The next day, Manny took a seat next to Sean in Media Immersion, and set her bag down. Sean glanced at her.
"Hey, Manny. I haven't talked to you…in forever," he said in his usual mono-tone. Manny shrugged and glanced coldly at him.
"Gee, wonder why? Could it be your…crazy girlfriend?" Manny said, lowering her voice.
"She's not that bad, ok?" Sean said, clicking on the mouse. "You just think that because of what Emma told you."
"Hello, have you been here for last couple of weeks?" Manny said. "Gina totally started all those rumors about Emma."
"Maybe, but that didn't mean Emma had to make them true, did she?" Sean said bitterly. "She's completely different, Manny. You can't blame Gina for that."
Manny bit her lip for a second. "But I can blame Gina for spiking Emma's drink on Friday."
Sean looked at her quickly. "What?"
Manny nodded slowly. Last night, Emma had told her the whole story about Friday, and it had killed Manny to know her friend had had to go through that. But this morning, thinking back on Friday night, something finally clicked. She thought back to seeing Gina pouring something in that drink, and now she realized that Gina had put something in Emma's drink, to embarrass her or something. It pissed Manny off. If Emma hadn't been drugged, she might not have been raped…
"Look, Friday night I saw Gina pour something in Emma's drink. I'm guessing it wasn't a free refill. Then, after Emma drank out of it, she started feeling dazed and confused and everything. And…" Manny couldn't stop herself. "Because of whatever was Emma's drink, this guy…raped her. And she couldn't defend herself." She cringed, realizing she shouldn't have told anyone that without Emma's permission.
Sean's mouth fell open. "Emma was…" He couldn't say it. Manny nodded slowly.
"Look, Sean, I wouldn't lie about something like this. Gina was pissed at Emma. I saw her do it. She's not a good person. And look what happened to Emma."
Sean stared down at his lap, a confused and hurt look in his eyes. He ran his hands over his face and sighed miserably.
"After all I've done for you, this is how you repay me?" George yelled at his wife. "You took my money, you stupid slut!"
Roxie's mother, Jana, shook her head. "That wasn't your goddamn money! You don't know what the hell you're talking about, you fucking drunk!
Roxie leaned against the piano, watching as George shook his head angrily. "You stupid bitch! What did you spend it on, huh? Drugs? I worked hard for that money!"
Jana snorted, standing up from your chair. "Oh, yeah. We all know how hard you work at your "job", George!"
"Well, if I didn't have to support your god-damn kids, I wouldn't have to have this job!" He yelled, gesturing toward Roxie and Angel. Angel rolled her eyes.
"What about Nick?" Jana said, pointing to him. "I let him move into my goddamn house! You and your son have been mooching off my family for years!"
"Family?" Angel spoke up from the couch. "If this is a damn family, it sucks."
"Shut up, you little bitch," George yelled, pointing at Angel. Jana shook her head.
"Don't talk to her like that!"
"Why don't you just go back to shooting up and drinking, Jana, because that's all you know how to do," Nick said from the corner.
Roxie listened while her entire "family" began screaming and fighting. Finally, Roxie shook her head.
"Would you all shut the hell up!" she yelled. "You are all so damn pathetic! Look at you! God, I hate you! Angel, you're insane. Nick, you're a pathetic high school dropout jerk with no future and if you ever come onto me again, I swear I'll shoot you!" She gestured toward George and Jana. "And you! You're the worst. Your marriage is so fucked up! You don't even know you guys are cheating on each other! Or maybe you do, but you don't care!"
George stared at his wife. "You've been cheating on me?" Jana shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please. Like you didn't know! I know you've been screwing tons of girls who are barely even legal!" she yelled. George eyes hardened, and he kicked the coffee table over onto its side. Roxie jumped. George stormed over to Jana and grabbed her by the throat. Jana slapped him across the face, and he let go. He grabbed a nearby candy dish and hurled it at his wife. It smashed into her face, and she screamed. Roxie ran over to stop him, but he hit her in the face, causing her to fall to the floor. Roxie watched as Angel shoved Nick with all her might and told him to get out of "her" house. Roxie gently touched the bruise that was forming on her face, and prepared herself for what she knew was coming….
Craig popped a piece of popcorn in his mouth, and smiled at Angie. "Fresh popcorn, coming right up." He handed her the bowl. Angie giggled and grabbed a large handful. Craig smiled and ruffled her hair, and then he heard the doorbell ring. He went over and answered it.
He pulled open the door, and began to smile when he saw Roxie standing there. Then his smiled quickly faded when he saw the dazed look on her face and the large gash on her lip and bruise on her cheek.
"Roxie! God, what happened?" he asked. Roxie stood there for a second, and then took a deep breath.
"My family…got in this huge fight. I…my step-dad went crazy. He started hitting me and my sister and my mom, and then he got this golf club out…" she trailed off. "Then…he left. He just stormed out, leaving my Mom half- dead. I called for an ambulance…but I couldn't stick around." She trailed off as her eyes filled with tears. "There was so much blood…me…you said I could come here…"
Craig nodded quickly, stunned. He ushered her in. Roxie winced as she stepped inside, because of the injuries on her stomach.
"Roxie…you should go the hospital..." Craig said, grabbing his jacket. Roxie held up a hand.
'No…I'm going to be fine. This is nothing new," Roxie said. "I'm going to go see if my Mom's ok later…but I need a place to stay." She looked at Craig with pleading eyes.
"Yeah. You can stay here. Joey's gone till tomorrow, but he won't mind." Craig said. He grabbed Roxie's hand. "Are you sure you're alright?"
Roxie shrugged. "Yeah. I just need…I need to sleep.'
Craig nodded, and led her upstairs.
Manny smiled at Carter, as they sat at a Bob's Pizza Place, eating a large cheese pizza and sharing a pitcher of Coke. She took a bit of pizza, and then set it down.
"That movie was horrible, Carter. Why do guys enjoy gory horror movies? They have a lame plot and stupid, disgusting graphics," Manny pointed out as she poured herself some more Coke. "I almost threw up at the end."
Carter smiled and nodded in satisfaction. "That's the point, babe. To scare the shit out of you. It worked, right?"
Manny rolled her eyes. "Next time I pick the movie." She punched him playfully in the arm.
"Why don't we just skip the movie next time and go back to my place?" Carter said. "In fact, let's go to my place right now."
Manny nodded. Everyone knew Carter's parents were wealthy, but they were both raging alcoholics. They usually went to tons of social events, and either came home and passed out, or just didn't come home at all. Manny supposed that was why Carter was the way he was- his parents were never around, so he could do anything he wanted.
"Sound like a plan," Manny said, leaning over and kissing him. As she kissed her Carter, she saw the door of the restaurant open out of the corner of her eye. Before she knew what was happening, Craig was standing in front of them, glaring at Manny. Behind him was Roxie, who looked like she had been in a car wreck. Manny pulled away from Carter quickly.
"Craig!" she cried, standing up quickly.
"Manny…how could you do this? I thought we were…" Craig said, looking hurt. "I thought you and Carter were over?"
"Craig, you have to understand, I was put in this really-"Manny began, but Craig just shook his head and interrupted.
"I…I can't do this. It's over, Manny," Craig said. "Just….don't talk to me, ok?" He turned, and took Roxie's hand, leading her out of the restaurant. Roxie glanced over her shoulder at Manny, and then just shook her head. Manny watched them go, completely shocked. She heard Carter stand up beside her.
"So you've been seeing Craig?" Carter said coldly. "For how long? How long have you been playing me?"
"Since…that party…but I was mad about you and Paige, and it just kind of happened!" Manny said desperately, grabbing his arm. "Please, Carter…"
Carter wrenched his arm away and shook his head. "Forget it. Just…forget it." He walked off, shaking his head angrily. Manny watched him go, tears sliding down her cheeks. She fell back in her chair, and buried her face in her hands. What had she done?