"I cant believe this. I truly can not believe this." Spinner said, sitting across from Manny at Liberty's dining room table.

Ashley had told Paige. Paige went ballistic and dumped Spinner. She was in the process of getting Manny kicked off the spirit squad. Thanks to one little moment, Manny's and Spinner's lives were upside down and all wrong.

"Why did she dump you? It was all my fault. It's true the stuff they say about me Spin. It's all true. I'm a slut. I'm easy. But I really liked Craig. I really did." Manny put her head in her hands and heaved a frustrated sigh. She didn't want Spinner to get into trouble. That was unfair for him.

"It wasn't your fault, Manny. It was Ashley's fault. What happened between me and you wasn't any of her business. And you're not a slut, you're not easy. I know you really liked Craig." Spinner said gently. He knew right now Manny was a time bomb. He had to comfort her or she was going to blow up.

"Don't comfort me in order to keep me from blowing up," Manny spat at him. She hated when people tried to protect her when she was angry. Some kid in her Government class called her the Angry Spaniard Manuela Santos. It was mostly to make fun of her but she knew that it was true. She was a time bomb, she was Spanish, and she was the slut Manuela Santos. She hated herself so bad right now, and she wanted to be in Craig's arms, have her hold him like he used to when she was upset.

"Manny, I'm serious. If this is anybody's fault, it's mine. I'm the one who went in for the kiss. If I didn't have feelings for you, none of this would have happened." Spinner realized he had spoken the words he didn't want her to know he used in his head every time he looked at her. That stupid, corny word that therapists and Oprah used. Feelings. It sounded like something out of a bad self-help book. I have feelings for you, Manny.

"Spinner? Did you just…?" Manny ventured, sounding hopeful.

"Like you didn't hear it," Spinner snapped, angry at himself. Feelings. I said I had feelings for her. I think I'm turning into Marco. Spinner looked at the table. Concentrate on the woodwork, Mason. Look at the cheap furniture store pine table. Don't look at her. Do not look at her.

Spinner felt a soft, warm hand on his. A hand that was nothing like Paige's, yet somehow just as lovely. Lovely, feelings…there is something seriously wrong with me, he hated himself at that moment, loving the way Manny's hand felt perfect on his, knowing he was only supposed to feel that way about Paige and her hand.

"Spin, look at me." Spinner looked up. Manny was beautiful, she looked like the normal Manny before she changed, cute and understanding, putting her hair into pigtails, hanging out with Emma and Toby. Not the Manny the whole school had come to know, with the crop tops and the low-rider jeans fashioned perfectly to show off her underwear.

"You try too hard to be someone you're not," Spinner choked out. "You don't have to be the way you are Manny. You think you're sexy because of the way you dress? That's slut sexy, Manny. What makes you sexy right now is that you're beautiful. You're the Manny you used to be."

She took her hand away, making Spinner regret everything he had just said. He loved the way her hand had felt on hers.

"Spinner, I don't think you understand. That slut sexy thing is me, okay? That's who I am. I'm the Manny Santos who was having sex with Craig Manning when he had a girlfriend. I'm the Manny Santos who loves it when guys stare at her butt. I'm the Manny Santos who, from time to time, slips up and shows the old innocent Manny that no one noticed!" She yelled and began to cry.

Spinner looked at her, reached over and wiped a tear from her cheek. "And I'm the Spinner Mason who likes whatever Manny Santos it is he is seeing right now. I don't care who you are, Manny. I like you. I really, truly do."

Manny looked at him, tears still lining the sides of her face, and she saw that he truly meant it. It was it, the opportune moment that neither could miss.

Spinner was the first to lean farther in. Manny did the same, hesitantly at first, but then when their lips touched, it was even better than the first time, with more meaning.