Please Don't Envy Me
Written by: American Idiot's Broken Dreams
Chapter Six
Thermonuclear Explosions
After school, Hazel, Jimmy, Craig, and Ashley and I were supposed to meet at the Dot for a little while, just to hang out. I was so excited about my new alliance with Manny, without thinking about the possible consequences, I invited her. Of course, she as ecstatic about finally being able to be let back into the 'in' circle she immediately accepted without letting me finish my sentence.
We were both in a state of euphoria that we didn't really notice the looks we got from the gang as we walked into the Dot together, talking like old friends.
"Hey, guys," I smiled dreamily and took a seat next to Craig.
"Um, hi, everybody," Manny said sheepishly.
Ashley was giving her a look of deepest hate, Craig looked as if he'd seen a ghost, and Jimmy and Hazel were quietly observing the scene with intent eyes. I didn't take long for the tension to build up so quickly, you could cut it with a Swiss Army knife.
"I invited Manny to hang with us, I hope that's okay." I said in a tone that dared someone to object.
"That's cool, it been a while since we've seen you, Manny." Jimmy was trying desperately to ease the thick tension that had suddenly clouded up our table.
"How've things been with you and JT?" Hazel asked, warmly.
I was really thankful for Jimmy and Hazel, the only sane ones at this table and how they were trying to make things better. So far, Craig hadn't said anything, but was intently staring at me with a strong look of panic in his eyes. And I realized why. Sitting at the table with him was his pregnant girlfriend, his used-to-be pregnant ex-girlfriend, and his deceived and heartbroken first love. I truly felt for my sweet boyfriend.
"Well, um, we kind of broke up a couple of months ago. It just wasn't working out." Manny informed quietly.
"Oh, what happened? Got by pregnant again by another girl's cheating boyfriend?" Ashley said nastily, but held her menu up as if she were asking Manny about the latest Green Day video.
Manny's head hung desolately and Hazel and I sharply glared at Ashley. I might not have understood her pain, but couldn't she at least get Manny a try before ripping into her like a starving dingo?
"Ashley, you don't need to go there. What's in the past should stay in the past." Hazel reproached firmly.
"I'm just saying…" Ashley shrugged.
"Anyways, Manny, I heard we raise eight hundred dollars for the Squad's new uniforms." Jimmy conversed.
"Yeah, you guys were great at the car wash and I think that helped raise some of the money." Manny still looked very uncomfortable.
"We weren't that great, but I'm glad we could help." Jimmy laughed.
Spinner walked up to the table, apparently not noticing the occupants of the table, because when he took out his ordering pad, he looked up and uttered a light, "Oh boy,"
"Hey, Spin," everyone at the table, including me, said lightly.
"So, what can I get everyone?" he asked, attempting to keep his professional demeanor.
"I'll just have a basket of fries," Hazel requested.
"Jimmy?"
"Uh, just a burger, I guess. I'll eat off Hazel's fries." Jimmy said dismissively, and winked at his girlfriend.
"Cool…any specifics?"
"Nah, just keep light on the mayo,"
"Right-o…Ash?"
"Nothing for me, thank you," Ashley replied, still staring intently at the menu.
"Paige?"
"The same as Jimmy and Hazel and add a chocolate and strawberry shake," I waved off my unusually large request as Spinner looked at me strangely.
"Any specifics?"
"Um, extra pickles,"
"Okay," Spinner still looked at me strangely, but moved on. "Craig?"
"What?"
"Dude, do you want anything?"
"No, nothing, nothing at all," Craig seemed giddy and nervous, judging by the way snapped at Spinner.
"Okay and Manny?"
"Um, just a Caesar salad with a Diet Coke." Manny replied nervously.
"I see we're trying to keep our little body trim and healthy for the next child, huh?" Ashley sniped viciously.
"Ashley!" I said firmly.
"What, I'm just conversing with the little slut." Ashley snapped, slamming her menu down on the table.
"Stop antagonizing her. She's already apologized for what happened last year, so just let it go. Manny's trying to put everything behind her and be the bigger person, so why can't you do the same?" I nearly yelled.
"Here it goes," I heard Spinner mutter, before sidling away.
"No I can't 'put it behind me and be the bigger person', Paige! Do you have any, any idea what my life's been like since that-that-that little incident?" Ashley yelled.
She was fired up and so was I. I wasn't about to let her put Manny through this, not after the little heart to heart we had this morning.
"No, I don't know what your life's been like, but have you stopped to think what her life's been like since then?" I hollered.
The Dot was dead quiet; every eye on me and Ash's falling out. I could have sworn that the cooks in the back had stopped to listen to our conversation.
"Oh, yeah, let's throw a pity party for Manny! Her life's been so, so hard. I mean, who wouldn't want a break after stealing someone's boyfriend, getting pregnant by that stolen boyfriend, and then killing an innocent life that got caught in the crossfire! Oh, yeah, I'm sorry for all you've been through, Manny!" For the latter part of the statement, she stared coldly at Manny.
Before I had a chance to bellow the many thoughts running through my head, Manny had leapt to her feet, and fierce coldness in her eyes.
"You don't know what I've been through Kerwin, so don't start giving everyone that I'm-the-victim-here bull!" Manny screamed, seething.
"Oh, what've you've been through poor Manny? What could have been so heart achingly bad for you?" Ashley simpered sardonically.
"I had to kill my baby, Ashley!" Though Manny was still seething with rage, she had begun to tear up and I protectively put an arm around her shoulders.
"And I suppose it wasn't your choice to kill you baby?" Ashley sneered.
"No," Manny growled, "I would have never, ever killed my baby if I would have had the opportunity to choose."
"Then what happened? Did your mommy make you do it?" Ashley scoffed.
"Actually, she did. She made me, made me, get an abortion because if I kept my baby, then I'd be a disgrace to the family and she would have kicked me out!" Manny screeched.
"Yeah right. I bet you were only intent on continuing with your raunchy little life of sleeping around and breaking people's hearts." Ashley spat.
Nobody had anytime to prepare themselves as Manny launched herself at Ashley, furiously slapping and hitting anywhere she could touch. Hazel and I stared in shock as Jimmy and Craig leaped up to separate the now viciously fighting girls.
Jimmy had Ashley and Craig had Manny, but, unfortunately, both girls were still reaching and clawing for each other.
"You are nothing but a self-centered bitch who thinks of nothing but her own problems! NO wonder Craig cheated on you!" Manny teased callously, a small trickle of blood came from the corner of her mouth.
Once again, Ashley slapped Manny. This was really getting of hand, and I couldn't help but feel like I was the cause for it.
"Okay, dude, you guys have to get out of here with this!" Spinner said, breaking the nasty, tense silence.
"That's fine by me! I don't want to get syphilis from standing to close to this skanky slut!" Ashley hollered, jerking fiercely away from Jimmy and storming out of the Dot.
For several minutes, no one moved, then, gradually, everyone returned back to whatever they were doing, but you could still here the excited buzz about the fight.
We all sat down, Manny trying her best to fix herself up.
"Here, hon, let me help you," I offered, taking my napkin a blotting at the corner of Manny's mouth.
"When did you two become such great friends?" Jimmy asked, scowling slightly.
"Just today, actually, right after I made her captain of the Spirit Squad." I informed absentmindedly.
"Why'd you do that?" Craig and Jimmy questioned in unison.
"You haven't told them?" Manny wondered.
"Well, Craig and Hazel know…" I said in a low whisper.
"Then what don't I know?" Jimmy sat forward in his chair looking around at all four us expectantly.
We were silent under Jimmy's eager stare. I didn't know how I should tell him. Jimmy was a very understanding and accepting person, but you just couldn't tell how a person was going to react.
"Paige, do you want to…" Craig trailed off, motioning to Jimmy.
Sighing, I answered, "You can if you want to."
"I know someone's got five seconds to spill…or else." Jimmy threatened impatiently.
"Well, Jimmy, aah, Paige is—pregnant." Craig stumbled and faltered over his words.
We watched as Jimmy's expression melt into a combined mixture of shock, excitement, and disbelief.
"Does Spinner know?" he asked suddenly.
"Wait; do you know who this baby is for?" I asked.
"Craig, duh," Jimmy shrugged.
"You knew about us?" I asked incredulously.
"No, I assumed that since you asked him did he want to tell me, that the baby must be her. I'm not making to big of an assumption here, am I?"
"No, you're right. The baby is Craig's and Craig and I are together."
"Well, congratulations. I'm happy that you've both finally found someone who makes you happy." Jimmy smiled.
"Just think, Jimmy," Hazel began, "We're going to be Auntie Hazel and Uncle Jimmy!"
"And Auntie Manny," I grinned.
"You'd really let your baby called me that?" Manny wondered softly.
"Of course, Manny, come on," I said, "You're my friend and whether you like it or not, you're a part of my life and my baby's life now!"
"Thanks, Paige," Manny smiled, and reached over to pull me into a hug.
"So, you never answered the question, Paige, how come you're quitting the Spirit Squad?" Craig inquired.
"Craig, you are so male, it's unbelievable." Hazel shook her head at Craig's ignorance.
"What, I just want to know why she's quitting Squad, a simple question. Why does that make me 'so unbelievably male'?" Craig defended.
"Do you really want her doing all those stunts and jumping around while she's pregnant?" Hazel insinuated, as if she was hoping Craig was going to catch on.
"Ah, right…" The idea dawned on Craig and he agreed solemnly.
"So, do you know how far along you are or what you're having?" Jimmy solicited curiously.
"I'm about two months along, and Craig and I are going to find out what it is next—." I shared gleefully.
"Find out what what is?" Spinner asked, coming to our table with two trays loaded with our food.
Once again, the silence was unbelievably heavy as Spinner stared around keenly. This wasn't the way this was supposed to go, but I guess that since I had so many people that supported me that it wouldn't be so bad.
"Well, Spinner, there's something that's happened between me and Craig." I began softly.
"What, you two are together?" he asked dismissively.
"That and…"
"And what, Paige, you can tell me you know." Spinner pressed.
"Craig and I are together, and we're are—"
"Spinner," Craig interrupted me, standing. "Paige is pregnant."
For a moment, Spinner looked shocked, but then it looked as if something slowly dawned on him.
"But, Paige, we've never—well, you know, done the nasty."
Hanging my head desolately, I responded, "I know."
"Then how are you—" it seemed as though he was starting to ask what happened, but then without warning, he exclaimed, "SLUT!"
"Hey!" Craig yelled, pushing Spinner's shoulder.
"It nothing but the truth! Paige is a slut! She cheated on me with some other guy, and got pregnant on top of it!" Spinner yelled; once again, the entire confines of the restaurant were thrown into silence.
"It's no worst than what you've don't to her, Spinner! Making her pay you pack for your wrecked car after she crashed it into the car of the creep who raped her! Then, on top of that, you go and flirt and try to make a pass on Manny at the car wash! That she's totally justified for what she did!" Hazel burst out, jumping to her feet in a livid rage.
"Shut up, Aden, this has nothing to do with you!" Spinner warned in a low voice, pointing a finger at Hazel.
"Now you're taking this too far, Mason. Don't talk to Hazel or Paige like that." Craig and Jimmy growled concurrently, Craig once again pushing Spinner on the shoulder.
"You two know who it is, don't you! You both know who got this slut pregnant!" Spinner accused.
He pushed Craig back and they stood two inches from each others face, breathing heavily and glaring.
"What if we do know, what are you going to do about it?" Jimmy snarled.
Manny had affectionately wrapped her arms around me, as I fought back tears. She was silently soothing me, hoping that I wouldn't get worked up. The truth was, I wanted so bad to throw everything in Spinner's face, just to let everything out. But somehow, I knew that Jimmy and Craig wouldn't give me the pleasure of defending myself. So, I sat there, my hands over my mouth to stop the sobs, and listened to the scene unfold in front of me.
"I want to know! Tell me who's the man whore who got Paige pregnant, so I can congratulate him on sleeping with a slut!" Spinner roared.
"I'm standing right here, congratulate me, Spinner." Craig said in a treacherously low voice.
Spinner's face contorted in vicious vehemence. He roughly pushed Craig back into a table, and Craig screamed out in pain and rage.
"Craig!" I yelled, trying to break free from Manny's embrace.
"You're the one who slept with her?" Spinner screamed, putting his foot on top of Craig's chest.
"Manny, Hazel, take Paige home, she doesn't need to see this." Jimmy muttered, angrily glaring at Spinner yelling down on Craig.
"Come on, Paige," Manny urged softly.
"But, Craig, he's—Manny I can't…" as she and Hazel gently walked me from the restaurant, I was in a daze.
I hoped that Craig and Jimmy would take care of Spinner, and I wished Spinner wouldn't hurt Craig. I didn't know if I could handle it, I didn't know what I would do if Craig got hurt.
"Manny, I can't deal with this! I thought everything would be okay once I told Craig. I thought that everything would be smooth sailing from there. Maybe keeping this baby is a mistake! May be I should just get an abortion and move on—" I was delirious with fear and worry.
"Paige, no!" Hazel and Manny chorused.
Manny stepped in front of me and put both hands on my shoulders, firmly staring into my jade green eyes with her chocolate brown ones.
"Paige, you aren't speaking rationally. You're scared and you're worried for Craig, so you're not thinking clearly. You aren't aborting this baby, because you are going to carry it to term, and you're going to deliver. And then, you and Craig are going to raise a wonderful baby—together. So, just calm down and take a deep breath." Manny guided softly, but firmly.
"Manny is right, Paige, you need to calm down. Stress isn't good for the baby." Hazel rubbed my back in soothing circles.
"You're both right," I said tearfully.
"How about we just go to my house, relax, and wait for Jimmy or Craig to call?" Manny offered.
"That's a great idea!" Hazel smiled at Manny.
"Okay, yeah," I said, dismally looking back in the direction of the Dot.
"Nobody but my mom should be home, so we should plenty of privacy." Manny said soothingly.
I tried my best to calm down and look forward to going to Manny's house. But, somehow another wave of dread developed heavily in my chest, telling me that this day was only going to get worse.
Disclaimer: See chapter one
See, when I promise something I give it to you! Even though it seemed like it this chapter, Paige hasn't lost Ashley yet, but… have no fear, for the end is near! Spinner and Ash are going to play a key role in future chapters, adding to the warning that everything isn't going to be a basket of roses for Paige and Craig. And a little warning, next chapter is going to be a tear jerker. I'm not going to tell you what it deals with, but get your tissues ready because the tears are sure to come! Keep reviewing!
Reviewers
Maibe Josie: You just bring tears to my eyes, dude! You are such a great reviewer and it's wonderful to know your enjoying this. I understand, but I can't really counter that, because I haven't seen the episode, so I'm not going to get the full effect of the emotion portrayed. I can only go by the scripts and what my imagination allows me to perceive. I hope this chapter will satisfy you until Paige breaks the news to Ash. Trust me, homes; it's going to be good.
Baby05: You totally deserve the "Loyal Reader and Reviewer Award", but, I must say, you are in tough competition with Maibe Josie! No, scratch that, you've both earned your awards separately. Maibe Josie gives me best constructive criticism on the Net (she's earned the "Thank you Lord for Having Her Help Me Improve Award") and you give me the praise and encouragement to keep going (you got like two awards now!). You both are lovely and I love you! But, since you get so emotional easily, I'm sure your going to want to read this from a distance, because you might cry so hard, you'll damage the keyboard. Just kidding!
And, Medicated and Dedicated, if you're still out there, come on back and review! I miss your wit and support! But, everyone, should keep reviewing, it's about to get ugly (in a good way)…and keep on the look out for my newest fic "Behind These Hazel Eyes"—it's a Jiberty, but totally the Jiberty pairing you areexpecting! Keep on the look out for that one! I love you all and good night!