(A/N: Okay this chapter is all happy and all that crap, that won't last. Spoiler alert. Luv2write4u13, I took a lot of what you said into consideration for this chapter!)
Liberty and Manuela lay outside at The Nelson Day Inn Spa in the Hamptons. It was Manuela's escape from the real world, and Liberty was always there to comfort her. Just a few hours ago she'd threw her husbands wardrobe in the pool, called Liberty, and took the first flight to the Hamptons. Liberty had trailed behind her, taking some time off her busy work schedule to console her best friend.
"Maybe it's time you divorce him", Liberty suggested after a few minutes of silence, she slipped on her sunglasses and looked toward the sun, "He's done this to you so many times".
"If I hadn't signed that pre-nup I'd be out of there", Manuela sighed, "If I divorce him, I have nothing. Usually, I met my husband before I divorce my other one".
Liberty turned to Manuela, "You can move in with James and I, Keith has hurt you too many times before, it's time to put a lid on it and move on".
Manuela closed her eyes and took her sunglasses off, feeling the heat of the sun on her eyes, "I went to Craig's concert a couple of nights before, because he gave Keith and I backstage passes. He started singing to me, and Keith couldn't handle it so he started to beat me up. I was in the hospital when I woke up".
"He's a jealous bastard", Liberty replied smoothly and calmly, "You're my best friend and obviously Keith is hurting you. Please move in with James and I. Do you think it's fair that when a man sings to you you're husband beats you up, but when he has an affair all you do is run away?"
"I'm charging everything on his credit card…" Manuela spoke quietly.
Emma Nelson walked up to Manuela and Liberty, wearing a white polo shirt and blue apron, "Is everything going well? Do you need anything more…?"
"Emma?" Manny interrupted, her eyes popping open, "Emma Nelson?"
Emma smiled, "Manny Santos, how are you?"
"Horrible", Manuela whispered, "Do you own…?"
"Yeah", Emma smiled, "What's wrong?"
"My life", Manuela sighed and looked to her old friend, her eyes screaming for help.
---
Craig Manning boarded on his tour bus; his stay in Texas was memorable, he had confessed his love for Manuela and got shot down. He took a seat in an egg chair and got his cell phone out of his pocket and saw that he had one new voice message.
"Hey Craig", Manuela's voice was as warm and silky as honey, "When I came home from lunch today I saw Keith in bed with another woman, right now I'm in the Hamptons with Liberty and Emma and I'd really like it if you gave us a shot, maybe? I'll be in town tomorrow so we can talk, and to answer you're question about Keith; I never loved him. I never loved any of my husbands. Good-bye Craig".
Craig shut his cell phone and felt the bus move beneath him, Manuela's message was bittersweet, if he had stayed in Houston for one more day… running his fingers through his hair and feeling like an idiot, he turned on the twenty-four inch TV that was in front of him and tried to watch something. Genesis walked up to Craig, sensing something was wrong.
"What's wrong Craig?" Genesis asked, her voice shaky with concern, "Haven't you noticed the millions of girls chasing our tour bus screaming your name?"
"Oh", Craig breathed, "Manuela just left me a message".
"Good or bad?" Genesis asked, sitting down next to him.
"Both", Craig replied, "Manuela wants to give us a chance, and she said that she wants to talk to me tomorrow".
"But we'll be in Georgia tomorrow…" Genesis filled in what Craig was about to say, "I'm sorry".
"Its fine", Craig sat up and stuck his head out the window, causing his fanatical fans to loose control, "I LOVE YOU ALL!" Craig belted out, one girl fainted. Craig grinned; it was always good to be a rock star.
---
Liberty held onto Manuela's right hand, Emma her left; Manuela tip-toed around her house, careful not to disturb Keith. Every time she left him and came back, she'd find him drunk and hasty. He'd be angrier when he'd see Manuela wasn't alone this time. Quietly Manuela walked to her bedroom, Liberty and Emma by her side. As she approached her room, the door was wide open, and Keith was standing up, his eyes facing straight ahead.
"Who the hell are these people?" Keith asked as soon as he saw Emma and Liberty.
"My friends from High school", Manuela replied quickly and slipped out of Emma and Liberty's hands. She walked in her closet and grabbed her suitcase.
"Where are you going?" Keith demanded; a harsh tone in his voice.
Manuela stuffed her clothes into her suitcase, "Away. You can cancel my credit cards, take away my cell phone, I don't care. Anything will be better than the hell that I'm living in right now".
Keith grabbed Manuela by her arms, "Don't leave me".
"I have to", Manuela whipped his arms away and walked into her closet once again, "Em, Liberty can you help me?"
"By the way Keith", Liberty stood toe-to-toe with the man, "We're taking you to court for domestic violence".
"You bitch!" Keith roared, walking closer to Manuela, "After everything I've done for you".
Manuela stuffed her clothes in another suitcase and turned to her husband, "Done for me? You made my life a living hell Keith. You are a selfish bastard who I want nothing to do with. Ever".
She turned away and continued packing with Liberty and Emma.
"Where are you going? You don't have any money", Keith watched over his wife who was packing at light-speed.
Manuela grabbed her roll on bag and purse; Liberty and Emma held her two carry on bags and walked out the door, "Away", Manuela turned around and hissed at Keith.
"Manuela…" Keith droned.
"Don't call me that", Manuela commanded, "My name is not Manuela. It's Manny".
---
Emma, Liberty, and Manny sat in first class sipping on some champagne. Emma was listening to some Island CD and Liberty was enthralled in a book, Manny looked out her window and thought about Craig. He hadn't called her back and Keith didn't cancel her phone yet, though she knew he would. She had kept her phone on vibrate, just in case Craig would call her. She wouldn't pick up her phone since she was on an airplane, but she would know he got her message. Sighing, Manuela entered Craig's phone number that she'd memorized into the airplane phone and waited for it to ring.
"Hello?" Craig sounded sleepy.
"Craig", Manny smiled, "We didn't get to talk today, did you get my message?"
"I did".
"And…?" Manny asked.
Craig breathed deeply into the phone, "Manuela…"
"Manny", Manny corrected.
"Manny, I'm in Georgia right now, I left Texas yesterday, I didn't want to call you and make you disappointed. Maybe we can talk after my tour? I love in New York".
"I'm moving in with Liberty", Manny stated in a robot monotone, "After the tour would be great".
"I'm sorry", Craig sounded upset, "This was exactly what I wanted and I'm on tour. I have to go now, but call me when you get in New York".
"I will", Manny sighed, "Love you".
"Love you to", Craig replied and hung up the phone.
Manny rested her head on the headrest and looked out the window once again.
(A/N: Did you enjoy? Please leave me comments!)
