Previously:

What is it with the guys in my life? Either they're cruel under the nice or they're Walt and Bennet. Either way I don't think I want to date for a while. Sebastian tore a hole in my heart and it hurt because earlier that week he had told me he loved me. If I hadn't of screwed up and said I love you back earlier then maybe I wouldn't be in this mess.

Meanwhile back in Castlebury Connecticut.

Mouse P.O.V

I just knew this summer was going to be a drag without Walt and Carrie, don't get me wrong I love spending time with West but I missed my friends. Maggie was MIA and as worried about her I also knew that what she did was wrong. What she needs is space. I know she is confused about everything, with all of us going on about what we wanted to do after school I know that she is the only one out of us that hasn't said anything and I know that worries her too. I mean what happens when Carrie goes to Manhattan, I to an Ivy League school and Walt to Dartmouth like his parents want him to? Will she be the only one left here to fend for herself? I felt bad knowing this. It felt weird sitting in the diner booth on my own but over the years it became our group's safe haven, like no matter what we'd be safe here. Well I did feel safe until Sebastian walked in and headed straight for me.

After all I did to help him he still went and cheated with Maggie. Who says they love someone and then make out with their friend? Granted Carrie was pissed at him for keeping her dads date a secret but still, Carrie isn't like most people. I looked up in time to see him sitting across from me in the booth. Well that's just great. "What do you want Sebastian?" I asked giving him my usual 'I'm not in the mood' looks. He just smiled at me with his perfect teeth and then started talking, "I'm looking for Carrie. I've tried looking everywhere she hangs out and this was my last resort. Please Mouse, I need to talk to her. Mouse, I love her. I can't lose her." He looked at me and next thing I knew he was laying on his arms in defeat. "Who am I kidding Mouse, I screwed up big time, I don't know what came over me. Maggie and I were talking over a few drinks about how we screwed up with those we love and next thing I knew we were making out. We stopped as soon as we started but I still did it and I feel like a major douche. Carrie's been nothing but amazing the whole time we've dated and then I had to screw up and hide her dads secret and then it all blew up in my face all because I tried not to hurt Carrie." He was slumped in his seat.

I couldn't help but see the love he held for Carrie and how I wanted to help him even though what he did was bad. I don't have any idea why I did what I did next but, "She isn't in town for the summer Sebastian, she's in Manhattan working and doing a favour for Larissa. She took Walt with her; they've been gone for a week. She was really upset and she never even told her dad what happened. After all this she doesn't want her dad to think of you horribly. The best you can do for Carrie at this point in time is to give her space to breathe. Let her cool down before you try anything. I am warning you though mister, if you love her you will not so much as think about other girls as anything more than a friend. She loves you and she needs time to think things over, coming back and seeing you with another girl will only destroy whatever chances you ever had after what you did." I was looking at him with contempt, I knew his track record with Donna La Donna and I didn't want Carrie going through all that again.

Back in Manhattan

Carrie P.O.V

"Hello, Interview magazine. Carrie speaking, how may I help you?" I asked as I answered the phone, "No I'm sorry Larissa is out of the office at the moment and won't be back for some time, can I take a message? No okay, have a good day." It was like this most days, everyone wanted Larissa and at the moment nobody could have her. I was the closest they could get to talking to Larissa but in Manhattan the golden rule is 'close enough, not good enough' everything had to be perfect. That's the thing about big cities; nobody had time for screw ups so it was either perfect or you'd lose your head to the big bosses all over the city. Sometimes I feel like the city is pulsating with the people's fear of screwing up and upsetting their bosses. But then there are people like Larissa and Bennet who have to live the way they do because they live in their jobs, sometimes they get exhausted and then the rest of the time they live it up. They have it better then a lot of other people here in Manhattan and I was so lucky to be able to share this with them.

As soon as I put the phone back on its holster the elevator doors opened to reveal Walt and lunch. I told Nancy that I was going on my lunch break and she soon took over so I could go and join Bennet and Walt at Bennet's station for lunch. Walt had brought in a Caesar salad for me and juice as well as a water bottle for the rest of the day. Walt had taken to making sure I ate healthy. He was stuck reading only health magazines at the grocers he worked at. They were big on making sure the people of Manhattan had a place to shop that was only stocked in healthy foods and products and Walt had really taken to the idea. So much so everything we ate was healthy and the recipes we used for breakfast, lunch and dinner were from health magazines. So there we all were enjoying lunch at Bennet's desk when Nancy came up to me and said that a gentleman was waiting at the front desk for me and that he insisted that he see me. Walt and Bennet shot me a look of worry as I placed my lunch down and headed for the front desk.

Who do you think is at the front desk? Could it be Sebastian or George? Maybe it's Carrie's dad with news. Stay tuned to find out.

2