Chapter Ten: I Want You

Manny pulled out the key, which she had not used in over a year. "Home sweet home." She said sarcastically, opening the door to a dark house. The kids were probably out and it was too late for her stepfather to be anywhere else but home. "Is anyone here?" She wondered, walking up to what used to be her old room.

It was eerily just as she had remembered it. Manny held on tight to the doorframe, trying to relinquish the memory of the last feeling she felt while being in here. Her step-father had told her that she was going to have to give up the baby. And everyone thought it was Craig's but …

"Well, well, well … look what the cat dragged in." Jacob Bloomberg began sneaking up behind Manny, hovering over her and making her feel like an insecure child again.

"I'm not here because I couldn't handle it. I'm here because my mother would want me to live in my own household. Got it?" Manny questioned her step-father, trying to sound like she knew what was going on, like she was in control, but both of them knew that she was not.

"And I'm just supposed to let you come back here. Live here without payment."

"How much do you want? I have cash." Manny stripped the sheets off the bed, desperately wanting to tear apart everything in the room.

"There's only one thing you can do for me." Jacob grabbed Manny's shoulder, forcing her to face him.

"What are you doing?" She gasped as Jacob threw her onto the bare mattress, tearing and violating her. Manny frantically attempted to fight back and scream, but he was much too strong … like he had been that time he had gotten her pregnant.

It was as if the world was spinning. Hazel knew everyone was looking at her, waiting to see what he reaction was. All she felt like doing was running away and crying her heart out, but that would get her nowhere. She'd spent the past few months doing that. "I'm outta here." She whispered under her breath, avoiding everyone's questioning eyes and pretending like she didn't hear Paige calling after her.

"Where are my keys?" Hazel wondered, searching through her purse, completely not thinking about how Jimmy was going go get home, but rather how he could go back to Madison after everything. Hazel could just see them together now … her black curly hair and deep caramel skin contrasting with his.

"How could he?" She yelled, choking on her own tears. "Where are my keys?" Hazel repeated as they almost magically dropped into her hands. "Thanks." Hazel whispered, looking away from Sean and frantically trying to hide her tears.

"You don't have to hide from me Haze." Sean reassured her.

"Yes, I do. Do you know how humiliating that was for me in there? I sat around and waited for so long for Jimmy to be able to live and when he can, he doesn't want it to be with me. Do you have any idea what that's like?"

"Yeah." Sean whispered. "I have ever since Emma decided she didn't want to be apart of my life anymore."

"Stop it!" She yelled, realizing that her nightmare was becoming a reality. "Don't! Don't!" Manny continued screaming, unable to hear the footsteps that were getting closer and closer to her room.

"Manny! What the hell are you doing?" Gianni charged at Jacob, knocking him away from Manny who was still shaken up by what had happened. Realizing that someone actually knew her secret, she attempted to pull herself together.

"You think you're tough, huh?" Gianni yelled, punching Jacob a couple of times and letting him fall to the floor. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He kicked Jacob in the stomach, as Manny wrapped one of her long-sleeved jackets around her body.

"Just leave him alone, okay?" She whispered, before Gianni could kick him for a third time. "Let's go." Manny pulled Gianni away.

"Are you alright?" Gianni wondered as they walked out off the house.

"What do you think?" She sniffed. "And how did you get here anyway?" Manny continued, noticing that she only saw her car in the driveway.

"I was in your car." Gianni responded, looking over at Manny who looked torn and tattered. "I think we should get you to a hospital."

"Oh yeah?" Manny answered. "I can handle myself. I've been through this before so I know what I'm doing." She quickly wiped away the tears that were streaming down her face.

"Does Marco know about this?" He wondered.

"Yeah. But if he actually gave a damn he wouldn't have left me, you know?" Manny continued her tough girl act, desperately wanting to break down and cry.

(a/n: Keep telling me what you think and please back it up with examples. "This story is boring" doesn't help, so if you hate it explain why and if you love it I want to know. –NL)