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

The Right Choice

Chapter Nine/9: Picking Up The Pieces

"Craig don't!" She said trying to hold back her emotions. But he just looked so beautiful, the way he was smiling down at her. "Don't even try it! I'm so done with you! You have broken my heart too many times!"

"Well what more do you want? You asked me what I wanted! I want you Manny! Or what, now I'm just supposed to lie?" he began, getting a little frustrated. "And anyways I didn't break you heart! You broke mine!" Craig said staring down at the floor.

"What?! Oh that's rich Craig! I broke your heart?! Really? Cause I could have sworn I wasn't the one who kissed Ash! Oh yeah, cause I forgot, that was you!" Manny said clutching her shoes, ready to storm away.

"Well, you never gave me a chance to explain!" Craig said with pleading eyes.

"Oh goodness Craig what the heck is there to explain? It seems pretty simple to me! You kissed Ash!" Manny said, her voice getting louder by the second.

"I didn't kiss Ash! She kissed me!" Craig responded in the same tone.

Suddenly Manny was silent. She released her shoes, and clapped her hands over her mouth.

Manny didn't continue, so Craig did. "I didn't mean for her to kiss me, she just did. And I really didn't mean for you to walk in right when she did it, you just did. I would have told you either way… I was gonna say something to her… I was gonna say something to you… You didn't let me explain…" Craig said in such a soft and tender tone it was endearing.

"Oh, my…" Manny said as tears filled her eyes. So this was all her fault? She wasted all this time when he hadn't even kissed Ash, she kissed him! She had made herself miserable all this time and blamed it on Craig when it was really her fault. Why on Earth hadn't she let him explain? "I'm so stupid…" Manny said as the tears rolled down her cheeks.

Craig immediately wrapped his arms around her, "Manny you're not stupid."

His embrace only made the tears come out harder. "But it's all my fault, I'm so sorry."

"Manny it's not all you fault. I don't blame you for not wanting to hear me out. I mean, after all I've done, you went easy on me." Craig said as he lifted up her chin and looked at her intently.

"You're amazing you know that?" Manny said with a smile as she felt her knees get weak from his stare.

Craig smiled, "How about we get back to the madness?"

"Yeah I guess we have some explaining to do to our dates, huh?" Manny said thinking back to JT. He must hate me. she thought, I just left his standing there.

Manny looked down at her shoes. Then she reluctantly slipped them back on her feet. Note to self: Dispose of these stupid and painful shoes! she thought as she and Craig began walking back up the steps, and into the school. As they were slowly walking up the steps Craig looked at Manny. He couldn't help but realize how beautiful she was. Then without preamble he reached over and laced her hand in his. She didn't pull away. She only looked back at him with longing eyes and gave him a sweet smile. It was then he realized how much he really loved her. More than he ever thought it was possible to love someone. It wasn't just about how beautiful or hot she was. Or how willing she was to be with him. Or even how free he felt when he was with her. It was deeper than that, much deeper. It scared him a little, but he was ok with that.

"Hey." Manny said quietly to JT whom was now sitting alone in a chair.

"Hey." JT said to the floor.

"JT I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Sorry for what? Oh you mean for ditching me in the middle of the dance? Or for leaving me there standing like an idiot? Or maybe, maybe it was leaving me to go with… Craig…" JT said looking hurt.

"Sorry… for all of them." Manny said feeling ashamed.

JT looked up at her, about to scream, but then stopped himself "It's ok." he said shaking his head.

Manny smiled at him and threw her arms around him, "Thank you for being so understanding,"

She released him "It's just that… well Craig and I…"

"Stop," JT said avoiding her words "Stop, I know, I get it. Congratulations, I'm happy for you. If that's what makes you happy."

"Yeah it is, it really is." Manny said as her thoughts drifted to Craig.

"So he just ran off?" Paige asked not quite grasping the idea.

"Yeah, I'm just as lost as you are, but whatever. Everything was really weird and awkward anyway… he almost did me a favor." Ash said as she glanced across the gym at the boy who had been staring at her the whole dance. She had to admit, he was cute, and he has obviously interested.

Suddenly Craig came up to her. "Hey Ash." he said.

"Well look who's back. Where have you been Craig?"

"Ash I'm really sorry. It's just that things were… and I was… and you were…" Craig paused, "I just had to get away, is all. I'm okay now, but I have to tell you something." he glanced at Paige, "In private."

"I can take a hint." Paige said as she stood up and left the two alone.

Craig took a seat beside Ash "Ash um… while I was out there, I kind of ran into Manny. We, we, well we made up."

"Really?" Ash said getting a bit upset.

"Yeah, but that's not all. You see the only reason I even came here with you-or came here at all was for her. Get it?" he said raising his eyebrows.

"I can't," she began in a very loud tone. Then she glanced across the room again at the mysterious boy. "I can't believe you." she repeated in a calmer tone. Then she thought about it. What was the difference? Things were weird-too weird between Craig and herself either way. He was better off with Manny, he really loved her. "But it's ok. It's fine, cause I'm gonna be ok. I'm gonna be just fine Craig." Ashley said as she kept a steady gaze at her mystery man.

"So you're not mad at me?" Craig said as he glanced across the gym trying to figure out what Ashley kept staring at but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "We're cool?" he continued.

"Are we 'cool'? Of coarse not! After all you've done to me you really think we are just gonna be 'cool'?" she said getting up from her seat, "Just because I'm gonna be ok doesn't mean I don't still hate your guts. Sorry Craig, but nice try." she said as she patted him on the shoulder. "Bye Craig." she said with a sincere smile, "Good luck with Manny." Then she happily made her way across the gym. You know where she's headed…

Yeah whatever Ash, you know we're 'cool' now. Craig thought to himself.

"Wow, these have been some crazy past few weeks." Craig whispered to himself as he rubbed his head.

"They sure have." Manny said as she sneaked up behind him and kissed him softly on his neck. "I'm just glad they're over." Manny said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"You can say that again." Craig said as he turned to face her and swept her off her feet and spun her around. Then he planted a kiss on her lips. "May I have this dance?" He asked as he took her hand and kissed it.

"I thought you'd never ask." she said with a grin, "Can you just give me one second?" she asked, and with that she kicked off her annoying heels and sent them flying halfway across the room. She turned back to him, "Ok, now I'm ready."

Craig laughed at her action but immediately put his arms around her for their dance. "So we're ok now?" Craig asked, looking into her eyes, and they danced slowly and gracefully.

"Craig, we're more than ok." Manny said with a smile as she leaned in and kissed him passionately on the lips.

Author's Note: People please review… PLEASE.