“I think she’ll like just being able to rub an imporant job like this renewal project in Franklin’s face,” Shane laughed and smiled as she thought about it. She was, too, embittered that Franklin had the gaul to fire Bette during her family crisis.

“What’s this?” Carmen asked coming out of the bathroom. Shane’s smile faded and she looked down at the bed she was making. “What is this, Shane? Is this what you were just checking on?” Carmen repeated shoving a pill bottle under Shane’s stare. Shane turned her head to avoid Carmen’s gaze. Carmen shook her head and walked back into the bathroom. Shane shook her head in disgust as she heard the toilet flushing what was left of her precious pills. She closed her eyes trying to tell herself that it was ok, she didn’t need them but her heart told her she did now more than ever.

“You told me you’d quit,” Carmen started while standing in the bedroom door. Shane had no response but still stood there with the sheets between her hands in frozen anticipation of placing them back down onto the bed. Carmen waited vainley in silence for Shane to respond. “Look at me, Shane,” Carmen demanded. At last the sheet fell from Shane’s fingers as she turned her attention towards her. “I can’t do this again, Shane. I can’t have you lying to me and sneaking around. I can’t have you taking that *****. You become a different person,” she continued. Carmen threw her hands in disgust, her eyes filling with tears. “You become someone I don’t want to be with,” she finished.

Shane started in protest, “I’ll stop. I’ll stop right now. I’ll get the rest of it and..”

“You mean there’s more?” Carmen shouted angrily. Shane’s eyes closed once more as she felt Carmen graze by her. “I can’t Shane, I won’t.” she started. Shane didn’t need to open her eyes to know that Carmen was packing her clothes. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know she would, in 5 seconds, walk out the door and leave her there. She couldn’t help but think, though, that she could really have used those pills Carmen had just flushed down the toilet. “You’re not even listening to me are you. Thinking about those damn pills,” Carmen said. Shane opened her eyes to see a well of tears down Carmen’s face. “You always find something don’t you Shane. Always something in the way,” she finished and stormed out.