The Soundtrack of My Life

"Over It"

March 2008

Manny and I have been broken up for almost a month now, and he is still findings ways to stay present in my life. After our Valentine's Day fiasco, I got a text the next day saying that he wanted to break up. I can't say I was all that hurt; by the way he acted at the end of our date, I expected it. But now it has been awkward at school ever since. He'd still hang out with Wyatt at our lunch table, and would send me dirty looks any chance he got in class. He even told all of the guys in the school that I was refusing to have sex until I was married. I didn't really see what was wrong with that, but I guess all the other guys in our grade did. I wanted to tell all of them that he pressured me to have sex and when I said no, he broke up with me. But I knew I'd never get the chance. 

The worst part of our breakup was that he managed to put his moves on my friend Bridget and they've been together for almost three weeks now. 

Bridget was beautiful. She had dark chocolate hair, amber eyes, and knew how to put on a face full of makeup without looking like a clown. That was a talent, seeing as a lot of the girls at our school looked as if they studied the clown arts. Bridget always looked put together and didn't care when people called her Four Eyes. She was confident, sassy, and hysterical. But once Manny started flirting with her more, she changed. 

She wouldn't talk to me. He fed her lies and would prevent me from talking to her. She sat at the end of the table with him, completely googly-eyed for his tan skin and spicy cologne. I knew it was hard to resist, but I wanted to warn her about the condom in his wallet. 

He got lunch detention today and I took that as my opportunity to strike. "Bridget, can I talk to you for a second?"

She looked up at me, and I could tell she wanted to say no. "Sure."

I had her follow me into the gym so we could be alone for the first time in weeks. "I want to warn you about Manny."

"He told me you would do this," she sighed and crossed her arms. "He told me you'd try to make it seem like he's the worst guy, but he's really not. He's so sweet and really cares about me."

I shook my head. "He only cares about one thing."

She raised an eyebrow. 

"On Valentine's Day he tried to get me to have sex with him in my basement," I confessed. "He keeps a condom in his wallet. A blue Trojan."

"I don't believe you." She said. She couldn't look me in the eyes. 

"And you don't have to," I added. "But check his wallet the next time you hang out. It's in there. And he'll try to get you to have sex with him too. Just don't be heartbroken when you say no and he breaks up with you."

"He wouldn't do that," Bridget said angrily. "He likes me more than you. Just admit that you're jealous."

I actually laughed out loud. "I'm not jealous."

"Manny said you'd do this, Penelope!" she yelled. "I thought you were my friend. Stop trying to ruin my relationship!"

"I am your friend, Bridget," I said sadly. "I'm being your friend by trying to warn you of what is going to happen."

"Whatever. Just stop talking about it." She put her hand up and then turned her back on me. When I got back to the lunchroom, we sat at the opposite ends of the table. I tried to ignore her, but I found it hard. I hated that Manny had taken away one of my best friends, but I at least told her the truth. She deserved that much, even if she didn't believe me. 

Before school ended, Manny stopped by my locker. He made me jump with his voice. "You need to stop spreading lies about me to my girlfriend."

I barely got to turn around to look at him before he put both hands on either side of me with a loud bang. His face was close to mine, only this time I knew he wasn't going to kiss me. My heart started beating faster, and I felt like I could barely breathe. "She deserves to know the truth."

"But you didn't tell the truth, Penelope," he said sickly sweet. "I don't have a condom in my wallet."

"You do though," I said. 

"Do I?" he asked. He took one hand down from the locker and pulled out his wallet. "Bridget. Come here. Come look at what's in my wallet."

Bridget appeared from behind him, and she wouldn't make eye contact with me yet again. Manny handed her his wallet and she opened it. She searched through the leather billfold and looked up, "There isn't one in here."

"Did you hear that?" Manny asked in a condescending tone as he got his wallet back. He shoved it in my face to make sure I saw too. "There's not one in there."

"But there was one," I said. I tried to get Bridget's attention. "He had one on Valentine's Day! He must have taken it out!" 

"Stop lying!" Bridget yelled. 

"I'm not!" I shouted back. 

Manny took a step away from me with a smirk. "She's not worth it, babe," He put his arm around Bridget and gave her a quick kiss to her forehead. "You're better off without the bitch."

The two of them turned around and started walking away. I turned back to my locker and started putting in my combination. I hid my face inside of my locker, preventing anyone from seeing the tears that had begun to stream down my face.