*Crash Into You*

Chapter 4: Apple Stickers

"Mmm…" Manny moaned as she rubbed her eyes. Suddenly she shot up quickly and looked down to find Craig sleeping soundly beside her. She glanced at the clock that read 7:10 "Oh god…" she said as she got up from the bed and shuffled into her shoes.

Suddenly Craig awoke "Manny? What's wrong?"

"Craig I have to get home before my parents wake up. God I hope they didn't notice I was gone!" Manny said as she gathered her stuff.

"Hey do you want me to walk you?" Craig asked.

"No!" Manny yelled, a little louder than she had meant to, "It's just that my parents might see you, and then I'll get in deeper trouble."

"Um… ok…" Craig said a little disappointed.

Just as Manny touched the knob to leave the house, she stopped and turned, "Bye Craig, thanks."

"Yeah no problem. Bye." He said, upset that she was leaving.

And with that, she was out of his house and running down the street to get back to her house.

~*~

Damn I'm gonna be late! Manny thought as she hastily put on her jeans.

"Manuela hurry up! You're gonna be late!" Her mother called to her from downstairs.

"I know ma!" she yelled back in frustration. She brushed a comb through her hair and ran out the door.

Manny raced down the school hallway to her locker. Just as she was opening it she heard footsteps coming around the corner.

"Hey!" said the figure down the hall.

Manny's head shot up, "Oh hey Craig!"

He ran down to her, "So… did you get home ok last Saturday?"

"Yea, my parents had no idea I was ever gone! When I got home they were still asleep." Manny said happily.

"Oh good… good." he said shuffling his feet.

"Listen Craig, I go to go. I woke up late…." Manny said as she shoved her books into her bookbag.

"Oh I see. Bye then." Craig said as he backed away and was headed to class.

"Bye." Manny said as she turned and walked in the opposite direction, smiling to herself.

~*~

"Craig! Over here!" Manny waved Craig over to her lunch table.

Craig walked over and sat across from her, "Hey Manny."

"Hey." she said smiling at him.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Craig asked pointing to the cookies on her tray.

"I'll trade you them for… that." Manny said as she pointed to his chocolate pudding.

"Deal." Craig said as he handed her the pudding and she gave him the cookies.

"Stupid thing!" Craig said as he struggled to peal the sticker of his apple.

"Oh I hate those stupid stickers too!" Manny said as she saw him fidgeting with it, "They're so hard to get off! By the time the stupid thing actually comes off," Manny began.

"You don't even want the apple anymore!" Craig said finishing for her.

"Exactly!" Manny said as she took the apple from him and tried to get the sticker off herself. "Here." she said as she handed it back to him sticker-less.

"Thanks." he said as he set it down on his tray.

They continued to eat their lunch and make small talk until the bell rung.

"Well, bye Craig." Manny said not wanting to leave his side. They were having such a good time.

"Yea, bye." Craig said feeling the same way, "Do you want me to walk you to class?" Craig asked trying to stall their farewell.

"Yeah! I'd love that!" Manny said as her face lit up. Then they began walking out of the cafeteria and down the hall.

A/N: Hope you guys liked this chapter. It was supposed to show the transition of Craig and Manny's developing friendship. Sorry if it kinda dragged on. Oh and much thanks to the reader! All your reviews are great!