A knock rung through the room. "Ah-I have to go." She spoke into the phone. She quickly hung it up and jumped to her feet, opening the door. She smiled.

"Bryce," She greeted. "Come in."

"Wait a sec." Charlie said well she fumbled to straighten her rumpled sheets and blankets.

Bryce couldn't help but give a small smile as she attempted to make her bed look neater then it actually was.

"Sit down." Charlie said finally. Instead of neatly tucking the blankets over her bed she'd thrown them to the end of, it all crumpled into a pile that looked like a ball.

"Chuck." Bryce spoke. She knew why he was there and it wasn't for leisure, not really. It was for an answer. Her answer.

"I know." The brunette said. "And the answer is yes." Charlie didn't let a second pass her by as she quickly added. "On one condition."

Confused filtered Bryce's face. Something unusual for someone so normally clam and collected.

"What?" He asked.

Charlie's face turned a light shade of pink. She brought her knees to her chest and hugged them tightly, burying her face in them moments later.

Bryce gave a look of bewilderment before amusement sunk in. "What is it?" He asked. "If you don't tell me then how am I gonna do it?"

Charlie raised her head. "You don't even know what it is yet Bryce. You can't say you'll do it."

Bryce shrugged. "Says you. Whatever you say I will do."

Charlie let out a small breath and shook her head trying to contain her smile. "I don't believe."

"You want me to prove it?"

Charlie stared at him. Despite the smile on his face she felt as if he was serious. She wouldn't be too surprised if he were. She would rack her mind for it yet she couldn't find one experience in all the time she knew Bryce where he lied. She also couldn't find one where he was mean. Not to her anyway. Never rude and never annoying. Bothersome at times but he knew when to leave her alone. He also knew when to laugh at her and when not to laugh. He knew how to tell when she was embarrassed or scared. When she needed someone. When she need him. Charlie still had no idea how. Maybe it was her imagination but-

"Do you?" Byrce's voice cut across her thoughts. Suddenly a new question sprung from her lips, one that wasn't her original choice yet important all the same.

"Why do you like me?" She asked. It was after she said it she heard the desperation in her own voice. The fear of not understanding something the tiniest bit.

Bryce stared at her for a while. His big blue eyes wide as if a realization washed over him. Charlie found herself self concisely glancing at a mirror to see if he was staring at anything particular. Was there something extra wrong with her today? Her usual unruly curls were tucked back in a clip on the back of her head. She had no make up on-not that she ever did. She wore sweat pants and a sweatshirt over her with ducky socks on her feet.

"Why are you staring at me?" Charlie asked finally. She broke her eyes away from his. "Is it really that hard of a question?" She intend it as a joke yet it came out harsher then she wanted.

"No." Bryce spoke in a voice similar to a monotone. "The reason I like you?" He said repeating her question. "You're the only girl-no. The only person who knows what Zork is."

Charlie frowned. "Is-is that all? Cause-"

"You're smart. And I don't mean just computer smart but truly just smart! You think about things. Really truly think about thinks. If you don't know about something that you figure it out if you want to know about something you learn it like the back of your hand. You aren't afraid of asking for help and you aren't shy about giving it either. Sometimes I see you and you just go out of your way to help people even when they don't want it. You always are polite to strangers, say 'please' and 'thank you'. You hold the door open for the person behind you even when they're at the bottom step and you have to wait more then just a second for them. You always ask if someone's alright when they get hurt even if it's a funny hurt or if they're joking you still ask because you care. You-"

"Bryce!" Charlie called out stopping the man in his tracks. She gaped at him for a moment before letting out a breath. "You-" she let out a laugh. "I think that's the first time I've ever seen you rant or get so hyped up about something."

Bryce's eyes softened. "Hey," he said. "You're saying that as if you aren't someone to get hyped up about and for the record. You are."

Charlie bit her lip. "But-besides the zork thing when we first met-why did you ask me out then?"

Bryce sat down beside her on the bed before he began. "I asked you out because you were cute. You seemed stressed, got easily excited and was generally nice. Really nice." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "And I don't give up on nice girls. You wanna know why?"

"I'm almost afraid to ask." Charlie joked. Bryce only smirked in return to that. He took her hand into his own and the gently kissed it.

"Because they're rare."

Charlie gaped at him. Confusion, bewilderment, all of those emotions of her face, in her mind and yet...she gave a grand smile and laughed. "You're so weird." She spoke. She retracted her hand from his and used it too mess up his hair.

"Hey!" He objected, laughter in his voice as he attempted to shield his head from her invasion. "What are you doing?"

Charlie grinned. "I'm making your hair weird. That way no one will be deceived when they see you and think that you're normal."

"I am normal!"

Charlie shook her head. "No way. Kissing my hands before? Not normal."

"Lots of people kiss hands!"

"When they first meet. And they only do it in fancy society thingies."

"Fancy society thingies?" Bryce repeated in a chuckle.

Charlie nodded, giggling along. "Yup!"

"So," Bryce began. "Do you have any plans this weekend?"

"I do actually." Charlie said.

"Oh." Bryce's smile faltered only a little bit. "Mind me asking what?"

"I have to barricade myself." She said matter of factly. "You have a lot of admires remember? I have to be ready for all out war."

"War." Bryce said, then in a teasing voice he said. "For me? I guess you're serious then."

Charlie nodded. "You've got me." She hesitated for a moment but then took his hand. "I am."

Bryce smiled-a true genuine-not a smirk or proud know-it-all grin-smile.

"Good." He spoke softly. And then, against his better judgement, he cupped a hand to her cheek and kissed her softly. And then, against her better judgment, she kissed back.

They were both happy.

For now anyway.

A/N

I wanted to say thank you for all who reviewed and I hope you enjoyed this.