“Surprise!!”, everybody yelled.

“Hey, guys.”, I said happily.

Everybody was there. Jenny, Max, Bette, Jody, Tina, Kit, Angus, Helena, Tasha, Carmen, even Papi. They all hugged me and it felt good to be back at home. Those rare moments make you realize how happy you should be. I am thankful to have such good friends who care about me. I just love them.

“Hey, Vanilla. Good to have you back. I missed my competition. “, Papi said.

“Well, I’m glad to see you, too, Pops.”, I laughed.

“Hey, Shane. We are so happy, to have you back here. I missed my most loyal costume. So we thought that we should give you a little welcome back party. “, Kit said.

“It’s great to be back. Thank you, Kit.” ,I grinned.

I didn’t talk a lot, I was a bit tired, and so I just enjoyed having my family around me again.

“Is everything, okay? You seem to be lost in your thoughts. “, Carmen said.

“Yeah, I’m alright. Just a bit tired. I got up very early this morning. I guess I couldn’t wait to get out of the hospital anymore. “ , I said smiling.

“Hmm…I think the others are going to leave soon anyway. You know since Jenny and Max are working I could come by and share some company with you.”, she said smiling weakly.

“Yeah…I’d love to have you around. I don’t want to be alone right now.”

After an hour everybody left, since they had to work. I thanked everybody for welcoming me in such a pleasant way. I was glad to see them, but I was a bit more excited about leaving with Carmen. She took my bag and put it into her car.

Finally we arrived at home. It felt good to have my familiar environment back. I got into my room and sat at my bed when Carmen knocked on the door lightly. She sat down next to me.

“Carmen, uhm I…I…thank you…for everything.”, I didn’t manage to say anything else. I was just thankful, that she was here right now.

“You don’t have to thank me, Shane. That’s what good friends do, right?.”, she smiled at me.

“Yeah…right.”, I said smiling weakly.

She’s right. That’s what friends do. I would have loved to tell her about my feelings. I would have loved to tell her how much I really missed her and how badly I wanted to feel her lips again…but I think that I missed my chance. I should be thankful that she doesn’t hate me right now and that she accepts a friendship. It’s better than losing her completely.

“Are you hungry? You didn’t eat anything at the Planet. I can make something to eat.” , she said, interrupting my thoughts.

“Uh… yeah…sounds good.”, I answered.

She nodded and got up from the bed. I could hear her in the kitchen.
I laid down on my bed thinking about everything. Shay, Paige, Carmen and my dad. The thoughts about them kept spinning in my head.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Carmen’s POV

“Alright, the food is ready.” , I said loudly.

No answer. I kept calling Shane but she didn’t answer so I got into her room to look what she was doing. When I entered the room I saw her on her bad. She was sleeping like an angel. Her bag was still not unpacked so I decided to do it for her, since I know exactly where I have to put her clothes and the rest of her stuff. I had a white t-shirt of her in my hand and couldn’t help it. I took a smell at it. I closed my eyes while I was smelling it. Then I sat down next to her and caressed her cheek. She slept so peacefully.

“I still love you, Shane…I’m just afraid to admit it. I’m afraid of being hurt again… Am I behaving like a coward?  I don’t think that I could bear you breaking my heart again…But I also know that I can’t live without you. That’s why I think that it’s the best for both of us to have a normal friendship. Not more. Although I have no idea how I should deal with you dating other girls. I guess I will chase them away by telling them everything about your bad habits, huh…Okay, that’s unfair. I know. But what should I do…?” , I whispered.

What do you think about it? ^^