Sean had approached her that morning, offering another chance for the two of them, and she had accepted for two reasons. One, he still sent her heat a flutter. And two, he was her shot at forgetting.

"It's been a long time," he had said.

It really had. Too much had happened in that time.

"I've just... I've missed you."

He had missed her... the notion sent thrills down her arms.

"I was wondering if we could try it again. Em, I love you, I swear I won't hurt you."

The promise had sounded nice. But now, what about Craig? He had no idea what to do with the aftermath of their night together. He didn't know what to do with it. But, sitting outside the school with Sean, she decided it didn't really matter. Everything would blow over.

"Your hands are soft," Sean laughed, rubbingher knuckles.

Emma grinned. "It's called lotion, try it sometime."

"Hi, Emma."

Jumping in her seat, Emma clutched her chest, surprised. Craig was standing before her, slightly indignant, slightly cocky.

"Craig... you scared me."

He waited a moment. "Why?"

It was such a leap seeing him like this, so menacing, after what she had seen him like before. He was angry with her, she could tell. She didn't think she could ever see him so upset, yet so calm. She never thought he could be so enraged with her, but

"I don't know... I just... what'd you come over here for?"

"To say hi. So, you and Sean are back together?"

"Yeah," Sean answered. "This morning. So, anyway, what's new?"

"Me? Nothing. I just have math. You should get inside, the bell's about to ring."

And as if on queu, the bell chimed off, signaling for the remainder of students to file in the building.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

It was natural. Someone could only take being pushed aside for so long -- eventually they had to get mad, Craig reflected in History class later that day. He had every right to be mad. He had been yearning for her for months, whereas she had been off having her own jolly little fun. Tra la la la la.

"Mr. Manning, what is one major event in Canadian history?"

Craig glanced up, mouth drooping open.

"Uhh... the invention of hockey?"

Could he have been more thick?

"I mean -- uh... do we even have any?"

While the rest of the class had found him funny, Mrs. Kwan seemed to disagree.

"Mr. Manning, after a 22 on your last test, you should be paying more attention."

Oh, but how could he pay attention? He wast hinking of Emma, always thinking of Emma. Just another major effect she had on him.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Friday: The day of Redemption. The day Craig would free himself from Ashley.

Most people would view this as an overall good thing, breaking up with someone you don't love. But Craig... he knew that whatever happiness he would feel would be nothing compared to the misery Ashley would.

Friday: The day of Many and Emma's presentation. The day they would get their stupid project overwith.

Mrs. Kwan had told them that the five minutes between third and fourth period were theirs to set up and prepare, and, of course, they had taken advantage.

"Your poster's croked," Liberty pointed out. "Just a little bit to the left."

Whatever preshow jitters Manny was having, it was nothing compared to Emma's. Her stomach was in knots.

She surmised it was due to the salty sardines she had eaten for breakfast. When she ran her theory past her friends, their replies were anything but helpful.

"Emma, sardines aren't really a breakfast food," Jt said in revoltion.

"That and they're disgusting." Toby added.

"They're not that disgusting."

The fact of the matter was that she hated sardines. The taste made her want to slit her throat. But the unexplanatory part about it was the fact that she had been craving them.

"I think they're too full of sodium to have for breakfast," Liberty stated. "I'd stick with cereal from now on if I were you."

The majority of the class had assembled with two minutes to go before the bell. Standing side by side, Manny and Emma were as ready as they were going to be, both extremely proud of the work they had accomplished.

"You got your bug under control?" Manny asked under her breath, still staring at the audience.

Emma nodded. "Yeah, it was just the flu, I think."

Her stomach was in pain, but it was subsiding.

"Wait -- I lied! I lied!"

And immediately, she was scrambling from the room, leaving her classmates in utter shock.

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Five minutes. Craig had five minutes to gently let Ashley down, then sprint his way off to class. He could break up with her in five minutes, it just wasn't enough time to do it nicely. Look at me, being the nice perfect gentleman. It was so sad, yet so funny. The two opposites made a common and expected duo in his life, but each time, never failed to deliver.

"So, Craig, what'd you want to talk about?" Ashley asked, taking his hand as they strolled down the hall. "Is it something about the wedding?"

The wedding? The -- oh... she was still thinking about getting married. This made Craig hesitant. What he had to say was the exact opposite of what she was willing to hear.

"Umm, no, actually."

Two minutes to go before the bell. The hallway was deserted now, the silence pushing him to talk, giving him no other choice. He hated the silence.

"You are going to hate me..."

He said it so confidentally, like it was a fact.

One minute to go. He would have to reschedule this rendevous, or be late.

"Wait, why? Why am I going to hate you? ...Wait... do you hear that noise?"

"Noise? What --"

A second later it was obvious what the noise had been. Emma scrambled past them in a fit, the two of them gazing after her, completely confused.

"What was that?"

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

Long after Emma had left the classroom, Manny was still standing motionless in front of her peers, nervously tapping her pamphlet against her chest. Being the sane one was really embarrassing.

"Umm, alright," Mrs. Kwan started in a baffled tone, "I guess we'll take a break?" She stood, setting her clipboard on her desk. "Manny, do you have any idea why Emma left?"

"I don't know... well, she was feeling sick earlier, she probably had to throw up."

The class groaned, sickened. Probably not the best thing to say.

"Well, I guess you should just sit down and I'll call someone from the office to go get her."

Manny obeyed, taking her seat next to an amused Jt.

"If she goes home you'll just have to present on Monday. Is that alright?"

"Yeah, it's fine, whatever."

In the midst of all the choas, people had broken into chatter about Emma, whispering excitedly to one another while Manny put her head down, dripping into an annoyingly penseive mood.

"I'm not surprised Emma's sick after eating all those sardines," Liberty said. "Some people just don't digestt hings well."

"It's not the sardines," Toby interrrupted. "She probably just got sick. I had he flu last week, she could have caught it from me."

Jt's eyes narrowed. "Emma the health freak getting sick? Sorry, Tobes, but you've got more chance of jumping to the moon than of Emma getting sick.

Timidly, Manny lifted her head. "You guys... do you think -- do you think it's plausible that Emma's been hanging around Jay?"

"Jay?" Jt exclaimed, eyebrows raising. "Why would she do that? Like, you don't think she's...?"

Looking a bit uncertain, Manny nodded, confirming their suspicions.

"We're so lucky Sean's not in this class," Toby said.