Faith wondered why Carson was acting so strangely. He wasn't himself. It started when she returned from the merchantile. Did she do something to make him act the way he did? Had Elizabeth's visit struck something in his heart. . . memories of Amber?
She turned around to check what he was doing. Surprisingly, he wasn't doing any paperwork. He was staring at her! He tried to hide the fact that he had been studying her, but no avail. She couldn't help but wonder why he had stared at her in such a way.
He glanced up again and their eyes met. He opened his mouth to speak. "Faith. . ." he began.
"Yes, Carson?" she responded quickly. She silently berated herself for responding so quickly.
"I-"
The infirmary door burst open. An energetic Cody burst in.
"I got a really bad splinter!" he exclaimed, scrunching his face in discomfort.
Carson's gaze wandered away from Faith's, to Cody. "I'll remove it," he said, fetching a pair of tweezers.
Faith felt her heart sink. What did Carson want to say to her before Cody ran in? Was it something important. . . or maybe something she had wanted to hear for a very long time?
Carson removed the splinter. He felt so frustrated. A few moments ago, he had felt a surge of courage. He had felt fearless of the future - of Faith's reply. He felt his confidence level lower drastically.
Why did you have to get a splinter today, Cody? Carson wondered. He felt guilty for thinking that. No, it wasn't Cody's fault at all! Perhaps it was only fate.
As Cody left, Faith turned to Carson. "Was there something you wanted to say before Cody came in?"
"No. No, nothing at all," Carson said, returning to his notes.
A week passed. Every day, Carson wanted to ask Faith on a date, but his courage failed him. He was so ashamed of his fear. He was afraid of her reaction and response. What if I ruined our friendship over this? he thought.
Faith felt that Carson was distant; he had become more distant every day. She wondered why. Could she have done something to make him distant? It all had started she came back from the merchantile one day.
"Carson, I'm your friend. I can tell when something isn't right, and this is one of those times," she said.
"Nothing," he said. "I'm okay, Faith."
"Are you sure?" Faith asked him.
"I need to pick some supplies at the merchantile, if you'll excuse me," he said leaving abruptly.
Faith sat alone at the infirmary, discouraged. Something was really bothering him, and he didn't want to open up about it.
God, help Carson with whatever is burdening him, she silently prayed.
The next morning, Faith awoke, feeling very sickly. It was only a common winter cold, but she felt horrible. She would have to call off work. She hated the idea of getting out of her warm blankets and going into the cold just to call off work. That was almost as bad as going into work feeling ill!
She had finished changing when there was a knock at the door. It surely wasn't Carson! Who could it be?
It was Abigail. "Hello, Faith! I haven't seen you in a while, and I wanted to talk with you before you went to work."
Faith sniffled with her stuffed nose. "I'm not going to work today, but come in."
"Oh, you're sick?" Abigail asked.
"Just a cold," Faith assured her.
"Other than having a cold, how are you?" Abigail asked.
"I'm fine, I suppose," she said. Faith eyed Abigail with suspicion. "You didn't come over here just to visit, did you?"
"That, and to ask you a question," Abigail said.
"Oh?"
"Well. . . I don't mean to pry, but what's going on between you and Carson?" Abigail asked.
"Me and Carson?" Faith asked.
"Yes. Everyone in town is talking about the sparks between you two. At the party, and, well, to add honestly, all the time," Abigail said.
Faith felt her cheeks get warm. "Me and Carson," she repeated. Her voice was a little raw from her cold. "We're just. . . friends," Faith said, a little longing in her voice.
Abigail could sense Faith's desire for something more. "Do you like him?"
"Yes. Very much," she said. "But he doesn't seem to like me in any way other than as a friend."
"Well. . . why don't you ask him out?" Abigail asked.
"It's not that simple!" Faith exclaimed.
"Oh? Why can't it be?"
"We have a wonderful friendship. I don't want to ruin it by. . ." she didn't finish her sentence.
"Faith, we can all see the way he looks at you! He's in love with you!" Abigail exclaimed. *
Faith flushed. "Love? Love?" she repeated a few times. "He is not in love with me. Who said anything about love?"
Abigail chuckled.
"Abigail, could you stop by the infirmary and tell Carson I won't be in today?" she asked her friend with a sniffle.
"Yes, I'll do that right now," Abigail said with a smile. "Get well soon, Faith."
Abigail headed over to the infirmary.
"Hello, Carson!" she greeted her friend.
"Hello, Abigail! Is there something I can do for you?" he asked her, rising to his feet.
"Faith wanted me to tell you that she won't be coming into work today. She has a bad cold," Abigail said.
"Oh," Carson said. Abigail thought she may have seen a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
"Speaking of Faith. . . Is there something going on between you two?" Abigail wanted to hear Carson's side of the story.
"No. . . I mean, I don't know! Faith seems very professional and a relationship would be very unprofessional. I don't want to damage our friendship. It's very important to me," Carson blurted out.
She was surprised by complete openness at the confession. "What do you want?" Abigail asked.
"I realized just a week ago that I love her. We have been best friends, and I realized that it's become more than that. . . for me, at least."
"Carson, you have to tell her!" Abigail exclaimed, shocked.
"I don't want to ruin our friendship!" Carson protested.
Ah. The classic love story. Abigail had read such stories in tales and books. Two people fall for each other, but they don't know if the other feels the way they do. It was fascinating in books. To see who would be the one to express their feelings. But in real life, this was completely terrifying.
Abigail wanted to tell Carson about how Faith felt about him, but she knew it wasn't her place. Carson needed to ask Faith out because he truly wanted to, not because Abigail had taken his fears away. Sometimes, it was best to let a friend figure somethings out for themselves.
"Carson. Life is short, you have to live it well. Life's too short to waste time and wait. You have to take chances, be brave. It may not always end well, but it's worth it. You never know, Faith may feel the same way," Abigail said.
She left mysteriously, without another word.
* Abigail's exclamation is very similar to how all the people who ship Carson and Faith feel about them!