Plus One. How to Catch a Cloud - xi

Ara fell into bed with a stupid grin on her face.

After spending the day with Charlie, she found that they worked well together. They gathered a few ideas for the centerpieces which she'll work on next weekend - since weekends were mainly her days off.

The best part of today was when they both got home and were greeted with a teary-eyed couple beyond excited to share their news that they are expecting!

Ara jumped up and down, ran towards her brother and soon-to-be sister in-law and initiated a group hug.
"OMG!" she squealed and looked over her shoulder. "This is awesome! Isn't it awesome, Grumpy?"
He moaned inwardly at her new-found name for him.
"Yes, it is."
Charlie walked over to his friends, gave Phoenix a slap on the back and Georgia a bear hug.
"Let's just hope this baby won't take after their aunt, here."
Everyone but Ara chuckled.

"Whatever..." she huffed and ran up to her room.
"I was kidding," he called up the stairs after her.
She slammed the door to her room unintentionally. Let him think I'm mad, she smirked.

Ara was still in bed grinning like an idiot, when her door burst open.

"Ara," he began, "I don't understand you. One minute we get along, the next minute you're back to hating me. Spare me the guessing games and tell me. What is wrong with me?"

The grin she wore earlier fell off her face and to the floor.
Wow, he was serious.
Her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat. Well, something felt like it was going to jump out of her throat - she hoped it wouldn't be her lunch.

"Nothing," she responded without hesitation.
"Then why can't we ever have a simple day together?" he asked as he walked towards her.
"But we did. Wasn't today a testament that we could get along?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, but we get back here and it's back to the ugliness."

He sat at the edge of her bed, and she sat propped against the headboard.

Covering his hand with hers, she responded, "We're good, Charlie. As long as we have a wedding to plan, we will get along. Today was proof we can co-exist. We were both joking around earlier, right? So don't worry about it. We don't have to love each other, we don't even have to like each other. We just have to be able to work with each other to get this wedding organized. More than ever now, since we don't want Georgia getting stressed out... Especially in her delicate state. Right?"

"Right," he replied and slid his hand out from under hers and stood up.

Before humiliation could settle in her cheeks at his withdrawal, she hopped off the bed, to escort him out of her room.

When he got to the door, she casually reminded him, "And don't worry, I know where I stand."

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"I know we're not friends. But today was a great day for me. Thanks for helping me out."

Her heart was tearing into bits. They weren't friends, she had to remind herself. He told her flat out never to call him "Chuck" because only his friends called him that. She made the mistake once. Never again.

Charlie's heart sank when he heard those words come out of her mouth. He felt like he was watching her mouth move but couldn't quite grasp what she was saying. Surely she didn't mean it, did she?

"Do you think we have a chance at being friends, then?" he asked.
"No," she responded without hesitation.
"Wow. OK," he walked out.

There is no such thing as a perfect day, he thought.
There is no such thing as the happiest day, she told herself.