A/N: First of all, I'd like to apologize for the long wait for the update. I'll list several excuses in my concluding A/N. Second of all, I would like to say that you guys are the greatest: over 50 reviews! That's so cool! Thirdly, here's some stuff on this chappie: This is the first really sort of serious chappie that deals with the problems the girls will face. Well, Lena and Bee, at least.

I was getting some comments that I was sort of rushing my plot, so I was going to make a few really short chapters between 'Life' and this one, but I decided against it because I was gone so long. I did, however, compile some of the ideas I had for the other chapters into this one, so it's REALLY long. So I hope you'll all forgive me. : )

AND IF YOU LIKE TIBBY&BRIAN AND/OR CARMEN&WIN: I am so, so, so, so sorry. I am seriously not trying to write them out of the story. I know they are part of canon, and I think they are great characters. In fact, I love reading them. But unfortunately, I have absolutely NO inspiration. I have no idea where I'm gonna go with them (I have, however, included them in this chapter, even though it is almost entirely pointless). But I will include some fluff for them (if I can) as it is, but I'm going to need some suggestions for character plotlines if you guys want to see more of them. Sorry!

jellybeanBliss- I'm really glad you like the story and, as always, appreciate the feedback on my writing style. I have heard from several people that they find my style extremely similar to that of Ann Brashares, and I have heard varying opinions on this matter. There seem to be two schools of thought on author imitation in fanfics: 1) Fanfiction is a way to explore different writing styles, and fic authors should try to imitate their choice author to the best of their ability 2) Fanfiction is a means to explore one's individuality, and adaptations of stories should not be styled in the original author's form, but in one's own writing style. I think that these are both good ideas, and I have read and enjoyed stories written in both ways. However, I do tend to favor the first method in my own writing. At least for this particular fic. I do plan to put some more original stuff in here, and I definitely plan to do more original ficlets and one-shots in the future. Thank you so much for your review, I hope you keep reading!

ocRM4eva- I'm thrilled you love it! Expect to see a lot more of Bridget, even though I'm not exactly sure where I'm gonna go. I have a more solid idea about Lena, so expect to see her story heating up a bit, too, though she probably won't play as central a role in this story as Bridget. And as for not being able to wait to see what's going to happen…Well, I don't even know what's going to happen yet! If you have any ideas, feel free to let me know! Thank you so much for your review, it's reviews like this that motivate me to keep it up!

Cassy- I'm so glad you like Bridget! I'm really happy to see that she's such a popular character, since she's going to be everywhere in this fic! She is, in my opinion, definitely the most interesting of the four. I try to keep up with my updates, but you know how it can get…besides, I'm out of town a lot this summer, and I have a day job. If you add on top of all that the writers' block that comes with writing a story, then it can get pretty tough to update as much as I'd like. I love to hear back about my story, and I'm especially glad to hear that you think I write like Ann Brashares. She is one of my favorite authors, so that is a huge compliment, and I never tire of hearing it! Thank you so much! Please keep reading, reviewing and, most importantly, enjoying this story!

SandEforever – I have serious writer's block issues when it comes to Tibby…I just can't seem to get into her character. I have, however, been getting some other requests for more of her and Brian, so I will do what I can. Here's the next update, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for the review!

C U soon – Your review is so flattering and complimentary! I love it! Reviews like this are very rewarding! I am thrilled to hear that this is becoming one of your favorites. Hopefully you will continue feeling that way. Also, it's very nice to be appreciated for my long updates – I do my best! I hope this update is satisfying, sorry it took so long! Thanks again for a great review!

katryna1 – Your review kept me going when I was writing the fifth chapter! I am so flattered that you think my 'Fourth Summer' fic is the best you've read! I really try to make the events seem like things Ann Brashares would include in her novels and keeping the characters true to books is extremely important to me, so I really appreciate hearing such great positive feedback on that. I hope you enjoy this next bit. And as for the Bridget/Eric fluff…if that's what you're looking for, than I think you may enjoy what's to come…

darkchocolateimpatience – Oooh! Europe? Lucky! How was it? Where'd you go? I wish I was going to Europe…I went last summer with my grandparents and had a blast! Where are you going? I was fortunate enough to be able to hit some of Italy's best cities, Spain (for a few hours, at least), Greece, England, and Croatia. Croatia was gorgeous! My favorite place, though, was Santorini. I was actually in Oia, the city where Lena visited her grandparents in the book, and it is even more beautiful than it is described in the books. I hope you were able to get there. I'm sorry I didn't update before you left – I was already out of town – but I hope you like the fifth chappie!

Madelynne Rabb – I'm very glad you found and reviewed my story. I'm especially glad that you enjoyed it! I am also thrilled that you think I sound like Ann Brashares – I try my best! I can't wait to see what the Pants have in store for the girls, either. It might sound weird, but I have almost no idea where I'm going with this…Although I think I know how I want each of the characters to wind up…Which is sort of bizarre and inconsistent, now that I think about it. Thanks again for the review!

hallobuggy – Thank you so much! I'm glad you think this is so good! And about the movie: I thought that Bee was too accepting and resolved in the end about what happened with Eric. And that sucks, because it's totally unaccurate. Sure, she doesn't really crash until the fall, but she's not so okay with it as she seems in the movie. But then I also realized that they wanted to give the movie a more closed, upbeat ending, so they might not be setting up for a sequel, or anything. So I guess that works it the movie world, but it kinda annoys readers…

xsummerbabyx – Thanks. I had a lot of fun on my trip…I'm glad you think I write like Ann Brashares, and I'm glad you like my portrayal of the next summer…I hope she keeps writing them, too!... I try to keep them all in character, I'm glad you think I'm successful! Thanks so much for the review!

xoXOCutieOXox – LOL! I'm sorry I have you so distraught! LOL! I didn't think I left a cliffie last chappie…Bee's my fave character, too, and I love the Bee/Eric pairing, so…well…let's just see how it plays out…Hope you like the update!

kitotterkat- Thank you!

Eruca – Thanks for the review! Hope you like the update!

Not Just A Princess At Heart – I'm glad you decided to review! Better late than never, after all, and I'm happy to get any reviews I can! I have 53 reviews, but over 380 hits, so I must have a lot more readers than reviewers…either that, or I have such dedicated readers and such bad update habits that everybody re-reads my chappies in the mean time…or maybe a bit of both : ) LOL! Anyway, I'm glad that you decided to review! Reviews make my day! So I didn't exactly hurry back to update, but I'll hope you'll forgive me. Enjoy (and hopefully review!) this chappie!

Anonymous-yn – Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you love it so much, and I'm flattered you think it's one of the best! I'm so thrilled you think I write like Ann Brashares – I try my best! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks again for the great review!

private - So glad you think I'm progressing well! I hope you continue to think so! And don't worry…the fluff will be brought…eventually

ElleloveMax85 – I'm glad you love the fic so far. Unfortunately, I have a hard time writing both Carmen and Tibby (for some weird reason I simply cannot fathom). However, I have been getting quite a few requests for both of them, Carmen especially, so I'll do what I can…I have this idea that just might work out for Carmen's plot line…We'll see…Hope you enjoy! Thanks again for the review!

Riza-4789 – I'm glad you like this chapter! I can't say I'm a huge fan of Billy, myself…At least, not as much as I used to be. I like Eric lots more! I love the Eric/Bee pairing! But Billy was (sort of) there for her, and he was a big part of her childhood, so I think Bee will always have a bit of a soft spot for him. Your friends are Eric-bashers? Sad! I love that guy! If he wasn't totally fictional, I'd swoon! LOL! Thanks again for the great review!

avra5 – Thanks! It's definitely a wonderful feeling to be done for the summer! I'm glad you think my chapter was better than the one before it. That's always a good thing! And as for the Win and Brian thing…Good point. I actually really like those characters…I've just, um, continuously forgotten to write them in…LOL. Sorry about that! Kinda sad, when you think about it! Yes, they most definitely will come into play! I adore fluff, too – expect to see some, like I said before!

iluvgerardbutler – I'm glad you liked this chapter! Billy does seem to add a nice extra element to the plot, doesn't he? I'm pretty happy with his appearance. But then again, of course I would be… And your review finally spurred me on to rent The Phantom of the Opera. It was really good – but kinda morbid and depressing at the same time. The Phantom had some real issues. But he definitely seemed like he'd be hot. Without the burns, I mean. And those songs are STILL stuck in my head! (The Phaaaaan-tom of the Op-er-a is here, inside my mind…) LOL! Thanks again for the review!

spacegrace – Maybe…but then again, maybe Lena is through with him…be patient…I'm not trying to be evil by not saying anything, but…either way, it's more fun to find out by reading the actual story, don't you think?

dancerrdw - Thanks, I had a great time on vacation! Here's the next update, I hope you enjoy it! Please keep reading and reviewing! Thanks for the review.

JesskaLovesYou – Yeah, drama is right. Lena's mostly fine. Well, for right now, that is. But I'm not making any promises as to her mental/emotional/etc. state in the future. I'm glad you liked the last chappie so much. I've actually heard from a couple people that I did a much better job on 'Life As We Know It' than on previous chapters. I was wondering, what was better about 'Life' than the others? Length? Dialogue? Events? Characters? Anything specific? If you could let me know, I would really appreciate it. That way, I can keep improving my chapters. Thanks again for the review!

CHAPTER 5 OR 6: SPINNING OUT

"Focus on the distance and you fall

Deep inside of all the memories

You choose not to recall."

-Yellowcard, "Millenium Changed"

Bridget pounded along the same path that Eric used to lead his six-mile runs on three years before. A lot had happened since then. But for Bridget, nothing could be more comforting than running along the same trail. She liked change, certainly, but the small things that remained the same provided her with an overwhelming reassurance. And even though Bridget made a concerted effort to never be one of those desperate, clingy people, it was nice to know there was something to hang onto. You know, just in case.

"So, how exactly do you know Billy Kline?" Eric was seeking clarification, Bridget knew. The awkwardness that had hung in the air, suspended between Bridget and Billy, obviously didn't come from just soccer games. A feeling existed, somewhere between them that was more than platonic. What Eric wanted to know was whether or not that feeling went one-way. Especially now that it was evident that Bee would be spending a considerable amount of time with him this summer.

"I've known Billy since I was four, maybe even before then. I played soccer with him for years. But when I was seven or eight, my dad and my grandmother started having very different opinions about my mother's…" Bridget paused to search for a word, "Treatment," she finished carefully.

Eric nodded. He knew all about Marly, all the nitty-gritty things that still bothered Bee. Things that popped up through the course of any ordinary day, but still struck a painful chord in her. Some things Bridget didn't even like to talk about with Carmen and Tibby and Lena. She thought it was easier, sometimes, to talk to people who never knew Marly, never saw her in that state. The Marly that Eric knew of was a complex hodge-podge of all the things Bridget loved to remember, as well as a lot of things she would love to forget. And as much as Bee loved her three best friends, bringing up some of the private, dark moments felt like casting a stain on the Marly they could all remember with happiness.

With Marly's role in this particular story complete, Bee continued with her explanation. "I didn't see Billy again until I was sixteen. Things were different then." Eric's brows furrowed in thought. Bridget caught a glimpse of his expression. "No, no, no," she was quick to set it straight, "Not like that. I mean that I was different. It's a…" she sighed, "It's a long story. But I wasn't like I was that first summer (Eric had already come to understand that Bee measured her life in summers, and sub-categorically - but more emphatically - by the summer she wore the Pants), and I wasn't like I am now. It was sort of a transitional summer, if that makes any sense at all."

He nodded again, so she continued, "Basically, nothing happened. He wasn't even interested for the first six or seven weeks." Eric made a subtle, disbelieving sound. "He wasn't," she insisted.

"But I was interested him," Bridget admitted. She always made a point to be straightforward, particularly with people she cared about. People like Eric. She consulted her running watch. Nineteen minutes and forty-three seconds coming out of the third mile. Bridget calculated that this put them at just a little over six and a half minutes a mile. In this heat, she didn't think it was healthy for her to keep going like this too much longer. "Not in a really big way, nothing serious, more like a crush. Later, at the very end of the summer, he was interested, too. But it was one of those too-little-too-late kinds of things. There was one kiss, literally just before I got on the bus for D.C."

"That's all?" Eric asked, seeming slightly skeptical.

Bridget looked over at him. "That's all," she assured him. He looked relieved. "Why?" Bridget inquired impishly, "Were you jealous?"

"I don't know if I would call it 'jealous'…"

"Oh, my god!" Bridget exclaimed, reading his expression. "You were!"

"Maybe a little…" Eric swerved to the side, bumping playfully into Bridget.

It barely knocked her stride, but it was fun to act like it did anyway. "Hey!" She lurched out in front of him in lighthearted retaliation and, grinning flirtatiously, stopped abruptly in his path. He was forced to halt immediately to avoid hitting her. His effort was futile, and when he rammed into her they both toppled onto the sand, laughing.

"Hey, this is Carmen's cell. I'm off doing…something. So just leave a message, and I'll get back to you. Well, probably." Beep.

"Carmen! Hey, it's Bee! Ignore all of my last letters. I mean, yeah, Billy's here, but why should that change anything? So, I think everything's going to be okay. But did I tell you that he's my assistant coach? I really think I'm cursed when it comes to these soccer camps. Anyway, call me…" Beep. MESSAGE RECORDED AT: 5:41 PM

"Hey, this is Carmen's cell. I'm off doing…something. So just leave a message, and I'll get back to you. Well, probably." Beep.

"Yeah. Carmen, it's me again. Actually, it's kind of impossible for you to call me here, because my cell can't seem to get a signal. So, I'll call you. I miss you guys! By the way, have you heard from Lena yet? And why isn't your cell ever on? Well, I gotta go. I'll try again later. Love ya!" Beep. MESSAGE RECORDED AT: 5:43 PM

Lena was restless. It had only been a week, yet she was already bored. She tried to remember what she had done the first summer she had come here. Oh, yeah. It had been different then. Then there had been K-No! She wouldn't think about him. Yet, he was invading her mind every waking moment.

Think of Paul. Think of Paul. Think of Paul. She recited determinedly in her mind, repeating it like a mantra. She had hope with him, she knew, though she hadn't done anything about it. Yet. But she did have it on good authority from Carmen that he was still single, and had been almost continuously since the time of Skeletor that first summer. Paul was…different. He was a welcome change, especially after Ko- Damn! There he was again. There really was no escape from him, not even in Lena's own mind.

Now, what else had she done? That was a better, safer thing to think about. Well…she had drawn and painted a lot. But that was no good anymore. She had no control over that, either. He kept popping up again. Either that, or nothing would flow. It just wouldn't. There was no connection between her eyes and her soul and her hand anymore. Her brain had taken over, and it was on overdrive, dwelling on things Lena didn't want to think about.

Her drawings, when they did come, had no heart. They were just there. The object, the person, appeared, of course, but no more than that. Last summer, she had been able to delve deeply into her subject and find emotion, even if it was inanimate. Now, they were just flat. There was no fourth dimension of feeling, nothing artistic about them.

Maybe her emotions were broken. Lena wasn't a doctor, least of all a psychiatrist, but this self-assessment sounded about right.

Dear Tibby,

I don't what is wrong with me. I just don't feel like myself. And no, it's not because of HIM. I haven't seen HIM at all. I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. It's odd, being here without Bapi. I ate my Cheerios alone this morning. Sometimes I get the feeling that everyone here is looking at me, all at once, and judging me. This is irrational, I know. But still, I wish I had some of your independence and self-awareness.

Lots of Love,

Lena

Carmen fingered the worn denim of the Pants one last time before sliding a letter into the back pocket and sealing them into the Jiffy bag. She scrawled the address of the soccer camp onto the package. She knew she had kept them a bit too long, she realized guiltily. She was hoping something – anything – would happen to her in them. So far, this summer was pretty bland. With a sigh, Carmen resolved to take the Pants to the post office to express them to Bee just as soon as Ryan woke up from his nap.

For now, she would relax on the couch, and maybe catch another episode of Beauty & Brawn. A soap opera break was a rarity for Carmen, as she had agreed to watch Ryan while Christina worked a part-time shift at the law firm. Looking after her little brother had been a bit more than she had bargained for. Sure, she had experience babysitting little kids, but never as young as Ryan or at such lengths.

Right now, though, he was blessedly asleep, down for his afternoon nap. Carmen flopped on the couch thankfully, and switched on the TV. As soon as the opening titles had played, though, Little Ryan squealed loudly into the baby monitor, alerting Carmen of his awakening. She froze, hoping he would just roll over and go back to sleep. He let out another cry. Okay, so maybe he wouldn't be going back to sleep. Reluctantly, Carmen rose and turned off the TV. This boy is going to run me ragged, she thought to herself as she tossed the remote on the couch on her way to Ryan's room.

Yes, it was Ryan's room now. Sometimes, though, Carmen still entered it expecting to see her white double bed and her dresser and the walls, and would be almost surprised to see the blue walls and Ryan's crib and changing table. It was so different. To Carmen, it felt almost like a culmination of all the changes that had occurred since her graduation the year before. Even the things that seemed so permanent – like the stupid unicorn window decals – had changed. Somehow, David had gotten them off the windowpane. But he was still working on the big, bright butterfly stickers Carmen's seven-year-old self had affixed to the door years before. She smiled whenever she saw those obnoxious butterflies, clashing so marvelously with the pastel blue walls and infant-style baseball theme. There was no way those things were coming off. Carmen had certainly left her mark on the room.

Ryan had pulled himself to his feet (this was his latest trick) with the bars of his crib, which his little fists still grasped tightly for balance and support. He cooed and smiled when he saw Carmen, and she forgot her annoyance at missing her show. She was a sucker for her baby brother. "Do you wanna do something, buddy?" Carmen asked him as she lifted him out of the crib and onto the changing table.

"Ga!" The ten-month-old replied enthusiastically. He made those kinds of experimental sounds all the time.

"I'll take that as a yes," Carmen said pleasantly as she put a fresh diaper on him. "Hey, I have an idea."

"Ga!"

"Let's give your godmother a call. We can all go to the park!"

"Ga!"

"Okay, then! It's settled!" Carmen said heartily, as if the two of them had just come to a mutual decision after a long discussion. "Let's call Tibby over here!"

Carma was glad to be able to hang out with Tibby. She knew Tibby was, too. So far, this summer had been pretty bland. They had sent the package to Bridget, and then headed to the park.

Now, Ryan sat in the sandbox, shoving his hands in the gritty mounds before drawing them back in fascination as Carmen and Tibby talked about Brian and Win and their respective siblings. Ryan reached over to grab an abandoned plastic shovel, and used it to beat at the sand rhythmically. Carmen thought it was pretty cute until Ryan smacked a little girl on the arm with it. Apparently he didn't have enough motor skills for that particular toy. Ryan gave grunted at Carmen indignantly when she confiscated it, and reached out for it.

"I don't think so, kid," she said, ruffling his hair affectionately. Carmen showed him how to make rounded piles, like a castle, but Ryan had more fun obliterating them. Carmen laughed and reconstructed her crude mound so he could decimate it again with an uncoordinated swipe of his pudgy hand. Ryan put his hands back into the sand and then raised them abruptly, sending some of the tiny grains into the air. He grinned brightly at Carmen and shoved a handful into his mouth.

"Whoa!" Carmen exclaimed, stepping forward immediately. "Not good!" She put her fingers to his mouth to wipe away the sand. She made sure to get it all out of his mouth – an endeavor that included getting Ryan's baby slobber all over her fingers although, strangely, that didn't bother her anymore – before giving him his sipper cup of water to clear out any remaining grains.

"Always something with him, isn't it?" Tibby asked.

"Tell me about it," Carmen said. She turned to her little brother. "Ryan," she cooed at him, "You don't want to eat sand! That's yucky!"

"I'm sorry," a familiar voice said from behind her, "What's yucky?"

Carmen turned around to look over her shoulder. She held a hand over her eyes to block out the sun; it was glaring into her face when she looked up from her squatting position beside Ryan to get a glimpse of the guy towering behind her. "Win!" She grinned at him and rose to her feet. "What're you doing here?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm on lunch break, and this park is a block away from the hospital." Translation: I got a break, so I came here hoping you had come with Ryan.

"Really?" She asked skeptically. He was working at the hospital again as a summer volunteer from 9:30 to 2:45, but he and Carmen still kept running into each other. It was more deliberate (at least for one of them for each occurrence) than it was consequential. She liked that.

"Yes, really," he confirmed, smiling back at her. He sat down on the edge of the sandbox to greet Ryan. "So," Win directed his comment, and most of his attention, towards Carmen, even while he played absently in the sand with the toddler, "Do you want to do something tonight? Go to a movie or something?"

"Can I get a rain check?" Carmen asked, a regretful look on her face. "I'm babysitting Ryan tonight. My mom and David got these tickets to some show, so I said I'd be on Ryan-duty."

"I see."

"But I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you came over," Carmen suggested. "I've finally mastered the subtle art of making grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, andyou are more than welcome to join Ryan and me."

"I guess I'll see you then," Win said.

Carmen and Tibby left with Ryan shortly after Win returned to the hospital. Carmen passed Ryan to Tibby so she could unlock the car doors, and Tibby balanced the baby on her hip. "You know what?" Tibby said to him contemplatively. "Change isn't such a bad thing after all."

Dear Lena,

Nothing really happened to me in the Pants, which was a bit of a bummer. But I hope they help you find whatever you're looking for. You don't need any more sense or talent or anything, so I hope they bring you inspiration. Artists are always open to a little extra inspiration, right? And a little luck never hurt anyone. So here's to luck, inspiration, and the Pants!

XOXOXOXO,

Carmabelle

"Hey, Bee!" Diana called across the field. The sun had just set, and the light was going fast. Bridget was juggling a soccer ball in the middle of the field, laughing with Eric, but looked up. "Come on! Hotel Hacienda awaits!"

"Shhhh!" Eric hissed. "Not so loud. They don't exactly encourage coaches to go out and drink."

Bridget raised her eyebrows. "So is that a yes? Or are we going without you?"

"The first scrimmage is tomorrow," Eric reasoned.

"Oh, that's okay," Diana said laughingly, nudging Bridget, "I have it on good authority from Bee, here, that partying makes you play better. Maybe even coach better."

"Is that a fact?" Eric asked amusedly, heading the ball two or three times consecutively before catching it in his hands.

"Wanna find out?" Bee asked boldly, taking the ball from him.

"Or is Bee going to have to find some other single Mexican guy en la cantina?" Diana taunted along.

Bee raised her eyebrows challengingly at Eric, before turning to Diana and feigning interest. "How many of the other coaches dance, do you think?"

Diana played along, and put on a thoughtful face. "That's a good question. Let's see…Danny isn't exactly uptight, but he doesn't strike me as the dancing type. Kurt, however…"

"Really? Do you think so?" Bee asked. "He might be a bit of an excessive drinker." She shrugged. "Oh, well. I'm sure I can find some local…"

"Fine. Let's go," Eric acquiesced. He wasn't as inconvenienced as he pretended to be. The girls cheered and Diana tossed him the keys to a camp van. "See you in ten minutes."

"What?" Bee asked as she and Diana ran, laughing, towards their cabin to change, "No bikes?"

They emerged moments later, Diana wearing a halter-top and one of Bee's skirts and Bee wearing form-fitting, layered tank tops and a white skirt of Diana's. Diana pulled back her dreads, but Bridget let her long hair hang loose. Diana had spread the word, and a few other coaches, mostly guys, hopped into the van as they got ready to leave. The ride there was loud and crowded. They had jammed a in a few more people than the van was actually meant to hold, but it was a short ride.

Whoops and hollers burst from the back seat upon arrival. Eric parked the van behind the bar, and Diana and Bee hopped out of the front passenger seat they'd been sharing. Like a circus clown car act, the nine coaches emerged from a van that should probably have only held about six, comfortably. They headed, in one rambunctious pack, into Hotel Hacienda.

Kurt, by far the rowdiest of the group, had tequila in his hand almost as soon as he got through the door. They staked out a table a little ways away from the dancing, and most of the coaches, including Eric, hung around the table and got margaritas or beers from the bar. Diana and Bridget were on the dance floor immediately. Bee had experienced her share of frat and dorm parties – Wriston Quad was full of them – and of course the drinking that came with them, but wasn't really interested her.

She much preferred dancing.

The salsa music pulsed through her body, and she let it carry her away. Once again, all male eyes stayed focused on Bridget – or more specifically, her hair – as she danced, and several guys, in an alcohol-induced passiononly a couple of shotsaway from actual drunkenness, hovered around her. She ignored them all consistently, sticking with Diana.

This was around the time Eric came onto the floor. Bridget obviously desired a partner switch, so Diana willingly took up with a male coach, about whom she felt rather neutral. Bee turned to Eric now, and he danced close to her, blatantly declaring her to be his. Bee's group of unwanted admirers thinned considerably.

It felt nice to be with Eric again. She hadn't actually danced with him like this since the last time they were both here, and it felt a thousand times better under these circumstances than it had before under those other, less virtuous, ones. Now she danced with abandon, only her, the music, and Eric. It was like running, or soccer - movements came to her as she went, and her thoughts lagged behind. They moved closer as they danced; her hands found the bottom of his back, and his rested low on her hips.

Out of the corner of her eye, Bee spotted Billy dancing with Kristin Gaines, Diana's assistant coach. That was odd. She didn't remember seeing him get in the van. Seeing him there let loose an avalanche of memories, random, disturbing snapshots of her life moving rapidly through her brain. The plummet of emotions that was Baja, its aftermath, junior year, the start of her summer in Alabama, and –this was the worst- the terrifying images of her mother sprawled, eerie and unmoving, on the floor of the bedroom. They appeared, seemingly before her eyes, with the jerky, spastic quality of an aged, soundless film reel played off an old projector.

These distressing flashes of her lowest moments lasted only a few seconds, but they were dizzying ones. Or maybe it was the atmosphere. Either way, it caused her to pause for a second. She blinked to clear her mind, and held two fingers to her temple.

"Are you okay?" Eric looked concerned, and Bridget realized how odd her abrupt stop and slightly pained and dazed expressions must have seemed to him.

"Oh," Bridget acknowledged him, before her mind totally caught up to their conversation. It was still, apparently, on overload. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I was just kind of lightheaded for a second there." She smiled again, to assure him that she was fine.

He didn't look wholly convinced. "Do you want to take a break for a while?" He asked skeptically.

"Yeah, I think that's probably a good idea," she agreed, and let him guide her off the dance floor.

She returned with Eric to the coaches' table, feeling fine physically, but a little disconcerted. She made her best effort to seem herself or, even better, actually feel more like herself, as they approached. Diana was already sitting there, laughing with staffers (assistant coaches? Or trainers, maybe?) Bee couldn't remember the names of. Eric held a bulbous margarita glass, with a now mostly unsalted rim. She smirked playfully at him as she took it from his grasp to take a sip of his drink. Now he seemed more reassured. This was more normal behavior for Bee.

Beneath the surface, though, Bridget couldn't shake her slightly melancholy feeling, that brief relapse of the former shell of her transitional self, one she thought she had shed and left behind long ago.

Lena couldn't bring herself to go to the olive grove. She couldn't bring herself to do much of anything, really. Effie had tried to coax Lena out of her shell, but to no avail. Effie herself had been busy. She had been disappointed to find the waiter taken – engaged, actually – but quickly found his younger brother to be just as…friendly, regardless of the fact that he was still a year or two older than she was. Effie had also managed to find an assortment of other local guys, and was rarely seen alone. Effie was good at things like that. Lena, not so much. Of course, Lena was extremely good at chances. Not real ones, but mental ones. Like, she was good at imagining what could possibly happen between her and a guy – say, Paul Rodman – but somehow lost momentum when it came to actually doing something about it. Except when it came to drawing and Kostos. Damn. How come every single thought seemed to eventually lead to him?

This had to stop. She absolutely had to do something, to get her mind off of him, at the very least.

Today, Lena vowed, she would draw again. She would even go to the olive grove. She was determined. This was something she just knew she had to do to get past HIM. And she would do it…just, later. Right now she just didn't have the energy to get her determination - or the mind set to get her emotions – up and over the gigantic mental barrier separating her from the grove.

Because to go there, again, alone, would be to finally acknowledge that it was all over…

"Cammy!" Bridget called across the field. "Get back in that box!" Cammy was a great goalkeeper, but she tended to gravitate a little too far forward.

"And Strand! Pass it off!" Bridget yelled. Kira Strand was a great player, a really phenomenal athlete, with a colossal, intense personality. Bee knew that she had been similar. She almost sympathized with her former coach, Molly, now. But not enough to utilize the same coaching style.

Bridget could practically see Kira rolling her eyes, but the petite, spunkyauburn-haired girlreluctantly passed the ball to a teammate. It didn't seem to matter much, though, because it was never long before Kira got it back. Like now. Oh. Yeah. Go figure. The score went up, 5-1. It looked like Kurt's team was going down again.

Billy was somewhere downfield, near their goal, advising the defense on their layout. She could see him gesturing wildly from where she stood at half-field.

Eric appeared beside her. "So, Coach, how's it look?"

Bridget gave him a sidelong glance before her eyes returned to the field. "Pretty damn good. Brianne has really improved." Brianne was a bit of a case. She had some talent, most all of them did, but hers was uncanny, reminding her almost of Naughton, but not so gawky and uncoordinated. No, with the right coaching, Brianne would go far. She had a lot of dedication, and when she played, she was consistently good, even on her worst 'off' days. At least good enough to measure up to the other players on the field. The good days were remarkable, but she put forth an effort even between them. "It looks like I'm in for another win." Bee had won a scrimmage against Diana two days before.

"Maybe. But you'll be breaking your winning streak sometime around two-thirty on Wednesday," he informed her. This was the time of the scrimmage between their teams.

"We'll see," was all she replied. Kira brought the score up again. At least this time it was a marvelous assist, instead of a single-handed goal.

The ref blew a long blast on the whistle. "Team Three, Las Muchachas Rojas." He called.

"Get used to that sound, Richman," Bee said over her shoulder as she jogged onto the field to join her team. "You'll be hearing it again soon."

He waved it off and watched as she celebrated the victory with the team and then prompted them to shake or slap hands with the other team. She reached Kurt last. He stood a good four or five inches taller than she did, which was saying something. "You've got a pretty good team there, Bridget," Kurt said, shaking hands with her. "It was a good game."

She made a nice reply in the name of good sportsmanship, then ran off to where her team was still basking in their victory. "Yeah!" she yelled at the top of her lungs. "You guys were great!"

The girls were now guzzling Gatorade by the mouthfuls. Billy spoke up. "Cammy, you really need to work on staying a bit farther back in your box. You get too far forward and you'll open yourself up as an easy goal."

"Kay," Cammy agreed amiably between sips.

"In honor ofanother great win, I'll give you guys a by on the conditioning workout I had scheduled for later today." Cheers went up. Bridget was undoubtedly a great coach and an amazing player, but her workouts were brutal. "But tomorrow, I'll be seeing each of you," she looked pointedly around the circle they had formed, "Bright and early for that five-miler we have planned. Yes, Bronwyn," Bridget said, before words could even come out of the curly redhead's opened mouth, "Even you. At 6 AM, by the mower shed." Groans overtook the team. "C'mon, guys," Bee said, "It's not so bad. Every athlete, especially one that plays soccer, has to be a runner first." ((A/N: That's what my track coach tells all the soccer players she tries to recruit for the fall x-country season that interferes with the soccer season. So far, it hasn't really worked on most of them!)) She excused the players, and they left in clumps of twos and threes.

Bridget turned her attention to her assistant. "Um, Billy? Do you have a minute?"

"Yeah, sure." Billy set down the cooler he had been getting ready to carry back up to the kitchens.

"Okay. Um." This was harder than Bee had anticipated. "I was just…I want you to know that…"

"Is something wrong, Bee?" Billy looked at her oddly. He had never known Bridget to be at a loss for words like this.

"Not really. It's just, I thought I should let you know that recently…Well, you could probably tell that…" Damn. He had that hopeful look in his eye. Her resolve crumbled. She just couldn't have this conversation with him. Maybe if he turned around so she wouldn't have to look at him…

"'I could probably tell that' what?" Billy prompted.

"That…that…" Bridget searched for something to say. She noticed Billy's eyes flick from her face to a spot somewhere over her shoulder and to the right before returning to her again. She glanced behind her to see what it was that Billy had glimpsed. Eric was approaching them. She was saved! Bee gave Eric a grin before looking back to Billy.

"I just thought I'd let you know that…that Cammy is doing a lot better! You've done a really great job working with her, and I appreciate it."

"Um. Okay," Billy replied slowly. "Is that…all?"

Eric was standing beside them now. "Yeah, that's it. See you later, Billy."

"See ya." He gave Eric a nod of acknowledgement and picked up the cooler again before heading off to the kitchens.

She sighed and shouldered her large mesh drawstring bag. It held all the necessary coaching stuff, and was standard issue for the coaches. It contained about eight or ten soccer balls (for the pre-game warm-up, of course), a first aid kit, her dry-erase board of the soccer field for illustrating plays, and a few other random things.

Eric took it from her. She smiled her thanks. "So, you're off this Saturday, right?" He asked as they headed up the gradual slope and towards her cabin.

"Richman, are you trying to ask me out?" Bridget grinned playfully at him. "Like, on a date?"

"Something like that." He grinned back. "Actually, I would call it 'planning a date'. Since you're my girlfriend, you're sort of obligated to say yes."

"You're sure optimistic," she teased. "So this would be, what, our third date?"

"Give me a break!" He dropped the bag on the little porch of the girls' cabin. "We live over three hours away! And between soccer and classes and everything else, three 'actual' dates isn't so bad. I spent a lot of time planning the Valentine's Day thing."

"I know," Bridget smiled up at him, now completely sincere. "And it was incredibly sweet of you." She leaned forward to kiss him, and he pulled her close. That particular gesture stretched much longer and became a bit more heated and intense than was originally anticipated, but the change wasn't undesirable. Diana came across them when Bee was against the wall of the cabin, and Eric was standing close, his arms around her waist.

"Diana! Um, hi!" Bridget exclaimed, somewhat embarrassedly, as she and Eric came apart.

"You two make me sick," Diana responded. Her amused look betrayed her words. "Honestly. Show a little restraint! What if it had been Shannon standing here instead of me?"

"I'll see you later, Eric," Bee said as Diana dragged her inside.

"I'll meet you at dinner, Bee," he confirmed.

"Oh, I'm sure you will," Diana said, inserting herself back into the conversation while pulling Bridget all the way back inside. She let the screen door slam shut behind them.

"So have you talked to them?" Diana brought on the inquisition as soon as she was sure Eric was out of earshot.

"Talked to who?"

"Brid-get," Diana annunciated the word, frustrated. "You know what I mean. Eric and Billy."

"About what?" Bridget asked, plopping down on her bunk.

Diana rolled her eyes. "About each other."

"I've sort of talked to Eric," Bee said. This was mostly true. Bridget had talked to Eric, but she had left out a lot of the important parts.

"What about Billy?"

Bridget winced visibly. "Not yet. But I will."

"Why haven't you?" Diana asked.

"Because…" Bridget explained faintly, "I'm still…formulating." Bridget picked at a cuticle. Her nails were never in as good a shape as Carmen or Lena's. She always had uneven lengths or hangnails or something.

Diana sat down on her knees next to Bee, but at a slight angle. She reached for a clump of Bridget's blond hair, and separated it equally. "What's to formulate? Just talk to them."

Diana's fingers worked nimbly, comfortingly weaving her friend's hair into two perfect French braids. "You have to do it sometime," Diana threw out.

"I will," Bee said, sounding non-committal. "It's not as if I haven't tried," Bridget protested suddenly.The moments passed in silence while Diana kept braiding. She knew Bridget. If there was something going on, she had to let Bee spill of her own volition. She knew something was up now, and her patience was rewarded. Bridget finally let it out. "It's just…I go up to Billy, right?" Diana nodded to encourage Bee to continue. "And then I'll start talking to him, but then – I don't know – I just look at him, and I can't get it out, so I'll talk about something stupid and pointless to avoid it."

"It isn't anything with you and Eric, is it?" Diana ventured casually. "Because the two of you looked like you were doing just fine a mo-"

"No, no," Bee waved it off. "Everything's fine with Eric. More than fine – great, even. That's why I don't understand it. I have recited the 'let's just be friends' speech about a thousand times in the last six years. I've got the thing practically memorized! I don't get it!"

"Maybe it's because you know him so well, you know? He's not just some guy," Diana suggested. She was about halfway through the second braid. "He means something to you. Not in the romantic sense, maybe, but definitely as a friend."

Bridget considered this. "You're probably right," she sighed.

"I remember reading something in my psychology class that basically said that we share strong emotional bonds or connections with people who are close to us when we're young or know us before a traumatizing life experience," Diana elaborated. "It's probably one of the reasons people marry their high school sweethearts, even years later, because of a common past. Or sometimes people share a connection with someone for security. Like, say, if you got in a car accident, and you were paralyzed, you might cling to those people who knew you before it happened for emotional safety."

Bridget shifted uncomfortably, feeling completely transparent. In reality, Diana probably had no idea how accurate she was, but she had pinpointed Bee's issues with stunning precision.

A/N: So that's it for this chappie. There are a few things I need to address in this note, so I'll put up headings. Feel free to skip it all, if you want.

RE: MY ABSENCE -- This is the part where I fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness. Falls to knees and begs for forgiveness I am so, so, so, so sorry for not updating for…well…a long time. (We don't need to get into the shameful details, do we?) Even though there aren't any really good excuses for it, I've tried to come up with a few acceptable reasons for it. 1) When I was in Florida and Richmond, I didn't have Internet access, so I couldn't update 2) The day after I came back from Richmond, we took my grandma and my great-grandma on a trip to Cour d'Alene, Idaho. After that was NYC for a few days. Guess what? No access there, either. So I'm really, really sorry, and I'll try to update much sooner from now on.

RE: Reviews – I was in shock when I checked my inbox after I got back from my vacation(s). I never expected to get so many reviews! I got over twenty on the last chapter alone! Thank you all so much! I will continue to write an individual reply to each, as long as I keep getting reviews. I really hope you didn't all stop reading this between updates…well, you know what to do with that little button on the left! Make my day!