Ch. 7: Do we still have a chance?
Craig's POV
It's been a week since the "thing" happened between Ashley and I, and since then it's been kind of strange. I can still remember that night like it was yesterday, the words exchanged, the thoughts going through my head, the kiss, the kiss...I could still feel her lips on mine,and the warm sensation I felt when it happened. I wanted to feel like that forever, I wanted to be with her forever but after what happened my confidence has been very low. After telling Jimmy, Sean and Emma what happened they gave me a long talk.
Flashback
"You two are just hopeless!" Sean sighed as he plopped onto my couch.
"What are you talking about?" I asked standing directly in front of the couch.
"What Sean's trying to say," Emma explained, "Is have you ever thought that what Ashley said, is what she thinks you feel?"
"Huh?" I asked completely lost.
"Ashley is trying to get you back together with Manny right?" Jimmy explained trying to help explain," so when you kissed her she didn't think that you felt that way about her. She thought that you only saw her as a friend and by kissing her, you weren't getting what you originally wanted, Manny." What is Jimmy a psychologist? When did he know so much about girls, and what they were thinking? I wasn't the only one confused, and baffled by Jimmy's knowledge, Sean was giving him a weird look too.
"Exactly!" Emma smiled, happy that someone understood, "And by you agreeing with what she said, and not telling her how you really feel, she's believes that you don't like her."
"So what do I do?" I asked helplessly.
"Find a way to tell her how you really feel," Emma responded patting me on the back.
End Flashback
I've been trying to do exactly what they told me, but it has been so hard. The words are hanging on the tip of my tongue but everytime I try to say it, something really random comes out. I mean, I've even complimented her shoelaces! I know, it's been pretty ridiculous. Manny's not making it easier either, even though I'm falling for Ashley, a part of me is still in love with Manny and she know it.She shamelessly flirts with me to make Ashley upset, and it ends up causing my feelings to jumble. Ash ends up getting pissed off, and I'm the peacemaker, keeping the two away from each other so they don't scratch each others eyes out. I sat in front of my locker, trying to sort out my feelings for both of the girls, when I heard two voices screaming and yelling. Usually, I would let this go, I wouldn't want to be caught by Mr.Raditch when something serious is going on, but the two voices sound oh so familiar that I couldn't let it go.
"Get off me loser!" one voice yelled.
"Shut up you tramp!" yelled the other. The two voices registered in my head as I ran down the hall to try and find the two. I turned the corner to find a huge crowd and inside, I could see a blur of two people slamming one another into lockers. One had dark brown almost black hair, and the other had brown hair, they continued fighting each other as I ran up to the crowd.
"Excuse me," I cried pushing through the crowd. As soon as I was in the middle, I saw Ashley punch Manny in the nose. The crowd gasped as Manny stumbled backwards.
"AHHH!" Manny screeched holding her nose, "I just got this done!" She ran towards Ashley and pummeled her down, wrapping her arms around Ashley and trying to choke her.
"That's enough!" I yelled, but they paid no attention to me, Ashley used both hands and pushed Manny off her causing Manny to fly into the lockers. Before Manny could regain strength, Ashley lunged at Manny beginning to choke her. I knew that my words weren't going to get them to stop so I pulled Ashley off Manny and held her back, and Spinner held Manny back. Both of them tried to break free from our grasps but we weren't budging. Manny's eyes were spewing fire as her nose began to bleed. Spinner let go of one of her hands to let her wipe it before it got onto her outfit but it was too late. Trickles of blood, splashed onto her white off-the-shoulder top.
"This shirt is a one of a kind Gucci!" Manny spat threw clenched teeth, "You'll pay for this!" She pushed Spinner off her, and stomped down the hall.
"Baby, wait!" Spinner cried and ran after her. I let go of Ashley, and she began to straighten up her t-shirt and her hair. We stood there in an awkward silence for a while.
"Are you okay?" I asked looking her over to make sure she wasn't bleeding.
"I'm fine, she didn't hurt me," Ashley remarked. Sure enough Ashley was right, there were a few scratches here and there, and handprints on her neck but other than that she wasn't hurt at all.
"I didn't know you could fight like that," I smiled as we began walking down the halls.
"I've taken a couple of self-defense classes," Ashley smiled back. We continued walking until we ran into a breathless Sean, with Emma, Ellie, Marco, Jimmy,and Scott.
"What happened?Did I miss it?" Sean panted.
"Yup," I answered, "Ash and Manny got into a fight."
"Physical?" Ellie curiously asked. Ashley and I both nodded.
"Aw man! I told you to hurry up Emma!" Sean cried.
"I was going as fast as I can!" Emma yelled back. Emma and Sean began arguing, as everyone else began asking all these questions.
"Are you okay?" Marco asked concerned.
"Who won?" Scott questioned.
"Did you mess her up?" Jimmy asked.
"Who started it?" Ellie wanted to know.
"One at a time!" Ashley answered, "Yes, I'm fine, I don't know who won, I guess I messed her up, and she started it."
"Well how does Manny look?" Sean asked after resolving his argument with Emma.
"Her nose is bleeding," Craig explained, "Ash punched her in the nose."
"No way!" Emma said shocked.
"Look for yourself," Craig pointed, "She's right there." All of our friends turned to see Manny rush down the hall with her group of friends. She had tissue under her nose, that had splashes of blood here and there,and the actual nose was swelling as it turned into a blue and purple color. Her hair was everywhere, and she had scrapes and bruises all over her body.
"Oh my gosh," Ellie giggled, "She looks like a bruised up barbie!" We all laughed at Ellie remark as we headed for our lockers, study hall was over and it was off to the last class of the day.
Ashley's POV
It's been a week since the "thing" happened between Craig and I, and since then it's been kind of awkward. I mean we're still good friends, and we still hang out but I'm beginning to notice things that we both seem do now. For instance, I catch Craig staring at me during class at least twice a day and then when I look at him he turns away quickly, like I didn't notice. I though, do the same thing to him.Or sometimes when he says he has to tell me something important, he gets all tongue-tied and then says something completely random or really stupid.
Flashback
"Hey Ash, can I talk to you real quick?" Craig asked nervously.We were all eating lunch on the picnic tables outside and from the corner of my eye, I noticed Jimmy and Sean give Craig an encouraging look, Emma give him a thumbs up, and Ellie and Marco smile excitedly. We walked away fromt the table but not too far that they couldn't hear what
"Sure," I answered oblivious. What was with everyone lately?
"Uh...I just want t-to say that.., uh" Craig stumbled, "that I like, uh..." Was he going to say what I think he was? I braced myself, hoping what I suspected was true.
"What?" I asked "Are you okay Craig?"
"Yeah uh.." Craig said looking at the floor, "I like...your shoelaces, there really nice." I could hear everybody at the table groan at what he said.
"Thanks, "I sighed, "let's go finish lunch." I took his hand, and we walked back over to the table full of glares, and scowls.
End of Flashback
Since what happened, I keep repeating the kiss in my head, but instead I give myself different reactions, they usually include me telling him how I really feel and us finally being together. I really want us to be together, but stupid Manny keeps getting in the way. She thinks she's the stuff because she's been with the whole basketball team excluding Jimmy, she doesn't realize that everyone thinks she's a slut. But that has changed. She tried to get in my face today, and I let her know what everyone thinks of her, she got all upset and tried to fight me. We ended up trying to kill each other until Craig and Spinner pulled us away.Now I'm not usually the fighting type, but I had so many feelings bottled inside me, and so much hatred and resentment towards her that I just wanted to beat the living daylights out of her. She has this thing, that drives Craig insane, I don't know what it is, but whenever Craig and I are around she does it just to piss me off. I don't get it, she has all these guys that are willing to do anything for her, but when someone else wants something that was hers, she has to get it back. She's like a stingy little six year old who doesn't share her toys with anyone. I sighed heavily as the last bell rang and I headed for my locker. As I began to pack up the things I needed for homework, I was stopped by Jimmy.
"Hey Ash," Jimmy smiled, he had a handful of colorful flyers in his hand.
"Hey Jimmy," I smiled back.
"I'm having a party tommorrow," he explained giving me a flyer, "and you are invited."
"Thanks," I responded reading over the flyer. I've heard of the parties Jimmy Brooks has had and they've been insane. His parties were always named the hottest party of the school year and I was invited! But for some reason I just didn't feel like going.
"No problem," Jimmy answered, "I'll see you later."
"Okay," I called watching him run down the hall to invite more people. I continued packing stuff in my bookbag when Ellie, Marco and Emma came up to me.
"So did you get a flyer?" Marco asked curiously. I showed them my flyer and continued packing my stuff.
"So are you going?" Ellie questioned.
"I don't think so," I said.
"Why not?" Emma demanded, "It's going to be the biggest party of the school year!"
"I'm not in the partying mood, and besides I have nothing to wear." I explained trying to make an excuse.
"We'll fix that problem," Marco smiled.
"Yeah, me, Ellie, and Marco will take you shopping for the party!" Emma squealed.
"How about a full-blown makeover!" Ellie beamed.
"That's a great idea!" Marco grinned, and they began formulating what they were going to do. They were so caught up, that they didn't realize that I didn't agree with anything.
"Um, I didn't agree to anything!" I cried breaking the trance they were in.
"Do you want to get with Craig?" Ellie asked putting her hands on her hips.
"Yeah," I muttered.
"Well, when he sees how beautiful you really are, he'll go crazy!" Marco reassured.
"And it'll give you the perfect opportunity to make the first move," Emma encouraged.
"I don't know.." I mumbled. I was scared of how the makeover would turn out. What if I look really fake, and it looks nothing like me. I don't want to come off as something I'm not. But what if I look remarkable and Craig can't get enough of me! "Will I get a say in this?"
"Definitely!" Ellie smiled.
"Okay," I sighed, "Make me over." I closed my locker and followed them out of the school.
"Great! We'll start tomorrow, right after school. Meet us right in front of the school." Marco grinned
"I can have all the guys pick us up at my house" Emma beamed. We all finalized our plans at that very moment. We decided that right after school we would go to the mall, get everything we were going to need, and then get ready at Emma's house. I was on my way to walk to Craig's car, when Emma joined me. She was on her way to Sean's car.
"Have you ever worn stilettos?" Emma asked curiously.
"Uh, no." I said putting my books on the hood of Craig's car.
"Well, there's a first time for everything," Emma smiled and continued walking towards Sean's car.
