Title: Man in the Mirror

Fandom: Degrassi: TNG

Word Count: 2171

Rating: PG

Summary: A basketball game becomes a bet for affections.

Author’s Notes: Sort of AU-ish…Craig and Sean’s mini-conversation about basketball again, only Craig is still living with his father. A small nod to all those wonderful, angsty “season 2-3-ish” stories about poor angst-ridden Craig. Also, I know my basketball game might be confusing…I suck at sports…but I gave it my best go! This story was wrote as part of my 100 Craig Manning stories.

It was in the heat of the afternoon as Craig allowed himself to daydream. He didn’t have to be home yet, it was only four something. He had plenty of time to go see Angie if he wanted. It made it all that much easier now that her babysitter was a school mate of his.

Craig thought back to last night, how smooth things were. He wished his dad could be happier. He wished…so many things that he felt bogged down with worries too heavy for his age. He was only fifteen. He should get to do something fun once in a while.

These were his thoughts as the boy walked along the basketball court, idly watching a game going on between Jimmy Brooks and Spinner Mason. Spinner wasn’t too bad, but Jimmy was better and was enjoying lording it over the other boy.

Suddenly, a ball came flying at him, hitting him in the chest. Craig doubled over, the breath knocked out of him.

“Hey!”

“Think fast, Manning.” Sean Cameron grinned at him.

Craig didn’t have a witty repertoire for that. He glared at Sean, wondering why he was being bothered.

“What?” Sean asked. “I just thought you could use some cheering up. Whatever man.” Sean gave a shrug and continued to dribble the ball.

Craig knew he should get home, should start on his stupid Chemistry homework. He was failing the class and his father was going to be upset. “I don’t need cheering up.” Craig insisted.

“Sure. You always walk around like you’re going to a funeral?” Sean lifted his head in a nod to Craig’s favored long sleeved black sweater. “Man, you’ve got to be burning up. It’s like 60-something out here today.”

Craig shrugged. “I’m fine.”

If he wore short sleeves, they would see his bruises. Long sleeves, despite the heat, showed. “So…a tire iron can play basketball?”

Sean laughed. “I do things more than work on cars you know.” He said twirling the ball on his fingertip. He watched it wobble off.

“Sure. And check out girls?”

Sean grinned. “What better way to live life?” He asked with a shrug. “What do you do all day, except zoom that camera around on that little kid?”

Craig immediately became tense. “Hey, it’s not like that. The little kid is my half sister. I don’t get to see her because my dad hates…my dad likes it when I’m home early.” He said. Sean didn’t need to know that his father hated an innocent little girl.

Sean shrugged. “Sure man.” He said again. “You play?” he indicated the basketball.

“Barely.” Craig laughed. “I suck.”

“Oh yeah, we’ve had this conversation before.” Sean remembered it briefly. “Well, you want a free lesson?”

“From you? Is that like the blind leading the blind?”

Sean gave him a look. “Hey, I’m no Brooks but I’m pretty good.” He told him. “I could give you some pointers.”

Craig shrugged. “I don’t think basketball is my thing. Now, if you want to talk about The Rolling Stones, I’m your guy.”

“Classic rock huh?”

“Yeah. It’s got more of a…substance than most music today.” Craig shrugged. He had to thank his dad for that. Dad had a whole box full of old vinyl records. Craig loved to peek at them, smell the old vinyl smell.

“Well.” Sean thought a moment. “Here’s a deal. You teach me about classic rock and I’ll teach you about basketball. We could really use a good teammate.” He skipped his eyes back to Spinner and Jimmy. “I don’t really care much for Superstar and Neanderthal over there.”

Craig snorted a laugh. “Yeah. I guess I can see your point, though they’re both ok.” It was a lie. He didn’t like Jimmy and Jimmy didn’t like him--especially since Ashley Kerwin was beginning to look at him. Spinner seemed ok, though. Kind of dumb in a way, but nice.

“Ok.” Sean was eager to change subjects. “How about today? We start off today, I’ll have you shooting hoops and you have me…liking something old.”

Craig had to laugh. Sean Cameron was a pretty ok guy after all. “Sure.” he said. “One second ok? I want to put my camera up, make sure it doesn’t get broke.” he carefully put the camera away, inside his backpack. He sucked in a breath, holding his long, thin arms out.

Sean bounced the ball to him. Craig missed it, watching the ball bounce past him.

“Maybe you’re right.” Sean decided after a moment.

“Right? About what?”

“The sucking factor. You do.” Sean raised a brow. “That’s ok though, I still think I can use you as a teammate. At least we’ll have more in common.”

Craig wasn’t about to argue. He was in need of friends and when someone picked you to be their friend, who were you to say no? He smiled, shrugged.

“Let’s just hope you’re a good teacher.”

“I’m no Ms. Kwan but I get the job done.”

Making a slight face, Craig snickered. “I was hoping not. Man, she’s a ball buster.” He grabbed the basketball and dribbled a little. Ok, that was easy so far. Maybe his dad would be happy that he was finally getting into sports. Albeit, it wasn’t hockey…but it was a start.

“Manning, you dribble like a girl.” Sean scoffed. “I have a long way to go.”

Craig winced, looked up. Sean’s eyes showed he was teasing, so he relaxed. “Hey I can’t help it I have more talent than bouncing a stupid ball around.”

“Oh, yeah? Can you do this?” Sean stole the ball from Craig, moving around and jumped in the air. Craig watched him as he expertly sank the ball into the net. He noticed that Jimmy and Spinner were watching them, snickering.

“You say Manning here plays ball like a girl?” Jimmy asked, walking up to them. “Looks like you play ball like a girl, Cameron.” He bounced his ball at Sean, but Sean caught it.

“They both play ball like a girl.” Spinner grinned snarkily at him. “I say we can beat them, easily. I mean this one.” He flicked Craig on the chest. “Can’t even play!”

Jimmy grinned. “It wouldn’t be a fair contest, Spin. I mean it’d basically be taking advantage of weaker pray.”

“I’m not weak!” Craig flared. He heard that from his dad every day, but hearing it from Jimmy pissed him off.

Jimmy just smirked. “Sure.” He said snidely. “Ashley doesn’t go for weaklings, anyway.” He said, the hint of a threat in his voice.

Sean noticed it. “Are you guys saying something? How about a game?”

Spinner and Jimmy exchanged looks. Both boys shrugged.

Craig’s eyes widened. “Sean! Are you crazy? I can’t play basketball!” Craig insisted.

Sean skipped his eyes over to Craig, and shrugged. “We’re game.” He looked at Craig. “This will be a great way to teach you how to play.” He insisted.

Craig fumed. He knew that they were going to loose! Jimmy was the school star, Spinner was good and well…Craig was lucky if he could run without breathing heavily. He so wasn’t a sporty guy at all. “Sean we’re going to loose.” Craig insisted, already dreading this. Why didn’t he stay home today, play some albums instead?

“Come on Craig, relax. Have some fun for once.” Sean insisted. “This is very bad teammate behavior.” He whispered.

Craig rolled his eyes.

“How about we make things interesting?” Jimmy said suddenly, breaking into the conversation.

“What do you mean?” Sean asked, lifting his head slightly. “A bet? Money?”

“Nah.” Jimmy shook his head and grinned. “I have something else in mind.” His gaze was leveled at Craig.

Craig felt tense, and just wanted to leave. “What sort of bet?” He asked wearily.

“If Spin and I win you don’t talk to Ashley at all. You don’t look at her, or even think about her.” Jimmy said.

“If we win?” Sean asked.

Jimmy looked thoughtful. “Then…he can ask her out on a date.” This made the two boys laugh. “But she won’t accept. Ash doesn’t date losers!”

Craig winced, wishing his stupid crush on Ashley Kerwin wasn’t so transparent. He didn’t want to like her, yet he couldn’t get her out of his mind. “Deal.” Craig nodded. He’d win, and he’d get to ask Ash out.

That’d shut Jimmy up.

For once.

The bet was made. The game started. Craig was at a loss, not knowing what to do. Sean was trying to make most of the shots, even the easy ones that Craig’s hands couldn’t seem to get. He managed to grab the ball once and Spinner knocked into him, sending the boy backwards onto the pavement. He hit it, feeling the breath knocked out of him.

“Aww poor baby. Come on Manning, I thought you were tougher than this.” Jimmy looked down at him. “You’re loosing…” he pointed out.

That made Craig get up. It took all he had to not slam into Jimmy and just punch and kick him. Sean bounced him the ball. Craig felt his hands become clammy as the boys re-took their places. Spinner was on one side of him, but he was easy to maneuver around. Now he was facing Jimmy, trying to keep the ball away from the star player.

“You don’t have a chance with her.” Jimmy’s dark eyes blazed into Craig’s hazel ones.

“How do you know?” Craig demanded. He could hear Sean shouting encouragement behind him, and that made him feel good.

“She doesn’t date weirdos.” Jimmy taunted. He tried to smack the ball out of his hand. Craig moved it out of reach, still bouncing it. He kept his eyes on Jimmy’s chest. Craig swallowed.

“You don’t know the first thing about me.” He said to Jimmy, moving past him. Craig could see the hoop coming closer and felt something close to happiness surge inside of him.

He was almost there.

He felt Spinner try to reach it, and ducked out of the grasp. He was good at ducking, at running.

In his father’s home, you had to be.

Craig knew that it wouldn’t be too long--he just had to jump and dunk the ball into the stupid net and--

Suddenly, he was tackled from behind, his face meeting with the pavement. Spinner was on top of him, crushing Craig almost. He felt the pavement scrape his cheek. The bruises on his back from last week stung. He wheezed out breath, hearing the two boys laughing.

“Fucking cheaters!” Sean shoved Jimmy into the pole. “That was uncalled for!”

Spinner held him down for a moment. “Manning, you suck at this game.” He said and did something Craig hated, ruffling his hair all up. He shoved Spinner off him. Maybe he had misread the kid after all.

“See?” Jimmy bounced the ball on Craig’s chest. “I knew you were nothing but a loser. Stay away from Ash or else. Got it?”

“I think he got it.” Spinner mocked. “Can’t say anything can ya?”

Craig closed his eyes. Their words meant nothing…except for well, Jimmy’s. Ashley could choose who she wanted to like. It wasn’t their business.

“Come on Spin, let’s go to the Dot. All this winning made me hungry.”

“Me too!” Spinner followed Jimmy as the two grabbed their things and headed off the playground area.

“You ok man?” Sean asked as the bullies left. He held out a hand, but Craig angrily smacked it away. He just lay there, letting the sun blind him.

“I told you I suck at this stupid game. I’m not teammate material.” Craig said.

“Look Spinner and Jimmy are idiots. I still think I could teach you something.” Sean grabbed Craig’s arm, unmindful of the bruises that bloomed there. Craig cried out, tears popping in his eyes.

“Hey man, let go!” He said. He jumped to his feet, wincing.

“Sorry!” Sean took a step backwards. “I didn’t mean it. Look, wanna go hang out or something? So your first lesson was a disaster. You can teach me about classic rock or something.”

“You still want to hang out with me?” Craig asked. He looked at Sean surprised. “Why?”

Sean shrugged. “I don’t know man…you seem like you need a friend.” He shrugged. Maybe he did, too. “Anyway.” Sean cleared his throat. “I do know about one classic rock band.”

“Which one?” Craig asked. He walked over to his bag, making sure his camera was still safe. He breathed out a sigh of relief when it was.

“Aerosmith. My older brother used to listen to them. Wanna come over? I think he’s got some vinyls we can listen to.”

Craig nodded. “Sure, that sounds fun. Much better than this basketball stuff.”

Sean had to smile at that. “Come on man. Maybe you’re right about not being teammate material. You really do suck.” He snickered as Craig fell into step with him and the two headed towards his apartment.

“Gee, for a friend you’re so…”

“Uplifting?”

“Not the word I was looking for, but it’ll fit.”