XIII. Don't Bother Me

Since she's been gone I want no one to talk to me.
It's not the same but I'm to blame, it's plain to see.
So go away, leave me alone, don't bother me.
I can't believe that she would leave me on my own.
It's just not right when every night I'm all alone.
I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me.
I know I'll never be the same if I don't get her back again.
Because I know she'll always be the only girl for me.
But 'till she's here please don't come near, just stay away.
I'll let you know when she's come home. Until that day,
Don't come around, leave me alone, don't bother me.
I've got no time for you right now, don't bother me.
I know I'll never be the same if I don't get her back again.
Because I know she'll always be the only girl for me.
But 'till she's here please don't come near, just stay away.
I'll let you know when she's come home. Until that day,
Don't come around, leave me alone, don't bother me.
Don't bother me.
Don't bother me.
Don't bother me.
Don't bother me.

Snake pulls Demetria's van into the front of the bakery, as Demetria unbuckles her seatbelt. He had offered to take her and us home, while Joey was taking Caitlin's parents home before his bachelor party. Unfortunately or fortunately (I can't tell at the moment), Craig had offered assistance to Emma to check on the cake for Caitlin, to make sure everything was in order. Emma agreed, still scarlet after Darcy's accusations. Of course, this decision was made after rehearsal when I went to the bathroom to wipe my blurry eyes. Every now and then, I'd cast Emma an annoyed glare, and she'd make a point to ignore it and converse with Toby and Manny in the backseat. That left me and Craig silent, with me staring at the window for the ten minute drive. Five minutes in, it was obvious Craig didn't care about any cake and why he was really stringing along.

"Ash," whispers Craig for the seventh time. "Ash!"

"Don't bother me," I say, opening the door and hopping out of the car before anyone else.

I hear Craig slide out and slam the door behind me. Rushing inside, I don't even hold the door open for anyone. The rest of our party trickles in. It's a beautiful, old-fashioned bakery with lace decorations and displays of gingerbread men, cupcakes, and doughnuts.

"I get the cake for Caitlin Ryan," says Demetria to the lady behind the counter.

"Oh yes, we just finished that one this morning," says the lady.

Toby goes to another salesperson, hands her a dollar, and asks for a gingerbread man. She gives him a fairly large one, which he gives to Manny. Manny nibbles it and sighs.

"Tastes like happy," says Manny.

"Gag," says Emma, giving Manny a little shove.

"I'd get totally fat in here...especially if I was a chef," says Manny. "How much do pastry chefs get paid?"

I walk over to a table and sit, determined to read a menu and ignore all my surroundings. Craig slips into the chair in front of me.

"Remember I called you my little pastry chef?" asks Craig.

"You mean the same year you slept with the girl you cheated on me with?" I say, looking at the drinks list. "Yeah, crystal clear."

Craig grabs the menu from me and slams it down. I raise my head, scowling.

"Don't freeze me out, Ash," says Craig, shaking his head.

"You've been freezing me out for the last four days. Three more days and we'll call it a draw."

Craig furiously runs his hands through his hair. "For a future journalist, you sure don't care about getting the whole story!"

"So I guess being a musician gives you the right to be all elusive," I exclaim, feeling my face grow hot.

A waitress in a pink dress and white apron comes up to us with a notepad and puts down two cups.

"What a lovely couple," she says. "Can I get you anything? The chocolate cheesecake is really delicious."

"No," we bark in unison.

"Smart aleck kids," she snaps. "The tables are for customers."

I roll my eyes, and Craig and I both rise from the table. The cake has been brought out. It's beautiful, four tiers with edible carnations, golden trim, faux turtledoves and gold hearts in different places.

"Aah, it's perfect," Demetria gushes.

"Whaaaaaa...Joey's black, Demetria!" moans Emma.

I look over Toby's shoulder to see that yes, the little couple on the cake has a black Joey and a white Caitlin.

Demetria furrows her brow in concern. "I say he dark on the phone. He not pale like Caitlin."

"Yes, I know he's not pale, but he's not black. I've dated a black guy before," says Emma, taking the male ornament off the cake.

"Oh yeah, Chris," says Manny, biting off the gingerbread's left arm. "I wonder what happened to him."

"Mrs. Ryan is going to be so mad," says Emma. "I need to see the baker, ma'am."

The lady behind the counter, looking terrified, runs into the kitchen.

"I don't like Mrs. Ryan," whispers Manny, stuffing the rest of the gingerbread man in her mouth. "She probably thinks I'm a maneater. Get it? Maneater?"

Manny's lame attempt at a joke is met with blank stares. Toby just gives her a shrug.

"Well, fine. I don't like any of you," says Manny, twirling her hair.

Craig sighs deeply, then takes my hand, leading me out of the bakery.

"Manny's joke wasn't that bad," I say, forcing my hand out of his.

"Please," says Craig. "You know why I brought you out here."

"The fine Toronto weather?" I say, walking over to see if Snake left the door unlocked.

It was locked. I kick a tire, then lean against one of the bakery's walls. Craig follows me the whole time.

"Stop being so guarded!" yells Craig. "I can't talk to you when you're like that."

"Like what?" I yell back. "In control? Practical? Calling you out on your mistakes? Excuse me for speaking up for myself."

"I can't tell you certain things about the situation! I want to, but I can't," says Craig, this time in a softer tone.

I go up to him, so I'm directly in his face. We're both searching each other, something we've been doing for the past two weeks, but this time, I can't read anything between his eyes.

"I've told you so many things all this time...so many things I was afraid to say. But you can't tell me what you were doing? That hurts, Craig. That really hurts."

Craig's eyes blink faster and faster, like he's holding in tears. I hated shouting at him, but it felt good to shout. I'd been holding this in for four days, and while I felt like a witch after what he said in the church, there was no way I was taking it back.

"I promised," he says softly. "I can't tell you."

"It's nice that you can promise Ellie something," I say, as Emma and everyone else exit the bakery. "Anything for a friend, right?"

Snake unlocks the van, and I walk over and get inside. I sit between Toby and Manny, who look annoyed, but I don't care. Emma flashes a little bag with the new miniature Joey in my face. He's a few shades lighter.

"Sorry, Ash," she says. "I thought it wouldn't be a problem. What's going on with you two, anyway?"

Toby and Manny give me a curious look.

"If I don't show up for the wedding, don't be surprised," I say, giving Craig, who has switched places with Demetria in the front, and is looking at me in the rear view mirror, a sincere glare.

"So what happened to the black Joey," asks Caitlin, helping Spinner carry the cake box into the Dot's kitchen.

Emma pulls it out of her pocket. "It was just too weird to throw it out," says Emma.

Angie takes it from her. "I'm going to put it in my wedding keepsake box," she announces.

Caitlin, Emma, Manny, Darcy, and myself were about to head over to Spike's for Caitlin's bachelorette party. I was still trying to think of an excuse not to go. Studying for that last final would've made the most sense, but that didn't sound particularly convincing, and having witnessed the fallout with Craig, I'm sure Emma and Manny would know the real reason.

Angie pulls out a shoebox, which I guess is her keepsake box. She walks over to me and smiles.

"Tickets to the hockey game where Joey proposed, a copy of the receipt for the ring (Daddy wouldn't let me have the real one), a wedding announcement, a strand of hair from Caitlin's mom's wig that came off at the engagement party..."

"Angela," chides Caitlin, even though she gives her a small smile.

"And this," she says, holding up a small brown bag.

"What's that?" I ask. "Something blue and new?"

"Nope, the other two. Borrowed and old."

Angie opens the bag, and dumps out a ring in her palm, a beautiful ring that I instantly recognize.

"Oh," I say, taking a deep breath.

"I don't think you've ever worn it," says Angie.

I look awkwardly around the kitchen. Spinner and Caitlin are talking to Spinner's boss about when Demetria's helpers are going to pick up the cake. Manny and Darcy were talking about something, and Emma appeared to be very agitated about whatever it was.

"No, I haven't," I say, giving Angie a weak smile.

"Try it on," suggests Angie. "See if it fits."

"Um, I don't think so," I say.

"Just for fun," says Angie. "Please."

I could never say no to Angie. In fact, I don't think anyone could.

"Just for fun," I say as she hands me the ring.

I think about how Craig couldn't show me that same level of commitment like he did when he first proposed, that same honesty. All he had to tell me was that it was nothing. He couldn't even do that. It was like his mouth was permanently fused, whereas I couldn't stop talking. Slipping on the ring, I feel the cool metal, and a surge runs through my entire body, like the blood is racing through my veins. But it's actually not the metal. It's something sticky.

"Angie!" I say.

"It's fast-drying!" she says, giggling.

"It's my skin!" I exclaim.

"Oops, didn't think of that really" says Angie, in her best innocent voice.

"I can't believe this."

"It's...um...Craig's ring, anyway. I thought you'd like it."

I try to pull it off, the beautiful diamond shining under the florescent lights of the kitchen.

"Oww," I moan, unable to move it at all. "Angie, what if he doesn't want me to wear it?"

"He told me it was for you," defends Angie.

"Angie, that was two years ago."

"Not all things change."

Caitlin calls Angie over, and she gives me a sad smile before going. I'm not upset with her at all, but I am upset that Craig or anyone would see me with the ring on and think I instantly forgave him. Emma sees me struggling with something and comes to see what's up.

"Umm, are you alright?" she asks.

"Yeah," I say, putting my hand behind my back. "I just have this ugly hang nail. It's really disgusting."

"What's even more disgusting is that Darcy got Caitlin granny panties as a party gift," whispers Manny, as she and Darcy join us.

"They're warm and I like them," says Darcy. "What did you get her? A whip?"

"No, not all of us traffic sex shops, Darcy," says Manny. "You'll see what it is..."

Darcy rolls her eyes. "Whatever. Are you guys ready? Because I want to make the rounds, then cut out early to see Spin after work."

"Yeah, let's just schedule our lives around Darcy," says Emma, smirking, and seemingly still annoyed with Darcy for the rehearsal outburst. "Letting a boy ruin girls' night."

"I said I was sorry, Emma," says Darcy, pouting.

I cross my arms, hiding the ring. "You know you're right, Emma!" I say.

"I am?" says Emma.

"Yeah, let's not boys ruin our fun. They just think we're going to wait around for them, but nope.. We're going to make this a night to remember for Caitlin."

"Yeah!" shouts Manny happily.

"Think she has something to prove?" I hear Darcy whisper.

"Oh yeah," replies Emma.