Bee had picked the lock, successfully, and all four girls were setting up in the aerobics room at Gilda's. Lena lit the candles, Tibby got out all the junk food, turned on some weird 80's song, and Carmen laid out the pants. They all got into a circle, and grabbed each other's hands. Carmen looked at all of her friends. "Tonight, we bring out the pants gain. We take the vow of the traveling pants." She pulled the list of rules out of her back pocket. The same piece of paper they used to write down the rules, on the very first night of the sisterhood. She handed it to Lena, and Lena unfolded it.
Lena read the rules out loud. And Bridget couldn't help but laugh. "Oh my gosh guys! I can't believe we wrote this!" Carmen squeezed Bee's hand. "Hey babes, we are not done here…" Bridget stopped laughing and quieted down. "To honor the pants…" Tibby smiled. "And the sisterhood." Then it was Carmen's turn. "And this moment. And this summer. And the rest of our lives."
"Together and apart." Lena finished quietly.
After deciding who got the pants first, the girls cleaned up, and locked back up. Tibby was doing a little dance in the back of her mind. She hadn't gotten them first, but she hadn't gotten them last. Lena had drawn third, and Bee was last. Carmen had the pants for the next couple of weeks. Carmen carried the worn out jeans in her arms, as she walked beside Tibby. "So…what do you think of Stephen?" Tibby blushed. "I don't know…I mean we just met. He seems really nice. He's hysterical!...but then there's Brian…I love Brian. I already know him." Lena and Bridget linked arms with Carmen, and on the other side with Tibby. Lena nudged Tibby in the side. "You should've seen the nasty looks Brian was giving Stephen tonight." "Yeah," Bee laughed. "You really shouldn't look so intently at the new guy!" Tibby covered her face with her hand. "Was I?" Lena, Bridget, and Carmen all nodded their heads. "Yes Tibbs….you were." Carmen made her look up. "You know what Tibby?...it's the summer before you go to college…have fun with it! I don't really know Stephen, you know I only let him into my apartment!...wait…Lena why didn't someone warn me about serial killers?" Lena laughed. "We all have…you just saw Stephen's muscles and turned to mush." Carmen couldn't deny that one. "Anyways…Live a little. We are here if you need us. Lena's jetting off to Greece next week, and Bee's playing around in Alabama for a few weeks, but you can call any of us…at any time." Tibby reached over and hugged Carmen.
"What would I do with out you guys?" Bridget spun around so that she was walking backwards, and facing Tibby. "That is a good question…" All of a suddent he four stopped and formed a huge hug. Lena was the first to say something. "Um…I can't breathe!" They all backed away, and kept on walking. Tibby put her arms around Carmen and Lena, and Bridget put her arm around Carmen. "I'm going to ask if he wants to go out tomorrow …Brian is out of town for a few days." Tibby stated. Carmen ruffled Tibby's hair. "See now Tibster…You are officially living on the edge!...We are proud of you…" Lena stopped them. "But Tibby, if you think this is going to ruin your relationship with Brian…then I wouldn't…" "She's right Tibby…" Bridget started right after. Tibby put up a hand to silence them. "I just want to at least be friends…if anything happens, it was by the fact that my heart is leading me. Brian and I are just friends…at least that's what he says to me. No harm if I hang out with Stephen for a day…no harm done."
I may have a job! WOO AND HOO! If my mother will agree…."it's too far from the beach….I can't be taking you to work at ten…I'll be at work, and you know I can't leave the girls at the house, and I can't take them with me!...grrr…" that's what she always says. I told her tonight, and she went a-wall. I told her I was going to take what I could get….and then she was like… "You can take what is close to the beach…close to the house!..."
I'm not one to roll my eyes….but I can.