This is the story of my sort of step-sister Ashley and her crazy boyfriend Craig and all of the drama that ensued from the general teenage poor choices and misery that we all live with. Live in. I don't know. And I'm just an outsider to it, a bystander, an observer.

Ashley and I were not exactly related by either blood or marriage but our parents shacked up together, lived in sin. They were boyfriend and girlfriend. My parents had fought like weasels and couldn't stand the sight of each other. Ashley's parents got along like thieves and loved each other still, but her father was gay and had come out of the closet. So Ashley and I lived together for years and fought like siblings for awhile there but now things were evening out. We were getting caught up in our own lives and getting along with each other better.

So Ashley's gay dad was getting married to his boyfriend and her mom Kate was throwing the wedding. Throughout all the hectic preparations and out of town aunts sleeping on sofas, out of town aunts with killer bodies, I might add. Throughout all of that Ashley was finding her way back to her ex-boyfriend, Craig.

They had dated last year but he cheated on her and got the someone he cheated on her with pregnant. Ashley had been devastated. She was depressed, not just moping around upset but clinically depressed and we worried, all of us separately in the house worried just how far her depression would go. She didn't eat, she didn't sleep, she locked herself in her room. Each of us cursed Craig's thoughtlessness.

But that was before and during the wedding mayhem Ashley was hooking up with him again, having forgiven him for his indiscretion. Which was all fine and well, I just hoped he wouldn't be colossally stupid and again betray her. Her mother Kate hoped the same thing but was a bit more vocal about it, giving Craig dirty looks and telling him not to bother calling Ashley and producing in him the hurt little boy look that could surface so suddenly. See, Craig was tragic and complex. He came from an abusive household and seeked approval from parental figures while simultaneously distrusting and even fearing them. So Kate's misgivings about him, justified as they were, still produced in him these complicated emotions.

"Where are you going?" I said to her as she applied make-up in the mirror. Crimson lipstick and dark eyeliner.

"Don't tell anyone, Tobes, but Craig got a hotel room,"

My jaw fell slack and I made a noise of surprise.

"You're going to a hotel with him?" I said, and she nodded happily. Of course I wouldn't tell. We'd learned a while ago that things worked out far better for both of us if we worked together and not against each other. So I would keep her secret like she kept mine, and I would cover and lie for her if necessary.

Under half set-up wedding tents and trays of miniature food items I dodged Kate's probing questions. She was good but I was better. She'd start out casually enough.

"Have you seen Ashley?" she said, and I popped a tiny hotdog wrapped in a dough blanket into my mouth.

"No, haven't seen her," I said around a mouthful of hot dog, shaking my head. She narrowed her eyes. She didn't believe me.

"You haven't seen her at all?" The narrowed eyes, the sharpened voice. I shook my head innocently.

"Nope,"

"Is she with Craig?" Even his name makes her wrinkle her lip in disgust. She really hated that kid. I know he hurt Ashley, that he hurt her profoundly and probably more than anyone ever had before but still. I thought Kate's reaction was just a tad bit harsh.

"Craig?" I said, the innocent tone persisting, "I don't know,"