Chapter 3: New York, New York

Emma, Manny, Jimmy and Craig walked down the terminal of LaGuardia airport, looking for the baggage claim.

"Where's Sean?" Emma asked, struggling to peer through the huge crowd.

"He can't come past the gates, Em." Craig replied, maneuvering his way through the crowd.

"Why not?" Emma replied, nearly running into an old lady, who gave her a foul look in return. "Sorry, sheesh."

"Haven't you ever left the country before? You can't go into the terminal without a ticket anymore because of September 11th." Jimmy replied.

"Oh. Right." Emma replied. "Where'd Manny go?"

Craig and Jimmy stopped, looking around. Craig's gaze landed on Manny and he rolled his eyes.

"Yo, Jim, you better grab your girl." He pointed in the direction of Manny. Jimmy rolled his eyes.

"Manny!" he walked over to her and grabbed her. "Come on!"

"But I wanna buy something!" she argued.

"Manny, New York is nothing but a giant mall, okay? You can visit any old gift shop, but later, alright?" Jimmy replied.

Manny sighed. "Alright. Can I at least stop at Starbucks?"

"Manny!"

A few minutes later, the four teens made it to the baggage claim. Emma pointed. "Look, there's Sean!" She waved her arms. "Sean!"

Sean looked like he'd been clotheslined as his eyes settled upon Emma. She ran up to him and hugged him.

"I missed you so much." She said excitedly.

"Emma, what are you doing here? With...Manny and Jimmy and Craig the drug dealers? I told you to stay away from them, they're trouble." Sean said nervously.

"I don't care. I had to see you." Emma replied. "So, what's up?"

"Sweetie?" a girl touched Sean's shoulder curiously. "Who is she?"

Emma looked at the girl, a tall, curvy brunette who looked like she should be in college.

"Sean..." Emma said, and trailed off.

Sean took a deep breath and sighed. "Em, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Chelsea. Chelsea, this is my friend Emma, from Toronto."

"Oh boy." Craig muttered.

"Your friend?" Emma asked softly, close to tears. She swallowed hard, and looked at him evenly. "Right." She turned to Manny, Craig, and Jimmy.

"Guys, you're right. Maybe this was a mistake coming. I'm just gonna grab my bags and book a flight back to Toronto. Manny, give me a call and let me know how things are going, okay?" she turned and hurried to baggage claim.

Manny glared at Sean. "Very smooth, Cameron. Where'd you pick this one up at, Scores?" Without waiting for a reply, she shoved past Sean and hurried after Emma.

"Well, there's a killer way to kick things off." Craig said.

"Craig, shut up. This isn't my fault." Sean replied.

"Sean, who is she?" Chelsea demanded, crossing her arms across her chest.

Jimmy stifled a laugh. Leave it to Sean Cameron to find the dimmest bulb in the bunch.

Meanwhile, Emma was standing in front of the baggage claim, looking at the conveyer belt idly, not moving, not saying anything. Manny was standing next to her, not really sure to begin.

"Um, Em, your bag just passed by for the second time." She said softly.

"How could he do this to me??? I mean, the second he's away from me he goes and finds...that?"

"Em, he was probably just lonely. No one could ever replace you...especially not some cheap Carmen Electra knock off like that."

"Then why is he with her?" Emma replied.

"Em, why do guys do anything? They're idiots. Look, I know where you're coming from. When Craig dumped me for Ashley, I thought it was the end of the world. But I found someone else, and I'm really glad I did. Because I figured out Craig is a spoiled selfish brat. He's great to work with, because he can move product, but to ever go out with him again? Not happening. But, at the time, I thought I'd never love anyone else. Then Jimmy comes along, and changes all that."

"Manny, I don't wanna hear it, okay? I just wanna get my bags, and get a flight back to Toronto before my mom figures out I'm gone, so I can save myself a grounding." Emma replied.

"Em, you can't leave." Manny replied.

"Why not?" Emma demanded.

"Well, for one thing? It's safe for you to go back. I can almost guarantee that Dean's brother now knows you associate with us, and there's no telling what he'll do to you if gets ahold of you." Manny replied.

"That's a chance I'm willing to take." Emma replied, hauling her suitcase off the conveyer belt.

"Emma, come on! You're gonna leave me to fend for myself, with three guys and Little Miss 'I Paid Ten Grand For Them, Wanna Touch 'Em?'? Come on, you can't do that to me. I need you around to keep me sane." Manny replied.

"Isn't that what Jimmy's for?" Emma replied. Manny smiled.

"Jimmy does what he can, but, the truth of the matter is, the industry we work in is guaranteed to make you a total nutcase. I need all the grounding I can get. Em, I can't do this without you. Please stay?" Manny begged. "I promise I'll keep you and Hooker Barbie as far apart as possible."

Emma smiled. "Alright, I'll stay. But if Sean Cameron comes anywhere near me..."

Manny cut her off. "Then I promise to slip a cabdriver a fifty to run him over."

"Sounds good to me." Emma replied. "Thanks, Manny."

"Hey, it's what I'm here for. Now let's get the rest of our bags, because I'm starving." Manny replied.