-1She stood there, staring out at the audience. Manny closed her eyes and opened her mouth, a slight wheezing sound coming from the mic. This wasn't how she wanted her first impression to be. What was she doing up here anyway? Manny tried again, and again there was just a wheezing noise.

"Hey!" A familiar voice called. "We paid for entertainment, so sing!"

The audience was dark and she couldn't really see well. Manny peered into the sea of people. She tried to sing the song Travis had given her, but nothing was coming out. Just that strangled and wheezing sound. It wasn't good.

"Sing! Sing!" Came a chorus of voices.

And then, a sarcastic voice welled up. "We all knew she was talent-less. Can't act, can't sing. Take your top off!"

Hurt, Manny tried to peer into the audience. She couldn't see from who the sarcastic, mean comment came from. She tried to speak.


Suddenly, the audience brightened. Manny looked into it and saw all the people from her past--Emma, Liberty, Peter Stone, Darcy Edwards, even her two recent exes Jay Hogart and Craig Manning were in seats. "I--" Finally her voice came back. "I do too have talent!"

"So then why did you choose Smithdale over us?" Liberty asked. "Were you afraid of being in college and doing what real people did?"

Liberty had never spoken to Manny in such a cold, biting way. She glanced over at Emma, who's face was a mask--nothing warm in it at all, nothing. In fact she was sneering at her. Manny swallowed. "No. I wanted to pursue my dreams."

"What about my dreams?" A voice asked. Manny gazed into the crowd and saw that it had come from Craig.

"What do you mean, your dreams?" Asked Manny. "You are--searching for your dreams."

"No, my dreams. Music is just something that I'm good at. I wanted a family. You killed that dream, Manny. Murderer!"

Manny swallowed as several of the audience members nodded. She gazed at her friends for help but none of them rose to the occasion.

"I--" Startled and stunned Manny didn't know what to do. "I wanted to do the right thing, Craig. I wasn't even sixteen--"

"You killed my dreams. Why should you get one?"

"What about me?" Jay stood up next. Manny shook her head. "You? You did that yourself. You turned back into someone I don't want to know!" She flared.

"You're right, Stone." Jay said. "She's got no talent--except for running her mouth and flashing her breasts! Let's show the world the real Manny Santos…"

Jay moved to a huge spotlight, whirled it around and flashed it on her. Manny staggered backwards against the light and heard the cat calls. She heard the laughter then, and looked down.

She was stark naked.

Covering herself, Manny glanced at Emma. "Emma--don't--you can't. I want to be on West Drive, I want to be an actress." She felt her eyes well up with tears. "Please, I need you!"

"I needed you, Manny. You were too selfish to care. Now go be an actress on Pay-Per-View."

The bright light blinded her. There were cruel taunts and calls, and Manny couldn't do anything about it. "No. I'm going to be an actress. Wait--you'll see--"

She heard a loud shriek. Defending. The dream faded and Manny sat up as her alarm shrieked at her. She punched the button on it and sighed. Seven. Time to get going to the studio, get ready for rehearsal.

Climbing out of bed Manny noticed her cell phone was buzzing. She glanced down and saw it was from Emma--she'd missed five texts. Reading them it told her that Emma would be able to come for a visit during fall break. Liberty had to accompany her family back home.

Sweet.

Manny showered and changed into black stretch pants and a long yellow shirt. She brushed her hair and didn't put on makeup since the stage crew would do that for her. Her breakfast consisted of a bagel with cream cheese and black coffee.

She made it to work right before she was late. Jace was waiting for her. "Well if it isn't Sexy Santos." he laughed once and Manny felt her dream come back to her. She shook her head. "Get a life Jace. You're not funny."

"But you trying to act? That so was. What are you doing here, anyway?"

Manny glared at the actor and unrolled her script. She began to do her scene in her head when the director yelled for them. Rolling her eyes, the brunette did the takes without getting yelled at today.

Lunchtime was bliss with Travis and Brad. She had a burger and fries. Most of the time she tried to eat light but this…she really needed it.

"Rough day huh kid?" Brad asked.

"You could say." Manny said. "Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision you know? I mean…Smithdale…it could've had so many oppertunities there. Don't you think?"

She saw the two men exchange glances. "You know, you can quit and go to school." Travis said.

"No--I'm already Daisy…I mean…what would happen to her?"

"She'd either die, get pregnant and leave or…go into a coma." Brad laughed. "What's so bad about that?"

"Nothing I guess." Manny took a sip of soda. "You know, I'm still not going to sing for you two at Voodoo."

Travis smirked. "Oh, come on cutie! You could do it. Can you harmonize?"

"No!" Manny laughed. "Not even. I don't sing." She paused. "But, I know someone who does." Her dream floated to her, but Manny shrugged it off. "And you know something? He owes me a favor."

Brad and Travis looked at one another, wondering just what Manny was up to.