Chapter 9: The Fight
Emma gave Manny a cold, hard slap on her right cheek. Manny slowly turned her head back around to glare at Emma.
"Ooh, you bitch!" Manny yelled, lunging at Emma. Emma lunged back, punching Manny twice in the face. But she didn't stop there. Emma and Manny began wrestling on Manny's bed, kicking, screaming, and scratching each other fiercely. Emma yanked on Manny's black hair, making Manny scream in pain. Manny had access to Emma's lower body and bit Emma's hip. Emma yelped as she socked Manny in the temple. Manny swung at Emma, but missed. She swung again and hit Emma in the nose. Meanwhile, J.T. and Ashley stood at the sidelines yelling, "Stop!" Neither of them approached the thrashing girls, afraid that it would cause more intensity. Both girls stood up, fists clenched.
"Bitch!" Manny repeated, punching Emma in the abdomen. Emma stood up and although in pain, managed to kick her leg up and straight up into Manny's crotch. Manny leaned over in pain, crying.
"Whore! Don't you ever!" Emma shot back, pushing Manny back onto the bed and forcing herself to grab Manny's hair and yank even harder than before. "Don't you ever touch my boyfriend again!"
Ashley and J.T. couldn't bear to just watch anymore. Ashley came up behind Manny before she could attack Emma again. J.T. suspended his girlfriend and shushed her.
"I hate you!" Emma yelled through gritted teeth. Manny tried to break away from Ashley's grasp. Her temple was bleeding, and the entire left side of her face was blue and purple, bruised badly. Emma didn't look so bad. She had two black eyes, and her mouth and nose was bleeding.
"I hate you so much more slut!" Manny yelled, pushing away from Ashley. J.T. let Emma go; cautiously watching to make sure his girlfriend didn't wrestle Manny down again.
"Why!" Emma shouted in a choky yet angry voice.
"I love him too, okay? I was jealous! Jealous…" Manny's screaming turned into sobs, until she was crying uncontrollably, throwing herself back on the bed. Ashley came to her side, holding a bag of ice to Manny's temple. She cradled Manny in her arms like a baby. "It's okay, it's alright," Ashley whispered to Manny. Emma slipped on her jacket and grabbed her purse.
"Let's go," she whispered to J.T., grabbing his hand as she led him out the door. "Wait! What?" J.T. asked, confused. Manny gave him a hurt look as he left, the door slamming shut. She buried her bloody face in her hands as she cried. She knew that she still loved J.T. But it was too late. He was already claimed by her used-to-be best friend.