The sounds of the crowds faded out; suddenly it was just the two of them in the room. Nothing else mattered.

Fuck. Say something, go over to her. Wait. Would she want that? What if she hates you? But, God, just do SOMETHING!

After what felt like an eternity Carmen looked down at the floor and held back the tears. She shook her head, then turned and hurriedly left through the main doors.

Shane stared at the place she was standing. She couldn't move, as If someone had bound her hands and feet, keeping her on the chair.

"What the fuck Shane?" Alice nudged her elbow, jolting her back into the studio, the room filled with people and the sound of constant chatter.

"You're just gonna let her walk out?!"

"But. The show?"

Alice raised her eyebrows,

"Are you kidding me?! If you're still on this damn set in 10 seconds, I swear I'm gonna have to kick your fucking ass out the door myself."

Shane looked at Alice taken aback then started to smile,

"Don't just sit there smiling! Fuckin go!"

She's right.

Shane jumped up out of her seat and was running out the door, she turned back and shouted,

"Thankyou!"

"Yeah… you owe me one." Alice muttered as she sat back down in her seat and smiled.

Shane burst through the doors and found herself out on the street where Alice's mini was parked.

"Carmen?" She called out hoping she would hear her soft voice answer her call.

She ran out onto the pavement and looked around frantically; she looked up and down the street hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Nothing.

"Damnit!" She screamed and her anger out on the wall. She slumped down and put her head in her now bleeding hands.

You stupid fuck! You let her go! You let her get away!

She felt something rush through her veins, she suddenly felt awake, something inside her head had sparked and she wanted it, no- she needed it. She didn't know if it was anger, or passion, or love. But who cares?

All she knew was that she wanted to be with her, she wanted to feel her skin against hers; she wanted to feel her lips against hers, feel her breath on her cheek, and hear her voice in her ear.

She didn't want to back alone to her empty apartment, to spend another night on her damn couch. She didn't want someone else in their bed anymore, she didn't want anyone else, but her.

God. My head is killing me-

"You're a fucking idiot you know that?"

Shane looked up and saw Carmen leaning against the wall next to her. She scrambled to her feet, and was taken aback at how beautiful she was. She hadn't changed a bit.

All her anger had suddenly gone, her hands didn't hurt anymore, and the she had already forgotten about the headache she felt a second ago.

Carmen grabbed Shane's hands, pulled at her sleeve and used it to wipe off the blood dribbling down from her knuckles. Shane was surprised at how calm and composed Carmen was, and then realized she hadn't said a single word to her yet.

"…Carmen, I-"

After she had wiped up the blood, Carmen let go of her hands and now stood there with her arms folded.

"You what Shane? Hm?"

"I'm sorry."

Carmen scoffed, unimpressed.

"Wow. Gee, you're sorry? Oh God, okay, you know what. I suddenly feel better. I could go fucking skipping in the park, now I know that you're sorry."

Shane had so much to say to her, but didn't know where to start,

Tell her you love her, tell her that you made a mistake.
No, no, wait, she'll definitely slap you for that.

"I, I don't know what to say"

A car pulled up alongside and beeped its horn twice. Carmen must've called her cousins to pick her up.

"Then don't say a damn thing Shane" Carmen turned to walk to the car,

"No, wait!" Shane grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face her.

Either she slaps you or you never see her again.

"Please don't leave. I want to talk," Carmen was about to protest, but Shane interrupted her,
"I know I fucked us up, and I know you and your family probably hate me. And I don't blame you, I even hate myself for doing what I did to you." she hesitated,

Don't run away again.

"But, damnit, I miss you so fucking much." Shane was shaking with nerves as she bit her lip and waited for a response. Carmen looked at her sympathetically and tried to ignore her puppy dog pout.

Control yourself Carmen. She broke your heart..

"Shane, don't-"

"No, let me finish. I ran away because I was scared of you. Y-you make me feel…weak. Whenever I look at you, I fall in love all over again. You are the only person who can make my heart beat faster and slower at the same time, and, when you're not there, I don't feel it. I don't feel anything, and I need that feeling, and I, I can't live without it Carmen,"

Tears started running down Carmen's face and she looked down to the floor, Shane brought her hand up and gently wiped them away, and looked in her eyes,

"…I-, I can't live without you."

Carmen looked at her with wide eyes

Damnit Shane…

The car door opened and a man stepped out,

"Carmen is she bothering you?" he said threateningly over the loud noise of noon traffic.

Carmen snapped out of it and pulled Shane's hands down from her face, and more tears ran down the side of her face.

"Shane, I can't, it-it's too hard," She turned and walked towards the car.

Shane went to go after her, but she was stopped by the man, who she immediately recognized.

"She doesn't want to talk to you man, so leave, NOW." Luis spat out, and although he was only the same height as her he managed to look down at her, as if she was no better than dirt on the bottom of his shoe.

"No, look wait. Luis let me just-", Shane was stopped abruptly by his fist, she spun round, her face suddenly stung, and she heard Carmen shout at her cousin in Spanish,

"Loco joda! Qué el infierno hace usted?"

"What! She's deserves it. Carmen how can you like this piece of shit! After what she did to you!"

Shane stood up and thought about retaliating, but then she figured they evidently hated her enough as it is.

Don't hit him back…don't hit him back…

"Hey. Don't talk to her like tha-"

SMACK.

Another hit. Shane spat out blood.

"Don't tell me how to talk to her bitch"

Okay.

Hit him back.

Shane swung her fist and him and hit his jaw, and with a loud crunch he spun back through with the punch.

FUCK. Son of a –

Shane turned round and cradled her hand, which had started bleeding again.

"Luis leave it! Let's go! Nosotros vaya!" Carmen's cousin called from the driver's seat. Luis didn't listen. He was up on his face and about to kick Shane down from the back, when Carmen grabbed his arm.

"Enough!" She shouted, but he ignored her and pushed her back off him.

Too hard.

Shane turned around and saw Carmen fall back and trip into the road.

Carmen looked up, her vision was blurred, and all she could her was the traffic noise, that and brakes screeching. She looked up and gasped as her eyes focused and saw the blur of a red SUV skidding her way at 40mph. She was paralyzed with fear.

In her mind, everything went silent.

She looked at the driver who was holding onto the wheel desperately trying to steer it away from her direction. She held her breath and closed her eyes.

Shane pushed Luis and out of the way and ran towards the road, the screeching of the SUV made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up on end.

Don't think.

"Carmen, move!" Shane ran towards her, pulled her up and shoved her out of the way. She turned around and didn't even have enough time to think. It had already gone black.

Carmen fell onto the pavement and behind her heard a loud crash as the screeching finished. Followed by what sounded like a body hitting the floor.