If your not the one-- by Amanda B (me)

**Song lyrics-- If your not the one by Daniel Bedingfield**

(A/N: These are inspiration for my story lyrics. They are copyright Daniel Bedingfield)

~*~

If you're not the one then why does my soul feel glad today?

If you're not the one then why does my hand fit yours this way?

If you are not mine then why does your heart return my call

If you are not mine would I have the strength to stand at all

~*~

I never know what the future brings

But I know you are here with me now

We'll make it through

And I hope you are the one I share my life with

~*~

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand

If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am?

Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

~*~

If I don't need you then why am I crying on my bed?

If I don't need you then why does your name resound in my head?

If you're not for me then why does this distance maim my life?

If you're not for me then why do I dream of you as my wife?

~*~

I don't know why you're so far away

But I know that this much is true

We'll make it through

And I hope you are the one I share my life with

And I wish that you could be the one I die with

And I pray in you're the one I build my home with

I hope I love you all my life

~*~

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand

If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am

Is there any way that I can stay in your arms?

~*~

'Cause I miss you, body and soul so strong that it takes my breath away

And I breathe you into my heart and pray for the strength to stand today

'Cause I love you, whether it's wrong or right

And though I can't be with you tonight

And know my heart is by your side

~*~

I don't want to run away but I can't take it, I don't understand

If I'm not made for you then why does my heart tell me that I am

Is there any way that I....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello, this is my new Manny/Craig/Ashley story called; if your not the one! And while the name sounds sorta negative, its actually a story about a couple together!! LOL.

Which couple you ask?? Well you'll just have to keep reading to find that out, now won't you?

Anyways, I hope you enjoy it. Please send me some feedback. Thanks! ~Amanda

Chapter One: Learning to Breathe

Lyrics:

"I could use a fresh beginning too/All of my regrets are nothing new/ So this is the way that I say I need you/ This is the way that I'm/Learning to Breathe/I'm learning to crawl/ I'm finding that you and you alone can break my fall/ I'm living again, awake and alive/ I'm dying to breathe in these abundant skies/ I never never thought that/ I would fall like that/ Never knew that I could hurt this bad/ So this is the way I say I need you/ This is the way I say I love you/ This is the way I say I'm yours/ This is the way, this is the way"-- (Learning to Breathe by Switchfoot)

~..............................................~

Craig tossed and turned but he still couldn't sleep.. Manny or Ashley? The question haunted his thoughts and persisted, until he was drenched in sweat and deeply worried.

Choosing one wasn't the only thing Craig was worried about. What if they were both still mad at him? What if when he saw Ashley, she ignored him? Or Manny slapped him? What if, what if, what if?! What if he ended up getting neither girl he cared deeply about.

Well I guess there are other fish in the sea.. the voice in his head stated.

What other fish? Girls? Other girls? He couldn't even think of any other girls, besides Ashley.. she was so sweet to him. She understood him, and had so much in common with him! They worked so well artistically together! She was so pretty and intelligent and kind.

But Manny.. well Manny was different from Ashley. That's for sure. She was hot... so hot. But while when he first started seeing Manny it was because of her sexiness and kissing ability, it wasn't anymore. His feelings ran deeper then that. Manny was sexy, and sweet, and funny and so interesting. They could stay up late just laying in each other's arms talking about anything and everything. Or they didn't have to talk.. sometimes they just laid there staring at the ceiling, reading each other's thoughts. And their chemistry. Manny and Craig's chemistry was undeniable. But he had much more in common with Ashley. But he and Manny's souls were connected.. she understood him and forgave his faults.. but Ashley was intelligent and giving. Ugh! Craig pounded his fist against the bed muffling his yells of horror in his pillow.

Not this again! All Christmas break he ran over this again and again and again.

And tomorrow was the first day back at school! He didn't know what to say, or what to do.. or who to say it to. He wanted to just choose one girl, get it over with, tell her he loved her and only her, kiss her and be with her forever. But who?!?!?! Craig was stuck between;

The girl he should be with, the girl that was perfect, and he had so much in common with, and loved him so much, and never ever did anything mean to him ever.

Or the girl he wanted so incredibly much, that he couldn't stop thinking of, that whenever he kissed her and snuggled with her, it was bad but it felt so incredibly good.

Thats it! He jumped out of bed. He was never ever going to get any sleep until he saw Manny and Ashley. So he may as well start making breakfast now, at 4 in the morning.

~*~

"Dude." Spinner said, grinning sideways at Craig as they walked down the hall together. "You look like crap. Did you not get any sleep?"

"You know what? Thanks. That's the confidence booster I needed."

"What happened Craig? I thought you had both ladies in the palm of your hand? You were the man!"

"And I'm not the man anymore?" Craig smirked.

"Nope. Your just a lost confused little boy." laughed Spinner.

"Then who would you choose, if you were me?" asked Craig as he looked around nervously, for either one of the girls.

"You know what? I don't know. But for totally shallow reasons Manny. She's hot, and she puts out!"

"Shut up!" exclaimed Craig angrily. He stepped in front of Spinner. "Dont say that. She doesn't."

"But..." muttered a bewildered Spinner. "I thought you said she had sex with you..?"

"She did. That does not mean she puts out. It was just a thing that happened. End of story."

Spinner's hands went up in the air in mock surrender.

"Whatever you say dude.. whatever you say."

They stopped in front of the classroom.

"You coming?" Spinner asked, as walked into the practically empty room.

"Yeah just a minute. I'll meet you in there. I just have to go to my locker." said Craig, walking towards the block of lockers to his left.

He went to a red and orange lock and undid the combination.

He took out his math and English binders and then slammed the door shut, clicking the lock closed. Just as he turned around he saw Ashley walking down the hall.

She looked really pretty today wearing a black skirt, black fishnet tights and a black and white t-shirt that said 'I am the Queen of Everything'. He grinned at her, and motioned for her to come over. She noticed him, and blushed madly, looking down at the floor.

Then as she came up to him, she shot him a glare, and turned suddenly into the classroom.

Craig groaned running his hands through his hair.

Strike one.

~*~

Craig stared at one of the posters beside his locker..

''Recycling Club starts meeting this first day. Newcomers welcome.'

He was trying to stall.. waiting for more people to come so he wouldn't have to be alone with ice-queen Ashley.

Well, he sighed to himself. I guess I deserve it.

Just then a click-clock-click-clock of high heels rang from down the hall. It was Manny.

He peered out from behind the corner in the wall by his lockers.

"Um hi." she smiled shyly at some grade 11 guy who was standing by a vending machine.

"Can you tell me where this locker is? I got moved to this side of the school, and I'm never really down here much, so I'm kind of lost."

"Uh, sure." said the guy. "Should be in that block of lockers right around there."

"Thank you." Manny shot him a grateful smile, and began walking up and down the lockers looking for her own. "273, 273.." she mumbled to herself.

Shoot! Craig cringed. His locker was 274.

He peeked behind the corner again, and luckily Manny still didn't spot him. She looked really beautiful today as usual. Her hair was in ringlette curls, and she was wearing a square-neck long sleeve pink shirt that had an exotic flower on it. She was also wearing a knee-length flowy black skirt. She looked totally pretty but not too overdone, as she sometimes tended to look. Just as she came to her locker, she spotted him peeking out.

"Hey." she said. "Is someone there?"

Dammit! Craig cringed again, pressing himself flat against the wall.

"I saw you. Who's there?"

There was no use hiding.

Craig took a step forward, and smiled sheepishly at a bewildered Manny.

"Um. Hi." he smiled.

"Craig?!" she exclaimed. "What were you doing? Spying on me?"

"Uh! No! I wasn't!" he stammered. "I was just.. I saw you.. and I thought you'd be mad at me... so I hid behind here. I'm sorry." "Why were you hiding? Cause you thought I'd be mad at you? Why did you face it like a man? I cant believe you were avoiding me!" she exclaimed opening the empty locker. He looked closer at her face. There were tears in her eyes. "I bet you weren't avoiding Ashley." she said quietly.

"No! No Manny!!! I wasn't.. I don't!"

Manny slammed the locker shut. "Save it Craig. Tell it to someone who cares."

With that, she stormed away.

"Manny!!!!!" he called.

He sighed. Nothing to do but go to class. As he walked in, he noticed the entire class staring at him. He was sort of loud...

Ashley. Ashley was staring at him. Then she looked down, really sadly. Like sad, so much that she looked ready to cry. No!

"No ash," he whispered. "It wasn't like that at all..it's just.."

"Mr. Manning." Mrs. Kwan called. "Save your soap opera life for another class. Sit down, now."

He sat at the back of the room with a sigh.

So much for winning one of them back.. they both hated him.

He knew he had to choose one.. but he was still confused. Maybe if he apologized and talked to each one, it would be easier.

First of all, he would try to win their forgiveness and friendship.

Then he would choose one.

It couldn't be that difficult... could it?

~~~~~~~~~~ Thats it for my first chapter! Now im going to post the next chapter.. Please remember to reply! Thanks so much! ~*Amanda