Disclaimer: Degrassi: The Next Generation and all associated trademarks are property of Epitome Pictures. Based on Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, property of Playing With Time.

Ashley Kerwin knew she had this tendency to overreact. But the way Craig was so desperate to please her at the wedding, it scared her. It seemed like he was more afraid of being abandoned. And when he started hitting Joey, she needed to talk to someone who understood, so she asked Ellie for the address and got the first bus to Wasaga Beach.

She saw Sean working on an old Colt. She guessed it was his parents'. "Hey, Sean!"

"Ash. What, Ellie's not with you?" Wow, he's going to hate what Ellie said the other day.

Ashley decided to be blunt. "Actually, it's about Craig. Has he ever done anything, I don't know, weird?"

"Like what?" Sean asked, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"You know, just flip out randomly?" Ash sat down on the curb, and Sean joined her a couple seconds later, offering her a drink of his water.

"This is Craig we're talking about. You remember the dance." Ashley could detect that there was something else he wasn't telling her. And more than just his usual standoffishness.

"I'm just asking because I'm worried about him. He's done some really weird things over the last couple days. First he threw away a recording contract because he thought I wouldn't be around. Then he rented a hotel room, we spent the night there, he proposed, and after I told him sixteen's a little young, he went back to the room and wrecked it. Then he upstaged Dad and Christopher at their wedding."

Sean's mouth dropped. "Wow. Craig's a little hard to read. Back when he first met Manny, for a few months, he was over the moon for her. Then when they actually went on a date, it was a disaster. She reminded him of his sister. Which, considering, is disturbing."

Ashley felt a pang of jealousy. Sean obviously detected it because his next words were "I didn't mean it like that."

"Don't worry. I'm sure some people think second base while still in middle school's disturbing too." They both laughed. "Anyway, has Craig ever done anything, I don't know, dangerous?"

Sean was clearly worried. "I swore never to talk about it, but . . . one time he . . ."

"You're mumbling."

His tone was more defensive. "He wanted to run away to BC, alright? And then when I said no because two fourteen-year-olds can't survive alone, he tried to kill himself and I stopped him."

She came to a realization. "That's just like when he proposed. After I said no, he ran off and wrecked our hotel room. Any ideas?"

"All I can say is, trust him. I only asked Ellie about her cutting once, when she moved in and brought her knives with her." Ashley thought back to that time. Practicing with the band. Sure, they weren't the best, but Jimmy was still with them. And the housewarming party. It was funny watching Sean stress over how long it'd be before Jay said something overtly homophobic to Marco.

"Oh yeah, speaking of Ellie . . ." Ashley wondered if she should tell him.

"Tell her I love her, and I'll be back one day, but there's just so much . . . I killed someone. You know I see his face whenever I sleep." Sean was in tears by now. "I sometimes think I'm just like Rick. Or Craig's dad."

"You hate him, don't you?" Stupid question. The first time Ashley met Dr. Manning, Sean spit at him.

"There were times when I wanted to kill him myself," Sean said in a dark monotone. Ashley had never seen Sean like this. Sure he got angry, but Sean seemed like he had actually thought out a plan to kill someone.

"That's because some people have to die, so other people can live," Ashley tried to explain. "It's the same thing with Rick."

"Then why do I feel like shit?"