————–

Jenny’s car was still there? Carmen looked closely with concern, seeing that Jenny’s books and bag were thrown all over the driver side of the car.

“Oh god! Jenny…”


——————-



Carmen ran around the car hoping to find Jenny there and true enough, there she was at the far end. Jenny sat crossed leg on the floor, her swollen eyes staring into space, she had by now stop crying, not because she calmed down, but because there were no more tears, she was so numbed inside. It was almost as if her heart went into a stand still as well. She couldn’t even remember why she was sitting in the driveway.

“Jenny, Jenny… Are you okay?” Carmen kneeled beside Jenny, the blank look that Jenny had was freaking her out. SHe cautiously placed a hand on Jenny’s shoulder, terrified that she would cause Jenny to evaporate. It shouldn’t be like that. Carmen cried in her head. All the while she thought that Jenny was strong, but Jenny was the one hurting the most, and Carmen was the cause of it all. Carmen disregarded any feelings that Jenny had and automatically assumed that Jenny was fine. She even said those cruel things to her. God! what had she done? Carmen let out a “stupid…” under her breathe, turning her head away from Jenny.

As if the sound jolted Jenny back from her daze, she suddenly turned and face Carmen, the blank look still in place. Carmen studied Jenny’s expressions for signs of distress, but Jenny couldn’t be read. Jenny stared into Carmen’s eyes for a moment before letting out a weak squeal. “Carmen!” She said pleasantly, as if seeing Carmen for the first time that day. Carmen didn’t know how to react and so she just remained there confused.

“Carmen?” Jenny’s tone turned into an inquisitive one, not registering the concern look that Carmen was giving her. Carmen snapped out of her shock and cupped Jenny’s cheeks with her hands.

“Are you okay, Jenny?”

Smart Carmen, real smart. Of cause she wasn’t okay, what do you think, what a stupid question! Carmen scolded herself silently, but, what else could she say?

“I’m fine, seriously…” Jenny looked a mess, but she was still smiling.

“Here, let me help you into the house, you need to get some rest.” Carmen reached out and held her.

“Rest? Hmm… okay, rest would be nice.” Obviously, Jenny still do not have any diea what was going on, but she felt weak and what Carmen was suggesting sounds like a grand idea.

But as soon as they both stood up, black filled up Jenny’s eyes and she fell back onto the floor. Carmen was stunned at this turn of events, but she wasn’t strong enough to hold the weight of Jenny, so they tumbled onto the driveway together.

“Jenny!” Carmen called out in vain, she was at a lost, not knowing what to do. She looked around frantically for signs of help and suddenly remembered Shane in the house. Carmen ran as fast as she could into the house, screaming Shane’s name and a whole string of words at the top of her voice.

————-

Shane was nearly asleep, tired from all the crying and emotional turmoil, on her way to the serenity of sleep, she barely made out Carmen calling her name, pulling her back to reality. Her first reaction was to groan and turn her head the other way and ignore the woman that put her in this state. But as the words came nearer, she registered the frenzy and the desperation. She tried to make out what Carmen was saying, before deciding whether or not to open the door. God knows if it was a trap.

“Shane! Jenny… fainted… help…” Carmen called out in between frantic breathes and pounded on the door as she reached Shane’s room. Her heart was beating really fast and she rested her head on the door for a second, hands continuing to pounding on it. Suddenly, the door flung open, throwing Carmen off balance and causing her to fall foward.

Shane caught Carmen just in time, and for that one pause, both of them forgot everything else. Carmen lifted her eyes into Shane’s and found Shane staring right back into them.

Then as if on cue, both snapped out of the trance.

“What hap…”
“Jenny…”

Feeling that words would take up too much time, Carmen grabbed Shane’s hand and lead her quickly to where she left Jenny.

“Oh my god…” Shane cried out as she saw Jenny’s unconcious figure on the floor. She immediately kneeled down and grabbed her under her arms, linking her hand together at Jenny’s chest. Carmen assuming a similar hold at Jenny’s legs. They lifted her and took unspoken cordinated steps towards the house.

———–

They laid Jenny out on the couch, fussing over her. Shane started rubbing Jenny’s temples and Carmen ran to the kitchen to get the smelling salts in the first aid box.

The close proximity of Carmen was driving Shane crazy right now, and all she wanted was to step away. But at this moment, Jenny was priority and she willed away the tension she felt building up. As she continued working on Jenny’s temples, she stole glances at Carmen, who was quick stepping her way back to the couch. Carmen caught her looking, paused abit and turned her attention back to Jenny.

Where do they stand now? Carmen still looked very pretty even with the furrowed brows and the dark eyeliner that had dried around her face. Shane had made it rather clear to Carmen that she didn’t want to del with it, but right this minute, she was thinking that maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to share joy and sadness with someone else. Come on now Shane, Jenny is flat out here, and obviously she needed Carmen more then you did. Shane made a mental note. Unconciously stealing another glance at Carmen.

At that instance, Carmen looked up away from Jenny into Shane’s eyes, her expression turned from concern to confusion. She caught Shane looking the second time but she did not know how to read the signs. Shane’s brows hanged in a sign of defeat, waiting, hoping for a miracle that was gonna take this tension away. But there was no miracle and all Shane could do was try to run again.

“Oh…” Jenny mumbled, coming out of her state of unconciousness. The sound was a welcome distraction for both Shane and Carmen. They immediately turned their attention back at Jenny.

Jenny opened her eyes and encountered two comical faces with dried smudged makeup and swollen eyes. Suddenly, Jenny gave out a giggle, and the giggle turned into laughs.

Carmen and Shane stared confused at Jenny’s outburst.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, but you two… look so cute. So… ridiculous.” Jenny got out in between giggles. Shane and Carmen exchanged confused looks, but after studying each other, they realised what was eating Jenny. Shane started to grin and Carmen tried to mask her giggles with her hand. Shane looked back at Jenny and grinned wider.

“You don’t look so hot yourself.”

“Really? ya’think? Oh gosh…” Jenny got out, remembering that she too had cried her eyes out.

Jenny looked at both Carmen and Shane and realised that things were not worked out yet. The mood changing back to the tension filled one moments ago. Carmen hanged her head and looked away in self-reproached. Shane turned the other way the same instant, pretty much still in denial.

“I’ve to go… bye.” Carmen jolted to her feet suddenly. She looked around for her bag frantically, then realised that they were still at the driveway. She smiled weakly at Jenny and rested her eyes for a second on Shane’s back. Sadly, she turned and quick stepped to the door.

Shane stole a glance backwards at Carmen, her eyes filled with distress. She wanted to ask Carmen to stay, but the words never came.

Jenny studied her friend, knowing she was frightened. She placed a hand on Shane’s arm. Silently giving her the go-ahead and the power to go forth, but Shane did not noticed. She just stared at the empty doorway, long after Carmen let herself out. Jenny decided to leave Shane to her thoughts, tired and weak. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to a restful sleep.


———————-

Carmen collected her bag and she saw that Jenny’s stuff were still thrown all over the driveway. She picked up the stuff silently and left them at the doorway, not wanting to enter the house again. She turned just in time to catch someone staring at her.

“Hey, Tina…”