Surprise!

The pair of you eat your meal, enjoying the comfortable pleasant fellowship you shared. You eat your delicious steak, you talk about your practice, you talk about the weekend trip, Charlie talks about his excitement and hopes of what might happen. He tells you how he is going to keep it a secret from his family until he learns something. With how nosy and controlling you knew his mother was this was quite an act of rebellion for him.

You drive back to the campus in silence. Each of you lost in your own thoughts. You stop by the ponds for a short time and listen to the evening song of the frogs in the fading light of the day. You park the truck and make your way back to the dorm. The pair of you stop in the common room for a short while to say hello to the guys and watch a little television. Soon Charlie retires for the night, you follow him in about half an hour later.

As you enter you notice he is standing at his desk staring out the window. His phone was laying on the desk in front of him, he likely had just been talking with his parents.

You look at him. That thick raven hair, those slender shoulders. You break. You simply break. You could feel your willpower crumple and buckle. You couldn't do it any longer.

You walk up quietly behind him. He could see you approaching in the reflection from the window. You could see the reflection. You could see yourself walking up behind him and you knew what you were about to do.

You stand right in behind him. Your stomach touching his middle back. You take his shoulders in your big hands, you kiss his head, you smell his soft hair.

"Jonathan." He whispers.

Your tone is hushed as well. "I...I'm not strong enough. I can't..." You brush his hair gently to the side. Leaning down you tenderly kiss his slender neck...again...again a little higher...again just under his delicate jawline. He sighs, tilting his head so you have easier access. You kiss his cheek...his soft ear lobe soon between your lips you nibble and suck.

"Ohhhh..." He breaths in the softest of little moans. He turns back toward you. His hands out, caressing your toned body through your tight cotton t-shirt. His fingers tracing your pecs, your abs, running down your sides. Soon his light touch is gripping you, clawing at you. He whispers. "Jonathan...we can't..."

Your powerful hands on his shoulders get tighter, you were losing yourself. "I just can't...not anymore...just...just once, even just once...I'm not strong enough. I'm not strong enough anymore." You say again, as you bring your cheek down along the side of his temple.

You feel him suddenly stiffen in your arms. His breath was rapid but he was making an effort to control it. Reaching up he places his hand against your mouth, you eagerly kiss it. But that isn't what it was there for. He pushes you back. Looking up at you with those incredible brown eyes you see a steely resolve that broke your heart, you knew what it meant. He gives you a loving smile.

"Then I'll be strong enough for both of us." He says.

"Nooo..." You sigh.

"Please Jonathan." You could hear the soul wrenching pain in his soft voice. "Please...step away..."

You let out a breath of defeat, your shoulders slump, you step away. You turn away from him, hiding your face from him in your shame. You'd broken your trust with him. You feel his small hand on your back, though you could tell he was keeping his distance.

"Trust me. It is for the best." He assures you.

You nod. Of course it was. Of course it was. Charlie knew better. Charlie was stronger than you. You take a deep cleansing breath. "Okay...Okay. I'm okay. Just..." You turn to look at him, he smiles up at you. "It was a moment of weakness."

He nods. "I know. Trust me, I know."

"How? How do you do this to me? I just...I just don't understand." You shake your head in disbelief at the desire you felt for him. "I'm sorry."

He continues his gentle smile, letting you know the feeling was mutual.

You let out a little laugh as you try to fight back the tension in the room. "Whooo....well, that happened."

He laughs. "Almost happened."

It takes some time, longer than usual, but the comfortable feeling between you returns once more. Things were as they had been once more. Your friendship strong as ever and no boundaries irrevocably crossed.

Once more you start talking about the trip as you get ready for bed. Lights are out and you continue to talk in the darkness of the room. You talk and talk and talk. Neither of you wanted to stop. Eventually you do. Sleep comes uneasily that night.

The next day starts like any other. Get ready, go for breakfast, etc. Today you had a few more errands. You had to gas the truck up for the trip and Charlie said he'd look into whether he could find an affordable hotel that he could book for you. The memory of the night before dominated your thoughts as you sat through your classes. The feel of him in your arms, the feel of his soft neck against your lips. You redouble your resolve. You swear to yourself you would do better in the future.

Later in the day you are in one of the computer labs when the email arrives. You'd made the team! At least on a provisional level. You let out a happy whoop that turns heads in the quiet lab. You print out the email, this you had to show Charlie!

Grabbing the sheet from out of the printer you practically run the whole way back to your room. You desperately hoped he was in. You spring in, dance around a confused Mama Rose, and bound up the stairs. You zip through the common room without even a nod to Luiz.

Out of breath and a smile a mile wide you burst through the door to your room.

Charlie was sitting at his desk chair faced toward the door. Standing between you and he...

Samantha spins around and leaps into your arms. You see her flowing wheat blonde hair and those pale sky blue eyes twinkling. "JON! OH JON! There he is. There's my Jon."

You stand stunned as she grabs your face and kisses you hard. She smells of bright berries and field flowers. She pulls back from you and looks up at you with a huge grin and a laugh.

"SURPRISE!"