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Chapter 3

"I'm fine." Carly insisted but Jason still stayed. She looked at him, into his blue eyes. "What else is on your mind?" she knew her best friend, something else was bothering him.

"I don't know." Jason admitted as they sat down together on the couch. "With everything going so fast I've been thinking."

"Don't think, it screws everything up."

Jason smiled slightly as he softly agreed. "Yeah."

"What have you been thinking about?" Carly caved and asked.

"It never works out." Jason met her eyes. "What if it doesn't this time either?"

Carly was touched by the emotion and the worry in his tone. "You're scared to get your heart broken again? That's normal Jase. I mean after everything you've been through with love I would be shocked if you weren't worried." She sighed and prepared herself for the next part, her heart cracking with each word. "But Sam does love you; she can handle your life, this time it should work out." That's where Carly's worried lay, that he and Sam would make it and he wouldn't be there for her anymore, the man she learned to need for so much would be gone.

Jason saw her eyes, they were glossy as she tried to hold her tears in, and he knew better then she thought about how much saying those words hurt her but he knew something else was on her mind. "We've talked about me and you helped. Now my turn."

"I'm fine." Carly insisted again. "Everything is happening so fast, it's taking some time to get use to that's all." She left his side and walked over to the door. "The wife to be might start worrying if you don't head home."

Jason took the hint. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Carly shut the door and let her tears fall free.

The invitations were sent out and the wedding day neared. Carly finished the wedding plans as Sam took care of the honeymoon. The day after the wedding they would leave for the honeymoon, it fell on the same day as Valentines Day. Sam wanted the day to be even more romantic.

Carly sat at the bar of the Metro Court and looked around. Tonight was the joint party before the wedding, Sam and Jason had agreed a bachelor party wasn't needed and a party together was the way to go. Carly smiled at herself, everything was coming together better then anyone could've wished for. She had many doubts about Sam and worries but at least the wedding would be perfect.

"Wow this place looks great."

Carly turned around at the sound of the familiar voice. "Courtney." Her smile was bitter sweet.

"Don't worry, I'm leaving." Courtney promised as she walked over to Carly.

"You don't have to."

"No, I'm fine; I have somewhere to be tonight. Jason and I are over and I'm truly ok with it. I just don't know if Sam is the right woman for him." Courtney admitted as she sat down.

"This is what he wants."

"Yeah and I hope he'll be happy. You know I always thought while we were married if Jason and I didn't make it, you guys would." Courtney felt it was finally time for someone to say this.

Carly felt her eyes pop out of her head, she was sure if she was drinking something she would've spit it out. "What?"

Courtney smiled. "Calm down, this shouldn't be so shocking. You and Jason have a history of more then friends. Even as friends you go the extra mile for each other. I've always thought you're perfect for each other. You're so close; it wouldn't be that hard to cross the line into love." She explained.

Carly shook her head. "No it's not that easy, he's getting married and we tried to be more. Too much got in the way, it's better this way." She firmly said.

"I have to get back but first I want you to know I brought this up for a reason. And notice you didn't say it wasn't what you wanted." Courtney left after that, quickly before Carly could react.

Carly raked back her hair and sighed, Courtney was wrong.

She had to be.

Guest began to arrive, Carly played hostess and greeted everyone. "Sonny." She greeted with a gracious smile.

"Carly, you look great." Sonny said surveying her little black dress. "This is really nice of you to do for Sam and Jason."

"Thank you. You look great as well, brought Emily huh?" Carly asked, she and Sonny's eyes met and she smiled. "Have fun tonight and enjoy your date."

Those simple words and that one look sealed it, they were over and it was finally ok for the both of them to move on and enjoy it.

"Hey." Carly beamed as she hugged Jason. "What do you think?"

"Everything looks great, you too." Jason said.

"Thanks, so do you. You really should dress up more. Now go enjoy your party." Carly said and sent Jason and Sam away.

Sam had invited Robin to both the party and the wedding. Carly felt anger mix in with her emotions when Robin showed up, they didn't speak. Since most of the guests had arrived Carly went to the bar for a much needed drink. She looked over the crowd, Robin was smiling as she talked with Sonny, Sam and Jason were dancing.

Carly started another drink as she continued to look on, Courtney's words rung in her mind as she watched Jason. "Keep them coming." She told the bartender. It was going to be a long night.

The night continued on and Carly stayed at the bar, smiling when someone walked by but not much more. The music lowered and Sonny called everyone's attention for a toast. "This night is to celebrate Sam and Jason who are getting married tomorrow. Jason is the best friend anyone could ask for; he's like a brother to me. I'm so happy he found someone who loves him."

"Doesn't matter if she loved his best friend first."

Everyone glanced at Carly but said nothing. Sonny continued on, "I know you'll all join me on wishing them the best of luck and happiness together." He rose his glass and they all drank, even Carly who didn't need anymore. Everyone went back to the party after that.

"What has gotten into you?" Sam demanded from Carly.

"What?" Carly innocently asked. "It's the truth. You loved Sonny; you agreed to be his mistress, got pregnant with his kid---"

"Carly." Jason grabbed her glass. "How much have you been drinking?"

"Not much." Carly lied as she reached for the glass. "It's a party; you're supposed to have fun and drinking is fun."

"Can I talk to her alone?" Jason asked Sam, she nodded and walked away.

"She's a good puppy; did she take long to train?" Carly asked and held back a laugh; she was having such a good time now.

"Come on." Jason helped her off the bar stool and led her behind the bar and out the back way so others wouldn't worry and suspect.

"Where are you taking me?" Carly asked once they were in his car.

"Home."

Carly gasped. "Why? That's no fun!" she whined now and pouted her lips to Jason.

"You weren't having fun before either Carly." Jason said as he remembered her face when she first sat at the bar.

"Yes I was! Ok it bothered me to see everyone so happy especially Robin, she just bugs me. And Sam, of course she's happy she has you. What is it about the short, brown haired girls that you like? And must they be so annoying with their little voices and I'm always right attitudes?" Carly wanted to know.

"Carly, how much did you drink?"

"Five….no two drinks."

Jason shook his head as they reached her home. Carly was drunk, he was sure of that. He helped her out of the car and inside the living room. "You're going to need coffee." He left her on the sofa and headed to the kitchen.

Carly laughed for no reason at all, she just felt so happy. "You take good care of me. It's going to suck when you leave me." She said with a sigh as her emotions calmed; sobering.

"Leave you?" Jason questioned after he set the coffee marker and joined her on the couch.

"It's already happening, Sam comes first and after the wedding I'll become less important. Then you'll forget all about me." Carly said. The funny feeling she felt before became replaced by all her worries again but all the liquor made everything feel stronger, she was just so sad now.

Jason understood now why tonight had been so hard. "Carly that'll never happen."

"Right."

Jason cupped her chin and brought her tearful eyes back to him. "It'll never happen." He promised. "Nothing or no one can replace or make me forget about you. Remember what I told you that day on the bench, there was snow everywhere and you were worried about your relationship with Sonny. I told you, you need me and I need you, I'm not sure why. I don't think the reason matters at all, it's just how we are." He reminded her. "I still needed you Carly and I always will." He ran his fingers along her cheeks to dry her tears.

Carly stared into his eyes. "Why can't you ever need me as more?" she whispered. "I'm always second best, third if you factor in Sonny. You know it used to be my dream but Sam is living it. I wanted you to love me enough to fight for me. I wanted us to get married and be a family. I wanted to be the woman to have your first child." She finally told him, it hurt too much to keep inside any longer. She closed her eyes to his beautiful blue ones and looked away.

"Carly---"

"No don't tell me we're not in that place or some crap like that. You don't get it, you never have." Carly met his eyes again. "You'll never get it." She whispered as she touched his lips and made her choice to act on her desires, she kissed him.

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Isabelle A.