Story: Fall to Pieces

Author: heartgddss

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or plots from Degrassi: The Next Generation. They are property of Epitome, CTV, etc.

Main Characters: Ashley, Manny, Craig, Emma, Jimmy

Summary: Ashley doesn't want to forgive Craig for breaking her heart. But when Emma gets involved, will love win over Ash's pride?

Rating: Two or three uses of harsh language, and other themes.

Before you read: This chapter is a bit more risque, I don't know if you'll like it. It's basically to show that Manny isn't the most coldhearted bitch you could imagine, but, of course, this story is Ashley-centered. I hope you like it, but if you don't, constructive critisicm is the answer. I'll accept flames, but I don't respect it much when people just decide to tell me my stories are horrible and give me nothing to improve on. Anyways, I'm rambling. On to Chapter 2.

Manuella Santos crossed the courtyard which led her to the Degrassi Gymnasium.

"God dammit! I'm gonna be late. AGAIN." She slapped the area of her wrist which bore her pink Baby-G watch. She started to mess with her hair, pinning it up as she walked into the gym.

"Alright, Emma! Keep up the good work..." Ms. H complimented, her head bobbing up and down. She stood at the opposite end of the gym, her blue and yellow sweat suit covering her curvaceous body. A whistle and clipboard acted as her accessories. She smiled at Emma, who had just finished her mat routine, and carried on to watch Kendra until she noticed Manny.

Ms. H frowned. "Manny, I thought I told you that you weren't to be late again." She crossed over to a dumbstruck Manny. She usually got off scot- free when it came to Ms. H.

"I'm so, so sorry, Ms. Hatzilakos. It won't happen again, I promise." Manny masked on an apologetic face, her hair still down at her shoulders, scrunchie in hand.

"I've noticed you're never late for cheerleading practice." Ms. H let her eyebrows raise in a disappointed look.

"But Ms. H, cheerleading is after school. Gymnastics is after lunch-"

"Which gives you no excuse, am I right?"

Manny realized that Ms. H had set her up to rat herself out. She hadn't even mentioned the during-school cheerleading practices, which she was also on time for. Gymnastics just seemed to hold this omen...

There. Manny spotted her. Emma Nelson was her omen. Emma Nelson had a certain aura to her that sent off good-girl vibes. As if Manny was betraying herself or something. Her good side that she still knew lay within her.

But nobody else knew it was still there.

"Just go get your suit on and warm up. I want to see you on beam in ten. And don't think I'll be happy if you mess up." Ms. H turned her back and but her cheery face back on, clapping for a girl who just stuck a double back handspring.

"Bitch." Manny said lowly, scowling. She didn't expect this from Ms. H. She was the teacher who was supposed to understand and be caring. It wasn't like they needed more Kwans.

She opened the door to the Girls' locker room, swinging her athletic bag onto a nearby bench. She briskly opened her locker door, flinging her hair behind her shoulders. Pulling off her shirt and bra, she shoved them into the locker and began to unbutton her pants-

"Arggh!" Manny suddenly let out a groan of pain as she clutched her bare stomach. Half naked, she rushed to the shower area and flung herself into a toilet stall.

She had been having stomach pains all day. She had supposed it was her period, since she was over a month late. But she had been wearing a tampon and she was pretty sure there was nothing there. Not that she had checked.

"Jesus..." she swore, ripping off a piece of toilet paper to wipe her mouth. Her breasts felt cold on the toilet seat as she knelt on the dirty, unsanitary bathroom floor.

"...and I've got Ashley Kerwin too."

"Ashley? What would Ashley want to do with E.C.?"

Only two words flashed through Manny's mind: Oh. Shit.

"She is vice president, Kendra. What do you mean what would she want with it?" Emma asked, slapping her hands together to take off extra chalk.

"I dunno. She just doesn't seem like E.C. material. She's usually just at S.I.T.E. to stand there and look cute... thanks to all the attention Manny attracts." Kendra and Emma snickered.

"I don't think Manny will be at many more S.I.T.E. meetings," Emma sighed. "She and Craig had the nastiest break up..." She loosened her hair and began to run a brush through her blond locks.

"It was bound to happen. I mean, it seemed as if the only person who didn't know about Craig cheating on Ashley was... well... Ashley." Kendra chuckled as she pulled on sweats over her leotard. Emma shook her head in slight disgust. "Just take this for example: even my boyfriend knew about it. And when Toby knows about gossip, you can be sure it's gone to the dogs."

Emma giggled lightly and stopped mid-brush.

"I know that she's my best friend, but why did she go and something like that? Sometimes I just feel I don't even know who Manny is." Emma replaced her brush and stood up, she and Kendra closing their lockers in unison.

Manny heard the 'swoosh' of the door closing, realizing it was her time to make her move. She quickly flushed the toilet and bounded to the locker area, just to see the door begin to swing open again. She pivoted back, and pattered to the same stall in retreat.

"That was a great practice guys! Don't forget about the rehearsal meet on Thursday!" Manny heard Ms. H call out. Several groans and replies came from the herd of her teammates who were making their way into the locker room.

"Oh no..." Manny checked her watch. She was supposed to be warmed up and ready to go for Ms. H in a minute and a half. There was no way that could happen; especially since she was buck-naked from her waist-up. "God I'm screwed... god I'm screwed..." she repeated, placing her hands to her head, pacing the two foot width of the stall.

"Hey guys! Anyone up for a quick game of..." Manny heard something rattle from the locker area. "Spin the bottle?" She heard a devious giggle. It was her teammate Laura Donner, the previous 'school slut'. Laura was still uber-pissed at Manny for stealing her title.

"You... want to play spin the bottle... with all girls?" Patsy Morgan questioned.

"Why the hell not?" Manny could imagine the crazy look Laura was getting on her face right now. "We've got the time. Hatzilakos let us out fifteen minutes early!"

Manny sunk down to the floor once more. Laura would never let her forget it if she just waltzed in, her upper torso bare for all to see.

"What... you guys chicken?" Laura began to squawk in the direction of each girl.

There were defiant 'no's from all over. They all formed a small circle in the middle of the room, each a bit nervous about what they were doing.

Manny gave up and buried her head into her legs, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Why me? she wondered, repeating the question over and over in her head.
"Ashley!"

Ashley heard a male voice calling her name. It began to ring in her ears: Ashley... Ashley... Ash...

"Ashley. You there?"

She swiftly turned on her heel, imagining Craig to be there, red roses and all. She could see him on his knee, a golden ring in his hand, and the perfect apology- all in song-form.

"Craig?" she asked hopefully, her mind filled with the perfect image.

"No," Jimmy Brooks said sadly. "Just me." He lifted his hand and pulled at his sweatshirt. An orange basketball was tucked under his arm.

"Oh. Sorry." Ashley smiled apologetically. Jimmy looked cute in his grey sweat suit. Jimmy always looked cute to Ashley. But not hot. Craig was hot.

"Look, Spinner sent me to give this to you." Jimmy pulled a white piece of paper from his pocket. He grinned that trademark smile of his and handed it to Ashley.

"It's for Marco's party. Downtown Sasquatch is playing." He watched her as she looked over the invitation.

"You're playing short a bass?" She swiftly looked up.

"I guess so." He put his right hand into his pocket. "Unless you know somebody." He smiled again, making Ashley cock her head to one side flirtatiously.

"I know somebody." She straightened her head. "But that somebody comes with three other somebodies."

"You mean... your band?" He pointed at her, his face growing serious.

"Yes, I mean my band. We're pretty good." She crossed her arms and smiled with pride.

"Uh, I'm sure you are, but-"

"But, you're missing a bass player, and Spinner's going to be running around every which way. You'll be left alone with..." Ashley lowered her voice. "Well, you know who I'm talking about."

"Look, I'll put in a good word with Spinner, okay?" A smile returned to his face, and he patted her on the shoulder. Taking one last look at her, he walked in the direction of his English class.

Ashley turned to watch him leave. I like Jimmy, she thought. Actually, I've always liked him. He's really sweet, cute, caring... no. I couldn't put Jimmy through the humiliation of being my rebound crush. That's too horrible. I mean, how can I like Jimmy when I can't get Craig out of my head?