Ashley was asleep when the phone rang the next morning. She waited for someone to get it but them remembered that her parents had taken Toby to a science convention. Groaning, she fumbled around on her nightstand until she found the phone and answered it.

"Hello?" she mumbled sleepily.

"Ash, it's Paige."

"No it's not," Ashley replied, rubbing her eyes. "It's like eight o'clock on a Saturday. Paige Michaelchuck would not be awake at this hour."

"Ash, it's serious." The tone of Paige's voice startled Ashley.

"What's wrong?"

"I was just talking to Spinner who got a call from Marco who got a call from Sean. At least I think that's the way it went. Maybe Sean called Spin and Marco called Sean…"

"Paige, what is it?!" Ashley cried, exasperated. She was fully awake now.

"It's Craig. Apparently him and Joey and his sister got into a car accident. A bad one."
Ashley caught her breath. "A-are they okay?"

Paige paused. "Well Sean or whoever, spoke to Craig and he said that he and Joey were fine. But his little sister is in a coma, Ash."

"Oh no, not Ange." Ashley put a hand to her forehead. "Oh God. Poor Craig."

"Yeah, I know. He doesn't seem to have a lotta luck with his family." Paige paused as Ashley tried to figure out what she should do. "Listen, my brother's driving a bunch of us over there later. Do you wanna come? It's okay if you don't want to. I know it might be weird for you."

"No, no I'll definitely come. Thanks." They made the arrangements then Ashley slowly hung up the phone. After sitting in bed for a few minutes, she knew what she had to do and picked up the phone. She found the small slip of paper in her drawer and dialed the number written on it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, may I please speak to Manny?"

+++

Craig had finally managed to fall asleep just as the light of dawn peeked through the window blinds. He woke up at ten, exhausted. Lying there for a while, he noticed there was breakfast on his tray. He managed to swallow some of the orange juice before the door to his room opened.

"Hello, Craig." An older woman entered the room, smiling cheerfully. "I'm Dr. Kelsey and I'm going to be administering your tests today. But don't worry. You don't need a number two pencil." She chuckled as she took his chart off the foot of his bed.

Craig smiled weakly at the corny joke.

The rest of the morning and part of the afternoon for Craig was spent being wheeled from one room to another. Finally by the time afternoon visiting hours were starting, he was finally brought back to his own room.

He had barely settled back into his bed when Joey came into the room.

"Hey, Craig, how are you feeling today?"

Craig shrugged. "I'm wiped. But my head feels better."

"That's good. Uh, listen, you have some visitors, a couple of your friends from school. I told them that I'd check first to make sure you were up to seeing them."

"Uh, yeah, sure. Send them in."
"Okay. I'm gonna go head up to visit Ange while they're here." Joey left and within minutes, Craig's room was filled. Paige held balloons emblazoned with "Get Well" and smiley faces while Spinner reluctantly held a large glittering card. Marco carried a small vase of flowers. Sean stood awkwardly next to Emma who held a stuffed bear in her arms. And then he saw Ashley hanging towards the back behind Jimmy looking rather uncomfortable.

"Wow!" Craig exclaimed, smiling genuinely for the first time since the accident.

"Yeah, we went a little overboard at the gift shop," Emma said, grinning.

"How are you feeling, man?" Sean asked.

"I'm fine. Thanks for coming, everyone." Craig smiled as Emma handed him the bear. "Aw, he's what I've always wanted." He cradled the bear close to his chest and everyone laughed.

"This card's from all of us." Paige nudged Spinner who handed Craig the card. He opened it and quickly scanned all of the signatures noting that Ashley's name was at the end.

"Thanks a lot. This is just what I needed, guys."

Everyone stayed and talked to Craig for a few more minutes before turning to leave. They filed out the door—except for Ashley. She came to stand beside Craig's bed. He was too surprised to say anything as she sat in a chair.

"Listen, Craig. I wanted to talk to you. First of all, I'm so sorry about Ange."

Craig looked away as thoughts of his sister flowed back into his mind.

"Second, I-I wanted to discuss the letter." Ashley took a deep breath. "Craig, I forgive you." Craig began to interrupt but she stopped him. "And no it's not just because of the accident. I had already decided this yesterday." She took his hand, staring at it. "Craig, you hurt me a lot. And it would be easy to say that I hated you and that I never want to speak to you again. But that's not true. I would like to be able to start over with you. Not a relationship, but just as friends."

Craig felt like a huge weight had been lifted off his chest. "Oh Ash, you have no idea what this means to me. You are-you are—there are no words."

Ashley smiled and leaned in to hug him. He couldn't help but feel some of his old feelings return at the familiar embrace. When they pulled away, Craig noticed someone standing in the doorway.

"Manny," he blurted out.

Ashley whirled around to see the girl standing uncertainly in the doorway. She glanced back at Craig. "I have to go anyway. They're waiting for me." She gave Craig's hand a quick squeeze before leaving.

"Hey Craig. How are you?" She stepped into the room, letting the door fall shut behind her and came to stand beside his bed. She tucked a stray lock of her dark hair behind her ear. He wondered if she had read his letter yet but her face was as blank as a peeled onion.

"I'm okay. You?"

"Fine. Any word about Angela yet?"

Craig shook his head, swallowing hard. "Still the same."

Manny was silent for a long time, playing with the drawstring of her jacket. "Craig, do you want to come with me? I'm gonna go see her."

Craig was surprised. "Y-you are?"

"Yeah, remember, I taught her class in ice-skating?" Manny reminded him, then sighed. "I can't believe this happened to that sweet little girl."

"Oh yeah. Um, hold on one second." Craig buzzed the nurse. When she came into the room he asked if he could go. She approved but told him to be back in fifteen minutes.

Craig climbed out of bed and was slightly taken aback as Manny helped him into his robe and slippers. She started walking towards the door then stopped and reached out her hand behind her.

Without turning around, she simply said, "Come on."

Craig slowly stood up and took her hand in his.