Author's Note: This is yet another song fic I did based after one of my favorite Paul Revere & the Raiders' songs. I based this one after "Why? Why? Why? (Is It So Hard)" off of 1966's Spirit of '67 album written by bassist Phil Volk. Enjoy! :D

Johnny didn't get home until nearly midnight. It had been a very busy day at the station and he couldn't wait for a day off. It seemed that the days had been getting longer at station 51 and the rescues more intense. Johnny had begun to anticipate his days off more than ever.

He kicked off his shoes as he came in the door and threw his coat aside on his coat tree. Closing the door, he flopped down on his couch and let out a huge groan. The rain sure was coming down. It pelted against his windows and dripped down the gutters swiftly. Johnny just wished that it would stop raining for once. It fit his mood too well and it annoyed him.

As he laid there in the darkness, his mind wandered away from him and off to a girl that he used to know. Hadn't he vowed himself to forget about her? That's why he had broken up with her, right? But why then was he always thinking about her….?

Carol was a beautiful girl, impulsive, but beautiful. Johnny had always admired the way she looked in her flowered blouses and snug blue jeans. She was unlike any other girl he had ever known, but then, maybe that was the problem.

Her hair was as dark as her eyes were bright, both brown in color. Johnny loved her long hair, her impish smile, and that gleam in her eyes. Never a dull moment.

They had gone together for a long time. Roy had always said that he couldn't remember the last time Johnny was with somebody so long. But now, he knew why it had been so long. Johnny knew they weren't right together and spent every beautiful day with her, crafting how to let her go. He had to be gentle, but he couldn't stay.

Carol was beautiful, she was nice, she was fun, but she was not the one John Gage wanted to spend his whole life with. She was too spontaneous, too hasty. She wanted every thing right away. She wanted to get married right away; she wanted to have children right away… Her plans were just not compatible with Johnny's ideas of a happy future and he could never learn to adapt to hers. But he had to tell her gently.

Once Johnny had finally concocted a plan, he put it into action. He could still remember the exact words he had foolishly mumbled to Carol. Johnny couldn't help but wonder why the words in his head never seemed the same when he spoke them as he said, "Sorry Carol, but we're through. I'm sorry, and please don't be too sad about it or anything…" Maybe he hadn't been gentle enough? Carol had said nothing and tears immediately began falling from her brown eyes. His words had not brought the satisfaction he had anticipated. His mind was immediately alive again, echoing over and over to his guilty conscience, "What did I do?"

Oh why, why, why did breaking up have to be so hard?

As he looked upon Carol from a distance, he realized the wrong that he had done. He had hurt a girl who had been true to him and beside him in good times and bad times. But things had changed. He had changed. He wasn't good for Carol and he had to get out to escape her wild, fast-paced dreams for the future. Their plans hadn't, didn't, and wouldn't mesh.

"I'm sorry Carol," He had written in a letter he for some reason never sent. "I have to go. I belong a free man, a single man. Besides, with my job, you know I won't have as much time for you…"

He rarely saw her after their break up. Their lives, careers, and separate interests were between them. But even then, weeks and then months later, she still didn't want him to leave. She wanted him back. Even after what he had done to her. Johnny knew he couldn't go back. He was not right for her, and she was not right for him.

Still he wondered why breaking up had to be so hard.