Author Note: Not exactly fond of this chapter, but here it goes. I have the other chapters in the works but enjoy this one in the meantime. Thanks for the reviews. I appreciate them.

Chapter 9

Relics and Chitchat

A few minutes after twelve-o' clock and earlier that day, Emma and Manny with bags in hands walked into the food court of the mall took their seats and sat down putting their bags on the other two unused chairs and sat down. They grabbed their bag of food Emma got sushi and Manny splurged and got a burger. Emma ripped open her chopsticks and Manny opened up her burger and they dug in and at least started their first bit of food. They've talked for the better part of the morning reminiscing, and just enjoying the company of one another all morning. It sure worked up an appetite so they found themselves in for lunch. "You know, you have to see Jay." Emma reminded after taking a sip of her drink through the straw.

Manny sighed shaking her head taking a french fry and absent-mindedly dipping it into a mess of ketchup avoiding Emma's gaze, "I just – I don't know what to say to him now. He's been a great guy, a great boyfriend, a great substitute best friend to you – I don't want to fuck that up but I don't want to be dishonest with him when I know we don't share that stuff. At least not anymore. At least I don't think so - - "

Emma thought things through thoughtfully but couldn't help but think about the past, her expression was one of concern. "Remember what happened last time you two broke up?"

"How could I forget? Had to get my number changed three times and then he made friends with the phone guy and then when I did it again still ended up with my number. He's relentless when he knows what he wants."

"I just think the circumstances are just vastly different now."

"Yeah, I accidentally cheated." Manny mutters in a hushed tone, "now let's see what he would do now."

Emma was silent and sighed, "I've been there cheater and cheated."

Manny snickered, "I know, whore."

The blonde snickered, throwing her straw trash at Manny with a shrug and looked at her with a muffled tone, "So what are you thinking?"

In reply Manny sighed, "I think you're actually right about Craig."

"Remind me." Emma relished the win but she also knew that all along Manny had no real want to dump Jay she was just having that lapse in time and was suffering.

"I mean, that he's wrong."

Emma nodded and reveled with celebration, "Told you so."

"Shut up!" Manny paused, impulsively she once again spoke asking, "It's just, Emma. . . is it normal to have these feelings?"

"Hold that thought, tonight we're getting our groove back."

"You didn't answer my questions!"

"What's there to say? You know everything about Sean and I. Everything there is to know. You were there."

The brunette couldn't argue with that. I mean sometimes they both suffer from the worst cases of foot and mouth. It's just circumstances make you constantly say everything with a hopeful but attached way.

Manny looked at Emma as if she had five heads causing Emma to continue, "We're going out with Sean and Jay you and Jay are gonna work shit out Sean and Emma are gonna get busy finding our relationship and well . . Craig will be but a memory."

Manny sighed remaining sort of contemplative, "I just never thought that I would have to be the one to make the choice."

"You always had a choice. It just takes some finessing" Emma beamed in trying to make Manny feel much happier and less uneasy about the current state of circumstances. The blonde and the brunette were finishing their food. An idea had popped in Emma's head, "I have a few errands to make, you wouldn't mind chillin' out somewhere and then -"

"I do too." Manny interrupted.

"Yeah I have to stop at home and get something from the house, my parents house."

"Oh take your time, I have to buy some stuff I saw in Garage. That purple track suit you bought earlier makes me want to get one." Emma bought a purple tracksuit that was cute and she liked it enough to wear right out of the store. Manny bought the majority of things, Manny was the one with the bags. Emma had but a small set of garments she was able to fit in her tote so that she could easily go for a run to go to her parents house.

. . .

It was around one-clock and the house was completely silent. Sean woke up with a start. Had it all been a dream? The sun shone brightly in Emma's home he was beginning to see that last night really happened but evidently there wasn't a sound to be heard. Where is she?

She saw two or three pieces of expensive looking luggage near the door, it was Manny's from the night before. He finally got up and started to look around the empty house although the lights were off the room had plenty of natural sunlight during waking hours. He managed to notice there was quite a bit of a mess on the counter, Emma and Manny's mugs of half-drunk coffee and next to it with a ring from coffee was on the paper, it had a little note addressed on it.

Sean,

It's Emma. You looked so cute I dared not to wake you, figured you still needed to sleep. It's about 830 now and I should be back soon.

If you're wondering I'm out shopping with Manny. I should be home soon. I feel awful for leaving you there but I had to do a few things. Don't worry nothing major had to stop at home for a few things, and Manny and I wanted to go shopping. Feel free to raid to fridge for something you like I shouldn't be gone long, I do wish you stay though because I'd like to catch up. Maybe we all can do something tonight?

Love, Em

"Love Emma" he read it again a smile played on his lips, even in a note she never ceases to make him smile. He decided to take her up on her offer. He looked in the fridge found mostly Whole Foods and Trader Joe's spreads, yogurt, other miscellany and funky vegan foods like tofu but then he came across Nutella in the fridge and noticed there was some bread atop the counter. Sean has always had a sweet tooth when it comes to breakfast, if he could he'd devour a chocolate cake which he did for the first week he had a place of his own but the novelty wore off mostly by a two in the afternoon crash. He naturally decided to make himself a Nutella and peanut butter sandwich because he was not keen on being ambitious when it came to matters of the stomach.

Once he finished his sandwich he heard giggling and nondescript talking coming from behind the door before the door opened, in came Emma and Manny with many shopping bags. Emma and Manny had met up on the street and they were able to come home at the same time. Thank God for cellphones. Manny joked as she opened the door Manny called out in a sing-song voice, "Oh Sleeping Beauty . . . "

"Good morning to you." Sean said putting his plate in the sink after he had finished his food.

"I think you mean good afternoon. It's like 2. So what you end up getting yourself to eat?" Emma asked situating things with the box in her arms. She had told Manny all about it, but Manny knew she kept things just never to that degree.

"Nutella and peanut butter you know well I don't understand your vegan crap."

"You are a glutton for chocolate as always." Emma stated matter-of-factly.

"I'm going to take a shower alright?" Manny excused herself once the bags were out of her hands and sitting next to her luggage making a b-line for the shower, most likely trying to give the pair some time alone.

"Towels are in the small closet," Emma called back to her as she finally put down the blue box she had retrieved from her parents house on the counter by Sean not saying a word about it.

"Thanks!" Manny echoed.

Emma turned to Sean and smiled, "Sorry to leave you like that but Manny is almost never in town and –"

"I understand." Sean just stated plainly, looking uncomfortably at his shifting feet, thinking how strange it is that after all the nitpicking in his head, all the worries, fears, emotions and he's left dumbstruck like the teen he was when he was with her years ago, he can never seem to find the words he wants to say.

"Did you think of anything you wanted to do tonight?"

"The bar would be cool, have some drinks, swap stories with our friends. Jay and Manny we can double up, get nice and toasted drink and come back here and watch movies double cheese"

Emma unintentionally made a face, "or no? Maybe we can go to Jay's . . or just forget the idea."

"There's just one minor snag." Emma looked away wistfully.

"What? Manny doesn't want to hang?"

"Don't repeat this but between you and me Manny doesn't want to date Jay anymore, in fact she's thinking about calling it off this week while she's in town. I hate it because we've all been so chummy lately and my loyalties are all askew because she's my best friend, she's been my best friend she got sort of miffed that I was defending him because I'm his best friend too and while she was away I got close with him and if they break up it's going to be all kinds of awkward and I'll probably lose a friend."

"That's not true, Emma. You're not going to be forced to choose."

"Leave it to me to find the worst case scenario."

"I think that's my shtick."

Emma laughed, "Oh before I forget." Emma opened up the box and pulled out the denim jacket, "I went home and I managed to find this thing, look at this relic."

Sean gasped, "Is that mine?"

Emma held it to her chest, "Mhm but you gave it to me already, finders keepers."