Pulls into the store and...

As Carla pulled into the store's parking lot she saw her friend Sharon and her cousin Bridgett standing outside the store. She walked up to them a smile on her face. Not that it mattered, Bridgett was always able to see through her moods, and her first words were probably going to be asking her what was wrong.

"Carla! Wassup?" Sharon asked.

Bridgett smiled as she saw her cousin, but the smile quickly dropped, "What's wrong? Don't you dare be sad today!"

Sharon blinked, "How can you tell she's sad, Bridge?"

"The smile doesn't reach her eyes. Now, what's wrong?" Bridgett replied.

"My mom...she just can't get over Jared...and...I mean...I'm still here, and I have trouble thinking that she'd react the same way if I had ODed."

Bridgett shook her head at her thoughts, "Of course she would! I mean your her daughter, she'd feel terrible!"

"Five years later?"

"How do you feel five years later?" Bridgett asked, pointedly.

Carla smirked, "Terrible about that, but I can function. I mean mom quit her job, and just lays about the house all day long, and it's affecting dad in that he has to work extra hours to keep ahead of the bills. And they fight, not loudly, but...I hear it. I don't know. I mean I want to go to college and all that, but I don't want to leave mom like she is and..."

"Hey, it's not your fault. I know it hurts but...you are eighteen." Sharon said, then her face fell as she realized the tone she was using. Plus it was probably all stuff she'd heard before anyhow. "I'm sorry...I don't know what you're going through right now, and...I have no right to say the things I said."

Carla gave Sharon a weak grin, "It's okay. I know you all mean well. Anyhow, how's things for tonight?" She asked the last to Bridgett. Carla knew Bridgett had a plan to get Courtney and Jeremy together. Something that Carla knew kind of hurt Bridgett since she had a crush on both of them. She loved them both so much that she'd forgo her own happiness to make them happy. Little did Bridgett know that Carla had her own plan to make them all happy. As happy as Carla was with Adam.