Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from this story unless they aren't regulars on the show. (like Gianni)
Chapter Six: I'd Try'd to Save it so Many Times, but You Still Couldn't See
"Let me explain." Gianni ran after Ellie, knowing that it was useless. What was he going to say that would make anything better? Nothing.
"You've humiliated yourself once del Rossi. Leave it alone." Ellie retorted, placing a few books back in her locker. It was already sixth period, and she was dealing with what happened. Coping. Seeing Gianni almost every class didn't help the healing process either.
"Just listen." Gianni begged as Ellie rushed to her IB Biology course.
"I'm not going to. Give it up." They parted as their new teacher Ms. Scarlett explained their newest project—dissecting a pig. "Great," Ellie said to Ashley, who shared the same sentiments about having animals and insects killed for the so-called "benefit of science" when there were already hundreds of diagrams of a pig's interior.
"Ms. Scarlett." Ashley rose her hand, ready to begin her protest.
"If you have a problem with this assignment, no one's getting out of it. Interactive software is no replacement for the actual hands-on approach we are taking." She nodded in Ashley's direction. "However, if the severity of this project is too much for you, and if your parents shares your sentiments by signing this consent form and agreeing to purchase their own software, then you are by all means excused."
Ellie sighed. "This sucks." She mumbled.
"I know--"
"No, not this … I mean not just this. Ash, Gianni's been cheating on me." Ellie confessed.
"Yeah." Ashley looked away. "I heard."
"From who?"
"I think the whole school knows Elle."
"Great. With that embarrassing display, how could they not?" Ellie paused. "It's not just the fact that he cheated on me that bothers me, but the way he treated Alex. I actually felt bad for her." She admitted.
"Well, maybe he was trying to show you how much he loved you. The same thing happened with me and Craig…" Her voice trailed off.
"And then he moved to the states." Ellie finished for her as Ashley instantly began to look sad. "And it was his loss. I don't know why we're almost in tears here. We don't need them. As long as we're concerned, Craig and Gianni no longer exist."
"And Ellie Nash will be paired with Gianni del Rossi." Ms. Scarlett finished as Ellie and Ashley looked at each other in surprise.
"E-Excuse me." Ellie raised her hand.
"Your dissection partner is Gianni del Rossi. If anyone has anymore questions about their partners, which I know you will, the list is posted on the bulletin." She ended before continuing her lecture.
"I cannot believe this," Ellie said in between gasps. "What a nightmare."
"So, this is the band." Craig led Manny into the band's vehicle.
"Cool." She shook everyone's hand, suppressing the sudden need to become all "groupie" and ask them to sign something. "It's nice to meet you guys." Manny nodded. Dying Rose was one of her favorite bands.
"So, what do you want to do?" Craig wondered as the other guys in the bad went back to what they were doing and it was just her and Craig.
"Umm … Maybe I shouldn't be here." She began, noticing his arm around the seat in a complete non-platonic way, which actually was platonic but Manny was overreacting.
"No. I'm sorry." Craig began. "Whatever I did to make you feel uncomfortable, I apologize. Please stay." He begged. "I get tired of hanging out with dudes all the time." Craig joked.
"No funny business." Manny made him promise, trying not to look too deeply into his eyes, and hoping that this 'outing' wouldn't involve him playing a song for her. She was a sucker for that kinda thing.
"My parents are making me transfer after this term is over." Hazel sighed, holding onto Jimmy's hand lightly.
"I'm so sorry to hear that Haze." Paige rushed over to her best friend's side, hugging her genuinely. "Parents totally suck."
"Yeah." Jimmy agreed, confused. "So, did they give you a reason why they were sending you away?"
"Nothing worth you worrying about. I've still got two weeks with you guys." Hazel smiled, trying to make the best of a definitely bad situation.
"It wasn't me was it?" Jimmy pressed. Hazel and Paige exchanged glances as she finally stepped in.
"Don't worry about it hon. Nothing can tear you and Hazel apart. I'm sure of it." Paige reassured him. Hazel smiled at her, thankful to have such a helpful friend.
"Come here." Jay dragged Emma back to him, kissing her intensely. He never thought that he would be into someone so different than what he was, so beautiful and so innocent. "What are we doing after school?" He wondered, wrapping his arm around her neck.
"I'm protesting the school's dissection project." She responded, pulling him closer to her.
"What? No." Jay complained as Emma nodded. "I thought we had plans."
"We did, but this comes first Jay. You know how I feel about animal cruelty."
"But they're already dead. It's not like they can be hurt anymore if you're slicing up a corpse." Jay argued, completely missing Emma's point.
"You're not getting it Jay. If we didn't have to dissect them, they'd never be killed." Emma shot back.
"But you eat pork, don't you?" He asked as she shook her head.
"Not as of today." Walking away from Jay, Emma shook her head profusely. She had no idea how they were going to make it. They were so different, so opposite, so … perfect for each other.
"And would you like anything with that diet coke?" Paige asked as Alex continued cleaning up the counters, passing some milk duds to Paige. She looked more rugged than usual. "Is there something wrong?" Paige wondered as the line cleared.
"No. Just peachy. And you princess?" Alex resorted to her sarcastic self, her only defense mechanism from breaking down at that very instant.
"Alex. I know something is wrong. When Spin was being a jerk to me, you gave me some really good advice. Let me return the favor."
"I'm good." Alex turned away from the counter, taking in deep breaths. In a little while, she'd be out of here and maybe Amy would let her spend the night so that she wouldn't have to face her deluded father.
"Why don't you take this one? I need a break." Paige pushed Alex towards the counter. It was Jay.
"What do you want?" She spat out, hating that he was seeing her like this—all worn-out and sweaty.
"I came to hang out." He smiled.
"If you want some free food, no can do. Last time, Meeri almost noticed and I could've lost this job." Alex explained.
"As if you don't already have another one."
"Is there a point to this conversation?" Alex wondered as Jay ordered a small popcorn.
"Yeah. I was going to wait until you got off of work and see if you wanted to hang out with me." He offered.
"Really?" Alex's eyes lit up, unable to hide her sudden emergence of hope. "What does goody-good say about this?"
"She doesn't call the shots." Jay answered as Alex rolled her eyes. He was still the same … pretending like the woman of his life didn't control what he did. But she always did. Alex had once been that woman.
"Thanks for bringing me back." Manny smiled as the rain continued to pour on them. Of course, with her luck, neither had an umbrella.
"Of course." Craig returned the smile. "It's been really good to see you, to have a familiar face."
"Are you sure it was okay what we did today?" Manny asked, still apprehensive about spending the day with Dying Rose—at an amusement park.
"Yeah. We didn't do anything." Both paused as Manny focused in on the numerous teddy bears he had won for her.
"We've come a long way since our first date." She joked, thinking about how immature she used to seem to Craig.
"I know. I'm glad you had fun with us." Craig and Manny stared at each other, unmoving as he finally started to lean in. Closing her eyes, Manny held her breath. This was everything she said she didn't want. Everything that would cost her everything. "Hmm." Manny pulled away from the kiss before it got too intense as her phone started to ring. "Hey."
"Hey babe." It was Kiowi. Waving goodbye to Craig, Manny explained how her audition went, purposely leaving out her day with Craig.
"I hate crying." Alex tossed a random object across the room as she started to break-down. Jay held her tightly as she collapsed in his arms. He remembered when they used to be friends, before they dated. Alex would come over every night just to hug him … to have someone touch her and tell her that they loved her. That was all that she ever wanted.
"It's okay." Jay stroked her hair, unable to deny that his feelings for her were still strong—but he wasn't sure if they were platonic or not.
"Don't tell anyone about this." She threatened, her mascara running down her eyes. Funny. Jay didn't remember her ever wearing make-up when she went out with him, unless it was to cover up bruises made by her father.
"You're better than he is. He doesn't deserve you." Jay recited, sounding completely cliché, but meaning every single word he said.
"Yeah, but I keep losing everyone. How am I not supposed to feel--"
"Don't say it." Jay stopped her mid-sentence. "You are good enough." Holding her tightly, he felt a sudden urge to protect her from herself. From whatever she was thinking, from her father. "Stay here the night." He demanded without thinking as Alex fell asleep in his arms.
(A/N: What do you think? I got some inspiration from reading about supermodel Gia, but don't ask how. Anyway, I hope you like and most of all REVIEW! –NL)