her smile makes me come back for more, the way she sees the animal in me and can just look past the worse possible thing that could happen, and she never blames me. Always finds a way for me to be right somehow some way." Drew said walking up to his locker unlocking it. "Sorry bro I'm rambling." Drew said laughing a bit, this smile was genuine and there hadn't been one there recently. "I'll catch you after school, I'll invite some of the guys, my brother as well, meet me on the front stairs." Drew explained going into his locker grabbing his books.

Before his next class he went to the locker room and showered, then he got back into uniform going to English class. The rest of the day seemed to go by somewhat fast, he invited Adam, and Dave to go out with him and Donnie, hopefully Donnie invited a couple guys as well. What a sausage fest, Drew thought laughing as he took down some notes and when all his classes were over he headed to the front stairs sitting down awaiting all his boys to join him. He watched Katie walk out of the building...with him and he just looked down not wanting his day to go bad or anything.

[adam]

Oh boy, something about hanging with the boys? Hmmm Adam wasn't so sure how he felt about all of this, but if Drew needed him around, he'd do it simply because he knew Drew was struggling still. He was busy tormenting Eli jokingly about Clare but was interrupted when the last bell of the day rang. He glanced around and when Eli had asked what he was doing today, Adam shrugged,"Hanging with the bro and some boys I guess, ya wanna come?" he asked offering Eli a chance to hang out away from his "fan girls". Adam chuckled to himself at the thought,"C'mon Goldsworthy, could be fun, and besides you need to be around some testosterone for a little bit, i think the girls are getting to you, lets go," he said not giving eli a chance to decline his invitation as he dragged his friend outside and he waltzed up to Drew. "Eli's coming, no ifs ands or buts Drew, so where are we going exactly?" he asked, he was down to eat if that was involved, and if video games were involved too, even better. He smiled and glanced at Eli punching him playfully in the shoulder,"Would it kill ya to smile?" he asked as he glance back to Drew,"Jeese the way you two are right now makes it seem like somebody died..." he mused before he glanced around and smiled to himself rocking back and fourth on his heels awaiting whatever it was they were going to be doing today.