I have to let you go.

For Kimbra, it was easy to pretend the next morning that nothing happened. Bud didn't pursue the topic of their relationship any further. It was as if they never had almost kissed. As if Bud hadn't almost said that he loved her.

She felt her face start to tingle at the thought of almost kissing him.

Stop. Don't do this to yourself.

Kimbra did her best to hide her feelings for the sleazy businessman. She kept her distance, as much as possible, for the time being.

Maybe she did the right thing by doing that.

And yet, she found herself tempted.

She couldn't stop thinking about when he almost blurted out that he loved her. The thing was, she loved him too.

What if I had just told him?

Guilt crept towards her, but she pushed it back. That had to stop. She couldn't blame herself for being responsible. For putting her career and reputation first. She had worked too hard to get where she was. No way in hell would she throw it all away.

I've done the right thing nonetheless.

She went over the possibilities in her mind.

Leaving St. Canard forever seemed like the best option for the both of them. The only option she had.

Nothing else mattered.

Kimbra knew she wasn't being entirely honest. She had other options. There were thousands if she considered the odds. Planned out a spreadsheet of possible choices and outcomes. The reality of the situation finally settled in for her.

You can't have everything. Let him go, Kim.

Kimbra propped one hand on her hip and raked the other through her hair.

That feeling continued to nag at her. That she wasn't doing the right thing. Sure, it's what was the best for the project. But her heart said otherwise.

She refused to even acknowledge that thought.

Their problems had to be set aside. She had to focus on completing the C.O.R.E project. That much was true. The mutual pining was a threat to the project. It was a roadblock. Conflict of interest. A distraction.

She'd never let it get in the way of her job.

I just can't be with him.

She had to stop worrying about it. What was the point, anyway? What's done is done.

There was no point in talking to him about it because nothing ever changes.

Not in her life at least.

It was unfair.

Now Kimbra wondered if they'd even be on speaking terms. If he'd still be her friend and would be able to look her in the eye. Or if she truly lost him forever.

The truth was, she didn't want to talk about it. She didn't want to think about it.

She made a valiant effort to not cry.

I love you. I simply love you.

Bud Flud tried not to look at Kimbra too much during the final project meeting. He wanted to apologize repeatedly for what had happened the other night.

That had been really, really stupid of him. Trying to tell her how he felt about her.

You're absolutely ridiculous, Flud. Ridiculous.

He was an impulsive guy. The other night was just a spur of the moment. Maybe it didn't mean anything. Maybe it was only lust or him wanting something he couldn't have.

Still, he couldn't pretend nothing had happened. Bud was reminded of it every time he saw the purple-haired canine. An uncertain, awkwardness that had never existed before had developed between the two. Their attraction to one another made things even worse. Now, she hardly looks at him at all.

They still worked well together, they still got along. Yet, it didn't feel the same as before. They just needed a moment alone to discuss what that night meant.

No. Bad idea. Remember how that went last time?

He couldn't do that again. It would only make her more disappointed.

"Please… please don't say you love me."

"This is wrong, no. Do not say it."

"You're my sponsor. This is a professional work environment. I could get fired if someone saw us right now."

"Let's… let's just forget this ever happened, okay? At least until the project is finished."

How was he supposed to scrub those statements from his mind? How could he be certain she wouldn't tell him again that they couldn't be together? That it was unprofessional or that he should forget about it?

The possibility of Kimbra rejecting him again was high. Very high.

He suppressed a shiver at the thought. Once was humiliating enough. They were gonna have to talk about it. Eventually.

Bud finally looked over at Kimbra. Who was in a deep conversation with one of the C.O.R.E technicians about something. Her eyes over towards him, noticing someone in Bud's direction. And she smiled.

Bud thought her attention was directed on Dr. Ainsley, who had been chatting behind him with one of the administrators. Upon realization, Bud found out he was wrong. Kimbra wasn't smiling at Ainsley, she was smiling at him. That soft little smile was directed at him.

Bud softened his gaze. He smiled back.

The more he stared at her, the more his smile grew.

"Hey Flud!"

And just like that, the moment was shattered. Of course.

Bud acknowledged the lion who had trotted over to him, clipboard in hand. "Neil."

"Sign these papers for me real fast," he held out the clipboard and a pen to Bud.

The hound slowly took them, puzzled. "And these are for…?"

"End of the contract. You're officially free, my man, no more having to hang around here with us."

Right. End of the contract. The partnership between Sparkling Crystal Pure Flud Water and EcoTech. He didn't think it was going to be much longer until they officially parted ways. He just hadn't expected it so soon.

Neil tapped on the paper with a finger. "Sign once at the top by the X. And then at the bottom. Then we'll be done."

Bud signed at the top, his name in cursive. He moved his hand down to the bottom. But he stopped, taking a moment to breathe before proceeding. There was an unusual tightness in his throat.

Just sign it. You did your part of the deal, and now it's over. You can't drag this out just because you're hung up on some girl.

And so, he signed on the final line, Bud Bernard Flud. He handed the clipboard back over to the technician.

"Thank you, my dude." And with that, Neil walked off.

Bud couldn't believe Neil just called him dude.

"Don't mind him," a hand on Bud's shoulder and Dr. Ainsley let out a small laugh. "He's just a kid. He's excited." The elderly reptilian stood off to the right of Bud.

Bud didn't reply. His attention had moved back over to the white furred canine on the other side of the room. Ainsley noticed this and smiled. He knew that he shouldn't stick his nose where it didn't belong. But he was old and had to have fun somehow.

"She's something, isn't she?" Ainsley looked over to the sponsor, expecting a snarky comment. But instead, there was a soft look in Bud's eyes.

"Yeah, she's pretty special," he quietly admitted to the old man.

As it turned out, Ainsley was right from the start.

A memory from seven months ago surfaced unexpectedly.

"Come on now," Dr. Ainsley laughed. "She'll warm up to you… eventually."

Bud rubbed the back of his neck, doubting Ainsley's judgement. "I don't think working with her is such a great idea. She obviously hates my guts."

"Dr. Wulfe just requires time to warm up to you. Give it a chance."

And Bud gave it a chance.

"I hope you know that girl is quite fond of you."

"I wasn't aware." Bud finally turned his head slightly to the older man.

"Well, she is," Ainsley sighed. "Love is a painfully brutal thing, isn't it?"

"Excuse me?"

Dr. Ainsley chuckled. "Nothing. See you later, Flud." He patted the man's back before excusing himself to his office.

Bud's protest died in his throat. What was the point of lying to Ainsley?

God, I'm hopeless.

At first, everything appeared to be going well. Everyone who was involved with the C.O.R.E project bustled into the laboratory to see it activate for the first time.

The group stood patiently around the large cylinder shaped glass chamber, which rested in the middle of the floor. Tubes and wires connected to it from the ceiling. It looked completed, unlike the first time Bud had seen it.

Neil stood behind the computer, typing away. Technicians double-checked everything, and gave the lion a thumbs up to go ahead and start it.

Searching database…

Transferring files, please wait…

[redacted; file corrupt]

ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR

SYSTEM FAILURE

Everything had failed.

Neil cringed and looked over his shoulder to Kimbra, who stood close behind him. Watching with her eyebrows furrowed.

"I think we're getting it wrong."

Kimbra frowned. She couldn't be wrong. She couldn't be. She knew she hadn't made a mistake. She was careful. Dammit.

"Neil, why isn't it working?"

The sudden question caused Neil to jump with nervousness. He knew how this was going to go. He'd say he doesn't know, and Kimbra would yell at him.

"I dunno." The words came out, so quickly it was a little more than a squeak.

"Why don't you know?" Kimbra just looked at her friend.

He thought for a moment, afraid of saying the wrong thing. "Uhhhhh… did you plug it in?"

"Neil! We have been working on this damn thing for the last seven months! You know, it just doesn't plug in!" Kimbra had yelled so loud that Bud thought the whole facility could hear her.

"I've been living on energy drinks and coffee the last seven months. I don't even remember where I parked my car."

"I thought you always took the bus here?"

"I'm pretty sure it's a taxi."

"Can we please get on with this?" She gave him a long sideways glance.

Things weren't going as smoothly as she hoped. She sighed and ran her hand through her hair. She could feel the eyes of everyone on her as hushed whispers filled the room. Neil attempted to restart the program, only earning another error screen. He tried three more times before giving up.

Kimbra wanted to go off on everyone in the room.

She didn't know who was at fault for the problem, but she wanted to blame someone. Yell at them to fix it because the deadline was tomorrow. They didn't have time for this. She didn't have time for this.

Well, no use complaining about it.

But instead, she heard herself say something else entirely. "Guys, let's call it a night, we've been at this for long enough."

Most went home. A small few stayed for another hour or so, trying to help her figure out the problem.

But they had nothing.

Finally, Kimbra gestured for the other workers to scatter, and they instantly obeyed. Shoulders sagged with relief. She worked so hard, for so long, and this is her reward. A project that didn't work. An embarrassment. She once again became the laughingstock of St. Canard.

She refused to give up.

Twilight was pulling a dark curtain over the city. Most people were in bed at this time of hour. But not Kimbra, oh no, she was set on getting this project to work. Seven months of hard work and sleepless nights weren't about to go down the drain.

This whole thing was a complete failure.

On the computer screen, a graphic reading 'We are having technical difficulties' scrolled across over and over. A loud beep went off each time it happened.

Knives pierced her eardrums as the sound went off.

A long, low beep, and the system announcer voice: ERROR 667: PLEASE CONSULT AN ECOTECH TECHNICIAN. ERROR 667: PLEASE CONSULT AN ECOTECH TECHNICIAN. ERROR 667 PLEA—

Kimbra hit the computer with her fist, prompting the announcement to be cut off.

Such a mournful sound.

"Kimbra, it's midnight." Bud sighed and stood up from the chair he almost kept falling asleep in. "Just go home. We can try again tomorrow."

He was not supposed to be calm. He was supposed to be as stressed as she was. This project was his too. He helped fund it. He should be stressing and ripping his over gelled hair out.

He could at least display some concern.

"Bud I can't. A lot of people are counting on me. I can do this."

But what if you can't?

Her chest rose at her quick intake of breath.

Why was she telling him all of this?

"I'm scared of being a failure." She admitted shakily, her voice cracking on the final word.

"You aren't a failure."

"I sure feel like I am at times." Still, she couldn't help but try.

The slightest bit of sympathy filled Bud's eyes as she glanced up at him. "You just need some sleep." Bud insisted, but on a weary note.

"If this doesn't work, the administration will have my neck. I'll lose my job and become a mockery in the science world," she drawled without any attempt to sugar coat the details.

It had to be done, and she was the only one who could do it.

She tried to elbow past Bud, but he caught her by the shoulders. "You can't work if you're sleep-deprived and exhausted." Lines of concern cut into his features.

" God , you sound like my dad."

"I'm right."

"I know," she rubbed the sides of her head, giving in. "Just let me shut off everything, and I'll go home."

That response seemed to please the salesman. "I'll see you in the morning,"

"Night Bud."

Just tell him how you feel.

She tried, really she did. She opened her mouth and everything. But nothing came now. Nothing. Nada.

Kimbra inhaled deeply to maintain her composure.

You're an absolute mess.

A loud ringing in the night had awoken Bud. He ignored the first call, but it kept ringing. He prayed that it would stop as he buried his head underneath the pillow.

It kept ringing.

But sat up on his elbows, and squinted his eyes, focusing on the clock that sat upon the nightstand. It was three in the morning. Who in the hell was calling at this hour? A telemarketer? Prank caller? Whoever it was, was about to get an earful.

He picked up the phone and answered it. "What?"

A sweet, familiar voice spoke excitedly over the phone. "Bud! Bud, I think I know why the reactor core isn't activating!"

It's way too early for this, sweetheart.

"Congrats. I'm going back to bed."

There was silence for a moment on the other end of the line. Bud assumed that Kimbra ended the call, until she spoke.

"Please?"

"Can't this wait until tomorrow?"

"No."

She was being unreasonable, but it didn't matter.

"Can't you do it without me, then?"

"I just… I really wanted to share this with you." Bud could tell her tone shifted. She sounded disappointed and sad.

He contemplated ignoring her and going back to sleep.

No. He had to go.

"I'm coming…" The canine grumbled out, bidding her goodbye before hanging up.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Somehow, he had changed his mind.

An icy breeze blew through Bud's robe. He shivered as he pulled it closer to his body as he made it to his car, parked in the driveway. He couldn't believe that he was up at this ungodly hour. That he was out in flannel pajama pants and a t-shirt in the middle of December. The robe gave some sort of protection from the wind, but not much.

Bud wrapped his arms around himself after the crisp wind blew through the robe once again.

Why was he doing this? This could wait until the morning. He should have put his foot down and told Kimbra no. If he were smart, he'd go back home and go to sleep.

But he couldn't.

Because he loved her that much.

Now he was out in the cold, underdressed and tired, just because of love. (Yes, he knew he had it bad.) His heart sank when he realized he couldn't tell her how he felt. She said she didn't want to hear it, at least not right now. So, he'd keep quiet for now on the topic.

Right now, the project was all that mattered.

The drive back to EcoTech was quiet. St. Canard slipped into a deep sleep, so the streets were barren. The traffic lights flashed colors of red, yellow, and green across the roads and buildings. He parked the car across from the EcoTech building.

Bud stepped out of the car and headed into the cold streets of St. Canard. He made his way into the building, up the lobby stairs, into the elevator, and onto the thirteen floor. He stepped out into the dark corridor, muttering under his breath about how much warmer his bed would be.

The CEO stopped in front of two large metal doors. He knocked twice (after grumbling a bit more like an old man). The doors opened with a pneumatic hiss.

Kimbra, who stood in front of the computer with a happier expression on her face, glanced over at him. "Nice pajamas, Flud." A smirk.

"I'm too tired to deal with your teasing."

"I'm sorry," she laughed at his grumpiness. "You just helped a lot with C.O.R.E and I figured you wanted to be here for this."

"Kind of rather be in my warm bed right now."

"No you wouldn't."

"I would." He moved over to stand by her, shoving his hands into the pockets of the robe. "So, what big idea hit you that you just needed me here for?"

"Back last week, we had to replace one of the plugs in the bottom panel. You're supposed to recalibrate the whole system when you do that, but I must have forgotten." She looked for a flicker of interest in his eyes, but saw none. "I think that's why we've only gotten an error."

You sound ridiculously sure of this.

"What if that's not it?"

"I'll throw a massive tantrum and start throwing things."

Fair enough.

"Will this even work?"

"It's a shot in the dark, but I'm willing to risk it." Kimbra replied, her blue eyes bright with excitement.

"What if it explodes or something?"

"Then I guess we can die together." She said after a moment of deliberation.

Okay…not the answer he had expected.

Somehow he didn't find that reassuring. "You're so morbid."

"I know."

"I swear you've made that joke before." Bud said, trying to grasp an idea of where he heard that from before. Or maybe he was just tired.

"Me? Never . I never recycle jokes."

Sure.

He sighed, still wanting to crawl back into bed. "Are you ready?"

"Only if you are."

"Let me stand outside first."

" Bud ."

"Kimbra, I am merely too beautiful and brilliant to die by a huge fish tank."

"Oh my god, you still have no idea what it does!"

"That's besides the point."

"You've been helping me with this for the last seven months! And you have no idea what it does?!"

"Okay, okay, I'm ready, just start it."

Kimbra rolled her eyes and turned back to the computer. Her fingers typed away at the keys before pressing a green button off to the side. He saw her holding her breath.

Nothing happened. Silence.

Kimbra's shoulders slumped, and that breath she had been holding released. Right before she was about to start throwing something, a spark, and a flash lit up the room in a tint of green.

The system announcement went off above their heads.

C.O.R.E ACTIVATED

OVERRIDING ECOTECH POWER GRID

SWITCHING OVER TO REACTOR

The EcoTech power shut off. Shrouding the two in a blanket of darkness. Bud felt Kimbra's hand grip his, tightly, in anticipation and fear that this would fail. He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

OVERRIDE SUCCESSFUL

The cylinder erupted in a flash of green, sparks of energy bouncing around inside it. The power came back on.

Kimbra released Bud's hand, her face illuminated by the green light. "It worked," she breathed, hardly daring to speak.

"It…actually works." Bud watched in disbelief at the reactor. "You actually did it."

"Oh, you didn't think I could, did you?" She let out a loud, joyful laugh and playfully jabbed the salesman in the ribs. "But I did ! I proved all those bastards up in administration wrong!"

A smile. "Yeah, you sure did."

They stayed at the lab for an hour. Sitting on the tile floor, talking. About how Dr. Breen would react to Kimbra finishing the project on time. If people would finally start to respect her or just give Dr. Ainsley all the credit. They reminisced on the last seven months. The rocky start, the baseball game, the good times and the bad.

Then it was time for her to leave. She excused herself, saying she needed to try to get a few hours of sleep. Bud wanted to ask her about the other night. If they had a chance now that the project had come to a close.

Now wasn't the time to press.

Kimbra hugged him, softly telling him goodnight and thanking him for being there for her. He knew this meant the end for their partnership. The end of any chance he had with her.

It's probably what's best for you.

The thought of saying goodbye terrified him. But that's how life was. Everything eventually ends. Paths divide and people part to continue on their own way.

A sinking feeling sharply hit his gut. For a moment in that warm embrace, Bud felt loved. Safe. As if searching all these years for something had finally been found.

It was comforting until he realized it could never be his.

Bud knew he should be happy for Kimbra. Their seven months of hard work had finally paid off. And she had said this was her life's work, so she's been developing it for years. Right now, it was about her. Not him. Not his sappy feelings towards her. Her and only her.

He wanted to be happy for Kimbra. He tried his damn best to be.

His heart ached, as this meant their time working together would come to an end. They'd part ways, moving back on with their own respective lives. Something he was begging for seven months ago.

But Bud didn't want that. He didn't want to be lonely anymore. He didn't want to go back to late nights of working alone in the office. The hours upon hours of sitting at home alone, wishing there was something more to his dreary life.

All it is, is eight letters. Three words. I love you.

He couldn't find the courage to say them.