Chapter 3: Oops! I think Manny Found Out.

The bell had rung a minute ago, and I still wasn't half way to class. I started running until I reached my media intermission class. I took the freedom to open the door without even knocking. As I opened it, I took a step forward. Once I reached the classroom everyone gazed at me. Though my friendly dad, Mr. Simpson, greeted me sarcastically.

"Well hello Emma, I think you forgot your purse." Mr. Simpson said.

I continued my way to my assigned seat, which was next to my friend Manny. She looked like she just saw me for the first time. I seriously can't get them to stop looking at me. Can I?

"Emma, what did you do?" Manny asked whispering.

"I simply changed my look, duh." I explained, in a way that I would never do.

"It's just that after the shooting you've been acting different, and have parted away from your friends. Plus now you have dressed differently and are wearing a lot of bracelets lately." Manny remarked, while she still whispered.

"Look, I'll explain it to you tomorrow." I whispered back.

"Why not at lunch?" Manny asked quietly.

"I can't because I'll be with Ja… some one at lunch." I said briefly, not noticing that I almost mentioned Jay.

"Did you just almost say Jay?" Manny asked astonished.

"Uh…no. Now let me work." I demanded.

My day seemed to not go by quickly, everyone kept on trying to talk to me. I seriously need help. Now who could? Paige. I continued my way through the halls until I found her by her locker. "Paige, I need to talk to you." I retorted.

"Hun, you do need help." Paige stammered, as she kept on applying lip-gloss. "What's your problem?" She asked, curiously.

"Not here, let's go to the bathroom." I said. I didn't wait and took hold of her arm and dragged her there.

"Okay, now that you are making me skip class… this better be worth it." Paige said agitatedly.

"Okay, here it goes. Why are people starring at me?" I asked. "Especially the guys." I remarked.

"Hun, look at yourself. You look like a total slut, by the way those bracelets don't really help." Paige explained. "What are they anyway?" Paige asked. She took hold of my wrist and started looking at them.

"They are nothing." I said, as I pulled my arm back.

"These remind me of the ones, that I've seen Amy and Alex wear before. Though they suddenly disappeared from they're wrists." Paige said, while she still studied my wrist.

"They are so nothing to worry about, now can we get to the point?" I stammered.

"Look, I don't know what your problem is. But I am going back to class, bye." Paige said. She walked out of the bathroom and waved goodbye at me.

I left the bathroom also, and continued my way to class. Wait why go to class? I have had enough. I am going to skip class until lunch, but where can I skip? Oh, the school's boiling room. Not exactly a good place, but oh well.

Two hours had past, and I am so through with the boiling room. I got my backpack and opened its door. I headed my way to the cafeteria; I got a Gatorade and 2 sandwiches. Nothing could stop me from going to the picnic tables. I continued my way there, until I saw him. He was sitting on the ground all by himself, with his backpack next to him. I went straight to him, smiling at him nonstop. "Hi, Jay." I said. I handed him one of the sandwiches, which he took.

"What's this?" He asked.

"Food." I stated, with a giggle.

"You know, you are different." Jay said, as he took a slice of his lunch.

"Why?" I asked observantly.

"Well, for one thing you're nice and sweet. You have virtue, and know how to speak your mind." Jay explained.

This just hit me; we were actually having a nice conversation. "Why are you saying this to me?" I asked confused.

"I don't know, it felt like I had to get it out of my system." Jay explained.

For a second we just starred at each other, until I zoned off. Though I was suddenly brought back when I felt something press on my lips. Jay he was giving me a kiss, it felt so nice. I didn't know what to do. Should I correspond as usual? Or not? It really didn't matter because I sticked with option one. We both fell into the grass, and sort of started to make out. It really didn't matter because even though it was still lunch no one seemed to hang out here. Though I was wrong.

"Emma?" Manny asked. She was not that far away from us, only about 18 steps away.

Jay and I pulled apart, as soon a we heard and saw her. She starred at me in disgust, as if I had done something horrible. Jay seemed tense when this happened. Who wouldn't? She just saw, miss goodie two shoes with the lazy punk.

"Jay, what just happened here?" I asked bemused.

"I have no idea, but you got to talk to her." Jay retorted.

"I'll do that right now, see you at the movies. Can you pick me up?" I asked briefly.

"Yeah." Jay answered.

I stood up from the ground and followed Manny into the gym. She was sitting in one of the high stands while looking at the wall.

"Manny." I said.

"So that's why you couldn't talk to me?" Manny asked disgusted and sternly.

"Look, if you're thinking that we are boyfriend and girlfriend. We are so not." I explained.

Manny looked at me sternly; her faced seemed cold and angry. "Emma, you're my friend but I hate seeing you do stupid things. You know, and it makes me mad that you won't even talk to me because of a guy who manipulates girls and is such a waste of time." She explained coldly.

I took a couple of steps until I was right in front of her, face to face. I need to make things right or else who knows what could happen. " He isn't a waste of time. Jay helped me through the shooting, even though there is some pain still. He makes me feel better, and he's the right person that can only help me." I explained as a tear slid down my face.

Manny gave me a nasty look, and opened her mouth and closed it. "So you rather screw with him, instead of talking. You rather have sex, with him and not talk?" Manny asked.

"Manny, I am not having sex with Jay okay! "I exclaimed.

She stood up and walked towards me, she stopped right in front of my face. "You mean you don't do anything? Then what explains those bracelets, they just keep on multiplying everyday. What does that mean?" She asked sternly. You could see that she was about to cry any second now.

"Look, those bracelets…are just there. They are nothing else." I said quickly.

"Do you think that I am stupid?" Manny asked. "Those bracelets mean things and I have been told what they mean." Manny explains. She took hold of my wrist and looked at them. "Let's see, oh so you made out, had oral sex, you even gave him a blowjob." Manny remarked.

I couldn't stand this; I quickly pulled my wrist away from her. "Why are you doing this to me?" I asked as more tears slid down my eyes.

"Because you're better than this, I don't want you to ruin your life. You're my best friend, and I care about you." Manny explained.

"Well, it doesn't seem like it." I stated. For a second we were quiet, until the bell rang. "There goes the bell, I better head to class." I said. I started to walk away until Manny stopped me.

"Em, I'm sorry. It's just that I never thought that you would do this, please forgive me." Manny asked apologetically.

"I forgive you." I said. We both then left the gym and headed for class.

The rest of the day went by quick, Jay and I talked again and had agreed to go at 7. Finally some things were sorted out; maybe things will get better.

As I was leaving the school building, I was stopped by Jay's car. I feel so safe and calm when I am around him. Wait! Not again, this is a friendship with benefits. Do I have to be repeating this to myself?

"Hey, princess. Care for a ride?" Jay asked, while he made a small laugh.

"Yeah." I said. I got inside his car and took a seat; Jay turned and faced me. His face got close to mine and gave me a kiss on the lips. While he was kissing me he didn't notice that Paige and Hazel were starring at us.

Paige's POV:

Like what? Jay and Emma? What's going on here? Good girl never goes to the bad boy. This is so stereotype. I wonder how long it will last? I got tell someone. What should I say? Good Girl screws with bad boy? Nah.

Hazel's POV:

Who could ever imagine this, I can so not keep this shut. I gotta tell someone, this is so juicy. Got to see Paige.

Jay's POV:

Does Emma even know that those two snitches are starring at us? She probably thinks that I don't know. Why am I kissing her? We are just friends with benefits; I got to stop it. But I can't in the inside I really like her beyond the usual.

Emma's POV:

"Jay." I said.

"Oh, yeah I need to take you home." Jay said, and started the car again.

"Remember to pick me up at 7." I reminded. As I got out of his car for the dozen time. "Bye." I said.

"See you, Green Peace." Jay said, and left.