CHAPTER 2: SKIPPING SCHOOL
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE DEGRASSI CHARACTERS!
Manny awoke with a start, beads of sweat aligning her forehead. She tried to recall a dream she had just awoken from, but as she thought harder, the pieces just floated away into a distant memory. The only thing she could recall was a woman, much like the one carved on her pendant. Manny was startled to find that her window was once again open, the whistling wind blowing stray papers around her room.
She sprang up from bed, rubbing her arms from the chill. Who had opened the window this time? Manny dismissed the thought and assumed she hadn't shut it well enough the night before.
Manny pressed the POWER button on her stereo and drowned herself in the music. She swayed her hips seductively, tapping her hands on her waist to the beat. Today was the start of a wonderful day. Not even Craig would ruin this day.
Then Manny stopped dancing, remembering her breakup with Craig. Too many days had she awoken still thinking they were together. Did she really need Craig back in her life that bad?
SCHOOL
"Oh my God," Paige groaned.
"You're doing a back flip 360, not a goddamn belly flop!"
"Sorry," Manny whined, pushing herself off the ground. Why hadn't she nailed that move? She had practiced all fucking weekend.
"Try again," Paige insisted.
Manny dusted off her cheer leading skirt and sighed heavily. Why did Paige have to be so bitchy all the time? She practically gave PMS its true meaning.
"Paige," Manny said calmly.
"I really don't think today's the day, could you just give me a break?"
Paige looked as if she were about to yell a foul word at Manny when she said, "Sure."
"Really?" Manny asked, surprised.
Then the concern in Paige's eyes fell away and she screamed, "No! Now get the hell up!"
Manny rolled her eyes and headed for the door, her sneakers squeaking repetetivley on the waxy gym floor. She had enough of Paige bossing her around. Sure she was captain, but she wasn't the fucking Queen of England.
"Where are you going?!" Paige yelled after her. Hazel and the others spoke in low voices, whispering things Manny only wished she could hear.
"Home," She replied bluntly.
"Fine," Paige yelled back.
"See if you compete with us at Nationals!"
Manny stormed into the locker room, retrieving her gym bag off of a bench. Anger and rage pulsed through her as she paced around the room. Then she stopped, dead in her tracks, realizing what she had just done. Why had she snapped at Paige like that?
The stone that adorned her neck thrummed and pulsed, as if answering her. Manny gasped, nearly stumbling. She carefully examined the ruby-red gem, its beauty astonishing. Something about it aroused a deep longing in Manny, the longing for Craig and other hopeless desires. She had never felt so needy in her life.
"Manny?"
Manny gasped, the voice breaking her trance with the stone. The gem immediately stopped thrumming, as if it were trying to hide its presence from the foreign voice.
"Manny, are you okay?" It was Hazel, her yellow-blue pom-poms shaking with each step. She set them on a bench and set next to Manny.
"Yeah," Manny said softly.
"I just don't understand why Paige has to be so bossy."
Hazel sighed heavily, as if she could totally relate to Manny's complaint.
"You don't really think she was serious about Nationals, do you?" Manny asked, worried.
"Hun," Hazel started soothingly.
"Paige may be mean but she's not dumb. Of course you'll get to compete with us, your one of the best on this squad."
Manny sighed, Hazel's reassuring bringing her no comfort.
"Maybe your right," Manny lied. She didn't want Hazel spreading rumors that she was afraid of Paige or something.
"Wow," Hazel began, awe in her voice.
"Nice necklace." She outstretched her hand and reached for the gem.
"Ouch!" Hazel squealed, snatching her finger back. A tiny burn scorched her finger.
"What the hell is that?"
Manny tried to stifle a gasp, fear forming a tight knot in her stomach. What was with this stupid rock?
The stone thrummed madly, as if it heard Manny's rude comment.
"I......" Manny's words trailed off, as if she too didn't know if what she had just witnessed was real.
"I don't know,"
"Um," Hazel began nervously, her eyes fixed on the pulsing pendant.
"I'll see you later."
And with that she sped out of the locker room, her pom-poms shaking wildly with each sprint. Manny groaned. Now Hazel probably thought Manny was some sort of witch from The Craft or something.
Manny sighed, picked up her bag, and headed outside. Maybe there was somewhere downtown that could professionally examine the stone. Maybe Manny would get lucky and it was some ancient artifact that was worth millions.
The air was cold and dry outside, making Manny wish she had brought a jacket. She walked lonesomely through the parking lot, her sneakers crunching gravel. Then she saw Sulley, sitting in his car smoking a joint while cutting class. What a stoner. She hoped he'd at least give her a ride to the café.
She knocked on the glass, waving for him to roll the window down.
He rolled the window down, an immense cloud of smoke escaping the car and into Manny's face.
"Manuella," Sulley said lazily.
"I thought you were a security guard."
"Can you give me a ride to the café?" Manny asked sweetly.
Sulley rolled down his other window and tossed the joint out the window. "Sure."
Manny went to the other side and hopped in. The smell of smoke, burritos, and coke filled her nostrils. Why hadn't she noticed how much of a pig Sulley was when she was dating him?
He popped the glove compartment open, retrieving a burrito sloppily wrapped in white paper. Hamburger pieces pelted into Manny's lap.
"Burrito?"
"Uh, no thanks," Manny replied, the stench of the burrito making her nauseous.
"Just take me to the café, please."
Sulley shrugged and tossed the lame excuse for a burrito out of the window. He backed out the space, the cool wind carrying the nauseous scents of old burrito and coke out of the car.
"So, how is my Manuella?" Sulley asked, running a red light.
"I'm cool," Manny replied casually. She hoped her asking for a ride didn't signal to Sulley that she had the hots for him again. She was totally over him.
"So, um, that dude Crig---"
"Craig," Manny corrected.
"Craig," Sulley repeated in an annoyed tone.
"How are yall?"
"We broke up," Manny said sadly, her hair flapping wildly in the wind.
"That sucks." Sulley replied, as if he could care less. He ran his fingers through his surfer-dude blonde hair, as if he were trying to impress Manny.
He pulled over next to the café, the hum of the engine fading away.
Manny reached for the door handle, anxious to leave. She wanted to go home and take a nap.
"Thanks."
"Wait," Sulley said softly.
"Im sorry I acted like such a prick before. I just wanted you to know that."
Manny sighed quietly. Sulley didn't know what he was talking about, he was higher than a fucking skyscraper.
But when he leaned closer to her, the look in his eyes seemed sincere. Manny gazed into his eyes, an intense longing stirring within her. For a sloppy pig, Sulley was pretty hot.
"Uh..." Manny searched for words to say, but Sulley's gorgeous eyes made her memory fuzzy. She parted her lips, longing for a kiss. Desire washed over her, controlling her every move. She let her hands slide up his chest, feeling his rock-hard body beneath her fingertips. A loud car honk broke the trance, and the magic from Sulley's eyes fell away. Now he looked like a stoner who was skipping school again.
"I have to go," Manny said quickly. Sulley sighed heavily, obviously disappointed.
"Bye," He said sadly. Manny started to apologize, but the uproar of the car's engine drowned her words. She hopped out of the car, and watched as it sped away into traffic. What had caused her to act so lustily? She thought she was over Sulley, but now she was just confused. Maybe her hormones had taken over and all she had wanted was a quick kiss. But Manny knew there was more to it, it was almost as if something had controlled her for a short period of time. She had hoped it was just her hormones and nothing more.
Manny walked into the café, in her cheer leading uniform and all. Who cared if she was giving the squad a bad name by skipping school. She was having a bad day. She ordered a mocha latte, and sipped the warm brew. She walked to a table, adults giving her nasty looks.
Manny gasped, nearly spilling her drink. She stared in both fear and excitement as Craig walked into the café.
HoPe U GuYs LiKed iT!! MoRe 2 CoMe!!