After an hour or two of talking in the living room with all of the guys, the girls walked slowly back to Carmen's room. They all held hands. This would be the last night of them being together. This would be the first year that they didn't get to see each other every day. And just like the three summers before, they were feeling down. Bridget and Lena would be leaving for their prospective colleges in the morning. Lena was going to RISd, and Bridget was attending Brown for soccer. At least these two schools were right across the street from each other. Bridget and Lena would get to see each other more often. Tibby would be going to film school at NYU. And Carmen would be the closest to home. At least she would be staying in the same state. She would be going to the University of Maryland.

Now as the girls sat in a circle on Carmen's floor, the pants were passed around, so that they could each document what happened to them during the summer. Lena found it funny that she had to write 'Being kidnapped by Kostos' right next to 'seeing all of Kostos." Tibby ran her fingers over the word 'Bailey'. She decided to write two things. 'Loving Brian 'and 'Production Company assistant before NYU.' Bridget took the pants next and took the marker from Tibby. 'I got what I wanted, but it wasn't really what I needed.' Carmen took the pants from Bridget. "What do I write?" She asked Tibby. Tibby shrugged her shoulders. "It's up to you Carmen. I didn't live your life this summer." Carmen looked back down at the pants. 'Meeting David's long lost son…Stephen.'

When she was through, Carmen neatly folded the pants and placed them back inside their box. "Tonight we say good bye to the pants…for nine months." Lena took her hand. "We say good bye to each other…but not for long. Because we have vowed to come home during Christmas and Thanksgiving." Tibby took Lena's hand. "And all other school holidays…even if that means having to visit each other at our own colleges." Bridget then took Tibby's hand and Carmen's hand. "We will always be best friends…wherever this road we are taking leads us." "Always…and forever." They said in unison.

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. Elisabeth Foley

Carmen placed the pants back in her closet, as Lena, Tibby, and Bridget looked on. Carmen stepped down off of the chair and came to sit beside them. She squeezed herself in between Lena and Bridget. "Hey Tibbs…when you're some hot shot film maker, promise us that you will make some cool, awesome, and true to the facts movie about these summers." Tibby laughed. "Of course…and when you're some famous writer…you have to write a book about this all." Then Lena butted in. "Of course it will have to be true to the fact…" "And please change the names…for our safety!" Bridget added.

Carmen put her arm around Bridget. "No see…I want our future husbands to read about this and realize that it was about us."

The four fell onto the floor laughing. They eventually got up and walked back into the living room. Stephen, Paul, Jack, and Brian were watching the basketball game. Lena walked over to Paul and sat down in his lap. Carmen went over and sat down beside Jack and Stephen. Tibby sat down on the floor in front of Brian. Bridget sat down beside Tibby and laid her head in her lap. Carmen looked around at her surroundings. So this is what became of this summer. Stephen had shown up at her front door. Then the two ended up being really good friends. Then there was Jack. Jack had been nothing but great to Carmen. She hadn't come to the conclusion that she loved him yet, but she could tell that this relationship would last for a long time…if not forever. Carmen's gaze then fell on Lena and Paul. The two had gone through a lot this summer. They were meant for each other. Tibby and Brian had also been through a lot. They had been friends for three years, before the feelings finally came out. And Carmen was glad that they were finally both happy. Carmen looked down at Bridget, who's hair was being braided by Tibby. Bridget had been through a lot. First with Eric…two summers ago. Than with Billy last summer, and then Billy and Eric this summer. But Bridget finally came to her senses. She didn't need Eric in order to be happy. Carmen ran it through her mind again. 'I got what I wanted, but it wasn't really what I needed.' She had gone for what she wanted, and she got it. But in the end the same drive that forced her to Eric, forced her away. Bridget had used her common sense for once in her life. And it was starting to show. She looked happier. Not having to think about Eric anymore, made her feel free.

Bridget and Lena were driving up to Rhode Island together. They rode over to Carmen's to say good bye to each other. Paul pulled Lena into a hug. "Call me when you get there…" Lena looked up and kissed him passionately on the lips. "I will." They stood there hugging for what seemed like forever. Lena walked over to Stephen and hugged him. "Thanks for everything…I'll write you when I get the chance…I'm glad that you'll be here." Stephen kissed her on the cheek and then she moved on to Tibby. The two hugged. Then Bridget came up behind her and the three created one huge hug. Carmen saw what was going on and ran over. "Didn't we say that we wouldn't cry?" They wrapped their arms around her and pulled her in. Lena wiped the tears that were falling. "I'm sorry Carmen!" Bridget and Carmen pulled out and gave each other a hug. Carmen whispered into Bridget's ear. "Be careful Bee…I love you. Call me if you need me." Bridget smiled and squeezed Carmen tighter. "I will…I love you too."

Ten minutes later Bridget and Lena were on the road heading towards Rhode Island.

Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will find them gradually, without noticing it, and live along some distant day into the answer. Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

So…I'm thinking that I'm not done…yes I have something else in store…look for another story some time soon…a follow up you could say…like the college years or something! And I loved the book Letters to a Young Poet…and I love the quote up there by Rilke. I thought it fit all of the girls…because you know they were having all of these troubles just because they couldn't resolve the questions in their heads. Tell me what you think…kind of sucky ending, trust me I know. But don't look at it as the ending…because like I said. There is more to come! I have ideas up the wazzoo! that word is actually one of my passwords that I use on my computer…but I don't know how to spell it! Now I feel like eating some lettuce…a salad if you will…and I'll watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I'm going on hiatus…new season to begin sometime this week! lol….my story of course…Buffy the Vampire Slayer ended a while ago!...ohh...there's SPIKE!