A/N: Manny is still dead but she's there as a ghost. Manny's Point-of-view is in bold.
The rain fell hard, making drumming sounds on the surrounding umbrellas.
Ashley looked around at everyone from school.
Emma Nelson was standing close to Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, Baby Jack was sleeping soundly on Mr. Simpson's shoulder. Emma turned and buried her face in her mother's shoulder her sobs were loud, loud enough to make her baby brother cry with her, sort of his way of comforting her. Chris Sharpe reached out and put an arm around her and she clung to him tightly, shaking all over.
Craig Manning was standing next to his stepfather, Joey Jeremiah, and younger half sister, Angela. Craig looked so gorgeous in his tuxedo, his sad hazel eyes made him even more attractive.
JT Yorke, Manny's boyfriend, stood trembling with Ashley's stepbrother, Toby Isaacs, who reached out and touched his arm. Paige Michalchuk stepped toward him and pulled him close to her in a hug, her boyfriend, Spinner Mason, just watched her and then put a hand on his shoulder.
The preacher said one last prayer and everyone stepped forward with flowers and placed them on the casket. Ashley stepped forward with Craig and placed her rose on the casket next to his. Craig didn't make eye contact with anyone, just stared at the ground.
After the funeral, everyone went to the Santos' to pay their respects to the family.
Ashley set her umbrella next to the entrance wall. She walked in and looked around for Craig, she knew he was there. He was standing next to a wall, he whispered something to Joey, who just nodded. He turned and started for the upstairs. Ashley was close behind.
She followed Craig into Manny's room and stood in the same place she stood several nights before, reading to kill the bitch that tried to steal Craig away from her. He picked up the horse she had stabbed and held it close to his chest. "Horsey Horse," he whispered, he lifted it up to his face. She heard him crying and he sat down on the bed, doubled over.
Ashley walked in and automatically felt Manny's presence in the room, cold chills went up her spine. She closed the door softly. "Craig?" she asked.
He jumped. He was trying to have a private moment and he didn't want anyone to be with him. Especially, Ashley. "Yeah," he said.
Ashley walked in and sat down on the bed next to him.
Manny glared at Ashley. "How can you come back?" she yelled at her. "How can you come back here? You BITCH!" But she was unheard.
"Who would do such a thing?" Craig asked. "Especially to Manny."
"SHE WOULD!" Manny yelled, motioning to Ashley. "SHE DID!"
"I don't know," Ashley whispered, brushing Craig's hair out of his face.
Craig looked down at the stuffed horse. "I-I won this for her," he said. "On our first date. She was so excited." He laughed. "Then she wanted a turn and she threw the ball and it hit me in the head." His laughter turned into sobs and Ashley pulled him down on her chest and rubbed his back.
Tears glistened in Manny's eyes. "I remember that," she said. "I also remember you being mean to me."
"I was so mean to her," he sobbed.
"Sh, sweetie," she said, rubbing his back. "It's ok. I'm here."
Craig looked up at her. "I thought you were mad at me," he said.
She shook her head. "I can't stay mad forever," she replied, smiling.
He shrugged and laid back down on her shoulder, clutching the damn horse to his chest.
"Craig," she said.
Craig looked up at her. "Yeah?" he asked.
"I'm here for you. You know that?"
He nodded.
Ashley looked into his hazel eyes and then down at his lips, she wanted to kiss him more than anything. Before she knew it she was kissing him…and he was kissing her back.
Manny watched them from the corner, she slid down the wall as Craig dropped Horsey Horse to the floor and Ashley started to undress him.
Anger filled her body as she watched Ashley and Craig make love on her bed. Craig was using her for comfort and Ashley was using him for pleasure.
Manny stood up and rushed at Ashley, ready to wrap her arms around her neck and strangle her, kill her the same way her own life had been taken. But her hands went through her.
Ashley shivered, and rolled off of Craig, they were both lying naked and exposed to anyone who walked into the room.
"What's wrong?" Craig asked.
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head. "I'm just a little cold."
Craig nodded and turned away when she went to kiss him again. "We shouldn't be doing this," he said, sitting up and searched around for his clothes.
"Why?" Ashley asked. "You shouldn't have slept with Manny when we were dating."
Craig had pulled his boxers on and was searching for his pants, but he stopped to look at her. "Ashley!" he said, angry. "We're having sex in her bed, in her room where she was murdered." He shook his head and pulled his pants on. "It doesn't feel right."
Ashley shrugged but Craig didn't see. But Manny did.
"I can't believe you!" Manny screamed, standing close to Ashley. She didn't feel even slightly uncomfortable that Ashley was naked and she was watching Craig dress. "At least he cares!"
Ashley shivered again and Craig went on, "It feels like she's here in this room." He was buttoning his shirt up and tucking it into his pants. He shivered as he reached through Manny to grab his jacket on the foot of the bed, pulling Ashley's bra off and handing it to her.
"I'm sorry, Ash," he said, pulling the jacket back on. "I just can't do this." He opened the door and left.
Ashley sat on the bed, angry at Craig's conscience. She dressed and went downstairs. Craig, Joey, and Angela had left. She found her parents and made up an excuse to leave. She walked out to the car as Kate, Jeff, and Toby paid their respects to Mr. and Mrs. Santos.
Manny glared down from the bedroom window at Ashley, working up a plan to get even with her. She just needed to know how.
——————————————————————————————————————————
To be continued…
I'll update after 10 chapters or as soon as I possibly can. So hold on till then…