Carmen heard the door to Shane’s room close and took off, still ducking low for the fence and climbing over it when she got there, not bothering to deal with the lock. She propelled herself up one side and when she came back down, she found herself standing face-to-face with Tina and Angelica.

“Uh… hi.” Carmen murmured, clearing her throat and trying to think of a plausible excuse for being in Shane’s backyard that wasn’t creepy.

“Hey. Uh… what’re you doin’?” Tina asked, glancing at her apprehensively.

“Oh, I was just… um… fuck, I’m not a very good liar.”

“I noticed.”

“Look, me and Shane are trying to work things out, and… we’re just not ready to tell anyone, so can you keep it a secret? Please?”

Tina smiled a motherly smile. She had grown to feel the same maternal way for Carmen as she had for Shane.

“Of course.”

Carmen grinned, and hugged her, pulling back to kiss Angelica lightly on the head.

“You, too.”

Angelica let out a coo of agreement and the two women smiled even wider.

“Thank you. Bye.” Carmen yelled, running out to her car. Once in it, she pealed out glancing down at her watch. “Shit, I’m so late. Sarah is gonna be so pissed!”

Just as Carmen was out of eyesight of the house, another less familiar car pulled up to a stop in front of it.

“Okay. Just do it, let them yell at you, and then leave when they tell you to. It’ll be easy, just make sure you avoid Carmen’s nails and you should be all right.” Mark whispered to himself, getting out of the car and walking up to the door. He raised his hand up to knock, then…

“Fuck, I can’t do this.” He sighed, hearing the yelling and laughing coming from inside. “But I have to.” He knocked on the door and took a step back, mentally preparing himself for the anger to come.

Shane opened the door, the smile on her face fading. She squinted at him as if she didn’t remember him. But she did. She’d never forget his face. Part of her hated him for what he’d done, but she knew she also might not have had Carmen if it weren’t for his cameras.