There's a certain area within this chapter that takes a lot of the wording from Borne136's story The Measure of a Life. Meanwhile, Craig is a bit different in this story. He'll break up with Ashley, but still cheated on her with Manny. By the way, is it weird if I already have up to chapter 5 typed out? Anyways this scenario is pretty much if Ashley broke up with Craig when he was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. Enjoy!

Craig's POV

The image.

Seeing Jimmy on the ground, unconscious, bleeding was too much for me. I saw Rick over his body, and I ran.

While I did agree Rick was a terrible person for what he had done to Terri, but I don't think he deserved the torment he had received. In the aftermath of the shooting, I couldn't get the image of Jimmy's body on the ground, unconscious. It reminded me too much of how I would look after my father's abuse.

While my father was dead, and I lived with Joey now, I couldn't help but notice the change in the environment of the school. While I sympathized with Emma and Sean, especially the latter, when he left to go live with his mom, I was saddened to see him go, but I accepted it. He was gone and likely wouldn't come back.

Being labeled the hero of a dire situation may sound like a title you'd want, but it was quite the opposite. Being the center of attention was something that could stress you out, to the point of anger and a breakdown, like mine after my father's death.

While I was thankful of Ashley for being there for me, it was ultimately short lived.

In the aftermath of the shooting, I needed someone to talk to about what I witnessed, and Ashley was not willing to listen. Hearing her former boyfriend on the ground, dying was something she didn't want to picture. Eventually she got sick of me talking about it, and told me we needed a break.

While I was mad, she wanted to know what was going through me ever since my breakdown, I ultimately knew it was only a time before she would leave a mess of a human I was. I was clearly messed up. She would soon break up with me, and I knew it.

Which was why she surprised me when she came back days later, and hugged me.

"Hey Craig," I remember her tone was flirty and full of lust. Something I missed so much. So much so that I took some money out and bought a room in a hotel for a day, just for Ashley and I to have fun. I don't exactly remember why I did that, but my adrenaline was over the roof at that time.

Besides, we both needed a break from the school life, right?

Unfortunately, that didn't last long, as Ashley started being concerned for my health.

"Craig your acting a bit erratic," she told me, which I scoffed off, telling her I felt great that she was here.

When she couldn't handle me anymore, she left, leaving me in a room where all I could do was let my thoughts out in a rage. At my failed relationship, my failed mentality and just my failures in general. I was some sort of human being and I couldn't handle being different. What was I doing wrong? Eventually I left the room, after tearing the area into pieces out of rage and hopelessness.

When I returned home, Joey confronted me about the amount of money spent, which I shook off immediately. When he stopped me and asked what's going on, I snapped.

"Why is everyone asking if I'm okay?!" I yelled, squirming out of Joey grip, only for him to grab me again.

Eventually the next thing I knew, Ashley entered my house, looking scared. I turned myself to her and hugged her frantically.

"You came back!" I remember, before Ashley made me turn to what I had done. Once I saw it, I let out a shocked gasp and collapsed in shock, before breaking down in tears.

Joey was there, with a broken nose, blood pouring out of it, chipped teeth and a fractured jaw. I couldn't have just done that to him?!

Unfortunately, I did, and I was ashamed at myself. Here I was on a hospital bed, with nothing but my thoughts plaguing me. I watched as Ashley approached me, tears in her eyes. I couldn't stand to see her cry, so I just looked down in shame, preparing for what I expected.

"Craig, I'm sorry but I can't do this anymore, your unexpected, and it killing me!" She sobbed quietly, before continuing - "I don't want to do this, but you need help. You saw what you did to Joey, and you could've hurt him more if I hadn't showed up"

I grimaced at the condition Joey was in. In his state, he was brought to the hospital for the injuries I gave him. Even the police were hear to investigate what had happened, even waiting if Joey wanted me arrested for assault. My mind began to race in fear. I didn't want to go to jail, I'd be even more of a mess than I already was.

But Ashley's words brought me out of my thought.

"I want you to go to a therapy group, specifically the one in school," she told me.

"What's the point," I replied. I was a mess of a human being and that was not going to change. Everyone would see me as a mess.

"I want you to go, I don't want to see you go down a path where you-" she cut herself at that word. But continued "I know it's hard, but it's after school, and I think Joey would be in favour,"

I sighed. Joey, I don't deserve him. He took me in from my abusive dad, and I broke him.

What kind of person was I? I began to accept that I would never gain his forgiveness again, and that I may be kicked out into the streets, but I spoke after.

"I don't know, will I even be fixed?" I replied half-heartedly.

Before Ashley could respond, the door opened, which revealed a Joey with a bandaged nose and jaw, but still had a smile on his face.

"You can go officers, he's my stepson, and I won't file charges against a troubled minor," He told the officers, who shortly made their way out of our room, leaving me with Ashley and Joey.

"Joey-" I started, but he shook his head.

"Don't worry Craig, it's fine." He replied.

I didn't know how to respond.

"But I literally assaulted you, how is this fine?" I said

"Your blaming yourself too much Craig, I don't blame you for your actions," He told me.

"But what happens if I hurt you more? What if you don't recover?" I asked, my voice quivering.

"It won't matter, Craig, you're my son, and it's my job to take care of you, even at the cost of my health," He said. "and for the record, a bandaged nose looks hot."

I didn't want to ask this question, but I need to anyways,

"Are you going to kick me out of your house?" I asked hoarsely.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

"Are you crazy Craig? Of course not! You're bipolar! Do you think I'm abandoning you when you need me the most?" He raised his voice, not to the point of volume, but clarity.

I breathed a sigh of relief, I would sleep on a warm sofa, and not on the cold grass or concrete. But my thoughts were shortly interrupted by Ashley

"I was actually talking to Craig about attending a school therapy group. It's filled with students who have their issues, and they can talk about it, free their mind from any unnecessary thoughts," Joey turned from her to me.

"I think that's a great idea, Craig, you should attend that," Joey said firmly.

"Are you sure?" I replied. He nodded with a smile.

"Yes Craig, I think you should, I don't mind picking you up later than usual,"

I sighed in relief, maybe this student therapy group would be a good thing.

I looked up to Joey, "Thank you so much, if it weren't for you or Ashley, I don't know what more damage I could've done." I said smiled to Ashley, who gave me a frown. At that sight I swallowed my throat hard.

"It's nothing Craig, but please go," She pleaded.

"Will you be there for me?" I asked hopefully, in which she shook her head, crushing me.

Sighing, she went on, "I'm sorry Craig, but this is too much for me, I mean, I was there when you broke down after your father's funeral, I was there when you were talking about Jimmy, and now I was there when you were beating your stepfather, I'm sorry Craig, but I can't be with you anymore,"

At that point, I sighed sadly, "It'll get better," but she cut me off.

"No, it won't Craig, you said that before, but here we are!" She practically yelled, before continuing "I'll go and support you, but anything we had is gone, I'm sorry, but I have to go," she finished before exiting the room, leaving me with Joey.

"I'm sorry," was all Joey said, before we left. As I approached and sat in the passenger seat of Joey's car, my mind was racing, yet again.

While I was mad at Ashley, I wasn't surprised. No one would want to be with a broken person. There were better people suited for Ashley out there, and I was definitely not one of them.

My mind turned to Joey, who looked in bad shape, but in a good mood. I can't believe I had done all of this to him. As we approached his house, I stopped at the door. He sighed and went on.

"It's fine Craig, really, as long as your fine, everything will be alright," he told me.

My mind was racing at everything I've been through. My mother's death, my father's abusive nature, before his death, the sight of Jimmy laying on the ground, bleeding and now bipolar disorder and my failure with Ashley, everything came up, and all the emotions I've been holding in, came out like a river.

In the end Joey set me down on the couch and just hugged me.

"Everything's going to be alright," he told me softly.

I saw Angela in the distance watching the scene unfold, and I couldn't help but smile at her innocence and the people I was surrounded by, supporting me throughout my tough times. While my breakup with Ashley was tragic, it was ultimately expected, and I wished her the best of luck, rather than hate her. I couldn't do that. I had to move on and better myself.


Toby's POV

I hated it. For the first time in possibly my life, school was a pain. Watching Spinner, Jay and Alex walk on the school grounds after being responsible for the shooting made my blood boil, and while I was lucky not to be shoved by them, Someone was the victim for the day. I watched solemnly as he was pushed to the locker and interrogated by Jay and Spinner, Alex laughing in the distance. Soon followed by a push in the girl's stall. I shook my head and moved on from the scene, erasing my thoughts.

As I paid the bus driver for the ride home, I continued to ponder on how the situation in Degrassi became the way it was. I watched as Emma, lost in her mind, now reeling from the loss of Sean, was now making mistakes that she would regret. I saw Manny talking to Emma, and how they were holding each other together, even if it was fragile.

As I walked off the bus once I recognized the stop, I walked into the house and went straight to my room, not caring to flick the light switch on.

Something I've been doing more often, I laid down in my bed, and looked up at the ceiling of the pitch-black room I was encroached in. I took my glasses of and lazily chucked them to the side of my bed facing the wall, as I gazed up, mind racing.

Because Jt was too busy getting close to Liberty, and Emma and Manny were busy taking care of each other, I was left to my own devices, to fend for myself. Jt in particular has shunned me out for being associated with Rick, and instead found Danny a fitting replacement it seems.

I was alone in an environment where everyone saw me as a ticking time bomb, but also a vulnerable one, until I detonate it seems.

There was currently no one home, Ashley was busy worrying about Craig's health, to the point where she was never home until late night. She never was too fond of me, or having a step brother in the first place, while Kate and Dad were always hard-working individuals who always came home late as well. This meant that I was home alone in the dark, with nothing but my thoughts to entertain me.

Just like in school today, I was left with nothing but my thoughts in a dark environment. Numbness and hatred for this school was all I felt, and my patience for change was running thin. My image has fallen flat, and it seems that aside from the nerdy tech smart boy, I was nothing else.

My mind soon shifted as my view stopped at a notable photo, I knew all too well. A graduation picture of us in elementary school. While I've seen this photo multiple times, and mostly talked about how different I looked and was back then, this time was different.

Instead of remembering the good times I pictured I had during Grade 7 and 8, one area of the picture caused a lump to grow in my throat. Here, was an awkward set of kids, one with glasses, with a chubby face, being a young Toby. Above him was a young Spinner, who with his right hand indicated a L shape, and using his left hand, guided the viewers of the photo to let them know who the loser was. The geek with glasses was at the end of Spinner's left hand pointing towards him.

The torment from that picture gave me flashbacks to the verbal jabs thrown by me in the past, a young chubby geek kid with glasses. This eventually led up to today, with all the shoving, name calling, and blows given to me from Spinner and Jay. My mind began to race, hands shaking, and my breathing becoming fast paced, as I realized the torment I had been subject to.

"Had I really been that oblivious to the harassment I was given? Why did he get off free? Why didn't the teachers intervene?" Was all that was going through my head.

Eventually I snapped. With all the force I could I threw the picture across my room onto the wall, glass shattering upon impact from the hard wall. I wasn't done, any piece that wasn't smaller than the naked eye could see was stamped on with my feet, covered in shoes obviously.

Once I was satisfied with the destruction of the picture, I moved on to anything that stood in my way. The bookshelf, filled with books I would read to my heart's content, were ripped apart, torn into pieces of paper, until I couldn't see them anymore. Any awards. For spelling bees, pop quizzes, and gaming awards, were all broken as well. Almost nothing came through my attack in one piece.

Throughout all of my vicious anger being released onto my possessions, a yell was present throughout the scene. A yell, filled with rage, hatred and anger, but instead of it aimed at a certain group, aimed at my failing social and mental health.

Eventually, everything subsided, and I went in my bathroom, to the mirror to see the mess I've become. As I looked in the mirror, a thought came to my mind. Fetching to get my glasses, which I hadn't break yet, I put them on, and looked in the mirror. Chubby face, a geek, I hadn't changed since elementary. I was still awkward, chubby, and a geek. I had realized how little I truly changed throughout my time in Degrassi, and how much of a nerd I've been.

As my thoughts continued with the constant torment and lack of confidence, I loathed what I was now, and how I looked. Seeing the glasses on me reminded me of Rick.

Without a second after that thought, I took off my glasses, and with a causal flair, tossed it behind me, cracking shortly after coming into contact with the wall. Rick was no more, and any associates with him would result in more torment.

Looking at myself in the mirror one more time, I told myself everything had to change. Everyone had so quickly, so he would as well. The old Toby Issacs was no more. He died alongside Rick.

As I laid down in my bed for the final time today, I knew what had to be done, what needed to happen. Going through all the thoughts, mostly filled with numbness, two words seemed to be clearer than Toby could not imagine

"No More."