Part Four: Te Regalo Mi Cintura

(I give you the gift of my waist)

Hazel

I waited at Manny's house for nearly an hour, but she still wasn't back. There was no sign of her. I sighed, helping myself to a slice of pizza that I had ordered. The box was only half full now and I was officially not having any fun. As if reading my mind, the phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered, knowing that it was Manny. It had to be her.

"Hey Haze." It was Manny.

"Where are you girl? Did the party get that crazy?" I wondered knowing that I should've stayed to look after Manny. She was never really good at resisting temptation and trouble followed her wherever she went.

"Sort of." Manny paused. "I don't think I'm coming home tonight." She told me.

"Why? Did you meet some guy at the party again, or is it Craig?" I wondered.

"Haze, Craig is so out of the picture that it's not even funny. I can't believe he was even that the party tonight." Manny paused. "And he tried to talk to me. Can you believe it?" She sighed. "But it's not even about that. One of my friends got trashed and I have to stay here and help them out."

"Well … I can come over there and help you." I offered, desperately wanting some more plans rather than spending the night in Manny's house. Alone.

"Not, that's okay. I'm really sorry though." Manny apologized.

"What time are your parents coming back?"

"I don't know … three, four … tomorrow." Manny forced herself to laugh. "You would think they were the teenagers and not me."

"So I have the house all to myself then?" I asked, trying to prevent myself from sighing.

"Yep. Don't have any wild parties or anything." We both laughed in unison. "As if my parents would notice anyway." Manny mumbled.

Manny

"Hello?" I answered half-asleep. Two seconds later, my battery went out. Stupid phone. I had only talked to Hazel for like two minutes last night. If I talked to someone else, I didn't remember.

I woke up groggily. Last night was … wait, where was I? Sitting up slowly, I looked around, barely able to focus since my contacts were doing some weird thing. In plain sight there was Jimmy, beside me, and I was … in his bed. A feeling of dread come over me. No way.

"Jimmy?" I pushed him roughly, but he barely even stirred. "Tell me what--" I froze, realizing that he wasn't wearing any clothes, and neither was I. "No shit…" I cursed under my breath, gathering my clothes and finding the nearest shower. Maybe I would remember what really happened. No way I slept with him last night.

While in the shower, I closed my eyes and starting remembering it. It wasn't a dream. I saw myself back in his room. Craig called me. He wanted to see me again and I didn't know what to do. Jimmy stumbled down the stairs. We opened a bottle of his parents' expensive wine.

… Somehow I ended up in his room and he made the first move. "Why!" I yelled hearing a knock on the door.

"Hey, who is this?"

"Manny." I responded. By the sound of things, he didn't know what happened either.

"What are you doing here? What happened?"

"You were drinking last night."

"My hang-over is already telling me that." He replied as I got out of the shower.

"You were gonna drive like an idiot, but I found you and helped. I got stranded here so--" I cut my sentence short. Would it be wrong to only tell him part of the truth? Hazel couldn't know I was here because I'd look bad and Jimmy … I was gonna have to forget the physical connection we had last night. That would be easier if I had someone else to focus on—like Craig. I put on a robe and tossed my hair into a high ponytail.

"Thanks … I think." Jimmy answered as I opened the door. We both paused, looking into each other's eyes briefly. "Did anything else happen?"

"You wish." I pushed him away playfully. Now, I just had to make sure all the evidence was hidden.

"It's not like that Manny. Thank you for helping me out."

"No sweat." I shrugged, still unable to look at him again. If I did history might repeat itself again.

Liberty

"Danny … I didn't know you'd be here." I stated in utter shock. My brother from my mom's second marriage was here.

"That's because abandonment is your style, just like dad." Danny shot back as I rolled my eyes.

"Would you get over it? You had a chance to live with mom or dad. You chose mom."

"But did any of you take the time to visit me, talk to me, do anything for me?"

"History is in the past. Don't ruin the present with our parents' mistakes. I'm here now." I explained with a sigh.

"But not for me. JT's in the backyard." He sneered as I shrugged. I had to do what was best for me and I knew dad would never let me be a screw-up like Danny.

"You there?" I asked unsurely.

"Yeah, did you bring that homework thing?"

"It's right here." I handed him the paper I'd typed up for him, sitting down next to him as JT gave me a smile.

"Good girl. Hey, Danny and I are about to go play some video games at the arcade. If my grandma comes in, cover for me okay?"

"Cover for you? Are you--" Shutting me up with a quick peck on the lips, JT hopped up and in seconds, the front door was slamming.

That kiss … "mmm." I smiled to myself. Today was a bust, but for more kisses like that one, it was worth it.

Terri

"You are totally going on this diet with me." I told Paige who continued applying on pearly pink lipgloss.

"Are you even listening?"

"Yeah. I'm helping you out. Got it." Paige nodded with a huge grin. "Do you think Spinner and I should get back together?"

"Paige…" I began with a sigh. Not this again. Technically, if Paige hadn't gotten me drunk at the dance, Spinner would've been mine. But instead, I ended up alone just like all other fat girls did.

"I mean, I know he's stupid and a jerk, but it beats being alone."

"Do what you want." I huffed, ordering the most fattening thing on the menu—Alfredo pasta and cheese fries.

"Geez. Chill out hon … are you seriously eating all that? What about our diet?" Paige wondered as I shrugged and kept eating. It was soo good. I was beginning to forget why I was even mad at all.

(A/N: You request an update, so I did one. I just keep finding really good songs for 'Fool of Me' but I never have enough time to finish them. So read, review! –NL)