In retrospect, it all makes sense. Charlotte understands why Joel kept his distance from her, why things between them had begun to feel so strange. They haven't quite returned to normal yet. She was angry with him for a stretch, and then Christmas came to distract them all, and this is the first real chance they've had to spend time together, just the two of them, in weeks. She has been looking forward to it. But that doesn't mean that she is ready when he knocks.

"Coming!" Charlotte shouts, though she has only just finished up in the bathroom. Her makeup is done, at least, and that is typically what takes the most time. She darts from the bathroom to the closet, furiously sifting through every item of clothing she possesses until, after no less than five minutes, possibly more, she finally settles on the right sweater. Picking out a pair of pants is less complicated; she opts for the black jeans she wore yesterday, because they won't have that freshly washed stiffness that jeans that haven't been worn at least once always do. She grabs a pair of socks and sits at the edge of the bed to lace up her boots. It's probably the quickest she's gotten dressed in ages, and it still takes at least ten minutes. But finally, after stealing a final glance in the mirror, she is ready. She grabs her bag and her coat and heads out the door.

"Sorry," she says, biting her lip as she grins and shrugs, when she finds Joel leaning against the wall in the hallway.