Chapter 8- Going back home
It was a 2 weeks before the wedding. Manny had everything planned out she just needed Emma and Craig to be there. She was going to get them hotel rooms at a five star hotel and treat them as if they were royalty. They deserved it.
"I'm going to be waiting right here for you" Jake said "I want you to go to Canada and gather all your little friends and bring them to California"
"Ok. But Emma's on her way so she can get to know you. You know since she was my best friend she wants me to be safe."
"Yeah, but I have to remember to pick her up"
"If you don't I'm going to be so embarrassed and hate you forever, and if your late that would be a bad first impression."
"I'll remember to pick up your friend don't worry" Jake said
"OK" Manny said "Kisses"
She puckered up her lips and they exchanged kisses.
"Bye" Manny said waving.
Manny started walking out into the gates. She was going to miss Jake but she had some business she had to finish up with Craig.
A couple of hours later Manny was in Canada she rented a car and was on her way to her hotel to check in.
The lady at the front desk wasn't there she was in the laundry room so Manny yelled for her.
"Hey um…I…want to check in for a room" Manny said
"Hold on" The front desk lady said
She came out first with a frown than with a smile.
"Oh my gosh Manny!" She said
"Hi?" Manny replied
Manny couldn't recognize this person. She had dark brown almost looking black hair and had her eyebrow pierced and her lip pierced she was wearing all black. The person kind of reminded her of Ellie, because Ellie was the only girl she knew that dressed like that, but Ellie wasn't that big.
"Um…It's me Paige!" she said
"Oh my gosh Paige, your working, in hotel" Manny said with a smile "And you've changed your look. That is so cute"
"Well I didn't want to be cute but it works out. After you moved Ellie and I became closer friends since Hazel was always with Jimmy, and now I've changed. I think the old me was mean. Now I'm going for a more urban type. You know?"
Manny had no clue what Paige was talking about but she agreed.
"Um…can you show me my room?" Manny asked
"Sure" Paige answered
"You are in room 225. Here is your key"
Paige handed Manny a key and Manny took her suitcase up to her room. The room was huge and really pretty it had nice silk pillows everywhere and the curtains were gorgeous on her pillow was a note.
I miss you already
Jake
"We're miles away and he still makes my heart melt" Manny whispered to herself.
Manny took a shower and changed into denim low rise jeans and a pink shirt that said "Hot Stuff" Manny looked at herself in the mirror.
"This is only to get him and bring him to Canada. He knows about the wedding and he's happy you're not going to fall in love with him" Manny took a deep breath in. She looked in her purse to see if she had the promise ring and her plane tickets for Craig. She fixed her hair once more and left.
Manny drove too the familiar place of Joeys. It looked exactly the same. Everything! Manny went and knocked on the door. A girl with long wavy brown hair and light brown eyes came to the door. Manny thought she had the wrong house.
"I'm sorry; I thought this was Joey Jeremiah's house they must have moved"
"No they still live here. Don't you recognize me Manny?"
"Angie?" Manny said
"Yeah"
"Wow, you're so big?"
Angie wasn't 5 anymore she wasn't listening to Barney and she wasn't dressing like a princess. She had a short skirt on and a tank top. Almost reminded Manny of the old her. When Craig had that affair. She hoped Angie wasn't the school slut she was back then.
"Angie who's the boy that's at the door." Joey yelled from the living room.
"It's not a boy." Angie said
"That what are you doing out there so long?"
"Come and see"
Then Joey came to the door. He was still bald still looked the same just with more wrinkles.
"Oh my God Manny howare you?" Joey asked
"I'm fine. I came here to get Craig."
"He's downstairs in his room. Just open the door and surprise him"
"Ok"
Manny went down stairs and into Craig's room. Emma was right he really had gone crazy. He was sleeping in his bed. Manny turned on the light. Her pictures filled his wall.
"Oh my God Craig" Manny said wile covering her mouth. "You really have gotten bad"
"Ang, turn off the light" Craig moaned
Manny walked over to Craig. He looked at her and jumped out of bed.
"Manny" He said "You're here!"
"Yeah" Manny said with a smile.
He gave her a hug.
"You, go sit down and let me take a shower and we can talk"
Craig showed Manny to the living room. Manny sat down and Craig left. There was a picture of her and him in a frame on the table. There were pop bottles and tapes like three. Manny picked them up and looked at them. There was Manny and me at Angie's party, Manny and me babysitting Angie, Manny and me just chilling at Marco's.
"Here really has gone insane" Manny thought
Soon Craig came out of his room and sat down in the couch across from Manny. He grabbed her hand.
"I've missed you so much" he said
"Yeah, I've missed you to" Manny said with a smile
He looked down at her hand.
"What's this?" He asked
"It's my engagement ring" Manny said
"Engagement ring? We're already engaged?"
"Craig what exactly did Emma tell you that day?"
"Emma told me that you were coming to Canada"
"That's it?" Manny asked
"Yeah"
Manny got up and started pacing back and forth. Craig didn't know that she was engaged. Manny knew it seemed weird that Craig thought it was ok. How was she going to tell him she was getting married? Tears were in her eyes. She didn't want to break Craig's heart but Jake; she told him she would marry him. There wedding is in 2 weeks. Emma sat down in the chair and looked at Craig.
"What's going on?" Craig asked
"Let me tell you a funny story." Manny said with a smile. "See I moved to California. There was this guy named Jake, He showed me how to get to my homeroom, he was really nice. Jake had a crush on me and I told him about you but he asked me out. I said sure, I mean it's not a yes it's a sure and I didn't want to break the guys heart. Anyway 5 years later he made a special song for me on his CD and he asked me to marry him. I couldn't just say no I mean he would go into shock and die and the ring fit so I said yes. And now we're getting married in two weeks. Jake wants you to be a groomsmen and I thought Emma told you but she didn't isn't that the funniest story you have ever heard?"
Craig just looked at Manny"
"Then why don't you call of the wedding?"
"Because…I'm pregnant" Manny said really fast "No, I'm not pregnant, I can't cut off the wedding we have plans and everything I can't just stop it. We have 2 more weeks to go Craig."
"What about my promise ring?" He asked
"I have it" Manny took the ring out of her purse. "Here Craig, give it to someone you really love"
Craig took the ring and then tried to put the ring on Manny's finger.
"No, Craig not me." Manny said pulling her hand away
Craig's face soured he looked at Manny with hate in his eyes.
"Manny I have been waiting here for more than 6. Waiting for you! There are thousand of girls who have been asking me out and I have declined because I love you and only you. I promised that I would wait for you and you promised that you would not love another man"
"Do you love him?" Craig asked
"I don't know Craig" Manny said tears in her eyes
"Do you love him?"
"Craig lets talk about this later"
"Do you love him!" Craig exclaimed
"Yes Craig, yes I love him. I love him a lot."
Manny took out the plane tickets from her purse.
"Do you love me Craig?" she whispered
"Yeah, I love you and that's why it hurts me to see you with another guy. Marrying another guy knowing that I won't be able to have you"
"Craig then if you really love me, you will be happy for me and you will come to California and be in my wedding." Manny said 'The flight is at noon tommrow don't be late."
Manny blew him a kiss and left.
Craig slouched down on his chair. He picked up the plane tickets and looked at them. He went to his room and started finding a suitcase.
"The things you do for love" he said to himself
