“Shit… are you allowed to use cell phones in hospitals?” she hears Shane ask. She spots her in the far corner with her back to her sitting with some blonde.

“No, I don’t think so,” the blonde laughs. “But just ‘cause you can’t never means you wont. After all, you are Shane McCutheon.”

“Shut up,” Shane laughs as she elbows the girl playfully and presses ignore. Carmen stands still, feeling her heart drop. She closes her cell phone and stares at them.

“Hopefully she wont mind, but if she asks, I’m saying you got it,” Helena says walking up beside her, chewing on her chocolate bar. She looks to where Carmen is staring to see Shane. She looks back at Carmen who smiles and shakes her head. “I’m sure she’s just here to see Alice and doesn’t know what room she’s in.” Carmen nods and takes a deep breath. She confidently walks up to them.

Shane is caught of guard when she sees Carmen walk into sight. “Carmen, hey – what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to see Alice,” she says with a fake smile. “I thought that’s what you were doing here?”

“Alice is in the hospital?”

“Yeah, she got hit by a car,” Carmen responds, glancing at the girl beside her and back at Shane. “She’s ok, she’s just got some bumps and scrapes.”

“Well where is she? We should go see her…”

“Yeah, I tried calling you a few times.”

“I had my cell off when I was at work,” Shane answers. “And I didn’t want to pick up just now because we were in the hospital.”

“Yeah,” Carmen nods understandingly. “So why are you here?”

“Oh, shit, sorry,” she apologizes, turning to the blonde beside her. “Carmen this is Kelli; Kelli, Carmen. Kel had a little bit of an accident.”

“Yeah, it turns out cement doesn’t break your fall as easily as water does,” she jokes and turns to show Carmen her road burn on the back of her shoulder.

“Ow…” Carmen sympathizes.

“It’s not that bad, but I figured I might as well get it looked at so my dad doesn’t flip.” Carmen nods.

“While we wait, why don’t we go pay Alice a visit?” Shane suggests.

“Oh yeah!” Kelli agrees excitedly and stands. “I haven’t seen that chick in forever!”

They follow Carmen down the hall to Alice’s room. “Well if I had asked for a Mars bar I would be happy right now…”

“I told you, there was no Twix!”

Alice spots Kelli slinking in with a grin on her face. “So all I had to do was get run over by a car for you to come visit me?!”

Kelli laughs as she runs up and gives her a hug. “C’mon buddy, what are you doin’ in this bed!”

“Well, getting hit by a car is a pretty tricky business,” Alice responds. “You need a strategic plan involving a jerk on a bike and bad lapse in judgment.”

“You know, I’ve tried that. Didn’t work out as good for me as it has for you though,” she jokes. “My new thing is diving off skateboards…” she turns and shows Alice her cuts.

“Wow, I’m so going for that next time!”

“You girls and your battle scars…” Shane sighs. She looks over at Carmen who avoids eye contact with her.

“I actually gotta go get this checked out, I still have to get home sometime tonight,” Kelli laughs. “Walk with me?”

“Uh – yeah, yeah of course,” Shane replies. “I’ll see you guys in a bit.”

“Alright,” Alice says as they leave.

“So, how do you know Kelli?” Carmen asks Alice.

“Oh – uhm, through Shane actually,” Alice replies. “We used to hang out together.”

“Is that the Kelli?” Bette asks. Alice only nods and Carmen looks around confused.