Amita sat alone in her quiet apartment, well almost quiet apartment. The walls were pretty thin and she could hear the neighbors walk around on the other side. It annoyed her a bit; it was almost 11 am on a Wednesday. Shouldn't they be at work already? The question was soon answered when she heard their door close and the voices disappeared as they walked down the stairs to the first floor and exited the building.

Amita could now almost hear her own heart beat. Was it the right decision to make? Her thoughts were mixed with confusion. Not too long ago she called Harvard about the position at the school. Amita sighed deeply and closed her eyes. Her arms were wrapped around her legs and she didn't know how long she had been sitting like that but when she felt a tingling sensation in her left leg and she had no other choice but to stretch them out by putting her feet back down on the floor.

She was completely wrapped up in her own thoughts. I can't believe I just did that. I told them no…I told them I didn't want the job. Why did I do that? This job was a great opportunity for me and I didn't take it. She knew there was a reason for her actions and she knew exactly what that reason was. She just needed to reassure herself that she made the right decision.

The phone call was easier than she thought. The moment the words left her mouth she actually felt strangely relieved. She didn't know why…well she sort of knew, but the thought scared her. The thought of staying scared her almost as much as the thought of packing all of her things and move far away from her home and everybody she loved, or everybody I could have loved.

Last night she talked to the people at CalSci and asked them about the job opening, the same job Charlie mentioned to her only a few days ago. They said they would love to have her, if she wanted to.

She took it. Last night she took the job at CalSci. She still hasn't told anyone about it. Not even Charlie knew that she wasn't going to leave. Normally he would be the first one she would call but for some reason she found it hard to pick up the phone and dial his number. He should hear it from her in person. She knew he would be happy…and a little bit shocked. He probably wants to know why I stayed. What am I supposed to say? That I'm so crazy about him that I couldn't…

A barking dog pulled her out of her thoughts. She got up and went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. She felt tired. Probably because she only slept about an hour and a half last night. Not because the decision was hard to make. She knew she never really wanted to go. The hard part was to figure out what to say to Charlie. They had been friends for so long and the thought about them being anything but that was a strange thought. That's why she pushed him away when she realized he was going to kiss her last week. Amita finished her coffee and went to the bathroom to get a shower and change her clothes. Then she was going to talk to him. Tell him she was going to stay. She looked in the mirror and caught herself smile.

Charlie was in class when Amita got there. She sneaked in very quietly, trying not to disturb anyone. She looked around and found a seat in the back by the window. The place was almost filled with students which was no surprise consider the reputation Charlie has. Amita sat down and listened to her friend when he told everybody about the importance of mathematics.

It was one of those beginner classes Charlie loved so much. He always liked the faces on the students when he said something they didn't expect or when he told them he used math to help his older brother to solve crimes. It was amazing how he could make math sound so incredible interesting…and sexy, Amita thought to herself.

Twenty minutes later the lecture was over and students came up to him and wanted to know more about the math he used when he helped the FBI. Amita sat still, watching her former thesis adviser and one of her closest friends telling stories about his experiences he's gotten from working side by side with the law. The students eagerly listened to whatever he had to say.

Finally fifteen minutes later he said he needed to go and if they wanted to know more they would have to come back for class tomorrow. When he saw the disappointment on their faces when they realize he had to go already Charlie smiled at his little victory. Now they would be more than willing to come back and hear the rest.

When the last student left he looked up at Amita and smiled. She was sitting in the same chair she had been sitting in during his lecture and was now staring out through the window, oblivious to the fact that Charlie was looking at her.

"What are you thinking of?" Charlie asked, never leaving her with his eyes.

Amita turned her head around and noticed that everybody except for Charlie had left the room.

"Nothing important," she told him and looked down on her hands. "It was a good lecture," She continued before he could say anything that would make her confess right away. She needed a few minutes before she could tell him.

"Yeah, the students seemed impressed"

"Very" She smiled. "If they have trouble with the math-part maybe your brother can recruit them instead". Charlie smiled at her and went to collect his papers on the desk. As usual it was a mess. Amita got up and went over to him.

"Need any help?"

"Yeah, thanks"

As they tried to put the papers back in order Amita cleared her throat and continued.

"Charlie, I need to talk to you about something."

"Sure, what's up?" He asked without lifting his head up to look at her.

"Ehh…I'm staying," Amita said quickly, not even sure if he heard her at all.

"What?" He stopped with the papers and looked at her. "What do you mean? You're staying?"

"Yeah. I…I didn't take the job at Harvard. I'm not moving and…and I'm going to take the job here…at CalSci."

Charlie looked at her. He couldn't believe what he just heard. Did she just say that she is staying?

No one talked for a while and Charlie was the first one to break the uncomfortable silence.

"Is it because of me?" He asked carefully.

"No…not at all…well not entirely…Charlie look, I've been thinking about it for a while now and I realize that I…that I never really wanted the job in the first place. I mean, sure it's a great opportunity and all but this is my home…and I'm not ready to leave. Not yet anyway."

Amita stopped talking and realized how nervous she was. She was never the one who got nervous. Not around Charlie anyway. They had known each other for years.

"Amita, you're a young and intelligent women and I don't doubt for a second that there will be another opportunity like this for you in the future…" He trailed off.

"But…?"

"But…are you sure you want this?" He asked and looked at her.

She thought for a while before she smiled, "Definitely."

At that he smiled back.

Soon after their talk, and when they finally gotten some sort of control over his papers again, Charlie had to go to another class. They said goodbye and Charlie promised he would call her when he got home.

At 6 pm Charlie pulled up on his driveway and noticed Dons car already there. He and the guys from his work were coming over today to have dinner with Charlie and his father. Charlie obviously forgot about it as soon as he left the house this morning, even though his father had called him at work and reminded him of it and make sure he wouldn't be late.

Charlie got out of the car and locked the doors. He sighed. It'd been a long and emotional day. He was happy that Amita was going to stay. He really truly was and no one could say otherwise. It was quiet outside and the only thing Charlie wanted to do was head straight to bed. Like that's going to happen anytime soon. He thought to himself when he heard the others inside. He walked the few steps to the front door and opened it.

The quietness disappeared almost immediately and Charlie walked into a room filled with laughter. Everybody sat around the table listening to Don telling stories about when Charlie and he were young. Great, so nothing embarrassing here.

Charlie closed the door and leaned his back against it. When the others heard him come in they turned around and saw him standing there with his eyes closed.

"Hi Chuck, you okej?" Don asked curiously.

Charlie didn't say anything. He opened his eyes and smiled.

"Charlie? Whats up?"

"She's staying," Charlie said after a while.

"She's staying? Who's staying?" Alan asked when he got out from the kitchen to join the guys around the dinner table.

The grin on Charlies face gave everybody the answer they wanted.