Authors Note: OMG, I haven't updated this FF for so long and I'm happy to say I just finished 2 more chapters. If you have any ideas please tell them to me!!! Who do you want to hook up in the end?!? R&R

Chapter 14
I Don't Know

Manny Santos POV

Here I am lying in my bed finding it really hard to wake up. I can hear my mother and father arguing about something in their bedroom, but I can't make out exactly what they're saying. It's probably about my brother, Steven. He hasn't been home lately, but I'm pretty sure I've already mentioned that. I'm sorry. I just can't stop thinking and worrying about him. Where the heck is he? It's driving me crazy. Steven is seriously stressing out my parents and I know he's probably on their mind twenty- four seven. I hear footsteps running down the stairs ending with a slam of the door. Now all I hear is the crying of my mother. Now I really don't want to wake up. Somebody pinch me! This cannot be happening. It just can't be. This is a nightmare. It HAS to be.

"Manuela Santos do I have to come in here every single morning to remind you to get up?" She yells, but I can hear a whimper behind the yelling.

"No, but you always do anyways."

"Get up now! You got to go to school. Mr. Armstrong called me and said you're failing his class."

I moan. "This can't be happening. So what? I'll bring up my grade so please go away. You have nothing to worry about."

"I don't see how you can be so casual about this. It is serious, Manuela and It's so unlike you. What has gotten into you?"

"Hormones?"

"This is no time for jokes. Now...tell me what is bothering you?"

"Nothing mother. I'm fine. I think you are the one with some explaining to do." What am I doing? I can't believe I just talked back to my own mother.

"This doesn't concern me. You better get up."

"No because I'm not going to school today. I really don't feel that great."

"You look fine to me. Now get ready for school and I'll drop you off."

My mother exits my room and I grab a hold of my pillow and scream into it. Life used to be so simple and now it's so complicated. Why can't it be easy? Why can't there be solutions to every single problem? Why can't I stay in bed all day? I don't like to complain oh whom am I kidding? Whining is one of the only things I'm good at, but that can't help me now. I'm stuck in a horrible place and I'm unable to find a way out.

Rachel Sanchez POV

"Josh mom said you needed to drive me to school!" I yell.

"Yeah I know. I am the one who she said it to." He replies.

"Fine. I'm just reminding you."

"Well you don't have to. I'm perfectly capable of remembering."

"Okay."

Five minutes later Josh and I are sitting in the jeep on our way to school. He hasn't spoken to me. Can he possibly still be mad at me for being rude to Manny the other day? Why does he care so much that I don't approve of his choice of a girlfriend? But then again things like this always bother him. He needs to impress everyone.

I just have to ask. "So what's up with the cold shoulder lately?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh don't tell me you don't notice."

"Well what do you think?" Josh asks.

"Because of the way I treat your girlfriend?" I sigh. "You don't understand the relationship between us, Josh. We just don't get along. Believe me I've tried to help her...but that didn't end up too well."

"W– -what happened?"

Should I tell him? If I told him Manny almost took ecstasy he would so not believe me. He would probably deny everything that came out of my mouth. Why won't he believe me? It's not like I'm some kind of pathological liar. Ugh, I hate that he takes Manny's word over his own sister's. Why should I even try?

"Why don't you ask her yourself?"

I was about to get out of the jeep when my brother stopped me.

"I'm sorry." He says in a low tone.

"Did you just apologize or was I just imagining it?" I ask.

"See this is why I can't tell you anything. You're always so sarcastic and have an answer for everything."

"I'm sorry. It's just the way I am. Besides I've had a lot on my mind with the---"

"Well so have I but nobody cares to ask me...do they?" He shouts.

Speechless. That is the only word that can describe how I feel right now. That look in his eyes, the tone of voice and the way he said it. It scared me and as much as I wanted to say something I couldn't. No words came out of my mouth so I just walked away.

Manny Santos POV

I wish I wasn't here right now. I never ever really loved school, but always found it bearable. But right now I wish I were anywhere, but here. I don't even want to walk in those halls and I don't want to hear people snickering and gossiping about me in the background. All kids care about gossip and never the truth. If you ask me the system is pretty screwed up. Just look at me I'm a walking stereotype, but in the back of my mind I knew it all along. I just tried to convince myself that dressing like this and acting like a bad girl without any cares was okay when it wasn't. I can't handle this. I need to get away.

"Manny how are you babe?"

"Not now, Josh."

I run into the bathroom and look at myself into mirror. Finally I have some time to myself. Finally I'm all alone, but wait I hear crying. I spoke too soon.

"So we meet again. Boy does this bring back memories." Rachel says wiping the tears from her eyes covering it with a bad attitude.

"Oh don't get me started... not today. I'm not in the greatest mood."

"I don't know why you got so angry that day. All I tried to do was help."

"I never needed your help."

Rachel sneers, "But you do need help."

"You don't know what you're talking about." I reply. "Why do you hate me so much?"

Rachel doesn't say anything. She just looks at her reflection in the mirror.

Rachel Sanchez POV

All of you are probably thinking right now that I hate her because she's dating my older brother. Yeah sure that's part of it, but it's not the complete truth. Manny and I are so much alike. I've been in her shoes before and know how she feels, but I never liked the person I used to be. I guess that's why I dislike Manny so much. I've seen the world through her eyes, but why am I doing this? I know that she is miserable so why am I making her more miserable? Back then I always wished for someone to come take my hand and tell me everything was going to be okay, but nobody understood my situation. Nobody helped me, but if they did it would've been so much easier and as crazy as it sounded I wanted to help Manny. I just fear that is it is too late.

"Why were you crying?" Manny asks.

"I don't know ...hormones?" I reply.

"I tried that on my mother this morning and she didn't buy it. And I don't buy it either."

I laugh, "You caught me. My brother and I aren't getting along."

"Cos of me?"

"Yeah...but there is more behind it."

"Like what?"

"Um Manny are you aware of whom you're speaking to?" I ask.

"Yes what happened?" She replies.

"Well my brother has been giving me the cold shoulder. I just know that he is hiding something! He just won't tell me and it really hurts. We used to be so close. My best friend betrayed me. See when I was California I had this boyfriend Tommy and he was my first real boyfriend and she stole him from me. I can't believe she said I wasn't good enough for him. Oh yeah and then my dad got a job back home and now I need to decide whether or not to go? It's just SO screwed up and I have no idea what to do."

"Oh."

"Oh? Is that all you can say?"

"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say."

"Just forget I said anything, okay? I gotta go see my boyfriend, Craig. Remember him?"

Manny Santos POV

I reply, "Good you deserve one another."

She didn't even hear me because she was already out the door. I can't do anything right, can I? Wait but seriously what does she expect? A huge hug, a pat on the back or for us to suddenly become the best of friends? I know what she sees when she looks at me because I'm no fool. She sees a screwed up girl who has too many problems to count and thinks she can take me under her wings and fix me. Huh, whom in the world does she think she is kidding?

"Hey Manny." Emma says as I walk into class.

"Hi Emma." Do not start anything! But why is she talking to me?

"Hey where is Rachel?"

"Oh I don't know. Maybe she is out somewhere making out with Craig."

"Oh good as long as she's not here. I really can't stand that girl."

"Wait I thought you got along."

Emma shrugs her shoulders. "We did but yesterday after you left she said some things."

"Yeah she always seems to have something to say."

Emma laughs, "Yeah you're right."

"Look Emma I'm sorry about not helping out on the project. You can take all the credit. I would completely understand!"

"You did help out. Rachel was the one who didn't do anything. She just sat there stuffing her face with cookies and soda."

I laugh, "I guess we can agree on one thing; we both don't like Rachel."

"Manny you know it's not too late to work on the play. What do you say we go to the Dot and grab a bite, then from there go to my house."

Wow Emma wants to be my friend or at least talking to me, but I have cheer. I really want to go though and I know that might sound odd but I do. Truth is I have no friends. Cheer just doesn't seem to appealing right now. Besides Rachel will be there.

"So are you in?" Emma asks.

"Yeah."

"Great." Emma replies with a smile and there was still no sight of Rachel.

Craig Manning POV

Rachel and I are walking through the hallways together. When I passed Sean by his locker he looked depressed. I wonder what was wrong with him. He's been through some tough stuff. I guess Rachel could sense some tension too.

"Craig are you even listening to me?" She asks.

"Uh yeah." No you weren't.

"Then what did I just say?"

"Um how adorable I look today?"

"Oh you're so cute. How can I possibly get mad at you? Well I gotta go meet Paige."

"Bye honey."

She kisses me good-bye and then walks away. How did I end up with such a great girl? Every other girl at Degrassi thinks I'm a big jerk. Sean is standing more like slouching against his locker. I got to find out what's going on.

"Hey Sean!"

He looks up to reassure it's me and then looks back at the ground.

"Oh hey." I take a seat beside him.

"So man what's up? Troubles with Ellie?"

"Ellie?" He asks.

"Oh so I see nobody has told you she likes you. Oops I shouldn't have said anything."

"Nope no one has told me but I'm not really looking to start a relationship. I'm still trying to get over the last girl."

"Last girl?"

"Yeah."

"Do I know her? It's not Emma again, right? I hear she is dating Chris these days and they're pretty happy."

Sean isn't even listening to me anymore and I don't think it is because of what I said. He's gazing into the distance and I finally see who he has got his eyes on.

"Manny! Don't tell me that you like Manny."

"And...what if I did?" He asks.

"You can't date her. We went out and---"

"Yeah and you cheated on her!"

"Sean I can't believe you are taking her side out of all people."

"Craig I'm not taking anyone's side. This was a really bad idea. Let's not get into this, okay? Man I'm out of here."

Sean likes Manny? I didn't even know they were friends. They're so different. How could she possibly like Sean? He's trouble. I mean it's not like I'm jealous, but it just bothers me. That is all! Wait am I crazy or does that make me sound jealous? Why am I so concerned who Manny likes? Maybe...I'm not over her. Maybe I won't ever be over her.

Rachel Sanchez POV

Craig and I made plans to go the movies and dinner tonight. We haven't had an official date in awhile so it should be fun. Actually I'm really excited. I like Craig so much and I don't care what anyone else says about him. He makes me so happy like I can be having the worse day but as soon as I see him that all seems to fade away. There are five minutes until lunch, but time seems to be moving in slow motion. Maybe that clock is broken. At least that is what I'm hoping. The phone rings.

"Miss Sanchez go to the office for dismissal." The teacher says.

"Do you know why?" I ask.

"No you're just being dismissed."

"Okay."

I say and pack up my stuff. Oh no what's going on? Did someone die? Did someone get in a car accident? I told mom her driving was reckless. Wait I think she was getting a ride with that guy from work again. I walk into the office and find my father standing at the front desk. He turns around and smiles. I guess no one died because he seems pretty happy.

"Hola Mija."

"HIi dad." I reply.

Note: Hope you enjoyed it!!!