A/n: Wow! it's been a VERY long time...is anyone still reading? lol. um...I was watching the N on saturday and i saw a commercial for the new season. I saw...I saw...I saw...oh my god! it was horrible! I'm pretty sure it was Manny...and...Jay! ew! ok! chapter 11!

Chapter 11 Friends Come and Go But Best Friends Stay Forever

School was back in session much to Emma's dismay. Her life was back as it should be, except for one thing. Jay was now her boyfriend.

Her real boyfriend.

They had established that once and for all. It wasn't like last time where there were quickies in the janitor's closet between classes. No this was serious. Well as serious as it can be for Jay.

Emma sighed walking to her locker and opened it, dully knowing what was to come.

"Emma!" Manny squealed behind her.

"Manny." Emma said unenthusiastically.

"So, Craig and I are back together!" Manny said smiling.

And the world is at peace now that Manny Santos and Craig Manning are back together, joy, Emma thought bitterly.

She really hated being the youngest out of her friends. Being the youngest meant that she had to endure another year with the people she had given up. Another joyous event. She missed Jay, Sean, Ellie, Alex, even Paige.

Turning around holding all of her books Emma went to her first class with Manny trailing behind her talking about how this relationship with Craig would be different.

Riight.

Unfortunately for Emma, Manny happened to be in her first period class. So they sat down and Manny continued to talk away until the teacher came in looking as if she too was still on winter break.

"So, do you think it'll work? Hey! What are you doing tonight? We haven't hung out in a very long time! We should! Is tonight good for you? Or will Spike and Snake say no cause it's the first day back?"

Emma glanced at her as the teacher handed out their new syllabus'.

"um..." Emma said taking one and passing it back. "I'm not fully sure..see Ellie is staying with us."

"So?" Manny said.

"Well, she'd be there too."

"So? That'd be...ok I guess. I don't know, I don't really know what Ellie's like." Manny said choosing to ignore the fact that Craig had been interested in Ellie for a little while and vice versa. "Is she back together with Sean, yet?"

Emma hesitated not knowing how to phase Ellie's current situation. Ellie still had feelings for Craig as far as Emma knew and would she want her enemy to come over? But Ellie also was hanging out with Sean alot...Emma wasn't sure. Ellie wasn't sure. No one was sure.

"Um...they're working on it." Emma said as the teacher started rambling about this semester being harder.


As Emma exited her last class and started to head to her locker she stopped dead in her steps cursing. Peter and Manny were conversing right in front of her precious locker. Groaning she mentally went through everything in her bag, wondering if she could just leave.

Figuring that the only thing she didn't have was her math homework, it was fine. She could live without it, it was after all after lunch which is when she'd do it. Disappearing in the flow of kid's heading towards the doors she smiled as she walked out into the freezing cold.

She had successfully avoided Peter all day, not so successfully Manny. Her smile grew when she saw who was waiting for her.

"Jay!" she yelled running down the icy steps and sliding into his arms.

"Thought I'd pick you up from a glorious day in hell." he said smirking and kissing her.

"Thank god. I really don't l—Manny!" Emma said straining a smile as she saw her ex-best-friend.

Joy.

"So, I'll call you at 6 to see if I can come over?" she said glancing disgusted at Jay.

Jay smirked at her and pulled Emma closer.

"I see you guys are going out again. You know, Em, Peter is really sad—"

"I'll call ya! But I have to go and pick up...Jack from daycare. See you later." Emma said jumping into the car and putting her seat belt on.

"We don't actually have to pick your brother up do we?" Jay asked glancing at her.

"No, I'll go wherever though." she said smiling at him.

"The Ravine it is!"

"What? Why?"

"Everyone else is there."

"So?"

"Well tonight there's suppose to be a huge party! Don't you wanna go?"

Emma raised an eyebrow at him. "Tonight? Then I need to do my homework now. Take me home and pick me up at 6."

"Isn't that when you are suppose to call Manny?"

"Crap, your right. Pick me up at 6:30 then."

"Fine." Jay grumbled pulling up in front of her house.

"See you later." Emma said kissing him for a few minutes then jumping out.

Heading into her house then down to the basement she was surprised to see Ellie there.

"El?" Emma asked seeing her friend sit at the desk they shared.

"Hold on! I'm almost done." Ellie said typing faster.

Emma shrugged and went over to the bed to start her homework. As the minutes ticked by and Ellie's typing got faster then slowed then faster and slowed Emma thought about her day despite her large amount of homework.

Finally Ellie stopped and started a conversation, "how was school?"

"Manny wants to be friends again."

"Sounds charming." Ellie said sarcastically.

"You?"

"Fine, I guess, one of my professors really liked my paper on—what's wrong?"

"Nothing, why?"

"You have a face."

"No duh, El."

"I mean, a oh-no-I-did-something-bad face. Did Jay do something?"

"No...Manny wants to come over tonight."

"Oh." Ellie said looking at the blonde on the bed. "And?" she added.

"Well...I need to call her at 6 and Jay wants to take us to a Ravine Rendevous."

Ellie laughed and nodded, "really? Are we going?"

"I guess, you wanna?"

"I guess. Sean might be there..."

"So what's up with you guys?"

"Well—"

"Archie! What–stop! What–Archie!"

Emma and Ellie glanced at each other confused to hear Spike's voice so loud and serious and...angry.

"I can't believe you! I just–Archie! Look at me!"

"I didn't mean to! Spike! Come one! I just—"

"Was I not enough? What about the kids? Did that ever cross your mind?"

By now the girls had moved up the stairs and were listening intently at the door. Slowly though as the voices got louder and Jake started crying they edged out of their room to see Spike and Snake arguing. Except Snake wasn't putting up much of a defense and Spike was on a rampage, yelling, screaming, throwing things. All the while rocking Jack.

"How–"

"how did I find out? Easy! Erica down the street saw you with some blonde!"

For a minute Emma felt ashamed of her hair color.

"Christine, I never—"

"well you did! And I want you out! Out!" Spike yelled pointing at the door not seeing Emma and Ellie.

They looked at each other confused to what was happening, but Spike saw them and yelled.

"Go back downstairs you two, just go!" she said as unshed tears lingered in her eyes.

"What was that about?" Ellie muttered looking at Emma.

"No idea." Emma whispered making a mental note to ask her mother later.


6 o'clock came and Emma picked up the phone with dread in her heart.

Call Manny.

Ech.

"Hey Manny!" Emma said with false cheer.

"Yeah. Right. I'm sorry, I can't something came up. Yeah. Oh. Ok. See you." Emma said hanging up and looking at Ellie who was reapplying make-up.

"Manny will be at the Ravine." she said in a hollow voice and wincing.

"Why?"

"Craig is apparently going."

"I repeat why? It's not his...thing."

"Spinner got him into it."

"Seriously?"

"Yep, it's his first Ravine bash."

"Should be interesting." Ellie muttered throwing Emma a short black skirt.

"Ready?" Emma asked as she put her clothes on and did her hair all under 15 minutes.

"As I'll ever be." Ellie muttered.

"So tonight, no drinking, no Craig." Emma said taking her friends hand and walking to the car. "No pining and try and have fun."

Ellie nodded letting go of the blondes hand and getting in back where Sean was smiling at her. Ellie smiled back hesitantly and looked away as Jay and Emma made out until Sean kicked his seat.

"So...tonight should be fun." Jay said as he started the car and drove to the Ravine.

"Why do you say that?" Ellie asked wringing her hands.

"Every Ravine bash is interesting. One big thing usually happens. The last one some girl who goes to our school walked in on her boyfriend and his best friend sc—"

"Jay! Please watch where we are going! You almost hit that car!" Emma said glaring at him then shaking her head.

Ellie heard her mutter 'god, what an idiot' under her breath.

Smirking Ellie got out of the car as they parked. Walking a few blocks to get to the Ravine they listened as Emma prattled on about some homework she had been working on.

Arriving at the Ravine they walked around looking for some drinks as more and more people showed up.

"They always have a huge bash when everyone comes back to school." Jay said grabbing some beers from a nearby picnic table.

Emma looked at the alcoholic liquid but shook her head.

"Not even one?" Jay asked waving it beneath her nose.

She shook her head and slipped a hand through her hair, "I-I'm above that." she said quietly.

"What does that mean?" Jay asked taking a sip and watching her turn her nose up.

"Well, I wouldn't expect you to know or anything but, see, I just...I'm not getting drunk anymore! I do stupid stuff when I get drunk!" Emma shrieked dropping her intellectual act and resorting to whining.

Jay laughed and nodded taking another sip. "Like saying 'I love you.'" he said after he gulped the drink down.

Emma was glad it was dark because she was blushing bright red, "something like that..." Emma muttered turning away from him and looking at Ellie who was being harassed by some blonde haired guy with baggy clothes and two cups in his hands.

"Please leave me alone." Ellie said glaring at the guy who kept rubbing up against her. "My boyfriend will be here any moment!" she added looking towards Emma who started to look for Sean.

Finally after a few minutes more of the icky blonde guy; Emma found Sean talking to a girl who looked a lot like...Manny.

Crap.

Emma pointed to where Sean was and she heard her friends breath hitch.

"You still not want a drink?" the guy asked smirking at her.

Ellie glared then finally lost it, "no! I don't need an effing drink! So go away!" she yelled stomping off to sulk on a picnic bench.

Emma looked at Jay who shrugged but knew to let Emma go comfort Ellie.

"El." Emma said quietly sitting next to the sulking girl.

"I'm—I'm fine, no need to worry about me!" Ellie said in a very unconvincing tone.

Emma sighed and lifted a hand to rub Ellie's back. "I'm sure there's nothing going on. Beside's he totally wants you back, although I'm not sure about you wanting him back." Emma watched her friend pause thinking it over.

"I want him back."

"Then go get him." Emma said smiling as Ellie pushed herself off the table.

"I will." Ellie said heading in the general vicinity of where Sean and Manny had been.

Emma found Jay easily and they set off to find something to entertain themselves, finally they found a group of people chugging a keg of beer. Emma though was waiting to hear what happened between Manny and Ellie.

After about 15 minutes past Ellie came back over to them, "where's Sean?" Ellie asked Jay who shrugged and pulled Emma closer.

"I dunno. He was talking with skankoid Manny last time I saw him."

"Where do you think he is?" Ellie asked but immediately regretted it seeing the look upon Jay's face. The look was a mix of guilt, knowing, and trying to keep a blank face.

"I-I dunno." Jay said tightening his grip around Emma's waist.

Emma looked at him confused then towards Ellie where a dawning look had appeared.

"Ohhh! That—That—That bi—"

"I'm sure it's nothing, Ellie. I mean, this is Cameron we're talking about. He has brains! He isn't stupid! No one in their right mind would—Manning what do you want?"

"I was wondering if either of you have seen Manny." Craig said glancing at Emma, Jay, and Ellie who glared at him.

"No. What an odd coincidence though, we're looking for Sean." Ellie said with fake confusion in her voice.

Craig looked at her funny but Ellie ignored him.

"Manny Santos is so gonna regret the day she messed with me!" and with that Ellie swept off leaving 3 bewildered people behind.

(A/n: I'll try and get the next update up sooner then before! thanks for the people still R&Ring.