OMG!lol! I had to work this weekend at the Serpentarium…so if anyone came in there…hi…that was me at the counter. I can't stand snakes…but for some reason they don't scare me that much anymore. I had plenty of time to contemplate my next chapter…this one is long isn't it? enjoy!
When Tibby got home, her little sister came running up to her. "Tibby! You are home!" Tibby laughed. "Hey…but now I'm going up to my room." Tibby's mom came around the corner from the kitchen. "Nice to see you. Brian was here a day or two ago, and he left something for you in your room. I told him to put it on your desk."
Tibby didn't want to seem exited, and well, she knew her mother didn't care, but her cheeks started to turn red anyways. "Um…thanks mom…I'll get it." She ran up the stairs and into her room. She saw the envelope sitting on her desk.
Tibbster,
Hey Tibby. I wrote you a letter a couple weeks ago, the day before graduation…but I burnt it. I couldn't give it to you. But tonight when I saw you with Stephen…it hurt. I felt uncomfortable. If you don't like me, then just tell me. Because Tibby…I love you. I, me, Brian…I love you. I'm 18, and I've never said those words and meant it. You can either take it, or leave it. I don't know how our friendship will work now that I've said these things…I only know that you mean everything to me. The one day two summers ago when you and Bailey started filming me…I didn't know that we would become this close. I didn't know that Bailey would die, or that I would have to comfort you every time one of your new projects failed. I did know that I was meant to be with you. I knew that our friendship would grow…once I got past the outer layer of Tibby…don't roll your eyes. You know you are like that with new people. Especially ones whom you feel are below you. I was a geek. I was below you…in a way. And here's a little side note…You are above me. I hold you in the highest respect. I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never do anything to spite you. I don't know when you'll get this letter…or what you'll have to say, but I'll be home on Tuesday. Call me if you really need to. I'll have my cell phone on…weird right? But it's just for you Tibby.
Brian
Tibby reread the letter twice. She picked up her phone and cradled it in her hand. She didn't know if she should call him. The letter had said so much…Brian…her best friend, had said he loved her. Tibby didn't know what to say…or do.
The first thing Lena did when she got to her grandmother's house was plop down on her bed in the room she always stayed in. She opened up the desk drawer and pulled out her grandfather's old shoes. She had gotten them after he died. Kicking off her flip flops, she slipped them on. Effie walked in with her suitcase. "Mom and Dad, say that we have to share this room…but you knew that of course. Hey…those belonged to Bapi." Effie sat down on the bed beside her older sister. Lena stood up and grabbed her sketchbook from inside her carry on bag. "You want to come with me Eff?" Effie smiled. "Come with you to the Grove? I'd love to babe." She stood up and Lena grabbed her hand. "You get to model for me." Effie didn't want to let Lena know this, but she knew that the only reason she wanted her to come with her was because Lena didn't want to have any confrontations with he whose name shall not be mentioned. Effie and Lena walked out the front door without saying anything to their parents.
Kostos looked out the window of his grandparent's house. He had arrived last night. He had known that Lena and her family would be here for the week. This gave him one week to finish what they had started. When he saw a cab pull up to Valia's house, Kostos stood still behind a curtain in the window. He couldn't risk Lena seeing him. He saw Effie and her parents get out, but when he saw Lena get out…his heart stopped. He felt moved to jump out the window and run down the street and passionately kiss Lena…but he couldn't. The old Kostos could have, and the old Lena would have run into his arms and passionately kissed him back…things had changed. After what had happened last summer, things could never be the same. But Kostos could hope, couldn't he? He stood watching, until he saw Lena dragging Effie out of the house and down the pathway…towards the grove.
Lena told Effie to sit however she wanted. Effie sat down on a big boulder and crossed her legs. She placed her hands on her knees and closed her eyes. Lena had to laugh. "Effie…what are you doing? If you can sit like that for a while, then feel free to sit like that!" Effie opened one of her eyes and looked at her sister. "I can…now draw me woman." Lena picked up the black charcoal and touched it to the paper. She had drawn Effie's face and had started on her neck, when she saw him walking down the pathway behind the trees. She jumped. Effie heard her drop the charcoal and she looked up. "Everything ok?" She saw that Lena was staring at something , so she turned to see. "Crap." Lena quickly picked up the chalk and began to draw again. Effie still stared. "Damn Effie. I can't draw you if you are not posing correctly." She dropped the charcoal again, but this time he picked it up for her. Kostos handed her the charcoal. Lena took it from his hand. "Thanks." Effie got up and came to stand in front of Lena. "Hey Kostos…how have you been? How's your wife…and child?" Lena poked Effie. Effie yelped. "What?" Kostos sensed the tension. (of course he did!) "I'm so very sorry ladies…I was only coming for an afternoon swim, and I won't intrude any longer…" Lena grabbed his arm and slapped him across his face. "That is crap…and you know it. I know you've been in London…I know that Mariana left you after the child died during the delivery…I know that you are only here to try to make things better…I know..." Effie turned around to face Lena. "Whoa, calm down. I didn't know any of this stuff…well that's besides the point. Lena…just breathe. Why don't we hear him out?" Kostos grinned, and placed his hands into his pockets. Lena grabbed her sketchbook, closed it and handed it to Effie. "Eff…take this back with you. I AM going to stay and talk to Kostos. He is going to hear me out." Effie hesitantly took the book and looked at her sister. "Are you sure?" Lena just stared at her.
Bridget had told Billy. He had taken it surprisingly well. But Bridget hadn't told him the entire story. She just left out the unimportant stuff. The fact that she and Eric had been somewhat serious, or that he had broken her heart, or that they had…well…had almost done it. But hey, that wasn't necessary. She only felt driven to tell him that she and Eric had been really good friends, and that she and Diana were close friends from soccer camp in Baja. Billy thought it was all cool. He would get to meet some of her soccer friends. She dreaded it. If only she and Eric were friends. He hadn't seen her in two years, and he had no clue she was going to be there…unless Diana had told him. Bridget ran upstairs to her room, not excusing herself from Billy and Perry. (they seemed not to care.) She turned on her computer and logged onto her email.
Di,
OMG…Please tell me he doesn't know I'll be there?...Please! I don't think I could handle it…EMAIL ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE DIANA…I mean it. This is a matter of life or death. Send me all the camp stuff you have….the roster and everything. I just need your help right now. I am losing it.
Bee
Carmen got out of bed and walked into the kitchen. David was sitting at the table with Stephen. She pulled up a chair and sat down. "Hey Stephen…we need to talk. I'm gonna go get dressed…you want to go to the park or something?" Stephen looked at David. "Is that ok?" Laughing, David answered him. "I would just listen to her…you never know when she'll snap at you!" Carmen took this to heart. "Ouch David, that hurt...I'll be out in a few minutes Stephen."
Carmen came out, and she and Stephen got into her car. They drove the few minutes to the park in complete silence. Carmen was planning out what she was going to say to him about Tibby. Stephen was contemplating whether or not he could trust her with the information on Kostos. But neither said anything…yet.