A/N: Heh...yeah, I'm back! I've totally abandoned this story, and I'm sorry for doing so. (And I'm also sorry for deleting my Paige stories, but...lack of ideas and determination caused me to stop doing anything on both. I MIGHT restart the Paige story, though.) But, I thought...hey, why not restart this story? Better than ever! So, read on...again!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi.
Chapter One: The Decision
"Ready now?" the nurse asked.
Should I go ahead and get the abortion? Manny continued to stare at the door that led her to her abortion of her first, and maybe only, child. Was this the best thing to do?
"I..." Manny closed her eyes. She turned around, opening her eyes and facing her mother. She sighed. "I can't do this."
"Manuella!" her mother cried, standing up. "I thought we both agreed to this?"
Manny shook her head. "I thought that an abortion was the best thing to do..." she started, but her mother cut her off.
"It IS the best thing to do! Why won't you go through this like we planned?" her mother asked, walking over to her daughter.
"I love Craig, Mom! He didn't even have a say in this... He didn't want this... He wants a family, Mom, and so do I! I think- no, know- I can do this! I may be young, but I'll learn as I go!" Manny persisted.
Her mother sighed and turned to the nurse. "I'm sorry we bothered you like this."
The nurse shook her head. "Don't worry! Lots of women like herself have also changed their minds right before the procedure."
Manny's mom turned to her daughter. "We'll talk about this when we get back to the house." She then turned to the nurse. "Thank you for your time."
The nurse nodded and walked them to the door. "I'm glad I could help." She opened the door, and Manny and her mother walked out of the building. They walked to their car and got inside of it. They drove down the street and turned.
"I am so sorry, Mom," Manny apologized.
"Let's not talk about it here, Manuela. We'll discuss the situation to your Father when he gets back," her mother said, staring straight at the road.
Manny looked out her side window, resting her head on the palm of her hand. Ordinary people like her were walking down the block doing various things. Some were busily hurrying around talking on their cell phones, some were sitting on their staircases that led to their homes, and some carried, strolled (in a stroller), or walked beside their own children. Manny would be one of those... right?
Maybe adoption would be the best thing. I mean, abortions now out of the question... I know Craig wants a family of his own badly! But... I don't know what I want right now... Manny sighed as they pulled into the driveway of her house.
She got out and slowly followed her Mother inside. Her Father was in there, watching a French television program.
"Well, that was rather quick!" he commented, lightly kissing Mrs. Santos.
"Yeah... Dad, I didn't get the abortion," Manny said, very quietly.
Mr. And Mrs. Santos looked at her. He smiled and said, "She's funny!" Her mother looked at him, a serious look planted on her face. "She's serious? She didn't get the abortion?"
"I'll be up in my room," Manny quietly muttered, walking upstairs and into her room. She lay down on her bed; feeling tears well up in her eyes. She reached over and grabbed her phone. She dialed her best friend, Emma's, phone number.
"Hello, Nelson-Simpson Residence," Spike, Emma's Mom, said.
"Hey Spike. Is Emma there?" Manny asked quietly.
"Oh, hi Manny. Here she is," Spike said.
After a moment, Emma got on. "Hello?"
"Hey, Emma, it's Manny."
"Oh, hey."
"I..." Manny sighed. "I didn't get the abortion."
"That's great, Manny! What changed your mind?" Emma asked, sounding happier than she did earlier that day.
"What happened between Craig, you and I earlier today," Manny said.
"What did your Mom say?" Emma asked.
"That she'd talk to my Dad about it when we got back," Manny explained. "They're probably not too happy."
"Have you talked to Craig about this?" Emma asked.
"I know he's mad at me, but... I guess I'll go and talk to him at school tomorrow," Manny said.
"Yeah... Well, hey, maybe you could come over later? You know, if you want to talk about it, of course," Emma suggested.
"Sure. That would be great," Manny said, her spirits lifting.
"Okay. Just come by whenever... Not too late, though."
"Alright. 'Bye, Emma!" Manny said.
"'Bye, Manny." She hung up, and sighed with relief. Maybe life wouldn't be as bad as she thought it would be.
"Manuella, please come down here," her father called.
"Coming!" Manny walked downstairs.
"We've come to a conclusion to the problem," her father explained.
"And that as...?"
"We've decided that it would be best if you didn't live here anymore," her mother said.
A/N: I'll probably post the next chapter later tonight or tomorrow...I promise!
