Lena:
Lena stared at Kostos in horror. What was he talking about? And that is exactly what she asked.
"You can't break Paul's heart, but Paul can break yours. Now let's see, all you have to do is act all bratty and mean, and Paul will dump you," Kostos had replied.
"I can't do this Kostos, it is very mean, and Paul has always been there for me," Lena refused.
"Lena, beautiful Lena, has he ever told you he loved you like this? I love you beautiful Lena," Kostos answered.
"Kostos, we cannot be, Paul loves me even though he hasn't said it yet. But I love him and that is all that matters. Kostos, Paul would never leave me to marry some girl, and by the way, he would never get another girl pregnant. He has always been there more than you, whether you like it or not!" Lena said, quite annoyed.
"But, Lena, do you have no heart for a man who has made some mistakes?" Kostos asked.
"I have only a heart for a man that is loyal and true, so get gone!" Lena shouted.
"If this is the way it has to be, I will see you no more, but Lena, I will be back, and you cannot push true love away, so that you and I will be together someday," Kostos responded and disappeared.
Paul came up to Lena after the conversation, and put his arm around her shoulders, Lena blushed. "Paul, can we just have fun with the rest of our day?" she asked. Paul nodded. They got their food, had a great rest of the day, and went home. Paul was staying in Lena's house in Effie's room while Effie stayed with Lena.
An hour after they returned home, the doorbell rang. It was 7:00pm and Lena and Paul were playing Candy Land versus each other. Of course, Lena was winning. Paul went to get the door. He came back with a familiar looking man, with blonde in his hair. Lena screamed, "KOSTOS! Why did you do that to your hair!"
"Do you like it? I figured, that, well, he's blonde!" Kostos pointed accusingly to Paul.
"Kostos, that doesn't mean anything. Paul is special the way he is and so are you. There are other girls beside me that you can have! You don't have to change yourself because you think you are not good enough for me, Kostos, leave me. I want you to go back to Greece; I want you to leave me alone!" Lena reacted.
Kostos bent his head in shame and walked out the front door, and Paul watched all the events that occurred. Lena looked at him, she explained everything that Kostos meant to her, and everything that had occurred concerning him, and Paul just nodded. He picked up the Candy Land game and put it away. He ran upstairs to Effie's bedroom, and didn't come out until an hour later.
"Lena," he said, "If you are really in love with Kostos, you can be with him."
"Paul, that is not where I belong," Lena responded, startled that Paul would actually let her leave him. "I belong here with you; because I know that you would never leave me. Paul, I love you."
Paul's face went pale. He knew that Lena would be heartbroken if he didn't say it back, and that was exactly what Lena was thinking. Paul stood there with his red, puffy, eyes from crying, just staring at her, wondering what he should do.
A/N: Don't make fun of Paul, because I've observed from various TV shows that saying "I love you" back to someone can be hard.
Lena looked back at him. Paul knew what he should do, but he didn't, he had something better in mind. He realized that he could say it through poetry, which would be easier for him since he is a natural writer.
"Lena, let me express my feelings through a poem I am going to write in my head as I go," he said. Lena nodded, her heart already breaking, thinking he was not going to say it back. So Paul started his old English poem:
Beautiful Lena, goddess of my heart,
Oh how beautiful thou art,
My cousin Carmen hath brought us together,
And apart we will be, never,
And instead of saying the words you want me to speak,
I ask thou, will thou marry me?
Tibby:
The next day, Tibby had already told her family about the will and she had gone into the Wallman's, wincing when she saw Duncan. "Greetings, potential customer," he said. "Try aisle 5 for that wretched skin."
Tibby hit him and said, "Guess what, you are now under my management," with a cheery voice.
"What? How did this happen? Why did he give a lowly storage girl the job of manager? I am the assistant manager, I'll have you know!" Duncan said, surprised.
"One, yes I am the manager. Two and three, I am his great-granddaughter, and I was in his will, bless him. Four, not for long!" Tibby answered.
Duncan blinked and greeted the "potential customers" walking in. Tibby walked to the back, where the large office was placed. Tibby emptied her things at her desk, and looked across the room at Duncan's desk. She winced again, he has got to go, she thought. Brian walked into the large office and hugged Tibby.
"Hey babe how's work?" he asked.
"I've only been here for five minutes and there is already something to change."
"What's that?" Brian asked.
"Duncan, I need to find someone to replace him!" Tibby whined.
"Well, first, you need to change the lame-o uniforms!" he said, pulling on one of the red vests.
"True, what do you think I should do with them?" Tibby agreed.
"Well, you can let Carmen take a look at them, and they should be able to wear jeans," Brian suggested, winking at Tibby.
Tibby jumped up and hugged him. "Brilliant!" she said. "What else have you got?"
"Um, we can change the sayings, like instead of 'Greetings potential customers,' say 'Watsup, buy our food!'" Brian suggested.
"Brian, you have solved my number one problem, you are my new assistant manager!" Tibby exclaimed. She hugged him again. "Now tell me what else you have," Tibby said, again.
"Thanks Tibby, I really do need the money. Um, I was thinking of better décor, maybe better products!" Brian suggested.
"Sorry, Brian, can't change the products, but will take up the décor idea. How about, instead of "WALLMAN'S" really big on the front of the building, we could have McROLLIN'S, for McBrian and Rollins?" Tibby asked.
"Hmm, how about McTibby's?" Brian suggested.
"I do like that one better, but what about, TB'S? Because it sounds like Tibby, but it also is Tibby and Brian's first initials combined," Tibby asked.
"Nah, it just doesn't sound right. We could use M-C-ROLLINS," Brian said.
"I want to use my first name though. I think I like TB'S the best so far."
"I like it too. It's fair, and it sounds fun to say. 'I'm going to the TB'S, be right back!'" Brian imitated.
Tibby laughed, "TB'S it is then! We have to remodel this whole store. We can put TB'S all over the place. We can have a men's and a boy's half of the store, and call it Brian's and a women's and girl's half of the store and name it Tibby's. Then the neutral stuff can go in the middle, and call it something like "THE MIDDLE" and we would decorate each part accordingly. Like my side would be, I guess, against my will, pink. Your half would be blue and the middle will be white. Then we can get all new tile, because this stuff is gross, and then we would get better lights, ooh, what about fluorescent white lights, so everybody's socks and white shirts would light up. And then we could play rock music all day long, of course softly, but nonetheless, hard rock. Brian, I feel so much in control!" Tibby said, pretty much talking to herself.
"Great ideas, but we might have to report to the financing part. We should probably hold off on the lights and tile, and finish the important stuff first. So first we have to get somebody to take down the 'WALLMAN'S' and then we have to put up 'TB'S' and we have to get paint for the whole store, each section as you put it. But before we can paint, we have to decide what stuff goes in which section, and then we have to put them there, and we have to mark where all the sections stop. We'll need a contractor, an organizer for the supply list, to separate the stock, and we'll need some kind of Construction Company to get the sign going. Just to make you think," Brian answered.
"Whatever, you can be the leader of this project. Just consult me before actually doing anything though," Tibby sighed and walked back to her office. Brian shrugged his shoulders and followed her.
Bridget:
Bridget had picked up Billy from the train station alone, and had yet to tell him about Eric.
"Bee," Billy said. "I have something to tell you."
"Oh look! We're here!" Bridget cried, knowing what he had to say. "Hey, Perry would love to see you!"
Billy nodded. "I haven't seen him in forever," he sighed.
"Sorry, he won't be here this summer," Bridget explained. Billy just sighed.
Perry's girlfriend, Lisa, who practically lived with in Bee's house, came out of the dark building. "Hey Bee! I'm Lisa, Perry's girlfriend," she said to Billy.
Billy got out of the car when it stopped and walked up to her. "Nice to meet you, I'm Billy. Sorry, I'm just disappointed Perry isn't going to be here."
"Well, he's coming back the last week of the summer, if you want to see him. Meanwhile, we're going to have so much fun!" Lisa replied.
Bee wiped the imaginary sweat off her forehead. Thank goodness Lisa was outgoing, yet still somewhat gothic. "Thank you," she muttered under her breath to Lisa. She giggled.
"Perry has probably changed since you've seen him, Billy," Lisa said. "He wears black all the time, like me, and he has lost a lot of weight!"
Bridget giggled. Her brother had worn nothing but black since they were 10, and true, he had gotten skinnier.
"So, who's this?" Billy asked Bee, acknowledging Eric.
"That's my friend Eric," Bridget replied, giving Eric a look that said, "I'll explain later."
"Oh, hey Eric. So, this house is pretty busy most of the time right?" Billy asked.
"Not really," Lisa sighed. "This house blows; it is almost always quiet when Bee is gone."
Bee laughed. She looked over Lisa. Lisa had brown/black hair, brown eyes, the leanest twig figure you had ever seen, lots of make-up, and was wearing black. Lisa was a little bit older than Bee and Perry, 20 to be exact, but she and Perry made the cutest couple together.
"Lisa, you can't give me all the credit for the noise. Remember that time you…" Bridget started. Lisa hushed her. Bee laughed again. The one time Bee was acknowledging was when Perry and Bee's dad had gone camping and Lisa threw a party at Bee's house. Then Lisa got sort of "high" and did things you would be scared of. Bee had laughed the entire time, except for the part when she got grounded because her brother and father had returned sooner than they thought.
Bee was so happy she had Lisa, and would be happier if Perry would just go ahead and ask her to marry him. In fact, some part of Bee told her that he would, someday. Even though Lisa was a bit different, she would always be there when Bee needed someone to call or ask something. Lisa and Bee were completely opposites, but somehow, it worked. When Perry came into the picture, Bee felt more complete. And then when Eric would join them, it was as if all the pieces of the puzzle fit. This was how it should be, and Bee realized that. She walked into her room without giving notice, and called Perry. He picked up his cell phone.
"Perry, you need to marry Lisa," Bee got to the point.
"What? Bee, why are you all of the sudden saying this to me?" Perry asked.
"Because there was something that made me realize that Lisa is perfect for you. She is, Perry, you have to marry her."
"Bee, this is kind of awkward. Is Lisa telling you to say this?" Perry questioned.
"No, it is my inner instinct, I think that Lisa and you make a good couple, and you have been going out for a year, just marry her already, will you?" Bee explained.
"But," Perry started to refuse, but then there was a different tone, "Bee, I can't do it until I can do it in person. Tell Lisa to expect a surprise when I come home."
"Thank you!" Bee shrieked as she hung up. Eric walked in the room.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Perry and Lisa are getting married!"
Carmen:
Carmen watched Win demolish David at the complex's courts. She laughed; David wasn't really good at any sport. They finally decided to call it quits, and Win walked over to Carmen.
"Carmen," he said, "I kind of have to tell you something. I think that us going out is not good."
Carmen's jaw dropped. "But Win, what makes you say this?" Carmen asked.
"Um, well, I've been thinking…" Win started.
"You met another girl didn't you?" Carmen accused him. He nodded. The tears started down Carmen's cheeks.
"Carmen, don't cry. It just wasn't meant to be. You know that our relationship has gone down the drain and you can't deny it. I'll move out tomorrow," Win responded.
"How long have you been seeing her?" Carmen asked.
"A week," Win answered.
Carmen burst into more tears. "Win, how could you do this to me?"
"Carmen, I'm sorry…" Win started.
"No you're not! You know that this other girl is a pretty blonde stick and I am a fat Puerto Rican!" Carmen shouted. "Just leave now, I can't wait until tomorrow!"
"Carmen, it's not like that, it's…"
"Go! I don't care what you have to say! Just leave!" Carmen shouted.
Win went into the apartment and grabbed his things. He returned a few minutes later with his bags in his hands and drove in his truck away, Carmen sat there crying the whole time. She walked into the apartment and turned on her stereo in her room. Just the song she wanted to hear:
I've been waiting all day here for you babe,
So why don't you come sit and talk to me,
Tell me how we're going to be together always,
I hope you know that when it's late at night,
I hold onto my pillow tight,
Think of how you promised me forever,
I never thought that anyone could make me feel this way,
Now that you're here, boy all I want, is just a chance to say,
Get out, right now; it's the end of you and me,
It's too late; I can't wait, for you to be gone,
And I know, about her, and I wonder, how I bought all the lies,
You said, that you, would treat me right, but you was just a waste of time.
Carmen thought about the words to the song, and she agreed. However young Jojo may be, she was still through the experience that Carmen was going through right now. Carmen realized that she had to be strong. The next verse came on:
Tell me why you're looking so confused,
When I'm the one who didn't know the truth,
How could you ever be so cold?
To go behind my back and call my friend,
Boy you must've gone and bumped your head,
Because you left her number on your phone,
So now after that is said and done,
Maybe I'm the one to blame buttttt,
To think that you could be the one,
Well it didn't work out that way,
Through the chorus, Carmen thought about what that verse meant. She noticed Win's cell phone sitting in the corner of the room. She picked it up and went through the phone book. Linda- 555-6565. Carmen cried. She cried and cried.
I wanted you right here with me,
But I have no choice; you've got to leave,
Because my heart is breaking, with every word I'm saying,
I gave up everything I had,
On something that just wouldn't last,
But I refuse to cry,
No tears will fall from these eyes,
Carmen dried her tears and thought, wow; she's tough, I have to be tough through this. The song ended and Carmen jumped on her computer. She went to iTunes and bought it, feeling a new secure part of her. She picked up Win's cell phone, and dialed Linda's number. Win answered and Carmen played the song. After the song ended, Carmen hung up and smiled, she did what she could.
I really hope you like Lena's part, it really only took me as fast as I can type to write that poem, I know it is cheesy. Her part is tense, and I think I wrote a very good cliffhanger. And just to let you know, you haven't seen the last of Kostos.
Sorry I wrote the long speaking parts at the end of Tibby's part, it was just to show you how interested Brian was and how confused Tibby was. It was hard to come up with the perfect name, so don't make fun of me. I think Tibby's perspective of owning Wallman's has changed.
For Bee's part, very exciting at the end, just a little part I can make up because nobody ever writes anything for Perry. Lisa is sort of based on a certain friend's mom's friend, but I took it a little more extreme, and made her younger. Eric will come in more, I promise.
Carmen's part was extra long, I know. I really liked Carmen's part because it is a big turning point in the story, makes her steer a different way. You just have to wait and see if you want more info. Oh yeah, Win doesn't totally disappear.
I hope you like this chapter, I have revised it many times, which means I practically memorized it. The sections are around two pages each, so it is a long chapter. Hope you like it!
Your Author: Pinkpiggy2