Chapter Thirteen: Is There Something I Should Know?
Someone knocked on Manny's bedroom door. "Come in," she called, wondering who it could be. Her heart jumped when she thought maybe it was Emma. She longed for someone to talk to, and since Emma was the only one who knew her secret, Emma was the only one she felt she could.
Disappointment coupled with fear overwhelmed Manny when her mother poked her head through the door. Amada Santos looked concerned, but Manny wasn't buying it.
"Yes, mother?" she asked, tension filling the room like a flood.
"How was school?" her mother asked carefully, shutting the door behind her and leaning on it after she entered the room. She crossed her arms, and words like closed off, brooding, swam into Manny's thoughts.
"It was okay."
Amada's eyes narrowed. "Any fights?"
Manny swallowed. "One of the girls confronted me about…what I did, but no, nothing physical. I handled it."
"With words?"
Manny nodded.
"Good." Her mother sighed. "Manuela, sweetie…I don't know what is going on with you. The fights, the defiance…honey, do you want to tell me something?"
Manny felt her mouth dry. "Like what?"
"There is something going on with you. I can see that much. What is it?"
Manny looked into her mother's eyes, feeling tears well up once again. Her mother's square face was hard with disappointment, anger. She wouldn't understand. Manny made a decision. "Nothing, really. I don't know what came over me, mother. I won't let it happen again."
Amada paused. Manny knew she wasn't accepting it, not really. But still she said, "Alright, Manuela. See that it doesn't." Amada paused again, not willing to let up so quickly. "But if there is something, you can talk to me. I am, after all, your mother."
Manny nodded quickly. "I'll let you know if I figure it out."
Amada sighed. "I don't understand you."
Manny managed a small smile. "I guess I'm a teenager after all."
Amada shot Manny a look, and Manny understood it was not the time for semi-clever repartee.
"There's someone here to see you."
Manny frowned. "I thought I—"
"You're not allowed to see anyone, no. But I'll make one exception," Amada stared Manny down. "I may not understand you, or what you're going through, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you get lost inside yourself. You may have your visitor, but not for very long."
"Yes, mother," Manny said. "Is it Emma?"
"No."
Manny opened her mouth to ask, who?, when Amada left the room. She shut the door behind her and Manny heard her muffled voice telling a girl she couldn't stay for very long, she was very lucky she was able to see Manny at all, and she better not be here to yell at her daughter.
The door opened, and Manny leaned forward, as if this would bring the visitor to light sooner than if she just lay back. Slowly but surely, the suspense was killing Manny.
Her mouth fell agape as the girl entered the room.
"Paige?"