*Note no episodes past the second season are canon. A lot of things are written as happened earlier on, or written out completely. Example; Rock This Town.*

Emma Nelson hugged James Tiberius Yorke (JT) and laughed

"I can't believe you didn't get a detention at least!" Emma smiled at her best male friend.

"My best friend's father is the acting princpal! How could I get in trouble?" JT linked his arm through Emma's as they exited the school.

"Didn't help you much when he was just the Media Immersion teacher," Emma reminded him. JT opened his mouth to no doubt give a sarcastic reply when he was cut off by Manny Santos

"JT! Emma!" Manny waved them over to where she was standing with her boyfriend Craig Manning. Emma tried to send JT a mental message not to walk over or say hi but he did anyway.

"How are you guys? We haven't spoken in forever, even though we have almost every class together." Manny laughed, which caused Emma to roll her eyes. Craig and JT noticed the tension between the two friends that had been stritting in the past few months, but- as usual- they ignored it. Manny gave Emma and JT awkward hugs and then grabbed Craig's hand.

"Yeah, well. Things can really change," Emma said, plainly referring to Manny herself.

"We've missed hanging out with you guys, too." JT said, despite the fact that Manny had broken his heart on several occasions in the past. He could see that Emma's rude and indifferent attitude was really hurting her.

"Last time I checked, I could speak for myself JT!" Emma snapped before storming off. JT let out a breath of air, not sure which one of his friends needed him the most at the moment.

"I'm sorry, JT. I know she's your best friend," Manny said- sounding close to tears. Craig squeezed her hand in support.

"You're my friend, too Manny. And Emma's- she's just got a lot of expectation in her friends right now. Sean really messed her up." JT said carefully, not sure if Manny was supposed to know just how badly Emma was hurting over what Sean did.

"I understand, and I don't deserve her as a friend. For getting pregnant, for having an abortion." Manny sniffled.

"Those are no reasons to loose your best friend, Manny! The Emma I've always known wouldn't have dropped you for something like that," Craig said softly, putting his arm around Manny.

"But that's what happened, and I don't blame her at all. I messed up, Craig. We both did. End of story," Manny pulled away from Craig and got into his car.

"Ahh... nice talking to you both," JT said unsure of what he should be doing for his friends. Then he figured that if he didn't go chasing after Emma he'd get the silent treatment for about a week.

JT found Emma quite easily- she hadn't gotten very far on her walk home. He was surprised to see that she was in tears.

"Em! What's the matter?" JT cried in disbelief, wrapping his arm around her. JT tried to ignore the butterflies in his stomach as he did so. The last time JT had seen Emma cry was when Rick Murray had opened fire on the school and Sean had risked his life to save hers.

"I miss her, JT. The old her." Emma said softly, wiping at her tears.

"She's still the same Manny Santos, Em. You've just been angry with her to see it." JT smiled sadly. He then realized that, for the first time in his life, that he was looking down at Emma. He hadn't even noticed that he'd been growing.

"The old Manny Santos would never have gotten an abortion."

"People can change, Em. That doesn't mean they become a completely different person. Maybe you'll be friends with Manny again someday- or maybe not." JT began to smile a real smile. "But you know what will never change?"

"What?" Emma said hopefully. She was so tired of everything changing.

"You and I. Bestest Friends Forever, right Emmy?" JT kissed the top of her head, something he'd never been able to do until recently, which caused the butterflies in JT's stomach to go insane.

"You're all I have, JT."

END OF CHAPTER ONE. Tune in for more of JT and Emma's conversation, and some from Manny/Craig