Chapter 4: Expression
"So, does anyone have their homework?" Ms. Morgan asked as most of the students groaned & some stared at her. Manny sighed angrily & raised her hand.
"Oh Manny, I'd knew you would come through!" Ms. Morgan exclaimed as Manny stood up & walked towards the class. "Now, make sure to read loud & clearly." Paige & Hazel were looking judgingly at Manny from the back of the class, waiting for her to back out or mess up.
"My poem is called 'One wish'." Manny cleared her throat & started to speak. "A girl's one wish is almost serene, like a pony or diamonds & all sorts of things. But what I wish for is more than clear, I just want the chance to have you near. I wait for the kiss & the first move, I am so high…don't stop the groove. I may be dark but this wish is clear. I need you to save me from my largest fear." The class clapped & gasped in awe as she went to sit back down. She looked back at Paige & smiled proudly & mouthed, 'Top that, Paige.'
Manny was sitting at the table at lunch, eating a chicken sandwich. Emma walked over to the table & sat down. Manny looked up at her & smiled a bit.
"Hey Emma, how's it?" Manny said coolly as she bit into her sandwich again.
"Manny, do you hate me?" Emma said as Manny got a strange look on her face.
"No, I've just been really busy--" Manny started as Emma rolled her eyes.
"Hanging with Alex & Jimmy? Trust me, I know." Emma smiled. They both laughed a bit as Jimmy & Alex came to the table.
"What are you doing here Gre-" Alex stopped as Manny looked at her. "I mean Emma."
"I'm talking to Manny. Have a problem with that?" Emma said smartly as Alex glared at her.
"No. Just don't geek us up too much." Alex said as she sat down, & Jimmy rolled beside her.
"Um…so…" Manny tried to start a conversation badly. For some reason, her eyes bounced around the table, trying to look at anyone & anything except Jimmy.
"Oh, I got an A on my creative writing paper." Jimmy said as he passed it around to everyone. Once it came around to Manny, she read it, & it almost brought her to tears. The words were so beautiful & real, like a story of her life, or at least of their relationship. He seemed to have pick up her pieces when her life was shattered, & he found her, understood her like nobody else could.
"This is…good." Manny said aimlessly as she passed back to him as Alex & Emma had nodded their heads in agreement.
"Well…I have to go." Emma said as she stood up & left. Alex looked at Jimmy & shook her head.
"I've never noticed how fake she was, in personality I mean." Jimmy said as Manny looked at him.
"Me either." Manny said as she put her head down.