Alice sighed. “I was out shopping a week or so ago when I over heard some people talking. About how the biggest player was now off the scene completely, I thought they were on about this girl Papi so I didn’t really listen until I heard Shane’s name.”

“So she is dating someone?” Carmen felt like her heart had stopped.

“I don’t know. I carried on following them. I felt like a stalker” Alice laughed nervously. “I found out that Shane was living about forty minutes outside of LA. So I drove over there with Helena, and sure enough there she was.”

“So you spoke to her?”

“No, but Helena did for a few minutes.”

“Why didn’t you?”

Alice stood up and began walking around her front room. “I just froze. I mean there she was after all this time, and she never picked up the phone. She still hasn’t.”

“Alice, she is probably scared of your reaction.”

“My reaction? Why?”

“And she has probably missed you and does not know how to take the first step”

“First step?”

“Alice for someone who is a journalist you can be pretty dumb sometimes.”

Alice stopped her pacing. “Hey I resent that!”

Carmen laughed despite the situation. “To make amends Alice.”
“But it should not be me she talks to first, it should be you.”

Carmen sighed, frowning “Look Alice. Being over here has opened my eyes about something. I am still hurting, do not get me wrong and I still love her. I really do love her, but she left me and I have to start moving on with my life. I started talking to this woman, and everything just spilled out. I told her everything, about the first time me and Shane laid eyes upon each other to that day. And you know what she told me?” Carmen was met by silence. “She told me that things happen in life for a reason; that we cannot stop these things even if we tried.”

“Carmen”

“We have to forgive Alice. We will never forget but we have to forgive. In time the ache in our hearts will decrease until we can start living our lives to the full again”.

“Wow. So have you?”

“Have I what?”

“Forgiven Shane?”

“Not completely. I mean I understand why Gabriel made an impact but I still do not fully understand why she could not come to me and talk. Why she just ran away. In time I will I think? But right now I’m just concentrating on my music.”

Alice knew she had to change the topic of conversation. “Well Miss DJ! I was reading through a magazine and what did I come across? An article on the one and only Carmen”

“Really?” Carmen asked

“Yep, it was a review on new clubs nationwide and the club you DJ at was being written up. There was a nice long paragraph on you. I will send it to you”.

“Oh Wow! That is amazing.”

“Yep it is. Anyways don’t you have a gig tonight?”

“Yeah I have to go in about an hour or so, got a meeting before hand”

“Well I will let you get ready, go knock them dead.”

“I will and I miss you.”

“Same here keep in touch”

“Of course.” She was about to put the phone down when she thought of something. “Hey Al?”

“Yeah?”

“Go talk to her.” and with that Carmen put the phone down.

“Go talk to who?” Alice asked but was met with a dial tone. Alice shook her head and went to put it back, knowing full well who Carmen meant. The problem was, Alice did not know how to.