Runway
Chapter 8
Authors notes: Sorry the updates for this story are so infrequent.
She cleared her throat as she reached for a slice of toast. From under her bangs, Manny peered at Claire. Claire hummed happily, flipping eggs in a pan. Craig had already left for work.
"What happened to your hand?" Claire asked, her back still to the brunette. Manny's eyes narrowed, as she choked the last bit of dry toast down, not reaching for another. She had barely eaten the first piece.
Eating felt foreign to her these days, and it hurt her to do so.
"I cut it," Manny mumbled, remembering how she had punched the mirror. Claire turned, gazing long and hard at her. Her eyes drifted down to Manny's hand, looking at the spiderweb-like cuts. They twisted in agony over Manny's hand, some parts scarring, and other parts scabbing.
She bit her lip and nodded though, obviously Manny didn't want to talk about it.
"So you went to school with Craig?" Claire asked, attempting polite conversation as she sat down at the table. She'd already asked Manny if she'd wanted any eggs, having Manny refuse.
"Mm," Manny grunted. Her eyes were soft as she blinked. School? Yeah. She had gone to school with Craig. That was where she had first seen him, only to find out Emma babysat for Joey, Craig's stepdad.
"So what do you do for a living?" Claire asked, taking a bite of toast. Manny sighed, "I'm a high fashion model. In New York City."
Claire nodded, "You like it?" Manny shrugged. She used to.
Claire sighed, setting the toast on her plate before pushing it away from her. "I'm going to zee store. Do you need anything?" she asked politely. Her body language indicated her discomfort.
Manny shook her head. Nodding, Claire hastily got up, tipping her plate into the garbage and setting it in the sink. She glanced over her shoulder at Manny, before tugging her keys out of her purse and shutting the door.
As if on cue, Manny turned, steering herself into the living room. She reached the phone, picking it up, dialing. It was all very mechanical. Three rings seemed to take a lifetime.
"Hello?" A confused voice answered quietly.
"Emma. I, I'm in Vancouver," Manny said hurriedly.
"What? Manny? What?" Emma asked in disbelief. She glanced to Sean, who sat beside her on the couch. Sean perked up, glancing with concern to Emma.
"I came to see Craig. But, Em, he's getting married," Manny blurted, refusing the urge to breathe.
Emma was quiet.
"Manny," was all she said. Her tone was a mixture of emotion. Somewhat of a cross between concern, guilt, confusion.
Manny was quiet.
"Manny, when you passed out at the fashion show. It was all over the newspaper," Emma said finally.
Manny was quiet, but Emma heard a soft breath on the other end.
"Em, I had to. I just need some closure," Manny pleaded, although there was no need for her to.
Emma was silent, "Call me. If you need anything. Or when you want me to come get you," she said finally.
Manny's eyes narrowed before she hung up. Slamming the phone down, she raised a hand to her face, running it over her forehead and through her hair. So she was crazy.
Crazy for all of it. How could she have though for one minute he still loved her. She glanced into the mirror that hung above the phone. Pathetic. She looked like-she paused.
Turning slowly, she blinked, "I thought you were at work," she whispered. Craig nodded.
"I wanted to talk to you. I left work early," he said nodding. He took a long hard gaze at her though, as neither of them spoke. She wasn't the same Manny he remembered. She was still beautiful, but there was no trust left in her eyes.
"I called your mom," he said quietly. Manny scoffed.
"You need help," he tried again. The Spanish beauty stared back at him, her chocolate eyes unbudging.
No. She didn't need help. Everything was fine.
"Your mom told me everything. About the Anorexia. The drugs. The alcohol. You trying to kill yourself before you came here," he said, taking a step forward.
Manny took a step back. She'd started using drugs with him, because of him. She'd started drinking when he left. She stopped eating. Everything about Craig made her sick lately. It was all Craig. She hadn't tried to kill herself though. She swore she hadn't.
"I didn't try to kill myself," was the only angry thought that slipped from her mind.
Craig blinked. "What happened then?" he asked slowly.
Manny shrugged, shaking her head. She was angry. That was the best explanation she had. She really hadn't intended on trying to kill herself when she hit that mirror though.
Something inside her trembled though, and her lips quivered. The tears came next, and it was the beginning of Manny Santo's breakdown.
Or maybe, it was just the continuance of the one she'd had these past few years.
He did something unexpected though, as he stepped forward. Manny backed into the table the phone was on, as he wrapped his arms around her.
Comfort. She clung to him for dear life as she wept on her shoulder.
"We'll get through it," he whispered.
Her surprised himself even. He had uttered the word we. He sighed.
"I'll take you. Take you to go see some doctors tomorrow, okay?" he whispered. Manny nodded her head against his chest, where she was still crying.
She had to admit to herself, she did need help.
Maybe thats why she was here.
"What ees going on?" a voice demanded. Craig paused, Manny still in his arms as he turned to Claire.
The blond stood angrily, a glare in her eyes. He opened his mouth, closing it again. The words escaped him.
"I'm going to the hospital tomorrow," Manny choked out, saving Craig from an awkward explanation.
Claire's eyes softened as she nodded, "Zat is good. You cut your hand preeety bad on zat mirror. It was all over ze newspapers." She offered an apologetic smile to Craig as she turned back into the kitchen.
Manny sighed, glancing to Craig. He stared back at her, thanking her with his eyes.
