Saturday night at Kendall's house was a much quieter affair. Cara came back into the lounge and collapsed onto the couch.

Kendall, who she had been watching a film with, turned and gave her a grin.

"Is Charlie back down?" Kendall asked.

"I think so." said Cara, putting the baby monitor back onto the side. "We just have to wait and see." She turned her focus back onto the movie. "Did I miss much?" she asked.

"Not really." said Kendall. "Oh, the bomber just called Sandra Bullock a wildcat, which will become significant later... I still can't believe you haven't seen this film before, it's a classic!"

"Well, I'm sure Ryan and Emma will agree that I need to work on my movie education."

Kendall turned and gave Cara a wild grin.

"And how did it go at Ryan's last night?" she asked with a wiggle of her eyebrow.

Cara batted Kendall's arm at her playful tone.

"We just watched a film." said Cara. "Ryan had brought my favourite snacks and Emma picked that animated film about the old man with balloons on his house…"

"Up."

"Is that what it's called?" said Cara. "It's was cute. We're watching the fish one next week."

"And that's all you did, watch a movie?"

Cara's smile froze.

"Cara?"

Cara looked down.

"Cara?" cried Kendall eagerly.

…

Ryan left to put Emma to bed while Cara lingered; tidying up the bowls and glasses left from their snack-fest. She had washed up and was putting the glasses back into their cupboard when Ryan returned.

"You didn't need to do that." he said.

"It's no trouble." said Cara, stretching up to put one of the bowls up on its high shelf.

The bowl slipped and Ryan moved forward to catch it at the same time as Cara. Suddenly they were standing very close, Ryan just behind Cara, his hand over hers on the bowl. They froze like that for a moment before Ryan pushed the bowl safely back onto the shelf, and then he still didn't step away. Instead, they lowered their arms slowly together, their hands still entwined. Cara could feel the hairs rise on the back of her neck at the intimacy of the moment.

"Careful." he said, his voice catching. "That was close."

Cara nodded.

The moment broke and Ryan stepped back and a new tension filled the air.

Cara turned to look at him, not sure she trusted what had just happened between them.

"Ryan?" she whispered, reaching out to touch his arm but pulling short, not daring to go further.

They starred at each other for a long moment before surging together for a desperate kiss.

They kissed and kissed, clumsily clutching at each other, but something wasn't working… Their lips together felt awkward, inelegant and so very wrong...

They separated slowly, embarrassed smiles on both their faces.

"Sorry." they said, almost in unison.

Then they both laughed, the tension broken again.

"I should get going." said Cara.

On seeing Ryan's expression fall she quickly added.

"Not because of…" she said, not feeling it was necessary to finish that sentence. "It's just Charlie…"

"It's okay." said Ryan. "I understand."

He walked her to the door.

She gave him a hug before she left, not wanting to leave behind too much tension.

"It's been a great night and I'll see you next week, okay?" she said.

"Next week." said Ryan with a nod, a self-conscious smile plastered on his face.

…

"So?" asked Kendall, leaning forward intently, Sandra Bullock's bus driving skills long forgotten.

"So… we're just friends." said Cara, "And that's an end to it."

…