I laughed back at him, loving how his mood suddenly switched. But the soberness suddenly brought me to reality and I wondered that painfully confusing question again. Just say we're friends. Why was it so hard to hear that outloud when I've known it all along?
                          
He must've caught it, because Charlie squeezed my hand in his and asked, "What is it?"
                          
"Nothing," I answered all too quickly and all too casually.
                          
"Tell me." He said.
                          
I held my breath. No, we weren't supposed to know. "I don't know." I said dumbly. "I don't know..."
                          
While I spoke, he parked in front of such a cozy looking home. Boards painted a faded yellow and rose bushes widely sprawling along the front yard. A couple dogs roaming the grass, chasing eachother and running from sweet little children that reached for them. It was so sweet, and I wished I could say what he said when he grumbled: "Yeah, this is where I grew up."
                          
I was in a trance. The truck parked in the front, the welcome decorations, rusted windchimes, one story and a shiney looking mailbox with the classic, Grant, painted on sloppily.
                          
"I love it." I immediately said.
                          
He, again, looked at me funny. "You haven't even been inside."
                          
I looked back at him and smiled. "I love it already." With a sigh, "I'm actually jealous of you." I looked back at the house, admiring the playful children and watching as Savannah walked out and told the children to leave the dogs alone. "I wish I could've grown up in such a cozy looking place."
                          
When I snapped out of it, he was staring at me. An expression of apology on him, and I wasn't sure why at the time. He pulled me to him, unaware of the people outside who could possibly see him being so affectionate to me. He kissed my forhead before catching my lips. "I forget sometimes." He admitted. "How fortunate I am."
                          
I wanted to cry then, because the ashamed look on his face made me feel so bad. He felt terrible for his reaction to his family and it showed. I hugged him. I wanted to say something. Meaningless words wanted to slip out randomly just to see how I'd feel, and just to see how he'd react. But I caught myself before I even dared. "Who knew the evil calculus teacher was actually such a sweetheart?" I teased.
                          
He looked down at me and our noses almost touched. "Don't test me, Diana." He growled with his arms around me.
                          
I blushed under his stare and he rolled his eyes. "You're cute." He mocked me, pinching my cheek.
                          
I slapped him away and pulled back before we got too into eachother and I readied myself. He didn't look happy.
                          
"We have to go in sooner or later."
                          
"Or never."
                          
I glared at him as I opened the door, realizing Savannah went inside. "We're already here."
                          
He turned grumpy as he pushed himself outside, the cold air consuming me and I followed him to his house. The children gazed up at him in admiration. "Uncle Chance, we missed you," A little boy said to him, with light brown eyes like Charlie's.
                          
"Hey Cody." He said casually, leaning down and fist bumping this kid. "You're- wow, you're big now."
                          
The boy grinned proudly. "Thanks, I'm seven."
                          
The little girl who was with him seemed to shy back when Charlie landed his eyes on her, but he looked completely serene. "Kendall, you're so old now." He admired.
                          
She smiled. "So are you." She said back sweetly.
                          
I laughed at the innocent response and he stood up, shoving me over playfully, then looking down at the girl. She gave him a hug. "Stay away from boys, you're getting prettier by the day."