Disclaimer: Yes I do own them, Charlie says hi. If you believe what I just said you must be really gullible.

Connie had been trying to work for two hours. She was contemplating throwing her pencil and drawing book out the window when the phone rang.

"God bless you whoever you are." She said answering the phone.

"Why thank you. Back at ya."

"Geeger!"

"I'd be glad if you never called me that ever again."

"You know you love it, don't lie."

"So what are you up to?"

"Trying not to pull my hair out."

"Is work that bad?"

"I have to rework a design. It's just not working."

"It must suck being a high demand fashion designer."

"No more than trying to run two business'."

"I didn't go to business school for nothing."

"And I didn't go to design school for nothing."

A door opened on Guy's end and someone could be heard opening cabinets.

"Is that Charlie?"

"No it's Adam. They just got back from practice."

"Put you foot down and make him go home."

"I'm not getting in the middle of it." He said just above a whisper.

"Wuss."

"I am not! Charlie needs him just as much as he needs me. They are best friends."

"See, that's difference between you and me. I'm not afraid of him."

"You're not afraid of Portman either."

"I know him better than you do."

"How have you been doing?" He asked changing the subject.

"Fine. Just a little swamped. Fashion week is coming up, and I'm nowhere near ready."

"How much time do you have?"

"A month."
"You're still coming to the class reunion aren't you?"

"I had planned on it."

"Well, don't work too hard."

"You either."

"Your job is more stressful than mine."

"Yes, but I don't have two."

"Okay, so we both need to relax and settle down."

"I'm not going to though."

"Yeah, me neither. I like chaos."

Connie laughed before stretching.

"Take a break and go out."

"I need to get this done."

"It will still be there tomorrow."

"Damn you Germaine, you talked me into it."

"Glad I could be of service."

"Jules called me earlier, she said it was important. Do you know what it's about?"

"No. I haven't talked to her."

"I'll call her while I get ready."

"Have fun."

"I'll have fun for the both of us."

"Aww, you do care."

"Sure do."

"I'll talk to you soon."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Bye."

She was drying her hair when the phone rang again. She ran across the apartment cursing herself for not bringing it back to her room.

"Hello?" She said breathlessly.

"I didn't catch you at a bad time did I?"

"Hey Jules, no you didn't."

"I was just calling to see how you were."

"I'm good, busy but good. I was about to call you."

"About that message that I left on your machine. It's taken care of."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Was it about Adam?"

"Yes and no. Fulton came by this morning. He gave me Portman's office number. I was calling you to get your opinion on if I should call him."
"You called him right?"

"Yeah. But it didn't help anything. Not that I expected it to. But it felt good to talk to him."

"He always did have that affect on you."

Julie was quiet as she thought of something to say.

"How are the Rugrats?"

"They're good."

"Well good. I better let you go. I promised Guy that I'd take a break from working. So I'm going out on a date."

"Who's the guy?"

"His name is Chase."

"Let me know how it goes."

"You'll get all the details tomorrow."

"I can't wait." Julie said with a laugh.

Connie hung up a few minutes later saying a silent prayer that her friend would soon be happy.

XXXX

Charlie and Adam stood on Guy's deck drinking beer and talking. Charlie appreciated that Adam was there; but he knew that Adam was avoiding going home. He had been meaning to have a talk with him and now was as good a time as any.

"I need to ask you something." Charlie said breaking the silence.

"What?"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to--"

"Is this about Julie?"

"Well, yeah."

"I don't how to explain it."

"Are you fighting?"

"No, I'm not there enough for that to happen."

"Are you cheating on her?"

"What!?"

"It's just a question." Charlie asked raising his hands in surrender.

"No. I'm not cheating on her."

"Then what's going on?"

"I don't feel the same way I used to about her."

"You mean you don't love her anymore?"
"I don't think I do."

"All of the feelings you had for her are gone?"

"I feel like I'm staying married to her because of Peyton and Nate."

"Well it's good that you're thinking of them. But what about Julie? You need to be honest with her."

"I know."

"Look, go home and talk to her. You're not doing her any favors by running from her."

Adam left without saying anything. Hopefully he would do the right thing and try to make things work with Julie.