CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY

Jody ran up to the car and slumped herself down in the front seat. She wouldn't look at anyone and Charlie knew she was fighting to hold back her tears.

"Jody-" Charlie started.

"Take me home." Jody whispered.

Charlie sighed and turned on the car. He waved good-bye to Sam and drove off. "Are you ok Jody?"

Jody didn't answer and Charlie sighed painfully. She began to cry. Charlie drove faster and they eventually pulled into the huge driveway of his parent's house. Jody ran up to Kyle's room before Charlie could even get out of the car. He rushed in to follow her but his parents stopped him in the hallway.

"Where did you two go?" Mrs. Sims asked.

"Uh… around." Charlie said, trying to get past them.

"Oh Charlie!! I just called Sam… she wasn't home. But I invited her over for dinner tomorrow night on the answering machine."

Charlie sighed. "Well, we ran into her while we were out and she has company."

"Oh nonsense Charlie! You know better than everyone how Sam can set anyone up. I'm sure she has a perfect date for her guests tomorrow."

Charlie shrugged. "Ok, whatever. Excuse me." He managed to push past his parents and up the stairs.

Jody was sitting on Kyle's waterbed, against the wall. She was hugging her knees close to her and was crying. Charlie sat down next to her and wrapped her in a hug. She didn't pull back, like he had expected.

"Are you ok? What did she say?"

Jody shook her head and wiped her eyes. "Nothing… I'm sorry. It's just… I never expected to have to meet the one person that broke us up… two times…" Jody sniffed and laid her head on Charlie's shoulder.

"It's ok…. Don't cry."

"I'm not… I'm sorry. It just kinda freaked me out you know? But I'm ok… and Sam seems really nice."

"Yeah… my mom invited her over for dinner tomorrow night."

"And Ally?" Jody asked fearfully.

"Oh, Sam can set her up. Sam sets everyone up. She's like the perfect matchmaker you know."

Jody smiled. "She ever set you up?"

"Oh yeah, plenty of times. Remember that one time I came over totally drunk with that letter?"

"Uh huh."

"And I said the only person I'd ever think of besides you was Amy Saunders, right?"

"Yeah... that ballet dancer for San Francisco."

"Yep. Well, that was the work of Sam… and everyone before her… in fact, she's set me up with all my ex-girlfriends… except you."

Jody smiled and kissed him gently. "Well, she seems great. She never set herself up with you?"

"Once… but you know, we didn't wanna ruin our friendship just cause we'd break up."

"Oh… so now what?"

"Um… I love you."

"I love you too." Jody sighed happily and rested in Charlie's embrace.

Charlie looked down and realized she was asleep. He smiled and shook his head. They hadn't gotten much sleep last night because of how late they stayed up and how early Mrs. Sims had woken them up. Charlie rested his head on top of Jody's and closed his eyes.

~*~ Back in New York… ~*~

Jody walked across the street from her apartment to where Charlie was playing basketball with himself. He turned to her and smiled. He bounced the ball and motioned for Jody to come over to him. She came over and watched him.

"You wanna play?" Charlie asked.

"Me? No way." Jody shook her head.

"Aw, please! Eva's to busy… and Erik's to… well, doesn't like basketball. It sucks playing by myself." Charlie gave her a cute pleading look.

"Ok, ok, fine. How could I turn down that cute face."

Charlie smiled and threw her the ball. "Thanks."

Jody aimed for the basket and shot. She missed by several feet.

Charlie laughed and went after the ball. "You stink."

Jody stuck out her tongue. "Gee, thanks. You're so nice." She teased.

Charlie laughed and shot the ball. It swished through the basket and Charlie went after the ball again. "Yes!"

Jody walked over and kissed him softly. "Reward…" She giggled.

Charlie smiled and shot the ball again. He made it in and Jody kissed him again. He helped her to aim and she made it in a few times after that.

A while later Charlie and Jody wandered back up their apartment, happily kissing each other.

~*~ The Next Morning ~*~

Charlie and Jody came out of their room and joined Erik and Eva for breakfast at the table.

Eva glanced at Erik and smiled. "You guys should really move out soon. You can't live here when you're married." She said.

"Oh yes! I don't know if I can live through another episode like last night." Erik agreed.

"What are you guys talking about? All… oh." Jody looked down at her cereal and turned red.

Charlie glanced up at them and shook his head, trying to hide his smile. "Sorry… 'bout that…"

"Oh, don't be." Eva insisted. "I'm glad you two had fun."

Jody almost choked on her food and glanced up at Charlie. "I cannot believe we are having this conversation…"

Charlie shook his head. "I think the word is… um… anyway." He smiled and glanced up at his friends.

After breakfast they all went off to their companies. Charlie danced his heart out, as usual, but was excitedly waiting for his date with Jody that night. He had the best evening planned for them.

Jody came home from Cooper's company and took a fast shower. Charlie had told her he had s wonderful surprise for her. She towel dried her hair and curled it into small ringlets. She pulled it up into a fancy ponytail/bun. She put on her new mid thigh length blue dress with small pink flowers around the seems. She slipped on some dressy sandals and put on some make-up.

She hadn't gotten dressed up at all since Sergei and Galina's wedding, but she loved to. She couldn't wait to see Charlie that night. She got into her car and drove off to the restaurant to meet Charlie. She went inside and was seated at their reserved table. She waited and waited for Charlie, but he never came.

"Um, excuse me, the Sims reservation was for tonight… right?" Jody asked one of the people working there.

"Yes, but I'll go check." Th man walked away and came back a few minutes later. "We just got a call from Mr. Sims. He said to tell you that he was caught at work and he wouldn't be able to make it. Would you like e to fetch your coat Mrs. Sims?"

Jody sighed and nodded. "Sure… I'm not… yes, please."

Jody left the restaurant and dragged herself back to her car. She knew it wasn't Charlie's fault he was still at ABC, but she couldn't help but be disappointed. She drove back home and Charlie was there waiting for her.

"You look so beautiful." He said from where stood in front of the couch, dressed in nice black dress pants and a nice dress shirt.

Jody looked at him and sighed. "But… I thought you were at ABC."

"I was… Juliette has some new wonder dancer she wanted me to meet and I had to spend hours with her before Jonathan would let me go. I'm sorry Jody. I had the most wonderful time planned for us."

Jody nodded. "That's ok. It was a nice thought though, Charlie."

"Well, we can still have a nice dinner here. I already stared cooking some stuff…"

"What about Eva and Erik?"

"I kicked them out." Charlie smiled and went over to kiss Jody.

She kissed him quickly, then stepped back. "You know what Charlie? I think I'm just gonna skip dinner. I had a really really really big lunch and I'm kinda tired anyway. Good-night." Jody kissed him again and went into their room.

Charlie watched her shut the door, confused and hurt by the way she just blew him off. It wasn't his fault he was stuck at ABC. He had tried to get out of it, but no one would let him. He came in after Jody. She was lying under the covers in her sleeping boxer like shorts and an old mini tank top that showed her stomach. She seemed to be asleep.

"Jody?" Charlie called out quietly.

Jody rolled over and looked up at him. "Hey Charlie." She mumbled.

Charlie lay down next to her and put his arm over her. "You ok?"

"I'm fine…" Jody sighed and closed her eyes.

"Are you sure? You seem a little sad or something."

"I'm fine Charlie! I'm just a little tired ok?" Jody snapped.

"Ok… sorry." Charlie kissed her softly. "I was just checking. I love you Jody."

"I love you too Charlie."

"Are you sure you're ok?" Charlie asked again.

"Uh huh… I'll tell you tomorrow…" Jody murmured before falling asleep.

~*~ The Next Morning ~*~

Jody sat next to Eva on the couch, talking softly as not to wake Erik or Charlie.

"Jody! How can you not tell him that?" Eva exclaimed.

"What if he doesn't wanna marry me anymore?"

"Jody! You have to tell him! It's not like you can hide it!"

"I know, I know… this is just so hard…" Jody started to cry.

Charlie came out and saw Eva comforting Jody on the couch. "Something wrong?" He asked, sitting next to Jody and hugging her.

Eva nodded at Jody and went back to her room.

"Charlie?" Jody turned to face him.

"Yes?"

"I think… I think… I might… be… pregnant."

Charlie turned to look at her. "What?"

Jody nodded and cried even harder.

"What? But, but, but… but what? How? You… you can't be."

Jody sighed and wiped her eyes. "I know Charlie…"

"Uh… I don't even know what to say."

Jody shook her head. "I have to get to work…" She stood up and started back to her room.

Charlie sat back on the couch and sighed deeply. Jody? Pregnant? Charlie couldn't believe it. He pushed himself off the couch and went off to ABC.

"Charlie!" Jonathan scolded. "What's wrong with you today? You're not concentrating. You're trying to hard… your center's off."

Charlie sighed. "Sorry… I can try again…"

Juliette said something quietly to Jonathan.

"No!" Jonathan announced. "Why don't we just end early today. Thank you, everyone." Jonathan nodded and turned back to Juliette.

Charlie sighed again and went over to his bag. He picked it up and was about to leave, but Juliette stopped him.

"Charlie! Can you meet with Sandra again today?"

"Um, I dunno. I had to cancel plans with Jody yesterday and I really should be with her right-"

"Please?"

"…Ok, sure. Just let me go call Jody." Charlie walked off again and went to the pay phones down by the lobby.