Fighting For (A/N: Another chapter I didn't want to write. I just want them to kiss and makeup, but as of now that looks to take several chapters. :( I'll be happy when those crazy kids work everything out. Regardless, if my updates aren't quite as quick as usual, blame school. ;)
Josef once again left for work early. She woke up as he was getting dressed, his back to her. A beautifully cut black suit. She watched him under her eyelashes. Noticing that she was awake, he turned and gave her one of his heart stopping smiles. Dropping a kiss on her cheek, he admonished her to "Stay out of trouble," and left.
Nice, now he was worried she would slaughter the townsfolk, she thought ruefully.
She walked out of the freezer and into a room down the hall that had a window. Watching him walk to the car in the semi-darkness, she wondered what to do. She walked to her own room. Putting on jeans and a t shirt and throwing her cell phone into her jeans pocket, she made her way downstairs taking the steps two at a time. She grabbed a glass of blood from the kitchen, and walked out on the terrace.
Once settled in a chair on the terrace, Charlie called Beth, smiling ruefully. She'd certainly never expected to gain a new best friend along with her new afterlife. A surprising development.
"Okay," Beth answered the phone, dispensing with all formalities, "What happened when we got off the phone last night?"
"Getting right to brass tacks? Well, I went to bed, he came and retrieved me and put me in the freezer, explaining that the lack of refrigeration would make me ill when I woke up in his arms," Charlie replied waiting for Beth to deconstruct it for her.
"Well, damn."
"Thanks, that's so comforting," Charlie replied sarcastically. She got up to pace around the terrace nervously.
"I mean, things were going so well. And now it sounds like he's just shut down. The question is why," Beth wondered aloud.
"I know why. We had sex, he regrets it, and now everything is terribly awkward," Charlie said.
"No, you don't know how Josef works. He's not the type to regret anything. If he's acting awkward, then it's because he doesn't know what to do next. Maybe he's waiting for you to decide if you are okay with the situation?" Beth offered.
"How do you know if he feels awkward after sex?" Charlie asked suddenly, walking inside, back into the kitchen.
"Oh god, nothing like that," Beth replied laughing. "I've just seen him in other similar instances. Josef is so comfortable with sex he's practically an exhibitionist. Trust me on this. And the fact that he's walking on eggshells around you, I can only imagine that he is trying to be sensitive to your feelings. And that in itself is a miracle, Josef is usually not really concerned about anybody's feelings. Just ask Mick," Beth concluded.
"So where does that leave me? What should I do now?" Charlie asked.
"I hate to say this, but I think you should talk to him. I mean, otherwise, you'll never really know, and you certainly can't live like this forever. So yeah, unless you just want to be casual acquaintances, I'd suggest you talk to him," Beth suggested.
"So, I just walk up to him and say, 'Look I know this talk is a little belated since we've already had sex, but I have a crush on you. Oh yeah, and I hope this doesn't make our weird relationship any more awkward.'"
"Well, maybe spice it up a little, but the intent is there. So yeah, basically. And the sooner the better, I think," Beth replied seriously.
"Tonight it is," Charlie agreed.
"Are you going to wait till he gets home or go into his office?" Beth asked.
"I don't know," Charlie admitted.
"Just a suggestion, but in case the outcome is unfavorable, you're not going to want to remember every time you walk into the living room. Maybe his office is a better idea," Beth said.
"Okay, that gives me seven hours or so, since he's been gone about an hour," Charlie said, looking at a clock on the microwave, next to the stove and range she'd never seen used.
"A more important question, what are you going to wear?" Beth asked.
"Are you serious?" Charlie replied incredulously.
"Yes, I'm coming over, give me 20 minutes," Beth said, and Charlie heard her car start in the background.
Beth was true to her word, arriving in twenty minutes. Charlie led her up the stairs to her room.
"So what were you planning on wearing?" Beth asked, biting her lip.
"Jeans, I guess. He's seen me look grungy before, I don't know why today matters more than any other day," Charlie grumbled, goodnaturedly.
"Because if all goes according to plan, Josef will remember for eternity how you looked the first time you told him you cared about him. You really want him to remember a pair of jeans and a Texas Longhorns t shirt?" Beth asked pragmatically.
"I'm wearing jeans," Charlie said, putting her foot down.
"Fine, but how about this blouse? It's pretty," Beth remarked holding up a pink blouse with poet sleeves.
"Yeah, I'll look like a pirate, next," Charlie said shaking her head.
Beth held up a red cardigan with subtle beading around the neckline, then a simple white button down, then a bright blue v neck tunic. Charlie met all these options with the same negative shake of her head.
"Charlie, come on, these are your clothes. What's wrong with them?" Beth asked.
"They're just wrong,"Charlie answered. She walked over to her closet and grabbed a robin's egg blue tank top and a cropped navy cardigan. She slipped them over her head after removing her t shirt, and turned to look at Beth for approval.
"It's good. A bit springy but a great color for you. Brings out your eyes," Beth answered, her head cocked to the side to take in Charlie's appearance. She grabbed a pair of bright blue flip flops off the floor and handed them to Charlie.
Charlie slipped them on, and said, "There."
They walked out to the cars together.
Beth grabbed her and hugged her tight, "It's gonna be fine. Call me later."
"Kay," Charlie said in a quiet voice. "Hey Beth?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah?" Beth replied.
"Thanks," Charlie said simply. "I'm really glad we met. I couldn't handle this alone."
Beth just winked, and said, "You're welcome," slipping into her car.
Charlie got into the car, and drove to Josef's office.
Charlie walked up to his office, and put her hand to the doorknob. She took a deep breath and twisted the door open.
Fighting For by Cross Canadian Ragweed
Well it's late
And you know I've been out drinking
Talking to myself
Up and down the hall
Ain't it great
Another fabulous disaster
I can't wait for the next hammer to fall
You may have won this battle
Don't mean I won't win the war
And you don't even know what it is
That you're fighting for
Think about me when you're out there honey
You know sometimes I will
Sometimes I feel like a broken stone
Rolling down your hill