"I called out for him," Vanessa sniffed, wiping her eyes with an already wet tissue. "But he disappeared. It was almost like he wasn't there, but I know it; I'd recognize his eyes anywhere."

"You may have imagined him Van," Callie said gently. "I know how hard the date was for you. Maybe you felt so guilty you thought he was there when he wasn't.

"I know what I saw Cal! The thing is…I don't know what he was doing watching my house. I tried calling him…"

"Good luck. We all have."

"I know! He never answers the phone, and he never returns his calls…" Vanessa sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "I don't know what to do. I mean…I know there's no chance…that we could ever be anything again…but still…I wish…"

"Van, don't," Callie murmured, putting an arm around her friend's shoulder. "That's not what Joe needs right now. He needs friends who won't give up on him."

"I'd never give up on him! None of us would. None of us have. But he's impossible. We can't help him if he doesn't want help."

"Then we just keep calling, and keep trying to see him, and wait until he realizes that he needs to change. And then we support him when he does."

"But that's what we've been trying to do, Cal…"

Callie bit her lip and sighed. "I've been thinking, Van…maybe we ought to go see him, one at a time. I mean, just show up without warning. All of us at once may be too much, but if we split up, maybe one of us we'll have a chance."

"Phil already tried that…"

"So I'll go next. Then Tony. Then Chet. Then you…"

Vanessa sighed. "Anything's worth a shot."

Callie looked worriedly at her best friend. "Van…are you all right? I mean, not just with this Joe stuff. Are you okay otherwise?"

Vanessa swallowed, hard, but managed a weak smile. "I should ask you the same thing."

"You first."

Vanessa rubbed her eyes, trying to avoid Callie's gaze. "I think so. It's just that I can't stop thinking about him…you know what I mean, Cal."

"You're right. I do. But I've learned to move past it. To go on although it's hard."

"I wish I could too."

"You can. Distract yourself."

"How?"

"Go shopping." Callie rose, a bright grin on her face. "Right now. Come with me. Let's stop sitting around moping about our Hardy boys."

Vanessa shook her head, marveling at her best friend's strength. "You're something else, Cal."

"Thank you my dear."

"All right," she said after a moment. "Let's get out of here."

"Good girl. Come on. I know this great new coffee place that's open…"

Callie went on, chatting merrily, but although Vanessa smiled back, the only thought on her mind was the pair of blue eyes that had stared at her from the lawn.

And the betrayal she'd seen in them.