007 :: eternity.

Featuring: Carly
Rating: K+
Genre(s): Romance
Spoilers: Post-Fortune Cup


"I'll still be here, and if it's meant to be, we'll be together."
― Jake of One Tree Hill


No one could ask for better weather on takeoff day. The sky was a soft pastel blue, the breeze chilly but sweet. Jack's private jet circled the runway one last time and subtly leapt before skyrocketing. Something moved inside the plane as it cut through the sky. Carly waved until her arm nearly fell off; she thought she'd seen Jack through the window one last time.

"Good-bye, Jack!" she screamed as loud as she could, even though he wouldn't hear her through the whirring of the engine. "I'll be waiting here!"

Weeks passed and she couldn't stop thinking about him. Every time a blond man passed her on the streets, she would take second glances without realising. Whenever a man was sitting at one of the tables drinking coffee at Café La Geen, she would inadvertently walk closer to see if it was him. There was no chance he would be back in Neo Domino so quickly, but still she held onto that spark of hope.

Carly was an optimist and always believed in the best. The odds stacked against her meant nothing; the sight of seeing other people's happiness warmed her heart. As long as he was happy, she was happy. If he wanted to be King, she would support his decision until death. But she knew, somewhere deep inside, it would break her heart if Jack chose someone else over her. It was quite selfish of her for conjuring up this terrible thought, but she couldn't bring herself to accept it no matter how hard she tried.

The same way she couldn't imagine loving another man.

She'd changed her perspective because of him. Before he entered her life, had she even considered the emotions of celebrities? Maybe she would have if she wasn't so desperate for money. Anything went, quality or not, just so she could keep herself from starving. After acquainting with Jack, she learned that even the King was capable of shattered pride. It was the first time in a long time that she realised everyone, no matter the social class, felt pain. She couldn't hurt him, or anyone else, even if it meant sacrificing her job. She couldn't do it. In the end, she let him go, but not after she had already fallen for him.

That was years ago yet the memory was still fresh in her mind. She looked up to the sky. Was he happy in America? What was he doing now? Dueling? How many duels did he already win? And how many more duels would he have?

Carly sighed. Am I going to wait an eternity for him to come back?

Truthfully, she had no problem waiting. Time made no difference as long as her love burned for him. In fact, it could be worth it. When that day came, with a bit of Lady Luck, perhaps she would shower all her love on him. If fate allowed them to be together, she would gladly accept it. She pulled out a small piece of folded paper from her bag: an unofficial itinerary of things they would do if they officially became a couple.

It was just a fantasy now, but eternity was bound to be reality. Someday.

Until then, she would wait.