Carmen got out of the car and led Stephen over to the park benches situated along the sides of the lake. She pulled him down onto one and he sat back. "I'm glad you decided to bring me out today…we really need to talk." "That's what I was going to say…" Carmen laughed. "You go first then." Stephen held out his hand to argue. "No Carmen. I think you should go first. Mine's probably not as important." Curling her legs underneath her, Carmen readied herself to talk to him. "Ok. I know you like Tibby…and trust me the feeling is mutual on her side. But I don't think it's going to work. I mean…Tibby is just really finding herself…love wise. You live in London…different country…different continent. Imagine the phone bills. And well…Brian…" Stephen didn't want to be rude, but he had to say something. "If Brian likes her so much and she likes him then why aren't they together?" Carmen shuddered. "I don't know…If you knew Brian, and you really knew Tibby…and you don't. I don't mean to be rude when I say that…but it takes a long time to break down the barrier. She likes you…so there isn't really a barrier…she's just putting on a show for you. I know Tibby better than most people…well other than Lena and Bridget, and I know when she's not being herself. She is not herself around you…she's a different Tibby. One we are not used to…one she's not used to. It's like she has no limits." Stephen laughed. "Maybe change is a good thing Carmen. Maybe I can change her for the better." "No you can't. We, as bestfriends, have been through so much…changed so much…loved…lost…and you my dear friend can not seriously be a help." Carmen was mentally kicking herself in the butt for saying that last comment. She didn't mean for it to sound so harsh. "I'm sorry…but do you get what I'm saying?" Stephen nodded. "It's crystal clear. You don't want her to take chances…live a little…let go of past memories. You don't want the old Tibby to be lost." Carmen had to admit it sounded pretty selfish. She leaned over and hugged him, talking lowly in his ear. "I just want you to be careful with Tibby's heart."
They backed away from the hug and Stephen put his arm on the back of the bench. "I guess it's my turn then?" Carmen turned towards him again. "Yes it is. I'm all ears." Stephen pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. Slowly he unfolded it. Carmen didn't know what it was until he had finished. He slid the picture over to Carmen, and she picked it up. There were two people in the photo. Stephen, and a man about the same age as Stephen. The man was dark and had dark hair and eyes. Carmen stared intently at the picture for about two minutes. "Is this supposed to mean anything to me?" Stephen took the picture and flipped it over. She read the inscription. 'Stephen and Kostos at New Year's Eve party.' Carmen about fell dead on the ground. "Hell." Stephen took the picture and looked at it. "Exactly what I said when he told me." The pieces were now coming together. "Kostos is your roommate in London…and when you told him about David, he immediately knew that Lena lived here…of course he didn't know that it would be this easy to get a hold of her…but he sent you with another mission anyways." "Yes." Stephen said solemnly. "Actually…he's in Greece…right now…and so is Lena…" Carmen shot up out of her seat and started pacing back and forth. "Crap Stephen. Crap. Crap. Crap. I knew she was on the island…but Stephen! Why didn't you say something earlier?" "Because," he stated, "This wasn't the mission I came on…I came to find my father." Carmen believed him. "And…Kostos trapped you into it." "He said that he and Lena were in love, but that he hadn't heard from her in a long time. But when I came and saw her and Paul…I couldn't mess with it." Carmen leaned down and hugged him. "Let's just go. I'm afraid if we stay any longer we'll let more secrets go…and I can't take it. I've got to get a hold of Lena."
Lena sat down on the rock Effie had just been on. Kostos sat down on the ground, letting his feet touch the water. Neither of them spoke. But Lena couldn't stand the silence any longer. "I never stopped loving you." Kostos smiled. "I never stopped…" Lena didn't let him finish. "I also have never forgiven you. How could you do something like that to me, and then expect me to forget about it and pretend like it never happened?" "I don't blame you for not forgiving me."
Lena got up and came to sit beside Kostos in the sand. She lowered her tone. "That summer was magical…you loved me for who I was…not for who I could be or who I used to be. I loved you…and then the second summer…when you came to the states. That night we spent out in the yard. Do you remember those nights we spent talking and kissing underneath the stars?" Kostos brushed the back of his hand across Lena's cheek. "Of course I do." Lena removed his hand. He kept on talking. "I remember it too well. I will never forget those moments. I don't know how I could do that to you. I never loved Mariana…Inside I'm glad she chose to leave me…that gave me hope for us." Lena had to laugh. It wasn't a happy laugh…it was a laugh she laughed to say how stupid he was. "Kostos…things just don't work out like that! You slept with her! She was going to have your baby! You broke my heart…I can never forgive you!" Lena got up to leave, but Kostos caught her arm. She turned around to face him. "What!" Kostos leaned in and kissed her. She was alarmed. But to feel his lips on hers again, brought back all the memories. Lena leaned in and let him wrap his arms around her. But she eventually came back to her senses. She pulled away. "No…I can't Kostos." He saw a tear forming in her eye. "I just…" She got up and started to leave. "You just want what we once had…"
Tibby called Brian on Monday. He answered his cell phone like he said he would. Just for her. "Hey Brian." She calmly said. He laughed. "I guess you got my letter?" "Yes I did…we need to talk." She answered. Brian was on the other end of the phone nervously fidgeting with his shoelace. "As much as we need to talk Tibbadee…and as much as I love hearing your voice… I'd rather see you face to face. Can you wait until Tomorrow?" Tibby sighed. "Yes." "Good…be at my house at five…I should be there already." Tibby twirled the phone cord in her fingers. "I can do that. I'll see you then." "Good…hey Tibby?" "Yeah?" she asked. "I meant all the things I said." Tibby smiled and she could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks. "Bye Brian." She hung up the phone and set it back on her desk. She picked up the letter and started to read it again. What's one more time?
Bee,
Ok, so I may have told Eric that you were going to be there…not as a coach or counselor or anything. But of course he could have figured that out by himself. He also asked for your email. He said he had it from Baja…but it had changed…of course it had! Um…I gave it to him…Only after pleading with him not to use it against you. So you should be getting an email from a certain SoccerMan228. Tell me what happens. Muah.
Diana
Bridget's heart stopped for a second…make that two seconds. She slowly went down the page, and sure enough there was one waiting for her. She circled the pointer above the link for a while, before she actually got the nerve to click it. It popped up. She couldn't turn around now…she couldn't.
Bridget,
This is all a surprise. Billy and I are actually coaching together. He's a first year coach, so he has to be paired up with a coach. It just had to be me. I guess I would have seen you anyways, no matter what the coaching position. I was surprised that you were not on the roster for this summer. I was happy however to hear that you are still playing soccer. After that summer…when your friend had to come over and help you…and…I shouldn't be saying any of this. It's none of my business. I was writing you because I felt compelled to. I couldn't stand the fact that I hurt you. I know I hurt you. You can't get out of that one. I hurt you. I hurt Bee…the invincible Bee. I have fought with this over the past two years. I haven't had a steady relationship as of that summer. When Diana told me you were going to be there in Alabama for a couple of weeks…I could not believe it. I couldn't…I couldn't breathe actually. My roommate had to help me sit down. It was actually quite funny. So, if I don't hear from you…I'll take that as a hint, and I will not try anymore to clear things up. Maybe our relationship was never meant to be. I've never forgotten those times we spent lying out on the beach…or doing whatever it was we were doing at the time. Yeah! Those were good times Bridget…even if we were just meant to be friends. I'll always love you, no matter what.
Eric
Bridget shot up from her seat and ran to the bathroom. She threw up, and then sat back to calm herself down. Meanwhile, Billy had come into the room and couldn't find her. He went over to her computer to check his email, but hers was already up. He couldn't help but read it. It was only from Eric. Eric was her friend from soccer camp. He scrolled down and finished reading it before Bridget came out of the bathroom. "Hey Billy…whatcha doin?" He didn't turn around. She walked over and peered over his shoulder. "Damn…Billy…I'm sorry…but nothing has happened." Billy turned around and got out of the chair. "I thought he was just your friend Bee…You lied to me. I'm going to pack my bags…and then I'm going to call a cab…I'm leaving." Bridget reached out to grab his arm, but he shook her off. "No…I'll see you in two weeks." Billy walked out of her room and down the stairs. Bridget grabbed her car keys and ran out the back door. She didn't know where she was going. She only knew that she had to get out of the house for a few hours…long enough for Billy to leave. Maybe she shouldn't go to Alabama this summer…maybe Greta would understand…but she did want to see Eric. That thought never left her head completely. Bridget just needed a reason to rediscover their relationship. Plus, Eric wanted to see her…didn't he?