Chapter One

The Dilemma

Scene: Manny in her room, talking to Emma on the phone. Topic is unknown. Manny's feeling down playing very mellow music. It's a week before the new school year starts, only a mere eight months after the shooting.

Manny: Emma I don't know I mean he's not even going to be going to our school. I don't know how I can forgive him. I wish that I could but I mean seriously. He's part of the reason Toby is the way he is and that Rick is in the ground-" Manny was surprised that she heard what Emma was saying. As she continued to listen she thought back to the day that Spinner had told her what happened

'Spin: Manny, hey I need to tell you something" He looked down and then kissed her knowing that it would most likely be their last.

Manny: Spin sweety your scary me what's up?"

"I have to tell you the worst news I've ever had to tell anyone. It hurts me knowing what I did. I, I was behind or atleast I know who was behind the Whack the Brain thing with Rick, I- I sort of helped them." He almost started to cry with the images of Jimmy going away on the stretcher "I told the principal earlier I just wanted to tell you myself before anyone else told you. Manny I didn't mean for anyone to get hurt we we're just trying to get a laugh and then when he came back to school and Jay and I saw him in the bathroom we decided to pretend like we didn't know he was there and we said-" He couldn't finish he started crying even harder.

"What, what the hell did you tell him Spin. What the Emma and Sean were behind it or that Jimmy was lying to him. What what did you tell him that made him flip out like that? Huh? Spinner this whole thing is all your fault. How could you do something like that?"

"We said that the whole thing was Jimmy's idea. I don't know why he went after Emma and Sean and everyone I swear it's not my fault. I didn't mean for all of this to happen. I don't know why it happened. Please Manny you're my only friend please forgive me. I'm begging you. If I could take it all back I would but I can't."

Just then Emma tuned in saying Manny's name over and over again. "Huh? Oh yeah Em sorry I was just thinking back. I don't know if I should tell Spinner or not. I'm not sure I can really forgive him yet. Much less tell him about me and you know who. I don't know where my mom is.- Yeah I know. I'm sorry Emma I don't mean to put you in the middle of this but I want Spinner to know, I'm just not really sure if I can tell him that's all. So can you tell him for me please. Oh and before you answer will you come with me tomorrow?- Thanks Em. See you around ten in the morning ok?- Ok night." It was the first time Manny has smiled in almost three months. Since the day when Spinner told her the truth about the shooting. She hung up the phone and just kind of thought about what's going to happen. She picked up her cell phone, she had gotten a new number since she and Spinner broke up, dialed his cell number and let it ring. "Hello, this is Gavan can I help you?" was spoken on the other end she took a deep breath and tried to speak but she couldn't get any words to come out. "Hello. Is anyone there? Look this isn't very nice you shouldn't just call someone an-" She hung up before he could finish what he was saying. She flipped open her phone and started to type in a text message ' Spin, meet me the Dot around 7pm. MNY.' She knew he wouldn't know that signature. She just started using it. She saw the conformation on the phone 'Message Sent'. She took a deep breath and closed her phone put it back on the charger and then started to change into her PJ's. She wasn't sure what she did was the right thing. She had changed and then brushed her teeth and her hair. She stared into the mirror and started feeling sick and barely got to the toilet before throwing up. She came really close to hitting her head on the seat but caught herself before she would. " Oh great now I have to brush my teeth again." She heard a knock on the door "Manny are you ok in there?"

"Yeah mom. I'm fine just felt a little sick but I feel fine now." 'You'd think after four months of this I'd be better at hiding it. And that I'd be more used to it.' She thought. After she brushed her teeth a second time she went to lay down and tried to fall a sleep she was really tired but wasn't sure if she could really fall asleep.