"Ridge! You're going to be home tonight, right?!" Bridget's mom, Carmen, yelled down the hall as she quickly applied her mascara.

Ridge let out a deep sigh and replied, "Yes." She walked over to her baby brother, Jared's, crib and lifted him into her arms.

"Ow," her mother yelped as she tripped over a few scattered toys. "Honey," Carmen started as she bent down and tossed the toys into the crib. "Try to pick the house up a bit, ok?" Their eyes met; something they never did and both of them looked away.

"Wednesdays are usually our slow nights at the bar. I should be home at 12, 1 at the latest," Carmen informed Bridget as she clashed her dyed blonde hair with a giant brown claw clip.

"OK," Bridge acknowledge, plopping down on their faded blue plush couch, a bundle of joy nestled in her lap.

"Be good, Jared," she said to the baby. Carmen blew kisses and bolted out the door.

This was Bridget's life. She goes to school, has about 3 hours to herself, then has to babysit her brother 5 nights of the week. She has ha0rdly anytime for friends, Bryant, luckily and such. Bridget didn't mind it so, unless there is a party or a movie night. This is how it has been for a while. Jared was a very well behaved 1 year old. Mostly she would talk to him and he would garble or yell in retuen. It was like they understood each other. His grasshopper green eyes gleamed with understanding and wiseness with every word she spoke.

It was about 8 and there was a light tap on the door. Ridge peered over the house plants to see Tiyana, her best friend. She placed Jared in his worn away playpen and bolted to the door.

"Girl!" Tiyana screamed, "It's so good to see you!" Tiyana dashed in, her curly bown hair grazing her golden brown skin.

"It's only been..." Ridge started, glancing at the white clock on the peeling light blue wall

"...about 8 hours since we've seen each other."

"True, true," Ti laughed, sitting down on the couch and waving to Jared. Ridge grabbed some soda from the fridge and tossed one to Ti. "Have you heard from Bryant since...the incident."

"Left 6 messages," Bridget informed her, covering herself with a multi-colored blanked as she sat next to Ti. "Mom thinks he must really like me or something. She's so clueless."

"I think you should tell your mom about Bryant. And You better not go back to him if you know what's good for you," Tiyanna informed her with a serious look plastered on her face. She touched Ridge's arm with ever such comfort.

"I know," Bridget simply replied. "I won't tell Mom anything because it is now over. So what brings you to this part of town?"

"Oh yea!" Tiyanna relapsed, her chestnut eyes widening with anticipating. "Sasha's throwing a big jam this weekend. It's gonna be so much fun...food...friends...guys, nice guys. Even an acapella performance from her friends of Dreamstreet..I want you to go with me."

"Oh, gosh, I don't know," Ridge replied doubtfully, her attention being drawn back to a crying Jared. She sighed as she picked up Jared and took him with her into the dingy kitchen to get a bottle of milk. Tiyanna followed her like a newborn puppy following its momma.

"C'Mon, Bri!" she whined, leaning against the wooden kitchen counter, "You have to get out more. Celebrate your youth! Besides, what would make you miss such a hot party?"

"Well...Jared, for one thing," Ridge reminded Tiyanna.

"Your mom can hire a sitter for one night," Tiyanna suggested as Bridget leaned into the small fridge for some milk, juggling a baby in her arms.

"And Bryant..." Bridget started when the phone suddenly boomed. Ridge almost dropped the milk and Jaron. Tiyanna trotted over to the ivory phone hooked on the wall. "Don't answer it," Bridget demanded her. Tiyanna backed away as the answering machine kicked on.

"Bridget," a small voice, almost unrecognisable, whispered. It was Bryant. "Please pick up...I know you're there...I know you've heard me say this a million times...I'm sorry...and I know yuou hardly ever hear me...me say this, but I love you...I love you and I'm sorry. I really want to make...this...us work...you mean everything to me...please give me another chance..." *click* Tiyanna glanced to Bridget and Bridget had this look in her eye...the look that would get her hurt again and again...the look of forgiveness.