The next day Manny made herself purposely late for school. She hadn't really talked to Emma in a really long time. Emma kept emailing her, and Manny kept deleting the messages. She'd been coming late to school for the past month or so, just to avoid Emma, and of course Craig.
"Ms. Santos, you're late, again." Ms. Kwan said crossly.
"Sorry, Ms. Kwan, I had to--"
"We'll talk after class." Manny sighed and walked to her seat behind Emma.
"Manny, why aren't you talking to me?" Emma whispered. Manny rolled her eyes.
"Just, leave me alone. Em, you wouldn't understand."
"I would if you'd just--"
"Ms. Nelson, would you please turn around, I know talking with Ms. Santos is much more interesting than me talking about our reading assignments, but if you don't mind, I'd like all my students to at least pretend to be interested."
"Sorry Ms. Kwan."
"Yes you should be." Manny smiled. Ms. Kwan was the meanest of mean teachers, but she had some good comebacks.
"Hey Craig." Ashley said, sitting next to him at the lunch table. Craig nodded and began to read a piece of paper.
"What's that?" Ashley asked curiously, wonder what had suddenly caught Craig's attention.
"Did you email me last night?" He asked. Ashley shook her head no.
"Why?"
"No reason." Craig said stuffing the paper in his pocket.
A few tables away, Manny was watching Craig and Ashley. Ashley seemed to be trying to get a piece of paper out of Craig's pocket, but Craig wouldn't let her.
"I bet it's my email." She said out loud.
"What email?" Manny jumped. She turned around to find Paige and Hazel looking at her funny.
"Nothing, nothing. What's up?" She asked.
"Oh, we've changed the Spirit Squads practice days. Now we're Tuesdays at 3:15, Thursdays at 3:30, and Friday, at 3:15. Here's a schedule." Paige said handing two pink papers to Manny.
"Give the other to Oscar, we couldn't find him, and we have more important things to do than look for him." And with that they walked away.
Manny, once again focused her attention on Craig, he was now alone. Ashley must have stormed off while she was talking to Paige. Craig had her email out again.
When she got home, she immediately got on the Internet and checked her email. 1 new message!
Wilted,
Do I know you? Do you go to Degrassi? Are you in my grade? What's your name?
-CraigManny smiled. She'd gotten his attention. She quickly thought of another poem.
OverXposed
I've gotten your attention
That's good you see
Because, you've sort of
Noticed me
You've seen me around
From time to time
If you must know
I'm in grade nine
My name is different
My name is unique
But all I can tell you is
My love for you is deep
Sorry, my love
Secrets I must keep
Remember this is between you and me
-WR
Manny pressed send and then dig a little jig.
a/n: I know, it's kind of stupid, but I just had to put in the whole jig thing somewhere.