Man, Craig. I was just watching in like awe. One minute he was kissing Ashley by her locker, the next minute he was dragging Manny into deserted classrooms. Freaking Craig, man. I don't know how he found the time. It was all I could do to handle just Paige, but of course she was a bit high maintenance.
'What are you doing, man?' I said at lunch one day. Neither girl was here, which was unusual.
'What?' he said in his clueless way. He knew what.
'Uh, Manny and Ashley. How long is this going to go on?'
He shrugged, and looked away. No one wanted to talk about their unsavory behavior. I kind of felt like it was my job to bring this kind of stuff to his attention. He should be realizing it himself.
'How did you get yourself into this situation, anyway? You do know that it's all going to blow up in your face, right?' I said. Now I had him looking worried.
'Spin, I know. It kind of just happened. I told Manny I broke up with Ashley but I didn't. I was going to but she gave me this guitar, and then I couldn't do it, exactly. So I told Manny to wait until after the play, that I haven't told her about us but that I did break up with her, so she won't mention anything, but still…'
My head was spinning. I was trying to follow all of his lies.
It was none of my business, really. It was Craig's screwed up love life and I really shouldn't be worrying about it. But, it was like, I know what people think about me. They think I'm not that bright, and I suppose the evidence is in their favor. I failed English. I gave Jimmy my Ritalin in grade eight. I was always doing things that weren't that well thought out. But that was only one side of things. About this, about girls and relationships and being truthful in relationships, I thought that about that I was pretty smart. And Craig, meanwhile, everyone thinks he's so smart, and I don't really know why. What he was doing now was really dumb.
Craig gave me those pleading looks every now and then, and I knew he was pleading with me not to tell Ashley and Manny what he was up to. Sure. Why would I? No reason really.
Once or twice I almost told Paige. I stopped myself, staring into her sea green eyes. If I told her Ashley would know almost immediately and then the whistle would be blown. I told him I wouldn't tell, I'd just let the whole thing melt down on him all on it's own.
Winter. So long and cold. Some nights I'd cuddle up with Paige and watch DVD's. Pop popcorn in the microwave. It was nice to have an uncomplicated life. Nothing too taxing. Taking things as they came. I couldn't stand it, cheating, coordinating secret meetings and trying to keep straight lies in my head. I could never do it.
The decorations at the school kind of multiply until Christmas is over. Tinsel over this doorway and some paper mache trees. Snow falls all the time. It kind of hypnotizes me as it falls outside the classroom windows. The hum of the heaters make me sleepy.
The big winter festival play was coming up, and it seemed like everyone had a part in it except me. That was fine. I didn't really care.
Everyone was practicing in the auditorium and the gym, and everyone was wearing these ridiculous costumes, especially J.T. Oh well.
I saw Manny walk by Craig and Ashley practicing their song, and I saw the dagger look she gave him. He was dead. That was it. There would be no going back. The shit was about to hit the fan.