<span style="color: #FF80FF"> <span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Lea Stevens</div></span></span> </span><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/036e0d3a-b28c-47ec-b858-0eaea6c67e4d.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF80FF"><div style="text-align: center;">"Jazz"</div></span></span></span><br/><br/>Lea gave a small nod and sat up for what seemed like the millionth time in the past hour. She dialed the number quickly enough and Mary-Ann picked up nearly immediately,<span style="font-style: italic"><span style="color: #FF4000"> "Mary-Ann Richard, news action 5!"</span></span>she greeted. Lea couldn't help but give a small smile at that.<span style="color: #FF80FF"> "Hello. Hi, this is Lea Stevens and I have something you might like, but I have stipulations...One, you need to bring me coffee. Fresh, delicious coffee. That is the most important stipulation...two, no camera man. Carlos Delgado will meet you at the back entrance down by entry way 6, closer towards the dumpsters..."</span>The conversation didn't take long and Mary-Ann seemed eager for the opportunity. Lea snapped her phone shut and looked to Carlos,<span style="color: #FF80FF">"Your will has been done,"</span>she teased as she leaned forward to kiss Carlos.<br/><br/>It was a short kiss, but completely necessary for Lea, at least that was how Lea felt. She was still anxious about coming events--lawyers, reporters, and Maria's life hanging in the balance. If Maria didn't make it, it would hurt Carlos a lot. If Maria did make it, who knew how she would feel about the whole situation--who knew what she would say. Lea doubted Maria was a vindictive woman, but if she was she could easily lie about the things that had happened. Lea was fairly certain Maria wouldn't be like that, what with her admission of love for Carlos as she was taken away to the hospital.<br/><br/>Lea hadn't bothered to tell Carlos that she had sat there holding Maria's hand until the ambulance came, or that Maria had told Lea she both hated and loved her. That she loved Carlos more than anything in the world and she hated the fact that such a pathetic user like Lea got his attention. Maria said, though, if Lea was what made Carlos happy, then she was glad for it no matter how much it hurt.<br/><br/>Lea hadn't taken offense, agreeing with all Maria had said. She didn't understand it any better as to why Carlos would love her over Maria. She wasn't even sure if he would continue to do so later on. Maybe he would change his mind if Maria pulled through. Lea hoped he wouldn't, but she would understand. If she were Carlos, she never would have picked anyone else but Maria, at least for her own emotional and mental sake.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">"I suppose she is making her way to the entry now,"</span>Lea said, her green eyes looking into Carlos'. She gave a soft sigh and squeezed Carlos' hand once more before letting it go so he could meet up with Mary-Ann.