Chapter 6: Underneath This Smile

"Underneath this smile, my world is slowly caving in. All the while, I'm hanging on, cause that is all I know. Could you be the one to save me?"-Hilary Duff

Emma walked to school early without Manny. Monday night was still in her mind. The weird feeling in her stomach still hasn't gone away. When Emma got home that night, she felt a little uneasy, as if she had cheated on Peter and Manny. Good thing Manny was already in bed when she got home, Emma couldn't even look herself in the mirror, but as she was about to clean her face, she saw her make-up was all messed up. "How could Craig be flirting with a girl like me? I look like a wreck." She thought last night.

"At least I think he was flirting with me. But no, he couldn't, I have a boyfriend, and he loves Manny. He was just being nice." Emma immediately erased that thought out of mind.

Emma went to her locker, opened it and put her head in it and toke a deep breath.

"Hey hot stuff!" Peter called out.

Emma closed her locker, and turned to see Peter next her. She wasn't ready to see him, but acted like she was.

"Hey Peter! Why are you here so early?"

"I had to drive my mom this morning. I have to stay on her good side if I want to take you to the dance."

Emma grinned; she knew that he's been looking forward to take her to their first dance as a couple. It was only on Friday too. That night, she would stay away from Craig as much as possible. She promised herself she would, and focus on Peter.

"But are you okay Em? You look a little, um, beaten up. Is Craig causing you trouble?" Peter asked.

"Oh, no, not at all. I'm just worried about the Math test today."

"Me too. But if Craig is pressuring you, you gotta let me know, okay? I can talk to him okay?"

Emma laughed in her head. Compared to Craig, Peter looked wimpy.

"No, you don't have to. I promise." She smiled to him.

Peter smiled, the first warning bell rang.

"I didn't even realize what time it is." Emma said.

"Yeah, a lot of people came here early for some reason. Do you want an escort to class my lady?" Peter stuck out his arm. Emma stuck her arm in his. And realized this is how, it's supposed to be. Her and Peter, walking to class, being a happy couple. Or at least pretending to be one.

Second period was over; Craig was walking in the halls to his locker.

"Why me? I'm such a player. I flirted with Emma. Emma! The best friend of the girl I'm dating right now! I have to focus on this project, I need a good grade. I can't focus on Emma at all during this project……even though she looked pretty last night. Her make-up was all messed up, but she couldn't have looked more beautiful. Ugh, stop it Craig!"

Craig was looking for his Science book for next period; he looked up to see the picture of him, Manny, and Emma at Spike and Snake's wedding day.

"She gorgeous. I love Manny. We were meant to be right from the moment I saw her."

But when he looked at Emma, he felt different. She had crazy hair that day, whenever he looked pictures of it, it made Craig laugh. But he didn't even laugh a little when he saw it this time, he got goose bumps, Craig wasn't even a goose bump kinda guy. But this time, he got them, and he hated the feeling.

"Hey Craig, we gotta talk."

Craig turned his head to see Peter, but turned it back around to his locker, immediately putting the picture back in his envelop of photos.

"What do we have to talk about Peter? I have to get to class in a minute. So hurry up."

"Look." Peter came around to Craig's side. Craig could feel anger coming from Peter.

"I saw Emma this morning." Craig could tell this wasn't going to be pretty. Did she tell Peter about what had happen Monday and ask Simpson for another partner? Craig was hurt thinking about it. He turned around to see Peter, indeed, looking angry.

"I could tell she wasn't happy. If you lay or laid one finger on my girl, you'll be sorry. Just because your dad beat you up, doesn't mean you can go around hurting or flirting with other guy's girls."

Craig grabbed his shirt, he didn't know how he found out about his dad, most people forgot about it, but knowing Peter was thinking Craig was the same as his dad, burned him.

"At least, I don't carry a camera around, forcing girls to take off their shirts and show off the footage to my friends. Or excuse me, the whole school!" Craig shot back to Peter, about to rip his shirt.

The third period bell rang. Craig let go of Peter's shirt. Seeing Mrs. Kwan heading towards them.

"Boys, get to class now." Mrs. Kwan said in a rush to her class. "Peter come with me."

Peter went with Mrs. Kwan giving Craig a watch yourself look. Craig knew he could take Peter, basically the whole school knew, but he didn't want any drama this year.

Taking off to class, Craig realized he would see Emma tonight; they had to at least talk about the project. Craig promised himself that he wouldn't let his hormones get a hold of him. He couldn't. And he wouldn't no matter how beautiful Emma was.

"I won't cheat on Manny. Emma and I are friends, and that's how it's going to be from now on."

Craig went into his class and toke his seat. Emma walking by in the halls to her class. He couldn't help but stare.

"This isn't going to be easy."

It was almost the end of the day, it felt like basically the whole day to Emma. She knew she had to go to Craig's house, yet again, to study for their project. She knew she shouldn't but, she couldn't calm herself down. She was beyond excited. Craig was the only person she knew that was always there for her. Sure, Manny was there but they had there ups and downs this year. And Peter became her boyfriend just this year.

"Okay Em, don't get over excited here. You're going to a friend's house to study, just to study. Craig or you will not flirt at all. It will just be like the guy version of Manny."

Emma laughed a little thinking of this. But that's all she wanted from Craig. Was to be his friend.

ring ring Emma couldn't find her phone. She got it and listened to the message.

"Probably just a text from Peter"

She saw it was from her step-dad. She listened to it.

"Emma. Your mom is in the hospital, please come by. She um, had a."

Emma could tell something serious was going on as she started walking around.

"She had an accident Em. I already talked to the front desk and they said it would be just fine if you skipped your last two classes. I'll be waiting in the lobby for awhile. It's going to be okay, Em. I promise." She could tell he sounded unsure of himself when she heard the promise from Snake.

Craig was walking down the halls to his next class.

"I get to finally see Emma. Nothing can ruin this day."

But then he saw Emma grabbing her stuff, dropping her books, and she looked like she was crying. Of course he ran up to her, he couldn't stand to watch her cry with no shoulder.

"Emma. Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm sorry, I can't talk. My mom is in the hospital and…." She stopped to see his eyes filled with worry, she stood up.

"Can we meet tomorrow at your house?" she asked about to start crying again.

"Yeah, that's fine but…."Craig stopped as she started walking toward the doors.

"Em!" He caught up to her walking almost as fast as her. "Do you want some company?"

They both stopped. Emma just looked at Craig. She knew he was just being nice, but it would mean the world to her if he went with her.

"Emma, I don't care about my other classes, I'll go if you need some company. I don't mind going with you at all." Craig meant every word he just said.

"Well, if you want to help me, can you give me money for the bus?" Emma said even though she kinda wanted him to go with her. Craig was hurt, but got another idea instead.

"I'll give you a ride. That okay?"

Emma just nodded; she had no choice as she was already in his car, going to the hospital.

"He just won't quit."