Months went by since everything had conspired between Mark and Charlee. Both of them had hoped it would get easier to move on, but it was proving to be more difficult than either of them expected. Throughout the final few weeks of the semester, Charlee avoided him to the best of her abilities. When in class, she refused to make eye contact, or give her normal input. Truthfully, she wanted to just completely quit showing up, so as to avoid him entirely, but knew that would mean having to fail the course, and retake it the following semester, and he was not worth that. She refused to extend her college career because of him. As Mark continued to try and work through whatever it was she had begun to make him feel, it pained him to see her like this. He never saw a smile on her face, or heard her cute little giggle. He knew it was all his fault this was happening...but damnit, would he give anything to have those big eyes aimed at him again...

) ) ) )

"Molly, I don't know about this," Charlee commented as she sat in the parking lot of the pool hall she was supposed to be at. Despite her initial reaction of saying no, she had agreed to go on a date with a guy Molly knew.

"Charlee, I promise you won't regret it," Molly reassured her. "Even if you don't end up being into him, I think you will at the least end up liking him as a friend. Mikey is a really cool guy."

"I don't doubt that...you just know how I am about meeting new people."

"Don't worry, I told him you're shy. Just give him a chance, okay? If you really get uncomfortable, just let him know and we can try again with me there with you. He is understanding, he won't be upset."

Charlee gave a heavy sigh. "Okay, okay. Sometimes I hate you for getting me into these situations."

"Well I still love you anyway," Molly replied, and with a laugh they said there goodbyes before hanging up. Gathering her purse, Charlee looked up at the place once more, and took a deep breath before heading inside. She was immediately greeted to classic rock pounding into the air, and the dull roar of people interacting. Looking around, she tried to spot someone who fit the description Molly had given her, and remembered her commenting he would be close to the bar.

Walking through the crowd, she maneuvered her way past people through the sitting area, until she was finally to the other side of the room. She looked through the people standing next to the bar, and was about to text Molly, when a voice behind her said, "Lee?"

Turning around, Charlee found a guy close to her age standing there, and she was taken back by just how handsome he was. His long, dark brown hair was tied back in a bun, with a couple of pieces falling out around his face. His beard made his kind face look even more round than what it was, but still complimented him so well. She could see a number of tattoos peeking out from under his clothes here and there, and that his earlobes were stretched. She was smitten just by his looks alone. "Mikey?" she said back, and melted when his light brown eyes crinkled as he smiled at her.

"It's so nice to meet you," he commented, and took her by surprise when he gave her a light hug.

Noting to herself how good he smelled, she breathed in his cologne as she returned the hug, before pulling back. "Thanks for agreeing to this, Molly has said nothing but good things about you."

"The same can be said about you," he stated with a smile. "Want a drink?"

"Sure," she replied, and stepped closer to the bar with him to get the attention of the bartender. "So how long have you known Molly?"

"Our older sisters were best friends growing up, so we've known each other since we were kids, but never really interacted. We both started working at the video store near our high school when we were seniors, and that's when we really started hanging out. Her and her sister are pretty much family by this point."

"It's funny how things work out like that."

"It is," he said with a smile. "What about you?"

"We just met this past year. We had a photography class together, and got paired up for one of the projects assigned to us. We really hit it off right away, and I'm so grateful for that. She is the closest friend I've ever had."

Mikey smiled. "I could tell right away you were a really good friend to her. She talks about you all the time."

"She always has of you, too. I'm honestly surprised we haven't met until now. She would comment all the time about how we were so alike."

"I think she was afraid we were going to become better friends together than with her," Mikey joked, and they both laughed. "So tell me more about yourself."

()()()()

As soon as Mark walked inside, he was greeted to loud music, and the stale scent of spilled beer. He always enjoyed this atmosphere, because it reminded him of his days traveling on the road and spending late nights with his close friends. "I should give Kevin a call," he noted to himself of his friend who had recently moved to the area.

Looking around, Mark searched for the woman he was supposed to be meeting. Wanting to move on from the Charlee situation, he had decided to look around online, and came across a sexy, curly headed blonde who seemed quite eager to meet him. A flash of regret went through him as he looked through the crowd, but there was no turning back at this point.

"Mark?" a voice said behind him, and turning around he found her standing there, her legs and chest flaunted in a tight little skirt and blouse combination. She was definitely more attractive in person, which made things seem promising.

"Tanya?" With a smile, she nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said as he returned the smile, and shook her hand. "Want a drink?"

"Sure, thank you," she replied with a smile, and the two of them made their way towards the bar. "So what made you decide to change professions? I used to watch you with my nephew every Monday, you were good at what you did," Tanya asked once they were seated and with their drinks.

Mark gave a small smile at her comment. "Well I appreciate that. Right before I left the company, I had sustained a pretty serious neck injury. I was told I was damn lucky, because had I been even an inch off from how I landed I would have been left paralyzed. I guess that kind of shook me up, because it didn't take long for me to decide I was done."

"And you teach now?"

"I do, yes."

"That's quite the career change."

He gave a small chuckle. "I suppose I wanted something a little less dangerous," he commented, making her laugh.

"So how do you like it?"

"I enjoy it a lot, actually. It was what I had originally wanted to do, but then I got a little sidetracked."

She laughed once more. "How are the students? I know they're in college, but got any problem kids?"

Mark's mind immediately went to Charlee. "No...not a problem, per say," he replied, when something caught his eye over her shoulder. Focusing in, he was taken back when he saw at the pool table it was none other than Charlee...and a guy? Why could he not get away from this girl? He could feel his stomach drop as he watched them interact by the pool table. She kept flashing the guy smiles, and the look on her face was pure happiness as they talked and played the game. Realizing Tanya had been speaking, Mark mentally shook himself and said, "I am so sorry, what did you say?" Just as Tanya began to speak once more, he heard Charlee's distinct squeal, and again looking over he saw she was holding a glass away from the guy, laughing as he tried to get it from her. When he finally snatched it up, he pulled her to him, and as they hugged in a not so friendly manner, Mark had enough. Finally giving his full attention to Tanya, he completely disregarded whatever she may have said, and asked, "Want to come to my place?"

() () () ()

"You are such a little cheater," Mikey laughed as he and Charlee walked out into warm night air.

"Hey, I don't cheat. I can't help it if I accidentally bumped into you," Charlee said innocently, and laughed when he suddenly grabbed her around the waist and hoisted her up.

"Accident, my ass," Mikey retaliated as he carried her along through the parking lot, and they both laughed as he put her back down.

"Okay, fine, maybe if you're lucky we can have a rematch so you can redeem yourself," Charlee teased as they reached her car.

"I would like that a lot, actually," Mikey commented in a quiet tone, suddenly making things serious. With a small smile, he added, "I had a lot of fun tonight, Lee."

"Yeah, I did too," she replied with a smile.

He hesitated, before stating, "Molly told me you were going through a rough time, and I just want you know...regardless of where things go between us, I'm here for you. You're a friend of Molly's, which makes you a friend of mine...at the very least, anyway." Charlee simply smiled at this. "I'd like to see you again...if that's okay?"

"Of course. I really enjoyed spending time with you," she replied, and he smiled down at her. As he looked down at her, she could see hesitation in his eyes, when he suddenly leaned down and softly kissed her. Closing her eyes, she reached up to touch his cheek as she returned the kiss, enjoying the way his beard tickled her face.

"I'll text you," he stated when he pulled back, and gave her another smile when she nodded. "Night, Lee," he added, and opened her door for her. Thanking him, she got into her vehicle, and gave a small wave at him before watching him walk away. As she finally started up the engine, she bit her lip as she smiled, noting to herself she would have to thank Molly for introducing her to such a sweet guy...

()()()()

Arching his hips up, Mark gazed down at where he and Tanya's bodies met as she rode him. Having already made her come once, he was working to get himself to that point also, but found he could not quite get there. Letting his head fall back, he closed his eyes, and suddenly he imagined Charlee on top of him. Gripping Tanya's hips, he pictured Charlee's soft curves in his hands, and his heart began to beat harder at the site in his mind. He could see the look of pleasure on her face, and smell her arousal. As he braced his feet against the mattress, he could feel her small hands scratching at his chest, and hear her tiny whimpers as he brought her closer with each thrust. All of this made him quickly spiral up and up, until finally he was tumbling over the edge.

"Charlee," he whispered, and groaned as he continued to thrust up until it subsided. When he finally opened his eyes, he found Tanya staring down at him, a look of anger on her face.

"Who the fuck is Charlee?" she asked. Oh shit.

"She...I...I'm sorry," he replied, unsure of what to say.

Shaking her head, Tanya got up and immediately began to redress. "You could have warned me you weren't over your ex, you dick," she spat at him, hastily yanking her clothes on. Snatching up her shoes and purse, she looked back at him and added before leaving, "Fuck you."

Muttering a curse under his breath, Mark let out a weary sigh as he let his head fall back on the pillow again. What the fuck was wrong with him? He had a wonderful time with Tanya. She was kind, funny, and highly intelligent. They had shared many similar interests, and honestly he had immediately been attracted to her. Hence, him lying naked in bed with the scent of sex still heavy in the room. So why he so goddamn stuck on this little brunette?

The more he thought, the further his mind wandered toward Charlee, and all the things he missed about her. He missed how sweet she always smelled, and how soft her skin was. He missed those dimples, and making her squeal with laughter. He missed her corny jokes, and how playful she could be. He just...missed her...but why?

"Holy shit...I think I'm in love with her," he thought to himself, and was suddenly in a whole new predicament.