Chapter Three: Getting To Know You

~*Manny*~

I was anxious to get to know Craig's friend Bianca. Ever since the falling out with Emma, I haven't really had a close female friend, and Bianca seemed like a good candidate. She didn't really know anyone, and she was a friend of Craig's, so she had to be cool.

She got put in my media immersion class, so while Mr. Simpson was going on and on about CPUs, I sent her an instant message.

M_Santos: Hey B_Taylor: Hi M_Santos: It's Manny B_Taylor: Oh! Hey M_Santos: You into shopping? B_Taylor: Yeah. Why? M_Santos: Want 2 go 2 the mall w/ me this afternoon? There's a sale on stilettos. B_Taylor: Sure! Sounds great. M_Santos: Cool, cuz Craig won't go with me. B_Taylor: Yeah he hates to shop M_Santos: So what's up with you and Jimmy Brooks? B_Taylor: I don't know. M_Santos: He's cute, and really popular, and he doesn't have a girlfriend. B_Taylor: He is cute. M_Santos: Has he asked you out yet? B_Taylor: No M_Santos: Don't worry, he will.

The bell rang. Finally the end of the day! I collected my books and backpack and stood up. Bianca walked over to me.

"So, mall?" Bianca asked.

"Let's go!" I said cheerfully. "I just have to stop by Craig's locker and wait for him to let him know what's up. You're bound to run into Jimmy there too." She smiled shyly.

"What? Go for it, girl! He's cute!" I said, nudging her.

"I don't know. I'll just wait for him to make a move." She replied.

We walked down the hall together, and I began pointing out students.

"That's Terri, she's really nice, but the monster next to her, that's Ashley. Hag city. She's Craig's ex-girlfriend." I replied.

"And now you're Craig's girlfriend. Is that why you don't like each other?" Bianca asked.

"It has a lot to do with it. That, and the fact that she's close-minded and judgmental. Anyone who would try to judge someone's reputation based on the way they dress isn't worth my time. I mean, come on, you know what I mean, our styles are similar." I said.

Bianca nodded. "I totally agree."

"Okay, that's Marco. He's cute, funny, and incredibly sweet, but you don't have a snowball's chance." I said.

"Why not?"

"Well, let's just say that when it comes to dating, Marco doesn't exactly bark up our tree, if you know what I mean."

"You mean he's gay?" Bianca asked.

"Pretty much." I replied. Bianca shrugged.

"It makes sense. He is the most well dressed boy I've seen here." She said.

"Good point." I responded. "The girl that's with him, that's Ellie. They used to date, before he came out. Now they're just best friends. Watch out though, Jimmy used to like her. I guess he has a thing for redheads." I added, looking at her long, silky mane of flame colored hair.

"I like her fishnets." She said as she watched Ellie walk past.

"Okay, the blonde hunk walking down the hallway, Dylan Michalchek. He's built, smart, and a hockey player, but he and Marco have been flirting all year long and still haven't gotten it together yet." I said. "The girl he's talking to, that's Paige, his sister. Paige basically runs the school, so whatever you do, don't cross her. I'm on the spirit squad with her, and I always listen to what she has to say. She's Spinner's girlfriend. The girl with her is Hazel. Also on the spirit squad, also incredibly popular. Like I said about Paige, don't cross her." I said.

We finally arrived at Craig's locker, to find Craig rummaging through it.

"Hey Craig." I said.

"Hey." He said, giving me a hug and a kiss. "What's up?"

"Oh, nothing. Bianca and I are about to go to the mall."

Craig dropped the pile of books he was holding, narrowly missing my foot.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as I bent down to help him pick up the books.

"N-no. No. Why would anything be wrong?" he replied.

I crossed my arms and looked at him. "You tell me."

"Nothing's wrong, Manny. I gotta go, okay? Call me later." Craig replied before turning to walk away.

"Bye Craig." Bianca called, but Craig apparently didn't hear her, and kept walking.

"He must have hearing problems or something." She said glumly.

"He does spend a lot of time around amps." I reassured her. "Come on, let's go. I have shoes to buy, lots and lots of shoes."

~*Craig*~

"Craig, man, you're off tempo again." Spinner said for the fourth time, irritated. "What gives?"

"Sorry." I responded. "I'm just not paying attention today."

"You got that right." Spinner replied.

"Spin, shut up." Jimmy said. "Let's take a break."

"Finally." Marco said, sitting his guitar down.

"So, Jimmy, any luck with Bianca?" Spinner asked. Marco gave me a funny look when I noticeably tensed up.

"I'm working on it." Jimmy replied. "You?"

"I'm progressing quite nicely." Spinner replied.

"Even though you have a girlfriend! You would actually cheat on Paige?" Jimmy asked.

"Of course not, I just wanna see if I can get Bianca, I don't want to date her or anything." Spinner replied.

I threw my guitar to the floor, and it fell with a resounding bang. The guys jumped and looked at me. I didn't say anything, I just stormed out of Marco's basement, leaving Spinner and Jimmy staring at each other in shock. Marco, however, quickly followed me out.

"Craig, what's wrong with you man?" he asked as I walked into his kitchen.

"I don't know. I mean, I thought that...and he's just talking about her like....and Jimmy's not her..."

"Craig, Craig, you're speaking in code. You wanna back up to the beginning and tell me what's going on?"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Opening my eyes, I quickly told Marco the history between Bianca and I. How we met, how our relationship grew into something more, the vow we made to each other, and how she walked out of my life so abruptly.

"Wow." Marco said. "So, you're not over her."

"Yes I am. No I'm not." I sighed. "I don't know. But I don't want Spinner toying with her emotions. And I don't know if I can handle seeing her date anyone else."

"So talk to them." Marco suggested.

"No way! I can't. I can't risk it getting back to Manny. Ugh, and now Manny and Bianca are friends." I said.

"Have you tried talking to Bianca?" Marco asked.

"Not exactly." I winced.

"Not exactly." Marco repeated. "Either you did or you didn't, which is it?"

"I kind of ignored her every time she tried to talk to me."

Marco groaned. "You didn't."

"So what should I do?" I asked.

"Look at it this way, do you want Manny to find out from you, or Bianca?"

I nodded. "Good point."

"And you're going to have to confront Bianca eventually, you might as well make it sooner rather than later." Marco suggested.

"You're right. Thanks Marco." I said.

"Any time." He replied.