Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, they belong to Degrassi etc… etc… etc…

The Right Choice

Chapter Six/6: To Date Or Not To Date…

Manny walked into the school feeling as unenthusiastic as humanly possible. She was now officially boyfriend-less, but more importantly Craig-less. As she walked in she noticed the walls were littered with flyers. She got close enough to one to read it. It was advertising the new winter dance. Great! she thought, A stupid reason for couples to show off their stupid happiness!

Manny continued walking down the hall until she bumped into Emma.

"Hey Manny! Have you heard about the dance?" Emma asked cheerfully.

"Yeah just saw the flyer…" Manny said gloomily.

"Well you don't sound too excited about it."

"Well, I'm not. I have no one to go with."

"Of coarse you do. There are a ton of guys that would kill to go with you, including JT, hint hint." Emma said raising her eyebrows. "Plus you don't have to go with anyone. It's not mandatory to have a date you know!" Emma said sarcastically.

"I know but I want a date…" Manny paused for a second before continuing, and suddenly with a boost of joy she said "You know what Emma, I think I will go with JT! Thanks Em!" she said as she walked away with a new spring in her step.

"Winter dance?! How cheesy is that?!" Craig said feeling very moody today.

"Whoa what's up with you?" asked Spinner completely thrown off by Craig's attitude.

"I'm sorry. It's just that… well… Manny…" Craig said leaning against a locker and rubbing his head. "She caught Ash and I kissing the other day, so we're not together slash speaking slash whatever else anymore."

"What? You kissed Ash? So you tried to cheat again?" Spinner said, whispering the word "cheat".

"No it's not like that! Ash kissed me. I was gonna tell her off, but Manny walked up to us right when I was about to say something and she didn't even let me explain! Although I don't even blame her. I've messed up so many times it will take miracle for her to give me another chance." Craig said in a sad tone.

"You can say that again!" Spinner said half laughing.

Craig gave Spinner a dirty look.

"Ok sorry! But you know, you could always take Ash to the dance."

"Ash? No, I don't think so…"

"Well Manny is definitely not going with you, and Ash seems to still have the hots for you so why not live it up? Plus it might just be enough to make Manny jealous, which works for you, get it?" Spin said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Yeah I get it Spin, but I don't want to hurt Manny. I'll have to pass." Craig said as he walked away to his next class.

~*~

"Hey JT!" Manny said as she took out her books from her locker.

"Hey Manny!" JT said with an ear to ear grin. "How's it going?"

"Good. Hey have you heard about the dance?" Manny said inching into the subject.

"Oh yeah I have…" JT said nervously shuffling his feet. "Are you going with anyone?"

"Me? Oh no, no one. You?" Manny asked casually.

"Nope." JT stalled not knowing how to continue, "Hey, um… would you like to go to the dance with me Manny?" JT finally said, relieved that he had gotten the words out.

Manny smiled at him, and said, in a very soft voice, "I'd love to go with you JT."

JT smiled and said in a happy voice "You will? Great! You won't regret this I promise"

Manny glanced down the hallway and spotted Craig talking to Ashley, "Hey JT would you mind walking me to my class?"
"Yeah sure Manny." JT said, feeling very lucky; this was definitely a good day.

"Hey Craig!" Ashley called out after Craig whom was walking lazily down the hall.

Craig slowly turned around and waved back at Ash.

Ashley casually walked over to him and smiled, "Craig listen, I'm so sorry for what I did and said the other day. I wasn't even thinking. I was just so overwhelmed with all that had happened and I just snapped. So yeah I'm sorry, but I'm back to normal now." she said as she innocently touched his arm.

Craig smiled at her sincerity and said "Thanks Ash, that's really nice of you but it doesn't make a difference now; Manny dumped me."

Ashley's jaw dropped. She felt awful. She knew that if was all her fault. "Craig I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean for that to happen!" she said as tears filled her eyes. She threw her arms around Craig in an effort to comfort him, but really hoping that the embrace would heal her own broken heart.

As she hugged him, Craig glanced down the hallway and spotted Manny arm in arm with JT! Then he looked across the hall and saw Spinner grinning wildly and giving him a thumbs up. Just as Ash and Craig pulled away Manny and JT began walking down the hall towards them. "Hey Ash, I know how you can make it up to me. Will you go to the dance with me?" Craig said in his loudest voice hoping that Manny would hear him. She definitely heard him.

"Craig I'd love to go to the dance with you!" Ashley said just as Manny and JT walked right by them.

Perfect. Craig thought to himself as he watched Manny move closer to JT when she heard Ashley speak.

So Craig is going with Ash, and Manny is going with JT?

Can you say… 'Let the battles begin'.

Authors Note: Keep reviewing… bye.