Just Between You and Me
Manny clicked around on the Internet. Boring, boring, boring.
"Manuella Santos! Company!" Manny smiled.
Finally, I wonder who's here? She rushed downstairs and got the surprise of her life. Craig Manning, and...her dad standing next to each other uncomfortably.
"Hey, Manny." Manny waved shyly. She looked over at her dad. He looked angry.
"Papi, this is Craig Manning, a friend from school, Craig this is my father." Craig stuck out his hand to shake, but Mr. Santos looked at it like it was some out of the ordinary object.
"Manuella, you are not aloud to invite boys to you're house without either me or your mother's permission."
"No, sir, Manny didn't invite me, I...came over myself."
"Are you following my daughter?" Mr. Santos asked angrily.
"No, no, I just had to ask her something."
"Manuella isn't allowed to date."
"But we"
"Papi," Manny had to butt in before Craig told her father that she went out with him last year.
"Craig probably just wants to ask me a question about our English assignment, right, Craig?" Craig nodded nervously. Mr. Santos' expression softened.
"Oh, I'm sorry, she's my youngest daughter, I just like to watch out for her."
"And you do. Craig and I will just be on the porch, okay?" Mr. Santos nodded.
"You almost got me into major trouble!" Manny said sharply.
"How was I supposed to know you weren't aloud to date, you never told me."
"Oh, yeah, well, anyway, why'd are you here?"
"I--I'm not sure. Listen, Manny, I'm going to the movies this weekend, with Ashley, Ellie, Spinner, and Paige. I was wondering if you, Emma, and Sean would like to come."
"Oh, well, I can make it, but I'll ask Emma and Sean if they want to come."
"Okay, cool, well, see ya." Craig said getting up. Manny followed suit.
"Yeah, okay, see ya." Craig nodded and walked down the street, not knowing Manny was watching his every move.
[x]
"Please, Emma, it'll be fun!"
"I don't know Manny. Sean, might not wanna do it."
"Do what?" Sean asked from behind them.
"Sean, could you do your girlfriend's best friend a favor?"
"I guess, what?"
"Go to the movies with me, Craig, Ashley, Ellie, Paige, and Spinner."
"Whatever." Manny squealed.
"Really? Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"
[x]
"Ms. Santos, would you mind reading one of your poems to the class?" Ms. Kwan asked. Manny nodded.
" A few weeks ago, I asked the ninth grade class to write a poem about a simple object. A computer, a TV, a phone, I wanted them to make it unique. And show how you appreciate it. Ms. Santos chose to write about fans." Manny took a deep breath. It wasn't one of her best poems, but apparently Ms. Kwan thought it was amazing. She opened her notebook and found the poem called The Fan.
" 1, 2, 3, 4 arms
Swinging in rhythm
On a stand
Or on the ceiling
When it's hot
You make it cool
That's why I wrote this poem
To say thank-you." Manny quickly went back to her seat. That was such a stupid poem.
"Wonderful! Brilliant!" Ms Kwan went on praising Manny's work, the class, on Ms. Kwan's command encouraged Manny's poem, everyone but Craig.
Her writing, it seems so...familiar. He thought.
[x]
"What am I gonna wear?" Manny asked herself while going through her messy closet.She said holding a black t-shirt that said 'Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.'
"Jeans...please say I have a clean pair of jeans!" She said looking in her drawer.
"Yes!" She'd found a pair of dark denim jeans.
"Perfect! Now, I'll just check my email, and then, off to Em's!"
"Hmm...this is kinda cute."