This chapter I'm doing something a little different. The Bold and Italic letters are something that happends later on in this chapter, So if you get confused, don't read it. Its a little foreshadowing.
"Cra-Cra-Craig, I'm sorry, I just wanted to help, I thought the extra money could help." Manny whimpered on the floor.
"Help? Manny you made things worse!" Craig yelled
"I'm-I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Manny sobbed.
"Whatever." Craig grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Where you going?" Manny asked, quietly
"Out." Craig said and slammed the door behind him.
"There adorable Em." Manny stared in awe at the three little babies bundled up in three beds.
"Thanks. I just can't wait to take them home."
"I bet."
"Look here's little Manuela. I swear she lives up to that name Manny. She's a fiesty one." Emma said pointing to Payton.
Manny smiled and contiued to look at Paxton and Ellie and Payton.
"I better get going. Doctors appointment. I gotta go get Craig. I get to see if I get a little Emma or a little Craig." Manny beamed, placing her hand on her stomach.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow?" Emma said, pulling Manny into a hug.
"For sure." Manny smiled and left.
"Craig? You here? I need a ride to the doctors office." Manny said.
"Where have you been Manny." Craig said shortly, coming out of the bathroom with a towl wrapped around his waist.
"At Em's. I told you this morning I was helping her set up the nursery."
"I didn't know you were going to be gone that long." Craig said.
"I'm sorry."
"Its fine."
"Are you still going to come with me to the doctors?"
"No."
Manny looked at Craig confused. "But I thought you were."
"I picked up an extra shift."
"Are you okay Craig?"
"Yes. I'll go get dressed and drop you off on the way. You'll have to use a taxi to get home though." Craig said and walked into the bedroom.
Manny pursed her lips together. "Whats wrong with him?"
"So Miss Santos, I have the results back for the sex of the baby. Would you like to know, or would you like to wait for the father?" Doctor Johnassen asked
Manny glanced at the door. "I would like to know now. He's at work and.. not going to make it."
smiled. "Alright then, your baby is a female. You have a healthy baby girl."
Manny smiled and held her stomach. "Thank you Doc."
"Have any names in mind?"
"Yeah few." Manny said.
"Well I'll leave you to get dressed. Have a good day Manny."
"You too."
"Craig? Craig you home?" Manny asked, coming through the door. There was no answer. Craig was obvoiusly still at work.
Manny sighed and grabbed the newspaper.Looking for a bookstore cashier. Age's 15+
Manny grabbed the phone and dailed the number. "Hi, this is Manny Santos, is the opening for the cashier pistion still open?..... Oh really? Thanks....... Okay I'll come in after school.......Thankyou Bye."
Manny tossed the phone into the couch and went into the bathroom to take a shower.
"Craig's gonna kill me. But I just hate that he has to work so much. He needs time with his friends too."
Emma stood their in the babies room watching them sleep, counting their heartbeats. Emma felt Jay's arms wrap around her stomach. "Look at them."
"I know."
"They look just like you." Jay said.
"I think Ellie looks most like you."
Jay laughed. "Gee thanks. So you going to school tomorrow?"
Emma sighed. "Probably, I don't want to get to far behind. But I just don't know how to leave them."
"I know. It's pretty hard. But we gotta."
Emma smiled. "Yeah. Are you staying here tonight?"
Jay nodded "I think so. Yeah I am."
Emma turned around and hugged Jay. "Good."
Craig walked into the apartment and shut the door lightly behind him. He glanced down at his watch. It read ten o'clock. Manny would be in bed about now.
He tossed the keys on the counter and walked into the bedroom, finding Manny sleeping silently.
Craig crawled onto th bed and laid next to Manny. Placing his hand on her arm. Manny gently rolled over. "Craig?"
"It's me."
"How was work?"
"Good."
Manny smiled and closed her eyes. "Get some sleep baby. You need it." Craig said, rubbing her arm.
"Em! Emma your here, I thought you weren't coming for another week?" Manny ran and hugged Emma.
Emma smiled. "I missed everybody. Couldn't miss anymore school either."
"Good." Manny smiled and hugged her friend again.
"Hey Emma, Manny." Ellie said walking up to the girls.
"Hey El." Manny said, releasing Emma.
"Hey!" Emma said, pulling Ellie into a hug.
Ellie chuckled "Hi. Sorry I haven't gotten down to the hospital a lot. I've been super busy with things and-"
"It's fine. Hey I have a idea. Why don't you guys come over after school? I told my mom I'd watch Jack until visiting hours at the hospital."
"Sounds good. I better get going. See you guys later?" Ellie said.
Ellie smiled and hugged Emma and Manny. "Later."
"So I guess the house is gonna be pretty hetic when the babies come home huh?" Manny said walking into Emma's house.
"Yeah I guess so. The babies are probably gonna be down stairs with me."
"I can't wait to see them." Ellie said.
"Where's Jay?" Manny asked
"He's gonna pick me up later for visiting hours."
"Oh." Manny said and flopped down on the couch. "I'm starving."
Ellie laughed. "I bet. Pregnancy cravings kicking in?" Sitting next to Manny
Manny giggled. "Sure are."
"Here I'll get some snack. Mom got me tons for me." Emma tossed Manny and Ellie a candy bar. "How about a movie?"
"Sure." Manny and Ellie said in unison.
Emma popped popcorn and put in a movie. Two hours passed while they watched the movie.
Manny glanced at the clock. "I gotta go."
Ellie laughed. "Craig expecting you?"
Manny chuckled. "Nope, don't tell him. I got a job interview."
"We won't." Emma said.
"I got to go now though. I'll see you guys tomorrow. We got to do this again." Manny bent down and hugged Ellie and Emma.
"You must be Manny Santos." The lady said at the cash regester.
"Yes. And you are-"
"Samantha Burk. The owner."
"Nice to meet you." Manny said
"Well I went over the resume you gave me. It looks pretty good."
"Thanks."
"You basically got the job. But I can't help but wonder, and I don't want to come off rude, but are you, you know, carrying?"
Manny smiled. "Yeah. I am."
"Is your parents helping you?"
"Well no, I moved out, I actually live down the street in those apartments."
"I know this is personal, but I'm a mother myself, is the father involved?"
"It's okay, and yes he is. He's been amazing. He's really supportive. He got a job to support us. Thats where he is right now. He doesn't know I'm here though. He doesn't think I should get a job, he says it will put to much stress on me."
"Ah I've been where you are before. My husband didn't want me to open up this bookstore either. I was pregnant with me first child and he said that it was way too much stress on me. But I always say, women can handle anything."
Manny smiled. "Thanks."
"Well, I got to run through some files before I can fully register you as an employee. I'll call you tonight and let you know your work schedule."
"Thank you so much Mrs. Burk." Manny shook her hand.
"Please, call me Samantha."
Manny laughed and walked out of the store.
Craig finished up the last of the dishes and flung a dish towl over his shoulder. "Is that it Spin?"
"Yeah I think so, I'll finish up here, you go on home to that hot stuff of a girlfriend you got."
"Spin shut up. See you later." Craig said behind his shoulder and walked out.
Once at home, Craig jammed his key into the key hole and opened it.
"Manny?" Craig called, he could hear the shower running from the bathroom.
He made himself a sandwich and a coke. Manny's phone beeped from the couch. He hesitated at first, but then grabbed her phone to look. She had a new voicemail.
"Hello Manny? This is Samantha Burk, I'm just here to let you know your schedule. Monday through Wednesday. Occasionally on Fridays. I'm very felixable, so if your not feeling up to coming in. Just let me know. Okay? Well, I'll see you next Monday. Have a nice day."
Craig flipped the phone closed. He shut his eyes closed tight, and breathed in and out.
Manny walked out of the bedroom in sweats and a sweatshirt. "Craig?"
Craig leaned down and put his hands to his face.
"Craig whats wrong?" Manny asked
Craig looked up at Manny. "You got a job."
Manny looked down at her feet. "Craig I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Your not serious!" Craig fumed.
"Yes I am. We could use the money, Craig we need-"
"No! I said you don't need a job! Were fine!" Craig pushed Manny against the wall.
Manny's eyes widened. "Craig!" Fear rushed to her face.
Craig let Manny go and hit the wall. "How could you Manny?"
Manny slid down to the floor. "Cra-Cra-Craig, I'm sorry, I just wanted to help, I thought the extra money could help." Manny whimpered on the floor.
"Help? Manny you made things worse!" Craig yelled
"I'm-I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Manny sobbed.
"Whatever." Craig grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.
"Where you going?" Manny asked, quietly
"Out." Craig said and slammed the door behind him.
"Manny? Manny oh my. Thank god you called me." Emma said and rushed over to Manny laying on the floor crying.
"Craig-Craig left. I don't know where he went."
Ellie bent down over Manny. "What happened?"
"He-He-He found out about the job. He got mad and pushed me into the wall. He let me go and left."
"Oh my god." Ellie said, holding Manny.
"This isn't like him." Manny whimpered.
"Manny. He did have an abusive father." Emma said
"No no. That can't be it. He hated his father. There's no way he would let himself be like him. It has to be something else...."
"Where is he?" Emma asked, putting her hand on Manny's knee.
"I don't know. Em we have to find him. We have too." Manny sobbed, Ellie hugged her tighter.
Emma gave Manny a concerned look. "I'll be right back." And walked out the front door.
"Hello?" Sean answered the phone.
"Sean. It's-It's Emma."
"Emma? I though you'd never call me."
"This isn't a personal call. Manny, Craig needs help."
"Why are you calling me? Why don't you call Marco or Spinner? Why me?"
"Because, because you were his first friend. And you, ya know, helped him that day at the train tracks. I think you really got through to him that day. Maybe you can help?"
"Yeah sure, what happened?"
"Him and Manny had a fight, he lost his temper and pushed her. He ran off."
"Okay, I think I know where he might be. I'll go look."
"Thank you Sean."
"Your welcome."
Ellie handed Manny a cup of hot chocolate. "Here, it helps."
"Thanks." Manny said and sipped the hot drink.
Ellie smiled and sat down next to Manny on the couch. "Any news?"
Manny shook her head. "No."
"That all might change, I just got a text from Sean." Emma said walking out of the kitchen.
Manny stood up. "Yeah?"
"He found him, there at the hospital now." Emma said
"Hospital? Why?" Manny asked
"I don't know, but lets get going." Emma said, grabbing her coat and tossing Manny hers.
"I'll drive." Ellie said and the three girls walked out the door.
"Manny. Manny wake up. It's morning." Emma said, shaking her arm.
Manny opened her eyes. "Sorry Em, I fell asleep."
Emma laughed. "It's fine. You can go in and see him now. If you want."
Manny pressed her lips together. "We'll be out here waiting for you." Emma said.
"Thanks Em." Manny hugged Emma and walked to Craig's room.
Manny knocked on the door. "Come in." She heard him say.
Manny walked into the room. "Hi."
Craig sat on his bed, legs crossed. "Hey."
Manny smiled at Craig as she sat down in the chair. She looked down at her hands.
"Manny I'm sorry for the way I acted before, I didn't mean to push you like that-"
Manny looked up at Craig. "Craig, its okay."
"No, Manny it's not. I pushed you, hurt you. I'm becoming my father." Craig said
Manny stood up and walked over to Craig's bed. "You are the farthest thing from your father. What happened you had no control over. You have a mental disease. Your bipolar. You've got a chemical imbalance in your brain, but you're getting help." Manny said.
"I'm crazy Manny." Craig said.
"Your not crazy." Manny said, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.
"Well then explain the medication and this trendy bracelet on my wrist and explain why despite everything they tell me I feel fine."
"Your not crazy Craig. Your getting help. It will be fine." Manny said.
"You can go if you want Manny. There's no stopping you."
"I don't want too."
"Is this what you want? Pregnant and a crazy boyfriend? A life filled with shrinks and medications."
"I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together. We're a team. We need you Craig." Manny said and placed his hand on her stomach.
Craig gave a weak smile. "I guess."
Manny leaned her forehead to his. "No, you know. We're gonna get through this Manning. I'll be here for you. I'll never leave."
Craig's smiled grew wider. "Is the baby okay? Are you okay? After I, you know."
Manny smiled at him. "We're fine, the doctor checked us out. We're fine."
"Good." Craig said. And pushed a strand of Manny's hair behind her ear. Foreheads still pressed together. "I love you Manny. You know that?"
Manny smiled. "I know."
Hey guys, what did you think? I worked HARD on this chapter. It took me hours to make it just right. There's still probably some errors I missed, so edit them for me in your head. Kay?
Thanks, I loved this chapter. I worked so hard on it. I'm proud of it. Okay now,
RR
-Sierratwilight17(:
