Chapter 15
I Can't Believe It

Rachel Sanchez POV

Dad and me are in the car and I still don't know what is going on. My dad wouldn't just take me out of class for the kicks of it. He knows school is important to me and is always nagging me saying without an education I'll fail in life. So there has to be a reason for this.

"So Rach are you hungry?" Dad asks.

I look at him, "What is this about?"

"I just thought we would have lunch together and talk."

"Talk? Talk about what?"

The car stops and my dad and me get out of the car. I guess we're eating pizza. Wait did he ever answer me? I didn't realize how hungry I was until we walked in the parlor and smelled the pizza. Dad ordered our food and then we sat down. Okay he's going to stretch this out, as much as he can, isn't he?

"As you know I'm leaving this weekend."

"Yeah and,"

"And well remember how I asked you to make a choice whether or not you want to go or stay? We never had the time to sit down and talk about it. Is there any chance you have made a decision?"

"I haven't really had the time to think about it. A lot is going on in my life at the moment." I reply.

"You have a lot of commitments. I understand. I just thought you missed Cali and all of your friends."

"I found out they're not so great after all. Besides dad I've adjusted to my life here. What do you want me to do? Pack up and leave? How long will that last?" I say and dad takes a sip of his soda and looks as if he was concentrating.

"So...I see you've already made your decision. You're going to stay. I completely understand. I'm just going to miss you. You are great company, you know that." Dad responds.

I wanted to scream well you're the one who is leaving! But I couldn't. I hated him for doing this to me.

Manny Santos POV

Earlier I saw Sean and Craig talking to one another in the hallway and for some reason they looked strange just talking to each other. It just was. I wonder if I ever really loved Craig or just got lost in the thought of love. Maybe it was just lust. I'm still not too sure and I don't know if I ever will be. Am I willing to get involved with Craig again to find out? What about Sean? What about Sean? I miss him or was it just the company? God there isn't an easy answer. In fact the questions are even complicated. Why am I even analyzing this so much? For crying out loud I'm with Josh! Yeah Manny remember him? He really cares about you and that's not so easy to find! I, of all people should know that. I'd be a fool to let a great guy like him go.

"What's up my love?" Josh says and grabs me by the waist.

"Hey Josh. Oh by the way I'm sorry I blew you off this morning." I say.

"Had an encounter with sister?"

"Yeah but can we not talk about it right this instant?"

"Okay but you can if you want to.Where are you off to?" He asks.

"Oh I'm going to the Dot with Emma."
"Emma? Don't get me wrong but I thought you and her didn't exactly get along."

"Things are still a little rocky but we're trying to work thing out day by day."

"Oh that's cool. The more friends the merrier. It's nice to have someone to talk to."

"Yeah it is. Nobody enjoys being alone. Well you seem happy today. What's the occasion?"

"Do you have plans this Satuday?"

Let me think. "No."

"Wonderful! I'll pick you up this Saturday at 7:00."

"Great. Um where are we going?"

"It's a surprise but you'll enjoy it. Later! Have fun with Emma."

He kisses me good-bye and runs off to football practice. He happened to look really cute in his uniform. I wonder what the big surprise is!?!

Rachel Sanchez POV

The rest of lunch was pretty awkward, but I'm just glad he dropped the moving conversation. In fact after our other little chat we talked about everything besides work, friends, and California. We actually talked about the weather and if it was cold enough to wear a sweater. Yeah it wasn't very exciting. It was crazy to think my father was going away in a few days. He was going to be in another state. Gone. He drops me off at school just 15 minutes before cheer starts.

"Hey Paige!" I greet.

"Oh hi Rachel are you excited?" She asks grinning.

"For tomorrow? Yeah totally."

"Don't sound too enthusiastic."

"Oh sorry about that. I had lunch with my father today."

"What happened?"

"He is moving back to California and I told him I wasn't going with him. He sounded super disappointed."

"That's tough but put a smile on. Today is our last day to practice and tomorrow we kick butt."

"Yeah."

Paige was trying to cheer me up, but it wasn't too convincing. Yes, I'm going to complete tomorrow and try my best, but man dad has got me feeling guilty.

"Do you happen to know where Manny is?"

Paige asks and Manny must have heard her name.

"Right here." Manny replies while I remain quiet.

"Huh? Oh hello Manny. I was looking for you." Paige says to Manny.

"I heard."

"Is everything okay with your family?"

"What? Oh them. Yeah everybody is fine."

"Oh well cos yesterday it sounded serious. Well practice starts in five minutes so are you ready for the competition? Oh it's going to be so much fun and if we win we get a huge trophy and everything!" Paige chatters on.

"Paige that's great but I don't think I can make it."

"WHAT?" Paige and I shout in unison.

"Paige believe me I'm really sorry. It's just not working out." Manny glares at me. "I have a lot of things to straighten out and cheer and life is just too much to balance at the moment. I'm sorry."

Then Manny walks away as simple as that. Okay something is seriously wrong with Miss Feisty. She has lost her mind. Paige looks as if she is going to have a nervous breakdown.

"Okay did Manny Santos just quit the team one day before competition?" She asks.

"I think so."

"But NO she can't. We need her. She's our star tumbler. Without her we'll lose."

"Paige calm down. We won't lose. I won't let us. I mean I can handle both positions."

"You can? Of course you can."

Okay is it just me or did that sound a little forced?

Manny Santos POV

What the heck did I just do? I mean I know what I did. I just can't believe I went through with it. I did think it over. Believe me I did and I told Paige the truth. It was just too much to balance at the moment.

"Hey Emma, ready to go?" I ask.

"Yeah, but I saw you talking to Paige. Don't you have practice?" Emma responds.

"Um I was going to go but at the last minute I decided to quit."

"You did what?"

"I quit."

"How can you be so casual about this? From what I last remember the dance squad was like your life."

"It is. It was. Look it's not a forever kind of thing. Maybe I'll rejoin again next year, but right now I wanna focus on the things that matter."

"Okay you just had me a little worried." Emma says,

"Paige nearly freaked." I respond.

"Sounds like Paige."

Emma and I walk outside school where we are joined by Chris and JT. Yes I said JT! I know he still hates me for kissing Craig at Paige's party, but Craig kissed me. I hate Craig. The jerk, but somehow I feel I'm to blame. God, I feel horrible for putting JT through that. I know how it feels to get your heartbroken and it incredibly sucks.

"Hello Emma and...Manny." Chris says.

"Hi." I reply.

"Hi Emma." JT says, and glares at me. I have never felt so unwelcome in my whole life. "Emma do you want to come over to my house and study?" Chris asks.

"Sorry I can't. Manny and I have already made plans." Emma says while I remain quiet. I think it's best that I don't talk.

"Oh okay. I'll call you later tonight."

"Alright. Bye."

Chris and JT walk away leaving Emma and me alone.

"JT seems pretty mad still." I mention.

"You did kiss Craig. It really broke his heart. He liked you Manny. He maybe even loved you." Emma says.

"Yeah but,"

"Manny maybe we shouldn't talk about this. I don't want to say something to offend you."

"Let me just tell you this. I didn't mean to hurt JT. I swear it wasn't my fault, not this time."

"Lets just drop it, okay?"
"Okay."

Well we're off to a lovely start. I think Emma is still a little mad at me. Why am I even going though with this? Emma obviously still hasn't forgiven me. Is she doing this because she feels sorry for me?

"Manny what do you want?" Emma asks.

"Oh chili cheese fries and a coke." I say.

"And for you?" The waiter asks Emma.

"Um that sounds good. I'll have the same."

"It's coming up."

The waiter leaves and it's just Emma and me again. Please let us get along.

"I'm starving. I didn't eat all day." I announce.

"Me either." She replies.

"So Chris and you seem very happy together."
"Yeah we are ever since Paige's party. I've been over at his house for dinner a few times and his family are really nice too."
"Wow you seem pretty serious. Good for you. I hope it all works out."

"Thanks, but aren't you are that Josh guy dating?" Emma asks.

"Yeah, we are. Oh he's really sweet."

"What's wrong, Manny?"

"What? Nothing is wrong. Why?"

"When you were talking about Josh you seemed unsure. Is there someone else?"

"Since when have you become my psychologist? Besides don't you think that is pretty personal?"

"Oh sorry. I just thought--- never mind. I better be quiet."

"I know what you were going to say, but I've learned from my mistakes, k? I'm not gonna go around having sex with other guys behind my boyfriend's back."

"Manny I know and I said I was sorry." Emma says and our food arrives. Finally! Something needed to stop that conversation. She just can't let go of the whole Craig thing, which I'm trying to forget about it. But NO she just won't let it go. What's her problem?

Rachel Sanchez POV

Paige pats me on the back. "Great job out there today Rachel. We're going to do great at the competition. I just have a really good feeling that we are going to win."

"Me too." I reply with so much happiness that I could barely contain.

"Yeah great job." Hazel says.

"Thanks."

"Hey Paige and me were going to go shopping. Do you want to come with?"

"I would love to but Craig and I have a date."

"Oh..." Paige says.

"Not this again." I reply.

"What are you talking about?"

"Yeah you do. Geez, don't worry about Craig and me. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye. Have fun." Paige says and I walk away.

I will have fun, but first I need to go home and get ready. My father is going to pick me up today. Well doesn't that sound fun? I should've told him that I was going to walk home, but I didn't. I hear honking and I know exactly who it is.

"Hey father." I say.

"Hey so how was practice?" He asks.

"It was great. Are you coming tomorrow?"
"How many times have you asked me?"

"A lot."

"And how many times have I said yes?"

"Every time." I knew where he was going to with this. "So are you still going?"

"I never said I wasn't going. What made you think I wasn't?"

"Well--- never mind. It's stupid."

"Is this about our little talk earlier?" I nod. "Rachel I didn't really expect you to come with me. I know you have created a life here in Canada. It was wrong of me to make you feel guilty for staying here and I'm sorry."

My dad just admitted that he was wrong. Whoa this one goes down in the books! It's still hard though to see him leave. As soon as we get home I run into my room and turn on my stereo. Now what should I wear? I should've planned what to wear yesterday. I mean you can't just rush things like this. Oh great now I sound all high maintenance. My mother walks into my room.

"Where are you going?" She asks.

"I'm going on a date with Craig to the movies and dinner. I hope that is alright with you." I reply.

"Yeah it's fine. Just let me know in head of time next time. Oh by the way I'm going to go a date too just in case you get home and wonder where I am."

"Date?"

"Yeah I'm allowed to or do you want me to ask for your permission?"

"No you're a grown woman. You can make your own decisions," At least I think she is capable of it. I mean Dad has been on many dates before and let me mention I have never liked any of his girlfriends. I guess I just always thought he was trying to replace my mother. I wonder if my mom is trying to do the same thing. I can only wonder though.

Fifteen minutes later I walk downstairs in a jean mini skirt, black off the shoulder shirt with a flower in the front and black heels. I do look pretty good if I do say myself. I walk outside and wait on the porch because I want to leave before my mom can get the chance to meet Craig. I have a feeling she'll ask him a million questions like do you drink, how long have you had your license and how many tickets have you had or worse have you ever been to jail? No I don't want to put him through that. Shortly Craig pulls up to the driveway. I smile and get into the car.

"Hey beautiful, how are you?" Craig says and leans over for a kiss.

"I'm great." I reply.

"So how was practice?"

"Oh it was pretty good. Get this Manny quit the team at last minute. I really can't believe her. How could she be so selfish?"

"She quit? That sounds unlike Manny. Is she okay?" He asks and I can't believe what I'm hearing. Why is he so concerned?

"Yeah...she's fine." Just ignore it, Rachel. You're thinking too much about it. "So you're coming tomorrow right? I need as much support as I can get."

"Definitely. I'll be up there in the cheering you on! I'm sure you'll do great."

"Thanks. I can always count on you."

Manny Santos POV

After lunch Emma and I go to her house. Emma opens the door and we walk inside. Jack is in the playpen playing with some blocks. It looks so welcoming inside. The Nelson/Simpson residence has always been welcoming. Christine always treated me like a second daughter. Well she used to, but that seems so long ago.

"Mom, Dad we're home." Emma shouts as we enter. Christine walks into the room and her eyes get wide as soon as she sees me. Yeah she's surprised.

"Hello Manny. I haven't seen you in awhile."

"Hi yeah it's been a little while. Emma and me are writing a play for English." I reply.

"That's nice. Do you want anything to eat? Or drink?" She asks.

"No thanks mom. We just got back from eating." Emma says. "Come on Manny."

"Wait do you mind if I use your phone to call my mom?" I ask. Yeah I didn't even let them know where I am. I bet they're probably worrying like crazy.

"Yeah sure. It's in the kitchen."

"Thanks."

I walk into the kitchen and dial my home number. It rings and rings and rings, but nobody picks up. That's strange. It's already like 4:30 and somebody should be home by now. I dial the number again but it just keeps ringing. I finally decide to leave a message telling them I'm at Emma's house. Maybe they're outside or in the bathroom. I'm worrying too much. Everything is fine. Fine. Fine. Fine. I walk in Emma's room and set down my backpack on the floor. Emma is already at the computer typing her little fingers away.

"Did they say it was okay?" Emma asks.

"I couldn't reach anyone, but I told them where I was at." I reply. "Can I see what you have already done?"

"Oh totally. I really liked your idea."

"You did? Just guess who it is truly about?"

"The whole situation with you, Rachel, and her brother. Yeah it's cleaver."

"I think we should make it kind of humorous" I read over the part Emma has written and it's pretty good. "Do you mind if I continue it from where you left off?"

"Sure. We can take turns."

Craig Manning POV

I just dropped off Rachel at her house and now I'm laying on my bed thinking about everything. Rachel is great. Believe me she's a great girl, but I feel something is missing. Sure we have lots in common but the connection seems a little off. Suddenly the doorbell rings. I wonder who it is so I answer the door.

"Hey Craig. Wow you're actually home and all dressed up. Awe just for me?"

"Spinner what are you doing here? We don't have band practice today." I say as Spinner walks inside my house.

"I know. Can't your best bud just come to visit?" Spinner says.

"What do you really want?" I ask.

"I need help with my Algebra."

"You could've just called."

"I thought this would be easier."

"Marco is the whiz at math, not me."

"He was busy. Dude I really need your help. I'm totally failing that class."

"Oh fine." I reply and we go into my bedroom. I grab my hackie sack and start tossing it in the air.

"Is something wrong?" Spinner asks.

"I've been thinking lately."

"Oh and about what?"
"Manny."

"What?" Oh no did I just say what I think I said? Crap I did and I didn't just announce it to anyone. I just announced it to Spinner who can't keep his mouth shut. I've learned that from past experiences, but I got to tell someone about this. No I can't! Will power Craig. It's called will power.

"I didn't say anything." Smooth Craig. Really smooth.

"You can trust your amigo. What's really going on? Did you and Manny hook up again? Give me the details." Spinner says and raises his eyebrow.

"You got to promise not to tell anyone, okay?"

"Craig I promise not to tell anyone."

"Okay well today Sean told me that he likes Manny."

"Sean and Manny? No way."

"That was what I thought, but it's true and it all got me thinking about Manny. I mean dude I think I still...love her. I can't get her out of my mind. It's driving me crazy!"

Spinner strokes his chin and looks as if he is really concentrating. "Man this is serious."

"I know and I don't know what to do about it. I don't want to hurt Rachel. I mean she's a sweet girl and all but she's not Manny."

"Call Manny."

"And tell her what? Besides she has a boyfriend who happens to be Rachel's brother who happens to be on the football team, which means he can beat me up. He's also a friend of Marco's. "

"I'll call her for you, k? What's her number?" Spinner asks and picks up the phone.

"Spinner what do I tell her?" I shout.

"Tell her about uncontrollable love for her." He laughs.

"You think this is a joke? Look just forget I told you about this, okay?"

"Craig just call the girl. It's no risk. Just do and get over with it."

It doesn't seem that hard. I mean Rachel never has to find out.

"Fine." I say and tell Spinner Manny's number.

"It's ringing." He says and hands me the phone.

"Nobody's picking up. Should I leave a message?" I ask and he nods. Beep. "Um hey Manny it's Craig. Um I just wanted to...uh talk about us. Call me back, k? Bye."

Oh my god what the heck did I just do?

Authors Note: So how do you like it? R&R. Who should Manny end up with? PLease reply. Thanks!