Its kinda late, why would she call? Alice wondered. I dont know Al! Shane sighed worriedly. Shell call you back if its important, Alice reassured her. Yeah, Shane replied quietly.

Carmen knocked on the door twice. Come in, a low voice said. Carmen opened the door and leaned her shoulder against the frame. Hey, she said. Carlos looked up from his desk. Hey, he said surprised. So eh.. is everything going ok? Carmen asked.

Carlos nodded. Im just working on my speech. I dont want it to be all sad yknow. It would be nice if we just resembled him like he was.

Right.. youre right, Carmen said and she smiled, Remember that time he took us to the zoo?

The zoo? Carlos asked confused. Yeah!, Carmen nodded enthusiastically, you dont remember? It was awesome.

Carlos bit on the end of his pencil pensively and shook his head. No.. cant bring that up.. Oh wait, wasnt it that time when you dropped your new necklace in a pond full of crocodiles? he asks, chuckling. Oh my god.. thanks I tried to erase that from my memory, Carmen said sarcastically. You wanted me to dive in and get it. You cried all the way back home, Carlos laughed.

Hey, the necklace was precious to me okay! Carmen objected, chuckling in spite herself. Carlos grinned once more, before focusing on the piece of paper in front of him again. He sighed and then looked up at Carmen, a crease forming between his eyebrows, what are you doing here actually?

Oh, I just.. wanted to congratulate you, Carmen said with a wave of her hand and then she smiled. I knew Emma had to tell someone, Carlos sighed, shaking his head.

Well.. shes just excited. It such great news, really.. Im very happy for you, Carmen added. Carlos smiled, Thank you Carmen, Im very happy too. He wrote some words down, and looked up at Carmen once more and frowned, as if he had expected her to be gone already.

She asked me about some things.., Carmen said after a moment of silence. About what?

About your old friends. Pablo.. Lucia, Carmen said nervously. She watched Carlos reaction carefully. His eyebrows shot up quickly. I hope you dont mind, Carmen said. What did you tell her? Carlos asked calmly. The truth, Carmen replied simply. Carlos nodded understandably, he expected that. I already told her about it you know. Im not proud of it but she understands, he said, rubbing his eyes with his hands. Yeah.. she.. youre really lucky to have her, Carmen said. Shes lucky to have me! Carlos joked defensively. Carmen chuckled, yeah, and that too of course.