He was worried. They'd argued before, but it had never been like this. Sure, they were friends, good friends, which meant that they were entitled to their fair share of fights and disagreements. But this was unlike Carrie, to just go on for days upon days, not even speaking to him. So Anthony felt he had a right to be worried. He was almost in tears over the situation.

*Hey, if we can solve any problem

Then why do we shed so many tears?*

These fights with Carrie really tore him up inside, more than anyone could ever even know. And no one could ever know. No one could ever know that he was in love with Carrie Underwood.

He wasn't even sure how it had happened, but yet the feeling lived and blossomed, deep down in his heart.

What bothered him even more was seeing her with other guys. She'd teasingly flirt with them, even his friends, and he knew that none of them could resist. She was far too beautiful to resist. He, himself, would never be able to, that much he knew.

*Oh, and so you go again

When the leading man appears*

He'd nearly confessed his love for her several times. He'd always lost his courage. Her not knowing was enough to drive him mad, but he just couldn't muster the strength to spit the three words out.

*Always the same thing

We've got everything goin' on and on and on*

His cell phone abruptly rang, breaking his thoughts.

He absent-mindedly ignored the caller id, and just answered.

"Fedorov... what are you doing?" Her playful voice rang in his ears, and he smiled at the sound of it.

"Being bored out of my mind." he said softly.

"Wanna hang out? I was gonna go to the beach."

"I take it our fight's over?"

"Yeah. Hmm..." she said. "Funny...I can't even remember what it was about."

He chuckled. "It's been too freaking long. I can't, either."

"It was five days, Anthony."

"Five days without you is five days too long. I missed you."

*Everytime you go away

You take a piece of me with you*

"Aww, I missed you, too, dork." She giggled.

He shook his head. "You and your pet names for me. When does it stop?"

"Hmm... Let's see... the day after... NEVER?" She teased him a lot, and today was like every other day.

It felt as thought the five days had melted into virtually nothing.

*Everytime you go away

You take a piece of me with you*

"So... Will you meet me at the beach or not?"

"I guess so. Sure."

"Alright. I'll give you thirty minutes." She declared. "And if you're not on time... I'm throwing sand down your shorts."

He shook his head. "I swear... you MUST be evil."

Anthony found himself padding down to the beach, wearing his swimming trunks and flip flops, about twenty minutes later.

She was already there, sitting in the sand, wearing a one-peice bathing suit, a wraparound tied tightly around her waist. She stared off into the distance, her long blond hair being blown and tousled by the mighty wind.

He swore silently that he'd never seen her so beautiful, so perfect.

"Hello, beautiful." he spoke.

Beautiful. That was his own little pet name for her. He was surprised she didn't find it odd, considering the fact that they were only friends. But she never said a word, usually just smiled, and occasionally blushed.

She seemed startled by his words, and her head spun around to look at him. She broke out in a dazzling smile.

"Hey, dork!" she exclaimed, then hopped up.

She gave him a quick hug, and he eyed her as she stepped back.

"It's a special name reserved for you..." She looked a little serious. "Because you're actually the opposite of it. You're not silly. You're way serious."

"You want silly?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. "I can give you silly."

She raised her eyebrows, and stared at him.

A slow grin covered his lips as she took off running down the beach, and he immediately went after her.

*Go on and go free, yeah*

"I'm so gonna get you!" He yelled as he continued to chase her.

She was starting to tire out, and her pace slowed somewhat.

He'd nearly caught up with her when she cried out and fell over backward. He caught her easily, and he held her still, her arms around his neck.

"Are- Are you okay?" he asked, his bright blue eyes filled with concern.

"Y-yeah. I... I think I hit my foot on something. It hurts." Her face was filled with pain, and he could see that she was holding back tears.

"M-Maybe you should sit down." He murmured, letting go of her.

*Maybe you're too close to see*

She hobbled away from the edge of the water, and very slowly sit down. He sat near her, and gently moved her foot to rest on his knee.

"It's a scratch. Just a little scratch. And it's not bleeding." His fingers ran over the rough spot on the sole of her foot, and she cringed. "I'm sorry." He whispered, holding her foot still, not touching the sore area. "That's what you get for not wearing shoes." He nodded towards his own feet.

She pouted, her big brown eyes holding his attention. She slowly drew her foot back, her eyes still on him, and he wished she'd not moved.

*I can feel your body move

Doesn't mean that much to me*

They continued to sit and stare at each other for several minutes; their closeness, and the eye contact, nearly uncomfortable.

*I can't go on, sayin' the same thing

Do you even know we know*

She finally broke the eye contact, and moved over to sit right next to him, so close, their legs were touching.

*Everytime you go away

You take a piece of me with you*

"I really missed you, and I'm really sorry we fought." She whispered. "I hate when we fight."

"As do I." He glanced down, having to bite his tongue to keep from rambling out three certain words.

*Everytime you go away

You take a piece of me with you*

"Why do you always call me beautiful?" The words were barely more than a whisper.

"Because you are." he said softly, and he watched as her hand creeped over his.

"Yeah, but there are millions of other girls that are pretty and you don't call them that."

He'd been caught.

*I can't go on, sayin' the same thing

Cause baby, can't you see*

His free hand moved up to touch her cheek.

*We've got everything going on and on and on*

Their eyes locked, and in the next moment, he was kissing her.

*Everytime you go away

You take a piece of me with you*

He momentarily stopped and pulled back.

"I-I'm sorry, Carrie." He paused to take a breath. "I really shouldn't have done that." His cheeks blazed a bright red.

"No...no." Her words stunned him. "I... I want you to do it again."

"What?"

"Kiss me again... please?"

*Everytime you go away

You take a piece of me with you*

He slowly followed her command, and was so surprised when he realized she was kissing him back.

She stopped to speak. "Anthony, I may be jumping the gun here, but... but I have something to tell you."

"What? Please... Say whatever you need to." He said. His heart pounded in his chest.

*Everytime you go away, ohhh*

"I... I love you. I don't know why or how it ever happened, but I do, and I can't hide it anymore." Her voice seemed to be a bit wobbly.

The look on his face was nothing but relief and utter happiness, and he pressed his lips hard against hers.

*You take a piece of me

Everytime you go*

When the kiss ended, she was breathless and staring at him.

"I love you... Oh, God, how I love you." He murmured, his fingers brushing her cheek.

She was near tears.

*Away...*

"Let's not fight ever again." she whispered, one of her tears hitting his hand.

"Oh... I don't think we will." He said with a smile. "Not if I can help it..."

His words faded as his lips touched hers once again.

*You take a piece of me with you...*