Broad shoulders underneath one of the most endearing smiles ever seen, a tan man with shaggy dark hair strolled in. One look and Bee was floored.

"ERIC!" she screamed with complete ecstasy.

After covering him with his fair share of kisses, she unwillingly gave him some space and turned to her friends. "Lena, Tibby, you remember Eric, right?"

Lena sat up from her spot politely, and Tibby gave a sarcastic smile. "Well, if we didn't remember him before, I believe your grand introduction of jumping him as soon as he walked through the door should really leave a mark in my mind."

Eric gave another smile, but it was hard to tell whether it was meeting the girls, or being next to Bridget that made him so happy. As for Bee, it was obvious who was making her so rosy in the cheeks. Lena, Carmen, and Tibby had all been pre-introduced, briefly, to the infamous Eric over Winter Break. Win was met as well, and Brian hung around like usual. The only girl without anyone to show off had been Lena.

"Talk about some heavy traffic in Bethesda. Sorry I was late, but these town roads were insane!"

As Eric joked around with Bridget, Tibby joined in. But Lena sat there quietly, half listening to their conversation, and half listening to the mumblings of Carmen, talking to her boyfriend on the other side of the door. A half hour went by like this, and she watched as the summer sky started fading from bright blue to orange. Tibby noticed Lena's stare, and sat up.

"Hey Bee, I'm going to head out. I have to call Brian anyways, and my mom wants me helping with dinner tonight. She's trying to make some sort of casserole, but I don't think he has the recipe. Len, want to head home?"

Lena graciously left. She was happy to meet Eric again, but it was hard to stay interested, when they seemed so involved in each other-and not in a bad way, just in a way that Lena wasn't a part of.

As Tibs old car rattled to a start, she clicked the radio on, and hummed along as Lena stared out the window at the summer scene creeping by.

"They seem to be really happy together" Observed Tibby.

"Yeah, really happy. It's funny how excited they get over things; just a soccer game can turn them into hyperactive five year olds off their medication. I guess they're really in love."

"Well when has the word soccer not gotten Bridget stoked?"

Lena agreed, and in return brought how happy Carmen seemed into the conversation.

"She seems to be really into Win. But what else is new?" Tibby replied.

Tibby's '92 Honda pulled into the Kaligaris' driveway, and the oldest daughter hopped out. Lena said her "see ya tomorrow" 's to Tibby, and went inside her house. With no boyfriend to call, to come over, or to simply return her love. Lena walked into her house, away from her three best friends who were all happily in love. Lena walked into her house alone, with a little part of her wishing that wasn't the case.