I sigh. Whats this guys name?

My dates name is Diego. And his friends name is.. eh.. Tobey! Yeah Tobey, thats what it was.

Tobey.. great. Fucking great, I say, rolling my eyes.

So youll do it? Laura asks, smiling brightly.

I drop my hands to my sides and look at her. I think about Shane, and I feel guilty already, knowing how miserable it would make me feel if I knew that she was going out on a date with someone else. But I cant let Laura down now, she needs to feel loved again. Ill just go to the club, dance the night away and ignore this Tobey guy. Yeah.. Ill do it.. But Im not going on a second date! I warn her. Laura shrieks and hugs me tightly. Thank you Carmen, thank you so much!

You owe me, I say insistently as she lets go of me.

I know, I know, she nods, wear the dress! And she walks out of the bathroom.

I sigh and sit down on the edge of the bathtub, my head buried in my hands. God, what have I done?

I need to call her, I need to tell her the truth. She deserves to know the truth.

Hey, its me, Carmen.

Carmen! Im so happy you called. I tried to call you but I got your voicemail..

I know, I  know. Im sorry, the battery had run out.

Its no big deal.

So why did you call me?

Why are you calling me? Shane asked teasingly.

Carmen chuckled. I asked you first!

Okay, okay.. I dont really know why actually.. I just wanted to hear your voice. Shane said sincerely. Carmen let out a soft breath and closed her eyes. God, she couldnt tell Shane about this whole stupid date thing right now. Apparently she was already having a hard time.

Why are you calling me? Shane asked, breaking the growing silence.

Oh.. its just.. for the same reason I guess.

Yeah..

I wish you were here, Carmen said softly.

Me too Carm.

9 more days right?

Yeah.. 9 more days, Shane said, disappointment and sadness filling her voice.

So hows Jenny doing? And the other guys?

Jennys good.. busy writing. She joined this writing class, I think she really likes it. Eh.. the other guys.. well Bette and Tina are just doing their thing.. Alices still going after Dana, Dana seems oblivious to it and Mark is pretty much out most of the day, to God knows where.

And what about you?

Oh.. Ive been working a lot.

And no time for fun?

Well.. Alices dragging me along to the Planet tonight. She told me that the New-Shane should forget about the New-Yoda for a while and come hear her complaining about Dana all night.

They both laughed. So she calls you the New-Shane and me the New-Yoda now?

Shane chuckled. Yeah, well today she did. Im sure she made up other nicknames for us tomorrow.

Yeah, I hope so!

Dont worry, she also calls you the hot latina all the time, Shane reassured her.

Carmen chuckled, shaking her head.

Im going out with Laura tonight, she said after a while.

Oh really? Thats cool.

Yeah, I hope so. Im sure the clubscene here is nothing like in L.A. but I just feel like dancing.

Okay, good for you shorty. I have to go now, I believe Alices barging on my door.

Carmen chuckled softly. Okay, have fun baby.

Ill call you tomorrow after the funeral okay? Shane asked.

Yeah.. you know I love you right?

Shane was quiet for a moment. Yeah.., she said softly and Carmen could hear the smile in her voice, I do.. I love you too.

I know baby, now go, dont make Alice wait!

Yeah, dont want to piss Al off man. Okay, bye.

Bye!

Carmen sighed as Shane hung up the phone and raked a hand through her hair. Fuck, why didnt she just tell her. Now it felt like she was hiding something from her and she hated that. But only the thought of making Shane unhappy by telling her something she was responsible for.. she just couldnt do it. Laura came back and looked at her weird. Are you talking to yourself in here? she asked, grinning.

No, I was just on the phone, Carmen said, waving quickly with the cell pone in her hand.

Ok, she grinned, ready to go?