How Should I Know (A/N: I know this chapter is a little shorter, but it's one I didn't even want to write... I hate conflict, but alas, a story isn't a story without it, so take heart lovelies, things will get better in 4-6 chapters. :) The fact is that they can't possibly live happily ever after after only 7 chapters. Nobody would buy that, not even me.)

Charlie didn't know what she expected when Josef got home, but whatever it was, this wasn't it.

He was treating her more like a guest on a diplomatic mission from the moon, than the woman he'd made love to less than 24 hours ago.

Josef realized he had retreated into cordial formality, because he was absolutely certain that he'd taken advantage of her last night. She was in love or recovering from heart break at least, and he should have known better. He was acting like a human teenager.

The fact that he had wanted her, that he wanted her still, didn't matter. At least that's what he kept telling himself. Emotions were fleeting, soon he wouldn't remember why his eyes strayed to hers, why his hands longed to brush the wayward hair out of her eyes. He didn't dare hope that her emotions too were fleeting, that on a lark, she might forget this other man and turn to him. The truth was that he was so very used to getting exactly what he wanted that the mere experience of being thwarted in his desires would have made him want her more.

If only she would give some indication that she didn't regret the night they spent together, he thought glancing furtively at her face for the thousandth time. But she remained silent, her eyes barely meeting his, even when he spoke to her. It was clear enough that she did regret what happened.

Charlie could hardly bear to look at Josef. It was rather obvious that he hadn't viewed last night the same way she did. She probably had less experience with men than other girls her age, but she wasn't naive enough to believe that after one night they'd live happily ever after. But she didn't think they'd never talk again either.

After several moments, Charlie couldn't take anymore awkward silence. She grabbed her cell and walked outside.

Dialing Beth, she shut the door. Charlie paced around the terrace as it rang, trying to gage how much Josef could hear. Unsure, she walked a little farther, out to the tree line of Josef's property, as Beth answered.

"Hi," Charlie replied glumly. "I'm thinking maybe assuming we'd be celebrating rather than drowning my sorrows was a bad call."

"What happened, you were ecstatic when I talked to you half an hour ago?" Beth asked, distressed.

"Nothing. He hasn't said anything. He barely looks at me," Charlie replied close to tears.

"Maybe he thinks you regret it? You could tell him how you feel," Beth implored.

"I think it's more likely he regrets it. Why embarrass myself?"

"You can't know that," Beth argued.

"You didn't see his face," Charlie replied her voice cracking. "I don't know if I can stay here Beth. I can't stand seeing that look on his face every time he looks at me."

"Charlie, don't do anything rash. Who knows maybe things will be better tomorrow," Beth admonished.

"Which brings me to a new problem: what am I supposed to do in a few hours when I have to sleep in his freezer?"

"You act completely normal. That's what you do. Get into your normal pj's get on your side of the bed, say goodnight. Do whatever it is you normally do," Beth suggested.

"Okay," Charlie replied.

"Call me, tomorrow. We'll figure this out," Beth vowed.

Charlie hung up the phone and took a minute to gather herself.

As she was walking into the house, Josef surprised her. Sitting across the room, he asked, "Beth?"

"Yes, she wants me to go out with her tomorrow night. I told her I'd get back to her," Charlie said smiling too brightly.

Josef just nodded. She grabbed her book and sat down across from him. Saying nothing. Pretending to read. Stealing glances at him. Finally after several hours, she said, "I'm exhausted. I'm going to go to bed." Having said that, she kissed his cheek lightly.

He looked up as she kissed his cheek, and his eyes were so terribly sad, she couldn't bear it. Was it honestly so bad? He couldn't stand to be in the same room as her.

She retreated without a word to her own room. She would not force him to stay in the same bed as she, not when it caused him such pain.

Charlie tossed her book haphazardly on the small table next to the bed. She undressed down to underwear and climbed atop the covers.

Josef didn't go to bed for several hours, hoping in fact that she'd be soundly asleep before he climbed into the freezer. Spare himself the uncomfortable pillow talk.

He was surprised to find the freezer empty, however. He walked to her room in confusion. He saw her laying on the bed. She already looked feverish. Of course she wouldn't know how a single night away from the freezer would make her ill. This was his fault, if he'd kept his damn hands to himself, she wouldn't feel so shamed by his very presence. He shook his head ruefully. Picking her up he carried her to the freezer, and laid down next to her.

She woke up in Josef's arms. She was confused for a moment, wondering if maybe she'd been wrong about his feelings. As she stirred it woke him up as well.

"I can't emphasis enough how important it is that you spend every night in a freezer," Josef said sternly.

When she realized that he was just talking about how she needed to sleep in the freezer, not necessarily that he wanted her near him, she nodded numbly.

How Should I know by Eli Young Band

Feels so right, feels safe and sound
How can the sky be falling down
The sun still shines, no sign of rain
How come nothing's quite the same
How can hearts be breaking
In the middle of the night
How can strings come unwound
When they've held so tight
On the ride
Down this road
If it's time to let go
Tell me how should I know?