Manny turned around inadvertently to see Craig. Damn, she thought. She tried to grab the doorknob again, but he grabbed her hand.

"You don't have to talk to me. Please listen though," Craig said firmly. Manny pulled her wrist away and crossed her arms. She made sure not to look him in the eye. It was silent for a moment then the bell rang as students rushed into the classrooms in fear of starting the year off with a detention.

"What is it Craig? Are you going to tell me how sorry you are...how it's never going to happen again?" Manny asked coldly. "I don't want to hear it and I don't want to see you." Craig quickly handed her a bouquet of red roses he was hiding behind his back.

"I'm not expecting you to forgive me now. What I did to you was wrong...so wrong. I'm just hoping that one day you'll find it in your heart to let me prove to you how sorry I am," Craig stated sincerely. Manny's heart raced and her eyes filled with tears. Damn him. Damn him. Damn him. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to throw her arms around him and pretend like nothing ever happened. She wanted to tell him that she missed him so much and that her life seemed empty without him in it. She wanted tell him that no one had ever gotten her a bouquet before and she was happy her first was from him. She wanted to....but she stood strong. It was going to take more than flowers to win her back. She braced herself for what she was about to do.

"Find it in my heart to forgive you?" she stated firmly, more to herself than to Craig. "I have no heart. You broke it, remember?" She dropped the roses at Craig's feet and walked into class.

Craig stood still. He couldn't bring himself to move. He shook his head as if to wake up from a bad dream and bent to pick up the roses. He closed his eyes to hold back his tears then walked to the trash can to throw the flowers away. "On to plan B," he said to the empty hallway. He halfheartedly made his way to class.

"Mister Manning," Mrs. Kwan said slowly. "You're late."

"Sorry, Mrs. Kwan. It wont happen again," Craig replied quickly.

"It better not. Take your seat," she said firmly. Craig scanned the room for an empty chair. The only one available was next to Ashley. He bit his lip and walked as slowly as humanly possible.

"Craig!" Mrs. Kwan exclaimed. "I don't have all day." Craig sighed and sat down. He tried desperately not to look at Ashley. "This is an awesome way to start off the new year," he thought sarcastically.
"Okay, now that we're all settled," Mrs. Kwan said while looking directly at Craig. "I'm going to group you guys together for your book reports. Let's see. Ashley, you're going to be working with...Jimmy." Craig let out a sigh of relief. "..and Craig." Craig buried his head in his hand. Spoke too soon, he thought. He glanced in Ash's direction. She had a horrified look on her face. She glared at Craig then raised her hand.

"Yes, Ashley," Mrs. Kwan said.

"Is there any way we can switch groups?" Ashley asked desperately.

"No Ashley. The groups are final," Mrs. Kwan said casually.

"But?" Ashley nearly yelled. She couldn't believe she was put in a group with her two ex-boyfriends. Could things be any worse? Mrs. Kwan was out to get her. This was ridiculous.

"Final," Mrs. Kwan answered sternly. Craig blanked out the rest of Kwan's lecture. He thought of Manny and how he couldn't stand not to have her in his life. He thought of Ashley and how Kwan was the bane of all evil. Ashley was never going to forgive him and now he had to work with her. It was going to be a long year.