"Where are you from in California?" He asked.

"Los Angeles," She answered, thinking of the city that she loved with all of her heart. Once you've lived in Los Angeles, you feel a certain bond to the city despite all of the controversy on how it's a bad place to live.

"Really? That's cool. Guess you like it a lot, huh? Since you went to UCLA and all?" JC asked, switching the TV on and sitting on the edge of the bed to flip through the channels.

"Yeah, but it is a pretty good school too." Marielle said, defensively.

"Yeah, I agree." JC answered, "hey look at this, it's German rap!" He remarked, laughing as a German guy rapped, looking like an American 'gangster'.

"Weird, it sounds like English, but distorted," Marielle said, sitting next to him to watch the television, "I feel like I've seen this video before."

"it does look a lot like those usual rap videos," JC agreed, "y'know girls and cars and money and stuff." He got bored easily, and began to search the insides of the closets for the free things the hotels place in there.

"Gosh, you're nosy." Marielle said over her shoulder, still watching the TV.

"I know, it's one of those qualities everyone loves about me," JC joked, looking into the bathroom as Marielle snorted with laughter. "but seriously Marielle, I just want to clear things up," He said, his tone changing quickly to a much more serious one. "Dani and I are through, it's over."

"Oh." Marielle answered, "I don't see why it's important for me to know that," She said teasingly. He sat down next to her.

"I like you Ari, anyone can see that," He said to her, smiling.

"I know." She answered with a sigh, "and I don't know, J. I mean, you've just broken up with Dani, and she doesn't even know yet. You're on the rebound! It's wrong." She shook her head, "maybe if we had a little bit more time-" The ring of the telephone next to the bed interrupted her. She picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Mari?" Her father's deep voice boomed into the receiver, "thank goodness I got to you."

"Dad?" She sat up straight, her body tense. "Is something wrong?"

Her father's voice cracked, "There's been an accident. Dahlia's in the hospital." At the mention of Marielle's favorite aunt, tears started to well in her eyes.

"Is she okay?" Marielle asked, trying to keep her voice stable.

"They - they don't know if she'll make it, Honey. That's why I called you, I know how close you two are." Her father said, and she got the impression he was crying also.

"I'm on the first flight back," She answered, swallowing to keep the tears from flooding over, "bye." She wiped her eyes with her hands, JC's concerned face hovering near her.

"What happened?" He asked. Marielle didn't hear him, her mind, and her heart, were over the ocean with the aunt she might lose. She threw open her suitcase, pushing in the clothes she'd taken out.

"Ari?" he asked, and she still continued to pack.

"I have to go back," She finally answered, pushing her passport and visa into her pocket. The effort of replying caused the tears to overflow, "my aunt needs me, she's been in a car accident." She answered, choking on a tear. "Tell Gabi and Jess what happened okay? And say goodbye to the guys." She zipped up the suitcase and picked up her carry on bag.

"Marielle, wait." JC said, grabbing hold of her arm as she started to leave. "Please, I know this isn't the time for it, but think about what I said earlier okay? Think about us." He pleaded, feeling horrible for bringing up such a trivial thing at a moment like this, but he was scared he would never see her again.

"Okay, J." She answered tearfully, and flew through the hallways to the lobby, wondering how such a wonderful vacation could end in such tragedy. JC stood alone, watching her leave, from the front of her hotel room. His heart went out to her, she seemed terribly distraught. He wished they could have had more time, but knew that his type of broken heart was easier to deal with than hers.

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