Electron + Proton = Attraction

Author: degrassi

Type: Slash. M/M.

Pairing: Marco Del Rossi/Craig Manning.

Rating: PG-13.

Genre: Angst/Romance/Drama.
Characters: Are in tenth grade. Emma & Co. a year behind.

Chapter: I decided to do two present chapters. Because I felt like it, and I was feeling a bit angst after watching Careless Whisper & Tears Are Not Enough… again. More of the past is unfolded in a dream.

VII. No, I'm not okay.

"Craig…."

"Craig?"

Hazy eyes slipped open, spent with a cold slumber, and a vivid dream that still lay fresh in his mind (Something concerning a certain boy?). The back of his head gave a painful throb, as the image of fifteen year old Marco came into focus, as well as several posters on health care and hygiene.

"Where…am I?" He slurred groggily.

"The nurse's office. She's gone to call your step-father right now." Even in his half awake state, Craig could feel his hand, just inches away from his side. It made the chilliest of shivers to run down the back of his neck. What was WRONG with him? This was getting a little too strange, in his opinion.

"Why? What happened?" Craig asked, beginning to slowly sit up, onto her elbows.

"You passed out on the third floor." Marco said with a frown.

"What? The last thing I remember is you saying that you…."

He paused, and Marco looked at him intently. Craig didn't say anything. He couldn't. He didn't think of him any less of a friend. Since that was his choice of a lifestyle, yet somehow, Craig couldn't help but think this would make things a little bit easier. If he ever expressed his own confusion to Marco, he at least knew the boy wouldn't be disgusted with him. It was sort of a stereotype, but at this stage, Craig didn't have a choice.

He forced himself to smile. "Hey, you know what? No awkwardness here." He reached over to give him a firm pat to the shoulder.

Marco still looked a bit unsure, and perked his brows at the pat.

"I mean, nothing is going to change between us, you know. I'll always be your friend."

The door rattled on its hinges, causing an elderly woman to curse at the cheap door. Craig's eyes widened a bit, and he was faced with the short, Martha Cross, the gray-haired nurse of Degrassi. Following behind her, was a concerned looking Joey Jeremiah, sunglasses resting on his forehead, and car keys in his left hand.

"Come now. Craig. You're going home. That was a nasty spill you took. At least that's what I hear." Wise blue eyes glittered knowingly behind her oval-rimmed glasses. Teenagers were always faking injuries and sickness, just to skip out on classes. Yet Craig looked a whiter shade of pale, so there was no doubt in the nurse's mind that he was under the weather. The reason why Joey was standing right there.

"Thank you for bringing him in, Mister Del Rossi. You may return to class."

The dark haired boy gave a prompt nod, side-glancing at Craig, whose stomach back-flipped once again as soon as he stood up. Marco slid past Joey, and out of the nurse's office.

"Craig? Are you alright? Let's go, buddy, I signed you out."

He didn't say anything, just looked down at the ground, wondering where on earth his camera had gone. He groped around his neck, finding his strap almost missing. Oddly, he didn't feel like asking. He was much too out of it.

"Joey?" Craig asked, once they were alone, out in the empty three floor hallway.

"Yeah?"

"I need to talk to you about something when we get home."

"Is everything alright, Craig?" The adult's concern increased.

"No. Everything is not alright." He grabbed the railing to the staircase, starting down it, ahead of his step-father. He said nothing else until they reached the ground floor, in front of the main office. "I think I have a crush on somebody."

Joey's expression wavered, and a small smirk crossed his lips. "That's nothing to worry about! You shouldn't be--"

Craig cut him off with a wave of his hand. "No. Not. It's not normal. It's … not even supposed to exist." He creased his brows, pushing his way through the glass front doors of the school.

"What do you mean?" That classic smirk faded with his step-son's words.

The teenager shook his head. "No, I mean. I'm feeling something for somebody I'm not supposed to. It's just not correct. At least, I don't think so. It's not the type of thing that'll sit well with the public." He winced at the sudden burst of sunlight that poked out from behind a gray cloud.

He wanted to tell Joey everything. How his dreams were no longer filled with the images of curvy females. How his interest in short skirts had greatly wavered over the past few days. How their voices were suddenly annoying. How girls that would usually make him smile, were just giving him a headache.

"Craig, you shouldn't let a female cause you such angst." That smirk was beginning to re-surface, slowly of course. The taller teen wondered how anyone could be so blind. He briefly looked to his left as they crossed at the intersection between Degrassi street. He sauntered over onto the sidewalk to climb into the car once Joey turned off the alarm. He slid in, and instantly buckled his seatbelt. He crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at his lap.

He was unaware that his step-father was eyeing him oddly. "…Right?"

Craig turned his head, raising his eyes. "Joey. It's not a girl."

The adult nearly dropped his keys on the seat.

The boy simply shook his head. "I don't know where to start."