A/N: Wow, thanks for all the feedback for the first chapter! I'm working on the third chapter right now (it's amazing me actually, having inspiration to write!) so that should be up soon. From here the story is going to get darker and more depressing, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! So, sit back and enjoy this chapter!

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After I had settled into my new bedroom, Craig and I spent the day celebrating his birthday. We went out, had a great dinner and some awesome cake. Then we came back and watched movies until we fell asleep on the couch. I was leaning against him with his arm around my shoulders.

The next day, he took me to the studio, and I reunited with the band members again. Jesse, his drummer, still looked at me as if I were a piece of delicious meat. Of course, it did make Craig uneasy, so I flirted with the guy. Sure, he was 26, but he wasn't bad-looking. He understood what real music was and admired my taste for art and other things.

That day, after Craig and the band recorded a song successfully (and me watching the producer with rapt attention…with shifting gazes toward Craig and Jesse in between), the tall blond asked me out for a drink.

I didn't see any harm in it, so I accepted and said goodbye to Craig outside. Jesse took me to a nice enough bar and we spent half the night talking. I think we may have each had half a drink, so we weren't drunk or stupid. We took a cab back to my new apartment (when I said that to Jesse, my stomach did a little flip) and he walked me to the door. He asked me out for dinner, and I accepted. He kissed me on the cheek (yes, a gentleman!) and waited until I was safely inside before he got back in the cab and went home.

I bet you're wondering where Craig was. Well, I found him on the couch—asleep. He had been waiting for me. Seriously, he's too overprotective for his own good. But I found a blanket in the hall closet and placed it over him before I went to sleep.

Overall, it was starting out to be a great decision coming out to Vancouver.

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A few weeks had passed, and I was starting to get semi-serious with Jesse. Craig was still being protective. He thought Jesse was too old for me. Well, funny enough, I thought Manny was too young for him! (Mentally, of course, she seems to be old enough physically…ugh)

I think the only thing that was bothering Jesse was that I wasn't "putting out". It's not the fact that I'd never had sex; I just didn't want to rush into having sex with him. Besides, I'd had sex before, I mean, I did live with my boyfriend for a few months when I was a junior.

Jesse was really sweet, though. I think it was good that I had accepted his offer for drinks. He was good for me. We didn't argue (of course, the relationship was still in the early stages) and we had so much in common. He was almost as fun to be around as it was to be with Craig.

Crap. The reason I started dating Jesse was so I could get over Craig. No more comparing! Ok, so, Jesse and I had a date coming up. It was going to be great. A nice dinner; maybe I'd even let myself try to fall in love with him. (Ha.)

As I was getting ready for our fantastic dinner, I got a call from him. They got a last minute mini-tour along the Toronto area. And they were leaving tonight. As soon as I hung up with him, the lead singer of his band walked through the front door and told me the same thing. I might have looked deflated because he came over and sat next to me. (I was sitting on his bed watching him pack) "Ell, we'll only be gone for three weeks—four tops."

"You're going to be near our home, Craig; don't you think I want to go with you?"

"You want to go back home?"

"Yeah," I shrugged. "I want to see my friends. I want to check up on my mom."

He wrapped me into a hug. "Look, I'll get a video message from everyone." I smiled. "And I'll personally go over to your house to make sure your mother is sober, ok?"

I placed my head on his shoulder. "I guess that starts to make up."

"And when I get back I'll take you out to the most fabulous and expensive restaurant in Vancouver."

"And now you're trying to spoil me."

"I feel bad, Ellie. I want you to come along, but there wouldn't be room for you."

"I know." I reluctantly pulled away from his arms. "Just promise me that you see every single one of our friends, deal?"

"Deal. Man, Ellie, I haven't been living without you for quite some time. I don't know how I'll cope."

"Would you like to take a picture of me, in case you get homesick?" I joked.

"Oh please. Maybe one of your classic poses." I gave him a deadpan look and flipped him off. "All I get is a mental picture?"

"You have a camera, Manning, I'm sure you can make it a real one if you want to."

He smiled at me. "Nah, I think seeing you animated in my mind is better."

Ok, seriously, he needed to stop. I really just wanted to jump him. But I'm not Manny.

"Get your butt out of here before I kick you out," I said instead.

He grabbed his bag and we walked to the front door. "I'll see you in a few weeks. Don't burn down the place, all right?"

"Can I at least have wild parties here every night?"

"As long as they clean up afterwards." He hugged me once more. "I'll call you at every stop."

"Jesse might get jealous."

"Hey, I've known you longer. I get dibs."

I grinned at him. "I'm so glad I get two guys in a rock band fighting over who gets to talk to me first."

"You are special, Nash."

"So are you, Manning. Of course, a different kind of special…" I said with a smirk.

He scowled at me, and then he did something he's never done before: he kissed me on my forehead. Ok, that may sound lame, but it was sweet. I watched him walk away to his cab and felt a lurch in my stomach.

Nope, still hadn't gotten over him, yet. Maybe the distance would be good for me.

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The weeks went by, and I heard that shows kept being added. They didn't return for two months. Of course, my life was on halt because all I did was work at the pet store down the street. Now, the two men in my life were returning and I had something to do again!

Oh, and no, I hadn't lost any feelings for Craig over the separation. If anything, they grew. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. Damn.

Part way through the separation, I adopted a companion whom Craig was totally excited for. I learned from having a ferret, so this time I got a little kitten. Ok, she wasn't that little, but technically she was still a kitten. Over a conversation with Craig (and pictures sent through our cell phones) we named our new kitten Pixie. Slightly a dedication to the Pixies, but she still looked like she had dust all over her. (Pepper was also a name we considered)

I went to the studio to welcome them back. Craig was the first one off the bus and ran toward me. He picked me up and squeezed me so hard, I thought I was going to pass out. Luckily, though, he realized that I needed oxygen to survive, so he released me. Jesse slowly walked up to me with an expressionless face and kissed me rather hard on the mouth. "Um, hi, ow," I told him once he had pulled away.

"Why are you playing me?"

"What?" I asked. I seriously didn't know where this had come from or where this was going.

"We've been together for almost four months and we haven't even slept together, yet."

"Ok, can we talk about this somewhere else?"

"No, we can't. I know you and Craig want to be together, so stop pulling me around."

I was flustered. I didn't know what to say. "You're out." That was Craig's impression of Heidi Klum. I had the sudden urge to say, "Make it work." But it wasn't for fun; he had said that to Jesse.

"What?" Jesse asked him.

"I want you out of the band. You don't treat my friends like that. Just because she wouldn't put out for you, you start accusing her of having feelings for someone else. I don't like it."

"Craig…" I started to say.

"Get lost, Jesse."

"You can't kick me out, man."

"Yes I can. I chose you to be in this band. I can choose you to be out. It's time for you to leave."

"Look, I know you're jealous that I got to stick my tongue in her mouth, but you're got to—"

He didn't get to finish what he was trying to say because Craig had punched him in the face. I don't know if he was trying to protect me or if he was off his meds, but I don't think I've ever seen Craig that pissed.

They started wrestling on the ground and everyone else and stopped to watch. I was afraid that if it was going to go on any longer, some paparazzi would show up and humiliate Craig. I approached them and yelled at them to stop. Of course, they didn't listen, so I tried to take matters into my own hands and pull Jesse off of Craig.

Suddenly I was on the ground on my butt. I was stunned. I looked up and saw Jesse and Craig look at me with the same expression I knew I had. Then it came. The searing pain on my cheek. I placed my hand to my cheek and I still felt shock. Jesse crawled off of Craig and started apologizing. Craig pulled him away from me and told him to get lost. He helped me stand up and asked me if I was ok. I don't know if I even said anything. I was in a daze.

As if in a dream, Craig got a cab and took me home, never letting go of me. I still felt disoriented. All I remember after that is Craig putting me on my bed. (I think it was my bed)

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I woke up the next morning looking into the sleeping face of Craig Manning. Needless to say I was startled. I didn't really remember the events for the day before, so I looked down, just to make sure I was fully clothed.

Good. I was. I really didn't want the first time I would have sex with Craig to be a time I wouldn't remember.

The pain returned to my face. And so did the memories. Jesse had hit me in the face while I was trying to pull him away from Craig. Craig had defended me. He had protected me. Crap, my heart did the swelling feeling thing, again. I placed my hand to my cheek. Wow, was it swollen. Suddenly I really didn't want Craig to wake up and see me like that. As quickly and as quietly as possible, I rolled out of bed and headed out of his room (probably because it had been the closest one to put me in) and into the kitchen for some ice.

I creeped to my room with the ice pack on my face and looked in the mirror over my dresser to survey the damage. I had a big bruise on my left cheek close to my mouth and the left side looked puffier than the right side. While grimacing, I placed the ice back on my face and prayed for the swelling to go down before Craig got up and hoped I could cover it all up with my make-up.

A few minutes later, though, Craig appeared in the doorway. "How are you feeling?" he asked me.

"Like I just had a facial, why thanks," I snarked.

He smirked and sat next to me on the side of my bed. "After he hit you, I wanted to kill him."

"Good thing you didn't. That would have been a huge mess. I wouldn't have been a very reliable witness, either."

A half smile. At least I was starting to bring his mood up. "You were more important."

"Wow, Manning, from you, it feels like it almost means something."

"It should. Ellie, you're my best friend. You're not allowed to get hurt."

"Well, I'll make sure I'll tell the bed that the next time I stub my toe," I said.

Finally, I received a smile from him. And even a small chuckle. I looked down at my lap. Some hair fell on the side of my face and I was too lazy to push it back. I was happy that I was getting him out of his little funk. "Ellie," he said.

I looked up at him. His voice sounded serious. "Yeah?"

"How are you?"

"A little upset. I mean, that's the second guy I couldn't make stay. He got anxious. Sean got bored. Even Marco wouldn't stay."

"I don't think Marco counts, Ell."

"Well, he did before he discovered he was gay. I just…wonder what's wrong with me."

"Nothing's wrong with you."

"Oh yeah? Then how come I haven't had successful relationships like everyone else has? I mean, relationships that last over a year."

He shrugged. "Guys are intimidated by you. You are the most amazing girl and a lot of guys find it scary. You're smart, funny, sassy, amazing, and beautiful." This guy sure knows how to flatter a girl, I'll give you that. I just wished he hadn't been getting my hopes up.

"Don't forget a major freak," I said, reminding him of my…problem.

He rolled his eyes. "Well, then, maybe you just need to find someone who will compliment all of your characteristics. Maybe someone who's a freak, too."

The look he gave me made my stomach start flipping. It made me wonder if he was the guy he meant. Hey, I can hope, right? I glanced down. His eyes were too much to look at. I felt his hand on my shoulder, gently squeezing. I knew he wanted me to look at him, but I just hadn't gotten the courage back, yet. His hand moved and pushed the strands of hair behind my ear. And then it happened.

His wonderful, calloused hand started stroking my non-bruised cheek. I was totally confused by this point that I looked into his eyes.

Holycrapwhyishestaringatmelikethat?

That is what raced through my head before he started inching closer.

Ohmygodheisgoingtokissme!

That would be the second thing that ran across my thoughts before I shut them off and closed my eyes as he inched nearer.

He was less than four inches away from contact when my stupid phone rang. I was hoping he'd ignore it and finally kiss me, but instead, I felt him pull away from me. I sighed and opened my eyes. Reluctantly, I reached for the phone.

Little did I know it was going to be the worst idea I had ever made.