Chapter 7

Craig looked at his watch. 8:52 p.m. "Wow," he thought out loud, "I can't believe we spent the whole day together."

"Why not? It's not like you had anything better to do," Dana replied, nudging him. "How about you spend the night with me too, Manning?"

"I don't know..." Craig started.

"C'mon, what, do you think I'm gonna rape you in your sleep? Get your shit and c'mon!" she smiled up at him. He looked down at her, trying to focus on his decision.

After a few more seconds, Dana said, "That's what I thought. Go get your stuff, I'll put the security lock on before I close the door to hold it open for you." She then turned and began opening her hotel room door. After a second she still felt his presence behind her. "Go!" she laughed.

Craig turned down the hall to his room, and quickly went inside, grabbing his guitar, and a change of clothes. He turned to leave but then thought of something. He turned back into the room and went quickly to the drawer in his bedside table and pulled out 3 condoms.

"Better safe than sorry," he told himself, and headed for Dana's room.

When he returned, he didn't see her anywhere in her room. "Dana?" he called.

"In here!" she called from the bathroom. "Make yourself comfortable, I'll be out in a sec."

Craig walked through to where her bed was, placing his guitar in the corner of the room with his spare clothes beside it. He sat down on her bed and began to fidget.

After about 5 minutes, Dana emerged from the bathroom wearing a black camisole and rainbow striped boyshorts. Craig could only stare. She walked into the bedroom like there was nothing special about how she was dressed.

"What?" she asked with a smirk when she noticed him staring.

"Nothing, nothing," he replied, quickly looking away.

She walked over to stand in front of him. "No, really, what?" she smiled down at him, edging closer by the second.

"It's just..." he started, noticing her getting closer.

"Yeah?"

"You look really cute," he spit out, stumbling over his words.

"Cute? Are you sure that's what you meant is cute?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Umm, well..." he stuttered. "Cute... pretty... hot," he said, searching for word to describe the girl who was rapidly quickening his heartbeat.

"Sexy?" she asked, whispering it in his ear. She leaned in then and kissed him. She gradually pushed him back onto the bed, climbing on top of him. As the kiss deepened, Craig became distracted. His thoughts traveled to memories of him and Darcy in similar instances. Still not completely out his daydreamy haze, Craig pushed her away softly.

"Dar-Dana, I don't think we should do this."

She stopped, pulling back to look at him. "This is about that girl, right? The one that you came back to Toronto for?" Craig didn't reply. Dana rolled off of him and sat beside him while he remained on his back on the bed. "So what's her name?" Dana asked.

"Darcy," Craig said hesistantly. "But, I'm too late, it's over now."

"Why?"

"I have Bipolar Disorder 2. I'm manic depressive," he started.

"And she can't accept that?" she asked.

"She doesn't know," he said. "But, with her, I took my medication and lived normally, and I was happy. Before her, I hadn't been happy in a very, very long time. I used to be a bad guy, Dana. A really bad guy. But, she saw through it and believed I could be better."

"Then what's the problem?"

"Well, she wanted me to meet her parents..."

"So?"

"I freaked out, just knowing that they'd see through my happy act, hate me, and not let her see me anymore. I felt like I was ruining her life by lying to her, so I ended it."

"And now you want her back?" she asked cautiously.

Craig nodded. After a short silence, he stated simply, "I wrote her a song."

"Can I hear it?" Dana asked.

Craig nodded again. "Hand me my guitar," he asked. She reached over the side of the bed, handing it to him, and he sat up.

As he held the guitar in his hands, the feelings became natural, and he began to strum.

I was switched off like a light, a fighter with no fight

Staring up at the stars, giving into the dark

Burnt out like a match, at the moment of the crash

The moon blowed like a scar, how did things go so far

Somehow you saw someone worth savin', you pulled me back into the light

Now if ever I can rescue you, when you need to, I'm still fallin' too

You know exactly where I'll be, just look for me, oh look for me

When it seems like you have lost it all, and you feel like you're in free fall

Going deep into the moon, I will rescue you.

As he strummed the final chord, he saw Dana look up at him. "Play it for her. Fight for her. Get her back."

Craig jumped up, grabbing his stuff, hugged Dana, and took off out the room.