So, here is the last chapter of "Stuck" and the end of my humorous, romantic type FD stories. Thanks for reviewing, keep 'em coming. They'll be a longer note in the epilogue; please review and enjoy this last chapter.

One of these days, I won't be afraid of staying with you

I hope and pray, waiting to find a way back to you. 'Cause that's where I'm home

Chapter Thirteen

Letting Go

After Bree had given her advice, the conversation began to taper off and it was beginning to become obvious that the three girls were running out of things to say. Rachel, as usual, was the first one to actually speak up. "Well, it's been great chatting with ya Clear, but Bree and I've got to get down to the Green Igloo...so that we don't get fired too." She said, standing up and motioning for her co-worker to do the same. Clear nodded, understanding where her ex-coworker was coming from and didn't take her comment too offensively.

After saying their goodbyes, Bree and Rachel rose to let themselves out. As they opened the door, Bree turned back around and motioned for Clear, who was moving back to where her homework was still spread out. "Clear, someone's here to see you." The waitress explained, causing the brunette to glance over at her with a raised eyebrow expression.

"What?" Clear questioned, wondering who could possibly be at her door but getting to her feet anyway and joining the other two girls at the door. She was nearly shocked to see Tod standing on the front stoop, looking surprised to see that Clear hadn't answered the door herself. "Tod. What are you doing here?" She questioned, hoping that she didn't sound completely ungrateful to see him standing there.

Tod managed to muster up a slight smile as he said, "I was hoping we could talk." He hoped that she wouldn't be the one to slam the door in his face, especially after the way he had acted the night before.

Bree smiled at Clear before slipping out the door past Tod with Rachel in tow, leaving the broken couple alone to talk; the brunette stepped away from the door and motioned for Tod to step inside. As soon as Clear shut the door, he turned to face her, knowing he had to speak before he chickened out of speech he had intended to give her. "Clear, I'm sorry for the way I acted last night, I was a complete jackass and-"

"No, I completely deserved it, after what I did." Clear interrupted, knowing that it was finally time to start speaking the truth. "I kissed Alex, and I'm sorry, but I'll completely understand if you never want to speak to me again."

Tod shook his head, frowning slightly. "Alex told me about what happened yesterday, about how he kissed you and you were just reacting. And...I want to give you another chance...I mean I want to get back together." He said quickly, fumbling over the words he had practiced many times on the way over to her house.

Clear sighed, dropping onto the couch, surprised at what she was hearing; Tod forgiving her had been what she had always wanted, but now she realized that what Bree had said was true. It would be almost impossible to be truly happy with Tod, as long as Alex was still around. "Tod..." She trailed off, not sure just how to explain what she needed to say.

"Clear, don't say anything yet...let me try to explain. You were my first girlfriend and being with you was something that I know I'm not ready to end yet. Even after everything, I still want to be with you, I still love being with you." Tod said, kneeling down in front of her and taking her hand.

Though she wanted nothing more then to agree with everything Tod had just said, Clear pulled her hand away and stood up, pacing around the living room before turning to face him once again. "You have no idea how badly I've wanted to hear you say that in the past twenty-four hours, Tod, but it's not right, it'll never work out. Not with Alex being your best friend and I don't want to ruin the friendship you guys have." She explained, forcing herself to continue. "And you'll never be able to fully trust me again after what happened. It'll never work."

Tod looked as though he couldn't quite believe what she was saying. "No...Clear, it'll work. It'll work if we give it another chance." He said pleadingly, wishing that things weren't speeding toward the inevitable. Their relationship was over, though he wasn't ready to admit it, wasn't ready to let go.

Clear shook her head, her eyes beginning to well with tears. "We can't, there are no second chances." She whispered, wishing that she weren't saying the words that she was saying. "I'm sorry." And she truly was. She hadn't ever expected her first relationship would ever end up like this, she had expected it to be more of a She's All That type of thing.

At a long pause, Tod finally managed to bring himself to speak. "You're sure...there's no chance..." He knew there wasn't, he had known since yesterday that there was no reviving what they had lost long ago.

"No." Clear muttered, looking away from him as she spoke. "I don't think so." She wiped the tears from her eyes before she turned to face him again, forcing herself to muster up a smile. "We'll always have French class." She pointed out, not quite sure of why she was trying to make light of the situation when it made her want to die inside, as she followed him to the front door.

Tod nodded, unable to smile however. "Right." He agreed, opening the door and stepping out, letting it shut behind him. Somehow, he didn't think that was enough.

* * *

After leaving Clear's house, Tod didn't quite know where to go; he wasn't in the mood to go home and have George possibly tease him or his mother want to have a good old mother-son chat with him. So, he headed toward the only other place he really knew without walking all over town: Alex Browning's house.

He wasn't sure just how receptive his friend would be, but he decided it would be worth a shot to go see him; he wanted to let Alex know how things had gone with Clear, possibly rekindle the friendship that had had only days before. How did things get so messed up? Tod questioned himself as he walked. I thought things were going all right...between all of us.

When he arrived at the Browning house, Alex opened the door when he knocked, looking surprised to see his friend standing there. "Tod, what are you doing here?" He questioned, motioning for his friend to enter regardless.

"I just wanted to let you know that I went to talk to Clear and we broke up." Tod said as soon as he was inside the house, knowing it would do no good to beat around the bush. "She said that she didn't want to ruin our friendship and she's right. What happened between us Alex? We used to do everything together, I mean we used to eat sand together in kindergarten and try to stand up to Carter Horton. Now you kissed my girlfriend and I would have said that I hated you two hours ago." The whole thing was simply too confusing for Tod to handle and he wanted to set things right. If he couldn't patch things up with Clear then he was sure as hell going to do it with his best friend.

Alex sighed and shrugged his shoulders, trying to figure out just where things had gone wrong. It scared him somewhat that he couldn't figure out just what had happened between them. "I don't know man." He muttered. "I'm sorry I kissed Clear, I really am, and I don't want to lose our sand-eating friendship." He smiled slightly at the memory, feeling slightly relieved when Tod smiled as well.

"Friends?" Tod questioned, sticking out his hand for Alex to shake in agreement, which he did eagerly, agreeing with his friend's words. Tod felt slightly better as he accepted his friend's invite to stay and watch the football game, even though things hadn't worked out with Clear.

* * *

Clear could no longer concentrate on her algebra homework and knew that it would surely never get done now. She could only think about her conversation with Tod and wonder if she had done the right thing, said the right things, made the right decision. Yes, she finally agreed mentally. Everything worked out for the "best", there's no other way things could have worked out.

Clear knew that was true, but it didn't make letting go any easier.

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Alas, all good things must come to an end. Of course, there is an epilogue but as we know it "Stuck" is officially ended. Much sadness, but regardless, please read the epilogue! Review, thanks! The song is "One of These Days" by Michelle Branch