The Life of Manny Santos

Chapter 2: Office visit and fiery fling

A/N: Hey, chapter 2! I hope you all like it, now I don't want to keep you suspence! Here you go!

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I walked through the hall to class before I was stopped by Mr. Raditch.

"Miss Santos, I'd like a word with you in my office please."

"Yes Sir."

I knew it.....Ashley had ratted me out. So I sucker punched her, she deserved it.

-walking into the office-

"Miss Kerwin....Miss Santos....sit."

I looked at Ashley and cautiously sat down.

"Now Miss Kerwin in your own words, please tell me what happened."

"Ok, well I ran into Manny and I was telling her what Craig had told me earlier, being the jealous man stealer that she is she punched me because she couldn't handle the truth."

Rage burned through my eyes. I clenched my fists and grinded my teeth.

"And what is this truth Miss Kerwin?"

"That Craig Manning loves me and not her."

I stood up and lunged at her.

"Shut up! Shut the hell up! You don't know that!!!!"

"Girls! Girls! Manny!!! STOP!!!!"

He pulled me off her as I continued to kick and scream.

"Stop lying! He cares about me you stupid bitch. If he loved you so much then why did he have sex with ME!"

Silence. Nobody spoke. Raditch dropped me and I fell huffing and puffing from the building anger. Tears started to fall down my face.

"Miss Kerwin, you may leave."

As Ashley left she gave me a cold look and Mr. Raditch called the office.

"Bring me Mr. Manning please."

'Oh god. Not Craig. That's the LAST thing I need right now.'

I got off the floor and sat back in the chair. I tapped my foot impatiently as Craig walked in through Raditch's door.

"Umm...You wanted to see me Mr. Raditch?"

"Yes. Mr. Manning, it seems I have a situation on my hands that requires your assistance. Two girls have been fighting today on your behalf. They seem to believe that you have told both of them that you love them and a fight broke out because of it. Once again they began a feud right here in my office. It seems Miss Santos here seems most confused, she lunged at Miss Kerwin not long before you stepped in. I suggest you set things right here so this incident doesn't happen again is that clear?"

"Y-yes, Mr. Raditch sir."

"Alright, I'm giving you 10 minutes Mr. Manning. When I return I hope to have things settled between you and Miss Santos."

I watched as Raditch left the office.

"What an asshole. I hate him so much."

"Manny, he's just trying to help. Now listen what's up? What were you and Ash fighting about?"

I gave him a dirty look, " You should know you bastard. You told Ashley that you loved her when just this morning you told me the exact same thing."

"M-manny. I.....I don't really know what to say. I'm not going to lie to you. I did tell Ashley that I loved her, but that's because I do. I love her, and you too. That was true. I'm just confused and don't know what I want. You didn't hafta punch her though."

"Well what the fuck was I suppose to do Craig?! Sit there and take her saying all those horrible things? Watch as she made fun of me because I actually care about you?"

"Manny listen I know. I guess it's like at the movie theater when me and Spinner got into that fight about you. I was jealous because I care about you."

He approached me and places his hands on my face.

"But Manny despite what Ashley says I do love you. I always will. Now can we please drop this stupid problem."

"Craig, I-" I wanted to explain it to him, I wanted him to know how I felt, but once his lips hit mine I was gone. Lost in la-la land. But I realized, is he just going to keep playing with me like this? Reeling me into his trap just for me to get hurt again? No....I'm not going to let this happen

"Craig stop." I said pushing him off of me.

"Manny? What's wrong? I thought you wanted to be with me."

"Craig. I do wanna be with you, but not when you're in such a confused state of mind. I love you Craig. With all my heart and soul and I would do anything to be with you for the rest of my life, but not when you don't know what you want. Not when you can't decide between me and Ashley."

Before he could get in another word I walked out of the office.

"I assume that didn't go too well Mr. Manning?" Mr. Raditch said as he reentered his office.

"Yea, didn't go as I had planned."

Man was I pissed. I can't believe Craig is doing this to me...again! Pulling me back into his trap. I don't want to, I want to be happy with him. I want him to be able to tell Ashley to fuck off. To be able to say Manny I love you and want to be with you forever. But has it happened? No. Hasn't happened yet and it doesn't seem like it will.

I walked through the hall back to class and put my head down on my desk.

'This day is just so horrible. Nothing is going right.'

"Manny, I'm sorry about before and not talking to you. I guess I realized that you went through a lot this summer too and me being selfish about myself isn't going to help so I'm sorry."

It was Emma. I didn't expect to see her here. I mean talking to me.

"It's okay Emma. I'm sorry I was insensitive and didn't care about Mr. Simpson."

She smiled at me and walked to her seat next to Sean.....wait Sean was in my class too? Did they get back together over the summer or something?

I sat at the computer and started typing away like mad. Seconds later I sent the message to Emma.

-Hey...are you and Sean back 2gether or sumthin?-

I saw her look over at me and smile as she typed me a response. The message popped on my computer.

-Hey Manny.....yea we just got back 2day. Isn't it great?! Im so happy. I love Sean so much. Im so glad we're friends again.-

Before I could send her a message another one popped up.

-hey. What happened wit u n Craig?-

It was from Sean. I quickly wrote him a response and wrote back to Emma.

-Em. So what happened wit u n Chris? U guys broke ?-

-Sean, things didn't go so good. Anywhere we can talk so I can tell ya? Ps. Congrads on getting back wit em.-

Emma frowned and began typing for what seemed like forever. I got Sean's reply first.

-Oh wow....after class we can go to the back of the school and chill. You don't have an important class next period do you? Because we can skip and just talk. Ps. Thanks I guess. Emma has always been here and after saving her life I guess it would make sense to get back together. Can't wait 4 lata-

Emma's response popped up next.

-It's a L O N G story Manny. We were together for a long time and I love him and he loved me and we...well expressed our love. He used protection thank god, but after that it seemed like that's all our relationship was about. Just sex and nothing else. I was getting sick of it. I wanted back the Chris that I fell in love with. We got into this huge fight and when we made up he wanted to do it, but I told him no. I explained that this is what started the argument and we needed to take a break. He wouldn't listen so I left him. Now whenever I see him he just looks away. I'm just glad I have Sean now.-

So it seemed that Emma was so happy to have Sean back, but he wasn't exactly feeling the same way. As I was about to respond back the teacher walked in and decided to begin the class.

------after class-----

As soon as the bell rang I gathered my things and walked outside of class to my locker and threw my books in my locker. Emma walked over to me and waited for me to finish.

"Wanna walk to class together Manny? We should be extra early for Ms. Kwan's class. I heard it's suppose to be mostly a lecture on how this year is going to be different and how teachers are going to make sure nothing happens like last year again."

" I would Em, but I'm meeting someone in like right now. But I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it."

She smiled at me and walked to class.

I closed my locker and walked outside.

—behind the school----

I looked around and sat at a table waiting for Sean to arrive.

'He better come. I'm not missing class just to get stood up.'

"Manny, hey."

It was Sean.

"Thought you were gunna stand me up."

"Nah, I'm not like that, but anyway. What happened with Craig?"

I told him what happened with Raditch and Ashley in the office and how Craig tried to make everything alright, but only made things worse. I felt like Sean was someone I could actually talk to. Someone I could trust.

" So he kissed me and tried to make it better, but I knew...I knew he-"

I couldn't go on anymore. I began to cry. Just cry for no absolute reason at all.

"Sean I don't want to cry anymore. I hate Craig for everything he's done to me, but I'm just so in love with him I just don't know what to do. I- I'm so confused."

He embraced me and rubbed my back.

"Sh. Manny it's going to be okay. I promise. You're too beautiful to be put through this. You're too much of a good person and I won't let Craig do this to you."

I looked at him with my glassy eyes and managed a weak smile, Sean cared. Someone I barely knew gave more of a damn then the one man I loved. It wasn't right. He shouldn't care as much as he did, but I knew that Sean Cameron was one of compassion and feelings, not the bad ass that everyone knew him for.

He wiped a single clear tear from my tear stained face and just stared at me. He had such warmth and caring energy radiating off of his body that I couldn't stand it. I knew Emma was going to hate me for life, but I couldn't help it......I kissed Sean.

At first it was kind of awkward and I quickly pulled away, but he pulled me back as if he wanted more. As if one taste wasn't enough, as if he needed me almost as much as I needed him.

When we finally broke away Sean was staring into my eyes.

"Manny, I can't do this. I want to, I swear I do, but I can't hurt Emma again like this. I need you just as much as you need me, but I.....I can't betray her like this."

I nodded my head in understanding. I understood completely, but my mind didn't want to understand and the next words that came out of my mouth were the ones that ALWAYS got me in trouble.

" Sean....I can keep a secret."

I moved closer to him and we began kissing again. Oh was it amazing. It was like a thirst that no one else could quench for me, as if he kept refilling my cup and each time I was thirstier then the last. I needed Sean, I yearned for him, but something came and ruined it. Not so much something...as much someone.

"M-manny? Sean? What's going on?" Oh no.....Liberty.

"L-liberty! It's....it's nothing!"

"Sean....aren't you going out with Emma?!?"

"Ye-no. Of course not. Why would I cheat on Emma?"

"Well, Emma told me today that you guys got back together. Maybe I should go ask her and let her know what's going on."

"N-no! Liberty please don't."

"So you are going out with Emma. I'm sorry Sean, but she deserves to know."

-Liberty walks away-

"Oh god Manny, what now. I know I don't care about Emma too much, but god. I never wanted to hurt her. I care about her, not in the way she wished I did, but I do care about her."

" I-I understand Sean. But what can you do about it now? It's too late."

"M-maybe she won't believe Liberty."

"Fat chance. Liberty is ALWAYS right."

"I........I know. I'm so screwed."

" Don't look at it that way Sean. You still have me here with you. I won't leave your side."

He looked me in the eyes and nodded.

"Thanks Manny. I'm glad I can rely on you."

"So is it safe to say you and Emma are basically over?"

"Yea, we probably won't be together again. She won't forgive me after this."

"So now it doesn't matter what happens right?"

"I guess not."

" So if possibly I wanted to kiss you again it wouldn't matter because you and her are over?"

"Well, no I guess it would-"

I cut him off. I just HAD to kiss him again. He was the only thing keeping me together. He didn't reject me either. We kept kissing before a voice stopped us.

"Manny! What the hell are you doing with him?!"

I paused....I didn't know what to say, she had just become my friend again, but something cold came out of my mouth.

"What does it matter to you! You guys are history. Nothing is ever going to happen between you two again."

"Manny, you are such a slut! And Sean, you're an ass. I knew I should have expected something. Especially from the man-stealing whore!"

-Emma walks away-

'I might as well act like the man-stealing whore everyone thinks I am. It doesn't matter anymore.'

"Wow...that was rough. You alright Sean?"

Sean had a blank face. I guess he didn't realize what had just happened.

"E-emma....She's.....she's gone. Gone from my life forever. Manny she's gone."

"Sean, it's okay. You don't need her, you-you've got me!"

"M-manny, I...I'm sorry. I can't do this. You and I are just two people searching for something to fill the hole. The missing part that's been ripped out by someone else. I need to go. I'm sorry."

As I watched him run into the distance, I knew what he was doing. He was going to find Emma, to apologize, to try and make everything better and knowing Emma she will forgive him. I can't win. The man I want is confused, someone I was just yearning for crushed me and now , once again, I'm alone again. Tears began to fall and I didn't hide them. I just sat there outside and silently cried.

A/N: So what did you think? Chapter 2 is finished! Yayyyyy!!!! Anyway I would appreciate/ love a review from you beautiful, beautiful people! Until next chappie!!!

-SkittlesStar25