Through Thick And Through Thin

Linz was laughing with Howie about something trivial when she suddenly heard someone call her name.

"Linz? Is that you?" the person slurred.

Linz swallowed hard, immediately recognizing the voice, and made the mistake of turning around. She gasped when she saw Carlos standing there, looking nothing like when she had seen him before. His hair was a mess, his tie was partially undone, and he was unshaven. He was also carrying a glass of something alcoholic. It didn't take a genius to figure out that he was drunk. "Carlos, what the hell?!" she hissed under her breath, looking around anxiously for Kevin. She had ended up describing to Kevin what had happened the night that she and Carlos had slept together, and she was afraid that Kevin would recognize him, even if the two had never met.

"Hey, Liiiinsey," he said, staggering a little. "Wassup, baby?"

Linz put a hand to her forehead. "Had much to drink?" she muttered.

Carlos almost fell over laughing in the middle of taking a swig of his drink. "You're funny, Linz!" he commented, almost choking. "You look hot, baby!" he added, grinning crookedly at her.

Linz groaned as Carlos swung his arm around her neck. "Why don't you and me go back to my place?" he suggested.

"I told you, I have a boyfriend!" Linz reminded him sharply.

"Come on, baby!" he coaxed, not listening to her. "It'll be good. It was good last time."

Linz glared at him. "Carlos, we talked about this, I--"

"Linz?"

She trailed off and looked up to see Kevin staring at her in confusion. "Kev--"

"This is Carlos?" Kevin asked in astonishment. "CARLOS?"

Linz nodded slowly. "But this isn't what you think it is. See, he just came and--"

"Who the hell is he, baby?" Carlos interrupted, frowning at Kevin. "Come on, let's go back to my place, like you said."

Kevin's eyebrows shot up when he heard the words that Carlos was speaking. "Linsey, are you still--"

"No, Kevin, I promise I'm not," she said quickly, trying to push Carlos away and failing. "And I did not say that, you said that," she told Carlos, trying to wriggle away again and still not succeeding.

Kevin backed away slowly, his eyes filling up with tears. She was still cheating on him. She was only pushing him away to look innocent. "Linz, I don't think I can see you any more," Kevin mumbled before turning and starting to walk away.

"Kevin!" Linz cried. She started to run after him, but Carlos tightened his arm around her neck and yanked her back. "Let me go!" Linz choked.