Please refer to previous chapters for disclaimers. Reviews - definitely welcome!
Yes, the chapter title is correct. There are two alternate endings to this. I actually wrote three but decided against posting the third one and deleted it. The choice is yours, read this chapter or skip to the next one. Sorry folks, no clues. : - (
Thanks for the reviews. When I set out to start this, I planned on something simple and short (one or two chapters) and to have it done the week after Valentine's. Enough rambling from me...
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Feb. 15th (around 6pm)
(Feb. 14th, the dreaded day.)
I was going to spend the day lounging around in my pj's and toe socks, but Conrad called this morning asking if I had plans. Guess I wasn't the only one here without a date. I showered and got dressed right as he knocked on the door. Wore the royal blue sweater and blank pants he gave me for Christmas.
At first, we drank coffee and talked. Nothing out of the ordinary; work, friends, family, and life. He had been making plans to go home for his little sister's graduation in May. Conrad and I have met each other's families a few times. (We've been good friends for quite a while now.) Heather, his sister, reminds me of myself when I was her age. Feel sorry for her at times, Conrad and Vince can be as annoying as my own brothers. She plays the annoying baby sister part almost as well as I do. Only difference is I know how to make mine stop acting like jerks. I've been giving Heather a few lessons behind Conrad and Vince's backs. If those emails ever get traced back to me... I'm glad I've kept some good blackmail material on those two. As for my family, they're very busy right now, especially with the Olympics coming up. They have a couple of hopefuls you know. There I go, rambling again.
The Dash/Allie relationship came up. Conrad was a little upset over them getting back together so soon. Maybe next time he'll listen to me. Don't hold your breath, Shana. (No, he doesn't know about the conspiracy, so let's keep that quiet, huh.)
Well, we fixed frozen dinners for lunch. Real romantic, huh. At least we lit the candles and it's nice not being alone. More chitchatting. Reminds me of some of the conversations I've had with Max. After lunch, we moved back to the living area and watched some TV. Nothing was on, so we mainly channel-surfed. We sat on opposite ends of the couch for once. Time to bring up the subject: rumors.
First, I asked him about the past couple of days. He had the nerve to give me some lame excuse like work and travel plans. I know better than that! Work - I would have been involved in some degree. And making travel arrangements doesn't take two *full* days. He finally admitted he had been avoiding me. Fine! Some best friend! Trust was what our whole friendship was based on. That meant being able to tell each other anything. If he can't talk to me while we're just friends, what type of relationship would we have if we pursued a romantic one?
I pinned him down and made him talk to me. You'd think he'd learn from Dash's interrogation session. They've talked since then or so I heard from Allie, while I was helping her pack. The rumors got to Conrad also. We've been doing pretty good to ignore or laugh at them. However, there has been quite a bit of tension between us this past week. He was noticing how we act around each other as I was. Our friends' reasonings were justified.
To date or not to date? We talked about both options. There's a lot of risk and chance involved. Yes, we're both attracted to each other, at least on a platonic level. We enjoy each other's company and are available. We know we're compatible. So, why not? The downside: fraternization regulations for starters. They're there for a reason. Even though almost everyone is pushing for us. I can't tell you the number of times they've tried to trap us. They're okay with it right now because it's just a fantasy for all of us. But what happens when that fantasy becomes reality?
Other problem, what if we try this out and it doesn't work? This has the potential for harassment charges, at the very least. He's the commanding officer and I'm his subordinate and we're partners on top of that. We'd also hate to lose all the time and energy we've invested in our friendship. Also, I don't know if I could handle another bad break-up here, with Conrad or anyone else. We both love our jobs and wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize them. A relationship would be the easiest and fastest way to do that.
I know you're thinking Dash and Allie are doing fine and they would have all the same concerns that we would face. You're right. No argument from me on that subject. They know how not to let their personal problems interfere with work. And it works for them. They make such a good team together. Everyone has to deal with the choices they make. As for us, Conrad and I agreed it would be better to remain the best of friends and not let it go any further than that. It was nice dreaming about it, though. Maybe under different circumstances.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Me (Scars) again. Thanks for sitting through this. If ya didn't like this ending, don't forget, there's an alternate ending! (hint, hint) If ya liked this ending, please keep reading anyways.
Yes, the chapter title is correct. There are two alternate endings to this. I actually wrote three but decided against posting the third one and deleted it. The choice is yours, read this chapter or skip to the next one. Sorry folks, no clues. : - (
Thanks for the reviews. When I set out to start this, I planned on something simple and short (one or two chapters) and to have it done the week after Valentine's. Enough rambling from me...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Feb. 15th (around 6pm)
(Feb. 14th, the dreaded day.)
I was going to spend the day lounging around in my pj's and toe socks, but Conrad called this morning asking if I had plans. Guess I wasn't the only one here without a date. I showered and got dressed right as he knocked on the door. Wore the royal blue sweater and blank pants he gave me for Christmas.
At first, we drank coffee and talked. Nothing out of the ordinary; work, friends, family, and life. He had been making plans to go home for his little sister's graduation in May. Conrad and I have met each other's families a few times. (We've been good friends for quite a while now.) Heather, his sister, reminds me of myself when I was her age. Feel sorry for her at times, Conrad and Vince can be as annoying as my own brothers. She plays the annoying baby sister part almost as well as I do. Only difference is I know how to make mine stop acting like jerks. I've been giving Heather a few lessons behind Conrad and Vince's backs. If those emails ever get traced back to me... I'm glad I've kept some good blackmail material on those two. As for my family, they're very busy right now, especially with the Olympics coming up. They have a couple of hopefuls you know. There I go, rambling again.
The Dash/Allie relationship came up. Conrad was a little upset over them getting back together so soon. Maybe next time he'll listen to me. Don't hold your breath, Shana. (No, he doesn't know about the conspiracy, so let's keep that quiet, huh.)
Well, we fixed frozen dinners for lunch. Real romantic, huh. At least we lit the candles and it's nice not being alone. More chitchatting. Reminds me of some of the conversations I've had with Max. After lunch, we moved back to the living area and watched some TV. Nothing was on, so we mainly channel-surfed. We sat on opposite ends of the couch for once. Time to bring up the subject: rumors.
First, I asked him about the past couple of days. He had the nerve to give me some lame excuse like work and travel plans. I know better than that! Work - I would have been involved in some degree. And making travel arrangements doesn't take two *full* days. He finally admitted he had been avoiding me. Fine! Some best friend! Trust was what our whole friendship was based on. That meant being able to tell each other anything. If he can't talk to me while we're just friends, what type of relationship would we have if we pursued a romantic one?
I pinned him down and made him talk to me. You'd think he'd learn from Dash's interrogation session. They've talked since then or so I heard from Allie, while I was helping her pack. The rumors got to Conrad also. We've been doing pretty good to ignore or laugh at them. However, there has been quite a bit of tension between us this past week. He was noticing how we act around each other as I was. Our friends' reasonings were justified.
To date or not to date? We talked about both options. There's a lot of risk and chance involved. Yes, we're both attracted to each other, at least on a platonic level. We enjoy each other's company and are available. We know we're compatible. So, why not? The downside: fraternization regulations for starters. They're there for a reason. Even though almost everyone is pushing for us. I can't tell you the number of times they've tried to trap us. They're okay with it right now because it's just a fantasy for all of us. But what happens when that fantasy becomes reality?
Other problem, what if we try this out and it doesn't work? This has the potential for harassment charges, at the very least. He's the commanding officer and I'm his subordinate and we're partners on top of that. We'd also hate to lose all the time and energy we've invested in our friendship. Also, I don't know if I could handle another bad break-up here, with Conrad or anyone else. We both love our jobs and wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize them. A relationship would be the easiest and fastest way to do that.
I know you're thinking Dash and Allie are doing fine and they would have all the same concerns that we would face. You're right. No argument from me on that subject. They know how not to let their personal problems interfere with work. And it works for them. They make such a good team together. Everyone has to deal with the choices they make. As for us, Conrad and I agreed it would be better to remain the best of friends and not let it go any further than that. It was nice dreaming about it, though. Maybe under different circumstances.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Me (Scars) again. Thanks for sitting through this. If ya didn't like this ending, don't forget, there's an alternate ending! (hint, hint) If ya liked this ending, please keep reading anyways.
