As Manny reached across to put the stage make up on her Ashley noticed the bracelet flashing on her wrist. The gold charm bracelet with little ice skates on it. She'd seen that bracelet before. She'd seen it in the bag at Craig's house when she was freezing in his garage. Christmas presents. The Ramones vintage tee, the pink scarf, the bracelet. She'd thought they were all for her. The tee shirt was perfect, just her style. The scarf and the bracelet were, well, sweet and all but not exactly her taste. But she thought Craig was just off the mark, had bought things for her he thought she'd like. But it was all clear now. They weren't for her at all.

"That's a pretty bracelet. Where'd you get it?" Ashley said, and saw that look on Manny's face. One look that told her everything she needed to know.

"Oh, just this guy I've been seeing…"

"Who?"

"Just a guy…"

"Was it Craig?"

"He didn't want me to say anything…" Manny was uncomfortable, looking at the bracelet and not at her, "because he moved on so quickly…"

"Moved on? We're still together," Even as she said the words she felt the lie they had become. That they were all along. Only she'd just found out.

Ashley felt a strange coldness. A coldness that started in her stomach and spread slowly like water to all her extremities. Arctic cold. She felt flattened.

Manny started to turn away. Ashley grabbed her arm.

"Manny, do me a favor,"

Manny looked at her with her sad eyes, quivering lip. With awe and a deepening coldness Ashley saw that Manny loved him, too.

"Don't tell Craig. Don't, don't say anything yet, okay? Please?"

Manny looked at her a moment longer with her on the edge of tears look, nodded, and turned away.

Ashley didn't know exactly why she wanted it kept quiet. It just seemed that maybe it was time she knew more than Craig.

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They stood on the edge of the stage waiting for their cue. The hurt and the betrayal kept coming, slamming into her like punches, like kicks. Each one with its little truth, 'he lied', 'he cheated', 'he loves Manny'. But she loved him. Felt the delirious happy overwhelmed love feeling when he was near her and she missed him fiercely when he was not. But now she was starting to hate him, for lying to her, for trampling on her trust. All the turmoil showed on her face like worry. Craig misread it as stage freight.

"We'll be great," he said, put his arm around her. She wanted to cry.

Their song was a blur. Maybe she missed notes, sang off key. Maybe her sadness added a depth to the words. When it was over and everyone was clapping the tears blurred her eyes, and she stood with Craig and took a bow.

"You were awesome," Craig said, looking at her with his sleepy eyes, the same love in them as before. But now she saw duplicity. She saw secrets. 'How could you?' she thought, her own voice so loud in her head she was surprised he hadn't heard it.

"Uh, you, too," she said, throwing the compliment back at him, looking at him from the corner of her eye. And she saw that he was watching her, trying to tell if she suspected him, if she knew. He was watchful. He was a liar.

"Listen, Craig, I don't feel so well. I think maybe I'd better go home,"

"What's wrong?" His immediate concern, worried eyes, and behind that she saw the wheels turning. If she went home he could go and be with Manny. Which was, of course, what he would do.

"Flu, maybe. I just…I'll see you later," Turned on her heel and marched off. That goddamn liar.