What I Think Happened Next-Part 2
By Angelface
PG
General/Drama

Part 2. Old Flames And New Beginnings

he next Saturday, Shirley flew back into the states with her two-story house in England up for sale or rent. She couldn't believe she was so nervous about seeing Carmine again, but then again, she couldn't believe that they were to be reunited the right way. She was so excited when her plane landed early, especially since now the two would have time to go grab a bite to eat or something. Carmine was standing by the door to the plane with a dozen sterling roses, and dressed in his best suit. Shirley got off the plane and ran straight into his arms. She was dressed in a simple, black, elegant dress accented with silver jewelry. She was very tan, and looked a lot more womanly than she used to, due to childbirth of course. Their eyes locked as she pulled away from his grasp. Her twinkling blue eyes and his deep brown eyes each seemed to be after the same thing – each other. Carmine pulled her into a long passionate kiss and whispered ever-so-softly in her ear, "I won't ever let you go again, angelface." Shirley pulled away and grinned, but there was a tear rolling down her flushed cheek. The two connected in a way they had never experienced before, and they knew that they were meant to be together.

Laverne was waiting rather impatiently for Shirley to get home that day. Shirley had told her not to pick her up at the airport, but to wait at home, and they would head to the Brown Derby as soon as she arrived. Laverne had already cleaned the house from top to bottom, bought groceries, taken a shower, and even watered the lawn. Rhonda had come over to keep her company while she did most of this. Laverne thought about how although she was annoying as heck, Rhonda had actually become one of Laverne's good friends over the past months after Shirley's departure. She was so excited about seeing her best friend again though, and that put everything else she was thinking to shame. When Shirley did finally arrive, she jumped on her, literally, knocking her down. She was so glad that Shirl was there that she didn't even notice Carmine helping unload the taxi or the roses that Shirley carried in her arms along with Boo-boo Kitty.

Shirley was impressed that Laverne was actually keeping the old apartment kept and tidy. She sat Boo-boo Kitty down on the couch, and walked with Laverne upstairs to the bedroom. Shirley saw that the two beds were put back in their separate places, and she gasped. Laverne immediately thought something was wrong, and asked if she was okay. Shirley had had an epiphany that she had overlooked telling Laverne a few tiny details about this trip. She meekly looked at her best friend and said, "Vernie, didn't I tell you?"
Laverne replied, "Tell me what?"
Shirley gasped and said, "Oh, dear, well, geez, I feel stupid, how could I have forgotten to mention this?"
"What didn't you mention?"
"That I'm not staying here with you."
"WHAT????"
"Well, you see, Carmine's here with me, did you know that?"
"No, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Ok, as bad as this sounds, especially since Walter and the baby just died, Carmine and I have decided to give our relationship another go. But this time, we're moving in together. We have reservations at a hotel, and tomorrow we're starting our house hunt."
"Oh, ok, you had me worried there for a minute, Shirl. But, I know you and Carmine will be happy, so now that that's straightened out, let's go eat. I'm starved. Oh yeah, by the way, Lenny's coming back in about a week."
"Really? Wow, I haven't heard from him since I moved. It'll be good to see him again."
And with a simper on her face, Laverne replied, "Oh it will definitely be nice to see him again."

Carmine, Shirley, and Laverne ate at the Brown Derby that evening, and they kept the conversation light and airy rather than focusing on their misfortunes. Laverne couldn't help but feel like the third wheel though. She heard Shirl gasp and saw her point. Fabian had come into the restaurant. He walked by their table and ended up at a table not too far from them. He sat down and looked in their direction and recognized the girls immediately, so he headed over to see his two biggest fans ever. The girls invited him to sit down, and he did so willingly. As they talked, Shirley realized that Fabian was just a regular guy, who obviously had his eye on Laverne, and the bad part was that Laverne obviously knew it as well. Laverne's thoughts kept turning to Lenny, but she pushed him quickly out of her mind when Fabian invited her to go to dinner with him alone in a week. She immediately accepted. She and Fabian talked for hours in the restaurant, and they hardly noticed when Shirley and Carmine got up and left.

Carmine and Shirley were anxious to get out of the restaurant that evening and spend some quality, romantic time together for the first time in a long time. It was a beautiful evening. The sun was setting, and it was warm outside. Neither of them was used to that weather nowadays, so it was taken as a welcome change. They couldn't imagine a nicer night to rekindle their romance, so they headed to the hotel for the night. Both were a tad bit apprehensive when they finally reached the Plaza Inn, the hotel in which they were staying. Carmine asked Shirley to stay downstairs in the lobby while he made sure everything was perfect in their room, and she willingly did so, eagerly anticipating what was to come. Carmine was gone for about 15 minutes, when he returned with a blindfold. He asked Shirl to wear it until he told her she could take it off. He led her to the elevator, down the hallway, and through a door. He kissed her gently on the cheek, led her to the middle of the room, and told her to take the blindfold off. When she did, nothing could've prepared her for what was in that room. There were no lights, but there were over 200 candles illuminating the room. Six dozen roses were in baskets all over the place. Then she noticed a card on the bed, and she walked over to read it. It just simply stated, "I love you, I always have, and I want us to be together forever. Will you marry me, Angelface?" Shirley started crying tears of happiness, and Carmine got down on his knee, and pulled out a simple gold band. He explained that he went broke paying for this room and decorations in it, and that he would buy a diamond one later. She looked at him, and just said, "Yes!" That was all, but it was more than enough. Carmine took her into his arms, and kissed her passionately.
(Note to the reader, they did not have sex, they're going to wait a little longer.)

Laverne floated to her apartment that evening, thrilled that she was now officially dating a real celebrity. Her dreaming had finally paid off, but there was one problem, she didn't know what on earth she was going to do about the Lenny situation. She thought she had loved him, but now that was questionable. She never had someone treat her as good as Fabian had, in her whole life, than she had been throughout dinner. And as quirky as it was, that just seemed to click, but she didn't want to have to explain this to Lenny. Laverne didn't sleep much that night, for she worried that she was more than likely going to have to break one of her best friend's hearts, and she didn't want to, but it was going to be necessary. She finally fell asleep to one of Fabian's records, and dreamed of being in his arms again.

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