Chapter Seven Abs: I watched Whitney's soft hazel eyes dart around behind me, not wanting to make eye contact with mine. I bit my lip. I was making her uncomfortable. I sighed and tapped my finger on the table.    "That's all I can tell you, Abs, and that's all I have to tell you," she finally spoke. She had spent the past 10 minutes or so hushly explaining her journies out to this vacant place.    "Look, Whit, let's just go home," I offered, leaning forward on the table. She shook her head no, staring off at a spot on the table. "Why not?"    "You don't understand," she mumbled.    "Yes, I do," I said, reaching for her hand.    "No," she sharply spoke, pulling her hand out of my grasp. "You don't."    "Then why don't you look at me and explain what I don't undertand?!" I exclaimed, my voice rising. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Darla and others glance in our direction. Whitney looked up at me, finally. Tears were at the corners of her eyes.    "I don't have anything to say to you," she mumbled, getting up and rushing out the door. I spun, following her with my eyes. My body was lifeless. I couldn't stand. I couldn't speak. I couldn't fix what was broken.    "Well, honey, go after her!" Darla told me from behind the counter. I glanced in her direction. I stood and fished in my pocket for money. "Don't worry about it. Go!" I smiled a thanks and followed the path Whitney had taken out the door. I squinted through the bright afternoon sunlight. Whitney sat in her car, arms folded and head buried over the steering wheel. I slowly approached the car. I knocked on the window when I arrived. She sniffed and looked out at me, eyes red and swollen. She motioned for me to come in. I walked around the other side of the car and sat next to her. Again, silence passed between us.    "I can't go back because nothing there is left for me anymore," she finally spoke.    "I'm there," I said, reaching over and touching her leg. She looked down on it as if this act of kindness what something other than that.    "Scott hates me for what I did with you," she quietly commented.    "He doesn't hate you," I softly reassured her. She looked up at me, doubt in her eyes. "Rease is there, too."    "She broke my trust," she shook her head.    "Everyone deserves a second chance, right?" I asked.    "I can't do it, Abs, I just can't do it," she sighed.    "Yes you can," I said, taking her hand. "You can do it because I'm going to be there with you. You won't be alone. I promise."    "Promise?" she asked after a moment. I nodded. "Fine. I'll go back." she whispered. "But only if you're there." I smiled. I did it. Teresa: I scooped up my last bit of ice cream from the cup I had it in. "Ahh Scott you're a godsend," I sighed as I threw the cup away in a nerby trashcan.    "I know," he smiled. "I do wish more people would recognize that about me, though." I laughed. We were just walking around the streets enjoying our ice cream and each other's company. "You know, Rease, we haven't had a lot of time to talk since...you know."    "Yeah," I nodded my head in agreement. "But that's what we're doing now, right?"    "Right." he replied. We walked in silence for a minute or two. "So..." I laughed.    "Nothin like not having anything to talk about in order to catch up on lost time," I joked.    "Do you miss her?" he asked suddenly, hands in his pockets.    "What?" I asked, a bit confused.    "Do you miss her?" he repeated.    "Well...yeah, I mean, we're friends. Or were," I mumbled.    "I miss her," he told me. I wrapped my arm around his side and gave him a comforting squeeze. We turned down a street, walking toward Scott's apartment. "You know, I love how I can always count on you."    "Hey, that's what friends are for, right?" I asked. He slid his arm around my waist like mine was around his. He smiled down at me. We reached Scott's apartment complex and we dropped each other's hold. I followed him up in front of his door.    "I guess I better be headed home," I said when we got there. I reached over and embraced him in a hug. "Thanks for the ice cream." I said as I began to let go. As my arm slid down his he stopped and took my hand.    "Rease?" he asked.    "Yeah?"    "Do you want to come in?" he offered.    "Actually, Scott, I'm kind of tired and we have a long day tomorrow," I answered. I noticed he still held my hand. When he didn't say anything I asked, "Scott?" All of a sudden he leaned down and kissed me. Soft at first then a bit harder. He pulled away a moment later.    "I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry." By now he had dropped my hand. He closed his eyes and ran his hand over his face. "I'm sorry. I am so sorry."    "Scott, Scott," I said, gently touching his arm. He slowly dared to look at me. "If you would stop apologizing, maybe I could say something." He blushed. "It's okay."    "Okay?" he repeated. I nodded a bit. He just shook his head. I stopped, then reached up and took his face in my hands and pulled his down to me. I kissed him then let go. "Okay." he swallowed.    "Maybe coming in isn't such a bad idea," I whispered. Chapter Eight...