"These two idiots are pregnant!" Ashley's announcement roared through the cafeteria. Everyone turned their attention to Craig and Manny, who both looked completely shocked and embarrassed at Ashley outing their secret. Manny instantly started to tear up, then got up and ran out of the cafeteria.

"I can't believe you slept with her!" Ashley then shouted at Craig, who still looked flabbergasted. Ashley quickly turned around and stormed off in the other direction, shoving right past JT, who looked at her confused, and then back to Emma, who was standing right next to him.

"Is she really pregnant?" JT asked Emma, who was Manny's best friend.

"Not now, JT," Emma replied, setting her lunch tray down on the nearest table, before sprinting off in the same direction Manny had run off in.

JT just stood there in complete shock. He had had a crush on Manny since the beginning of the school year, and although it was never reciprocated, he still had a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that the girl he liked may have slept with someone else, and may have even gotten pregnant. They were only 14! Having sex and getting someone pregnant was something JT couldn't even imagine at their age. He especially couldn't believe she had done this with an asshole like Craig, who had been dating Manny and Ashley at the same time, and had even very rudely rejected Manny the year before.

JT snapped himself out of his thoughts and found a table to sit at by himself, while he thought about everything that had just transpired concerning his crush.

The bell finally rang, as JT was sitting in his last class of the day, still lost in his thoughts about Manny. He quickly got up and headed to his locker, where he retrieved his skateboard. Once he got outside, he put on his helmet and his padding, and started skateboarding around while he waited for his best friend, Toby, who he was supposed to go home with to study. As he was skateboarding around the front steps of the school, he started thinking about Manny again.

She'll never like me back now; she's gonna spend all her time with stupid Craig. What does she see in him anyway? He's such a-

"Ouch!" JT exclaimed. He had gotten distracted by his thoughts, and fell off his skateboard.

"Have a nice trip?" a voice from behind him asked. The voice belonged to none other than Liberty Van Zandt, who had had a very obvious crush on JT for the last three years. Liberty stepped in front of him and extended out her hand to help him up. JT ignored her helping hand and started pushing himself up.

"My grandma uses that joke," he said, annoyed at her attempt at humor.

"It's a classic," Liberty said. "Speaking of classics, there's a Three Stooges film festival at The Royal tonight. My treat?" Liberty boldly asked JT out.

"I'm not in the mood," JT said, pushing past her. He was too upset about Manny to think about going out with anyone else, especially someone who couldn't let go of their annoying, years-long crush on him.

"Why I oughta!" Liberty shook her fist at his rejection.

JT turned around, annoyed. "Okay, newsflash: I don't wanna go out with you!"

"Because of Manny?" Liberty asked. JT turned around to face her again, frustration visible on his face. "Look, JT; I'm sorry you're upset, but it's clearly time to move on," Liberty replied, intending to be helpful, but JT didn't see it that way.

"Okay, you know what Liberty? This three year crush you've had on me is getting a little boring," JT replied, a little more harshly than he meant to, but he had to get her to understand that they were never going to happen. JT turned around again, and walked away, heading off in the other direction to wait for Toby. Liberty's face fell, her heart breaking at JT's rejection. She had become accustomed to JT rejecting her over the years, but he was usually kinder and let her down more gently than that. The rejection hurt differently this time.

JT and Toby walked through the front door of Toby's house, and were immediately greeted by the sound of sad piano music coming from upstairs.

"I take it your sister's upset?" JT asked.

"Oh, she's absolutely pissed!" Toby replied. Talk of that day's lunchtime drama had spread around the school quickly. Everyone knew by now that Craig had cheated on Ashley, and gossip about Manny's rumored pregnancy was the talk of the whole school.

"Tobes, do you think it's true? That Manny's pregnant?" JT asked. He couldn't get the thought out of his mind. Him and Manny had been close friends since they were 4. JT, Manny, and Emma would always play together in Pre-K, and their friendship had remained strong all the way until high school. Things got weird earlier in the school year after Manny's makeover and her relationships with Sully and Craig, but JT was still concerned for her as a friend, even despite his unrequited crush on her.

"Ashley seems pretty convinced. And from what I've heard, Craig didn't exactly deny it to her. I'd say it's pretty likely," Toby replied.

JT sighed. "It's just so weird to think about someone our age having a baby. Especially someone I've been friends with for so long. I mean, you and Kendra have been dating for like a year! And you two have barely even kissed!"

"I mean, Emma's mom had her at our age. It happens. And thanks for reminding me JT," Toby replied sarcastically.

"Sorry," said JT.

"Let's just get to work on homework. I'm tired of this dumb gossip," said Toby, placing his books on the table.

JT sat in class, reading a comic book before class started, as all his classmates started rolling into the classroom one by one. His eyes shot up from his comic book the moment that Manny walked into the room. For a split second, her deep, coffee eyes met his, but her gaze quickly shifted, her not wanting to discuss her situation with him. She knew he would be hurt. Manny took her seat at the back of the class, looking off to the side, trying to avoid the stares of all the judging faces around her. Following Manny was Emma, who then took her usual seat next to JT.

"Em," JT whispered, trying to get Emma's attention. Emma turned her head to him and raised her eyebrows. "Is it true about Manny?" JT asked, as quietly as possible so Manny wouldn't hear him.

"JT, I think it's time you move on from her," Emma answered softly, confirming his suspicions.

"Oh… okay," JT said sadly, and picked his comic book back up, releasing a sigh.

"Hey JT," Toby, who was sitting on JT's other side, started giggling. "I know what will help you move on." Toby's eyes motioned towards the front of the classroom, where Liberty had just taken her seat. JT looked at Toby and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, she tried to ask me out again yesterday. I had to put it really bluntly this time."

"What did you say to her?" Toby asked.

"I told her that her three-year crush on me was getting boring, and that I don't wanna go out with her," JT replied.

"Wow, that sounds a little harsh," Toby replied.

JT shrugged his shoulders. "The girl won't take a hint. What else was I supposed to say?"

Toby shrugged in response as the bell rang, and the teacher announced that it was time to get class started.

The next day JT walked up the steps of the school to begin his school day, when he noticed something strange. Is that Liberty in a costume? Trying to flirt with Sean of all people? JT chuckled to himself. Oh man, She's rebounding on Sean hard. JT couldn't help going over there to make a joking comment.

"Well, well, well. I see Halloween's early this year. Or are you playing Rizzo in the school production of Grease?" JT remarked condescendingly as he walked up from behind Liberty.

"Actually, I wasn't going for a veneration of the 50s. Perhaps I was subconsciously inspired by Sean's masterly work on our assignment. Work I look forward to continuing." She winked at Sean and then walked away. JT could tell that she was trying not to let him comment bother her, but she was also still hurt at the way he rejected her. Truthfully, he did feel a little bit bad, and began to realize he was a little harsh on her, but he also didn't want to lead her on in any way. Being blunt was the only way Liberty was going to understand that JT didn't feel that way about her. Suddenly, Sean pulled JT aside.

"What's going on?" Sean asked angrily, blaming JT for what just happened with Liberty.

"You're the rebound crush," JT answered simply.

"What?! No. No, no, no. No," Sean kept repeating.

"On a certain level, I'm relieved. But on another, I feel your pain," JT empathized.

"Well what do I do? I felt bad because she was upset over you, but I guess she took my pity as me liking her."

"There's only one way outta this. You gotta be brutal. The word 'hint' is not in Liberty's vocab," JT advised.

Sean nodded. "Okay, I trust you. I guess you know her best since she was your little junior high girlfriend or whatever."

"What? No. I've never liked Liberty like that. I don't know what you're talking about." JT got defensive.

Sean laughed. "Come on, JT. I remember Ashley's party back in grade seven. You were feeling her."

"No! I thought I was on ecstasy, remember? It was just the placebo effect."

"Whatever, JT," Sean laughed and rolled his eyes, and turned to walk back to his friend.

"Never speak of that again. I'd almost forgotten it myself," JT warned.

"Mom? Grandma?" JT shouted into a seemingly empty house. He looked around the house. No one in the living room. He checked his mom's bedroom. She wasn't there. He checked his grandma's bedroom. No one there either. She must not be home. Finally, he knocked on the door to his mom's sewing room. No answer, so he opened the door. There was fabric laid out on the table, and loose scraps strewn out all over the floor.

She must be at her second job again, JT thought to himself. He was used to mom never being home, and when she was, she usually locked herself in her sewing room, working on orders for her many customers. He shut the door and went upstairs to his own room, placing his backpack down on the bed as he heard the front door opening and closing.

"JT?" he heard the voice of his grandma calling him. He went downstairs upon hearing this.

"Hey Grandma."

"JT! Glad you're here. I need to talk to you."

"About what?"

"I have to go visit your uncle Tom next Wednesday night and your mom has to work late that night, so you'll have to spend the night at your friend Toby's. I already called his stepmom and she said it was okay."

"Grandma, I'm 14, I can spend a night by myself."

"James, 14 is still a kid. I'd much rather you stay with a trusted friend than alone," his grandma said.

"Okay," JT agreed. "Is that all? I have homework I should probably get started on." His Grandma nodded, and he went back upstairs to his room.