Craig Manning
Craig Manning began attending Degrassi in grade 9. At the time he lived with his dad, Albert, who we later find out is abusive. Craig's mom Julia had left his dad and married Joey Jeremiah five years prior to when we first meet Craig. They had a child, Craig's half sister, Angie. Tragically, Craig's mom dies of cancer and he ends up not keeping in contact much with Joey and Angie. Although, Craig tries to see Angie as often as he can, but his dad is annoyed at this. Craig continues to do so and his dad gets very angry and beats him more…eventually Craig decides to run away with some money his dad gives him as an apology. Joey and Craig's new friends Sean Cameron and Emma Nelson help Joey look for Craig, who was out on the streets, and they eventually find him at his mother's grave where Joey asks him if Albert beats him and he says yes. Craig moves in with Joey and Angela and continues to attend Degrassi. Craig seems to be developing a thing for Ashley Kerwin but Manny Santos, a girl who is a grade younger than Craig, has a crush on him that he seemed to return at first, asks him out on a date. Apparently it's his first, that Joey mistakenly assumes is with Ashley before Craig tells him otherwise. The date, in Craig's opinion, is horrible and he likes Manny but says she reminds him of his younger sister. She keeps essentially pestering him so he is forced to tell her he doesn't like her. Craig continues to get closer to Ashley and asks her to the end of the year dance. This is when his dad decides to show up at school one day after finals, asking Craig to have dinner with him. With Ashley's (who didn't know the whole situation) encouragement, Craig goes to meet his dad and they begin arguing and Craig pushes Albert, prompting the latter to backhand Craig, who falls to the floor. Craig continues yelling as Albert gets in the car and drives away recklessly. The following day, Craig is at Joey's eating breakfast when the police come to the door with the news that Albert was in an accident and didn't survive. Craig takes it really well and even says that he is happy that Albert is gone, but eventually it is clear that he is upset and he breaks down. The following year, Craig is officially with Ashley and they seem to be happy, but they have issues over sex. Craig ends up cheating on her with Manny. Eventually Ash finds out and breaks up with him (and Manny does too). But, his problems with Manny aren't over because it turned out they didn't use protection when they slept together so she got pregnant. They sort of get back together because Craig is happy that he could have a family (since he essentially doesn't have one of his own). However, she aborts the baby and Craig doesn't speak to her for a while. He's having trouble with Ashley still being mad at him and when the school hosts a battle of the bands contest he writes her an apology song ("Dust"). The following year Craig and Ashley start to develop a friendship again but Craig's romantic feelings for her resurface and, with some reluctance from Ashley, they get back together. Things are going well but Craig's mood seems off and he makes a scene at her dads wedding and ends up having a fight with Joey where Craig punches him and only stops when Ashley comes in and pulls him off. They take him to the hospital where he is diagnosed bipolar. Ashley stays with him and he tries to maintain their relationship while dealing with taking medication and "being crazy". Things are going well until Ash announces she is going to London for the summer, Craig doesn't want her to go and tries to go with her. This upsets Ash and she ends up telling him that she needs space. Craig waits for Ash the whole summer and continues going to group with Ellie Nash, which Ash had suggested. He is crushed when he finds out that Ashley is staying in London and that she met another guy. Ellie develops a crush on Craig and admits it to him, but he doesn't return her feelings and doesn't want to ruin their friendship. He ends up getting back with Manny (don't ask me why =P). Downtown Sasquatch continues with Ellie replacing Spinner on drums and they play a showcase in which Craig is asked to be signed, but only Craig. With the bands blessing he agrees and heads off to Vancouver to start the recording process. He returns for graduation (to watch his friends) but will presumably return to Vancouver after.
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