*Crash Into You*

Chapter 8: Avoiding The Problem

"Hey has Emma spoken to you lately?" Craig asked Manny as they walked down the hall together.

Manny looked up at him strangely. "No. Not that I know of. Last time I checked we're not friends… still, not friends." Manny said sadly, "Why?"

"Oh no reason." Craig said thinking back to his little chat with Emma, that didn't go so well. But he was determined to make Emma and Manny friends again. That was least Manny deserved.

Uh oh! Manny thought as she noticed Adam approaching her. Oh no! Please, no, no, no! He doesn't know yet! She thought as she picked up the pace hoping Craig would too. Adam was a great guy, a little dull, but great nonetheless, only problem was she hadn't told Craig about him or about their date.

"Hey Manny!" Adam called to her in his usually cheery manner. Manny flashed a weak wave and forced a smile. "You know I had a real-" Adam began as he caught up with her.

"Oh yeah yeah yeah! Me too, gotta go now! Bye!" Manny said quickly, cutting Adam off, as she rushed by him and dragged Craig along.

"Ok, who the hell was that?" Craig asked a little confused by the way Manny was acting.

"Who? Him? Um… no one, no one. You know just some kid… you know some, some, um, guy. Just a friend… from a class! Yes, he's a friend, from a class!" Manny said feeling her heart pounding at an alarmingly fast rate. She wasn't ready for Craig to know.

"Just a friend? You sure?" Craig asked unconvinced.

"Yeah of course I'm sure." Manny said weakly.

~*~

"Hey Emma, wait up!" Craig called to Emma as he ran up to her.

"What? Are you here to give me a lecture about how Manny and I should patch things up? Cause if you are you can just forget it!" Emma said keeping a steady gaze ahead and picking up her pace.

Craig took a deep breath and swallowed his pride. For Manny, I'm doing this for Manny. "Emma, please just listen to me." Craig began, "You and Manny were best friends. You can't just let all of the time you guys spent together go to waste because you both said some things you didn't mean."

Emma cut in, "Oh I meant everything I said Craig."

"No you didn't Emma, and neither did she. So why can't you just get over all this and start taking to her again? Manny misses you, and I know you miss her too." Craig said.

"Craig why are you doing this? Why do you care if Manny and me are friends or not?" Emma said finally stopping to think about what he was saying.

Craig took a deep breath and thought back to Manny, and how much she meant to him… how much he loved her. "Because it's important to Manny, and that makes it important to me." he said sincerely.

Emma looked down at the floor and suddenly felt stupid for all she had done and said. "Ok Craig… I'll talk to Manny, and try to make some amends."

A huge smile appeared on Craig face and he hugged Emma, "Thank you!" he said as he ran down the hall.

~*~

"Hey Manny." Said a familiar voice that startled her.

"Oh hey Adam." Manny said.

"Um, I wanted to talk to you about something. But you ran off so quickly before I didn't get a chance." Adam said.

"Oh I'm sorry about that. I was sort of in a rush." Manny said as she glanced down the hallway and spotted Craig walking towards her.

"Well I just wanna start off by saying that," Adam began but Manny quickly cut him off.

"Um Adam I'd love to chat but I really can't now!" Manny said keeping her eyes on Craig.

Adam spun around to see what Manny was staring at and realized it was the same boy she had been with earlier. Who is he? He thought as Manny brushed past him and ran towards Craig.

"Hey Craig!" Manny said nervously.

Hey Ma-" Craig fell silent as he spotted Manny's friend just a few feet away from them.

"What's wrong?" Manny said as she stood in front of him trying to turn his attention back to her.

"Nothing." Craig said with a frown.

"Are you sure?" Manny asked cautiously.

"Positive." Craig said unconvincingly.

~*~

"Hey Manny." Craig said as he took a seat next to her at their usual lunch table. "Listen Manny I'm sorry for being for weird before. I guess I was just a little worried about that guy I saw you with before. You know I thought you might be dating him or something but that's stupid because I know that you would tell me if you were so I really have nothing to be all weird about and I sorry if I was." Craig said all in one breath.

Manny forced a smile, feeling guiltier than ever. I have to tell him! Manny thought, but before she had the chance to decide anything Adam walked up to their table.

Manny shot up from her seat ready to drag him away.

"Wait Manny!" Adam said firmly as he stopped her from pulling him away.

Craig's eyes widened in confusion. Him again? Craig thought in frustration.

Adam gave Craig a sideways glance. Who is this guy? He thought, since he's seen him with Manny for the third time today. Then he returned his attention back to Manny. He had to say this before he lost his chance. "Manny listen, please don't stop me or leave because I've been wanting to tell you this all day and I have to tell you before I explode. I had an amazing time with you on our date and I would really love to see more of you. I hope I'm not being too forward about this but will you be my girlfriend? 'Cause I really like you and I hope you give me a chance. Whew, there I said it!" Adam said as he let out a sigh and stared at Manny intently.

Craig's mouth dropped in utter shock. What did he just say? Was all Craig could think. Manny has gone out with this guy before and she hasn't even told me about it? And now he is asking her out? How could she not tell me about this!

Manny felt her stomach drop. Crap Adam! Crap! She thought as she glanced over to Craig's less than happy face, then back at Adam's anxious smile.

Craig shot up from his seat, gave Manny a dirty look, and left the table.

Manny threw her head back, "Crap!" she whispered as she rose from her seat and followed Craig.

"What happened?" Adam asked as he spun around and followed Manny. "Was it something I said?"

A/N: Here's the long awaited chapter. Sorry for taking so long with it. R&R please!