Chance gave a small wave to April, the receptionist at Virine Real Estate.

"Hey-a. Bev in?"

April smiled. "Yeah, unless she snuck out while I wasn't looking. Got a lunch date?"

Chance smiled. "Hope so, 'less she's too busy."

"She's always busy, but she'll make time for you. Go on back."

"Thanks." Chance wound his way around the cubicles, heading towards the back of the office. He could barely make out the top and back of Bev's head sticking up past the partition, phone pressed up against her ear. As he got closer, he heard her talking.

"I'm pretty sure I'll have it ready by the end of the day. No, I think I'm headed out for lunch...yes, another lunch date...yes, the mechanic."

Chance was about to say something when he heard himself being referenced, so he just stood silently.

"Well, yeah, he's no Einstein, but he's nice...and cute...oh, yeah, he's that, too. Best ever...yes, better than Dirk." Bev laughed, then laughed harder. "Trust me on this, Irma! You know I'm no liar. Besides, I don't think I can get him to pose for any photos...yeah...well...no, I wouldn't call it serious serious, but you never know...look, I better hit a stopping point on this listing or I'm screwed...yeah, I'll let you know...see you, Irma." Bev hung up the phone, did a half-stretch, then started typing.

Chance stood silent for a minute, then cleared his throat. Bev spun around.

"Oh! Chance! I didn't hear you creep up! Can you wait a second? I've gotta finish this up real quick." Chance half-nodded, and Bev looked a bit concerned. "You OK?"

"Um...yeah. Listen, I gotta talk to ya."

Bev froze for a second, then saved her work on the computer. She stood up and said, "I'm not sure I like the sound of that."

Chance sighed and ushered her to the door. They got into the truck, and Chance drove to the woods. Chance threw the truck in park, turned off the motor, then sat silently, staring straight ahead.

"Chance, what is it?"

Chance looked over at her briefly, then back out the windshield. "Um...I don't know how to say this." He turned back to face her. "And I dunno. Seems any way I put it, it's not gonna work. You're gonna hate me."

Bev got agitated. "Chance, come on - what's the problem?"

"Bev...I think I love you."

Bev smiled a bit. "That's a problem?"

"It's a huge problem..." Chance hung his head. "...because I don't think I can see you no more." Bev didn't say anything, so Chance went on. "I...ya gotta believe me, Bev, I don't want to hurt ya. But I know I'm gonna hurt you with this sooner or later..."

"Why?" Bev spun around in her seat. "Why can't we see each other anymore?"

Chance looked her square in the eye. "I can't tell you that."

"You can't...? Come on, Chance - you've got to tell me why!"

"No." Chance sighed and put his head in his hands. "I wish to God I could tell ya, but I can't."

Bev slammed her fist against the dashboard. "Why the hell can't you tell me?"

"Bev, I can't tell you. Sorry."

"So what? It's over? Just like that? 'Sorry, Bev, don't like the way it's turning out'?"

"That ain't it. It's goin' better'n I ever hoped. But I suddenly realized it's gotta stop."

A tear rolled down Bev's cheek. "This how you get your jollies, Chance? Hurting girls?"

"Ya think I'm enjoyin' this? Bev, you don't understand..."

"How can I understand? Everything looks like it's going great, and now you say it's over."

"Bev, I'm serious. I do think I love you - really. And I wish I could keep seein' you..."

"So what is this - some sort of fear of commitment or something? You fall in love with someone, then get scared and break up with them?"

Chance sighed. "Bev, it don't matter. Any excuse'll do. I'm scared to get close, I'm a creep...whatever. The fact is, we can't see each other anymore." Chance looked out his window, avoiding her gaze. "Besides, it prolly wouldn'ta worked out. We're too different - you're this smart gal 'n I'm this dumb mechanic..." Chance trailed off.

Bev wiped her eyes. "You really believe that?"

Chance continued to look away. "Not really. You hate me, don't ya?"

"Shouldn't I?" Bev started picking at the dashboard with her claw.

Heaving another sigh, Chance sort of shuddered. "Yeah, I guess." He started the truck and backed out of the drive. They drove slowly in silence back downtown. Chance manuevered the truck in front of her office complex, then threw it in park. Turning to face Bev, he gave her a very crooked smile. "Take care of y'r'self, 'K?"

Bev jumped out of the truck, closed the door, then spun around to face him. She looked as if she was about to speak, but then suddenly ran into the building.

Jake handed the kat a work order. "We're pretty well caught up here, so we should probably have the ready in tomorrow. We'll call you." The kat thanked Jake, and left just as Chance walked in. Jake glanced up.

"Geez, Chance, you OK?"

Chance took a very unsteady deep breath. "Um, me 'n' Bev broke up."

"What!"

"Yeah, I told her...I told her we couldn't see each other no more."

"Chance, why'd you do that?" He waved Chance to the sofa.

"Cuz you were right." Chance collapsed on the sofa, and rubbed his face with his hands. "She'd tell someone."

"We didn't know that. You could've told her later - y'know, once we were sure."

"And what? Keep ditchin' her everytime DarkKat came to town? That ain't fair. Not to her, anyway."

Jake sat next to Chance, and thought for a second. "No. No, I guess it isn't."

"Looks like I'm stuck with you 'n' the plane."

Jake smiled a bit. "Not much of a deal, huh?"

Chance rubbed his face again. "See, Bev...but Bev and I...we had somethin' goin'. Somethin' I never had before. I ain't ever gonna get that back again, am I?"

"I dunno, buddy. You might. I just don't know." Jake put his hand on Chance's shoulder. "Sorry. You gonna be OK?"

"I was so close, Jake. This close. So she talks a lot. That's no problem with anyone else. With us, that's the one thing that ain't allowed." Chance stood up, and violently kicked the edge of the sofa. "Life sucks." He stormed off to his room, with Jake staring after him.