AN: Please review, I love to know what people think of my stories.

Chapter Four - The Fight

Jane returned to the apartment with me, much to Tibby's dislike. But I didn't feel ready to tell them why Jane's wellbeing was so important to me. The evening after we returned, I was ambushed whilst brushing my teeth; Carmen, Lena and Tibby dragged me into Tibby's room.

"What is going on?" I gasped, a frothy toothbrush still in my mouth.

"We need to talk." Tibby stated. I glared at her, sensing her frosty tone.

"She's going through a rough time and I didn't want her to be alone." I told them, knowing the subject of conversation.

"That's okay, we respect that." Carmen assured me, but I could tell the mood had changed for everyone.

"We love that you're being a friend to her in the way that we'd love it if you were doing it for us." Lena smiled.

"But…?"

"But…" Tibby began. "This was supposed to be a time for the four of us, not the four of us plus Brunette Barbie girl."

"Tibby!" Carmen and Lena warned, normally I would have laughed at Tibby's blunt remark.

"Jane needs me right now, I am the only person she knows who has lost a parent. I…she just needs me, okay?"

I knew my tone was different, harsh, forceful maybe. The three girls nodded and I knew they finally understood what I was trying to say, even though they didn't know the full story.

-

"You took a while." Jane noted when I climbed into the bed beside her.

"I was ambushed by my very best friends." I laughed, sarcastically. "They're a little upset that it's not the four of us like we'd talked about."

"What did you say?"

"I told them I needed to be here for you and that I was the only person to know what you're going through losing a parent."

Jane's expression turned to a frown and I knew what was coming.

"You didn't tell them about us then?" I shook my head. "If you'd told them, they would understand and you wouldn't have to keep explaining to them that you're being a 'friend'."

I could feel the pain in Jane's voice and I wanted to make her feel better, so I reached over and kissed her softly on the lips. But she was too angry, she pulled away and climbed out of the bed.

"I can't do this Bridge."

"I'm not ready." I snapped, reacting to her hostility.

"You are ready, you told me last month that you were ready." she said, louder than I would have liked.

"It's a lot easier saying that and then standing in front of your three best friends to tell them something so huge."

"It's not huge, it's just part of you." Jane shouted. "I have got too much on my mind right now to be worrying about who knows."

"I can't do it Jane." I shouted back. I was mad, I was angrier than mad. I couldn't believe she was pushing me to tell the girls. I didn't have the energy to fight about it, so I climbed out of the bed and walked to the door.

"I'm going to sleep on the sofa tonight."

-

I woke up to the sound of the water running in the kitchen, I tossed my blanket aside and stood up, scaring the person into jumping and screaming.

"You stay away from me, you want to steal our stuff, then you'll have to go through me!"

I laughed at the sound of Tibby's fighting talk and turned on the lamp.

"Bee?"

"Sorry if I scared you. I promise I won't steal your captain crunch again." I assured her.

"What are doing in here?" she asked, noticing the blankets.

"Jane and I got into a fight and I decided to sleep out here." I mumbled, unsure how Tibby would take the news. She surprised me and guided me back to the sofa where we sat side by side.

"You're pretty good friends with her then?" I nodded.

I wasn't sure whether to say anything, but I risked it anyway. "If I didn't have you three, she'd be my best friend."

"I'm sorry for being a jerk." Tibby smiled.

"I'm sorry for ruining our plans."

"I'm sorry for making you feel bad for ruining our plans."

"I'm sorry for making you feel bad for making me feel bad for ruining our plans." I informed her, before doubling over in laughter. We shared a smile and a hug and I knew things would be okay.

"I guess I should get back to sleep." I told her, rearranging the cushions.

"This sofa is so lumpy, come share with me. I promise not to hog the sheets." Tibby offered.

I smiled. "You'd better not, or I really will steal your captain crunch."

AN: Don't worry, the sleeping in Tibby's bed is perfectly innocent!