Chapter Twelve

"I was there. It was my fault." Craig repeated, stuffing his hands in his jean pockets.

"I still don't understand something," Toby began, "how did Emma get here? I mean one minute the news is saying she was in the car with whoever, and the next she's at the hospital? That doesn't make sense. I don't think the guy would have dropped her off at the hospital's doorstep."

Manny eyed JT, who was expressing a look of concern. She walked over to the abandoned chair next to Toby, and rubbed her temples.

"She passed out in JT's arms. I guess he must of pushed her out of the car at some point, and she walked to JT's... I don't know. All I know is that she showed up bruised, her eyes surrounded with red... blood on her crown... she hasn't been awake since..." Manny's voice broke off...

Toby said nothing. Craig finally walked in, and took a seat next to Paige. He put his elbows on his knees and connected his fingers together. He then put this head down, resting it on his tangled hands. Paige rubbed his back.

"It's going to be okay."

Craig didn't respond, he was wrapped up in memory - memories of Emma, that had grown faint while he pushed her aside for other girls. It wasn't that he regretted being with Ashley and Manny - they both taught him a lot, it was more among the lines that he wished he could have taken notice of Emma sooner, maybe he could have done something, anything to protect her... In his heart, he felt a kind of remorse that chained his feelings about Emma, as though he were screaming for her but she couldn't hear.

"So, he's in grade nine? Manny asked.

"Yah, I saw him come out of Simpson's homeroom this morning." Emma smiled.

"Why do the niners get all the hotties?" Manny sadly questioned.

"What do you mean? We have JT and Toby." Emma joked.

"Shhh, there he is." Manny whispered, trying to appear occupied.

"Where?" asked Emma as she turned her head, catching a glimpse of him.

She quickly brought a book up to her face, pretending to read.

Craig breezily walked over, and took a seat with Manny and Emma at their table in the library. he dropped his bag on the floor.

"Emma Nelson, right?" he asked with a boyish smile.

"You uhh... you baby-sit Angela Jeremiah..." Craig continued, as Emma put the book down.

"I do," she said, "I mean I do, but.."

"You don't recognize me?" Craig asked, "Five years ago. Our mothers made us dance."

Craig grimaced, but did not get rid of his smile. It was something that couldn't be helped around Emma. She, in turn, gasped.

"The wedding." She recalled.

"Craig is Joey's step-son," Emma explained to a dazed Manny, "Angela's half-brother."

"Oh..." Manny replied, gazing at Craig, "oh hi.."

Craig waved with his hand, smiling once more.

"Hey." he said to Manny.

Returned his focus to Emma, he got nervous again, and stuttered.

"Anyways, uhh... it was nice to see you again."

He winked, then got up and walked away from the table. Emma called out for him, and invited him to her mother's party, to which he replied "I'll be there". And he was there, every time but the one that mattered the most.

Spinner glared at Jay.

"Whoa dude, I had no idea it was that deep with her." he replied, once Jay had finished telling him everything about Emma.

"Yah, well, it is..." Jay said in a tone that showed his annoyance, mostly with himself.

It was silent for a moment, then Jay stood up.

"I need a fucking smoke."

He walked out of the room, hands in his pockets. He took the elevator down, and walked a short distance away from the hospital. He stood in the bushes, impatiently pulling out his cigarettes. He inserted one into his mouth, then dug the lighter out of his back pocket. Once he had a flame, he brought it to the cigarette. Placing the lighter back in his pocket with his left hand, he used his right to remove the smoke from his lips, and he exhaled. Jay brought it back to his lips nearly instantly, and he inhaled the smoke, then breathed it out again with ease. This process repeated several times until the cigarette had reached its end, then Jay took out another and lit it with his lighter. He paced slowly, shifting his weight from foot to foot, not quite sure what was left to do.

Paige stopped rubbing Craig's back momentarily.

"I think I'll go check on Spinner and Jay." she said wearily.

"Jay's here?" Craig said with a tone of disgust as he lifted his head.

Manny looked at him.

"Yes, Craig, Jay is here. Everyone who cares about Emma is."

"Bastard." Craig mumbled, putting his head down once more.

"Bye Paige." JT said as the petite blonde walked out of the room.

Spinner awkwardly stood still for a moment, then decided to pull up a chair. He didn't want to leave Emma alone, and the others would come back soon anyways. He stared at her for several moments until he heard the door open.

Paige walked over and sat down sideways on Spinner's lap, with her head down. Spinner's hands reached out as he wiped her hair away from her face, and turned it to face him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, seeing tears in Paige's eyes.

She managed to mumble out the news report, and then leaned her body into Spinner's as she started to cry. It was fast and it was hard, and all Spinner felt he could do was hold her, caress her, promising it would get better. He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her, but also holding her body as close to him as possible, feeling her warmth upon him. He turned his face to hers once the tears had began slowing down.

"You know I love you Paige, right?" he asked.

"Of course I do. I love you too." she whispered back.

Spinner smiled despite the situation. Being with Paige made him feel like the possibilities were endless, like there was no barrier. She made him feel infinite... just like their love.