Chapter Two: I was Stupid, I was Foolish

Special Thank Yous go out to:

JANNYFAN, messmeup, and crashetburn. You guys inspire me to keep posting and

without you I probably wouldn't continue, so thank you so much! –NL

"What are you even doing here?" Hazel wondered as she was Jay scurried into the hospital, trying to find Sean and make sure that he was okay.

"I don't answer to nobody."

"Don't think that just because Principal H didn't have any evidence of what you did that I don't know you're responsible for Jimmy being shot. You are such a slimeball and I can't believe that Sean would even consider being your friend again." Hazel spat out, worried about Sean more than Ellie. To have another death at Degrassi would be tragic, but she was more concerned with whether or not it was going to cost her one of her closest friends. If anything happened to Ellie, he would fall apart and he wasn't going to let anyone step in and put the pieces back together.

"Yeah, you're right. Nobody could prove anything." Jay smiled. "I guess if my girl got shot and then came back and decided she didn't want to be with me I'd be bitter … nah." He almost laughed.

"Can you not be a jerk for half a second? We're here because of Sean."

"You mean Elle right?" Jay corrected

"That's what I said. Ellie."

NEW SCENE

"So you say that this supposed rape has happened before?" Jacob's attorney questioned Manny.

"Yes. This wasn't the first time."

"How many times would you say this has happened before?" Mitch continued as Manny struggled to look away from Jacob. Instead she focused on Gianni, her safety her …

"At least once a week from the time I was fourteen until I moved out of the house." Manny responded, trying to concentrate on the case. But she didn't want to. She had spent the past three years trying to forget everything and denying that there was a problem, and now here she was, face to face with her worst nightmare.

"So, you're trying to tell me that this has been happening for a little over two years and you haven't said anything to anyone?" Mitch began as if she was making this entire situation up.

"Yes."

"So, why come forward now? Why not earlier?" He pressed.

"I-I … don't know." I stumbled. "My friend witnessed what happened and he thought I should so … I don't know." She finished weakly.

"And this friend is a male?" Manny nodded. "How long have you known him?"

"Just this year. He's my boyfriend's brother." She explained.

"And have you had many boyfriends in the past three years? Approximately how many would you say you've had?" Mitch continued asking before Manny could think through his first question.

"Just three." I answered, breathing deeply. JT, Spinner, and Marco.

"Two? And how many guys have you had sex with?"

"Excuse me?" My mouth opened in disbelief. Who did this guy think he was.

"Objection." My lawyer stood up.

"Sustained. Is there a point to this question Mr. Denisovich?" Judge Orville wondered.

"Yes. I'm getting there."

"Ms. Santos, please answer the question." The judge persisted.

"Um … five."

"So, you've only had three boyfriends, but you've been intimate with five boys?" Mitch repeated as I nodded, almost ashamed. It sounded bad, but it really wasn't. "Would you consider yourself promiscuous?"

"No."

"But that's not what your classmates say." Manny held her breath as she watched Craig walk into the courtroom on cue. Craig and Sully.

"I was young then and I made some mistakes." She tried to explain, but knew that it looked bad.

"And how many relationships have you destroyed Ms. Santos? How many couples have you broken up."

"Objection." My lawyer called out again.

"Mr. Denisovich this is not relevant." Judge Orville stated before adding, "Proceed."

"How often have you been intimate with someone? Approximately how many times in a month?" Mitch questioned, against Manny's wishes.

"I- I don't know …"

"Would you say one a week, twice a week, more than three times a week?"

"It varies." Manny spat out, trying to avoid the question.

"Okay, then this month. How many times have you had intercourse this month? One a week, twice a week, or more than three times each week?"

"More than three times." Manny admitted with a sigh.

"Thank you." Mitch smiled as if he had proved something.

NEW SCENE

Hazel smiled, Jimmy was hers again and they were going to a movie tonight. She even let him pick, which was so unlike her, but she was elated, on cloud nine. Ringing the doorbell, Hazel tried to ignore the fact that there was another car in his yard. He wasn't alone.

"Yeah, I'm coming!" Jimmy yelled from the inside, hiding the rest of his stash. He cursed himself. He hadn't planned out his timing correctly and didn't get to try out his new stuff … he was still trying to get rid of the coke, which he had spent a fortune on.

"Who is that?" Madison wondered as Jimmy wrapped his hand over her mouth.

"You don't say anything. Get the hell outta here." He pushed her towards the back door, but changed his mind. "No. Stay here. Stay in this closet and don't go anywhere until after we leave. Can you do that?" Jimmy asked.

"Of course." Madison kissed him, amazed that a guy had taken the initiative to take charge and not be intimidated by her 'bad ass' image.

"Look. I said no kissing. No touching, no sex. You're just here to help me get rid of that okay?" Jimmy pointed to his stash.

"You'll change your mind." Madison, stroked his stomach, feeling his abs, before hiding in the closet. The doorbell rang again.

"It's me!" Hazel yelled, hoping that he didn't forget about their date.

"Sorry." Jimmy opened the door, motioning for her to come in. "How have you been?"

"Good." Hazel hugged him warmly. "So, who's car is that out in the front?" Hazel looked up at him happily.

"My grandfather's. Something old." Jimmy shrugged.

"Your family is here?" Hazel perked up all of a sudden. "Where are they."

"No. They left the car here and went on some vacation. You know how they do." Jimmy wrapped his hand around Hazel's waist and led her to his newest gift from his father, a 2006 Mercedes Benz. "Like the car?" He wondered, opening the door for her.

"You know I'm into materialistic stuff." Hazel admitted.

"So you won't be needing this then." He held up a silver necklace with a small diamond teardrop.

"Of course." Hazel reached for it and he pulled it away, jokingly.

"Come here. Let me put it on." Hazel turned her back to Jimmy, lifting up her hair. "How does it feel?"

"Perfect." Cupping his face, Hazel kissed Jimmy slowly as Madison snuck out of the back of the house. She had been watching Hazel and Jimmy the whole time and was not going to stand for it. She wanted Jimmy all to herself.

NEW SCENE

"I can't believe that happened. I am so mortified." Manny cried, as Gianni rushed to keep up with her.

"Why are you embarrassed. You told the truth. You explained what happened."

"But no one believes me. They were all looking at me like I was some kind of … slut. Especially after what Sully said about me. And when Craig goes up there … I thought he loved me. That was the only reason why I did it and Sully was just one big mistake. Spinner was my boyfriend and--"

"Shh. It's okay." Gianni held her tightly, kissing her hair. "You don't have to explain any of them to me. It doesn't matter." He paused, holding onto her shoulders, so that he could look at her face to face. "We still have my testimony and Craig might have something good to say about you."

"What, like I was good in bed or on the floor in his case?" Manny shook her head, whispering, "What if they find out that I'm pregnant. What then?" She sighed. "And the whole thing with Craig was a complete mess. I ruined his relationship with Ash and he found out that I was pregnant. I mean, I killed that baby and there's no…" She stopped to regain her composure. "There's no bringing him back or making it better."

"There's no way they can find him innocent Manny. All of the evidence is on our side." They kept walking down the hallway. "I promise I'll protect you. I'll go and kick his ass now if you want." Gianni joked, ecstatic to be so close to Manny now.

"Maybe after the trial." She rested her head on his shoulder." This was probably the closest he'd get to him since she had chosen Marco now, but he knew that she had to feel something. She had to. If she was feeling half of what he did, it would only be a matter of time.

(A/N: I have three reviews, but 85 hits. That's ridiculous. It's not hard to put down two sentences of what you think when I spend hours writing all of these stories. Return the favor and don't be that lazy. I can't go to the preview function, so I'm trying to create custom scene breaks. Make sure and review so I know you want more. La bonita. –NL)