I still don't own these wonderful characters... Please don't sue it wouldn't
be worth it.
*** She was grateful for the two inches she had grown her last year of high school. Hugging Carey had never been an easy task but her new height made it nice to be in his arms. She missed him. Desperately. Saying goodbye to him all those years ago had hurt more than she thought it would. She had loved him and still loved him; due to that, she never dated and that made her life lonely and depressing. The knowledge that he'd probably married and had a kid depressed her even more but, for now, it was her arms wrapped around his neck. She didn't want to let him go; they had five years of hugging to catch up on. "Parse, are you going to be awhile?" She heard the voice as if she was at the bottom of a well. Releasing Carey from her hold, she turned and looked down the hall at her manager. "Not too long, Chris. Thanks." Embarrassment colored her cheeks at the realization of how long their hug had been but remembered him not exactly letting go either.
"How have you been, Carey?" The playful lulls were coming back to her voice as she returned to filling her duffle bag and she felt a smile creep onto her lips. She watched him lean against the doorjamb and shrug. He was still as handsome as ever. Even more so. His tan pants were baggier than regular dress pants telling her that he was still the laid-back guy she knew and fell in love with. His black, button-down shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and fit well, along with the jean jacket. He still looked great. "How about you?" She considered the question. "I'm better now than I've been in awhile." "I know what you mean." Her smile grew and she tied her hair up into a high ponytail aware that he was watching everything she did.
Moving to her closet, she pulled some dresses off hangers and threw them on the bed. The one on top was from her performance on "Up All Night." Carey had emailed her after that performance and told how gorgeous she had looked. It was by far her most favorite dress for that reason. Continuing her packing, she moved next to pants and tops, stopping briefly as she pulled a ratty, hooded sweatshirt from the rack and tossed it on the bed.
*** He always wondered what had happened to his favorite sweatshirt. Now he knew and he couldn't have been happier. Feeling the need to be useful, he picked up the sweatshirt and folded it, acting as if it didn't surprise him to see it. He moved on to the dresses, mindful of her movements around the small room. She picked up her violin case and gently placed it on the bed like it would kill her if anything happened to it. The silence was strange and he realized that they had never really enjoyed the quiet breathes between each other. In that silence, they were able to say more than they had in years. It was nice.
He helped collect her things and led her back outside. Pointing to his truck, he could feel his heart rate climbing. It was better than great to see her again. Sporadic emails were not as great as being in her presence. Just an email every other week was hard for him but he couldn't seem too needy. He did need her though. He held the passenger door open and took her hand to help her inside. It was surprisingly warm and fit well into his. He walked around the truck, deposited her bags, and climbed behind the wheel. "I- we- missed you, Fi. But we're so proud of you. Your music really rocks." "Thank you Carey. I missed you too." He felt as if his heart would explode. Of course, she meant 'you' as in 'all my friends and family' not just him. A guy could dream, though, couldn't he?
She was calmer then she use to be. It wasn't that she had matured beyond her years, just that she finally decided what the most important things to share with people were. It made him feel important to have her talking to him. He got her to talk about the trip, about the road, her records, all the time trying to hide his true emotions and trying to hide the fact that he wanted to hug her again. Why hadn't he figured it out sooner? Thinking about all the time they could have had together but hadn't gnawed at the back of his mind.
He tried not to make it obvious as he took in her new look. A well- fitting, button down, blue shirt and black slacks complemented her hair well. She had grown a bit since they had last seen each other and added to her new height with chunky-heeled boots. She looked perfect. "So, how'd you know I'd be getting in tonight?" He shrugged but finally smiled, "I was in the diner eating when I saw the bus pull up. I go there sometimes after I leave the studio." "So you're still recording music? That's fantastic!" "Yeah, when I can. But, mainly, I manage the musicians. Like your mom." "You've done a great job since you took over for your mom." "Thanks. I try." "It shows. In fact, I want you to be my manager."
The comment stunned them both.
*** She was grateful for the two inches she had grown her last year of high school. Hugging Carey had never been an easy task but her new height made it nice to be in his arms. She missed him. Desperately. Saying goodbye to him all those years ago had hurt more than she thought it would. She had loved him and still loved him; due to that, she never dated and that made her life lonely and depressing. The knowledge that he'd probably married and had a kid depressed her even more but, for now, it was her arms wrapped around his neck. She didn't want to let him go; they had five years of hugging to catch up on. "Parse, are you going to be awhile?" She heard the voice as if she was at the bottom of a well. Releasing Carey from her hold, she turned and looked down the hall at her manager. "Not too long, Chris. Thanks." Embarrassment colored her cheeks at the realization of how long their hug had been but remembered him not exactly letting go either.
"How have you been, Carey?" The playful lulls were coming back to her voice as she returned to filling her duffle bag and she felt a smile creep onto her lips. She watched him lean against the doorjamb and shrug. He was still as handsome as ever. Even more so. His tan pants were baggier than regular dress pants telling her that he was still the laid-back guy she knew and fell in love with. His black, button-down shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and fit well, along with the jean jacket. He still looked great. "How about you?" She considered the question. "I'm better now than I've been in awhile." "I know what you mean." Her smile grew and she tied her hair up into a high ponytail aware that he was watching everything she did.
Moving to her closet, she pulled some dresses off hangers and threw them on the bed. The one on top was from her performance on "Up All Night." Carey had emailed her after that performance and told how gorgeous she had looked. It was by far her most favorite dress for that reason. Continuing her packing, she moved next to pants and tops, stopping briefly as she pulled a ratty, hooded sweatshirt from the rack and tossed it on the bed.
*** He always wondered what had happened to his favorite sweatshirt. Now he knew and he couldn't have been happier. Feeling the need to be useful, he picked up the sweatshirt and folded it, acting as if it didn't surprise him to see it. He moved on to the dresses, mindful of her movements around the small room. She picked up her violin case and gently placed it on the bed like it would kill her if anything happened to it. The silence was strange and he realized that they had never really enjoyed the quiet breathes between each other. In that silence, they were able to say more than they had in years. It was nice.
He helped collect her things and led her back outside. Pointing to his truck, he could feel his heart rate climbing. It was better than great to see her again. Sporadic emails were not as great as being in her presence. Just an email every other week was hard for him but he couldn't seem too needy. He did need her though. He held the passenger door open and took her hand to help her inside. It was surprisingly warm and fit well into his. He walked around the truck, deposited her bags, and climbed behind the wheel. "I- we- missed you, Fi. But we're so proud of you. Your music really rocks." "Thank you Carey. I missed you too." He felt as if his heart would explode. Of course, she meant 'you' as in 'all my friends and family' not just him. A guy could dream, though, couldn't he?
She was calmer then she use to be. It wasn't that she had matured beyond her years, just that she finally decided what the most important things to share with people were. It made him feel important to have her talking to him. He got her to talk about the trip, about the road, her records, all the time trying to hide his true emotions and trying to hide the fact that he wanted to hug her again. Why hadn't he figured it out sooner? Thinking about all the time they could have had together but hadn't gnawed at the back of his mind.
He tried not to make it obvious as he took in her new look. A well- fitting, button down, blue shirt and black slacks complemented her hair well. She had grown a bit since they had last seen each other and added to her new height with chunky-heeled boots. She looked perfect. "So, how'd you know I'd be getting in tonight?" He shrugged but finally smiled, "I was in the diner eating when I saw the bus pull up. I go there sometimes after I leave the studio." "So you're still recording music? That's fantastic!" "Yeah, when I can. But, mainly, I manage the musicians. Like your mom." "You've done a great job since you took over for your mom." "Thanks. I try." "It shows. In fact, I want you to be my manager."
The comment stunned them both.