The morning seemed ominous. Halle had woken up in time, but feeling as if she had not slept at all. She sighed as she rubbed her still weary head. She just hoped she didn't look as bad as she felt. No, that wouldn't be very good. Especially when my head feels like it's going to fall off. She wondered why she was so worked up, but she could seem to focus on anything more than a striking pair of blue eyes. She didn't feel good about this either. But she hardened herself. It hadn't been her fault, yet why did she still feel so bad about this?

But it was nothing compared to JC. Instead of feeling as though he had not slept at all he felt like he had slept too much. His body was still in sleep mode. Now all he wanted to do was sleep all day. In truth, he just wanted to hide from his problems. They had surmounted to an unbelievable level and their weight was pressing him down. He'd been so angry yesterday that he hadn't even talked to Justin about that morning. Instead he had scowled at everyone, not able to go on as though nothing had happened. But now he scowled at himself.

JC knew it was his fault, he had known as soon as he slammed the door, or maybe even before. But he didn't want to say it at the time, he'd been in too much of a rage. Good going, Chasez. He groaned as he realized how stupid he had been. When hiss mother told him that anger never solved anything he should have listened to her. Heck, he just should have listened period. He just couldn't stand the thought of Halle with someone else. It wasn't fair...

His thoughts advanced as his last thoughts trailed off. What did any of this have to do with fair? Just because he had fought hard for her did not mean he had won. Maybe he had deluded himself. And he was ashamed. Had she ever been a prize, his to win? He could not believe he had demoted her to that in the span of less than twenty-four hours. Oh God...he had to apologize, he needed to. This was what you called motivation. JC got out of bed.

-*-*-*-

The knock on Halle's door came as soon as she had gathered up her things. She glanced up at the door, gazing at her watch. Seven. There was no one else it could be. Slowly, she made her way to the door after picking up her briefcase. Her face was a mask, not betraying any of her emotions. And for once, as she opened the door, JC's face did not brighten her morning.

Halle stepped courteously aside to let JC through, grateful that his anger at least did not extend to Josh. It wasn't his fault and she'd be out of a babysitter that Josh loved. Last night he had asked repeatedly about Blue, sensing the hostility and she had been at a loss for words. But JC did not go straight past her as she tried to get out of the door after he had walked a few steps. Instead, he spun around and gripped her shoulders. "Where are you going?" he asked anxiously.

"To work," she answered dutifully and as quickly as possible. She just wanted to get out of there. She tried to wriggle out of his grasp, not daring to look into his eyes. She'd had enough of that.

"No, don't go," he said quickly, maintaining his grip. "I'm so sorry for last night." Quickly, from behind his back he pulled a bouquet of flowers. They startled her, this bouquet held up right to her face. She had to blink twice before she realized they were for her. The bouquet was beautiful, but it wasn't really the flowers she cared about. She looked up quickly, the need to see JC filling her.

Halle looked into his eyes and was lost in a deep pool of never-ending blue. She knew those eyes too well. How they were almost clear when they lit up in happiness and a steel gray when he was angry. No matter how his face masked his emotions, his eyes gave everything away. When he looked at her with those blue eyes of his, Halle felt that he was looking into her soul, his spirit seeping into every crevice of her heart. She knew no secrets when he gazed at her, she could tell no lies. Selfishly, she wanted his eyes to look at her and only her.

That weakness in her legs once again filled her. By now, Halle's hand had crept up from her side to grasp the bouquet. Red roses and virgin white lilies were mixed together in an stunning display. But what was stunning was just how good she felt. And yet how angry.

Her face heated itself, and with her mouth set in a firm line, she glared at him, the anger and disbelief seeping through her exterior. "I can't believe you got so mad yesterday! You didn't even give me a chance to explain, you big...oaf!" She was seething, she couldn't even think of a better word. "First of all Mike is..."

"Don't say it!" JC put his hand up. "I'm sorry, you can date whoever you want."

But she swatted his hand away. "Don't pull that with me again! You're listening to me now! Date? Mike is married! And old married as in with kids. And if you even think I am having an affair then you really do not know me at all."

"Whoa, Halle, calm down. I'm sorry," he said honestly, his look pleading with her. "I was just..." His face was turning red.

"Late?" she answered for him. "Look, I'm really sorry about that. I guess I just wasn't thinking about my priorities. It won't happen again."

She had hurried on before he could finish his sentence. Unknowingly, she had saved him from the words and a fate that might bring negative repercussions from both him and her. That's why his next words startled even him. "No, it's not that. Well, it sorta was, but that wasn't what I was trying to say. I was trying to say was that I was well... jealous." As soon as the words exited his mouth he regretted them. Nice going, JC. What is this, Sunday confession?

The floor suddenly seemed very inviting to JC. Sink, JC was praying. And if he couldn't sink, the next best thing was to stare...and stare and stare and stare at it. He couldn't endure to look into her eyes and see something that he wasn't hoping for. He didn't like to admit it, but with Halle, it was a very real possibility that it might be there. He just couldn't tell.

"Is the carpet so interesting?" she asked, moments later observing his stance. Halle felt like bursting inside. Just one little word had brought on this surge of warmth... 'jealous'. She wished she could be outraged, she wished she could be disgusted. Or better yet, she wish she could feel nothing at all. But that just didn't seem to be possible, she felt too much. It was not so as her brain slowly processed the information and her heart did flip-flops. This strange yearning came over her, she was no longer angry. And all of a sudden, she realized she was smiling.

JC looked up at her quickly as she asked that, his eyes now a varying blue. But as soon as he set them upon the curvature of her lips, they instantly brightened. Gone was the angry look she had cast him before and absent was the look he had hoped he wouldn't see. That would have been rejection. But instead, he saw her gentle smile and he had to fight that urge to gather her up into his arms and swing her around. "So you forgive me?" he asked, coming closer to her.

"Let me think..." she stalled, put her finger to her temple in mock thought.

"Oh, you're enjoying this, aren't you?" And with that he decided to do exactly as his heart had been hollering at him to do. He gathered her up in his arms and swung her around.

-*-*-*-