The Last Conversation

Chapter Eleven

Cappie woke up and reached out for Casey's warm body. He was surprised to learn that he was alone in his bed. Had he dreamed it all? Nah, he said with a smirk. Everything that had happened between him and Casey was amazing. Casey was probably in the bathroom. He saw that his clock read 8:00. Maybe he should call work and let his admin know that he was going to be coming in late. He wanted to spend as much time with Casey before she had to go on with her day. Cappie sat up in his bed and stretched his arms over his head.

"Case?" Cappie called towards the closed bathroom door. "Come on back to bed."

He waited for a response, but didn't get any. He looked around the floor and noticed her clothes were gone. Cappie sighed. She didn't? He thought with sadness. "Damn it, Cappie," he scolded himself. He was more upset with the fact that Casey had gotten up and left without saying good-bye. After all that happened between them, she owed him that much, didn't she?

Cappie picked up his t-shirt that she had worn a few hours ago. He brought it up to his nose and smelled in her scent. Why did he even agree to sleep with her again? He knew in his mind that it was a bad idea. She even told him that it didn't mean she wasn't getting married. She wanted one last time with him. Who are you kidding, he thought to himself, you knew what you were doing. You wanted it just as much. Cappie threw the t-shirt on the bed and made his way into the kitchen to make some coffee.

Cappie noticed Casey's ZBZ letters and a folded piece of paper with his name next to them on his dining room table. Cappie picked up the paper and unfolded it. He could feel tears sting his eyes as he read the letter.

Dear Cappie,

I don't even know what to say at this time. It may seem a cold

thing to leave without saying good-bye, but it would've been too

hard to do it face-to-face. I don't know if this is the last time I will

see you or not. I know we're both in Jordan and Rusty's wedding,

but by next year things will be different between us. I know for sure

that we can't have any more moments like what we shared this early

morning. Having breakfast with you is going in my books as one of

the best memories we've shared together. I will always remember

this day and I thank you for that.

I placed my ZBZ letters next to this note for a reason. I need you to do

something for me. Please take these letters and throw them away, Cap.

You're too wonderful of a man to hold on to these and it'd be cruel of me

to be selfish to want you to. You let me go seven years ago and now it's

my turn to let you go. Be free Cappie.

Love always and forever,

Casey xoxo

Cappie folded the note back up and grabbed her letters. He walked over to the garbage can and opened it. He stared at the letters in his hand. He didn't know if he could do it. Before he could chicken out, Cappie gave the letters a kiss and he let go of the cord. As he watched the letters glittering as they fell into the darkness of the garbage can, a surge of anger ran through him. He was angry that he let his emotions control his behavior and better judgment; angry that Casey walked out on him without a word (sure she left a note, but it wasn't the same); angry that he agreed with some of things Casey said in her note, and finally he was angry because he knew he'd lost Casey Cartwright forever.

Casey was staring out the window of her bedroom. She was wiping at her eyes with a tissue. She'd been home for a few hours now. She couldn't believe what a chicken shit she was. She had woken up at about 6:00 and watched Cappie sleep peacefully. She felt so comfortable laying there next to him. She had slid out of bed to go to the bathroom. Once she was done, she tiptoed out to the living room to grab her purse. Her phone showed numerous missed calls from both Ashleigh and Derek. Casey groaned.

She checked her text messages and saw several from Ashleigh: "Case – what R U doing?" and "You're so wrong" and "Derek doesn't deserve any of this" and "U R better than this" and "How do U expect me 2 stand by U if U can't be honest?" As much as Casey hated to admit it, Ashleigh was right. Casey was in the wrong here. Her actions were unfair to both Derek and Cappie. Right then and there, Casey knew she had to leave Cappie alone.

Before she could lose her nerve, Casey looked around for paper and a pen. She noticed a notepad on Cappie's coffee table and went to retrieve it. As she grabbed the notepad, she saw her ZBZ letters underneath it. It was the right thing to do and let Cappie go. She owed it to him. As Casey wrote out the note, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She tried to muffle her cries so she wouldn't wake him. Once she finished her letter, she folded it up and placed it on the dining table and she placed her ZBZ letters beside it.

She snuck back into Cappie's bedroom and grabbed her clothes off the floor. She dressed quickly and she turned to look at Cappie one last time. He was sleeping with a small smile on his face. She was tempted to stay with him but she knew she had to go. She walked towards the bed and kissed her fingertips and brought them lightly against Cappie's cheek. She sighed as she walked out of the bedroom; before she left she turned back and looked at him. "Good-bye, Cap," she whispered. She quickly grabbed her things and rushed out of Cappie's apartment and his life forever.

Casey grabbed another tissue and wiped at her eyes. She had to stop this. In a few hours, she would be meeting Derek and all their friends and family at the church for their rehearsal. The thought of the rehearsal made her chuckle a bit; she couldn't believe that people had to practice getting married before the actual event. In many ways, it was a show, wasn't it? They'd be dressed up and performing their vows in front of their family and friends. They would be selling it to the crowd, convincing everyone they were madly in love and promising to be devoted to each other for the rest of their lives. Wow, Casey thought rejectedly, I'm not sure I'm that great of an actress.

She hadn't spoken to Ashleigh or Derek today. She knew she should call both of them, but she couldn't quite bring herself to do it just yet. She heard her cell phone beep. Casey got butterflies in her stomach as she grabbed her phone, wondering who sent her a text. Her heart leapt as she saw Cappie's number. She closed her eyes and sighed. She read the text and the words blurred as she finished reading it: "Case, lonely w/o you here. Got ur note. I get it. ZBZ ltrs gone 4 good. No matter what, know this – ILY 4ever. Wish U much happiness in life + marriage. Good-bye. Always yours, Cap."

Casey went to her dresser and opened up the jewelry box sitting on top. She lifted the bottom section out and peered at the hidden things beneath it. She grabbed the photo of her and Cappie and smiled. They had just moved into their apartment after graduation and Cappie had his arms wrapped around her waist and he was looking down at her as Casey looked up at him. It was her favorite picture of them because in that moment their love was so pure and so real. She had gotten rid of most of her things that involved Cappie, but she hadn't been able to let go of this photo. She knew she should get rid of it, but she didn't want to. Casey eyed the garbage can next to her desk and let go of the photo. She watched it flutter like a butterfly as it fell inside it. She closed her eyes and convinced herself it was the right thing to do. She knew this day would come, she knew she had to let him go.

A/N: Sorry if this doesn't make some you happy - I want a C&C happy ending, too....but I'll just say, you have to wait and see. Only a few more chapters. I hope to write and update this weekend.

I will share this though - I will be writing a sequel to "The Last Conversation" - I was thinking about it all last night. So stay tuned for the ending of this story and the continuation of Casey and Cappie's tortured love story.

I apologize if I am too dramatic....I love writing words with emotions and I want my readers to feel how Casey and Cappie do. I have to admit, I got teary-eyed writing Casey's letter to Cappie and Cappie's final text to Casey. I hope you enjoy.

And always, thanks for reading! ~Dee