School started again the following Tuesday. Manny hadn't seen Craig since their date and, in her mind, it was a good thing. She was trying to avoid him by all means possible. Emma spent the entire day pestering Manny about her and Craig's date. "Manny, come on! I'm dying here, just give me something." "EM," Manny said finally, "it was fine. That's all you need to know."
Manny turned her head and saw Craig on the other side of the hall. He was facing her, so she kept staring. Just then, Craig turned his head and looked at her. Manny turned and moved quickly in the opposite direction. "Manny, Manny wait!" Craig called. He started after her. Manny could feel him coming closer and started running. Even though she was running, the hall was crowded and Craig was too fast for her. "Manny, please talk to me." "Go away, Craig. I'm not allowed to talk to you anymore." "Just for a second, please!" He grabbed her arm and Manny stopped. "Don't touch me, Craig." Manny said quietly, keeping her eyes fixed on her arm. "Sorry, sorry."
Manny took this opportunity to start off again. She had hardly taken three steps when, before she really knew what was happening, Craig grabbed her arm again and this time threw her up against the lockers. He pinned her arms next to her sides. Manny's head was filling with flashbacks from their date. This was almost the exact position he had pinned her in that night. Craig must have realized this too because he looked quickly down at his arms and then up at Manny's face. He let go of her at once. Manny looked once at him with fright on her face before she started to run away. "Dammit." Craig said to himself. He smacked the locker with his fist.
Manny kept running until she reached the girls washroom. She put her hands on either edges of the sink and braced herself. She kept her gaze in the sink. She feared to look up at herself. She didn't like what she had become. Manny finally lifted her eyes and took a good, hard look at herself in the mirror. Just then, Paige walked in. "Manny, hon, I just saw everything." "I don't know what you're on about Paige." Manny said cooly. "Sweetie, what did he do to you?" Paige asked quietly. Again, I don't know what you mean. What are you getting at?" "I mean, I know something happened to you. With Craig. I can recognize the signs, hon." "You've lost it." Manny said defensively. "Manny, you can talk to me. I've been through it all."
Manny's memory jolted. She had heard that Paige had been date raped from a guy at Bardell. "I wasn't raped, Paige. I asked for it. I told him that I wanted to." Paige looked confused. "Well, hon, I don't think I understand the problem. I mean," she gave a short laugh, "was he not good enough for you, or what?" Manny looked over at Paige and broke down crying. "Hon, don't cry." Paige said as she pulled Manny into a hug. Manny, then and there, spilled the whole story to Paige. "You can't tell anyone that I told you. Especially not Craig." Manny made Paige promise.