Craig sat back on a leather couch, smiling to himself. Roxie had just gone off to get another beer, but Craig hoped she'd hurry back soon. After all, Craig couldn't wait to kiss her again, and that was just what he was planning to do. He rubbed his hands on his jeans, tapping his foot anxiously. He didn't really know where these feelings for Roxie were coming from, but he didn't exactly mind. After all, he had hardly thought about Ashley or Manny all night.

"Craig," came a serious voice, and Craig looked up. Ashley Kerwin was standing in front of him. Craig looked over his shoulder to make sure she was talking to him. Then he turned back to his ex-girlfriend.

"Ash! Hey," he said uneasily, wondering if she was suddenly going to brandish a knife and start cutting him. Why else would she be talking to him? Craig stared at Ashley's face, and realized she didn't look like she was planning on slaughtering him. She looked….calm?

Ashley sat down hesitantly next to him, and took a deep breath. "I know your wondering why I'm talking to you. But I think this has gone on long enough. It really hurt when I found out about you and Manny. I won't lie- I wanted to kill you. But I can see that you're sorry, and I'd be a complete witch if I didn't forgive you. I miss you, Craig, so much. I still love you…and I was hoping you and I could maybe give it another…shot?" She stared at him expectantly.

Craig stared into her amazing blue eyes, not sure what to say. This was sudden…and random. Craig had long ago resigned himself to the fact that Ashley was going to hate him forever. He couldn't believe that Ashley was finally forgiving him. He had wanted things to be ok between them for so long....Craig suddenly completely forgot about Roxie and nodded.

"Yeah. I've wanted us back together, too, Ash," he said slowly. Her face lit up with a smile. She threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug, and Craig hugged her back. Ashley leaned back after a minute, then leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Craig was surprised at first, but didn't pull away. They kissed briefly, and then pulled apart from each other.

That's when Craig realized that Roxie was standing in front of them, holding a beer.

"Roxie!" he squeaked out. "Um…" He had nothing to say.

"Well, Craig, it's been a lovely evening," Roxie said, grabbing her purse from a nearby table. "I guess I'll walk myself home. because your clearly busy." She turned and stalked away.

"Uh…" he said, glancing at Ashley. "I'll be right…back, ok?" He quickly got up from the couch and followed Roxie.

He finally caught up with her on the sidewalk outside, and he hurried up behind her. "Roxie! Wait!" She didn't slow down, so Craig hurried to catch up with her. When he was finally beside her, he tried to explain.

"Roxie, that wasn't really what it looked like," he said lamely, even though it was exactly what it looked like. "Ash and I have been in this fight, and…"

Roxie stopped and turned to him, a mild expression on her face. She didn't look the least bit mad. In fact, she looked completely relaxed.

"Craig, you don't have to explain. I may not know exactly what happened between you and Ashley, but it's ok. It wasn't like we were….on a date or anything. Remember-we agreed on that yesterday. Hell, you could have started making out with Spinner and I wouldn't be able to say anything. We're just friends. I'm not mad or anything," she said, and then she continued walking. "I just didn't want to be there anymore."

"Oh….can I at least walk you home? It's not safe for a girl to be roaming the streets at night."

"I'll be fine, but you don't have to walk me. I'm pretty tough," Roxie said. "I don't want you to miss the party or anything." Craig shrugged and shook his head.

"Let me walk you."

"Ok." The two continued walking to Roxie's house, mostly in silence. They finally got to her walkway, and Roxie turned toward Craig. "Thanks, Craig. Just know I'm not mad, ok?" She patted Craig on the arm. He nodded.

"Just friends, right?" Roxie said, and then she turned and headed up her walkway. Craig watched her go, confused. He didn't say anything, and waited until she got inside. He turned, wanting to kick himself for not speaking up.

Why couldn't he just tell her he didn't want to be just friends?

Emma grabbed Sean's hand and smiled at him as they headed up the large staircase that led to the second floor. Emma and Sean had been hanging out for the past hour, talking and laughing, and eventually kissing by the pool. Obviously, Sean had completely forgotten about Gina, because he was now following Emma to the one of the many, empty, quiet rooms upstairs. A room where they could be alone.

Once they were upstairs, Sean headed down the hallway, looking for a vacant room. He pushed open one door.

"Oh, sorry," he muttered, quickly closing the door. He turned to Emma with a devious grin and whispered "That one was occupied."

Emma smiled and followed Sean down the hall. He opened another door and nodded at her. "This one is free," he said quietly. Emma nodded and followed him into the dark room. She stepped in and glanced around. It was a large room with a canopy bed in the center, and the walls were painted in shades of deep red. Neither of them bothered to turn on the lamp, so the only light came from the lights of the patio outside. Emma slowly sat down on the bed, and Sean followed.

 "This is so…weird," she said softly. "You and me…"

"I never stopped caring about you, Emma," Sean said quietly. "I really missed you."

"I missed you, too," she said, leaning in closer. Emma was suddenly reminded that behind his ghetto-fabulous wall of toughness, this was still the same Sean she had fallen for in seventh grade. The two kissed deeply, and Sean put his hand on Emma's cheek. She wrapped her long, tan arms around his neck as they fell back on the bed. They kissed for a long time in the dark, and Emma still couldn't believe that she was finally back with Sean Cameron.

Suddenly, she remembered months ago when she had walked into her basement to find Craig and Manny doing the exact same thing she was doing now. Then she remembered how she had yelled at Manny the next day, accusing her of being a slut because she had been seeing Craig behind Ashley's back. But wasn't that what she was doing with Sean? He did have a girlfriend, even if she was an evil bitch. Emma tried to push the thought out of her mind, and kissed Sean even more passionately.

Sean drew back for a minute, and Emma sat up slightly. Then, she leaned over and slipped off her skirt. Sean watched in amazement, and suddenly sat up.

"Wow. What are you doing?" he asked, looking surprised. Emma shrugged and sat up.

"I thought…you know," she said, "I thought you wanted too…."

"Emma, what are you doing?" Sean asked, getting off the bed and running a hand through his curly blonde hair. "You're like, a completely different person. I mean, I always thought you should loosen up a bit….but not like this."

Emma stared down at the bed. "You don't like me?"

"It's not that, Emma. I'm just not ready to do… this with you. I shouldn't even be here. I have a girlfriend, and you know that."

"Then why are you here?" Emma asked coldly. Sean shook his head slowly and shrugged.

"You know what? I don't know," he said, and he walked to the door. "I don't know you anymore." Then he walked out, leaving Emma alone on the large bed. She looked down at her hands, grabbed her skirt, and put it back on. Maybe she was stupid to think that Sean wanted to be with her, after all.

Craig sat back on the couch in his garage, plucking at his guitar. He sighed loudly as he screwed up another note, and finally set the instrument down. He hadn't been able to focus since he had left Roxie's house, because he had decided to just go home. Now he was sitting in his garage, trying to decide whether his night had actually turned out good or bad. On one hand, he had kissed Roxie, and Ashley had forgiven him. On the other hand, he knew that, no matter what she said, Roxie was a little hurt, not to mention he had left Ashley sitting at the party.

Craig sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he sat back on the tattered couch. He was confused. Craig closed his eyes for a minute, realizing how tired he was. It was late, and he could just crash here….after all, Joey was out and he didn't feel like walking all the way to his room….

Just as he was drifting off, he heard a small knock on the garage door. He opened his eyes and automatically stood up. Maybe Roxie had changed her mind and as soon as he opened the door, she was going to slap him. Or maybe it was Ashley, who was pissed that he had ditched her and also wanted to slap him. Craig walked over to the door and pulled it open, expecting some kind of slap.

But he had most definitely not expected Manny Santos to be standing in front of him. Craig stared at her for a minute, and realized that she looked really upset, and there were tear stains down her cheek. Craig swallowed hard.

"Manny! What are you doing here?"

Manny looked at her feet. "I…I went home and my Mom got mad at me…for something. She told me to just get out, and I just sort of….flocked here. God, this night has sucked." She stared at him expectantly. Craig stepped aside and gestured her in, even more confused. Why hadn't she run over to her…he didn't know….boyfriend's house?

"I'm sorry," Manny suddenly said as soon as she was inside. "I shouldn't have just showed up here. I'll go." She turned and began to head out the door, but Craig shook his head.

"Stay. It's fine."

Manny stopped and turned to him. She nodded, and her eyes began to fill with tears. Craig put a hand on her back and ushered her over to the couch, where they both sat down. Manny wiped away a tear off her cheek and took a deep breath.

"What's the matter?" Craig asked gently.

"I don't know….life, I guess. My grades suck, my mom hates me, and tonight….I caught Carter making out with Paige."

Craig's eyes widened. "What?"

"I know. I mean, I knew Paige always liked Carter, but I had no idea he liked her. And I was going to…" she trailed off and bit her lip. "I just can't believe it." Craig was silent for a minute.

"You know, you deserve better, Manny," he finally said. "Better than me, better than Carter, better than anyone who would hurt you like this."

Manny looked up at him. "Thanks. But don't think you didn't deserve me. You were the sweetest guy…" she trailed off and leaned in closer to Craig, suddenly overcome with emotion. All she wanted to do was kiss him, so she did. And Craig kissed back, for a minute. Then he pulled away.

Was kissing three girls in one night too much? Craig wasn't sure, but he couldn't remember ever being so irresistible to woman. He had put on a little of this new cologne he had, but he doubted that was it. He stared at Manny, whose eyes were closed and her lips parted, as if expecting another kiss. Craig swallowed hard.

"Um, Manny…" he said, trailing off nervously. She opened her eyes and stared at him, leaning back. Craig couldn't remember what he was going to say, so he just smiled nervously at her, which she seemed to take as a good sign. She grinned, put her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him again. This time Craig didn't stop her.

Damn! Craig thought somewhat groggily as Manny fell on her back, and she pulled him down with her. Why couldn't he ever resist this girl? It had to be something chemical in his body or something. Whatever it was, he just couldn't say no to Manny Santos. Not that he really wanted too, even if he should.

You should stop, and then tell her to leave, he absentmindedly thought, just as Manny reached down and began unbuckling her sparkly blue belt.