A WAVERLY OWL KNOWS NOT TO LET FRIENDS DOWN

"Do we really have to do this?" Easy buttoned up a white Oxford shirt with distaste, "It seems like an unusual amount of effort."

Callie was sitting, curled up on his bed wearing a cream coloured Aran sweater and jeans tucked into stone coloured leather wedge boots that probably cost more than a week's stay at the Ritz. She did look adorable though, for once her face appeared bare of any makeup and her cheeks were flushed from kissing in the cold all day. She looked up from the Calculus textbook she was pretending to read. "I think it's a great idea. Jenny and Isaac seem really happy and we want that kind of positivity around us. Everyone, already thinks I'm Darth Vader for shattering poor Brandon's heart all over again," she rolled her eyes. She knew the rumour mill was circling and of course, it painted Callie out to be a venomous bitch. She wasn't stupid, she was fully aware that her actions were despicable but none of it was premeditated or malicious, she was sorry. Did that count for nothing?

"It was your idea to get back with him." He muttered harshly.

Callie bit her lip hard to stop the tears that threatened, "Ouch." She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned the page of the unutterably dull textbook in her hands.

Guilt immediately assailed him. "Sorry," he sat next to her. "That was a dick move. It's just . . .," he tugged the textbook out of her grasp and threw it uncaringly on the floor so her attention was focused on him. He didn't want to be one of those passive aggressive guys that took all their troubles out on their girlfriends, he just needed to man up and tell her how he felt. "I don't get it. It's hard for me to see, or even understand, what could've possibly motivated you to get back with him. I mean, he's a great guy and everything and you have history. I get that, but I love you. You know that. I told you, I ran away for you, I bought a fucking ring. I tried so hard to be the person you wanted me to be and when I finally thought I got it, you broke my heart."

"Easy . . .," Callie let her fingers drift towards him, at this point if she apologised anymore she worried that the words would lose all meaning.

"No, let me finish. I know, I broke your heart too, the whole Jenny thing," he instantly felt her whole body stiffen and reflexively he touched her chin, planting a sweet kiss on her bottom lip that was contorted in her typical pout. "I just really want this. Us."

"Me too," she added in a small, sincere voice. "If you think it's a bad idea, we can leave the double date. I just wish people were more on board with us."

"Who cares what they think, Cal? After everything that has happened, I would say we are both lucky to still be in the same state, fuck everyone else. It's none of their business. Okay, they'll get over the Brandon thing."

"You think so?"

"Course, Matches are revealed today, everyone will be all hyped about that. Who do you think you'll get?" he grinned.

"I'm hoping for Ryan Gosling but I'll probably get Ferro instead, knowing my luck," she joked. "You?" If he got Isla she would explode, she really hoped that the dean's daughter didn't have the power to rig this thing.

"I just want you."

As if the fates had overheard their conversation, Easy's laptop pinged with a new email, he swivelled deftly onto the chair, and "Here it goes." He opened up the new email and started reading aloud "Mr Walsh, I am pleased to inform you that you have a Perfect Match . . .Does that mean some students don't get a match," he looked at Callie who gestured impatiently for him to read on, " Miss Callie Vernon."

Callie beamed at him, "Are you serious?"

He nodded, grinning widely as she leaped onto his lap, kissing his face. He didn't tell her that he had asked the Dean for a favour, saving his daughter's life and served him in good stead and he knew Callie would not be able to suffer him going on dates with another girl because of this bullshit online dating phenomenon. He wanted things to keep being perfect.

"I love you." Callie's hair brushed against his neck, her pretty hazel eyes wide and bright with happiness. He had definitely made the right decision.

"Love you too."

Callie started gently undoing the buttons of his shirt. "Let's forget about the Carlyle and the date thing. We've got a double room to ourselves. It would be a shame to waste it," she smiled wickedly before pulling of her Aran sweater and then pulling Easy onto her.

"Mmm," Easy murmured lazily, they had spent almost all day in his room. God only knew what had happened to Alan, and Easy at this moment didn't particularly care. He loved the feel of Callie leaning on his shoulder, she was sweet and familiar and really very beautiful. He wished she knew how perfect she was, how perfect this moment was. "I just want to freeze this, here, right now. Just pour it in a bottle and seal it, then whenever you're upset or we're fighting we can just open it up and remember and relive this perfect moment."

"I'll remember it anyway; I remember every minute we spend together. I missed you so much." He kissed her hair, and she nuzzled his chest, inhaling his classic Easy scent, paint and trees and horses. No one else in the world smelled like Easy. She reached for her phone wanting to read the email confirming that Easy was her Perfect Match, but instead she was alerted with over a dozen messages from friends. "Wow, looks like Perfect Match has caused quite a stir."

"Any interesting pairings?"

"Julian got Jenny. Tinsley's going to be upset," Callie thought of her friend, she really noticed a change in Tinsley when she was around Julian.

"What about Isaac?"

"Haha, he got Sage. I bet she's delighted. Brett is paired with Parker DuBois; I think they would make a fantastic couple. Though Sebastian is nice." She deliberately didn't reveal their non-date a few months back that was a disaster from the start. "Ooh, Isla got paired with Heath: interesting."

"Yes. Fascinating," Easy mocked, chuckling when she playfully punched his shoulder. "What about Brandon?" he asked, wondering if she was leaving him out on purpose.

Callie shrugged. "No one's told me."