CHAPTER 4

Manny POV

Tonight was that new girl's party, which I was going to for Jimmy, mostly. I'd had kind of a little girl crush on him since like, grade 7, but lately it's gotten more intense as he's acknowledged my presence. I know he has Hazel, so I'm not going to do anything. Except wear something that will make Jimmy notice me. I decided on a black, low cut tee with long flowing sleeves and jeans. I grabbed my coat and ran out of the house before my mom could see what I was wearing. As I approached the house, I heard Jimmy fighting with Sully. They both fell to the ground and starting beating the crap out of each other. Suddenly, Spinner yanked them apart. Jimmy shook him off and went inside.

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Craig POV

Kate's party was out of control. There were kid's making out, drinking, and trashing her house. I found Kate in her living room dancing with JT. to loud rap music.

"Kate!" I yelled.

"Hey!" she yelled back.

She ran over to me and grabbed my hand.

"This party is out of control!" I yelled.

"I know! I don't know how to stop it!"She screamed.

As we were yelling I realized that she was leading me upstairs.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To my room!" she replied, laughing.

"Um, okay..." I said nervously.

She opened up a door to her left. The room was decorated tons of moving crates and a bed with red sheets. Only problem is, a couple of Grade nines were getting it on in Kate's bed. They left quickly and slammed the door behind them. Kate let go of my hand and lay down on her bed, grinning seductively at me. I smiled nervously and sat down, looking straight ahead. Kate sighed, and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"Craig, come on! Don't you want me?" She whispered.

"I do...but not like this." I replied.

Kate laughed and swung around to sit on my lap.

"I'm glad you've become so respectable, Craig. You changed your ways."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I heard about the Manny/ Ashley thing."

I looked down. Damn, I thought. Finally, I got a bit of my life on the right track, and it all comes crashing down. I prepared myself for the "Let's be friends" line, when I felt her lips on mine.

"And it's okay. I don't care." She said.

I laughed with relief and hugged her. I picked her up and carried her downstairs to the party.

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Manny POV

I followed Jimmy as he went inside, Hazel by his side and chattering endlessly. Hazel left for the bathroom, and I took this as my chance.

"Sully really got you, didn't he?" I said.

Jimmy shrugged. I gently stroked his cheek, where there was already a large purple bruise. He closed his eyes as my fingers brushed his cheek. I stopped the caress and looked down.

"What were you guys fighting about, anyway?" I asked.

"Nothing. Just Sully being a jerk as usual." He replied.

I didn't say anything, knowing that it was about me. Hazel had come out of the bathroom at this point, and was leading Jimmy upstairs, to make-out or something. I sighed. No more chasing after boys, like my mother said. I would wait for Jimmy to come to me. But I decided I would not mess with their relationship, like I did to Craig and Ashley.

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Craig POV

This was by far the wildest party I had ever been to. But it was hard to worry about that when Kate was brushing against me in all the right places and everyone around us was practically having sex in her living room. She kissed me, slowly at first, then deepening the kiss. I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her up to me. She fell into me, as some jerk bumped into her from behind. Kate rolled her eyes.

"I have to get out of here." She sighed.

"But it's your house." I replied.

"So?" she asked.

She grabbed my hand and led me to her coat closet. She grabbed a coat and took me outside.

"You have your car, right?" she asked.

I nodded and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"So... Craig, are we... a couple?"

I froze and looked at her.

"Um, I ...well..."

We approached the car and Kate jumped in. She sat down and ran her fingers through her hair.

"I thought that, you know, since we made out, you might want to actually go out with me. But you know what? I think I'm fine with being another Manny. I mean, she didn't come off too badly did she? She only lost her virginity, got her heart stomped on, and aborted her baby." She said calmly.

"Kate..."

"I should go back to the party," She said.

She opened the car door and got out. I knew that Kate was an awesome girl. I knew that I had to go after her. I ran after her.

"Kate!" I yelled.

I looked around on the street. She was gone.

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