Summary: It's their sophomore year, and Chris and Manny are going through a lot. Manny thinks her life is ruined when her mother tells her some "exciting news", that doesn't really excite her at all. All of a sudden, she's lost and doesn't know what to do.
Chris is just trying to find himself. He and Emma aren't as hot as they once were, and the truth is...she's kind of crowding him. One heart to heart talk leads to an unexpected friendship, which might lead to a little more.
Meanwhile, another Degrassi student finds out some shocking news, that might just change his life forever...
"Touched A Dream"
A Degrassi Fan Fiction
Chapter One: A New Year
(((Manny)))
"Manuella?" My mother called, opening my bedroom door.
I sighed and rolled over. "Yes?"
"Breakfast is on the table," She said, smiling at me, "Be sure to come down and eat when you finish getting ready." She then closed the door, and I listened to her footsteps fade as she went down the stairs.
Why was she in such a good mood? I shrugged and slowly sat up in my bed. It was the first day of school, and I didn't feel excited at all. To me, it was just another year of being Manny the Tramp.
I gave myself a few more minutes to wake up, and then made my way over to the closet.
"What to wear, what to wear?" I asked myself, browsing through my large selection of clothes. I pulled out a couple of different outfits and finally decided on one I liked. The next stop would be the bathroom, to take my shower.
I threw my pajamas in the washing machine and opened the sliding doors. I turned the knob and sighed in relief as the warm water came splashing down at me.
"'Cause everything means nothing, if I ain't got you-ooh," I sang as I rubbed soap on my body. I picked up the shampoo bottle and started singing into as if it were my microphone.
"Manuella, it's six thirty in the morning! Can you keep it down?" My father yelled, pounding on the door. I had woken him up, as I did every morning.
"Sorry, Dad!" I yelled back, smiling to myself. If I couldn't sleep late, neither would he.
I turned the knob again and the hot water slowly disappeared into a puddle around my feet. The shaggy throw rug was dripping wet as I stepped out of the shower, and grabbed my towels. I wrapped one around my body, and then wrapped the second one around my hair.
I shivered as I made my way back to my bedroom. After drying off, I threw the towels in my laundry basket and started to get dressed.
(((Manny)))
As I walked down the stairs, the heavenly aroma of bacon, eggs, and French toast made it's way to my nose. I inhaled deeply and smiled.
I took my seat at the table and helped myself to a plate of my mother's wonderful cooking. As I started to eat, I remembered something that had been bugging me for a little while.
"What is this big secret you guys are keeping from me? All these phone calls, and the old guest room being cleaned out. Why are you guys so super happy?" I asked as I placed some eggs and bacon on my plate.
My mother and father exchanged looks and tried to hide their grins, "Manuella...we have some good news."
I squinted at her and wondered what it might be. Maybe my father had won the lottery or something. But why would they have to clean out the guest room for that?
"Manuella, I'm pregnant," My mother said, grinning from ear to ear.
"What?!?" I cried. "You're like...forty!"
My mother's smile disappeared as my world came crashing down. I could picture everything Emma had gone through with Baby Jack, and I gasped. A little baby that would cry all the time. I would have to change diapers, sing him lullabies, all that baby stuff. I shuddered just thinking about it. I also realized that since I was fifteen, they would probably make me some live in babysitter. I was so upset, that I got up from the breakfast table and walked out the door, leaving my parents baffled at the kitchen table.
"Manny!" My older brother Carlos called after me, as I walked down the sidewalk. "You're overreacting!"
I turned around, "Overreacting? Mom's pregnant! That means they'll make me into some slave babysitter. I'll have to change diapers, sing lullabies, all that stupid stuff. My social life will be dead!"
"Whatever, Manny. Why can't you just accept it? Gee, Mom wasn't this bad when she found out you were pregnant."
"Shut...up!" I said icily. I turned around and started walking to school again, leaving my brother there, thinking over what he had just said.
(((Chris)))
I smiled in satisfaction and put my pen down on my desk. I quickly read over the rap lyrics I had just written. "A piece of art, if I do say so myself." I said to no one in particular.
My watch's alarm went out with a soft buzz. I stared at it's face. 6:15 already? I pulled out a pair of jeans and a FUBU shirt to wear for the day. I decided on my favorite blue hat to set it off. I trailed off to the bathroom to get a shower before breakfast. Luckily, I got to the shower before my brother did.
Before I could towel myself I heard my older brother, James, pounding rudely on the door. "Open up, Chris! I gotta get a shower too!"
"Cool it, Jay! I'm almost done." I opened the door with my towel wrapped around my waist. "It's all yours." I said, a twinge of excitement in my voice.
"Why do you sound so fired up?" James said, walking into the bathroom and turning the shower head on.
I leaned on the doorframe. "It's the first day of my sophomore year. A whole year of new exciting things to do and people to meet and..."
"New girls to date?" James cut me off rudely. "Oh, sorry, I forgot. You're dedicated to Emma Nelson, the Environmental Superwoman." He cracked up at his own joke.
"Don't call her that," I rolled my eyes. "Besides, I don't think it's gonna work out with Emma."
"What?" James said, raising his eyebrows at me. "You're not so hot on Miss Nelson anymore? I thought you really liked her."
"I do! I mean, I did. It's just... I don't know, James. The more I hang around Emma, the more I see her as Emma the friend."
"What about Emma the girlfriend?" James questioned.
"I'm just not feeling this relationship as much as I did."
"When did you start feeling this way?"
"I've felt this way since school let out."
"You let it go on for three months?! Chris, you've gotten break this off."
"That's just it. I don't know how. I don't want to date Emma, but I want us to be friends. What do I do?"
Just then my mother appeared in the hall in her favorite purple bathrobe with her arms folded. "James, get your butt in that shower and stop letting that water run! Who do you think pays the bills around here, boy?"
"Sorry, Mama." James said, grabbing a towel from the linen closet. He pushed past me and shrugged his shoulders. "Tough situation. Hope it all works out."
"Yeah," I mumbled and started off to my room to get ready for school.
(((Chris)))
I started up the steps of my school, Degrassi Community School. I saw a lot of new faces harboring lost looks as they stared at school maps. Freshmen... I thought.
There were a few faces I recognized, like J.T.Yorke, Jimmy Brooks, and Craig Manning. Emma told me Craig had the pimp juice. She said that Craig cheated on his girlfriend with Manny. Of course, Emma wasn't the only person to fill me in on the happenings between Craig, Manny, and his ex-girlfriend Ashley. It was the buzz of the school for months. Hopefully everyone has grown up and moved on from last year's drama.
"Hi, Chris." I heard a voice say from behind me. I turned around and saw Emma. She wore a nice blue top with hip hugger jeans. I had to admit, she did look nice.
"Oh, hey, Emma. What's up?" I said, politely.
"Not much." She sighed. "So, here we are. Once we walk through these doors we'll be official sophomores."
"Yeah, I know."
"So, you ready?" She asked.
"Ready for what?"
I looked up and saw the owner of the sweet voice. It belonged to non other than Manny Santos. She looked... amazing. She wore a denim mini skirt with a matching jacket over a pink tube top. Her long hair was hanging down her back, straight and sophisticated. Manny's look had toned down a lot since last year, but she still looked fly as ever. I found myself checking her out. How could I not? Manny's gorgeous!
"To start our sophomore year." Emma answered Manny's question.
"I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
I noticed a hint of sadness in Manny's voice.
"Everything, okay?" Emma wanted to know.
Manny nodded. "Yeah, totally." She bit her lip, nervously. "Let's get this show on the road!"