Chapter Eighteen

Chris awoke with a start, hearing something outside. He pressed the light on his watch. It was past four in the morning. Outside, it was still pretty dark. He opened the curtain beside his bed. He watched as a figure walked furiously down the street. Looking closely, the person looked really familiar.

He got out of his bunk and put of his shoes, opening the door of the bus, he ran outside.

"Sasha! Sasha! Wait!" Chris yelled.

Sasha sighed and turned around. "What do you want, Chris?" she asked.

"Where are you going?" he asked, falling into step beside her. "Oh, my God… why were you crying?"

"Why the hell do you think, Chris?" Sasha asked. "I am going… home…"

"Home?" Chris said, widening his eyes. "You can't! I mean, we are way too far from your house."

***

Lance sat at the phone, giving up. It was obvious Eryn's call was a one night thing.

***

"Listen, Chris," Sasha said. "JC… he CHEATED on me… with that Melissa." She told him the whole story, and broke out into tears.

"Oh… Sasha…" Chris said, sympathetically. "Come here." He pulled her into a big hug.

Sasha cried on his shoulder. "I'm sorry…"

"Why are you sorry?" Chris asked.

"Because I am wetting your shirt," Sasha said through tears.

"Right now, that is the farthest thing from my mind." Chris laughed.

Sasha smiled. "I'm sorry. I put such a damper on things."

"Don't worry," Chris pulled away. "Listen, I don't want you to leave. I know we don't talk much, but you don't have to leave, thinking you don't have a friend in the world. Sasha, I would be honored to be your friend."

Sasha smiled. "Thanks, Chris, that's so sweet. I guess I will stay."

"Great," Chris smiled back. "It's not like you have to talk to JC, right?"

"Right," Sasha said. "Thanks."

"Sleep in my bunk tonight, okay? You don't have to sleep across from JC." Chris said.

"Thanks," Sasha said. "I can't believe we have hardly talked, when right under my eyes, there is the greatest friend in the world."

Chris put his hand on her back, and led her back to the bus. "Thanks."

"No problem," Sasha said. "Good night," she whispered, and Chris echoed. He went back to her bunk, and she settled in hers.

***

Eryn sat at the phone, staring. First Justin, now Lance, she thought. Lance promised he would call her, and he didn't. Sighing, she picked up the phone, and decided to call him instead. She knew it would wake him up, because it was only 6 am, but he didn't call her.

She dialed, and listened to the soft ring.

***

Lance sat up with a start. The phone was ringing. He ran to the phone, just as Justin got there. "I've got it," Lance said. "Go to bed, you look tired."

"Thanks," Justin said, and trudged back to his bed.

"Hey?" Lance said.

"Lance!" Eryn's voice filled with happiness. "Why didn't you call me last night? I slept beside the phone, just waiting for the call…"

"Eryn, I thought you were calling me! I did the same," Lance laughed.

Erin laughed along with him. "I'm an idiot. Sorry," she apologized.

"Me, too," Lance said. "So how are you doing?"

"Pretty bad," Eryn admitted. "I mean, I have a screwy life lately. With Justin, and Sasha leaving… I don't know what to do."

"Don't worry," Lance said. "Let it out. I am here."

"Thanks," Eryn said, gratefully.

"Always," Lance said. And he really did mean it.

***The Next Day***

JC awoke the next morning, shifting to wish Sasha a good morning. He looked in her bunk. Instead of her long, shiny brown hair, he saw dreads. Dark brown ones.

"Chris!" JC said. "What are you doing in Sasha's bed?"

Chris opened his eyes. "Sleeping."

"Damn, Chris, I know THAT! Why isn't Sasha in there?" JC asked, bewildered.

"Would you want to sleep in a bed next to her if she kissed another guy?" Chris shot back.

"What?" JC asked. "I didn't kiss another girl!"

"Um, does MELISSA ring a bell?" Chris asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Chris, I didn't kiss her," JC said.

"Whatever. She kissed you and you kissed back," Chris said.

"I didn't --" JC began.

"JC, give it up. Between you and Justin, you are getting everyone in our group in a fight. Unless you either fix your mistake, or break up with Sasha, don't talk to me," Chris said.

"You're making me CHOOSE?" JC asked, astonished. "So it's you or fix it?"

"That's right," Chris said. He turned and left.

JC sat in silence for a few minutes. Hesitating, he picked up the phone and dialed.

End Of Chapter Eighteen