III. MARLBORO NIGHTS.

2006.

After crying her heart out in the locker room, and dealing with the press and the overbearing reality that is her mother, Carmen had no choice but to face the music and by that, the music was Tashi Duncan.

During the match, Carmen ended up losing by just one point. If she'd made at least two she'd be the one with another trophy to add to her collection and a smile that'll never leave her face for the rest of the night.

Instead of dwelling on her emotions for the rest of the night, she had no choice but to attend the party that was held by Tashi's parents. As if flaunting her winnings wasn't enough. They just had to have a party.

Now with light peach glitter shimmering the thin flesh of her eyelids, Carmen let out a sigh, the sound of her tangerine orange heels clicking against the backyard flooring as music soon consumed her.

"Look at what the cat dragged in." Begins Patrick who caught wind of Carmen before she could even say anything.

Carmen would rather be at home right now instead of pretending to be happy at a party that wasn't even about her — call it having a big ego. She just didn't want to be there. And seeing everybody be so happy around a trophy she was this close to having felt all too depressing.

"Do me a favor and fuck off Patrick." Glares Carmen. She'd just taken pictures with her runner-up trophy and was this close to throwing it away.

Patrick looks down at her with a viable glint of amusement. "I'll never not miss the insults."

Carmen ignored him, her eyes glancing over to where Art stood. Noticing how fixated he appeared over something she turned her head only to see that he was gawking right at Tashi's Reebok campaign posters.

Walking over to where Art stood she raises a brow at him. He hadn't noticed that she was there which only made her shake her head at him, she was thankful that she had heels on since it gave her an advantage and leaned down a bit. "You're staring."

The sentence alone causes him to jump slightly, not realizing her presence until now. A boyish laugh escapes his lips as he turns his gaze onto her. "I was not."

"Yeah, you were." Grabbing a drink from a passing tray, Carmen takes a sip of the fruity concoction growing at ease by the taste.

Patrick who takes another sip of his drink sighs. "Don't tell me that you're a little salty that Art finds Tashi interesting."

Carmen only dismisses his statement with a wave of her hand the gold rings on her fingers gleaming slightly underneath the moonlight. Taking yet another sip she continues, "Me? Salty? In what world? Tashi's interesting I'll give you that so I can see why he stares."

"It looks like we have some competition Art. Carmen finds Tashi interesting can you believe it?"

"I don't think I can." He responds with his eyes now directly onto Carmen.

Soon enough the song changes to 'Temperature' by Sean Paul. That alone was giving her an excuse to put the conversation on pause and dance her feelings out.

"Anyways, I'll be on the dance floor." Shoving her drink into Art's chest, Carmen proceeds to turn around with the click of her heels. "And hopefully I'll get some tonight."

She was lying straight through her teeth. Carmen didn't have getting a one-night stand on her bucket list — at least not now.

"Well have fun — wait getting some?" Art's voice raises with slight concern as Carmen continues to walk away. "From who?"

Patrick could only chuckle, "You walked right into that."

"I did not."

Looking behind her shoulder, Carmen could only smile, "Take a guess."

Patrick and Art could only watch as Carmen disappears onto the checkered dancefloor. Patrick's gaze wasn't as focused on her as Art's was, his gaze growing half-lidded from the way the orange and yellow plunge ruffle dress danced along with the wind, the fabric itself hugging her tightly, with her beach curls teasing along her back. She looked amazing. He knew it too, Patrick knew it too and could only grin at the lovesick expression his friend wore.

"So you two still aren't together? Or is that what you're just telling everybody?" He questions with a knowing look that only makes Art roll his eyes.

Art still doesn't keep his gaze off of her and only grows more in-depth when Carmen begins dancing. "I — we haven't specified things."

Patrick snorts. "Why not just be honest with yourselves and admit that something is going on? I mean there is not one time where she's not at your place or you're not at her place. Not to mention the smiles and hickeys — by the way, you're a terrible person to hide hickeys."

Art finally looks at Patrick. "You're exaggerating. It's not all the time."

"But it is."

"All I'm saying is don't be surprised when you lose her." That was all it took for Art to narrow his gaze.

"That's one thing I'll never lose."

"Then act like it."

Letting the music consume her, Carmen's body flows in a slow and fluid movement, her hair moves freely, dress swings naturally. She'd found company with a woman — presumably an associate of Tashi's and began to dance with her. She was nice, sweet, and smelled like oak. Didn't get her name though.

From a distance, you'd think that this was her party based on how carefree she'd been acting. But it wasn't which made her eventually leave the dance floor.

While holding the ends of her dress, her eyes scanned the little lounge chairs in hopes of catching Art hell even Patrick. When she does instead of finding a blond and a brunette? She also sees a girl with long dark hair but what caught her eyes the most was the navy blue dress that only added allure to her essence.

The two boys looked utterly enthralled and for a second there Carmen could've sworn her eye twitched.

Running a hand through her loose curls, Carmen made a smile appear across her face even if it wasn't genuine. Once a tray passes by she quickly grabs it and downs it in a second. She was about to walk away when she replaced the empty glass with a full one. This time she doesn't drink it all but instead keeps it in her hand — since holding things made her feel a little bit sane.

Clearing her throat, Carmen made her way over to where they resided. They're far too deep into their conversation until Carmen makes her presence known.

Sitting next to where Art stood, the woven chair brushed against her legs as she crossed it. Her eyes met Tashi's and neither said anything at first. Taking a small sip of her cherry Cosmo cocktail, she smiles, "What an amazing party by the way."

"Thank you, I was hoping it wouldn't be too extra but I'm glad that there are people who enjoy it." Nods Tashi who continues, "Carmen, you played great today." There was a slight pause in her statements with a smile that didn't exactly meet her eyes.

Carmen nods. "Thank you. You gave one hell of a fight out there and that's something even I can applaud."

It grew silent between the two with neither knowing what else to say that might die down the already awkward tension that swallowed them whole. Just when Art was about to say something, Tashi's father soon stepped up to where they were.

"I have to go take pictures." Stands Tashi whose father needed her at the moment. Smoothing out her dress she looks at all three players, "So um, it was nice meeting you guys."

"Likewise." Instead of looking at Tashi, her brown eyes were directly on Art. Her brown eyes practically stabbed into the side of his face. Her manicured nails couldn't help but tap slowly against the glass as she tilted her head suddenly.

"You're staring again."

Fucking hell.