"We need to talk."
"Squib…" Cody said, still in shock, "Why are you here?"
"Flew back early," he told her.
"But why?" Squib offered a shrug in response. "Look," Cody continued, "We talked about this, we're over," even as the words left her mouth, she knew he wouldn't buy them. She wasn't even buying them.
"But that's the thing," Squib said, taking a step toward her, "I don't want it to be over. And I don't think you do, either."
"Squib…"
He interrupted her again, "Look, Cody, I've done a lot of thinking over the past two weeks, and I really missed you…"
This time she interrupted, "I missed you too, Squib. But you think that just fixes everything?"
"No, of course not," he said, "but I want to try. We have to try."
"We did try! We failed!" Squib's face seemed neutral but if one had known him long and well enough, as Cody did, one could see the tiny flinch at her words.
"So we try again!" He insisted.
"No!" Cody said loudly, surprising even herself.
"Cody, please," Squib took another step towards her.
"Squib," she said, backing away, "I don't want to do this again. I don't want to go through all this pain again!"
"So, what? You're happier without me?" He asked almost accusingly.
"Of course not! I've been miserable! But do you really think things will be any better if we go back to the way we've been? Completely ignoring each other?" She asked.
"Cody, I know things haven't been great, but we're Cody and Squib! We…"
"No!" She repeated, cutting him off, "I wish everyone would just shut up about 'Cody and Squib'! Everyone seems to think we belong together just because we're Cody and Squib! Does no one care that I am in actual, real, heartbreaking pain? Waking up everyday and wondering if this is the day we'll finally say something to each other? Obviously not! No one cares what I'm feeling because we're Cody and Squib so we just have to be together, no matter what!" She spat the last part out vehemently.
"Cody," Squib said gently, trying to calm her down, "of course I care how you feel, you know…"
"I can't do this right now," she said, "I can't be here. Not with you." She quickly turned and fled out the door. After pondering chasing her, Squib realized it would do no good and sat on the couch, determined to wait for her.
"I don't get it though," said Matt as he handed Cody a glass of water, "I thought you missed him."
"I did. I do," Cody said.
"I thought you wanted to get back together with him."
"So did I," Cody sighed, "but I just saw him there and I realized that if we did get back together, things wouldn't magically be the same as they were months ago. We still have issues. Lots of issues. Big, important issues." She sighed; leaning back against Matt's couch as rain could be heard falling outside the window.
"Are they more important than you and Squib?" He asked gently. She looked down and shrugged.
"Look, Cody," he continued, "I love you," she looked up in shock, "and I don't mean the friendly, sister kind of love. I mean I'm in love with you,"
"Matt, I can't…"
"Let me finish. I've loved since I first met you. You are beautiful and amazing and sweet…and totally in love with Squib. I've never seen anyone look at him the way you do. Even when the two of you were barely on speaking terms, it was still obvious. So as a friend and a person who only wants the best for you, go talk to him. At least hear him out."
"Matt, I don't know what to say…I'm so sorry…"
"Don't be," Matt smiled warmly, "It's okay. You deserve to be happy, and Squib does that for you."
Matt was right, she knew. She deserved to be happy and Squib almost always made her happy. But still…
"But what if it doesn't work? What if we just mess things up and I have to go through months of misery and a painful breakup all over again?"
"But what if it does?" Matt offered, "What if you two find a way to work it out?" Cody shrugged. "I know you, Cody. And I know you fight for what you believe in. It's evident in your articles and in your every day life. So go fight for what you believe in."
"You haven't seen her? Okay, thanks," Squib sighed, hanging up the phone. He had called everyone he could think of, all their friends on campus, and none of them had seen Cody. It was getting late and Squib was starting to worry. Not to mention the storm that had decided to roll in. What if Cody was out there somewhere? He went to replace the phone on the counter when he saw Cody's phonebook lying open. There was one number he hadn't called. He sighed; he really hoped she wasn't there, but even if she was, at least he'd know she was safe.
After three rings someone picked up.
"Hello?" The voice on the other end said.
"Hi, Matt," Squib started, "you haven't seen Cody, have you?"
"Well, actually, she was just here a minute ago," Squib's heart sunk, "but she left and…" But Squib stopped listening when he heard the door open. He turned to see Cody standing in the doorway, soaking wet but otherwise unharmed.
"Uh, yeah, thanks," Squib mumbled into the phone, hanging it up without ever taking his eyes off Cody.
"It's, uh, raining out there," she said as she started to shiver, pointing towards the door. Squib couldn't help the small smile that graced his face. She looked so very adorable standing there soaking wet and shy, that he wanted nothing more than to scoop her up in his arms. He settled, however, on quickly grabbing a towel and draping it over her shoulders.
"Thanks," she mumbled. The two sat down on the couch.
"So, I know I shouldn't have run off earlier…"she said, trailing off.
"No, it's fine. I'm just glad you're safe,"
Cody, touched by his concern, raised her eyes from where they had firmly been planted on the floor and looked up at him.
"So…you were at Matt's?" Squib knew now probably wasn't the time, but he had to know.
"Yeah,"
"And how was that?"
"Oh, he's in love with me," Cody said nonchalantly. Squib could have sworn he felt his heart plummet straight to his toes, "but other than that, he gave me some really good advice."
"Wait, back up," Squib stuttered, "he's in love with you?"
"Oh, yeah, but nothing happened," Cody quickly reassured him. "We just talked. About us, actually."
"Really?"
"Yeah, and he helped me realize something…I know that we still have a lot of stuff to work through. And I know it's going to be really hard. But I'd rather have it be hard and be with you, then not be with you at all."
"Cody, I don't want to pressure you…"
"You're not," she assured him, "This is what I want. I'm in love with you, and if it takes a little work to do this, then fine. But at least we're together."
A grin broke out over Squib's face, but he had to be certain, "You're sure?"
"Absolutely," she smiled. Just before their lips touched in a kiss, she smirked, "After all, we are Cody and Squib."
Could you whisper in my ear
The things you wanna feel
I'd give you anythin'
To feel it comin'
Do you wake up on your own
And wonder where you are?
You live with all your faults
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Yeah, I'm gonna let it slide
Don't you love the life you killed?
The priest is on the phone
Your father hit the wall
Your ma disowned you
Don't supposed I'll ever know
What it means to be a man
It's somethin' I can't change
I'll live around it
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything at all
So why don't you slide
Ooh, slide
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
Oh, May
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful
Oh, May
Do you wanna get married
Or run away?
I wanna wake up where you are
I won't say anything
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah, slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(yeah slide)
And I'll do anythin' you ever dreamed to be complete
(Yeah slide)
Little pieces of the nothin' that fall
(Oh, oh slide)
Yeah, slide between the sheets of all them beds you never knew
(Yeah slide)
Why don't you slide into my room
Just slide into my room
Oh, we'll run away, run away, run away
-Goo Goo Dolls 'Slide'
It's late. I'm tired. Why, oh why does inspiration always strike at midnight! Lol, read, review, enjoy!