Not Now
Anger and disappointment and frustration warred within him for precedence. He walked fast, nearly running, hoping to outrace it.
"Craig! Wait!" He had heard the click click of high heels on the sidewalk behind him, and now Manny's voice attached to it. He didn't want to see her or anyone. He wanted to be alone. He needed to be alone.
She caught up with him and tugged on his sleeve, and he shrugged away.
"Not now, Manny,"
Now
She felt sneaky, and older than her years. She could see all this with her third eye. He was hurting. He needed a soft place to fall. She'd be that soft place.
She tilted her head and listened as he explained that he screwed up, and beyond that she saw that he always sort of felt that way. And she saw that his father being abusive had effected him when it came to love and affection. Eyes narrowed, her little hand holding his sleeve so he wouldn't get away. She saw what Ashley couldn't see.
It's Okay
Manny was beautiful. Dark hair, dark eyes, smooth skin, pretty clothes. She wasn't that little immature girl he'd gone on a date with last year. He blinked, surprised. This night had strayed pretty far from the plan. He was supposed to be in Ashley's bedroom, taking off her punk goth clothes one by one. Instead he was here, in his garage, with this ultra feminine girly girl.
She looked at him with the half open eyes and she was breathing fast and he was slipping, too. But after he kissed her he pulled away, thinking of Ashley. How easy it was to cheat on Ashley.
"It's okay," she said, and pulled him close to her.
The Best Night
She felt so happy, so fulfilled. Now Craig would be her boyfriend and she'd feel this happiness every day. Sitting in the sunshine on the stone wall with Emma, her smile bursting, legs swinging. Emma asked her what but she couldn't quite say. Not yet. She only told her it had been the best night.
And Craig walked by, his bag slung over his shoulder like he wore it, his baggy faded jeans sort of clinging in the right places. The curly hair, his eyes looking lighter in the sun. She jumped up and saw the cautious look on his face and in his eyes, and even through her delirious happiness she knew that wasn't a good sign.
Ashley
Manny tried talking to him and he didn't know what to say to her, what to do with her. Behind her he saw Ash, her soft smile, forgiveness in her eyes.
"Manny, can I talk to Craig for a minute?" Ashley said, not really paying attention to Manny, not like she should have. Manny's face crumpled in disappointment and she hung back.
No, No
She read the body language, the way Ashley touched his sleeve and his hand and leaned toward him. She heard the apologetic lilt to her words. Craig wasn't hers, no clean sweep. Not by a long shot.