Whether or not Carmen and I would heal over was still unclear, and in a few hours I would be back in LA to find out.

But before I went to see Carmen, there was someone else that I needed to see first.

Alice-

I went to the front door to relieve the relentless knocking and as soon as I opened it, I understood what it meant to be mad and happy at the same time.

“Why has my apartment been re-rented and where the hell’s all of my stuff?” At least she got right to the point.

“It’s nice to see you too, Shane.” Her worried expression eased up as she stepped inside and gave me a hug. The temperature must’ve dropped outside because her coat was still cold.

After she let go and stood back, she apologized. ”Sorry for being so direct. It’s great to see you too. But seriously, where’s all of my stuff?”

“Do you see all of that?” I pointed to the stack of cardboard boxes and crates down the hall which were taking up a ridiculously large amount of space in my apartment as she nodded. “That’s all your stuff.”

She looked momentarily confused until something must’ve clicked in her brain. “So Carmen put my apartment back on the market since she didn’t know if I’d ever be coming back or was it just because she hates me so much and thought it would be a great way to retaliate by seeing me live on the streets?”

“Shane,” I tried to reason with her in a serious tone. “Carmen doesn’t hate you. She may not necessarily like you right now, but she doesn’t hate you.”

“So how is she?” She asked dropping her duffle bag by the door before glumly sitting down on the couch and subconsciously I followed.

“She’s been better, but she’s coming around.”

Shane nodded her head in deep thought. “And how have you been?”

I didn’t have to look over to know that she was asking how well I was getting over Dana. “I’m doing fine.”

What a lie; I was far from fine.
 

She must’ve sensed my depression over the situation because she changed topics and spoke in a more uplifted voice. “So what have I missed while I’ve been gone?”

That question could take a while to answer so I just gave her the highlights. “Well,” I counted each one of them on my hand. “ Bette ran away with Angelica over some custody dispute with Tina who is now living with Henry and still trying to find Bette.” That was one. “Kit is pregnant and Angus is still trying to find a job to support Kit and his soon-to-be child.” That’s two. “ Jenny and Max are still fighting,”

“Big surprise there.” She added in sarcasm.

“Carmen’s living with her family,” That’s four. There was only one more. “And, oh, Dana and Lara still can’t get enough of each other.” I tried not to sound bitter, but there was still a hint of hostility in my voice.

She sunk into the couch trying to take it all in. “Is that all?”

“Pretty much.”

There was a moment of silence before she spoke again. “Well, then I guess-”

Her words were cut short when the door opened again and all I heard was a gasp and the sound of keys dropping on the floor.

Sometimes I’d forgotten that I gave Carmen a spare key to my apartment.