AN: Ok guys thanks for the reviews. Here's the next part.
Emma and Manny watched Craig drive off with his father. They walked out to the sidewalk and watched the car until it was out of site. Emma had her hair flowing in the wind, and Manny's was in a pony tale. Each girl had a stack of books in their arms and worried looks on their faces.
"Why do you think Craig is leaving with his father?" Manny asked.
"I don't know," Emma replied. "But it can't be good."
"Well maybe they have visitation today."
"No way! Mr.Manning isn't allowed to see Craig without supervision. He beat him Manny. Childrens Aide won't let them alone together."
Manny shrugged. "It was just a thought."
"I don't like this Manny."
"Well why don't you ask Joey. You're babysitting Angela today aren't you?"
"Yeah I have to go pick her up from school actually, but Joey won't be home until like six. What if Craig's in trouble."
"Emma, Craig got in the car of his own free will. His dad didn't force him. Don't you think Craig knows what he's doing?"
It was Emma's turn to shrug. "Maybe, but I still don't like it."
The two girls exchanged a glance and then began to walk home. Emma said bye to Manny as they passed by her house, and continued to Angela's school. During her walk she couldn't help, but think about Craig and his dad. Something wasn't right, and she knew it. She just didn't know what to do about it.
If she told Joey, and nothing was going on than Craig would probably be mad and think she was a tattletale. Then he would definitely hate her and that would probably push him more towards Manny. Manny was Emma's best friend and she wanted her to be happy, but Emma liked Craig so much. She knew that they weren't going to go out, but she didn't want to lose him as a friend to.
On the other hand if something was going on, then Craig was in trouble and if he needed help then he would probably be thankful that Emma said something. Maybe nothing was going on and Craig would be mad at her, but if something bad was happening.Well her friendship didn't mean as much to her as making sure Craig wasn't getting hurt.
Emma took off at full speed towards Angela's school. They were going to be making a pit stop at Joey's car dealership. By the time Emma got to Angela's school, she was completely out of breath. Angela ran up to her and through her arms around her neck.
"EMMA EMMA!!"
"Hey Ang," Emma said, catching her breath. "We're going to go see your daddy kind of early ok?"
"YEY!!!"
"Come on," Emma said taking her hand.
They started walking to Joey's car dealership. It wasn't that far from Angela's school actually. It only took them twenty minutes to walk there. Ok so they were speed walking. Emma would have ran, but Angela couldn't keep up, and with all her books, she couldn't carry her.
"Emma, I'm thirsty," Angela said, as they walked up to the gates.
"When we get inside you can get a drink from the cooler ok?"
"Ok."
Emma and Angela walked onto the lot and Emma scanned the place looking for Joey. Not seeing him outside, she quickly headed for his office. Throwing the door open, she and Angela quickly walked inside. Joey was sitting behind his desk working on some documents. He looked up when he heard the door open.
"DADDY!" Angela exclaimed running to her fathers arms.
"Hey Ang," Joey said with a smile picking up Angela and putting her on his lap. "Emma, what are you guys doing here?"
"I think we have a problem," Emma said, out of breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Daddy I'm thirsty."
"Wait a second Ang. Emma what is it?"
"Is Mr. Manning allowed to see Craig alone?"
"You know he's not, why?"
"Because, Manny and I were leaving school and we saw Craig get into the car with him."
Joey's eyes widened.
"Emma are you sure? He's supposed to be over at Sean's."
"Joey I saw him get into the car with Mr.Manning. His dad was there waiting for him after school."
"Daddy,"
"Ok baby. Emma would you take her in the other room and get her some water please? I'm going to call Sean and see if he showed up over there."
Emma nodded and took Angela from him and went to get her a drink.
Joey waited until they were out of the room and picked up the phone. He quickly dialed Sean's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Hello," Sean's voice said on the other line.
"Sean, It's Joey Jeremiah. Is Craig there? I need to speak with him?"
"Actually Craig never showed up. We all left school together, and then Craig said he forgot something in his locker and went back for it."
"Why didn't you guys go with him?"
"We tried, but Craig said it was personal."
Joey sighed. "All right, Sean. Thanks. Hey listen if he shows up have him call me right away."
"No problem."
The two men hung up the phone and Joey quickly dialed another number.
"What is it?" Emma asked walking back in the room with Angela.
"Craig's not at Seans. I'm calling the police."
"Is Craig ok?" Angela asked.
"I hope so baby," Joey said. "I hope so."
MEANWHILE..
Craig and Mr. Manning pulled up to the house Craig used to call home. He looked at it, still not wanting to come back. There were too many bad memories. Too much bad blood. He felt safer with Joey. Craig did not want to leave.
"What are we doing here?" Craig asked.
"Come inside and I'll show you."
Craig eyed his father suspiciously. "I thought we were just going for a ride."
"We did, but I want to show you something."
Craig didn't move.
"Come on Craig. I won't bite. I just want to show you something."
Craig felt like he had a devil and an angel on his shoulders. The devil was telling him that he should go. He owed it to his father. Besides maybe some good would come out of it. Then the angel whispered in his other ear telling him that he shouldn't go. That Craig should get out of the car right now and run home. He should go to his real home with Joey and Angela.
"I can leave whenever I want?"
"Of course you can. What kind of question is that?"
Craig nodded. "All right. Let's go."
"That's my boy," Mr. Manning said smiling.
The two got out of the car and approached the house. They walked inside and Mr. Mannning closed the door behind him. He took off his jacket and put it on the rack next to the door, still smiling as though he owned the world.
"Why don't you take your coat off?" Mr. Manning asked.
"That's all right. I'm good."
His father shrugged. "Suit yourself. Come on. I've been working hard on this."
Craig followed his father through the house and to the door the once led to his dark room. Of course that had been basically destroyed when his father had trashed it in a fit of anger. Craig had just been thankful that when his father through him into the rack that none of the chemicals spilled on him. That would have left a nasty mark.
"I know that your dark room meant a lot to you, and I know that it's my fault it got destroyed," He stopped and took a breath. "Well anyways, here's what I wanted to show you."
Mr. Manning opened the door and stood aside so Craig could see inside. Craigs jaw dropped at the site. It had totally been remodeled. There were all new chemicals and plates. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He walked inside and was shocked to see a brand new camera, even better than his old one sitting on the counter.
Craig gasped and walked over to it. He looked at it, but was afraid to touch it. Afraid of what it might mean.
"Go ahead and pick it up," Mr. Manning encouraged. "It's yours. All of this is yours. I wanted to do something nice for you. You know, so that now that you're coming home you can have your dark room back."
Craig swallowed and stood up. He turned around and looked at his father.
"I never said I was coming back. I have a home, and it's not here. It's with Joey and Angela."
"Craig your home is here with me. I'm your family. Not Joey."
"What about Angela?" Craig asked. "She's my sister."
"She's your half sister. Is she really more important to you than I am?"
Craig didn't answer. Instead he looked away.
Mr. Manning slammed his fist into the door. "DAMMIT CRAIG!"
Craig jumped from the loud boom.
"What the hell do I have to do? This is your home, and you are not leaving!"
Mr. Manning quickly shut the door and locked it from the outside. Craig hadn't noticed that modification. He went to the door and tried to open it, but to no avail. He started pounding on the door.
"LET ME OUT OF HERE! HELP!"
He pounded and pounded on the heavy door. No one came to his rescue. Finally with defeat weighing him down, Craig sank to the floor with bruised and bloody hands. He pulled his legs up to his chest, and wrapped his arms around his knees. He bowed his head and started to cry, knowing that no one could here his silent tears.
END
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Emma and Manny watched Craig drive off with his father. They walked out to the sidewalk and watched the car until it was out of site. Emma had her hair flowing in the wind, and Manny's was in a pony tale. Each girl had a stack of books in their arms and worried looks on their faces.
"Why do you think Craig is leaving with his father?" Manny asked.
"I don't know," Emma replied. "But it can't be good."
"Well maybe they have visitation today."
"No way! Mr.Manning isn't allowed to see Craig without supervision. He beat him Manny. Childrens Aide won't let them alone together."
Manny shrugged. "It was just a thought."
"I don't like this Manny."
"Well why don't you ask Joey. You're babysitting Angela today aren't you?"
"Yeah I have to go pick her up from school actually, but Joey won't be home until like six. What if Craig's in trouble."
"Emma, Craig got in the car of his own free will. His dad didn't force him. Don't you think Craig knows what he's doing?"
It was Emma's turn to shrug. "Maybe, but I still don't like it."
The two girls exchanged a glance and then began to walk home. Emma said bye to Manny as they passed by her house, and continued to Angela's school. During her walk she couldn't help, but think about Craig and his dad. Something wasn't right, and she knew it. She just didn't know what to do about it.
If she told Joey, and nothing was going on than Craig would probably be mad and think she was a tattletale. Then he would definitely hate her and that would probably push him more towards Manny. Manny was Emma's best friend and she wanted her to be happy, but Emma liked Craig so much. She knew that they weren't going to go out, but she didn't want to lose him as a friend to.
On the other hand if something was going on, then Craig was in trouble and if he needed help then he would probably be thankful that Emma said something. Maybe nothing was going on and Craig would be mad at her, but if something bad was happening.Well her friendship didn't mean as much to her as making sure Craig wasn't getting hurt.
Emma took off at full speed towards Angela's school. They were going to be making a pit stop at Joey's car dealership. By the time Emma got to Angela's school, she was completely out of breath. Angela ran up to her and through her arms around her neck.
"EMMA EMMA!!"
"Hey Ang," Emma said, catching her breath. "We're going to go see your daddy kind of early ok?"
"YEY!!!"
"Come on," Emma said taking her hand.
They started walking to Joey's car dealership. It wasn't that far from Angela's school actually. It only took them twenty minutes to walk there. Ok so they were speed walking. Emma would have ran, but Angela couldn't keep up, and with all her books, she couldn't carry her.
"Emma, I'm thirsty," Angela said, as they walked up to the gates.
"When we get inside you can get a drink from the cooler ok?"
"Ok."
Emma and Angela walked onto the lot and Emma scanned the place looking for Joey. Not seeing him outside, she quickly headed for his office. Throwing the door open, she and Angela quickly walked inside. Joey was sitting behind his desk working on some documents. He looked up when he heard the door open.
"DADDY!" Angela exclaimed running to her fathers arms.
"Hey Ang," Joey said with a smile picking up Angela and putting her on his lap. "Emma, what are you guys doing here?"
"I think we have a problem," Emma said, out of breath.
"What's wrong?"
"Daddy I'm thirsty."
"Wait a second Ang. Emma what is it?"
"Is Mr. Manning allowed to see Craig alone?"
"You know he's not, why?"
"Because, Manny and I were leaving school and we saw Craig get into the car with him."
Joey's eyes widened.
"Emma are you sure? He's supposed to be over at Sean's."
"Joey I saw him get into the car with Mr.Manning. His dad was there waiting for him after school."
"Daddy,"
"Ok baby. Emma would you take her in the other room and get her some water please? I'm going to call Sean and see if he showed up over there."
Emma nodded and took Angela from him and went to get her a drink.
Joey waited until they were out of the room and picked up the phone. He quickly dialed Sean's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Hello," Sean's voice said on the other line.
"Sean, It's Joey Jeremiah. Is Craig there? I need to speak with him?"
"Actually Craig never showed up. We all left school together, and then Craig said he forgot something in his locker and went back for it."
"Why didn't you guys go with him?"
"We tried, but Craig said it was personal."
Joey sighed. "All right, Sean. Thanks. Hey listen if he shows up have him call me right away."
"No problem."
The two men hung up the phone and Joey quickly dialed another number.
"What is it?" Emma asked walking back in the room with Angela.
"Craig's not at Seans. I'm calling the police."
"Is Craig ok?" Angela asked.
"I hope so baby," Joey said. "I hope so."
MEANWHILE..
Craig and Mr. Manning pulled up to the house Craig used to call home. He looked at it, still not wanting to come back. There were too many bad memories. Too much bad blood. He felt safer with Joey. Craig did not want to leave.
"What are we doing here?" Craig asked.
"Come inside and I'll show you."
Craig eyed his father suspiciously. "I thought we were just going for a ride."
"We did, but I want to show you something."
Craig didn't move.
"Come on Craig. I won't bite. I just want to show you something."
Craig felt like he had a devil and an angel on his shoulders. The devil was telling him that he should go. He owed it to his father. Besides maybe some good would come out of it. Then the angel whispered in his other ear telling him that he shouldn't go. That Craig should get out of the car right now and run home. He should go to his real home with Joey and Angela.
"I can leave whenever I want?"
"Of course you can. What kind of question is that?"
Craig nodded. "All right. Let's go."
"That's my boy," Mr. Manning said smiling.
The two got out of the car and approached the house. They walked inside and Mr. Mannning closed the door behind him. He took off his jacket and put it on the rack next to the door, still smiling as though he owned the world.
"Why don't you take your coat off?" Mr. Manning asked.
"That's all right. I'm good."
His father shrugged. "Suit yourself. Come on. I've been working hard on this."
Craig followed his father through the house and to the door the once led to his dark room. Of course that had been basically destroyed when his father had trashed it in a fit of anger. Craig had just been thankful that when his father through him into the rack that none of the chemicals spilled on him. That would have left a nasty mark.
"I know that your dark room meant a lot to you, and I know that it's my fault it got destroyed," He stopped and took a breath. "Well anyways, here's what I wanted to show you."
Mr. Manning opened the door and stood aside so Craig could see inside. Craigs jaw dropped at the site. It had totally been remodeled. There were all new chemicals and plates. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He walked inside and was shocked to see a brand new camera, even better than his old one sitting on the counter.
Craig gasped and walked over to it. He looked at it, but was afraid to touch it. Afraid of what it might mean.
"Go ahead and pick it up," Mr. Manning encouraged. "It's yours. All of this is yours. I wanted to do something nice for you. You know, so that now that you're coming home you can have your dark room back."
Craig swallowed and stood up. He turned around and looked at his father.
"I never said I was coming back. I have a home, and it's not here. It's with Joey and Angela."
"Craig your home is here with me. I'm your family. Not Joey."
"What about Angela?" Craig asked. "She's my sister."
"She's your half sister. Is she really more important to you than I am?"
Craig didn't answer. Instead he looked away.
Mr. Manning slammed his fist into the door. "DAMMIT CRAIG!"
Craig jumped from the loud boom.
"What the hell do I have to do? This is your home, and you are not leaving!"
Mr. Manning quickly shut the door and locked it from the outside. Craig hadn't noticed that modification. He went to the door and tried to open it, but to no avail. He started pounding on the door.
"LET ME OUT OF HERE! HELP!"
He pounded and pounded on the heavy door. No one came to his rescue. Finally with defeat weighing him down, Craig sank to the floor with bruised and bloody hands. He pulled his legs up to his chest, and wrapped his arms around his knees. He bowed his head and started to cry, knowing that no one could here his silent tears.
END
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