Chapter 12
Did I Miss Something?

Manny Santos POV

I wake up Monday morning and walk into the kitchen to get some orange juice. I'm surprisingly up earlier than usual, which is strange. Sunday went by so quickly, but I'm not too bummed about it. It just means I get to see my boyfriend sooner. Huh, I like the sound of that. Boyfriend! And somehow I think it's going to work out if Rachel stays away. Wait, what am I talking about? She can't get in my way. Mom walks into the kitchen and rubs her eyes twice when she sees me.

"Whoa, Manny you're up. Are you feeling okay?" Mom asks.

"Good morning mom. I'm feeling great even greater than great." I say.

Mom smiles and hugs me. "I take it that your date went pretty well."

"Yeah Josh is a real gentleman." That is what moms like to hear, but it is true he was.

"I'm glad. I got to meet him. Why don't you bring him over to dinner tonight?" What? Darn, I should've said he was a real bad boy, but no I said he was a gentleman. Now I have to sit through an awkward dinner with my boy friend, father and mother.

"So what do you think of that?" She asks.

"Oh I will ask him, but don't be surprised if he has plans." Please have plans, Josh. I noticed that my father wasn't home, which is really strange since well he's always here in the morning. He is always the first one up.

"Mom where is dad?" I ask.

"Oh work I guess. Maybe you should go get ready so I can drop you off. Do you want anything to eat?" Mom says and serves herself a cup of coffee.

"No thanks. I have my orange juice." I respond.

I go to my room and start to get ready. I guess dad is really busy, really busy because I haven't seen a lot of him lately. It's probably nothing. He's just busy. Somebody has to bring money into the house. Oh no, where did the time go? What should I wear? It has to be perfect since I actually have someone to impress now. I decide to wear some jean hip- huggers, black glittery shirt, and a black hat.

Mom drives me to school and once I get out of the car Sean approaches me with a smile on his face. "Hey Manny, how was your weekend?" He asks.

"Great. How was your party?" I ask.

"It was fine until my brother came home early so it ended early."

"That's too bad, but at least you can throw parties. My folks are always home, well most of them are."

"Most?"

"Yeah...my brother hasn't been home lately. He hasn't called either. I guess he decided to take a road trip with the love of his life."

"Mine seems to be taking long trips almost every week. He claims to be love too...but nothing comes out of it."

"Maybe your brother and mine should get together for a play date."

Sean comments, "You seem happy today."

"Yeah I guess I am." I respond. We sit at the bench just waiting for school to start.

"Can I ask you something?" Sean asks me.

"Yeah shoot."

"I've been meaning to tell you this for awhile, and was worried to death how you would respond. And I'm still tongue tied."

"What is it, Sean?" I ask and look at him then I see the shadow of someone standing over me. Both of us look up and it's Josh and he gives me a hug.

"Hey babe, may I walk to you class?" Josh asks.

"Yeah in a sec, Sean what were you going to say?" I ask Sean.

"Uh it was nothing. Are and him dating?" He says.

"Yes, we went on a date this weekend and really hit it off." Josh replies for me and Sean gets up.

"So that's why you couldn't come over. Well I better go find Jay. Bye-bye love birds." He says and walks away looking kind of angry. Why did he just blow me off like that? It was kind of rude.

"What's up with him?" Josh exclaims.

"I don't know."

"Does he like you or something?"

"No of course not. We're just friends. I guess he was just upset that I didn't go to his party, that's all."

Josh looked at me, and then smiled and we walked to our lockers. On the way there I saw Sean getting into Jay's car and then they drove off. I guess he really did need to go find Jay.

Craig Manning POV

Before school started I met up with my girlfriend, Rachel, but this time I had a feeling it was going to work out. What is this? Who is Manny with? Josh? I guess Rachel noticed me looking at Manny because she snapped her fingers in my face looking impatient.

"Craig, are you looking at Manny?" She asks.

"No." I reply.

"Yeah you were. I know the both of you have a past, but that's history right?"

"Completely. I'm with you now." I say and kiss her.

"I can get used to this, but I can't believe my brother is going out with Miss Feisty."

"Miss Feisty?" I ask.

"Manny. Yeah I call her that because we don't get along. We're always getting into fights over the smallest, stupidest things, but she starts it. No wonder you broke up with her. I really can't stand her." I laugh nervously because she was the one who broke up with me, but I wasn't about to admit that. I suppose Manny and Rachel don't get along. Maybe that's for the best. Lets not history repeat itself. Rachel is right Manny is history, she is gone, and as far as I'm concerned she doesn't even exist. Manny who? I don't know any person by the name of Manny!

Here comes Paige and her honeybee, other wise known as Spinner. Honey Bee? I really hope Rachel doesn't expect me to call her honeybee, but she doesn't seem like the bossy type, not like Paige. I'm just hoping she's not.

"Hey Paige and Spin." Rachel greets.

"Hey Hon and Craig. Rachel, let's chat and leave the guys to talk."

"Bye honeybee." Spinner says and waves good-bye. There is that pet name again. Rachel and Paige run off giggling probably to meet up with Hazel and Ashley. She hates my guts too. I hope her and Ashley don't bond because that would be very bad, especially bad for me.

"You know who they're talking about, right?" Spinner says, grinning.

"Me and how cute I am." I respond.

"Alright Stud, let's just see how long this will last."

"Oh well I think I can handle things. I've learned from my mistakes."

"Lets hope so. How was your date?"

"Lovely."

"Lovely? Is that new to your vocabulary? Did you kiss her good-night?"

"Hello Paige. Not likes it's any of your business, but yeah." I respond with a smile on my face and we walk into Computers. There is Ashley sitting with Ellie looking at me, more like glaring. It looks likes she going to jump me or something horrible like that. I know I hurt Ashley and I'm sorry about it, but God can't she just leave me alone. Whenever she gets the chance to she tries to make my life a living hell.

"Here he comes." Ashley tells Ellie, but she's looking at me.

"Yeah here I come." I say. Yeah it was one of the lamest things I've said, but it kept her quiet.

Rachel Sanchez POV

"You make the cutest couple." Paige repeats to about the fifth time today, but I tell her the same thing.

"Yeah we do." Maybe if I don't say it with a lot of enthusiasm she'll get the point.

"But just know that Craig can't be trusted." Ashley says suddenly joining the conversation.

"Yeah he can be...by me. Besides I can handle myself." I respond.

"Ashley, don't scare Rachel with your horror stories. We all know you and Craig dated." Paige says.

"I'm just trying to help." Ashley says and then leaves followed by Marco and Ellie.

"She is just jealous." I say.

"Sure she is."

"What does that mean?" I ask.

"She's kind a right, but don't get me wrong. Craig has been known to be a cheater and player," Paige says and looks at me, "but don't worry. He's changed since then."

I know Paige loves to give relationship advice, but somehow this time it wasn't too comforting. I don't want to be heartbroken, not again. How would I handle that? Then I realize everything that has been happening lately. First my dad gets another job back in California, my best friend stabbed me in the back and dated my ex-boyfriend or whatever you call him, my mother goes on a date with a complete stranger and now my brother is dating my worse enemy. I thought life was all fine and dandy and now I realize it isn't. Why do I think so much?

"Oh yeah Rachel you gotta come over to my house after school?" Paige shouts.

"Um okay but what for?" I ask.

"Because we need to practice for the competition this Thursday. You're kinda behind on the dance moves." Hmm, there is something else I completely forgot about, but it isn't exactly bad news.

"I'll be there, but why can't we just practice in the gym?"

"We could, but I just thought we would have a more fun time at my house. All the other members of the spirit squad will be there too. I gotta get to my next class."

"Bye, see ya at lunch." I say and make my way to my next class, which is English. Yippee...not. I wonder what is in today's agenda? How about another boring assignment?

"Okay so today we'll be reading some romantic plays that I have selected for you. You and your partners will review it and then write your own short play that follows the plot of your chosen play. It's due by Thursday." Mrs. Kwan announces to the class and then assigns partners. Guess who I'm partners with, yeah Manny and Emma. You never saw that one coming, huh?

"So what play did we get?" Emma asked. Manny had the script in her hand.

"Romeo and Juliet. Wow, this will be easy." She says.

"Yeah really easy. Do we even have to read it?" I ask and Emma darts a glare at me.

"Of course we do if we want to write a play that is really similar to it." Emma says and grabs the script from Manny.

We read the whole play surprisingly, but I guess it was because none of us wanted to have an actual conversation with each other. None of us got along too well. I don't know why Emma is giving me the cold shoulder though because I never did anything to her. I think she was mostly upset with her. Paige filled me in on the history between Manny and Emma. They used to be best friends, then Manny changed her look, and then Emma called her a slut. I don't know how Paige knows these things but somehow she does. She's an expert when it comes to school gossip. Emma started to pack up her papers, and so did Manny and I.

"So we should meet at my house tonight so we can get started on writing the play. I have a computer and printer." Emma announces.

"Oh I would like to, but I have to meet Paige today after school, so does Manny," I reply.

"I do? Why?" Manny asks.

"We need to practice for the competition on Thursday. Didn't you get the memo?"

"No, she never told me anything."

"Then I guess I'll start on the play while you two guys 'practice'." Emma says angrily. I look at Manny and she looks at me.

"Well maybe we can come over for an hour and then go straight to Paige's house." I suggest.

"Okay I guess." Emma says.

Manny replies, "Fine whatever. I gotta go meet my boyfriend."

"You mean my brother."

"Oh he is? He's nothing like you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"He actually has a heart and a mind, unlike you."

"Manny, you better stop before I do something drastic."

"Oh stop being so childish. I really don't have time for this." Manny rolls her eyes and leaves the classroom.

"I see you two don't get along, but I completely understand why. See you tonight, Rachel." Emma says and waves good-bye to me.

"Bye."

Manny Santos POV

At lunchtime I saw Josh waiting at my locker so I walked over there and gave him a big hug. He's so sweet.

"How was your morning?" He asks.

"It was okay. Your sister and me and my ex-best friend got partnered up to do this assignment in English." I reply.

"So how did it go?"

"It went okay, but tonight I'm gonna be very busy. I need to go to Emma's house to do that and then I have to go to Paige's house to practice for the competition we have this Thursday. These last couple of weeks have been tough."

"And you didn't invite me?"

"Oh my gosh I totally forgot. Of course you're invited."

"Then I'll be there to cheer you on." He says and we walk down the hall and he got some papers out of backpack.

"Can we make a quick trip? I need to give these song lyrics to Craig and the band." He says.

"Oh you're friends? I had no idea."

"We're kinda friends. I don't know him too well but my sister does of course."

"Yeah I know. Come on." I said and we went into the cafeteria. The truth was I kind of wanted to see Craig just to show him I moved on. He could look all he wanted, but he couldn't have me. I was taken and I hope he sees that I'm a lot better off. Craig was sitting with the usual group of people and there was Rachel by his side laughing uncontrollably. You could totally tell it was just an act.

"Hey guys. Craig here are some lyrics for your band. You can use them and fix them up if you want?" Josh says and Craig looks up at me.

"Oh thanks. We really needed some new material. I'll look over them and tell you what I think." Craig says.

"Hey Josh do you wanna come see us play today after school at Craig's to you know help us out?" Marco says while smiling.

"Yeah I don't think I have anything planned. Bye guys." He says and we walk outside. I'm so glad that Paige asked us to eat with them or else we would probably have to. Yay, now Josh has plans tonight and so do I so he can't come over for dinner. But I'll ask him tomorrow. While we sit at the table my eyes wonder around the campus. Where is Sean? I haven't seen him all day and I'm getting worried. He did seem pretty upset earlier when he found out Josh and me were dating. Could he be...no he couldn't be jealous. What if he went off and did something stupid?

"Manny, is something wrong. You barely ate anything." Josh says, with a concerned look in his eyes.

"I was just thinking about nothing really."

"Really?"

"No not really. I was thinking about Sean, not that way though. He hasn't been here since this morning."

"Don't worry about that. I bet everything's fine."

"Yeah everything's fine."

No, it isn't fine. I have all these mix feelings and don't know what to think of them.

Author's Note: Hey I decided to add Craig's point of view to this chapter to let you know what he is thinking. I updated earlier this time. Aren't ya happy? I have a couple of ideas for future chapters so keep reading and reviewing. Thanks and bye for now.