CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
"What are you guys doing here?" Charlie asked.
"Uh… looking for Jody. She ran off after you cheated on her." Jake said.
"Yeah… but we can't find her." Dirk added.
"Ok… first of wasn't cheating on her. What about you?" Charlie asked Josh.
"Ummm… I just think she's pretty… and nice." He stammered out nervously.
"Ok, whatever. Look, she isn't… engaged to any of you. So don't even bother looking for. Or, you know what? You guys look inside and I'll look other places." Charlie commanded, since he knew she wasn't inside. He smiled rudely at them before running off and getting a taxi.
Pulling up in front of the giant hotel, Charlie paid the driver and hopped out.
Jody was taking a shower when Charlie entered their room. Deciding not to disturb her, he sat down on the large bed and rested his head in his hands. When Jody came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, Charlie looked up, but she ignored him and grabbed her clothes. As she returned to the bathroom, Charlie could see her tears.
When she came out again, dressed in the same dress as earlier, she sat down on the bed next to Charlie and sighed.
"Jody? I love you more than life itself, please… I can't lose you again."
Jody nodded. "I know. But I just… I can't do this anymore. It's like every time we talk to each other we start another fight. Something… that shouldn't be happening."
"Are… you… you wanna end it?" Charlie asked fearfully.
"I just don't know. This is too hard. I don't know if I can handle going through… anything."
"I, I don't understand… is it over or not?"
Jody shook her head and tried to stop crying. "I don't know. I can't even think right now. Charlie… I am so confused."
"Am I allowed to hug you now?" Charlie asked, but hugged her before she could answer.
Jody hugged Charlie tightly and cried into his chest.
"Are you ok?" Charlie asked, letting her go.
Jody shook her head and whipped her eyes. "No, but I really want to be… so much. I love you and I really want to make this work… but the whole world seems against us ever getting somewhere."
"Yeah, but, I think that maybe, it's a good thing. I mean, if we can go past everything that's happened to us so far, who knows what we can do next. I mean, just think! Over coming all of the obstacles only makes us closer. Our love is too strong to ever die and… I'm not making any sense. I can't find the right words… and I never will. But I love you and I'll never ever stop."
Jody smiled. "Come on, let's go back to the reception." She said and opened the door.
"So we're ok?" Charlie asked happily, standing up.
Jody shrugged. "I'm not sure. But… for now, can we just pretend everything's ok and go have fun. I don't wanna ruin this for Sergei and Galina."
Charlie smiled weakly and kissed her softly. "Sure."
And with that, they started back.
