You pause for the briefest moment outside of Carly's apartment door, collecting yourself with a deep sigh. Why did you come back here. This is nuts. You should leave. Walk away. Run.

You won't though, because it's her.

So, you turn the knob and walk into the apartment and find her waiting for you on the lowest step of the stairs at the back of the room. Her eyes are on you the moment you enter and you give her your best grin, despite your instinct to flee. The thumping in your head has faded away and you stop at the stair post and lean casually against it.

"Hey," you say.

"Hey," she answers quietly, still looking up at you with eyes that seemed to be searching yours, her forehead is creased in thought.

"Sooo..." you drag out, knowing that you really do not want to deal with what is about to come. "Weather's nice."

Carly rolls her eyes and sighs out a breath she must have been holding for a while. "Do you really want to talk about the weather?"

"Um...," you um, thinking that it would be a great topic to discuss. "Sure."

She stands and faces you, her arms are hugging her chest, but her eyes bore into yours. She is silent for an uncomfortably long time before she speaks. When she does speak, her voice is serious. "Do you love me?"

You raise an eyebrow as if this was the dumbest question ever asked and for a moment you wonder if this could pass for one of those questions that are not meant to be answered. But, when Carly continues to stare at you as if expecting an answer, you realize that you had better say something. "D'uh..." Yeah, you are one smooth lady with the lines.

Carly just smiles, hiding a laugh and shakes her head, unfolding her arms and wrapping them around your waist, bringing her into your body real close. "Puckett, you have a way with words. Promise me one thing."

You smile, wrapping your arms around her, holding her tight, looking up the inch of her height over yours to her big brown eyes. "Anything."

"Love me when I'm old a wrinkly?"

You laugh. This girl has a way of lifting your mood. "I'll love you forever, Cupcake."

"Will you stay?" Her voice is so full of need.

It would be so simple to say yes to her. So easy to give in. To stay. "Carls...I can't. The longer I stay, the harder it will be."

"I don't care. I don't want you to go." God, she is cute when she pouts.

"I don't want to go," you admit. "But, you'll be going to uni soon. Then what? It'll look odd enough with us hanging out together. What about when you turn 30? How about 50?"

Carly looks into your eyes as if none of that matters. And, maybe for her it doesn't. But, this isn't your first rodeo. "I'll love you anyway. And I don't care what anyone else thinks. We'll make it work."

"Carls...," you really should argue with her. This won't work. It never has before. Why would it be any different this time. "Whatev."

Carly tightens her grip and speaks slowly: "We will make it work..."

You roll your eyes at her. "Okay. Fine. Sure. We'll make it work..."

"Good." Carly frowns for a moment and leans back to look at you. "How old are you, anyway?"

You smile. "Old enough to know this is a bad idea."