Chapter 8: Sugar, we're going down part 1

Monday was a good day for Alex. She had decided not to let Jay get under her skin & she was gonna try to make a new existence. She walked into Kwan's homeroom with Paige looking at her evilly, which was now happening 24-7. Alex sighed as she walked up to Paige & crossed her arms.

"What is it now, Michalchuk?" Alex rolled each & every syllable off her tongue with poison doused in each one. Paige winced as she smiled at her, but the smile was cold-hearted & mean.

"I had told you to clean up for me last night at work. You didn't, so now I'm fired." Paige said sweetly, trying not to get angry. Hazel sat beside her, looking as if she was bored with this whole war going on between her, Paige, Manny, Alex, & Jimmy. She wanted it all to stop. She just wanted everyone to get along.

"Look princess…I didn't get you your job, you did. I don't do your dirty work, you do. I didn't get you fired, you did." Alex said just as sweetly as she went to go sit down at her usual table with Manny & Jimmy. As she had expected, Paige came behind her with her arms crossed & a angry look on her face.

"I asked you to do a simple thing for me, & you can't even do that!" Paige said coldly as Alex turned around & glared at her.

"I only do things for my friends, & thankfully, I only have two." She stated, referring to Jimmy & Manny. Paige scoffed & sat at the table.

"Who said you could sit here?" Manny asked coldly as Paige looked at her as if this was the first time she ever saw her. Manny was wearing a black t-shirt that ripped in various places (she also had a red t-shirt underneath.), some blue jeans, & some white k-swisses. Her hair was perfectly straight, & she dyed it jet black. She still had her tanned completion, but she wore no make-up, unless you count her black eye liner & lip gloss.

"Look Manny, this isn't about you. I have nothing against you." Paige said sincerely as she turned towards her.

"Then why do you call me a slut 24 hours a day? Why did you kick me out of the one thing that truly made me happy? Why did you blame me for something I didn't do alone?" Manny stood up & stormed out of the room, while everyone looked at her in shock & curiosity.

"What is she talking about…?" Hazel finally found her voice. Jimmy sighed as he looked at her with soft eyes, for the first time in months.

"She's talking about when she got pregnant with Craig. You guys picked on her & blamed her for it, & Craig didn't get any heat for it." He replied as Hazel looked down at her feet in shame.

"Also, when Peter taped her, & when Spinner hooked up with her, you didn't give her a chance to explain anything to you. You just thought the worst of her, & blamed her for everything. It's really taking a toll on her…& you act as if you don't care." Jimmy said with sharpness in his hurt voice. The fact that Manny had to hurt because of her mistakes, made him hurt. The fact that Alex had to hurt, made him hurt. That was why they were friends, they wanted to hurt together, & maybe make an effort to put each others pieces back together.

"I…I'm sorry." Hazel said quietly enough for the group to hear. Paige looked at her as if she was insane.

"Look, it's not as if I don't care about what she's gone through, but I'm not going to become all 'nice girl' on her just because you ask me to." Paige said coldly as Hazel looked at her angrily.

"Paige! Now, if Spinner, Jimmy, & I acted like we were when you got raped, you'd be as torn as Manny!" Hazel said with anger & hurt in her voice. She had realized that she spending a little too much energy on hating Manny & Jimmy. She was tired of everyone fighting with each other. She just wanted to be friends with Jimmy again.

"…Whatever." Paige said as she walked back to the table she was at, but this time, she was alone in this.

"Well, what's with this change of heart?" Alex piped up as Hazel smiled.

"I just can't stand all this fighting & bickering. I wanted us to get along after the break-up…but Paige told me that you didn't deserve to be my friend if you couldn't appreciate my love for you. And like a dumbass, I believed her." Hazel said, directing the second & last sentences towards Jimmy.

"It's okay. I just want you to start thinking on your own from now on." Jimmy said as Hazel bent down & hugged him.