It the second Monday of Manny nine grade school year at Degrassi Community school. She stands outside the gym door look at the list of who made the school Play of Romeo and Juliet. She sees her name on the list and she has the part of Juliet, She run up to Emma and Sean who stand by Emma Locker.
Manny: I made the Play, I'm Juliet.
Emma: Ashley and Paige both try out for that part how do you get picks over them.
Sean: Because she was a hundred times better then both of them.
Manny: thanks Sean
Emma: who play Romeo?
Manny: Craig and Marco his understudy.
Sean: who you Understudy?
Manny: ( roll her eyes ) Paige, who else.
Emma: Ashley probably mad that you get the part over her seeing that she dating Craig.
Craig, Ashley, Paige, Hazel, Terri, and Ellie walk by and is talk to eachother.
Ashley: I can't believe that Manny Santos get the star role.
Paige: yeah if anyone beside me gets the part it should be you Ashley you are date Craig who plays the Guy star role.
Ellie: What were Miss Kawn and JT York thinking Pick Manny Santos to play the part opposite of Craig?
Hazel: JT picking her because he has a crush on her, and Mrs. Kawn must of not been listening to Ashley or Paige when they try out.
Craig: I agree with Manny be cast opposite of me.
Terri: they might have thought she was the better person to play the part.
Ellie: Not, Manny sucks up that way she get the part.
Sean: Manny don't listen to them to the girls, You was just better then both of them.

After school at the first play practice, JT take the actress and actor size to make sure the costumers will fit them, and Mrs.Kawn makes sure everyone has the script, and pass out the listed of practice dates and on the dates the play will be on.
Mrs. Kawn: Now it important that if you can't make a practice you let me know. I help that the leading men's and lady's stay health and can make all the play dates and play practices. Now with that everyone starts practice their lines. Craig and Manny practice the lines they had together that first day. Because Manny had to miss the Tuesday practice because she had to go to her great grandma Santo funeral. At the end of practice Craig looks at Manny and smile really big and give her a side hug.
Craig: Manny you did great you only had to look at the script one, unlike me who had to look at it every other line.
Manny: You were not that bad Craig.
Ashley walks up to them and grab Craig arms.
Ashley: are you ready to go Craig?
Craig: Yeah, I see you Wednesday Manny.
Manny: yeah see you then to. Sean and Emma are whit out side the gym door when Manny walks out of the gym.
Sean: ready for me to give you a ride home.
Manny: sure but can we stop by the dot and get something to eat first?
Sean: Sure, lets go.
Emma: How was practice?
Manny Great, Craig tells me I did a really great job, because I only had to look at my script once. He also gives me a side hug, which made Ashley really Jealous.
Emma has her Arm around Sean who is not eat his sandwich and France fry, Spinner walks over to the table to check on them.
Spinner: Can I get the three of you anything else?
Sean: how about a to go box for my sandwich and France fry.
Girls: None
Spinner goes and get the box for Sean food and bring it over to the Table and put the food in it for Sean.
Sean: Can I take you home now Manny?
Manny: sure. The three of them go out to Sean car and he driver to Manny house first and drops her off, he pulls in front of Manny House and put the car into park. Manny gets out of the car.
Manny: see the two of you on Wednesday, bye.
Emma and Sean: bye Manny.
After Manny gets inside the Build Sean driver over to Emma place and drop, her off. when Emma gets out of the Car, she kiss Sean goodbye.
Emma: I see you tomorrow and Sean eats you sandwich we you get home Baby.
Sean: what every Em.
Sean make sure she gets in then takes off and goes home himself. Back at Santo house, Manny walks in and sees that her Mom is the only home.
Mrs. Santo: how was school to day?
Manny: was great and I'm play Juliet in the school play.
Mrs. Santo: Now Manny goes pack you an over night-bag we are head over to you Grandma Santo house tonight so we do not have to get up as early tomorrow morning, you Dad has already left, we meet him up there.
Manny: do I have to come It only the second week of school I really should not be miss days already?
Mrs. Santo: Yes you have to come.
Manny: Fine.

Wednesday morning before school Craig and Manny meet in the gym to go over, they line together, they are sit on the edge of the stage face eachother.
Juliet ( Manny): Ay me! ( Romeo and Juliet)
Romeo (Craig): O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
Juliet (Manny): O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
Romeo (Craig): [Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
Just then the bell rings to head to First hour. Manny looks at Craig who looks at her in the eyes, then Craig lean in and Kiss Manny on the Lips and Manny Kiss him back. They do not stop kisses to the last bell rings say that class has starts. Manny pulls away from Craig, who Just stare at her and not move.
Manny: Craig we have to go to class, the last bell just ring.
Craig: I do not care let go to Joey place and practice or line some more.
Manny: ok
They head to Joey and goes into the garage, and start to practice where they left off, but end up make passion love and go all the way with eachother. Afterwards Craig goes into the house and gets two pop and then bring them out to the garage.
Craig: Manny do not say anything about what we just do to anyone, If Ashley would Find out it would not be good.
Manny: Our secret, I will not tell anyone.
Craig: this is the second time I skip school this year and it only the second week.
Manny: but the first time Emma really needs you help, and she finally get to meet her real dad thanks to you help her out.
Craig: I would do it a again.
Manny: that because you a really good friend. Want to go see a movie since it would be stupid to go to school now.
Craig: sure
At the movie theater in the Mall they see Alex work a shift.
Alex: Skip school to see a movie?
Manny: Yeah
Alex: I won't tell, hell I'm Skip school to get a shift in a work.
After the movie, they walk out of the theater talk.
Manny: what are you gonna tell Ashley about not be in school today or Practice see that it over in a half hour.
Craig: I'll tell her I was not feel good and stay home from school sick.
Manny: Cool seen that what Kawn, gonna to think since we both miss her class and the play practice.
Craig: Want me to walk you home?
Manny: no, I live too close to the school, Ashley could see us together.
Craig: yeah you are right, see you tomorrow at school.
Manny: Ok
Manny gets home to find a note on the Kitchen table This is what the note said
Dear Manuella, Me and you dad both have to work double shift today, since we take yesterday off. So make yourself what every you want for dinner. We won’t be back home to after you go to bed so see you in the morning.
Love Mom and Dad
Manny then sees a massage on the answering machine, she listens to it and find out it the school say she misses all her class that day, she erases the massage because she knows that neither her mom nor dad has heard it yet, because if they did they would have Siad something about it in the note. She does not won't them to hear it because she would be in major trouble for skip school.


Manny then listens to the second Massage which is from her younger bother, which is in the three grade at Riverdale elementary school.
Mitch (Bother): Is anyone going to pick me up from school?
Manny runs out of the house and to the Elementary school and sees her bother whit outside the school door.
Mitch: it about time someone gets here.
Manny: sorry I had play practice and Mom and Dad had to work a second shift today.
Mitch: I'm hunger
Manny: I make you a sandwich when we get home.
Mitch: ok
The two of them head home Manny make her bother his sandwich then goes into the bathroom and take a shower.
Five and half weeks later on a Thursday morning. Manny is still sleep at 7:30 a.m. and her Mom knock on her bedroom door.
Mrs. Santos: Manuella, you need to get up for school, now.
Manny walks to her bedroom door and open it and Just look at her mom.
Mrs. Santos: you have school today Manuella and you need to get ready for it.
Manny: Mom I'm tire I been up late every night for the last week a half doing the school play and Last night was the close night so I was out even later because the after party, I just want to sleep all day.
Mrs. Santo: We only let you do the play because you tell me and you dad it will not cause you grade to fall or make you miss class, So you need to get ready for school.
Manny: fine ( slam her door in her mom face).

That day at school, Manny is getting into her locker think about. If she still wants to try out for the gymnastic team. When Emma walks up to her.
Emma: I see you finally get to school sleep head, I call you house this morning to see if you want to walk to school with me this morning and you moms tell me you were still a sleep and it was two minute before 7:30Am.
Manny: I just tire is all.
Emma: are you still gonna tryout for the gymnastic team after school with me.
Manny: I'm not sure. It depend on how I'm feel after school.
Emma: You not get sick are you?
Manny: if you call fall in love with Craig as be sick.
Emma: love sick, he has a Girlfriend.
That afternoon at practice Manny tryouts but does not do her best.
Manny: I'm not going to make the team this year.
Emma: what are you talk about Manny, if Mrs. Hatzilakos does not pick you she crazy.
Manny: I'm glad someone thinks I did a good job today, because I'm not so sure.

End of this story for more on Manny and Craig read, Are we ready to be someone Mom and Dad