:(

Jared looks up quickly to the door, only to drop his gaze again when he sees Grace. He had asked his mother specifically to call her and tell her not to come. What had she not understood about that? 

Refusing to look over at Grace, his arms remain folded, his face rigid with tension."I don't want to play cards and I don't feel like therapy," he respond gruffly. "My mother was supposed to call you and cancel today." 

Continuing to stare at the wall, he cannot bring himself to raise his eyes to Grace. "Come to think of it, I don't think you should come any more at all." He swallows hard, his gaze growing even colder. "I don't want to see you, so you should probably just leave now."

Having Katie settle in next to him, Hunter keeps his arm around her, tucking her in close. He was glad she didn't regret having come after him and asking him to stay. The words she spoke were...deep, in a way. Somehow during the last couple weeks, they had grown very close to each other, forming a bond that was unfamiliar to Hunter, yet it was filling a certain hole he'd been trying to fill for a long time. He couldn't deny the fact that he felt closer to Katie than he had to any other girlfriend he'd ever had. Strange as it might be, it was the truth. 

"Forever is an awfully long time," he responds softly, his fingers gently running over her hand. "But I'd stay in a single moment forever, as long as you were there." 

Only after he'd said it does Hunter realize that it really was true. Right about now, he felt Katie was the only true friend he really had - and more than that. She'd touched a spot way down deep in his heart, and he couldn't pretend it hadn't happened. He might be going through a rough patch right now, but whether or not he was grouchy or wanted time alone, Katie was automatically his beacon of light amidst the darkness. 

He gives her a little squeeze before closing his eyes and letting his head sink down further into the grass. He didn't care what time it was. He didn't want to know or think about where they had to be next. 

Knowing now she'd done okay, Susanne beams. Receiving the next kiss and hug, she wraps her arms around Chuck's neck and buries her face against him, holding him tightly. "You're welcome," comes her muffled answer. "Thank you for being patient with me." 

After a couple moments, she draws back again and smiles. "How about we go get some of that apple pie? And... take the long way home?"