Chapter 3 – Breakthrough

(Author)

Manny walked up to Craig after school. She had decided to confront him about his behavior around her. She crossed her arms to show she was upset.

"Craig, do you love me?" She asked with a scowl.

"Um... hello to you, too?" saying that Craig was confused would be a large understatement.

"Answer my question, Craig, do you love me?" Manny asked again, this time making known to the people around them that they were having an important conversation.

"Manny... what kind of question is that?" He looked down. "You know that I love you."

"Craig. Look me in the eye, and tell me that you're telling the truth. The absolute truth." Manny was feeling sicker and sicker watching him squirm.

"I do love you... just in a different way." Craig said with a sigh of sadness.

"And what way would that be?" Manny said with a look of surprise.

"Friends," the tall, dark, and handsome boy sighed and looked down in shame of hurting the one girl in his life that's been hurt the most.

Manny opened her mouth as if she had something to say in return, then she closed her mouth as the tears took over her gorgeous eyes.

"But there is someone that I do love." Craig looked up.

"Well?" Manny choked out. She couldn't speak any more words or the tears would show that she's trying not to believe that this is real.

" Emma. I've always loved her. See, when we were ki-" Craig started to say until he was interrupted.

"Emma! Wait, you mean to tell me that you're in love with my best friend?" Manny let the lump in her throat go, and she felt the anger rise. She let her tears escape her lovely face and she ran away from him, letting the tears overcome her face as bystanders watched in disbelief.

(Craig)

It's over. I told Manny about Emma, and she wasn't thrilled, not that she should have been. She flipped out way more than I expected, though. I've hurt her so many times, and I think this was the final straw. You can't act like this around Manuela Santos. It's just not what you're supposed to do. I feel like a total jerk. Maybe... yes, I think I should stay away from Manny and Emma for a while. I can't bear to hurt either one of them. Again.

(Emma)

Craig and Manny are through. Manny hasn't exactly recovered yet, either. She hasn't left our bedroom for 2 days! This weekend was supposed to be full of parties and shopping, but instead it's all been lying on my bed, eating chocolate and ice cream. Craig's done this before to her, and I warned her a long time ago about him. Of course the only reason I "warned" her was to make her not like him, so that I could ask him out. That obviously didn't work. Anyway, she won't tell me exactly what he said or why he broke up with her, but I think it's something very important that will very well affect our friendship. She says that she's fine. Yeah, right. The whole point is that Craig Manning is single now. I can't tell him how I feel. It's too soon. I should just stay away from him for a while.

(Manny)

Craig broke up with me. He says he likes me as a friend. How lame is that? That's the oldest break up line in the book. Why couldn't he tell me exactly why he wanted to break up, you might ask? Well, he did tell me why. Emma. Yes, Emma Nelson. My best friend. My oldest friend. He loves her. He can't possibly love her! All she cares about is the environment! She doesn't have time for a relationship with him! This is horribly wrong. I loved Craig, I really did. I guess... I guess now he's just... my past.