Hahahaheyyy!! So like, what is uppie? Imma likin this story so far [X aren't you?
Manny felt his lungs begin to burn, but he didn't care. He felt his legs screaming at him to stop, but he ignored that too. He was beyond caring about much anything but getting away by now. He looked behind him. No one was following, thank god. Right now, all he wanted was to be alone. But something deep inside him told him that he wanted Frida to come looking for him. Something told him that he wanted her here, by his side, to cheer him up. She had always been good at that. He suddenly started to miss her. He wanted to go looking for her, but knew he wasn't going to leave the place he was going to.
Once Manny finally stopped running, he rested his palms on his legs, breathing deeply. He looked up and read the sign that said Casa de Mariachi. He walked up the long path that leads to an immensely large mansion that belonged to his mother. He came to the door, and instead of ringing the bell, he slammed the door open and walked inside.
"Mom? I was hoping for some advice." He said, his voice echoing into the main room. Maria came down the spiral staircase and gasped at Manny's bloodied claws. She got a sponge from the sink and started to clean off all the blood.
"About what, mi'jo?" She asked. Manny signed.
"A lot of stuff." He answered. She led him out through the back of the mansion, to the pool deck. She sat on a lawn chair, and patted the one next to her, signaling him to sit down. He followed suit and miserably plopped himself onto the chair.
"So, tell me what's wrong." She said, Manny sighing again.
"Well, you know how I'm getting older?" He asked. Maria nodded her head.
"Well, that also means I'm getting new powers. And lately, it hasn't been very good. I've gotten a lot more violent, and it's like I'm getting an actual tiger's hunting instincts. Every time I see or smell blood, I'm drawn by rage to attack. And once I start attacking, Frida seems to find me. And that brings me to my next problem…." Manny started to explain.
"But mayor, that's not fair! He's just having a hard time with his new powers! You don't understand!" Frida complained. She saw her father walk up next to the mayor.
"No, mi'ja, the mayor is right. That vermin must be rid of this town before he causes further damage." He said. Frida looked shocked. Tears started to form in her eyes. She knew she had to go look for Manny.
"You're only backing him up because you want to get rid of Manny!" She screamed at her father and walked off. Emiliano was taken aback, speechless as he watched his daughter walk into the distance.
Frida couldn't stand the way that her father never approved of Manny.
"He just doesn't understand, Mama. I lo—I mean, Manny is my best friend, and I don't know why dad always hates him! He should know that if Manny is who makes me happy, he should be always welcomed. I just don't get it." Frida complained to her mother, who was now walking alongside her down a sidewalk looking for Manny.
"Mi'ja, I understand. I know that your father is hard on him, but he's just being overprotective of you. Being the youngest, dear, a parent normally tends to overparent their youngest." Carmela comforted. She knew how she felt about Manny, but Frida didn't know that she knows. Carmela decided to let her wait to tell her true feelings.
"But mama, I love Manny. Why can't he accept Manny?" She complained once more. Carmela shook her head.
"He'll come to his senses sooner or later, mi'ja."
"Mi'jo, it's all part of growing up. You're confused about your feelings, and as a little extra, having a tough time controlling your new powers. You'll get them down to the wire in no time. All you need is a little training, that's all." Maria explained to her son, who was still moping. Manny looked up.
"Well, I need to know my true feelings for her before I can move on to my powers. She's always come first in my life, and now is no different." Manny said flatly to his mother. She closed her eyes for a moment and nodded.
"Mi'jo, think back to all the fun you had with her. Think of all the happy times you've had." She started to explain. Manny did as he was told, laid back in the chair and closed his eyes as he started to picture all the good times he's had with Frida.
He remembered the time he told her that they couldn't hang out anymore, because he needed to protect her. The way he missed her so much…..the way it all went away as soon as they started talking again, but came right back when the Titan took her away. The way it all went away again when he saved her, then she saved him. How happy the ending was. It all seemed like a vague dream that he knew was real.
He remembered the time when Raul was created, and how she looked so miserable in the car ride to the Salsa club. She had never looked that annoyed or miserable in all her life. Had she been…..jealous?
He remembered her birthday party. The weeks before it they spent planning. The way she told him that he was the best friend that she's ever had, and the way she hated Zoe, but somehow it was for a reason more than just a series of dumb old pranks. How she seemed to look like she had been sort of flirty when they were apologizing. He realized something. There was a difference between the two girls that had told him that he was the best friend she'd ever had. When Frida had said it, he was a lot more comfortable hearing her say it than the way he felt when Zoe told him. When Zoe told him, he felt really uncomfortable and like he was in some deep doo-doo now.
He remembered the time that he and Frida had to work with Zoe on their science fair project. He remembered how angry Frida looked when Zoe flirted with him. He wondered……
He remembered all the time they had spent together. Then he came to his most favorite memory of all…
Flashback tiiiiiiime!! (haha, I tried to make it sound like the way mailbox says "mail timeeee!" in blues clues. Haha)
Manny and Frida were sitting in Manny's room, just talking about random stuff. Frida's parents and sisters were away on some law enforcement convention out of town, so she was staying with Manny for the weekend. It was late Friday night, and Frida was growing tired. Manny was sitting beside her, playing videogames. He knew she was getting tired, because he was winning by a landslide. His TV screen flashed Game Over on Frida's screen, and Winner! On Manny's screen. Manny threw his arms in the air, dropping his controller to his lap. He let out a cheer.
"Hooray! I win! Hear that, Frida? I—Frida?" He looked over at her to see that she had fallen asleep, her head leaning on his shoulder. He smiled and picked her up as he went to his feet. Carrying her bridal style, he took her over to his bed and placed her under his covers. He carefully and gently pulled the covers over her sleeping body, and whispered "Good night." To her as he quietly walked back to his TV to turn the game off, and the TV off.
Aww…..how cute! Flashback end.
Manny smiled as he remembered how peaceful Frida looked when she was asleep. Manny opened his eyes.
"Good. Now, concentrate. Think hard, think deep. How do you really feel?" Maria went on. Manny did as he was told, and thought hard. Then it all clicked.
He's in love.
He smiled a huge smile, jumped up and quickly hugged his mom before he ran off.
"Thanks, mom!" He yelled back just as he slammed the front door shut. Maria smiled and walked back inside to attend to her business.
Manny, having completely forgotten his worries about his new powers, stopped running and remembered his worries.
"What am I going to do?" He asked himself. Before he could continue a thought, he heard someone calling his name.
"Manny? Maaaannyyyy? Where are you?" He heard a girl's voice call out. He turned around to find himself face to face with Frida.
"Manny! Where did you go?" Frida asked, concerned. Manny noticed the tears in her eyes drying. He wiped them away with his thumb.
"Why were you crying?" He asked. Frida looked hurt almost instantly.
"It's my dad. He's on the mayor's side, he wants you out of town! Manny, I don't want you to go!" She explained, falling into his arms. Manny hugged her gently and rubbed her back.
"Don't worry, Frida, I'm not going anywhere, I promise. Come on, let's go somewhere else." He cooed her, leading her away.
Minutes later, Manny and Frida stood on the porch outside Manny's house. He was looking over the edge, out at the city, leaning on the rail. Frida stood behind him, worried.
"Manny, what are we going to do?" She asked. Manny shook his head.
"There's only one thing I really can do, Frida." Manny replied. Frida walked up next to him, leaning on the rail and looking in the same direction as Manny.
"And if my plan doesn't work, I'll still need you by my side the rest of my life," He started to explain, looking over to Frida.
"Frida, I can't do this without you."
Haha, that's all for this chapter! Like, worst place EVERRR to stop. But that only means you'll all stick around for the next, totally epic chapter! Hahaha, review [X