Caleb's POV
As friends?! Really, dumbass?! I groaned and buried my face in my pillow. Why am I such a wimp?! What happened to winning her over, getting her back and sweeping her off her feet?!

Looking at her sitting there, so near yet so far was torture. I miss her so much and it took all the energy I had not to just pull her close and kiss those damn lips. I guess I thought I didn't want to scare her by coming on too strong. But I never thought that I was such a wuss. I had to go back to the states the next afternoon. I gotta do something. And fast.
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Charlie's POV
I tossed and turned in my bed. The tears kept flowing, which pisses me off. I hated crying. Made me feel weak. I finally sat up and groaned. Damnit, I couldn't sleep. I took my phone and clicked Dara's number. I waited as her phone rang.

"Hello! Hey, Charlie!" Dara greeted me cheerfully. Suddenly I felt tearful again. I missed her. I felt like flying back to the US and just curl up in a ball in her arms and just bawl my head off.

"Dara, hey. So, Caleb's here." I got straight to the point. There was a tiny gasp on Dara's end and then quiet.

"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't tell him where you are. He saw you at the beach, by accident. Then he called me and made me confirm that you are, in fact, in Sydney. Other than that, I never told him anything. I guess he went on serach for you." Dara said. I sighed and leaned back against my pillow.

"Well, we talked today and he wanted to be friends." I said in resignation.

"The eff did he mean by being friends? Is he for real?!" Dara said incredulously.

"Right?! I mean like, the hell man! I left you and when we meet again after 8 months, you want to be friends..urgh..please!" I groaned.

"Charlie, you still love him don't you?" Dara said in a serious voice. I was quiet as my tears flow down my cheeks.

"So much, Dara. So much that it hurts." I chocked.

"Oh honey.." Dara sighed.

Then, after a few minutes, I took a shaky breath and assured Dara I was fine. I made her promise not to tell Caleb about what I told her. Dara gave me her word. Then we hung up and I willed myself to sleep. But my dreams were only full of Caleb.
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The next morning, I went to work with a heavy heart. I was not in a good mood. I arrived pretty early, since I couldn't really sleep last night. Damn Caleb! He kept appearing in my dream. I sat in the lunch room, nursing a cup of coffee. It was only 8:15. Just then, Julie appeared. She went to get her coffee and then sat opposite me. She just stared at me once in a while and sipped her coffee. I glanced at her. She looked at me much like how Dara looked at me when she wanted to help me, but was giving me the space I need.

"Caleb and I used to date. We broke up because of the media and online bullying. I couldn't take it anymore so I broke it off. And last night, he said he wanted us to just be friends..." I broke down and Julie quickly went to me and hugged me.

" Shh, it's okay. Everything's gonna be fine." Julie comforted me. I cried until I couldn't anymore. Luckily nobody came into the lunch roomp.

Julie took me to the ladies' and I fixed myself up. She helped me with my makeup that I looked presentable enough to go out there like nothing happened.

I walked to my cubicle and started switching on my laptop and organising the folders that I would need for work today. Soon, the office was buzzing. I was typing on my laptop when I heard a familiar voice. No way.

I peeked over my cubicle and almost chocked when I saw Caleb! What the hell was he doing here?! I shrunk lower in my cubicle, but peeked through the gap of the partition.

My co-workers were surrounding him and asking for autographs. He was very nice to them and they were so overwhelmed by his presence. I saw Caleb's eyes wondering around, obviously looking for me.

"Char, what are you doing crouching like that?" Bruce peered at me. I looked at him and grimaced. I stood up and my eyes met Caleb's. He stared at me. Slowly, he walked towards me. I just watched him. My co-workers were watching us in a hush.

"C..Caleb. What are you doing here?" I said nervously.

"To see you. I'm leaving for the US at 3 this afternoon. And I have to see you.." Caleb let his voice trailed and then he stopped talking. My heart was beating so fast that I could hear it so loudly in my ears.

"Why? You saw me last night already." I said stupidly. Really, Charlie? That's the best you could come up with?

"Charlie, tell me honestly. Can we really just be friends? Like seriously..Tell me the truth.." Caleb said as he looked at me.

"Um, well..s..ssure..I mean...why not?" I stuttered as I struggled to form complete sentences.

"Really? Coz I sure as hell can't." Caleb said with a small chuckle. I stared at him, wondering what he was doing.

Caleb came closer and kept staring at me. I was rooted in my spot, waiting for him to say it. I want to hear him say it.

"You know, when you left I never thought I could see you again. You just flat out disappeared. I looked for you everywhere but I couldn't find you. You know, I get it now. What you went through. I knew that now. You tried to tell me but I didn't take you seriously. All those hate..nobody could handle that alone. And you went through that alone."Caleb said shakily. He looked at his shoes and I saw him squeezing his fists.

"Look, Caleb-" I started to say when he cut me off.

" I saw the red paint video. And the horrible tweets. And I found out about those people invading your privacy. I felt so mad I wanted to kill them for putting you through all that. But then I realized, it wasn't just them. It was me. I did that to you. I should've protected you, but I didn't." Caleb said and swallowed hard.

"So, what do you want me to do, Caleb? What?" I said trying to stop tears from falling. Just then, Caleb came closer, almost at my cubicle.

"Please come back to me. I miss you so much. Let's try again. I promise I'll protect you. Please, be with me. I can't live without you, Baby. I love you." Caleb said, opening his arms to me and I heard gasps from everyone watching in the office. Caleb looked beseechingly at me. A sob escaped my lips.

Without caring about everybody watching me, I ran into Caleb's open arms and buried my face in his chest. Caleb wrapped his arms around me tightly and put his lips against my temple, murmuring I love yous. There were applause and cheers from everybody in the office. It felt wonderful to be in his arms again. It felt like coming home.

I released my hold on him and Caleb kept a tight hold on my waist and one hand was carressing my cheek. Softly, he kissed me. I sighed and immediately melted into a puddle. It was soft and tender. When we broke off, there were sighs of contentment from the girls in the office. Some were literally crying. Julie was clapping her hands and crying with a huge smile on her face.

Caleb hugged me and then he looked sheepish, as if he suddenly realized the whole office was watching. I lowered my head, feeling crazy embarrassed.

"Well Miss James, I gather you can take the rest of the day off! Provided that you get your boyfriend to give my daughter his autograph." Mr Rockwell, my boss called out with a huge smile on his jolly face.

Caleb and I looked at each other and laughed. I grabbed my bag and jacket as Caleb grabbed my hand and pulled me with him, exiting my department and running out of the building. Caleb caught a cab for us.

When we were sitting in the cab and driving to my apartment, Caleb pulled me close and we didn't say anything. I was so happy to be with Caleb again. I looked up to his face and he was already staring at me. Softly, he kissed me again, carressing his soft lips to mine. He held me close and his hand clutching my torso while the other one gripped my shoulder. I grabbed hold of the front of his jacket tightly, kissing him with all of my being. When we broke off, we were breathless. I lay my head on his shoulder and inhaled the fresh gorgeous scent that was all Caleb.

When we arrived at my apartment, I took Caleb into the living room. We sat on the sofa, a little awkwardly when reality set in. I slowly stood up. Caleb grabbed my hand when I started to walk away. I turned to look at him.

"Where are you going?" Caleb asked, looking at me with a frown on his forehead. I chuckled.

"I'm gonna get you something to drink. Don't you want anything?" I asked as Caleb stood up and snaked his arms around me. I put my hands on his chest, feeling his heart racing, just as fast as mine.

"Yes I do." Caleb said as he pulled me close, his face a mere inch from mine.

"What do you want?" I asked in a daze.

"You.." Caleb said as he kissed me deeply this time. With my arms around his neck, Caleb carried me to my bedroom.

He lay me on my bed, his eyes never leaving mine. I closed my eyes as he kissed me again. He then unbutton my shirt and I was gone...
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A/N
Okaaay, another update. I'm on vacation now, so got more time to update. So what do u guys think? Vote and comment, k!