Connie's POV-

I've never been good at saying I'm sorry. Anyone who's known me for more then two days can tell you that. But I know right from wrong. I knew what I'd said to Charlie earlier that day wasn't right, and I owed him an apology. After what he'd done for me, even after what I'd said, he deserved at least that much.

Normally if someone swooped in on me like that, treating me like some fair maiden in need of a rescue, I would have flipped out and kicked them hard in the shin. I, however, had never been as terrified or desperate to be saved as I was that night at the bonfire.

"Charlie?" I turned my head from the television and cast my glance over to him. His dark blue gaze on the screen as if he'd never seen anything more interesting than that episode of 'Full House.'

"Hrm?" Charlie didn't make a move to turn his attention from the set to me.

I'm sorry. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue. Waiting to be spit out and set free. For some reason my lips just wouldn't let then pass. Holding the one thing I wanted to say more than anything - on the one time I wanted to say it - hostage from the one person that I wanted to hear it.

I sighed, latching myself around his waist. "Thank you." That would have to do.

Charlie just chuckled and rested his chin on the top of my head. "You're forgiven."

I laughed and poked him jokingly in the rib. "I didn't apologize to you."

"Of course you did. You said, 'Charlie, I'm sorry I hit you.' I heard it clear as day."

"You must be mistaken, dear Charles." I shook my head. "I said no such thing."

"Nope, I'm not. And you also said," he teased with a smirk, "something like 'I don't really hate you. In fact, I love you very much, and I hope in the future, you let me bare your children.' I heard it all."

"I said all that, and I don't even remember it, huh?"

"Your memory's slipping; too much time in the sun." He chuckled with his usual mischievous smile.

I coughed nervously and looked at him. Where did all that come from, and how did he know? It might have been true, but I certainly hadn't mentioned it. Had I let on without knowing? I decided right then, if I had let it slip and the secret was really out, I might as well go for broke.

I unraveled myself from around my friend's waist and looked into his knee-weakening eyes. My heart gave a little flip-flop as I leaned in and brushed my mouth across his. The hot, dry island weather had left his lips slightly chapped and cracking. They tasted salty like the ocean breeze, and I wondered if he'd gone for a swim earlier, picturing his light brown hair damp, droplets of water running down his chest. My mind reeled as my moist, strawberry balm coated lips danced against his.

He kissed me back at first, and for a second I felt my heart pound a little faster. Then he stopped, and the kiss become awkward and one sided. I felt stupid the instant I realized he had ceased kissing back. That had obviously been a wrong move.

"Touch me, Charlie," I'd whispered, taking his hand and resting it on my chest. And that had been the second he seemed to change his mind, turning his face, breaking our kiss.

"Cons…" Charlie placed his hands on my shoulders and pushed me gently from him. "I know you're grateful I saved you from Seth and company, but you don't have to do this to repay me. Don't go all damsel in distress on me."

I raised my eyebrows at him and frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"This whole situation, that kiss. I know in the old movies, when the hero saves the beautiful victim, she falls head over heels from him and he whisks her away on him noble steed. But this isn't a story; I'm not a knight in shining armor or something."

"Oh." I bit my lip hard. "Sorry."

Finally I managed those words, at the point I was no longer regretful. His rejection was too much of a slap in the face to feel anything else. It was like all the air in the room had been sucked out and threatened to suffocate me. How foolish could I be? I thought he liked me. I thought he wanted me, to the point of convincing myself the girl at the ice cream shop was just a ploy to get me to notice him. As if I hadn't already. And then I threw myself at him, and he turned me down cold. Boy, had I read the signs so wrongly.

Without another word, I got up from the couch, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and went into my room, once more locking the door behind me. So much for fairy tales or stories in which the male lead falls in love with the simple girl next door. They realize they're meant for each other and live happily ever after.

As I fell on my bed, I pulled my sketchbook out from under my pillow and opened it. Again I was met with Charlie's face, though this one frozen in time and space. I traced line of the drawing's mouth with my thumb, remembering how good those lips had felt for that split second.

A lump formed in my throat as a straggled whimper escaped the confines of my body. Before I knew it, tears were running down my face and pooling on the pad below, smearing my work, in a dark gray swirl. This only seemed to make me cry harder; it was a vicious cycle that I couldn't stop.

I hated to cry, it made me feel weak. Even more so, I hated girls that cried over boys. No guy was worth the heartache, I'd been so sure of that. So I sat there on the bed, fighting myself and trying to control my emotions to no avail. Finally I just gave up, clutching the sketch to my chest as I buried my face in my pillow, laying there sobbing pathetically until sleep came to claim me.

Duckys- You'll just have to see:P

AntiIRONY- I've never actually been punched in the face before, but I have no intention of testing this theory. XD I'll just assume it hurts really bad and leave it at that. Heh.

Me!- Thanks. :) Hehehe, me loves Charlie too. ;)

Hockey-girl90- :gushes for Charlie/Connie:…Heh. Thanks very much. :)

Sarah- :blushes: Oh, I knew that…I was…uhh…testing you! On…I don't know what. :hides face: Hehe. I'm going to pretend I'm not stupid now. :) I'm glad you thought it was funny! XD :pats them: Hehehe, it's great to know things they don't. XP Thanks, as always!

Tiff- They are. :pets them: I adore them so. I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying it!

Agel15- :giggles: Thanks. I'm glad you like Charlie's "inner monologues" and that my attempts to be humorous aren't completely lost. XD Thanks for your review. :)

Blonde-brain- I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far:)

Punkteacher- Thanks. :) Hee, I'm glad you like the inner monologues of Charlie. XD It's nice to know that my attempts at humor aren't completely failed and lost on the masses, hehe. :giggles: Thanks. "Snarky" is an awesome word.

SweetNJuicyX0- Thanks very much. :)