”I like girls.”  Carmen rolled her eyes.

“Ok, do you have a girlfriend then?” She rephrased the question.

“Well, that depends if you want to be mine.”  She smirked.

“Has anyone told you that you are too direct and bold?” Shane smiled bitterly.

“If I like something, I go for it. What’s wrong with that?  I like you, why should I be afraid to tell you?  If I didn’t tell you, we would never have a chance.  At least I have a 50/50 chance by letting you know.”   Carmen grinned at her.  Somehow, her twisted logic seemed to touch on some truth again.  Shane never met anyone like her before.

“Hey, you still haven’t answered my question.  Will you be my girlfriend?” She was waiting.

Shane paused to think about her question, looking ahead. 

“I prefer to do the chasing.” She wanted to reject her politely.

“Fine, you can start chasing me. I will accept you.”  She laughed.

“Sorry, I won’t.”  Shane was amazed at how thick skin this girl was.

“Yes, you will.”  Carmen insisted.

“No, I won’t!” She shook her head seriously.

“You will, you will!”  She raised her voice.

Shane shook her head again.

“Am I not pretty enough? Is that why you won’t consider me?” Carmen asked.

“You are very pretty, but I would be a slut if I fell for every pretty girl I met.” Her patience was running low. 

“Is it because I am promiscuous?” She was intrigued by her.

 “You cannot force love. It is about how you feel when you are with that person.  Right now, I don’t have that feeling for you.”  Shane told her honestly.

“I think I understand.” She said dejectedly.

“I have a girlfriend.”  Shane told her.

“Who is she?” 

“It’s complicated.  I don’t want to talk about it now.”  Shane said painfully. 

Carmen understood and changed the subject back to them. “Well, I have you all by myself for a month.  I will make you fall in love with me.” She declared confidently.

Shane did not what know more she could do to get through to her that she wasn’t interested.