It was a spectacular May morning on fraternity row in the beautiful suburb of Westwood , CA. The sun was shining bright and the birds were
chirping to their hearts content. There wasn't a breeze in the sky. The only prevalent feature in the sky was the clear aqua blue ceiling to the outer boundaries of the
earth. The day was perfect. What could also be said to be perfect were the lives of four young men who had known each other for years. They were close and knew
they could always rely on each other. The bounds of friendship were yet to be tested. All they knew, was the bond that kept them together….a bond that they hoped
would always survive.
 

Antonio and Casey crept slowly into the parlor of the PHI BETA KAPPA house. They were trying to be as quiet as possible on in order to not awaken the two
individuals who were both fastly asleep on the couches in the room. Antonio and Casey each held a look of mischief and were trying to desperately to control the ever
growing laughter hiding within the compounds of their handsome faces. They reached the coffee table and both smiled at each other. Antonio then pulled a red object
from his back jeans pocket. It was a small blow horn. He raised it to his head, all the while trying to continue to hold his laughter. He pressed down on the lever and out
came the loudest, most God awful piercing sound they had ever heard. The two lumps on the couch, startled by the deafening sound, both fell to the ground
simultaneously. Ricardo was the first to lift his head, completely oblivious to what was happening. He squinted his eyes and slowly tried to lift himself to a sitting position.
He was still half asleep. He had been in a deep somber state before having heard the wild calling. His friend, Ben Evans, was also trying to understand what had
awakened him from a deep sleep. Antonio and Casey, both acting innocently, kept straight faces when Ben and Ricardo's eyes wandered there way.
 

"WAKE UP!! Don't you two have a final to take in 20 minutes?" Antonio was now doing a good job of keeping his composure. "It's a good thing Casey and I stopped by
before going off to class." Antonio had to turn his face away, as did Casey. They were having difficulty remaining in tact.
 

Upon hearing Antonio's words, Ricardo's eyes lit up. He squinted his eyes and immediately sprang to attention. In the loudest voice he could command, he yelled at Ben.
"BEN!! We're gonna miss our final!! Let's get a move on it!!!" Ricardo jumped up and tripped over the coffee table, thus stubbing his toe. He hopped in pain all the way
to the corner of the room, where his clothes were laying. He quickly put on his 501's and Izod shirt, inside out. He brought up the collar and and ran his fingers through
his hair, searching rampidly for his backpack.
 

Ben, upon hearing Ricardo, quickly awakened and scrambled to get his clothes on. He found his black white t-shirt and black sweater vest and slipped them on. He ran
around the room until he located his jeans and quickly put on his loafers. Ricardo finally found his top sider shoes and grabbed his sunglasses, which were connected to a
sunglass string. He looped the string over his head and he and Ben ran out the door, book bags in hand, rushing to their next class. They didn't even say goodbye to
Casey and Antonio as they ran past them and slammed the door shut. Antonio and Casey could not take it any longer. They both buckled over in laughter and fell to the
couches that once held both Ricardo and Ben. Their laughter grew as the images of Ben and Ricardo running around and rushing kept milling through their minds. They
were laughing so hard, they had to hold the sides of their stomachs due to the joyous pain they were feeling. They continued in this manner until two minutes later when,
they finally composed themselves and saw at the corner of the entrance of the parlor, Ben and Ricardo staring both of them down, obviously not amused by the practical
joke they had fallen under. Casey and Antonio rose simultaneously and in trying to become serious, but still laughing at inoppurtune moments, began to defend
themselves.
 

"Ok….ok….so we thought we'd joke around with you…" Casey let out a nervous laugh. He could tell Rick and Ben were livid. "Come on guys???….We were just
having fun….and besides you know you needed to loosen up? You've been studying way to hard for this test….COME ON!!! Your graduating from college next we---"
Casey didn't get a chance to finish.
 

Antonio and Casey were rushed by both Ricardo and Ben and thrown to the couches. Ricardo grabbed Antonio in a head lock and started to tickle him until Antonio had
to scream for mercy. Ben had Casey pinned by using his knee and gently pressing it in Casey's stomach, all the while mussing with his hair. Both Ben and Ricardo let go
of their prey once they figured they had had their due punishment. They stared down at them both, now finding the humor in the situation. Casey and Antonio were still
laughing and Ben and Ricardo found the laughter contagious.
 

"What the hell did you two to that for?" Ben said in his heaviest english accent. "We've had a horrendous night cramming for Becker's final. You guys are bloody idiots."
Ben was being good natured, but was still slightly frustrated at the two younger members of their group. He and Ricardo were in their last semester at UCLA. Ben had
decided to finish his studies abroad in the United States and chose one of Southern California's finest institutions to finish his last year of college. He had met Ricardo
Torres at enrollment last September and the two had been inseparable ever since. Ricardo had even gotten Ben to be an honorary member of his fraternity, of where
Ricardo was the president. It was May of 1987 and they were almost through with a monumental time their lives. Ben was 22 and happy where his life was leading him.
As he reflected back on all the good times, he had had in the past year, he was glad he had made the choice to come to the United States.
 

Casey and Antonio were looking sheepishly at their friendly attackers. Casey was the first to speak again." Look…..we thought we could get you guys off to a good
start. We knew your final wasn't until 10:30 so we figured 8:00 would be a good wake call." Casey began to laugh again, reliving the success of the prank that he and
Antonio had pulled off. Ben grabbed a pillow and, while smiling, smacked Casey in the face with it.
 

Ricardo sat down next to his brother and placed his arm around his shoulders. " And what's your excuse T?" Ricardo was looking over at his brother with mock
disapproval on his face. " You're not even in college yet…..you cutting class?" He couldn't help but muss Antonio's hair.
 

Antonio had cut class. He was in his senior year at Sunset Beach High School and today had been Senior Cut Day. Casey, who was a freshman at UCLA, didn't have
any classes scheduled for the day and asked Antonio if he was willing to pull a practical joke on both Ben and Ricardo. Antonio had accepted eagerly. Whenever there
was a someway he could get one over on Ricardo, he jumped at the opportunity. Antonio idolized his big brother but they also had a fierce competition between the two
of them and Antonio loved to get Ricardo's goose cooked. Antonio smiled mischievously and looked over at Ricardo. "Yeah it was….and don't tell me you didn't cut on
Senior Cut Day, cause I know for a fact you did." He could see the smile creeping over on Ricardo. "Besides, Rick…" Antonio looked over at Ben and Casey and made
sure they weren't listening in and they weren't. Ben and Casey were engrossed in a conversation of their own. Antonio then continued. " I….ah……needed to get some
advice…..you know??? On a girl I want to ask out." Antonio looked a little embarrassed but if there was anywhere to get good advice on the subject of woman, it would
be with his brother. Ricardo was the number ladies man on campus, Antonio thought, and he could help him in getting a girl he had been wanting to ask out.
 

Ricardo looked over rather cockily, but lovingly at his brother. He smiled before speaking. "Hey Ben, Casey…." Ben and Casey looked over. "Start some coffee and a
little grub now that these two knuckleheads have us up." Ricardo smiled again. "We got a couple hours before the big finale……Tony and I are gonna talk outside for
awhile." Ricardo and Antonio got up and walked outside to the porch to discuss Antonio's love life. Ben and Casey made their way to the kitchen to begin breakfast.
Once in the kitchen, Ben and Casey began discussing their plans for the summer. Casey was planning on lifeguarding as usual, something Ben made a comment about."
You love that don't you…..lifeguarding?"
 

Casey thought pensively and looked to the ground. He did love lifeguarding. He knew it wouldn't be a life long career but he hoped he could do it through college and
perhaps a little beyond. He looked over at Ben and smiled. " Yeah…..I do love it. I know it's not forever but it's what I like to do for now…..I don't have a clue what I
want to do for the rest of my life, so for now lifeguarding will get me through school."
 

Ben looked over at Casey. He admired how had something he loved to do." Have you ever considered doing it more on a fulltime basis….." It had been something that
has crossed Ben's mind before. He and Casey, although about 3 years apart in age had a close friendship and he valued him greatly. " Especially here in LA…..it's a
career Casey?"
 

Casey nodded his head and tried to quickly change the subject. "Yeah….I suppose….but I have a lot of thinking to do. I figure I'm only 19. I don't need to make any
drastic decisions just yet…….What about you Ben, what the hell are you planning on doing? You're about ready to graduate from school?" Casey had never really asked
Ben what his plans were. They had always just had fun, either hanging out at the frat house or at one of the many parties that were given there. Casey was genuinely
interested in what Ben was deciding on doing. He also wondered if Ben was thinking of returning to England. He hoped that he would stay. Ben Evans had become a
good friend of his.
 

Ben thought pensively. He had pondered this same question over and over again. This year in the United States had been the best year of his life. He had met great
people and established a life in Los Angeles. He didn't want to go back to England. He felt his life was here in the LA. He sensed big things would happen if he stayed
and the excitement of the unknown thrilled him. He merely shrugged. " I'm not quite sure Casey. I want to stay and I know I can. Gregory Richards has offered to
invest in one of my business ideas and start a club in your hometown of Sunset Beach. I might do that. I'm just not sure if I want to return to England. I'm not sure if that
is my home any longer." Ben stopped and thought of the other reason he wanted to stay and a smile crept on to his face. "Besides…..I'm not sure I can leave…….her."
Ben continued to smile at thinking of the woman who was slowly creeping into his heart."
 

Casey smiled back and understood. Ben was slowly trying to date Maria Torres. He was being respectful to Ricardo and Antonio and not flat out asking Maria for a
date but ever since they had met three months prior, there was an undeniable chemistry between the two of them. Casey looked over at Ben knowingly." You should
just go ahead and ask Maria for a date." Casey thought back to conversations he's had with Maria concerning Ben." She likes you Ben….and Annie is no longer hung up
on you." Casey chuckled good naturedly. "Sometimes it's hard to believe that you had a date with Annie and ended up falling for Maria when she answered the
door…and you didn't even know she was Ricardo's sister at the time!" Casey ended up laughing harder as he recounted the thoughts in his mind.
 

Ben swatted him with the dish towel. It was true. He had had a date with Annie Douglas and went to pick her up at the apartment she shared with Maria. Maria had
answered the door and they were instantly drawn to each other. Ben had never felt so attracted to woman up until that point. From that moment on, Ben and Maria had
ventured into light flirting whenever they were near each other, which was now quite frequently since she was the sister of his best friend. " I know….I know…." Ben
smiled a little irritated. " Oh well….I don't know….I like Maria but I don't want to step on any toes. I have to respect Ricardo and if the time comes that Maria and I
really do decide we want to date, then I'll talk with Ricardo." Ben thought to himself and knew that moment would eventually come. He turned his attention toward
Casey again. "What about you, you been dating anyone exclusively?"
 

Casey thought back to a dream he had had the night before. I his dream he was on the beach and he was walking hand in hand with a dark haired woman who looked to
be of Chinese descent, but as he was walking she slowly disappeared from sight. He then found himself continuing to walk on the beach and then having a woman of
blonde hair and blue eyes appear. Casey had awakened just as he had leaned in to kiss her, feeling absolutely drawn to both figments in his dream but knowing that the
second woman in his dream was the woman he would love deeply in his heart. It had startled him. "I don't know exactly what it means but it was weird Ben." Casey
said after telling Ben of his dream in response to Ben's question." It was as if I was dreaming about my future. Don't ask me how I know this but I just think it does
relate to what is to come. The othe strange thing was that you were in my thoughts after having the dream, as if you would have something to do with the second
woman I dreamt of." Casey chuckled again." Kindy dumb huh? How the hell would I know if it's really about two women who will enter my life?"
 

Ben was deep in thought as he listened to Casey describe his dreams. He was getting a strange feeling of déjà vu upon hearing the description of the dream. He had had
a dream similar only a few night s before. In this dream he was also walking along the beach and he had Maria by his side, but then she suddenly vanished from his side
and Ben was left feeling empty. He then looked back to where Maria had been and suddenly a woman appeared. It was not Maria, but another woman with long brown
hair and the most beautiful brown eyes he had ever seen. She had a wonderful smile and even while dream induced, Ben knew that he loved this girl. He bent down to
kiss her and then woke up in a cold sweat. The dream had been so powerful and he remembered the woman's face clearly. He would never forget it. He didn't mention
it to Casey or had he mentioned it to anyone else for that matter. Ben had kept it to himself…where he could treasure the woman he had discovered in his dreams. " It's
not dumb Casey…..we can't explain dreams." Ben brought himself out of the eerie feeling he was having. " You never know, it could mean something." Ben shook his
head and handed Casey two coffee cups and picked up two others. He then smiled at Casey. "Enough of the psycho analysis…….let's take these cups of coffee to
Antonio and Rick before Rick and I have to take the last exam of our illustrous college career." They both smiled and ventured out front to the porch where Ricardo and
Antonio sat…..
 

"I want to ask her out Rick but I don't know how to go about it……Man she's a little out of my league….a cheerleader, gorgeous, athletic……I can't…..I just can't…."
Antonio was placing his face in his hands, frustrated with himself. " Why can't I have the self confidence you have with girls……..if only I had just one ounce of it, I
wouldn't be in this predicament." Antonio had told Ricardo about Kristy Benton, who was captain of the cheerleading squad and the most beautiful girl at Sunset Beach
High. Antonio had been wanting to ask Kristy out for the longest time but had always chickened out when he was ready to finally approach her. He had finally decided
to spill his guts to his Casanova brother to see how to overcome his fear.
 

Ricardo sat there trying to contain his laughter. He knew this was a big issue for his brother and he didn't want to seem insensitive to Antonio's problem. Although
Ricardo was only 4 years older than Antonio, Ricardo was still way more experienced in the romance department and he wanted to advise his brother well. Ricardo
didn't really play games with woman but the women he dated were mostly astute and out to have a good time. Ricardo was not one to practice celibacy, especially in
college. He thought hard and finally put his arm around his brother's shoulder. "Look, Tony….you aren't a bad catch. You're on the baseball team, you're student body
president, and good looking like me." Ricardo smiled semi cockily when Antonio looked over after his brother's last comment. "You're a popular kid…..all you have to do
is say hey Kristy, you and me tonight….I'll pick you up at 7." Ricardo couldn't help but laugh at his brother's incredulous eyes upon hearing Ricardo's bold statement.
Ricardo finally calmed himself and became more serious. " T, just ask her for a date. If I know you and I do…..she'll be happy and wanting to go out with you. Trust
me. No games, you sweet talk….just ask her out to dinner…..she'll say yes bro." Ricardo was sincere in his words and nudged his brother's chin. Antonio had such a
look of innocence on his face for his 17 years on earth. Ricardo loved him dearly. Antonio was his pride and joy.
 

Antonio smiled down at the pavement and then looked over at Ricardo. " That's all?…..That's all I need to do?" He wanted reassurance.
 

"That's all……it's as simple as that." Ricardo beamed at his little brother.
 

"Ok….I'll do it then." Antonio sighed a little nervously at the thought of actually asking Kristy out but he knew he would need to do it in order to finally get this off his
chest." Antonio looked over at his brother and caught him in a deep thought. Ricardo was staring at the ground looking rather pensively. "Rick….you alright?"
 

Ricardo snapped out of his daze." Yeah….I was just remembered this dream I had last night." Ricardo widened his eyes and shook his head a little as the dream became
clearer and more real in his mind. He looked over at Antonio a little embarrassed." NAHH….forget it."
 

Antonio was curious." What?….tell me what you were thinking?"
 

Ricardo looked over at him again and raised his eyebrow before beginning, then he sighed. "It was the weirdest thing…..I had a dream where you and I were on the
beach…..it looked like we were a little older….you know, like it was in the future…anyway…..we were walking when all of a sudden woman appeared in between us.
She was the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my life. She held both of our hands and kept looking at both us….like she wanted both of us." Ricardo stopped a
moment and then began again as the dream was now clear in his mind." She then kissed you and I grew jealous but when she pulled apart from you she turned to me
and kissed me just as passionately…….then she disappeared…..and you and I were left on the beach…..staring at each other…..like we were angry……It was the
weirdest thing Tony. I don't know why I just remembered it but…….it came back in my memory as you were just talking to me."
 

Antonio was now in deep thought. He couldn't believe it. He had had a similar encounter in his sleep. He felt a chill go up his spine as he rethought the eerie similarities
between his dream and his brother's. It was nothing. Antonio laughed it off and looked over at his brother…..not mentioning to him that he had had the same dream.
"Imagine us, fighting over a woman?" Antonio laughed. "Yeah right!!"
 

Ricardo joined in his brother's good humor." Yeah I know…besides I could never see myself in love with anyone…..I don't think I even have it in me." Now he was
laughing more hysterically. " Me in love and you in love……now that would be funny!!" They were both engrossed in laughter at the light of the scenarios they
imagined. It was funny to them and would be for a long time to come. Ricardo stopped and looked semi serious at his brother." No woman is ever worth that…..no
woman is ever worth what two men share as a bond…especially brothers."
 

Antonio looked back at his brother and nodded his head." Nope, what we have is stronger and always will be."
 

They shook hands and laughed again. Not having a clue of what they had in store for them 12 years from that moment. Ben and Casey then walked out, armed with
four cups of coffee. The four of them sat on the porch in the early morning hours of May of 1987, just enjoying life and talking about everything and anything under the
sun before Ben and Ricardo had to take their final exam. A member of the frat walked up and commented on how brotherly they looked and brought out his camera.
Antonio, Ricardo, Casey, and Ben all linked their arms and smiled into the camera as the picture was snapped…..
 

Maria picked up the picture of the four friends taken so long ago on the front porch of the fraternity house Ricardo and Ben had belonged to. She had no idea what had
transpired that day between the four very young, very ambitious young men. All she knew as a she looked at that picture was that the innocence of that moment in time
was no longer prevalent amongst the four of them. They had no idea was in store for them when that picture was shot. Their lives which were so uncomplicated and
carefree were now racked in chaos and troubling situations. These four friends were inseparable and now they were barely in each other's lives. Maria thought back to
all their good times and only wished that time could have stood still for them……but that was impossible……

The End