Getting to know Carla

"Well, of course, now I'm going to ask another question," I sighed, my eyes scanning a seagull that had taken the opportunity to chatter noisily about something.

"We swore we wouldn't date together," Carla said. "Too many times in the past guys would try to play us off each other, or the constant three way requests. Every fucking guy either one of us dated. I got sick of it, and so did she. So, we agreed on the dibs rule."

"And, why do I stay with Kaila," Carla announced the answer before I even had a chance to follow up with the question. "I stay with Kaila because Kaila needs someone to live with."

Carla stopped, and looked at me expectantly, as if expecting me to object.

"Really, that's it. When we were kids, Kaila used to panic. I couldn't do things without her. We couldn't even do sleepovers, otherwise she'd flip out. I mean, not bad flip out, but always on the phone to me, constantly. So, I just got used to being around her. When she found you, I thought, GREAT. Finally. Somebody she'll turn to other than me or mom." Carla shrugged, looking out onto the ocean once again.

"But... she kept asking me to fix things with you. Kaila tries, but sometimes, well she doesn't think things through completely. She's got some fun ideas, sometimes, but I hate having to cover for her," Carla continued. "But not with you. After a year, well, I knew she'd be fine without me. I just wanted to stay."

"So the whole thing in Vegas?" I asked. Carla was, well, I'd never really talked to her like this. I wasn't sure what she was saying. This was new to me, a side of her I'd never even thought existed.

"Right, that," Carla lowered her head a bit, before bringing it up slowly. She breathed out, an expression of sadness on her face. "Kaila was pissed at you."

"I know she was pissed at me, she STILL brings it up when she gets mad," I acknowledged.

"Yeah, but she was even more pissed at your father. She didn't want to take anything from him at all, and I was totally with her on that," Carla argued. "We'd known you for what, Three months? He acted like she was a whore, straight up."

"So you figured I was gonna be just like him in Vegas," I shrugged.

"Kaila was pretty sure you would, I mean, after his whole thing at the wedding," Carla sighed, "Yeah, we were making assumptions. We didn't work it out then, and we should have. And I wish Kaila would LISTEN to me for once instead of asking me to fix things with you."

"What about Charlotte then?" I asked.

"Charlie? I... you want to know why I agreed to the bet," Carla looked wistful as she reached over the railing to pluck the stem of a succulent leaf between her fingers. She twirled it slightly, thinking quietly. "I agreed because... I like being around you."

"That can't be the only reason," I disputed.

"It isn't. But that's where this gets complicated, Brent," Carla stopped and looked at me. I had never seen that expression in Kaila's eyes. Carla seemed far away for a moment, before she focused on me again. "You know how you can just get caught up in something, and not even realize that you're doing it? But then you look back, and think, what the fuck was I thinking? "

"Are you playing questions again?" I asked.

"No."

"Statement..."

"Knock it off, although I admit, good one," Carla chuckled. "I'm trying to make a point here, Brent."

"After everything I went through this week... I deserve at least one," I agreed, "Damn it, I wish Helen was here right now, that pot sounds really good right now."

"Helen, huh?" Carla smirked. "So, how did that end up... I mean, Kaila said she set it up."

"She tried to set it up," I admitted. "That whole truth or dare thing was... I should have realized she was trying to get something started with that."

"Yep," Carla agreed. "I'm honestly surprised you got through a game without somebody chickening out. That's what happens every time I tried to play it."

"Heh. Well, I guess I just got lucky there," I admitted. I had enjoyed that game immensely. Hell, many of the best times over this week had been little games. They hadn't really mattered, but they had been fun. Playing questions with Carla, well, that took me way back. Back to a time before well, everything that had been bad, happened.

"You uhm... I do miss sleeping with you, Brent. I wasn't lying about that. That first time in Vegas, well it felt really good. I'm glad you stopped drinking. Really glad actually. Considering you didn't go to a twelve step or anything..."

"With those zombies? Fuck no," I snarled. "Last thing I need is a bunch of hypocritical assholes with a nicotine and confession addiction."