Dreams

12

Stevie.

Nervous wreck is an understatement.  She didn't expect Lindsey to turn her impromptu trip to Mexico into a romantic vacation, but she couldn't tell him no - that would be too suspicious. Now he's lying on the bed and she's pacing back and forth in front of it, trying to figure out her next move. If she goes to Carolina tonight she won't come back, and that can't happen. But she needs to see her.

"I just want to make sure she's alright," she rubs her forehead with her forefinger, avoiding eye contact with Lindsey.

"We're here because you know she's not," Lindsey rests his arms over his head, spreading out across the bed. "Come here, Angel."

Stevie has to stop herself from bristling at the nickname. Carolina would never call her something so childish and demeaning. Of course, she didn't always see it that way. There was a time in her life when she was young and stupid and had no idea who she was - she loved it then. But she also loved being Lindsey's then. "I cant. Lindsey, I'm sorry. I have to go check on her. Something just isn't right, ok?"

She's not really sure if she means with Caro or with him. Everything just feels wrong. He shouldn't be here. Lindsey rolls his eyes but he doesn't seem like he's in the mood to fight with her.

"Fine. Go. Just try not to stay there forever. I didn't come all this way with you to spend the whole time alone."

Maybe if she still loved him like she used to that statement wouldn't get on her nerves so much. "Yea. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

She leaves without kissing him goodbye. She can't be bothered to give an ounce of affection right now; not when Carolina is so close and things are so bad. Thanks to Karen she knows where her house is - two blocks away, right on the beach. She has to stop herself from running the distance, but she's at her front door in no time.

Stevie exhales hard and pushes her bangs out of her face as she knocks on the door. She knows this is absolutely insane, and that Carolina could very well out her and all they've done and ruin her career in seconds flat, but she doesn't care.

"Coming," she hears her call from behind the door, and then Carolina is opening it and standing there with her mouth hanging half open. Stevie tries to keep her eyes trained on her face but it's hard when she's in nothing but a bikini top and what might quite possibly be the smallest linen shorts Stevie has ever seen on a grown woman.

"Stevie, what the fuck?" Its not quite the romantic reunion she was hoping for, but Stevie is grateful she didn't outright slam the door in her face.

"I'm sorry," Stevie pleads immediately, "I don't know what I was thinking, Carolina. I'm so sorry."

"Come on," Carolina tugs on her arm and pulls her into the house, shutting the door quickly behind them. "Stevie how did you even know where I was? This is.... I have to admit, this is crazy. I don't - how did you find me?"

Stevie bites her tongue between her teeth and shrugs, a guilty look on her face. She wants to reach out and touch her but she's afraid Carolina might actually smack her if she does. "Stella mentioned you were down here. Carolina, please. Please come back to the tour. I was being an idiot, I overreacted."

Carolina turns away from Stevie and counts to keep her temper in check. Stella is off limits - that Stevie went through her baby sister to get to her makes her irate immediately. "You spoke to my seventeen year old sister about me? Do you realize how fucking crazy that is, Stephanie? Jesus! We aren't - no. This is insane. This is absolutely insane."

"She called me. She wanted to watch rehearsal. I wasn't going to tell her no," Stevie argues, "whether you like it or not you brought that girl into my life, and I'm not going to be cruel to her because you're throwing a temper tantrum."