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

Hey, here's the next chapter. So enjoy and let me know what you think.. thanks! ~*Amanda ;)

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Chapter 2: It's about time

Lyrics: 'I hate you, I love you/ I just can't remember to forget you/ Who are you, who needs you?/ You make me feel alive, I die, so high/ I'm crawling on the ground/ I have found I can fly/ One of these days it all comes together/ One of those days that goes on forever/ Think I sound crazy? Maybe whatever/ What's it all about?/ I'm saying goodbye to you, I say hi to you with no clue/ It's about time that I/ Make up my mind/ It's simple confusing, the truth is I'm winning but losing/ And pulling and pushing, won't do me any good/ It could, it should/ I'm honest to myself that the truth is I lied/ One of these days it all comes together/ One of those days that goes on forever/ Think I sound crazy? Maybe whatever/ What's it all about?' (Song 'It's about Time' by Lillix)

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The bell for lunch rang at around 11. Finally! Craig sighed, running his hands through his curly black hair. That was absolute torture. Sitting in English then Math class with Ashley glaring at him, and then Terri, Ellie, Paige and Hazel. All the girls seemed to be on Ashley's side. Everyone hated him.
"Alright. Homework is page 97." the teacher said, dismissing them. Craig got up from his seat quickly and was the first one out the door, but still caught mean glares from all the girls, and sympathetic looks from the other guys on his way out. He rolled his eyes. Alright, alright! He was sorry! Deal with it... it was none of their business. Craig placed his books in his locker quickly, and then headed off to the cafeteria. He had a plan to win Ashley's forgiveness.. and he wasn't going to blow it.

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Ashley walked into the cafeteria with Terri and looked around for Craig. Well... it's not like she wanted to talk to him or anything. It's just...well she couldn't help to wonder about him. Like if he truly was sincere and sorry. Or if it was just some big act to weasel his way back into her good graces. Ash had spent her entire winter vacation in misery. Slumping around the house in pajamas, watching sad movies, eating ice cream, listening to sad music, writing sad songs. Everything in her life was so damn sad! Why the hell did Craig have to turn this whole situation into a soap opera? He could have decently chosen either her or Manny, and if he chose Manny, then told Ashley honestly, and been a man about it. Not a child.
"You know Ash?" Terri said as she took Ashley's arm and led her towards the food line. "You deserve better. A million times better. Craig is just a child, and isn't ready for this kind of relationship." Terri had just expressed how Ash was feeling. She sighed, with a smile.
"Thanks Ter." she nodded, taking a chocolate-chip muffin, and placing it on her tray. "I know. Your right. And besides, our relationship was way too serious for highschool. I shouldn't settle down, when I'm so young... right?" she said, uncertainly.
"Definetly." Terri nodded confidently. "What that loser did was totally low, but hey, you can recover from it, and be a million times stronger. Don't you think?" Ashley nodded, feeling better.
"Thanks for being here Terri." Ashley hugged her friend. "I dont know what I would do without you."
"No problem. It's what I'm here for." she smiled at Ashley sweetly. Then the girls went to join Paige, Hazel and Ellie at their table.
"Where's Craig?" Ashley asked, when she sat down.
"Oh sweetie!" exclaimed Paige. "Do not worry about that jerk. You deserve so much better."
"I know I know." sighed Ashley. "I've heard it all before.. but Paige.. where is he?"
"Sitting with Marco, Jimmy and Spin." Paige rolled her eyes. "That jerk of a boyfriend Spinner. I told him that I'd be royally pissed at him if he sided with Craig but he's defying me!"
"Oh calm down Paige." smiled Terri.
"Whatev. That boy needs to get his priorities straight." she took a sip of diet Coke. Terri rolled her eyes with a smirk. All of a sudden they heard someone coughing loudly.
"Uh... hello everyone. Can I say something." a guy's voice announced. Everyone in the cafeteria turned to face him. It was Craig. With a guitar.
"Oh god." Ashley said, covering her face, with her hand.
"This is a song for my ex-girlfriend, to let her know that I know I messed up, and that I'm really really sorry." he announced. Craig took a deep breath and began to sing as he placed his guitar.

~

When all I have is on the floor

Divided, divided

When I'm a world away from peace

Behind Your eyes is where I know

I'll find it, I'll find it

Cause who You are defines my dreams

You already take me there

Heaven in the here and now

When I'm a broken-hearted man

Complacent and tired

When I've been knocked out of the race

I've been a fool for long enough

To fight it, to fight it

It's in Your arms I find my place

You meet me where I am

Forgive where I am

Where I lose myself in grace

(Where I'm lost and found)

I want to lose myself in grace

Let Your love reign down all over me

Cover me (Song actually called 'You already take me there' and is by Switchfoot)

~

At the end of the song Ashley got up and ran out the cafeteria doors into the halls, her eyes about to overflow with tears.
"Ash!" she heard Craig yell. "Wait! Please!" Tears blinded her eyes as she stumbled to the wall, by her locker, sitting and feeling like crap. Why was he doing this? Why was he trying to make her feel all these things again? She didn't want to love him.. she wanted to hate him! But.. why was it so hard? Why was he making it so difficult for her? She leaned against the wall, tears running down her face.
"Ash?" Craig asked as he walked into hallway, having spotted her.
"Go away." Ashley mumbled, her voice thick with emotion.
"I can't." he said softly. He crouched down beside her. "I know I hurt you, and I can't take that back. And I don't want to make you feel worse, but I can't stand that your mad at me. I have to keep trying. I'm sorry. You have to know that. I am so incredibly sorry. You have to know, that I care about you so so much. And you are the sweetest, most wonderful person ever. You helped me through so much, and forgave me for being a jerk. And I know that this is a lot to forgive, and you probably never want to see my face ever again, but I need you to understand. It's not healthy to hate me so much."
"I don't hate you..." she interrupted. "I could never hate you."
"Then forgive me.. and things.. things can go back--"
"No." she said looking him in the eye. "I want to forgive you Craig. I really do.. but you have to understand that my trust in you is completely gone." he nodded. "And I just can't go back to the way things were. It's not healthy for you.. it's not healthy for me. It won't feel natural--"
"I don't mean that we have to get back together." Craig said. "Just forgive me, and then slowly we can become friends... and once the trust is back, then who knows what..? There's no rushing anything Ash. I'm confused about us anyways."
"Well.. I guess I do kind of forgive you then." Ashley said. Craig broke into a huge smile. "But--" Ashley said sternly. "I'm not going to forget, or trust or confide in you until you earn my trust. And we're not going to be friends either. We're going to be normal aquaintances who don't hate each other. You have to also earn my friendship back."
Craig nodded. "Sure. that's fine. Thanks Ash.." he leaned over and hugged her.
"Yes yes." she patted him on the back. "Now go... I need to be alone." He got up, and smiled at her as he left. Ashley sighed, rubbing her forehead. What was she thinking? She still loved him.. and she still wanted to be with him. But was she just setting herself up for another big let down? Great Ashley, she thought to herself. Just great.

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"Manny!" Craig called running towards her. "I love you more then anything in the whole world. You have to know that.... and I don't love Ashley. I just publicly told her that we could never be together. I want you Manny! It's always been you."
"Oh Craig!" Manny gasped. "That is so sweet." He leaned over and kissed her deeply.
"You look so beautiful today..." he sighed with a smile. "And that reminds me.. I have something for you." he searched through his pocket.
"What is it?" she asked, with a smile. Craig pulled out a little box, and opened it. It was an engagement ring. Craig got on bended knee.
"Mannuella Santos." he said seriously. "Will you marry me."
"Oh yes!" Manny threw her arms around Craig. "Of course I will Craig! I love you!"
"Oh Manny! Manny! Manny Manny!" he repeated...

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"Manny! Manny Manny!" Emma yelled.
"Oh!" Manny jumped with a start. "I am so sorry. I was dozing off... what was that?"
"We were discussing the animal life that lives around here. Well everyone lets go search for some. Write down your findings. We have to find ways to help them and preserve the natural animal species around here." Everyone walked off in scattered directions. "Manny, if you can't even pay attention--"
"I'm so sorry Emma. I promise it won't happen again. I didn't get any sleep last night, I was so worried about today.."
"About Craig?" Emma said with concern.
"Yes.. that especially."
"Did you see him today?"
"Yeah this morning. His locker's right by my new one. I was looking for it, and he was spying on me. I confronted him and he said he was too nervous to talk to me. And I completely bitched at him and walked away."
"Well good.. he deserves it." said Emma sternly, as she sat down on the grass with Manny.
"Yeah I know. He was a big jerk, and I feel like such a fool for being used like that... I even wonder if the things he said about choosing me, and about going to break up with Ash were real..? I mean.. I don't even know. But I do still love him. So much.. it just hurts you know? Because I know he never loved me."
"Are you sure about that?" said a voice behind them. Manny turned around. It was Craig... oh shit! Did he just hear all of that?

"Craig!" Manny gasped. "What--what are you doing here!"
"I've come to join the enviormental club. I see you and Emma are friends again. That's great."
"Yeah sure..." said Manny, still confused. Emma helped her to her feet.
"Well Craig." Emma said icily. "We're studying animal life forms in the surrounding school grounds. Mr. Simpson is field-tripping all Enviormental club members from the last two classes today so we can study in peace."
"That sounds great." he smiled slightly. They began walking in the forest area, looking around them.
"Manny." Craig said soflty, coming up behind her, as she looked around. "Can I talk to you?"
"I don't know." Manny sighed, feeling as if she was going to cry. She was so confused.. she didn't know what she felt.. what he felt.. what to do, what to say! What he was going to say!
"Emma..?" Craig asked.
"Sure." Emma said. "Manny, I'll be up here with the rest of the guys if you need me. Take care of yourself."
"Can we talk?" Craig asked softly and sweetly. He seemed to have noticed that Manny was about to cry.
"Sure." Manny said, her voice cracking. He took her hand, and helped her sit on the grass. They sat, and he didn't let go of her hand. He was still holding it and stroking it, looking at her with concern. After a minute or so, Manny broke the silence.
"Craig.." she said, her voice cracking again. "What do you want?"
"To talk to you.." he said.
"But.. please.. your making it worse."
"How? Whats wrong Manny? Please tell me?"
"I-I'm just so confused... I don't know how I feel, how you feel, what you think about me, what I think about you, if I should hug you or slap you.. what to even say to you.. how to express my feelings when I don't even freaking know what I'm feeling!! And then I don't know how your feeling! And it kills me!"
"I'm sorry Manny... I don't want you to hurt this much." He hugged her to his chest, and she let her tears fall, clutching his warm body. They stayed like this for a few minutes, until they broke apart.
"I'm sorry." she said, wiping tears from her face. "You must think I'm a total loser."
"No I don't.." he said. "I never could." he looked at her adoringly.
"So what do you want to talk about?" she asked.
"I just... I just want your forgiveness. I mean, I know I don't deserve it. I was a total jerk to you, and it really looked like I was using you for sex or something.... but honestly Manny. I wasn't... I could...I could never ever do that to you. I care about you too much. You may not know it, but I do. And I can't change what happened, I can just promise you that it won't ever happen again. And it might take you a while to forgive me, but all I ask is that you try. And we don't have to be together.. I'm not exactly sure how I feel about you, but.. I do care about you.. a lot.. and I want us to be friends.. and from then on, I have no idea, but I just want your friendship.."
"Ok, I forgive you."
"What?" Craig was blown away. "Just like that..? Your not going to make it hard for me?" Manny laughed, rubbing tears from her eyes.
"You said you were sorry. You sound sincere, so I believe you... and with that, I forgive you. Easily. It may take me a while to fully trust you, but It'll be cool in the end. Okay?"
"Okay..okay?? Thats great!" he hugged her tightly kissing her hair. "Manny you are fabulous. Quite possibly the coolest girl in the world." he grinned madly.
"I know, I know. It's true." Manny smiled.
"Here." Craig helped her up.
"Is my face all blotchy? I bet it is."
"No you look beautiful.. as usual." he smiled.
She smiled shyly looking at the ground. "Hey Craig?" she asked as they walked through the woods.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think...er I mean.. would it...can I have my bracelet back?"
"Oh..sure!" Craig exclaimed, digging in his pocket. He pulled out the skating bracelet that he had gotten her for Christmas. "Here you go." he leaned over and fastened it onto her wrist. Their faces were close together, and Manny could feel his breath on her cheek. She stared intently at him, as he finished doing up the braclet. He looked up, and they locked eyes. Their faces were close together.. too close for comfort. Craig leaned forward his eyes closing, as did Manny.
"Manny! Craig!" Emma's voice called. The two moved apart, blushing furiously.
"Yeah?" Manny called.
"Are you done talking?" she called.
"Yeah, you can come back now." Manny said.
"Great." Emma looked relieved at their smiling faces. "Did you two work everything out?" she asked.
"Yeah." Manny smiled, she looked at Craig, whose face was still bright red, and began to blush all over again. "Everything's perfect."

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End! Next chapter should be coming soon... Please reply and let me know! xoxoxoxoxoxo Hasta la vista babes ~*Amanda