I've been trying to work on the story. It's coming in spurts and, so no one gets restless, I'll post as I go. This is Chapter eight, part one. Part two will be along tomorrow and is where it all goes down.
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Craig had adopted a stoney silence after Sean's heartfelt declaration. It didn't matter who was talking or what they were talking about: Craig clearly didn't want to hear it. All he kept thinking about was the four more hours it would take before he could find a cheap place to buy an old car and leave these people behind. These people that were so messed up from being his friends that they couldn't do their jobs anymore. Manny. Emma was still friends with Manny? After the way she paraded his failures in front of him. After the way she had ripped everything he cared about to shreds and set it on fire just to watch it burn. After she had murdered not one, not two, but three of his children because the thought of bringing something that was part-him repulsed her just that much.
The first one, that was highschool. He could understand…because, God, Degrassi was hell. She deserved more than that, some dreams, some normal teenage moments. And the second one? After they were married. They had been trying to get pregnant. Actually actively seeking parenthood until the moment they found out. Then she just freaked out. And he hadn't understood. He had been angry and wanted to leave her. But, in the back of his mind he knew it wasn't the right time for them to have a child. He needed to get over Ellie. He needed to focus on his wife. He needed Manny to stop looking at him like something better was haunting her.
Thinking back, it was the third abortion that ended things. Yes, he had been cheating on her with Ellie. Yes, he had slept with countless other women after Ellie left him. There were rumors Manny was sleeping with his manager. There were always rumors and he tried not to listen. But he would have stayed through everythign else. He would have kept on with the status quo. If not for the thrid abortion. He remembered thinking that really, there was a chance it wasn't even his. But he really didn't care about that. He would love the baby anyway. He remembered thinking that this wouldn't fix anything, would just be more problems, but that this time, they would see something through.
But she couldn't. She was too scared, too non-commital about the whole thing. When she came to him and said, "Craig, I can't fly out with you," he had wanted to know why.
When she told him about the appointment he said, "The Doctor? For what? You're feeling sick?"
And then she had told him. Flat out, no tears, no jagged breaths. It just fell out, like it was easy. And he had fought her, really fought her. But she had made her decision, "Well, that's all well and good. But there's no such thing as paternal rights. So, it's my choice and that's the end of the conversation."
He sputtered at the coldness he saw in her eyes then tightened his face, "I'm leaving you."
"What? Like a divorce?"
"Yes, exactly like a divorce."
"It's about time."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean? If you wanted out you should have just said so."
She scoffed and grabbed her purse, "Were you evern sober when your lawyers drew up the prenup? I barely get half if I choose to dissolve the marriage."
He choked on her words, "You think I'm going to hold you to. Take what you want, Manny. You've certainly earned it…taking all that time to be discrete about your lovers. All the while you've got me shoving mine in your face. Asking you to make jokes about our passion…to blush when the reporters ask about marks on my neck that you had nothing to do with. You take my word on this: you can have whatever you want."
He remembered his words to her with distain. He had told her she could have anything. Everything. That's why the books, the interviews, the woe-is-me sob fest was such bullshit. Because he had offered to ease her pain and she had simply twisted the rings off her finger and said, "I don't want your pity. And I won't let you assuage your guilt. I hope this hurts so bad you can't sleep. I hope this haunts you."
He looked over at Emma who was quietly counting cars as they drove then back at Ellie and Sean. "Well, Manny," he thought, "you got your wish. Consider me haunted."
In Philadelphia, he pulled into the hospital parking lot without a second thought. As Sean moved to jump out of the van Craig stopped him, "Hey. We're at the Hyatt. You know, if you want to crash."
Sean looked bewildered, "Yeah, man. Thanks. I don't—"
"We trusted the wrong people. You're cool by me. I just. Good luck in there."
"Thanks."
They didn't hug or give high fives or anything, because that would just be cliché. But Craig felt better about who he saw in the mirror now so it was all good. As Sean went to close the door Craig shouted out, "Call if you need a ride. Or, you know, a friend."
When Sean had made his way to the hospital doors Craig pulled steadily out of the parking lot. "That was nice of you, Sean," Emma whispered glancing over at him.
"Don't. Don't talk. I'm not in the mood for you tonight."
"What the hell? Rude much?"
"Even less in the mood for you, Nash. Why don't you both just take a silent second and think about where you're going to stash the skeletons once you get them out of the closet."
"Hey, watch it. I had nothing to do with Emma and Manny's friendship. I am exactly as thrilled about it as you are, if not less. So be bitter on your own dime."
"There's a club Marco told me about," Craig trailed off. "I'm going to check it out. It's owned by JT Yorke. Marco went to check it out after he got Yorke's alumni spotlight form back. Said it's a cool place, eclectic. You two can come, or not. I don't care. I can't even begin to stress to you how little I care if either of you are there with me."