A/N: Thanks for the replies. Wow people really like this. Lol. Sorry about the 'lucas' typo. I was in a rush and watching you guess it people….. oth…. Anywayz im watching it when I typed this too so .. yeah there might be more typos lol. Sorry guys. Just ignore them.
XOXO,
-P.L.

Chapter four


Stop doing that

After both cheerleading and basketball practices ended. Emma waited patiently for Jimmy and Craig. Manny and Alex finally came back in to grab their stuff and surprisingly took a seat at the bottom of the bleachers. She sat up and watched their movements. Manny ran her fingers through her hair and licked her lips in a sensual way. Emma just noticed that it wasn't a normal whole tip of tongue on your top and bottom lip or pinching your lips together and running your tongue over them without anyone seeing. She felt so frumpy and plain compared to her. Then there was Alex… with her black hair and green eyes. She was perfect in every way on the outside. Emma played with a few strands of hair and bit her lip. She was nothing to be compared to these girls. They both were in skirts that came to mid thigh and Manny was in heels where as Alex had on tennis shoes. Both could pull off that look but Emma she gave herself the once over and sighed. She wouldn't dare think she looked as good in a skirt or dress for that matter. She huffed and stood up and walked off to the bathroom. Manny and Alex both watched her walk away. She had an air of confidence they only wished they had.

Emma in only a pair of simple jeans and a t shirt was cute. Manny tilted her head and said, "I bet if she got dressed up she's be hot." Alex rolled her eyes, "First of all she's not going to let you dress her up like a Barbie and I don't think she's into the clothes and hair stuff like you are." Manny nodded and pulled out her cell phone and after a second he answered, "Jay we're tired of waiting… meet us at my house." He grumbled, "Manny you know I'd like to go one day where I want to take a shower and you not call me" She laughed, "You love me… now say you'll meet us." He nodded, "Yes I'll meet you… love you bye." She smiled, "Jay says he loves us." Alex laughed, "What else is new?" Manny still thought it was the coolest thing to hear Jason say he loved them. He wasn't exactly the emotional out pour type of guy and it was rare to get him to talk about his feelings but with them it seemed to be as natural as breathing. No one else knew of it and he preferred they keep it that way. Manny and Alex left and went to their cars and drove off. Jason, Craig, and Jimmy all left the locker rooms and Jimmy and Craig were walking ahead of Jason and he watched as Emma walked up behind the two and jumped on their backs.

He smiled thinking of Manny and how she can be like that. Very few people know that she loved to rough around and joke with Jason. Emma smiled brightly and Jimmy showed her something in his notebook and she nodded and Craig handed her a book. Jason rolled his eyes and walked out of the gym before there was another argument he'd have to defend himself from. He pushed the door open and Emma, Jimmy, and Craig turned around and caught site of the door closing. "What an $$…." Emma started to say but Jimmy quieted her, "Em…."She nodded and they grabbed her stuff and left. They all went back to Craig's house since Emma had no food at her house and Jimmy's was too boring. If they went to Jimmy's he'd play on his guitar and writing songs. At Emma's there was tons of stuff to do but no food to eat while doing it. Which left Craig's place…not that it was hard to hang out there, Craig always thought that was the best thing about Emma and Jimmy, neither judged him or his mom for what had happened a long time ago. Emma and Jimmy were the two closest people to him. As they pulled in the driveway Emma was reading over the book he'd given her, "Em just be careful with that book will you?"

Emma nodded, "Ok I will… so umm how's your mom?" They walked in the house and headed straight for the kitchen, Craig busied himself with looking through the fridge. Since he was born she seemed to change. He'd heard it his whole life how she used to be this or that, but now she was something different a bit empty. She was with Kevin but at times they didn't seem too happy. Craig wasn't ignored or treated badly but he could see the difference in his mother's behavior at times. He tossed a few drinks at Jimmy and Emma, "She's fine… come on lets go on up to my room." They followed him without another word said about it. They were the best of friends and in that they knew when to leave a subject alone. As they settled into Craig's room, Jimmy took a seat on the floor with his notebook and Emma laid on the bed, while Lucas took a seat in a lounge chair he'd gotten not too long ago. "So that fight with you and Jason what was that about?" Emma groaned, "I don't know… he just started talking to me and I got mad I guess." Craig laughed, "You guess huh?" Jimmy chuckled, "Well don't worry we had your back… Craig and Manny got into it and me and Alex got into it too." Emma laughed, "Thanks guys… but that was sort of the start of the fight… I mean besides the bch thing… he was insinuating that I needed you guys to fight for me." Craig laughed, "If he only knew right?" Craig started to type on his computer and Emma grabbed the remote and started to flip through the channels of the TV. After a long silence she said, "So do you guys think umm… that Alex and Manny are pretty?"

Jimmy laughed, "What are you into them?" Emma threw a pillow at him and hit him, "No just I saw them after practice and I donno do you think they are… and I want an honest answer." Craig and Jimmy looked at each other and Craig said, "I think Manny is hot… but she's not my type you know I can't get into the cheerleader type… plus she's friends with Jason… that's major points off." Jimmy laughed, "And Alex… is just Alex… how so much ego can fit in their friendship is beyond me." Emma laughed, "And Jason… HA thinking if he hit on me would make me want him…" "Whoa back that up… what?" Craig and Jimmy asked in unison. She sat up and looked at them, "What he hit on me… not like physically hit me just like trying to flirt." Craig looked at her with an unreadable emotion and she quickly added, "But I called him stupid and he got mad so that didn't last… I think he was just messing with my head." Jimmy and Craig nodded their heads and all went back to what they were doing before. Jake finally looked at the words from his song thinking, 'How did she get in there?' Craig's lips curled into a slight smile thinking of Manny's scent and Emma flipped passed a commercial of a basketball player and she sighed thinking of Jason at practice, then as soon as the thought entered her mind she shook her head trying to get it out as fast as she could.

Manny and Alex were relaxing on her bed when Jason walked in, "Can you believe that little tutor… thinking I'm stupid… CAN YOU?" Alex laughed, "Why do you care it's not like you like her right?" Jason stopped his ranting and looked at them. His mind let the question settle, did he like her… no he couldn't be she was annoying and over bearing and thought she was better than everyone who didn't seem to be as smart as her, "What… no I don't like her." Manny laughed, "Of course you don't." Alex smiled, "Just relax ok… besides we had your back so it was all good." He nodded, "Ok so what am I doing here again?" Manny jumped and on to his back, "We're saving you from that horrible house silly." He laughed, "Yeah that's right but besides that." Alex groaned, "We have to talk about the party and what we're going to wear…" "Plus I want to make sure we come together and have some kind of code so that we know we're not us." Jason looked at her side ways, "What was that and in English please." She laughed and got down, "I just heard that at these parties you can't like ask for names and stuff so we have to have some kind of sign that it's us if we get separated." Alex laughed along with Jason and Manny pouted, "Come on you guys… this is serious… I don't want to find out I made out with you all night Jay." He laughed, "Hey… you know you want me." He grabbed her and pulled her close, "Yeah right I'll want you the day… the day Emma wants you."

He let her go, "Please don't say that cause if it happens I have to tell her to beat it and I'll have to stop being your friend." Alex laughed, "Look we'll wear something that will tell us that it's us you know." They nodded and Jason jumped on Manny's computer and sighed, "I have a paper due… so can I work on it here… dad will be on my case about basketball practice when I get home and I want to get as much as I can done." Manny nodded and hopped on the bed and turned on the music and grabbed a magazine, while Alex moved to the floor and started to work on a drawing of a set of eyes. She looked down and smiled and soon realized whose eyes they were. Manny flipped through a few pages and found a picture of a hot guy with amazing blue eyes and sighed thinking, 'They're not as blue as his.' She smiled a bit and continued to flip through tapping her foot the music. Jason soon started on his paper. It wasn't that hard for him to crank out a report but with his father on his case constantly he couldn't concentrate. But at Manny's or Alex's he could… even the music wasn't a distraction but there was something else… something that was making it difficult for him to get started right away… it was so simple and yet so complicated… one touch and he couldn't seem to take it mind off it. He touched his temple and smiled and shook his head finally typing away at her computer.

After and hour of hanging out and finishing homework both groups decided to go shopping for the party… Emma was dreading it, but Jimmy and Craig promised they'd give their honest opinions. Jason wanted to stay at Manny's and finish his paper but her constant nagging urged him out of his seat and down the stairs with him. He just wanted to get it over with so Manny said, "OK fine mister angry pants… you go on and get your tux and come back and work on your paper, but we'll be shopping." He smiled, "Thank god some time in your room alone." Alex laughed and Manny smacked his arm, "Don't you go through my stuff again." He laughed, "Ok fine I won't." They got in the cars, Jason in his car and Alex in hers with Manny riding along. Jason backed out of the driveway, "Follow me ladies." Alex rolled her eyes and turned on her car and followed behind his. Craig and Emma were having a discussion about why she needs to go to this party while Jimmy was working out his song. He finally had enough and closed his notebook, "Look Em… we get that you're not into the dresses thing but come on for us will you just try please." She looked at Craig and Jimmy with their puppy dog eyes and sighed, "OK fine but if I have a bad time I'll take it out on both of you." They nodded and Craig said, "Will you be ok for a while, while we get our tuxes?" She nodded, "Yes I'll have the sales lady help me out ok." He smiled and they pulled up in front of the mall.

Jason, Manny, and Alex were already inside and Jason rushed off, "Jay… make sure it's nice looking ok." He nodded and ran inside the shop. Alex shook her head, "Come on Tigger you know he would never wear anything but the best and this is important to you… he knows that and he won't let you down." She nodded and the dress store. Jason walked up to the man, "Hi I'm Jason Hoggart what tuxes do you have for a private party type thing?" The man showed him three of his best and Jason picked the second one and paid for it, "I'll be back tomorrow for a fitting it that ok." The man nodded and wrote it down, "See you then Mr. Hoggart." Jason nodded and rushed out. Emma and Jimmy were arm in arm as they walked inside the mall but Craig cracked a joke and she pushed him around a bit. Craig laughed and ran off only to run straight into his half brother. Both boys fell to the floor. Jimmy and Emma were laughing but soon stopped seeing who he ran into. "Shit that hurt… my bad I was in a rush." Jason said shaking his head. Craig grunted, "No it's fine I should have watched where I was going." Finally both boys looked at each other and groaned, "Not you again." Craig rolled his eyes, "What's the matter daddy never taught you how to walk?" Jason huffed and stood up just as Emma and Jimmy ran up to them. He looked at the two then down at his brother, "Tell you friend to learn how to walk." He walked off and was gone.

Emma helped Craig up, "Well see what I mean about jerk." Craig nodded, "Look I'm fine go and get your dress… we'll be in soon ok." She nodded and Jimmy and Craig walked off leaving Emma to stand in front of the dress store alone. She took a deep breath and just as she was about to go in she heard, "Where are you off to?" She groaned and turned around, "What lost your way out of the mall?" He laughed, "No I just dropped this." He showed her his wallet and put it in his pocket, "So why are you going in there… dresses don't seem to be your kind of thing." She huffed, "And what is my kind of thing pray tell?" He smiled and simply said, "Jeans and t shirts." She rolled her eyes, "Well maybe I've changed." He nodded, "Well look if you need some help…" She held up her hands, "I have this taken care of and I don't need you ogling me while I try on clothes thank you very much." Jason laughed, "I was going to say before you interrupted me… wow you really are rude… that Manny and Alex are in there if you need some help… you're a girl and Manny loves to help people out in fashion stuff." He turned around and walked off leaving Emma for the second time that day in complete shock.

Emma shook off her thoughts and nodded her head, 'For the guys I'll do this.' She walked in and looked around… everything was so colorful and she was confused already. A sales woman caught sight of her and started to make her way towards her. Emma freaked and turned suddenly and bumped into Manny who was holding three dresses. "Oh," Manny said almost dropping them but maintaining her control. "Oh sorry…" Emma trailed off seeing who she hit. The two stood in and uncomfortable silence and the sales woman approached, "Is there a problem Miss Santos?" Manny smiled, "No it's fine I was just talking to a friend." The woman walked off and Emma groaned, "I'm really sorry I just have this thing and I need a dress and excuse me." Manny looked at the dressing rooms, "Um Emma if you need some help I can…" Emma smiled, "That would be great thanks." Manny smiled, 'It's not problem…" She looked her over and smiled, "Ok I think your best bet for your skin tone is a nice blue or black..." Emma smiled but frowned, "It's kinda important." Manny nodded, "Oh I see then black is your best bet then." Manny explained to her the cut of a dress and lengths that would make or break an outfit for her; she also showed her various accessories to wear. Alex was finished and brought out her dresses just as Manny finished up, "I'm sure you'll be fine and just remember what I told you and you'll look great." Emma nodded, "Thanks for your help." She went off and looked at a few dresses and took them in the dressing room.

Alex walked up, "What did you do?" Manny smiled, "I just helped her out that's all and yes I really helped. She has some important dinner or something and I could tell she was freaking out." Alex nodded, "Well that was nice of you Manny." She smiled, "I'm very nice thank you." Alex rolled her eyes, "Right well come on let's go." The two paid for their clothes and made their way out. As they were leaving Craig and Jimmy were walking towards them. Jimmy chuckled, "Man girls can shop… thank goodness Em isn't like that." Craig nodded and they walked in and towards the dressing room. Once at the doors Craig knocked, "Em you in there?" She answered but was a few doors down. He smiled, "You pick out a dress?" Jimmy asked taking a seat on a near by chair.

Emma grunted and huffed, "Yes I got some help from an unlikely source." Craig pulled another chair up and rested, "Oh yeah who?" Emma laughed and opened the door a bit and looked at them "Hey where's yours at?" They laughed, "We can get them in the morning… so who?" Emma shook her head, "Manny Santos." Craig unintentionally cracked a smile at the mention of her name and asked, "Why would she help you?" Emma shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know but she did so tell me what you think." She walked out and both gasped. She spun around slowly, "What do you think?" Jimmy smiled, "Em you look amazing." She bit her lip and smiled, "Thanks… Craig what do you think?" He shook his head, "I think wow." She took a bow and walked back in to try on a few more dresses. After a while she decided on a dress and got dressed and paid for it deciding she'd get accessories later on. They left and went back to Craig's house.