Chapter Two

Jason stepped back into the room dressed in jeans and a gray t-shirt. He walked out of the room past Carly without a word.

She trailed behind him downstairs and said, "Care to explain what happened in here?"

"Redecorating." he said in a flat voice

"You should have called me. I'm great at that."

He went to the kitchen. He came back carrying two bottles of water. He tossed her one.

"What time is it?" he asked

" About 5 am." Carly said

"You look all right. And you haven't said anything is wrong with Michael, Morgan or Sonny..."

"They're fine."

"So?" Jason asked " What are you doing here?"

Carly nudged her suitcase with her foot.

Jason said "You own a house and a hotel. You don't need a place to stay."

"My house is being fumigated. I tried sleeping at the hotel but I couldn't make it through the night." She looked down. Jason could see in her eyes when she lied. "All I could think of was Jax. Can I stay here a few days?"

"You are full of it, Carly."

Her head snapped up. "Hey!"

He put up two hands "But whatever. Stay if you want. Just don't think I going to be sitting here talking about Sam or anything like that. You can have the spare bedroom upstairs. Good night."

"I'm not going back to sleep. We just established it's already morning." Carly said. She crossed to the window and pulled open the curtain. "See the gorgeous sunrise you are missing?"

Sitting down on the couch, he let out a breath and shot her a who cares look.

"Yeah, you're right." she said " We are more the sunset types. I mean how many times in my life have I even been awake at 5 in the morning? Unless I spent the whole night awake..." Her voice dropped on the last word.

Jason's mind flashed back to the image of her naked beneath him. Usually he pushed those kind of thoughts away but right now it was a better image to see in his minds eye then of Sam and Ric intertwined. Back when he was with Carly life was so uncomplicated. It was all about taking what you needed and being who you wanted without thinking about who might get hurt. They didn't have all these obligations to other people that colored every action they took now.

Back then no one was brokenhearted or betrayed or broken yet. Jason laid his head back on the couch and let out another harsh breath.

Those days are long gone now he thought to himself

Carly came and sat next to him on the couch. "Talk to me." she said

"Not in the mood."

"Did something happen with Sam? Is that what lead to this?" she motioned to the wrecked apartment.

"Not now, okay, Carly. Maybe you should stay with you mom instead-"

Carly looked at Jason's defeated expression and her heart broke. This was not like him at all.

She hated that he gave his heart to Sam and ended up like this. If he had been with Carly, loving her,

married to her, he wouldn't be hurting right now. That was a life that she would do anything to have but, as good as she was at scheming, she hadn't ever figured out a way to make it happen.

"I'm not going anywhere." Carly said firmly

No, no, no, no way,

No, no, no, no way I'm living without you.

I'm not living without you.

I don't want to be free.

I'm staying, I'm staying,

And you, and you, you're gonna love me.

Ooh, you're gonna love me.

Dreamgirls lyrics