*Carmen and Shane awake after a long night together. The sun beams through the window as noon approaches. Shane’s arm is wrapped around Carmen as she runs her fingers through her hair…*

Carmen: “Good morning baby, how’d you sleep?”

Shane: “Okay”

Carmen: “Are you hungry, you know my specialty, I can whip up some pancakes in no time.”

Carmen is excited that she finally got to stay the night at Shane’s place. She wants to make their first morning together pleasant so hopefully it won’t be their last. Carmen looks over her shoulder to check the clock.

Carmen: “Yeah, pancakes for breakfast and since it’s almost noon maybe a little pie for desert. It’s never too early for pie you know.

Shane smirks and lets out a little chuckle.

Shane: “Sorry babe, I gotta get goin’. How ’bout a raincheck?”

Carmen: In a dissapointed tone, “Yeah sure, no problem, but can we talk before you go?”

Shane: “Bout what?”

Carmen: “About us.”

Shane looks at Carmen and makes a “well make it quick” face.

Carmen: “I mean, we’ve been hangin’ out a lot lately and hooking up almost every night. You say that you like hooking up with me yet you don’t care if I hook up with someone else. I just don’t get it. How do you feel about me? What are you looking for out of this? You let me stay the night, is that some sort of signal? You know I love you Shane, and I think we should be more than friends. I need you Shane and I know we could work.”

Carmen’s face reveals all her feelings, you can see how vulnerable she is right now. Shane stares at the ceiling as she thinks of what to say.

Shane: “You know how I work Carmen, I thought we talked about this. I do my own thing. You’re free to do what you want. I mean you’re cool, but I don’t do the relationship thing, too many ways to get hurt. You catch my drift?”

Too bad Shane is such a good actress because she knew that everything she just said was complete and total bull and it didn’t reflect her innermost desires. Shane knew that she cared deeply about whether or not Carmen hooked up with someone else. Shane knew that the many girls that she brought home were for meaningless pursuits and that deep down inside she wanted to be in a relationship. Shane knew that Carmen was who she wanted to be with but for some reason she was too scared to take a chance.
After hearing Shane’s response, Carmen couldn’t help but feel empty. Carmen knew that she could be in a relationship with someone but no matter who she was with she knew that her mind would be on Shane. She didn’t know what to do. Give up on Shane, try to get over her, or pursue something that could have endless possibilities with someone who she truly cared for?

Shane: “Did that make sense?”

Carmen: “Yeah, sure, I’m sorry. I keep asking you the same questions, but I got you, it’s no big deal.”

Shane: “Okay, cool. Well I’m gonna go hop in the shower, wanna join me?”

Carmen: “Naw that’s okay, I should get going.”

As Carmen throws on some clothes, Shane grabs a towel out of the dryer and can’t help but have second thoughts about her responses. Meanwhile, Carmen grabs her keys and heads towards the door.

Carmen: “See ya.”

Shane: Shane starts to respond, “Hey Carmen wait…” but all she hears is the door being shut. Shane brushes it off, “It’s probably for the best.” and heads for the bathroom.

As Carmen drives home in a bit of an irritated state, she starts to think of all of the things that Shane has done that have really hurt. Even if not done purposefully, Carmen starts to let these things build up and add to her irritation turned frustration.

“***** it, I need a commitment right now in my life and Shane just want to play ***** games. Shane just wants to be friends, then that’s what we’ll be. No more nookie. We’ll just have to do what normal friends do. I hope she likes Scrabble.” Carmen giggles and thinks to herself, “This friendship is going to be boring as *****.”