Paula Stevens sighed. When had life become so complicated? She knew the asswer. Less than two years ago, she had had a perfect life. It had been wonderful. A great job, an absolutly perfect man. But someone had hated her enough to take it all away. She knew her sister was let off the hook by thier father's raping her, but that didn't do anything to extinguish the anger that had biult inside of Paula. The worst part was, Gabi had succeded in ruining her life. Now she had almost nothing. Working as a waitress, on her days off, she searched for a better job. The place she called home was actually a tiny studio apartment in West Brooklyn. She wished that she hadn't had to move across the country. Aside from losing Ricardo, leaving California had been the worst thing of all. Of course, it never would have happened if Gabriella Martinez hadn't come to town.
A ringing across the room, the phone, jarred Paula out of her nostalgic reverie.

"Hello" She answered.

"Paula, sweetie, could you come over? There's something I need to talk to you about." Elanie Steven's coice was clear through the line.

"Sure, Mama. Is something wrong?" Elaine had sounded upset.

"Well, sort of. Just come over and I'll tell you everything." She said in a weary voice.

"All right. I'll be there in about 20 minutes." She hung up, her curiosity piqued. What could her mother be calling for so early on a Sunday?  They ususally had lunch together in Central Park on Sunday. What could she have to say that couldn't have waited until then? She would just have to go find out.
 
 

"Paula, hi. I'm glad you could make it over here so fast. I have some news. Come in, sit down." Paula did as her mother said and sat. Elaine's apartment was a little bigger than Paula's, but not very much.

"So, Mama, don't keep me in suspense. What's going on?" She was now about to die of curiosity. Ideas had been racing through her head on the drive over. Maybe she had heard from Cole, maybe her was bringing little Trey for  visit, or maybe....maybe it was about Ricardo. Maybe he was tryng to call her.

"Paula...I don't know how to say this, but Cole called me earlier this morning." So that was it, Paula thought, excited at seeing her brother again. Cole almost never called.

"This is great, Mama. Is he coming for a visit?" She said cheerfully.

"No, Paula, thats not it. He called to say...to tell me that...honey, Ricardo's getting marrried." As she heard those words, Paula's heart stopped. Her world, which she had been so carefully rebuilding, shattered. It couldn't be true, no. It wasn't. He couldn't do this to her. Elaine continued."I'm sorry, I know this must be so hard for you to hear. You loved him so-" Paula cut her off.

"Who, Mama? Who is Ricardo marrying? Do I know her?" Elaine didn't answer."Tell me!" Her reply was a slow nod.

"Yes, you know her." Her eyes began to tear up, but Paula remained cold and emotionless.

"Tell me who." She demanded. She needed to know who was taking Ricardo away for good.

"Paula, Ricardo is marrying your sister. He's marrying Gabi." It felt like someone was lighting fire to her soul and stomping on the ashes. The love of her life was marrying her worst enemy. Her sister. How could Ricardo even think of marrying the woman that accused him of rape? How could he forgive her for that, much less love her enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her? It was impossible. But he was doing it. Ricardo wasmarrying Gabi.

"No, no. He wouldn't do that to me. He loves me." She had been mumbling to herself. Now she looked up at her mother."You knew, didn't you? You knew he was seeing her and you didn't tell me."

The statement was confirmed by the guilty look in Elaine's eyes.

"I didn't think you needed to know.It would have only hurt you, and you've been hurt enough by that man. I wasn't sure how much more you would have been able to take. " Seeing the raw pain in Paula's eyes made her realize that she had made the wrong decision."I should have told you. I'm sorry."

Unfortunately, she spoke too late. Paula had already backed out of the door. Still calling after her, Elaine knew it was pointless. Her daughter needed some time alone and Elaine was powerless to do anything but comply.
 
 

Paula slammed the car door shut in blind fury, racing away from the apartment at a speed any cop would have stopped her for. Luck was on her side, for once, and there were no flashing lights to be seen.

She was angry at the entire world. Her mother for keeping it a secret, Cole for not telling her up front,  Ricardo for marrying Gabi, and Gabi for just being alive. She was most angry at Gabi. That bitch was still ruining Paula's life after two years. Two years and she could still deliver the pain just as well as she could that day she broke down on the witness stand and confessed that Ricardo had never raped her, letting go of all of their fathers transgressions. That had been the day that she revealed herself as the lying slut she really was. Paula couldn't believe she had thought Gabi was a victem. She had taken her into her home, welcomed her as a sister, and Gabi had destroyed her thoroughly. Now Gabi had her life. She was living in the place that Paula and Ricardo had shared, marrying the man that once propsed to Paula, Coel even told her that Gabi had a job at the police station. Not as a detective, as Paula had been, just as a secratery or something, but still, she even worked where Paula had worked. And Paula was left with nothing. She had been run out of town, forced to lave her life behind. Something inside of her snapped. She could not let this wedding take place. Ricardo was hers and she was going to claim him once and for all.

She turned the car around, heading back to her place. She sped back to her apartment and quickly packed a few bags, not even bothering to notice what she packed. She was on complete autopilot.  It took her all of ten minutes to pack. She'd never moved so quickly in all her life. Time stood still for her, and nothing mattered except what seh was about to do. Still traveling near light speed, she  was sure she broke every speed limit set on ehr way to the airport. When she finally arrived, she was relieved that it wasn't as busy as it normally was. She didn't think she would have had the pateince for long lines today. She half ran half walked to the polished marbel counter the clerk stood behind.

"I need a ticket to Sunset Beach California." She hoped they would have a flight leaving soon.

"Well, ma'am, you're in luck. We have a flight leaving in about 10 minutes to L.A. There's a short crossover in Kansas, but other than that, its a straight shot to LA.It's a steep price, though." She hadn't even thought about money, or the fact that she was nearly broke.

"Can you charge it?" She pulled out a credit card. It would take her forever to pay it off, but she put that thought aside for now. All she wanted to think about was her reunion with Ricardo. Minus her evil half sister.

"Sure, I can do that." The clerk busied herself behind the counter and a few minutes later, Paula was walking toward the gate. She boarded the plane, which was almost empty, and found a seat far away from anyone else. That waa good, she didn't feel like putting up with some nosy person sitting beside her. They had been in the air for about half an hour when what she was doing hit her. Spending money she didn't have to fly across the country with hopes of stopping a wedding and stealing the groom away. It was completely ridiculous, but that didn't stop her. No matter how ridiculous it was, she wwas going to her home, Sunset Beach, and she was going to stop that wedding. Gabi Martinez would never become Gabi Torres, at least not as long as Paula was still alive.Maybe Ricardo would never marry Paula, maybe he would never even like her again, but he wasn't going to have Gabi either. She spent the rest of her flight scheming and fuming at Gabi. It passed rather quickly. Before she knew it, they were landing in the LA airport. She grabbed her bags from the overhead compartment, and left the plane. When she was outside the airport, she fumbled around in her bag for the cellphone she carried and hailed a cab. She was on her way to Sunset Beach.
 
 

Paula finally found the cell phone she had been searching for, and found the number for one of the hotels near Surf Central. She was eager to get a room so she could get things ready for her reunion with Ricardo.

"Shoreline Inn, how may I help you?" A young, and very perky, girl answered at the front desk.

"I need to reserve one room for the night, single bed. Do you have one vacant?" She asked the clerk from the backseat of the cab she was riding in.

"We have three rooms open, would you like  view overlooking the beach?" Why not, she thought. Maybe it would come in handy later.

"Sure." She told the girl."I'll be at the hotel in about half an hour ."

"Fine. Name, and how will you be paying?" She asked as she took the information.

"Paula Stevens, I'll be charging it." She finished booking the room, and just watched as the town she grew up in, her real home, slowly came into view. It was an amazing sight. Before she knew it, they were pulling up in front of the hotel. She quickly paid the driver and went in to get to her room. Jetlag was catching up and she wanted to get refreshed before she found Ricardo. It didn't take long to pay, so she was standing infront of a window overlooking the beach before she knew it. Familiar sights caught her eye. From her room, she could see the lifeguard station, Surf Central, where she had lived before she moved in with Ricardo. She could even see the Richards' house.....the Ricards house. That reminded her that she needed to call Cole. He would be able to fill her in on all that had happened since she had left town. She picked up the phone and dialed the number.

"Richards' residence." The maid said as she picked up the phone.

"May I speak to Cole Deschanel?" She asked politely.

"Excuse me?" She sounded agitated."Is this a joke?"

"No. I'm his sister, Paula Stevens." Why would she think it was a joke? Last Paula had heard, he was living here with his wife, Caitlin, and his son.

"Well, Ms. Stevens, I'm sorry to inform you that Mr. Deschanel is no longer living here." The maid said.

"Do you know where he's at?" Paula wanted to talk to her brother, she needed to.

"I believe he's staying with his father." Cole was living with his father? I really have missed a lot, Paula thought to herself.

"Can you give me that number?"

"I'm not allowed to release that information. I'm sorry." The maid hung up on her.

Paula walked back to through the double glass doors that led to balcony, where she could get an even better look at the town. It really was a breathtaking sight. She began to realize just how much she had missed the beach. She thought breifly about going to see Ricardo now, but it ws late, and she was afraid he would be annoyed if she came to his house unnanounced. Or, even worse, she could walk in on him and Gabi.  She shuddered just thinking of how horrible that sight would be. She really didn't want anything like that to happen.

As she climbed into bed, she began thinking of what her life would have been like if Gabi had never come to Sunset Beach. If that had happened, then maybe it would be Paula preparing to say her I Do's to Ricardo right now, not that trampy little sister of hers. As she fell asleep, she imagined just how perfect her life with Ricardo was going to be when she got rid of Gabi once and for all.

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