Disclaimer: I own nothing Degrassi...

"So tell me, friend of mine, what is new in Emma-land?" Manny asked, pouring salad dressing onto her green spinach salad. She stuck her finger into the container, not wasting a single drop of the honey dill dressing. She licked the end of her finger with a smack and looked up at Emma, waiting for her answer.

Emma shrugged, involving herself in her own salad, muttering, "Not much. Jay asked me to marry him."

Emma heard Manny's fork fall, the loud clang of her utensil hitting her dish ringing out across the restaurant. Faces turned to look at the two girls, wondering what had caused the noise. Manny's mouth hung open. Emma shrugged yet again, not commenting.

"He what?" she squeaked, finally gaining a voice.

"He asked me to marry him," Emma said plainly.

Manny smiled, dimples in full effect. "You're kidding me, right?"

Emma reached into her large purse, sitting beside her on the bench. She grabbed the ring, stuck it on her finger, and presented it to Manny across the table.

Manny grabbed onto her hand, tugging Emma's entire body across the table. "Wow! That's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen! So?"

"So?"

"What did you say?" Manny asked, biting into her bottom lip with anticipation.

"I asked if he'd been smoking something," Emma chuckled. She shook her head. "He left before I had a chance to say anything. He told me to think about it and get back to him."

Manny smiled wide. "Well if you're carrying the rock around with you, that must be a good sign, huh?"

"I only have it with me because I'm meeting him later for coffee. I plan to give it back then."

Manny's face fell. "You're giving it back? So, no wedding?"

"Sorry to ruin all your dreams there, Manny. No wedding."

Manny leaned forward, whispering, "Poor Jay."

Emma's brow shot up in surprise. "Poor Jay? Well that's surprising! You, a Jay-supporter?"

"I just mean that he's gonna be crushed. How did he do it?"

Emma knew that Manny was waiting for the day when her Prince Charming would come along, sweep her off of her feet, and she would live happily ever after. Emma didn't want to disappoint her romantic friend, so she smiled when she said, "He actually got down on one knee and asked me if I would marry him. It was sweet, but completely out of left field."

"Well it's not totally left field, Em," Manny reminded. When Emma gave her a confused look, Manny explained. "You and Jay have been together for a long time. Of course he was going to fall for you eventually."

"Settle down, Manny. Jay and I have never been 'together'. We have an...arrangement. But marriage? With Jay?"

"So Jay's good enough to sleep with on a regular basis, but not good enough to marry?" Manny questioned, finally picking her fork back up and munching on her salad.

Emma sniffed, removing the rock from her finger and placing it back into her purse. "There's nothing wrong with Jay. He's a great guy, but to be married to him? I don't think so. We have fun together, but that's because there's no expectations for anything else. If that changed, out goes the fun and in comes the..."

"Commitment?" Manny questioned. "And we all know your feelings on the big C."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma asked.

Manny pointed her fork at Emma. "You have been commitment-phobic ever since Hurricane Sean blew through. But enough is enough, Em. We're getting older. I'd give anything to be in your shoes, with a decent guy like Jay asking to spend the rest of his life with me. Maybe it's time to put aside the hurt you hold so close to your heart. That pain is preventing you from moving forward."

Emma sighed. "I'm not talking about this with you. My not wanting to marry Jay has nothing to do with Sean. I don't love him."

Manny watched Emma's face, as she tried to appear composed. She wondered just what went on in Emma's mind, as she told herself that she didn't love Jay. Manny suspected it had a lot more to do with not allowing herself to be open to love at all.

"Emma?" Manny asked. "Em?"

FLASHBACK

"It's not you, Em. It's me. I just don't feel it anymore. It's not fair to keep this going if my heart isn't in it, and I'm sorry, but it's not."

Emma tried to focus on Sean's face, but her tears blurred the image. What was he saying? Why was he doing this?

"I...I...d...don't under...st...stand," she stuttered through her sobs.

"We've been doing this for way longer than we should have. First the whole long distance thing. And now... Well I just don't think I can do it any longer. I think we both deserve better," Sean tried to explain.

"Eight years, Sean," Emma whispered. "We've been together for the last eight years! Since I was seventeen, Sean! How can you say that those eight years have all been a mistake? Is that really how you feel?"

Sean shrugged. He sighed. This was so not going how Sean wanted it to. "Emma?"

Tears continued to seep from Emma's eyes. Sean's silence told volumes. He no longer loved her and maybe he never really had. Maybe the last eight years had all been some big delusion, made up happiness in Emma's twisted mind.

"So that's it then?" she asked. "You just want to call it quits. You're, what? Kicking me out?"

Sean bit into his lower lip. "You can have as much time as you need to find a new place. I'll go stay with Jay. I just think that this is all for the best, Emma."

END OF FLASHBACK

"Emma?" Manny called, snapping her fingers in Emma's face. "Are you okay?"

Emma nodded her head slowly. She blinked, telling herself that it was pointless to cry. Sean certainly wasn't. He'd gone and moved on. Maybe that was what she needed to do. Move on.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Manny asked, concern written all over her face.

Emma smiled at her friend. "I'm fine. I think in some ways that you're right. I need to get on with my life. Sean and the pain he's put me through are done making my life a living hell!"

"So? Does this mean that you and Jay..."

"No. It actually means that I have to stop this stupidity with Jay. I have to concentrate on finding someone that's perfect for me. Someone who's successful and educated. Someone that I can be proud to be with. Someone that I can be with for the rest of my life."

Manny squinted her eyes, watching Emma's face as she rambled on. She hated seeing Emma this way. This determination to find the 'perfect guy' would only lead her to realize that HER perfect guy was right in front of her face. But if Emma chose to break Jay's heart, would he be around when she finally realized how right he really was for her?

Please R&R! Next chapter? Emma talks to Jay...