Chapter 3: Strictly Business
Craig's POV
"Ok, guys tell me what you've got," I said to Jimmy, Sean and Emma as we sat at our favorite lunch table.
"Here's my list," Sean said shoving the paper in my face.
"Two people," I cried looking at Sean disappointed.
"It was a hard list to make!" He answered defensively.
"Whatever, lets just look over these names," I stated. I looked at the first name and nearly chocked on my french fry because I was so repulsed.
"AMY!" I asked in disgust
"Yeah, so what?" He stated looking at me.
"I said I wanted a girlfriend, not the Degrassi's Queen of STD's!" I yelled taking my pen and crossing her name off the list.
"Okay, next person," I sighed looking at the list, "Ellie...I would, but she has a boyfriend, and I need someone who Manny hates more." This is going to be harder than I thought, I said to myself as I crumpled up his list. Hopefully my best friend could think up better people.
"Okay, Jimmy let's see your list," I smiled as he handed me his list. As soon as I saw the number my smile dissolved. "Three people,"
"Sean's right," Jimmy confessed, "It is hard to find people,"
I glanced at Jimmy's list and realized his list could use some work but it was better than Seans. "Hazel, Paige, and Heather Sinclair," I mumbled reading the three names over. "I thought about using those three, but none of them would ever betray Manny. They're her obidient little lapdogs and would rather kill themselves than make Manny angry." I took my pen, crossed out the three names, crumpled up the list, and set it beside Sean's list. I looked over at Emma with pleading eyes, Emma was a smart girl surely she could make a good list. "Here Emma, let me see your list," I said. I could tell on her face though, that her list sucked just as bad as everyone else.
"I can't," Emma sighed, "See everyone that was on their list, was on mine too."
"Oh, come on," I yelled throwing my hands in the air, "You're telling me there is no girl who is available, and who Manny hates to go out with me!" I couldn't believe this,I thought to myself. How am I supposed to make Manny pay, and get her back at the same time, when we can't even come up with anyone. While I was contemplating on what I should do, Emma broke me out of my trance.
"I have someone!" Emma squealed," How about Ashley!"
"Ashley..."I repeated trying to make her go on.
"Ashley Kerwin," she smiled.
Flashback
"I can't believe I was runner up at the Talent Show!" Manny screamed throwing her bite-size trophy across my garage.
"Manny, sweetie, calm down," I stated, trying to grab her hand but she quickly pulled away and began pacing back and forth in her costume she wore for the show. She wore a hot pink bra lined with silver sequins. Attached to the sides of the bra, was matching hot pink bell-bottom sleeves lined on the bottom with silver sequins. To match her top she wore a pair of hot pink bell-bottom, skin-tight pants, lined, of course, with silver sequins. She wore a pair of hot pink hooker heels, huge silver hoops, and had body glitter on her face and stomach, her hair was up in a ponytail, with silver glitter in it also. She looked like Degrassi's own Britney Spears.
"No, I will not calm down," she sniffled, "I worked two long weeks with Raul, so my dancers and I could have our moves down, and three weeks with Pierre, so that I could sound perfect!"
"Well, babe you're not gonna get that many points for doing a remake to "I'm a slave for you," I explained soothingly trying to calm her down.
"What are you on the judges side now!" She yelled facing me, with fire seething through her eyes.
"No!" I reassured, "Of course not,"
"That's what I thought," she said through clenched teeth. She heaved a deep sigh and sat beside me on the couch. "It's just not fair, some stupid punk sings a depressing song and plays a couple notes on her piano, and all of a sudden she's the best singer in the school." She rested her head on my shoulder, as I put my arm around her and rubbed her arms to calm her down. "It's just not fair!"
End Flashback
"Emma... You're a GENIUS!" I screamed hugging her with all my strength.
"You're welcome?" Emma chocked out half-confused, half-sucking for air.
"Uh, Craig" Jimmy said, "I think you're suffocating her," I didn't notice that Emma's face began to turn different shades as she was gasping for air. Oops!
"Oh,sorry Em," I blushed. She answered somewhat of an It's okay, as Sean rubbed her back to help her get some air. After she changed to her normal shade, Jimmy wanted some answers.
"Back to the subject, " Jimmy stated curiously, "Why is Ashley so perfect for the job."
"Because, Ashley won the talent show,and Manny got runner-up, " I smiled, "They've had some confronations here and there, and Manny's hated her ever since."
"How are you going to approach her?" Sean asked
"You had better tell her the truth," Emma said. Sean and Jimmy both aggreed with what Emma said.
"Of course, I'm gonna tell her the truth," I grinned, "Besides, I know she would love to piss Manny off."
"Here's your chance Craig," Sean pointed. I turned around and sure enough, Ashley was headed out of the lunchroom alone, the perfect chance to talk to her in private. I just hope she'll go for it, I thought to myself.
"I'll see you guys later," I stated and got up from our table.
"Good luck," Jimmy called. I looked back at my friends and smiled, I didn't realize that I would need it.
Ashley's POV
"I got to go print something out for English, " I stated finishing the last of my soda, "I'll see you two later."
"Okay," Ellie and Marco smiled in unison. I loved having lunch with my two best friends, all we did was laugh and be goofy and it was okay, because we were comfortable with each other. I headed out of the cafeteria, towards the Media Immersion room when I realized I forgot something I needed in my locker.I quickly turned around and headed toward my locker humming The Killers "Somebody Told Me." I scanned through my locker until I found the notebook that I needed. Pulling it out, I closed the locker only to be surprised by someone unexpected.
"Hi, I'm Craig," Craig smiled throwing out his hand. I looked him up and down, he was wearing a Pink Floyd T-shirt with a pair of faded jeans and some VANS shoes. His hair was short and a little flipped at the sides, like a skater. Why is he here? I thought to myself, I don't even know him.
"Hi, and I don't care," I stated and headed towards the Media Immersion Room.
"Can we talk?" He asked with pleading eyes following me towards the MI lab.
"About?" I said not looking back. What could this boy possibly want?
"Manny and I broke up," He panted catching up to me. I immediately stopped dead in my tracks.
"Am I supposed to care?" I asked completely confused. This guy has issues, coming up to random people to tell them his problems, what a weirdo!
"She cheated on me," He sighed looking down at the floor.
"What else is new!" I cried looking at him, obviously there was something he wasn't telling me, even though I didn't care.
"I never knew that she cheats on me," He whispered staring intently at the pattern on the tile. Good thing I don't buy that sympathy bullcrap, or I'd really feel bad for him.
"That sucks, I guess she can keep her mouth shut," I smirked, "Now if only she could do the same thing with her legs,"
"Hey!" Craig yelled shooting his head up and giving me an icy glare, "I still love her, and I don't appreciate you talking about her like that."
"Whatever," I muttered rolling my eyes, and continued to head towards the MI lab.
"Wait," he called and ran up to me, "I'm sorry for lashing out at you like that, I've just been stressed lately since we broke up."
"You've wasted..." I said looking at the clock, "about ten minutes of my precious time, what do you want?"
"I need a favor," he nervously said. Out of nowhere he began to fiddle with his fingers, and I was really starting to get annoyed. I have to print this thing out in nine minutes and he keeps wasting my time.
"Go on," I stated waving my hands, "I don't have all day!"
"See, I'm trying to make Manny pay for what she did, and also get her back," Craig explained. "So my plan is to pretend to go out with someone that would really piss her off, forcing her to apologize and beg for me back."
"And where do I come in?" I questioned and immediately my eyes bugged out. I realized what he wanted me to do.
"You want me to pretend to date you?" I asked shocked as ever.
"Yeah," Craig smiled, "But only until she comes back to me." I didn't know what to say. I do like pissing Manny off, but I didn't really want to be apart of this plan he was forming. While thinking about if I should do it or not, an idea came to me.
"I'll do it," I said smirking, "But what's in it for me?"
"What do you mean?" He asked confused. What did he think I was doing this for free!
"What's in it for me?" I questioned, "I'm not doing this for free,"
"Uh, you're right," Craig smiled, "How about $20,"
"Make it $70," I grinned.
"$70!" Craig yelled, "How about $35?"
"$70" I grinned even wider. He better keep raising the price, becuase I'm not budging for no one.
"$50,"
"$70" I could see him cringe when I wouldn't back down.
"$65 and that's my final offer," He sternly stated inching closer to me
"This is strictly business Craig so $70, or I'm doing absolutely nothing for you," I sternly said inching closer to him. "You know you need me, I'm the only person in this school perfect to piss off Manny."
"Fine," he sighed backing down. "$70, but I won't pay you until after she comes back to me. Deal?"
"Deal," I beamed, "Nice doing business with you Manning." He weakly smiled at my comment, before realizing something.
"Hey, can I get your number?" He questioned
"Why?" I demanded.
"Just in case I need to contact you," He smiled.
"Whatever, here it's 555..." I stated as he wrote it down on his hand, "3897"
"Thanks," he said and headed for the cafeteria.I can't believe this guy is going to pay me $70 to go out with him, this is perfect! Now I don't have to get a job or anything I laughed to myself.
"Oh and Craig," I called, "Cash only," He gave me a defeated look, and turned back towards the cafeteria. I laughed some more in my head as I headed for the MI lab.
After School
"Let me get this straight," Ellie giggled through the phone," You're going to go out with Craig Manning as a joke to piss off Manny!"
"That's correct," I smiled.
"And he's paying you $70!" Marco asked shocked. Marco, Ellie, and I were having our daily three-way call, only this time the focus of the conversation was on me.
"You sound like a prostitute!" Ellie laughed.
"I do not!" I screamed defensively.
"In a way, you do, getting paid to go out with a guy, sounds kind of hookerish," Marco explained.
"Whatever," I responded disregarding the comment, "At least I don't have to get a job,"
"Wait, someone's on the other line," I said hearing the flash, "I'll call you guys back later.
"Okay, bye Ash!" Ellie and Marco laughed.
"Bye guys," I smiled and clicked over. "Hello,"
"Hey Ashley," a familiar voice said through my ear, "It's me Craig," My face quickly dropped from its former smile, how did he get my number? Oh right, I gave it to him earlier today, I'm such an idiot!
"Hey Craig," I sighed."What can I do for you?" I could hear some music in the background, I know I've heard that song before, but I couldn't put my finger on the name.
"I was wondering, if you don't mind, I could take you to school tomorrow." He explained. Are you kidding me! I don't want to go to school with him!
"Why?" I rudely demand.
"So we could look more like a couple!" He exclaimed. Right, we have to pretend that we're a couple.
"Fine," I sighed defeated, if I wanted that $70, I was going to have to work for it. "But you have to take my brother to school too."
"Ok, you mean Timmy?" He asked.
"No his name is Toby," I answered flatly to him.
"Right, Toby, I'm gonna have to remember that," He chuckled. I on the other hand stayed silent, to let him know I wasn't amused. "Hmm," he said clearing his throat, "So, I'll pick you up at 7:15?"
"Sure," I said and before he could say more I hung up the phone. I let this sink in my head, and headed down the stairs to tell my Mom that Toby and I had another ride.
"Hey Mom," I called walking into the living room, "Toby and I don't need a ride to school tomorrow,for a while"
"We don't?" Toby questioned looking at me.
"You don't?" Mom asked also looking at me.
"Yeah, a friend of mine has offered to take us to school now," I said looking at both of them, and then headed for the stairs.
"And who is this friend?" Mom called facing me,
"Just a friend!" I cried and ran to my room.
A/N: I hope you all like how the story is going so far. Thanks sethsduck17! I'm really happy that you enjoy my story! Hopefully more people are reading reviewing!
