Disclaimer: I don't own South

AN: So I'm so sorry for the wait guys! I hope I still have some readers. :/ Anyway here's an update, kinda short and a flashback - I know slightly disappointing. But I'm working on the next right this second :) So I hopefully will have that up much sooner than I posted this chapter. Also, for flashbacks, I'll also add in when they occur, just like I do the "previously" with the realtime chapters. Hopefully that will end some confusion. This is a continuation of a previous flashback jsyk.

Chapter 28

That day at the beach before 10th grade:

After the kiss on the beach, Carmen and I decided to hang out some more. She had been completely normal about everything and didn't even bring up my confusion again; most likely knowing that if I had to talk to her again I would open up in due time. It was getting late in the afternoon, the sun was setting and the smell of dusk and salt filled my nose as we left the beach. We walked along the pier, the lights of the stores and booths glowing in the distance. People were crowding around game booths as they opened to play a ring toss or a dart game.

The scent of junk food laced with sugar and stale cigarette smoke from people off to the side filled the air as we walked along. We decided to get a frozen yogurt and sat on a bench watching the people in shorts walk by carefree and happy. The waves were behind us, crashing lightly as we sat and ate our frozen yogurt and people watched. Carmen was being unusually quiet which usually meant she had something on her mind. I licked at my vanilla cone and looked up the pier.

"So Spence, I've been thinking," Carmen said drawing my attention, "You've said you had crushes on girls?" I nodded, I had a feeling I knew where she was going with this thought, "So like, who?"

I blushed and not lightly. It was a slow blush that warmed my neck up to my ears and I could feel it hotly cover my face.

"No one," I mumbled.

"Aww come on Spence!" she said nudging me and I vigorously shook my head. She poked me in my side causing me to jump.

"No," I said but I could feel any resistance weakening. After everything that I had just told Carmen today it seemed like the fact that I was crushing on my best friend would be the next logical thing to tell her. But I was embarrassed, what if she told Ashley or Madison? I just, didn't want that out yet. I don't know how I would react or what I would do.

She looked at me apathetically, almost as if she knew at any moment I would give into her non emotion. I sighed and she smiled.

"Ashley. Okay?" I asked forcing my words out in a rush.

"I knew it," she said simply before going back to her ice cream. I stared at her incredulously before saying, "If you knew, why did I have to tell you?"

"I wanted to hear you say it," she said shrugging, "It's different that way."

"How so?" I asked. I didn't see any difference, either way you know, right?

"By you telling me, it means you're ready to share that part of you with people, not everyone of course, and I'm not forcing you into a confession and it also means you trust me enough to talk to me," she said for once being dead serious. I could feel the shift in the mood in the air around us, amidst the bustling crowds of people walking up and down the pier, the sound of the gulls and waves in the background and the smell of oil, sugar and smoke; something changed. Carmen had become the person I could count on for any and everything without any worry of judgment.

Carmen just shrugged nonchalantly and licked her chocolate cone as I watched her with a smile tugging on my lips thinking about what she had just said.

"Thanks," I said after a few moments. She nodded back at me and smiled. We let the silence soak in for a moment just sitting there.

"Well this is serious," she commented dryly after finishing off her cone, leave it to Carmen to turn such a serious conversation into a sarcastic joke. We both laughed and stood up. Before I could walk off though she quickly pulled me into a hug. I was shocked for a minute at the sudden warmness and comfort thrown at me. Carmen wasn't one to usually show emotion so I knew this was her way of showing me that she was okay with everything. I accepted the hug graciously while it lasted.

We broke apart and she said, "Well that's enough emotion for one day." And I couldn't help but laugh at typical Carmen.

"Shut up, let's go" I said grabbing her arm and pulling her down the pier.

"Come on Carlin, I'll beat your ass at the ring toss!" she said rushing ahead of me.

"You're on!" I shouted laughing and following her.