"I just – I never.... listened to you."

"You didn't. You didn't."

"An'... I shoulda... cause you were right...."

"Yeah. Yeah, I was." Via nodded in agreement as best as her position (lying on her back with her head hanging off the edge of the bed) could allow.

Tia shook her head. "I'm– I'm sorry."

Via slowly picked up her head. "What for?"

"I dunno. Everything?"

"You don't have to apologize..." She slowly grunted as she managed to pull herself up to a sitting position.

"No, I do! 'Cause you– you're a ... a good person, Via. You really are. Really. And I..." She sighed. "I'm sorry for being such a–... such a huge bitch to you."

Via reached out and patted Tia's leg, as if to say 'It's okay.' After a brief silence, she looked up and realized Tia was crying. "Oh, no, Tia, please don't..."

"Y-You're such a good friend!" she spluttered. "I'm sorry!"

Via frowned as she watched Tia hide her face, then slowly moved over beside her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Tia, really... it's okay..."

Tia stayed uncharacteristically silent as Via sat beside her. Via fidgeted slightly from the quiet.

"How'd you get so smart?" Tia asked after a brief pause.

She let out a small laugh. "I don't know, Tia..."

Another pause. Tia looked down at her right shoulder and saw Via's arm still around her. "You're...."

"Hmm?"

"You're actually... trying to make me feel better..."

Via paused for a moment to concentrate her foggy mind on that thought. "I suppose I am..."

"You.... never would have done that before..." she noted with a smile. Via shrugged. "What changed?"

Via looked to her other side and frowned as she considered the question. After a pause, she turned back to Tia and opened her mouth, then shut it again and shook her head.

Tia blinked a few times in confusion and pursed her lips.

"You're alright, Carp," Via said, chuckling as she looked over at her. "Do you really need an explanation?"

She sighed and shook her head. "I guess—" She blinked as a hiccup escaped her throat. "Guess not..."

"That's more like it…"

- - -

Owen rubbed the back of his head as he slapped his passport against his open hand.

"We missed you at the hotel last night, Owen," Tia said. With a smirk in Via's direction, she added, "Well, I dunno if we missed you, but you weren't there."

"Oh, ha ha."

"What were you doing?"

"I don't think that's the right question," Via muttered.

"Now what kind of person do you think I am?" Owen asked, going on the defensive.

"I know what kind of person you are. I want to find out if you know what kind of person you are."

"I'm sure it wasn't what you thought it was."

"Oh really. You'd think you'd know yourself better than I do, wouldn't you. Tell me, Owen, what was her name?"

"Wh- I- there—"

"Just as I suspected."

"Who said anything about there being a girl?"

Via pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow. "...his?"

"Wh-- no!!"

"Exactly. Just as I thought."

Owen sighed and shook his head. "Un. Believable."

Via smirked to herself before slowly growing aware of a set of eyes resting on her. She looked over at Keely. "Bee in your bonnet?"

"It's just.... I mean after we get back, you're gonna be moving away so soon...."

Via sighed and bit her lip. "Look, I know you're upset about that, but.... I mean, surely you realized that was a possibility when I told you about my family...."

"Well--..." Keely scratched at her nose and shut her eyes. "I mean, yeah, but.... it doesn't make it any easier, Via!"

"It's not like you'll never hear from me again, either..."

Keely opened her mouth, then shrugged and conceded the point.

"I didn't expect you to take this quite so hard, Keely. It's kind of surprising, really..."

"Well I'm sorry if I don't like it when one of my best friends moves away."

"Well, it's almost as if you're taking it harder than– ...mmmnnnnnnnnever mind."

"Well," Tia interjected, "we'll all miss Via though, Keely."

"Just cause I'm moving doesn't mean you have to mope around for the rest of the time I'm going to be in the States. Save that for after I'm gone."

Keely smirked and glanced up at Via. "Yeah.... I guess you're right..."

"Naturally." Via glanced over at a spaced-out-looking Seth. "Is anyone in there?"

"Huh?" he asked.

"Just making sure you were still alive. What do you say?"

"Say to.... what?"

Via shrugged. "Anything. Like we were just talking about—"

"Oh, right. Uh... I dunno. I guess just if something won't last doesn't mean it has to suck. You only live once, right?"

Keely slowly nodded as she let the words sink in. "That's pretty profound, actually. I think—"

"I'm hungry," Phil muttered. Keely pursed her lips together as she and the others looked over at him. "What? I am!"

"I could eat," Owen said, scratching his jaw. Seth nodded in agreement.

"But—" Keely protested.

"I'm glad someone else said something," Tia piped up. "I haven't had anything since last night."

"Yeah that café back there smelled quite good," Via mentioned, glancing over her shoulder.

"I was just—"

"Well. We've got some time," Phil said, consulting his watch. "Y'comin', Keely? I think they've got pumpkin scones...."

"I was just-- pumpkin...scones...." Keely trailed off as she forgot what she was talking about. "Yeah..... yeah okay. I'm in!"

"Don't worry, Keely," Via said to her as they made their way to the café. "It'll all be alright."

"Alright? Via, have you ever had pumpkin scones?"

Via stared at Keely for a second before laughing to herself. "You're right," she concurred, grinning and nodding. "It'll be brilliant."