Chapter Four:
Not Yet

Luca's career was growing and not the waitressing one, either.

"They love this stuff," Luca said as Natalee leafed through one of her many notebooks filled with songs. "This Greg stuff. The producer is in love with it."

"I can see why, they're the most passionate songs you've written," Natalee said reading one.

Some of the songs were about liking him, some about hating him, but they all had one something in common: Greg.

"I love it," Natalee said, smiling. "They're amazing, seriously."

Luca never took criticism from friends too seriously; she felt as if they were just saying her writing was good as to not hurt her feelings. But these were different, she loved every single one.

Luca was innocently sitting in her pajamas on the couch eating a bowl of Life cereal and watching a news show.

"Luca!" Natalee bum-rushed into the living room. "It's been one month to the day."

Luca looked at her, mid-chew. "What?"

"Las Vegas."

Luca looked back at the TV, disinterested.

"And I had a dream," Natalee announced.

Natalee's had many dreams, none of them meant much to Luca, but she loved to share them anyway. "I think the problem with your car--it was a sign!"

Luca rolled her eyes and turned up the television to drown her out.

"Seriously," Natalee shouted.

Luca was over Greg, she had her eye on the new guy in 2B, of course she had to write two notebooks full of songs to completely get over him.

"We need to go back," Natalee said.

"No."

"Do you seriously think it was coincidence?"

"What?"

"Your car breaking down right outside of Vegas."

Luca thought for a while, not sure what she thought. "Yes."

"Yes you'll go back?"

"No. Yes, I think it's a coincidence." She got up and put her bowl in the sink. "I am over Greg." It was the first time Luca said it out loud and it felt good. She thought.

Greg picked the phone up. Today was the day, he promised himself he would call. He fell asleep on the couch, phone in hand instead. He jumped up when it rang.

"Man, we're going out," Nick said. "You coming?"

He needed a drink. "Yeah."

"Meet us at the bar."

"Okay," Greg said. He knew exactly what bar Nick was talking about, a less than classy place they met up with Warrick at every so often. He got in the car and drove to the other side of town willingly, had three or four shots willingly, had the beers willingly, and in the end, he dialed her number willingly. But intoxicated.

"Hello?"

"Hi, this is--"

"Greg, who are you dialing?" Nick grabbed the phone from Greg. "Greg's drunk, sorry about that."

Greg tried to take the phone away from Nick but to no avail. He finally gave up and let Nick have the phone.

"I love you," he shouted.

"Oh, he says he loves you," Nick said into the phone. "Bye, Mrs. Sanders."

Natalee looked at Luca, on the floor. "Who's on my phone?" she slurred. When Natalee didn't answer, she shouted it again.

"Shut up, Lu," Natalee sighed. This was too much for her to handle. She knew Luca wasn't over Greg and she knew 2B was gay, and now she knew Greg liked Luca back. At least when he was wasted.

Now Greg had no choice. He needed to call, at least to apologize. It took a good twenty minutes to dial.

It rang three times. He hoped she wouldn't answer.

"Hello?" No answer. He couldn't speak. "Hello?"

"Luca?" He choked out.

"Who is this?"

"Greg."

Now she didn't answer.

"I just wanted to apologize for last night, but it was the truth."

She still didn't answer; she didn't know what happened.

"I'm sorry I bothered you again."

Luca couldn't wait until after three for an explanation, she took three buses to the school that Natalee worked at.

Nat looked shocked as she saw Luca waving frantically outside her classroom door. She let her in, thank God her afternoon class hadn't arrived yet.

"What happened last night?"

Natalee looked at Luca. "Well…Winslow's gay."

"Winslow?"

"2B."

Luca shook her head. "With Greg, I mean."

Natalee looked at her with fake confusion. "What do you mean?"

Luca walked out, dissatisfied. Something obviously happened.

Natalee walked out and grabbed her shoulder. "Look, I can't lie to you. Something happened."

"Well, what?"

"You need to talk to him about that," Natalee said.

Luca shook her head. "I can't do that. You know that. I--I just can't talk to him. He'll know."

"Know what?"

"I'm not over him yet."