Chapter 9- Down Hill
"What?" Manny asked
Craig had just told Manny that Jesse was cheating on her. They were at the park sitting on the swings.
"I said Jesse is…" Craig started but Manny interrupted
"I know what you said Craig I'm not stupid." Manny said
She looked up at the sky and then closed her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek Craig wiped it away and she pulled back.
"I know your mad about Jesse but…"
"That's not why I'm crying Craig" Manny said
"Then what is it?" Craig asked
"I'm crying because I thought you were better than that." Manny said
"What?" Craig asked "Manny…"
"No Craig. I knew you wanted to be with me. But I didn't think you would go this far."
"Lying Manny I'm telling the truth Jesse did come to CM and he took pictures with his girlfriend"
"Do you have proof?" Manny asked
Craig thought about it. He really didn't have proof he didn't develop the pictures yet because he wanted to tell Manny as soon as possible.
"That's what I thought" Manny said "Craig why, why did you have to make up a lie like that?"
"Manny I'm not…"
Manny took a deep breath in. "No…it's ok Craig save your lies. I know something that will help both of us. I'll move Ginger to another school"
"What?"
"I don't want anything to do with you Craig, I don't want to see you I don't want to talk to you. Don't call our house don't visit us don't communicate with us at all."
"Manny"
"Craig it will help both of us ok?" Manny said
Manny gave Craig a kiss on the cheek.
"Just leave me and Ginger alone we were fine without you before and we'll be fine without you now"
Manny grabbed her purse and walked away. She gave Craig one last glance and was gone.
"I told her and she flipped she doesn't believe me Tony"
Tony and Craig were back at there old spot the bar.
"She's not worth it dude I mean she dumped you for telling the truth?"
"You don't understand Tony. I love Manny, I lover her to death. I know this sounds corny but she is the shine in my sun, the warmth in hot coco she is everything to me and more. I wanted to marry her, Missy loves her she's a great cook and she was a great girlfriend. But I had to screw up and dump her that graduation night. I didn't realize how perfect she was until she got engaged. I'm such a dumb ass"
"Craig look I am sure that there are other girls out there that would love to be with you."
"Tony you don't get it I don't want any other girl. I want Manny" Craig said
"You're a dumb ass!" Ginger exclaimed
"Ginger don't call me names" Manny said
Ginger and Manny were eating breakfast. It was the morning before Ginger was starting her new school.
"How can you make me change school because of Craig?" Ginger asked
"Lets not talk about Craig now Ginger. I didn't change your school because of him"
"Don't you get it mom we need Craig. Jesus you need Craig I know you love him!"
"What do you know about love Ginger?" Manny asked "Your only five you just learned how to stop using diapers"
"I may be five but I'm not blind" Ginger exclaimed "I know that you love Craig because you give him a look you don't give Jesse. You smile at him in a different way than you smile at Jesse."
Manny stayed quiet Ginger was right.
"But he hurt me before Ginger" Manny said about to cry
"He may have hurt you before but that doesn't mean he can't change mom. Craig loves you and you love him."
"Ginger finish your food we have to get you to school" Manny said
Craig finally had the prints out of Jesse and his girlfriend's pictures. He put there pictures in an envelope and sent them to his address in the mail. Craig grabbed the origionls and ran to Manny's house. Craig ran to Manny's door and started knocking on it. Ginger opened the door.
"Hi Craig" Ginger said
"Hi Ginger were your mom?" Craig asked
"She's not here, she went…"
"Ginger who are you talking to?" someone asked
Soon a lady came to the door. She had brown hair and green eyes. She kind of scared Craig.
"Ginger who is this?" the lady asked
"This is Craig" Ginger replied looking up at the lady
"Craig Manning?" She asked
"Yeah" Craig replied
"Manny said you are not supposed to communicate with her or Ginger" The lady said
"It's just…"
"Sorry" She said and she shut the door.
"Oh my God" Craig said walking back out the door
Manny fixed her hair and looked at the door.
"You can do this Manny he's not cheating on you it's just in your head."
Manny knocked on the door of Jesse's apartment.
"I'm coming" He said
Jesse finally opened the door and gave Manny a confused look.
"Hey Manny what are you doing here?" Jesse asked
"I came here to see my special guy" Manny said reaching in for a kiss
"Well your special guy is busy doing stuff for work so can you stop by later"
"No, I came to visit you I'll just sit in the living room and wait for you" Manny said
"No I don't' want to put you through that it will take forever. You have to get back to Ginger…"
"I hired a sitter for all night" Manny said with a smile
"Manny just come back later." Jesse said
"What are you hiding from me?" Manny asked
"Nothing" Jesse replied
"Then why won't you let me inside?" Manny asked
"Because I'm busy" Jesse replied
"We're getting married Jesse we're not supposed to hide things from each other. If your cheating on my tell me now" Manny said about to start crying
"Who said I'm hiding anything?" Jesse said
"Then let me go inside your house!" Manny exclaimed
Manny pushed Jesse's door open. There was no one in there. Just a couple of papers on his table. She walked into his room and there was nothing there either. She walked out of the room and sat on the couch.
"I'm sorry Jesse. I didn't really think you were cheating. It's just there are a couple of more months till our wedding day and I thought you would have cold feet"
"No Manny it's ok why would I back away from marrying you?" he asked
Soon a girl in underwear walked out of Jesse's bathroom. She was tall and skinny. She had blond hair and blue eyes. And she was really pretty.
"Hi!" She said with a smile
"Jesse who is she?"
"Oh I'm Linda Jesse's girlfriend" She said talking out her hand to shake Manny's
Manny didn't react so she put her hand away. "Now who are you?" She asked
"I'm Manny Jesse's ex fiancé" Manny said
"Manny I wanted to tell you" Jesse said
"Whatever Jesse, the late nights, the I can't make it I have to work were all with her." Manny said about to cry "I was blinded by love. Everyone knew, everyone could tell except for me"
"Manny let's just talk about this" Jesse said "I'm sorry"
"No, no Jesse. It's too late to say sorry." Manny said in tears Manny took off her ring and threw it at Jesse. "Luckily we didn't send the invitations out yet." Manny said with a smile
She gave Jesse a smile and left tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Hi Missy its Manny where is your dad?" Manny asked
Manny was in her car driving to Craig's to apologize for not beliving him.
"I don't know. He told me he was going to the sky" Missy replied
"The sky?" Manny asked
"Yeah the sky" Missy said
"Ok thanks Missy" Manny said and she hung up the phone
"The sky…the sky…how the heck is he…OMG I know where Craig is" Manny said to herself.