That night, after her walk with Paul, Lena had come home to find Carmen and Seth sitting together in the lounge in complete silence. She had thought it strange because Carmen usually hated long silences, unless she was doing it on purpose to intimidate someone. Lena had given Carmen a look, which asked if she was okay. Carmen had smiled and nodded. Tibby, Lena, Carmen and Bee all had a way of knowing what the other was thinking, just from the looks they gave, it was nice not having to explain everything. Sometimes you just needed people to just know how you're feeling, and leave it at that.

After Lydia had made coffee for everyone and made sure all her guests were comfortable, her and Al went upstairs to bed. Paul quickly said goodnight and went upstairs, avoiding any kind of confrontation with Seth. Lena watched him go, and for a split second, she forgot about Kostos.

Carmen gave an exaggerated yawn 'Come on Lenny, I'm exhausted'

Lena smiled at Carmen's dramatics, said goodnight to Seth and the two girls walked upstairs together with arms linked.

'Tell me all!' Carmen demanded, throwing herself on her bed, as soon as the bedroom door was shut. 'I have been dying in suspense here Lenny'

Lena bit her lip. She desperately wanted to tell Carmen everything that had happened between her and Paul, she wanted Carmen to know about Seth and what he had been through. But she didn't want to betray Paul's confidence.

'Well?'

Lena looked up from her thoughts to see Carmen watching her impatiently.

'Carma…I don't know, it doesn't feel right'

'What doesn't feel right?' Carmen demanded

Lena swallowed 'Repeating what Paul said, it's kinda of…sensitive, some of the stuff he told me about Seth….' She trailed off at the hurt look on Carmen's face.

Carmen avoided her eyes 'So he tells you but doesn't want me to know..I'm his..sister'

'Stepsister' Lena corrected without thinking, and regretted it when she saw Carmen's face. She had definitely offended her friend.

'You're right' said Carmen hotly 'Girlfriend defiantly has precedence over 'step'-sister'

'Carma, that's not what I meant…I just..'

'You just what?'

Lena shrugged. She didn't know what to say. Either way she was doing Carmen or Paul wrong.

Lena looked at Carmen, she knew how her friend must feel. But she just couldn't bring herself to repeat everything, she felt it would somehow give the evening her and Paul just shared a taint.

Carmen just nodded, turned out her light and faced away from Lena. They both lay there in the dark, Lena was sure that Carmen couldn't sleep either. She felt guilty, although she knew she had no reason to. She also felt slightly resentful towards Carmen for making her feel bad about Paul telling Lena about Seth, and not Carmen. It was Paul's decision. And yet, Lena knew how Carmen felt about being left out. First it was her Dad, when he married Lydia, then it was her Mom when she got involved with David, and now Carmen probably thought Lena was stealing Paul away from her too.

'Carebear….' Lena whispered into the darkness. She hadn't called Carmen that for a very long time. She heard Carmen rolling around in her bed to face Lena in the darkness.

'I'm sorry Lenny' Carmen whispered back.

Lena smiled to herself in relief. She hated fighting with people, sometimes she would even apologise when it wasn't her fault, just to keep the peace.

'It's okay' Said Lena 'I'm sorry too' and she really was.

' You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to Len, It's just hard to have all this stuff going on around me and have no idea what any of it's about. I'm worried about Paul…and Seth I guess, although I barely know him' Carmen said with a slight trance of humour in her voice when she mentioned 'barely knowing' Seth. The way those two had a lack of conversation going Lena guessed that all Carmen knew about Seth was his name.

Lena sighed. Carmen had a right to know. She was sure she could satisfy some of Carmen's curiosities without betraying Paul.

'Seth's had a rough time you know, his family…well dysfunctional doesn't really describe it. Paul's been the only person he could trust for a long time.'

'Lena. It's okay, really, you don't have to tell me anymore' Carmen said, and Lena knew her friend was genuine.

'Thanks Carma.' Said Lena 'But you know I'm still in the dark about what Seth's 'done' too. Paul didn't mention it and I didn't bring it up, but from the way Paul's been acting around Seth, I'm worried that it's a problem he cant help Seth with this time. I'm worried that Seth might drag Paul into his problems'

There was silence while both girls thought about the implications of this statement. What could Seth have done that was so bad Paul couldn't help?

Hours later Lena lay awake, staring at the ceiling. She could tell by Carmen's even breathing that her friend was asleep. Lena was thinking about Paul. She cared about him a lot. She didn't love him, she repeatedly told herself that over and over. She refused to love again. But she did have feelings for Paul, she couldn't deny that. It was more than friendship, it was a closeness she couldn't describe. She had felt physically close to Kostos, but she felt emotionally close to Paul.

Impulsively Lena got out of bed and crept down the hall to Paul's room. His light was off but the full moon shone in through his window and Lena stood by his bed for a moment just watching him sleep.

His eyes fluttered open, he hadn't been asleep after all. Paul smiled up at her, 'Hey, cant sleep either?" he whispered.

Lena shook her head and Paul pulled back the covers and moved over to make room for her. She got in and rested her head on Paul's chest. She felt his head rested softly on top of hers and his arm firmly wrapped around her back and smiled. Lena felt safe in that moment. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

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