“But then we all just followed some chick here that the rest of them were drooling over. I’m glad we did though, otherwise I would’ve never had the chance to meet you.”

“Yeah! Right…” Carmen says playing along.

“Well, I’m going to go back to my friends but could I maybe have your number? Call you up sometime?”

“Uhm – ” Carmen pauses. “I’m actually between houses right now and I don’t have a cell.”

“Well that’s ok, I’ll just drop by here some night,” Trish replies. “I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah for sure, have a goodnight.” Carmen watches as Trish leaves and then turns around to search for Shane. She is disappointed when all she finds is Dana and Alice who have rejoined the rest of the group, without Shane in sight. Alice catches eyes with Carmen and waves with a smile. Carmen gives a phony smile back. Alice scrunches her eyebrows confused and Carmen sees her excuse herself and make her way over. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Hmm?” Carmen says avoiding the question.

“You ok?”

“Yeah, I’m just a little nervous,” she lies, playing with her hands. “Do you think I’m doing ok?”

“Yeah you’re doing awesome!” Alice comforts.

Carmen nods. “Have you seen Shane?”

“Yeah,” Alice says with an understanding grin. “She had to head out. Something about getting up early.”

“Oh…”

“If you ask me, it’s a load of crock,” Alice continues. “She hasn’t gone to bed early since she slept in a cradle. And she chugged two beers before she got up and left.” Carmen looks down at her hands. “I don’t know why else she would’ve left though… do you?”

Carmen can tell Alice is playing with her. She just shakes her head and throws on a smile. “Not a clue.” She puts her headphones back on and returns her attention to spinning. Alice smiles and walks away.

Jenny, Shane and Carmen’s

Carmen walks into the silent house. She throws the keys Jenny had given her onto the table and grabs her PJs off the couch. She quickly gets changed, sits on the couch and looks towards the hallway and then to her hands. She gets up and makes her way down the hall to Shane’s door. She raises her hand to knock but pauses for a moment. She turns and starts to walk away and then turns again and tiptoes to the door. She puts her ear up to it softly to listen and bites her lip. Finally she gives in and knocks.