Author's note: I have 458 hits and only 10 reviews. I'm not going to be all like "5 more reviews or I won't update" but if you read it, just review. I want to know what your opinions of my story are. Now that I'm getting into my story a little bit more, the chapters will probably longer, and I'll probably update every 3 or 4 days. And since it's getting a little bit more edgy, I may be changing the rating. Again, the title of my story is a song by Dashboard Confessional, and chapter 1, 2, and 4 are all associated with the lyrics or titles of their songs. (I also lied when I said that the previous chapter was probably going to be the longest, believe me, I have way more coming) (By the way, I've been listening to "Rapid Hope Loss" all day; and I've been getting a lot of ideas, the lyrics of the song are quite meaningful)

The next month was like an own personal hell for Quinn. It seemed like every day something went wrong. Ever since that one Sunday, she and Craig had quit talking. She still liked him, and was terribly embarrassed about the way she had acted. She wouldn't even dare swallowing her pride and saying sorry to him. She begged Mr. Raditch for a locker switch, but he wouldn't agree. She had lied and said that ants had infested her locker. So she was stuck next to Craig for the rest of grade 11. She often tried avoiding him in the halls and at times, it often looked like he would come up and talk to her, but every time he looked at her, she walked away. Quinn didn't really hang out with anyone beside Ellie or Marco. She hadn't made any other friends. She hadn't heard from her father either. She didn't care if he had even died, but her mother had gotten a new boyfriend. A cardiologist that she worked along with her at the local hospital, Cha-ching. She stopped cutting, well, she hadn't really formed a habit, but she didn't continue on .The wound was now healed. And so was her ankle. No had found out about it, and she was thankful. It was now a distant memory. It was now mid-October, her birthday would be coming up soon, so would the first semi-formal.

She was sitting in home room one day; Craig had eventually taken a seat across the room. He gave up trying to talk to her. She was messing around on the computers when Marco came up to her; Craig sat staring at them, across the room.

She looked back at Craig. He turned away. He must have put Marco up to something.

"Hey" Marco, who was always very stylish, was wearing a light blue collared over shirt, with a wife beater tank underneath. His jeans were a washed out blue.

"Hi" Quinn was depressed. She wanted to have Craig back in her life so bad, that it was breaking her heart.

"So, the semi-formal is coming up this Friday, are you going with anyone?"

"No. Well…" She thought about making up how she had recently met someone and she had invited him, since Marco probably was asking for Craig and all.

"Well, that's great. Because I have a friend over there who would love to go with you" Marco pointed towards Craig. Craig was pretending to be read a 'Do it yourself' photography magazine. She could tell he was listening by the way his eyes glanced over towards them every five seconds.

"Really, that's great and all, but maybe your friend should have come and talked me a long time ago…"

How could I be mean to him? Marco's one of the sweetest guys I have ever met in my life, why am I being so stupid. She had drifted off in a world in her own thoughts.

"Well, I'm just giving you something to think about. I mean seriously, isn't he the most gorgeous thing you have ever seen?"

He did have a point. Craig was the cutest guy at Degrassi. He wasn't that skinny, just right. They way his curly hair parted to two sides in the front of his face. His constant goofy smile…Quinn could go on for days…

"You know what Marco, I have to go to the bathroom, to fix my, um, my make up" She went up to Mr. Simpson. "Bathroom pass?"

She heard Marco shouting at her. "But Quinn, your makeup looks fine!"

"All yours" he handed one over to her. She ran out of the room quickly finding that she had tripped over something in the hall.

She felt terrible for what she had just done to Marco. He didn't deserve this. He was just trying to do his friends a good thing, and she had basically ruined any chance that she would ever have with Craig Manning.

She got up, brushed herself off, and kept going. Her life, constant reminder of those things.

She went in to the washroom. Of course, there was Paige, fixing her makeup.

"Well, don't we just look so happy?"

God she hated people like that.

"Paige, this isn't a good day for me, alright. Please, just stop bugging me." She said in a defeated tone.

She put down her mascara. "You know, Hun, if you like Craig, just suck it up and say sorry, I mean everyone knows about you and him"

She was puzzled. Everyone knew about what? They hadn't done anything but kiss.

"What are you talking about?"

"You know, that you guys had sex, in the woods over by his house, it's been all over school for the past month, I mean come on, it's Craig that you like, Whore of all men"

She had never had sex with him.

"We didn't have sex. He sang to me"

"Oh, right, that's what they call it now"

God, why is my life this stupid hell?

"Who did you hear this from?"

"Spinner, I mean, Craig is like, his best friend, and he tells him everything. Craig, he can't keep a secret Hun"

What the hell is she talking about?

"You know Paige, I don't really care what Craig told Spinner because I know the truth, and that's all that matters" She knew it wasn't the truth. Craig would never betray her like that. Even if they haven't talked for months.

That explains the dirty looks that she had been getting in the hall lately

"Whatever you say, I mean, it gets to you, all of the secrets and lies"

"Yeah, okay"

"You ever need someone to talk to; I know how it is…"

God she had hated her. How would she ever know what my life is like?

She didn't feel like bothering with Paige anymore she left. The halls were empty, she decided to skip the rest of the 35 minutes of homeroom and hide in the boys' washroom.

She traveled the distance down the hall to where it was. She looked around to make sure no one was coming. She didn't want anyone to see her.

She bravely walked in. No one was there. The bathrooms were dirty. There was graffiti all over the stalls. She went in the second to the first one. It was the cleanest, still some graffiti but, she didn't care. She actually enjoyed reading it. There had to be something about every girl in Degrassi. She didn't see anything about her, but she seen something about Craig.

"Manny Santos is easy. Just don't forget any condoms, right Craig?"

What the fuck did that mean?

Did Craig get Manny pregnant, did they have sex, and have they dated? She was thinking of so many possibilities coming from that phrase.

Someone walked. She peeked through the crack of the door. It was Craig and Marco.

Craig looked so good. Of course, when didn't he?

"Craig, I know she still likes you okay? How much money do you have?"

Craig had 24 dollars in his hand. What were they doing?

"I have 24, we could get her 12 for the formal, and 12 for her birthday, it's in about a week away, and I could get a card, blah, blah, blah you know, write down "Happy birthday, will you go to the formal with me, all that stuff"

Was he going to get me roses? Oh my god, I bet he is

"No, you have to put more into Craig, like, like, say your writing her a song, but just write it down for a note, okay? Does that work?"

Quinn was still peeking through crack of the door. She was about to lose her balance.

"You still have her locker number right, written down on the piece of paper?"

"Yes, Marco, for the 145 time, I do. Wait, what colored roses did you, uh, get her?"

He was actually thinking about me!

She suddenly remembered. Craig had never given her back that post it.

"I got her purple, just like you said 24 purple roses Craig. I already called them in this morning, so just pay me back"

Craig handed him the money

"Sounds good"

Just then the door she was leaning on screeched extremely loud.

Oh shit!

Craig and Marco turned around.

"Spin, that you?" Marco had thought it was Spinner.

Thank god I am wearing dark blue corduroy pants today. Especially with these shoes, ha-ha, yes! He'll never know it's me!

She tried sounding like him. Didn't work, every time I try and sound like a guy, I end up sounding like a screeching maniac! Why?

Marco started talking. "I don't think that's Spinner Craig, I think it's…"

He couldn't have thought it was me, I didn't sound like myself. Oh no…

"That grade 10, Chris Sharpe"

"Oh, right" Craig sighed. "I don't know who that is" He breathed out a sigh

He couldn't have thought that was me? Could he?

He didn't know who could have been in the stall. For a moment, he thought it was Quinn. It wasn't though. It couldn't be. He wanted her back so bad. He couldn't stand being away from her. They had shared something so special, that night. He was going to get her back any way he could…ANY way. He didn't understand why she had ignored him this long. He didn't know what to do that night. Of course he had wanted to stay, but he didn't want to hurt her. Not again…He knew he had to tell her about Manny and Ashley. He had to. The guilt was eating away inside of him

"Hello, Craig, Earth to Craig?"

"Oh right, Grade 10"

"Right, let's get back to homeroom"

"Good Idea"

And there they went, out of the bathroom

Quinn just about had a panic attack. A guy was actually getting her flowers. This was surprising

No guy had ever cared for her like this.

She seriously thought about staying in the bathroom, but she was too happy. This was the happiest she had been in months. She felt a sudden rush go through her. It was like no other feeling she had felt before. She walked out, not caring that JT Yorke had just entered behind her and was staring at her opened eyes. She was feeling like she had a junior high crush. The feeling of excitement, the feeling of warmth…

Quinn had made her way towards homeroom. She came back a good ten minutes after Craig and Marco had left so they wouldn't be suspicious. She opened the door. Everyone in the class turned and looked her way. She could feel her face getting warm.

"Welcome back Ms. Jacobson, where's the pass?"

I haven't forgotten it, have I? She reached into her back pocket. There it was.

"Here, Mr. Simpson"

She handed him the pass and sat back down at her computer, and logged back into her computer. Just then a tiny blue message box popped up on the screen. She opened it.

"Meet me in the foyer at lunch"

It was from Craig. She knew it was, because it was the same screen name that Craig had used, when they were jokingly messaging each other earlier in September. She decided to e-mail him back.

She started typing. "Alright, I will, just don't make me wait, okay…I just, I just don't want to wait for you any longer"

She waited for five minutes. Craig looked up from his screen to look at Quinn. She caught him looking at her. She was 99.9 positive that Marco was coaching him through this.

Another message came up. She opened it "Don't worry, you won't. I promise"

She didn't bother typing back. She wanted to play hard to get, she really did, but there was something fighting against her. She wanted Craig back into her life, and this was the chance.

Most of her classes felt like 5 hours at a time. She was impatiently waiting for lunch to arrive to she could see Craig. Suddenly, like a ton of bricks, it was time.

She started for the foyer. Her steps getting slower, her muscle's were going into spasms. She felt as if there were a flock of live insects flying around in her stomach. She kept on walking until she seen Craig. She suddenly froze. She didn't know why. He was just standing there, with two dozen purple roses for her. She got up her strength and kept moving on. Her hair was now up in a ponytail, but she tucked the few pieces hanging down around her face behind her ears. There was no one around but her and Craig, everyone was in the cafeteria. She was now ten feet away from him. Emotion took over. She started running towards him. She couldn't take it anymore. She missed him so much. She placed her arms around his neck and started hugging him, her head resting peacefully on his shoulders. The roses were now on the ground, his arms wrapped around her.

Craig whispered in her ear. "I missed you so much"

His head was now resting on top of hers, lightly. He felt so warm, their bodies pressed against each other. His, dark, curly hair pressed against her cheek.

She didn't want to say that she knew about this. She didn't want to ruin the moment. Craig was now back. They were back into each other's lives, once again.

She spoke up and swallowed her pride. "I'm so sorry about that night Craig; I didn't mean to make you do something you didn't want to do…"

He would never tell her that he had wanted her that night. He really had, but it just wasn't the time. He was happy now. She was back. That's all he had wanted for the past month. 5 songs, written and 3 melodies made up. That's more than he had ever made up…music wise…

Craig let go of her. His hands now peacefully on her arms

His voice was so soothing. "Will you go to the formal with me?"

YES CRAIG MANNING! I WILL!

"Yes" Why don't I ever sound like I want to do something? He looks so cute standing there, with a rose, and here I am, in a black sweatshirt, and a pair of shorts and flip flops, which definitely isn't appropriate for an October day, why do I like this?…she went on thinking.

Everything seems like a fairytale, he didn't know what to do, or how to act. Marco had just told him to do all of this.

Craig picked up the roses and held them up.

"These are for you, um, Happy Birthday?"

It wasn't her birthday until next week, but it was a nice gesture.

"Thank you Craig, this is, just, so awesome…words can't even explain…"

"They don't have to"

Yes they can, they can explain! I am in love with Craig Manning!

There wasn't a card…no card at all…

I have an idea! We could ditch school! Yes! We don't need to be here, we can go somewhere else, to be alone…Or maybe we shouldn't, we would get caught…so many thoughts…He decided to ask her, to see what she thought…

"I have an idea, you wanna go someplace else, to just, chill?"

Chill? What does he mean? She tried to smile

"You know, just, hang out, somewhere, other than school?"

He's not asking you for sex you know, you can ditch school, you haven't for a long time, you can do this, Quinn thought. She looked out the window. It was beautiful out. The sun was shining. The leaves on the trees were falling. They were a mix of colors, like orange, green and brown. The janitor was raking them outside.

"Sure, but, uh how are we going to ditch?"

Craig had his arms folded. He must have been thinking…

He was into it now, a huge smile spread across his face. "Right now, I mean, the teachers are out, we just have to steer clear of Raditch, and we should be alright."

He must be crazy; we can't ditch school like this.

"I know a couple of ways through some closets out of the doors, out of the school, okay, just follow me"

"Alright, but where are we going to go?"

Quinn looked at the ground. Craig's blue converses were dirty. She didn't want to get in trouble, but then again, she did want to spend some time with Craig…

"I'm not sure; we can find some place though"

God, I hope he doesn't want to go my house! Or his house! Oh god…

Craig took her by the hand. He led her through a series of hallways, then into a gym. There were a couple people around, but no one noticed. They just looked like they were about to sit on the bleachers and talk, that's all.

They went into one of the janitor's closets. It had a gray paint to it. There were a couple of tools lying around, and a couple of mops and buckets.

"Here" He pushed another door open. Then, it led them to a door outside, but Quinn had just thought of something.

"You know, we could have ate outside and it would have been easier…"

"True. But that just takes all of the fun out. Don't you think?"

She had to agree. This was pretty fun.

It was beautiful out. There was a slight breeze, the sun was shining.

"It's perfect out"

The trees were in full bloom and the leaves. There were a couple of piles all set up neatly, ready to be put in a bag.

Craig took her by the hand. "You know, Quinn, we could just stay, you know, back here, it's quiet, and no one would ever think of going back here"

He playfully fell backwards, into a pile of leaves, taking Quinn down.

They were both lying flat on their backs in a crunch pile of leaves.

Quinn started looking up into the sky.

"You know, Quinn, we should really get a better hang out, because winter's coming soon"

He did have a point. It did seem that whenever they were alone, they were always outside somewhere, but they hadn't been alone for a month. This was a refreshing thing.

He grabbed her hand. "I really did miss you, a lot". He laced his hand through hers. "I just, every time, I tried to go and talk to you, you just, walked away"

He didn't know the whole story. She had an ache to tell him…she just couldn't.

He started stroking her thumb gently.

He leaned over her.

God, if I moved my head it would probably hit his.

"Quinn, just hear me out okay? I like you…"

She leaned up towards his face. Their lips instantly met. They were soft. She playfully bit his lower lip. They soon got more passionate. If any would have seen them, they were sure to get suspended. Craig was now on top of her, while Quinn lying in leaf pile. His hands were placed gently underneath her sweatshirt, feeling their way around.

I want her so bad.

I can't believe it; I'm ditching school like this, and making out with Craig? What am I doing? This is too risqué.

Craig sang to her "My hopes are so high that your kiss might kill me…" His voice was a mix between a light, raspy, sensuous, feeling that always gave her butterflies.

"So won't you kill me, so I die happy…"

Quinn thought she heard something. "Craig, be quiet for a minute"

She heard someone crunching through a leave pile. Craig got up and peered over the bushes. There was Ashley, behind Degrassi. The spot that no one what of ever thought of.

"Oh shit, it's Ashley"

"Are you serious? I told you Craig, we should have left."

"Wait someone else is with him…"

Quinn's hair was all messed up. Her perfectly choppy do' that was perfectly flipped out was now full of fall foliage and was sticking straight down past her shoulders.

Quinn got to her knees. Her bra, which was successfully removed 10 minutes earlier by Craig, lye on the grass beside her.

Craig was whispering something beneath his breath.

Ashley started walking over towards the bushes.

"So Manning are you going to knock her up too, Baby Maude the second?"

Ashley came around the corner to where they were kneeling. Quinn rushed to hide her bra. She stuffed in the front pocket of her sweatshirt.

"Ashley, we weren't doing anything, just having lunch?"

"Oh, right, Craig, I bet Raditch would love to see this?"

Craig got up. "Ashley what is your problem?"

"My problem is you Craig; you are a testosterone filled, heart breaking, soul stealing, monster! You're out to ruin lives! You don't care for people Craig, no one"

Quinn looked at them from the ground. Dumfounded. She didn't have a clue what they were talking about.

Ashley looked hurt. She was wearing a camouflage maroon and brown shirt, with a pair of hip huggers. She had dark circles beneath her eyes. It looked like she hadn't had an ounce of sleep for over a week.

Craig didn't know what to say. "Ashley that isn't true"

"Oh yeah, what a line, 'I don't know if you'll forgive me…'

"Ashley, come on"

"For being so blind to how you felt…"

What the hell?

"Ashley stop, it's over with alright?"

Something came to Craig's mind. The car, a month ago, that WAS Jeff Isaacs'. It WAS Ashley. She was stalking them.

"Craig, you don't know, you don't have a clue…"

Ashley had plenty in store for them. She had seen them, in the hall, the roses, the ditching, the make out scene, everything. She was going to get Quinn back. She stole the love of her life. She was going to pay…

She stormed off. They didn't know if she was going to tell Raditch or what, but they stayed there for the moment.

"Craig, what was the all about, forgiving, or what ever she was saying?"

"Quinn, it's nothing. It was just something last year okay?"

I need to tell her! I have to tell her! But I can't! Everything was going so perfect, and then prude has to come up and ruin it! Fuck.

"What happened last year?"

"It was a battle of the bands, we played, we meaning Downtown Sasquatch, and I wrote a song"

He didn't want to say what it had really meant. Basically he wanted Ashley back then. But not now, times have changed. Things were different. He only wanted Quinn.

"Is that all that happened?"

He looked frustrated. "Yes. That's all that happened, I swear"

She didn't believe him. He knew there was more to the story than he was telling her. She didn't feel like demanding it out of him now.

She tried to change the subject. "So, the formal, it's this Friday right? If it is, I'll go dress shopping soon"

He hadn't asked her to formal. Maybe she just assumed they were going. That's what he was doing.

"Yeah it's this Friday. Joey said I can borrow his car, so it's all good. And now, I know where you live now, so I can go and pick you up. It starts around 9, and Marco is going to have this awesome party afterwards at his house, so we can go to that too. You know, Party the night away"

Except, both of them didn't know what they were hiding from each other, they both had a terrible secret. A secret they had in common? Or a secret they were both terribly embarrassed about

Would this all be revealed Friday night? Who knows…