Chapter 12: Money where your Mouth is

By the time Alex woke from sleep, Manny was already at dance practice. She found a bathroom built right in her bedroom, which didn't surprise her. She got in & out the shower in about five minutes, & was looking for something to wear. She put on a black t-shirt with 'property of anti-prep dept. 05-06' printed in faded in blue, some jeans, & left her feet bare. She ran downstairs to see Jimmy watching TV, flipping through the channels, laughing from time to time. Alex slid onto the couch, taking the remote in the process.

"I was using that." Jimmy said as she turned to the local channels.

"I know. Trash, trash, reality show…" Alex said as she kept turning the channels. "News, news…hey, look st this!" Alex immediately sat up to look at the TV. They both looked in awe. Manny was on TV, dancing her heart out. Moreover, she was doing better than the rest of the girls.

"Our kid's on TV!" Jimmy said happily, as Alex smiled widely. Then some commercials were on.

"Oh shit…this is 'Making the Band'." Alex said as she smiled at Jimmy. Their friend was on national TV, & she may make it to the top. The phone rang shrilly in both of their ears as the show came back on. Alex reached for it & pushed talk.

"Hello? Is this the Brooks residence?" A voice came over the line playfully. Alex rolled her eyes. It was Craig & Ellie over the phone.

"No, it's the Brooks-Nenez-Santos residence, Ellie Nash." Alex said as she looked at Jimmy & smiled.

"Hey, Alex. We saw Manny on TV." Craig said slowly, trying not to make it as if he cared.

"We did too. Isn't it exciting?" Alex said sarcastically. She lay back on the couch & sighed as she saw Manny & another girl conversing on the TV. The girl had long brown hair, green eyes, & a light completion with some freckles.

"Aww, you should be happy for her…both of you." Ellie said, referring to both Alex & Craig. "Anyways, we're coming to visit."

"You & who else? Because I know that, you're bringing more than you & Manning." Alex said as she started twiddling her fingers.

"Me, Ellie, Marco, & Hazel. Paige is still pissed about everything, you know how she is." Craig said. Ellie laughed a bit, & Alex smiled in amusement.

"Well, I gotta go. Me & Jimmy are gonna look around town." Alex stated as Jimmy looked at her.

"Alright. Tell him we said hi. Later." Craig said, & he hung up on his line.

"I'm gonna go too. Bye." Ellie hung up, & Alex did too.

"Alright, let's get out of here." Alex said as she slipped on her shoes. They both walked out of the door & closed it.

"Manny, you're doing great." A girl said as she took a sip of water.

"Thanks Kyla, but you know Lindsey is out to get me." Manny looks up at a girl & frowns. She had curly red hair, brown eyes, & a medium completion. She wore a white t-shirt, some grey shorts, & some white tennis shoes. The girl walked over & looked at Manny.

"What are you staring at, Santos?" the girl said as she rolled her eyes.

"Nothing Lindsey, just go away so nobody will try to start anything." Manny said with a bit of annoyance in her tone.

"No. You looked at me as if you had a problem with me, so let's fix it." Lindsey said while rolling her eyes.

"You know what? Just forget it." Manny goes back to her position as the instructor starts to speak again.

"This is nice…" Alex said quietly. She & Jimmy were at a restaurant in town, & they had a view of the beach. The sun was shining brightly, & the sweet smell of the ocean filled the air.

"Mmm-hmm. What's better is that I get to be here with you." Jimmy said as Alex smiled a bit.

"Whatever. I guess so…but what about Manny?" Alex asked. Jimmy got a look of guilt & shock on his face. He realized that she knew about her crush on him, & that if his accusations were correct, there was going to be some major drama.

"…What about Manny?" He said, trying to act as if he had no idea what she was saying.

"You know what I mean. She likes you…a lot. And I know you liked her once upon a time." Alex said, & Jimmy smiled while shaking his head. Same old Alex; she didn't sugarcoat anything, & was real with everything.

"Okay…I did. But that was the past. I'm with you now, & nothing or no one is going to change that, you understand?" Jimmy said as he took her hand in his. Alex smiled a bit as she squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, I get it." Alex said as the waiter came with their food. Alex had gotten the chicken fajita wrap, while Jimmy got a fish sandwich. Alex bit into her wrap & smiled as she chewed.

"Is Manny really in the past?" They both thought to themselves as they started to eat.

Oh, I don't think so.