After a long, sleepless night, Cairo was out in the front of her house, sitting on her porch, watching her puppy investigate something invisible to her in the grass. She breathed the morning air and tried to forget, for just one moment, that that girl was with Nick right now.

She had heard them leave earlier. Trying not to be a spy, she had found it too tempting to watch them as them climbed into the car. She's so prissy and finicky. She orders Nick around like a dog, she thought to herself.

She heard a car drive up into the neighbor's driveway. Looking up, she saw a car she didn't recognize. But she recognized it's occupant.

"Carrie!" his voice exclaimed, as he slammed his car door shut and crossed the lawn to speak with her.

"Brian! So, how's the man of the world?" she asked, looking up at him.

"Not bad. Have you seen my partner in crime?" he asked, referring to Nick.

"I think he left awhile ago, with Veronica," she said. She stood up and picked up her dog, just as it was about to bolt away after a fly.

"Didn't know you had a dog, Carrie," Brian commented.

"Yeah, neither did I until a week ago. My cousin's dog had puppies and she called me over there and handed one over to me and shoved me out the door before I even said hello. But it's a lab, and it looks like the dog I left at home, so it's cool. It's nice to have someone around, even if it's only a puppy," she said. She handed her wriggling little dog over to Brian who was enthralled with it.

"What'd you name it?"

"You know what? It doesn't have a name yet. I've been thinking since I got him, but so far, I've just been calling it 'puppy'. I feel bad, but I just can't think of a name to suit him," she explained, reaching over and petting his black little head.

"So, who is this Veronica person?" she said, her resolve to not bring her up breaking.

"She's a back-up dancer. One of the girls broke her ankle and was out for the last leg of the tour, that last month or so, so we filled her spot with Veronica. Met her, have you?" Brian said, smirking.

"Yeah. The second thing she said to me was an insult. Talk about your first impressions," she said, sighing.

"Really. Well, that means she jealous. She's a spiteful little bitch, so be careful and don't get on her bad side," Brian said bluntly. Cairo laughed at his out-of-character directness.

"Wow, that's pretty harsh coming from you Brian!" she exclaimed.

"No one likes her. AJ flat out refused to do another tour with her as a dancer. Even Kevin agreed when he said that. She's a good dancer, but, well, she's a bitch. No one want to be around her unless they have to be," Brian said.

"Then why is Nick with her?" she asked quietly.

"The question that's on all of our minds. Don't worry Carrie, we're all pulling for you," Brian said. Cairo blushed and started to stammer.

"I have no idea…why are you…I mean, what are you talking about? Why would you have to be pulling for me? For what?" she attempted to say.

"Carrie, how blind do you honestly think we all are? We saw you guys in Toronto. And we saw Nick after you left. We had lived with Nick after you left, which wasn't easy because he was in a foul mood for months. We all know," Brian said matter-of-factly, sitting down on her porch. Cairo sighed and sat down beside him.

"Really? That obvious?" she said dejectedly.

"On both sides," he said emphatically, meeting her eyes.

"Both sides? Are you sure?" she questioned quietly, nervously biting her finger.

"Yeah, trust me on this one Cairo. Both sides," he confirmed. Cairo's heart soared, happiness flooding her thoughts for a moment. But then they came crashing back down.

"But what about Veronica?" she asked.

"Who knows? Give that time, it'll all turn out okay. He'll realize how much he can't stand her and realize what a fool he's being," he said reassuringly.

"Thanks, Brian. Well, do you want to come in to wait for Nick?" she said. He nodded and they went inside.

After an hour or so, Cairo and Brian were enthralled in a game of volleyball in her back yard, when she heard Nick's voice call over the fence.

"B! I thought that was your car, man. What's up?" he called. Cairo turned around to face him, missing Brian's volley from the other side of the net, which was aimed right for her. Unluckily for her, Brian's aim was pretty good and it smashed her right in the head and bounced off.

"Carrie? Are you okay?" Brian said, running over to Cairo, who was teetering precariously.

"Okay, I think so. Nick, that rivaled your k.o. three pointer," she said, her vision clearing.

"You'd better sit down for a sec, Carrie, you don't look so steady," Brian said, easing her down onto the grass.

"Kay, you have to learn to watch what you're doing when there's balls flying around, you just don't have any luck with them," Nick joked, jumping over the fence.

"What's up, Nick? Haven't seen you in so long," Brian said sarcastically.

"Yeah I know. The separation is just to much to bare man. Not much. Veronica wanted to go shopping so I took her out," he said rolling her eyes.

"Nicky? Where are you, Nicky?" her shrill voice called out, causing Cairo to grit her teeth. It sounds like nails dragging along a chalkboard! she thought to herself, irritated.

"Right here, 'Ronica," he called.

"Excuse me? What did you call me? My name is Veronica. Anything else is unacceptable," she spit out.

"Okay, Veronica. Kay just got smashed by a volleyball, no thanks to Brian over here. We were just laughing because that's how Kay and I met. I attacked her with a basketball," he explained. She glared coolly at Cairo, then switched to a gushing, even more high-pitched tone of voice.

"Ooh, Nicky, do you remember how we met? Oh, that was so much fun, and even better, it brought me to you," she gushed. Oh, this is sickening, Cairo thought bitterly.

"Uh, Veronica, we met at rehearsals. That's it," Nick said tentatively.

"That's it? Is that all you think about the day we met?" she demanded.

"Well, it wasn't anything out of the ordinary, that's all I'm saying," he attempted to reason with her.

"So Cairo, is it? You're a sporty person?" she asked, ignoring Nick.

"I guess you could say that. I love basketball and volleyball and stuff. I don't, like, live to play sports, but I enjoy them," she explained.

"I never could stand playing them. I don't like getting sweaty and smelly all time. But obviously you don't have a problem with that," she said, smiling sweetly. Cairo sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Nick, did you know that Lacey's gonna be here on Tuesday? Along with her fiancé and family and stuff. She's getting married here, on Thursday," Cairo said, changing the subject.

"Really? Wow, she was so…I can't see her getting married. I mean, you know, she was so into every guy that walked by on the ship," Nick said.

"Yeah, well, Robbie was always the one. Always. They found each other again. It's such a true love story, I'll have to write about it," Cairo said.

"Write about it? Oh, you're the author. Can't say I've ever read anything by you. Never interested me. I prefer an intellectual read," Veronica said, and Cairo seethed. How much more can I take of this? she thought. It's like she's trying to set me off!

"Veronica, don't knock it until you've tried it. All of the guys are totally hooked, Nick's doing. He kept leaving them around the bus, so we all eventually would pick them up and start reading them. Enthralling stuff, Carrie," Brian said, noticing Cairo's forced smile.

"Oh, thank you Brian. Anyway, Lacey and Robbie are getting married right here on Thursday," Cairo said.

"If it's okay, I'll drop by sometime before then, to say 'hi' to her. She's one of the funniest people I've ever met. I'd like to wish her good luck and stuff in her marriage," Nick said.

"Yeah, no problem. Don't be surprised if you get forced into to the wedding. She'd kill to have a real celebrity in her wedding pictures!" Cairo laughed.

"It wouldn't be being forced," Nick said quietly. He met Cairo's gaze for a moment before Veronica interrupted.

"Nicky, let's go inside. The salt air is drying my skin," Veronica pleaded. Nick reluctantly turned around and jumped over the fence.

"You coming, B?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll be there in a few," he answered. Cairo glared at the couple as they made their way inside.

"Carrie, you kept your cool! I was hoping to see some blood," Brian said wistfully.

"Yeah, we'd all like to see that. But I won't stoop to her level. If I did, then I'd be like her," Cairo spat.

"Well, I'd better go and give Nick his schedule for the next few days, which is why I dropped by. Sorry about the ball and your head," he said.

"Next time you see me with a ball, watch out!" she warned, smiling. She watched him hop the fence and then turned around and stormed into her house.