“What’s that?” Shane asks curiously.

“You’ve matured,” she replies. “In every way. I can see it… whenever you talk about her.”

“What?” Shane laughs.

“Oh don’t play dumb, you know what I’m talking about. Whenever you talk about Carmen your eyes light up and you get excited. You can’t even keep that goofy little grin off your face. I never thought I would see the day that Shane McCutheon would fall for a girl.”

“I’m still not sure if I fell or if I was tripped.”

“Either way, you hit the ground pretty hard didn’t you?”

“Not sure how hard,” she replies. “But it was fast enough to give me whiplash.”

“Well, I hope she knows that she’s attained the unattainable.”

“Uhh – that’s not really the case…”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, her and I aren’t really anything right now,” Shane continues. “Just roommates.”

“Oh really?” Kelli asks mischievously.

“Yeah, she broke it off yesterday,” Shane replies. “But I’m not going to give up.”

Kelli looks at her with a glint of pride. “Good for you,” she says with a smile. “I’m glad to hear that you’re willing to fight for what you want… just make sure she’s willing to do the same.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because she’s going to have to put up one hell of a fight to keep you from the rest of us waiting in line,” she smiles and walks away, swaying her hips. Shane turns her back to her, to look out over the pool again. She takes one more puff of her cigarette. She throws it to the ground and takes out another one, lighting it.

“You know, those things can kill you,” Carmen’s voice comes from behind her.

Shane turns around surprised. She takes the cigarette out of her mouth and blows the smoke out of her lungs. “Not you too.”

Carmen walks up to her, wrapping her arms around herself to keep warm. “Is that what you and Kelli were talking about?”

Shane catches the hint of jealousy that coursed through the question. “Amongst other things…”

“Oh,” Carmen nods, not wanting to push or overstep any boundaries they’re new friendship may have.