AN/ Thanks for the Reviews. Love your comments guys!

Carmen sat slumped on the couch with an ice pack on her head. Every so often Seth would shoot her amused looks, but she avoided his gaze, embarrassed at having been caught eavesdropping.

Paul had been gone over an hour now. Lena was pacing around the room, twisting her fingers nervously. After Paul had left Seth had chucked Carmen an icepack from the freezer and come out and sat down with them in the lounge, without a word. He looked slightly harassed and hurt at Paul's reaction to whatever he had been confiding in him about. Carmen hadn't been game enough to straight out ask him what was going on, and Seth hadn't offered any explanation.

It was taking all of her control not to ask anything, although she was dying in suspense. Just as she was about to open her mouth and give in to temptation the front door swung open and Krista ran in. Carmen, Lena and Seth all turned around to look at her, and when she saw Seth a little squeal escaped her mouth.

'Seth' yelled in an overjoyed voice. Seth stood up smiling and Krista threw herself into his arms

'Where have you been' she said in an exaggerated voice which made Carmen cringe, although she almost laughed when she noticed Lena's face, which she knew was a mirror of her own.

'Hey Krista' Seth chuckled, gently breaking their embrace and inspecting her from arms length. 'You look well, wow you've grown so much'

Krista giggled and pushed his arm tentatively 'Well I'm not a little girl anymore, Seth'

Carmen thought she was about to hurl at Krista's bluntly obviously, pathetic display of affection and forwardness. However Seth just seemed amused.

Suddenly Krista stopped as if remembering something, she looked all around the room before looking back at Seth. 'Is Rachel here? Did she come with you?'

Carmen wondered who this Rachel was, maybe she was Seth's girlfriend and Krista had just realised that she was blatantly coming on to someone else's man. No, Carmen decided that couldn't be it, she hadn't sensed the 'girlfriend' vibe from Seth. She frowned, wondering who this girl was. When Seth answered, she realised he had snuck a glance at Carmen's expression before turning back to Krista 'No, Rachel-my sister' this was obviously for Carmen's benefit '-couldn't make it this time'

'Oh, and I haven't seen her in sooo long, how is she?' Krista asked

Carmen saw Seth swallow hard before answering 'She's not a little girl anymore either'

Krista seemed to accept this cryptic answer, although Carmen never would have. She assumed that her stepsister was used to Seth's mysteriousness, or maybe she just didn't have the substance to question his uninformative answer.

'Have you seen Paul? He will be pleased to see you' Krista asked Seth

Obviously Seth didn't want Krista to know what had happened ' Yeah, I saw him before, but he's just gone out for awhile, we'll have to catch up more when he gets back.' Seth glanced at Carmen and Lena, as if begging them not to say anything about the argument. However Krista followed Seth's gaze and noticed Carmen's ice pack.

'Oh Carmen, what happened to your head' She asked. The concern in her voice made Carmen feel guilty for all the things she had just been thinking about Krista.

'Um' Carmen didn't know what to say and everyone looked at her expectantly. What could she say? She would have to make up a story, Krista was waiting 'A door walked into me' She rushed out, a few seconds passed before she realised what she'd said. Lena burst into hysterical laughter. Seth bit his lip to stop from laughing. Krista looked even more concerned.

'Oh, getting your words mixed up is a sign of possible concussion Carmen, are you feeling dizzy or sleepy at all' Krista asked walking over to look at Carmen's lumpy forehead.

Carmen shrugged, not liking being babied by the younger girl. She leant away, unnoticed by Krista, who shifted closer. She forced a smile 'I'm fine Krista, really, I'll just have to be more careful'

'Yeah, you really have to watch out for those doors, they never look where they're going' Seth said, shaking his head in mock seriousness.

Carmen was annoyed that he was making fun of her, especially when she had been trying to cover for him. Despite not having any idea what she was covering.

After making sure Carmen really was okay Krista turned her grip back to Seth.

'So Seth, are you here to visit your Dad?'