Disclaimer: Don't own, nor claim to own. The only thing I own is Craig Manning's heart and soul. Mwhaha...reviews are more than welcome.

Chapter 1: A Beautiful Letdown

"Craig, did you hear anything I just said?"

"W-what? Oh, yeah. I don't think you're fat, Manny." Craig Manning replied as he stared at Ellie Nash, but quickly turned his attention to his girlfriend.

"I am, though. I'll never be as skinny as I want to be." Manny said gloomily, feeling her stomach.

Craig rolled his eyes and shook his head. He hated when she got like this. It was not uncommon for her to be complaining about some "imperfection" about herself at least three times a day. He knew these types. Yup, these are the types of girls who say that they are huge when they are insanely skinny. Craig was more than familiar with them, but he put up with them for God knows why.

"Manny, if you were any skinner, you'd be dead. You've got to have more self-esteem but I know all the models brainwash you chicks to be anorexic-skinny. Don't you for one second believe you are fat, because you're not." He tried to persuade her.

Granted, Craig's girlfriend was somewhat fat but it was nothing compared to how overweight Terri had been. Manuela was nowhere near Terri had been.

Manny looked at her watch. "Oh god, Craig. I have to go. I promised someone I'd meet them somewhere."

Craig sighed, annoyed that this was happening more than four times a week. "Who the hell is this mysterious person that you go see? You can tell me if you're meeting Marco or Ashley or something..."

Manny shrugged. "It's just a person. Don't be so paranoid, Craiger. I still love you."

Craig shuttered. He despised when anyone called him Craiger. Since the passing of his dad, the nickname seemed to be burned into his brain and it just brought back all the horrible things his father had done to him.

"Manny, do me a favor and don't call me Craiger. Just go to your mysterious person and I'll see you tomorrow." He replied tensely.

She slowly nodded, looking almost hurt, but then kissed his cheek and exited the Dot.

Craig's eyes directed towards the direction of Ellie to see where she had gone. He noticed that she was sitting alone, besides the company of her Coke. He smiled and then walked over to her.

"Hey, Ellie. Do you mind if I sit down?"

She looked up at him with her emerald green eyes and smiled weakly. "Yeah, sure. Sit down, Craig."

He did as he was told and then drummed his fingers on the table, looking at her now and then.

"Is something wrong, Craig?" Ellie Nash asked, taking a sip of her coffee.

He sighed, not wanting to be a downer but realized he needed someone to talk to.

"I think...I think Manny is cheating on me. She goes out at least four nights a week to some unknown place that she never tells me, and I don't see her again until around ten. I doubt she's going out for some ice cream. Tell me honestly, should I be paranoid?"

Ellie looked up at him and shrugged. "I wouldn't worry until you see her with a hickey, or until she starts up with the line, 'I think I have to tell you something.'." Ellie said, looking back down at her drink as she played with her fingers.

He nodded. "Alright, thanks. Umm...what are you doing later?" Craig asked uncomfortably.

"I have to do my homework, and I'll probably end up taking care of my mom. With my dad gone, it's been really hard on her. We can hang out on Saturday if you're not busy with Manny."

"Alright, I doubt I'll be doing anything with Manny on Saturday. She has Fiesta day with her family on Saturdays and conveniently it lasts from the moment she wakes up until the moment she goes to bed." Craig chuckled.

Ellie joined him and smiled. "That is convenient. I'll stop by at Joey's house to pick you up and we can go to the mall or something."

Craig glanced at her arm warmers and nodded slowly. "Yeah, that sounds good."

He watched as she stood up and grabbed her backpack on one arm and grabbed her plastic coffee cup in the other.

"I'll see you then. Good luck with your girlfriend."

"Thanks. Good luck with your mom." He laughed softly.

Ellie nodded and chuckled. "Thanks, Craig. I'll need it." Without another word, she walked out, leaving Craig on his own.