Thank you for all the kind reviews! Here's the next part!
The charity ball had been an instant success. Fletch's auction had raised a huge amount of money and he had become very popular as the auctioneer, despite some last minute nerves. Colette was proud of him as her knew how nervous he had been. As he left the stage and regained his seat beside her she leaned forward to capture his lips in a gentle kiss.
"What was that for?" Fletch asked, an amused grin pinching at the corner of his lips.
"Dunno" Colette laughed softly. "Sorry" She added quietly.
"Why sorry? It wasn't that bad" He teased, but Fletch became concerned when Colette didn't laugh. Her eyebrows had become knitted together as she rested her head on the palms of her hand. "What?" He asked gently, as she continued to look towards him.
"I dunno. I mean, our relationship is confusing enough as it is without me going and doing that" The brunette replied, her voice barely audible as she spoke. Fletch reached forward to take her hand, absentmindedly rubbing soothing circles into the top of her hand.
"Col, I don't know where we stand and I certainly don't understand us at the moment. But nobody said that, that is a bad thing. This never was going to be straight forward was it?" He whispered gently to which Colette shook her head. "I can't say we're just friends because we have far too much history for that. But things can't just fall back into place like they were all those years ago. We'll figure it out though, in time" Fletch spoke reassuringly in hope that he would calm Colette's fears. "You have to stop keeping everything up there though" He added, tapping the top of her forehead.
"I know" Colette replied sadly. It had been her downfall for many years. She was far too independent and used to dealing with everything on her own, which was precisely why she never told anybody anything.
"Look Colette, I know you" Fletch reminded her gently. "I know you're scared. And I know you always have been scared"
"Scared of what?" Colette asks, defensively leaning back in her chair.
"Scared of falling in love. Scared of getting hurt" He replied, moving his chair closer to hers as he reached forward to take her free hand again. "But you don't need to be scared"
Colette nodded. She trusted him implicitly.
"And I'm not saying that we're going to fall back in love or start where we left off. But if we find that we still have feelings for each other then it'll be okay. We've learnt from our mistakes Col, I understand you better now. We just have to take it as it comes" Fletch spoke softly, once again rubbing absentminded circles into the top of her hand.
"I do love you" Colette murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just not sure I'm in love you yet" She added simply. Fletch nodded. He could already see the anxiety in her eyes as she tried desperately to figure out her feelings.
"It's okay" He whispered reassuringly. "I love you too. I don't know whether I've fallen for you. But if it turns out that way, it'll be okay. You don't need to be scared to fall in love Col" Fletch spoke in gentle whispers and she hung on his every word. The male nurse then stood to his feet, extending a hand to the usually subdued Colette.
"Dance with me?" He asked coyly.
"Always" The brunette replied bashfully before taking his hand and allowing herself to be led onto the dance floor.
Colette fiercely brushed the tears from her eyes as the heavy, angry sobs continued to fight their way of out her tiny frame. The tears she had been suppressing for so long were causing her delicate eye liner to smudge down her pale cheeks. The brunette silently cursed herself as she buried her head in her hands. How could she have been so selfish? Someone had once told her that she was incapable of loving and they were right. She had been offered the perfect husband and she thought she loved him. But it would never be enough.
The sound of her phone caused her to lift her head from her hands, once again angrily wiping away the tears that continued to fall. It was him. Colette desperately tried to hide the evidence of her upset as she accepted the call. Clearing her throat the brunette plastered a fake smile to her face.
"Fletch" She greeted warmly, thankful that her voice didn't sound strained.
"Collywobble" Her fiancé slurred with a laugh. "I just wanted to tell you…" He began, stumbling over his words as the large amounts of alcohol from his stag night began to take effect. "that I really, really love you Colette" Fletch finished honestly. "And I can't wait to marry you next week". This time Colette which could not hide the sob which rose in her throat.
"I love you Fletch" Colette managed to whisper. "Now go and have a good time" She added, forcing a quiet laugh. "See you tomorrow Fletch" The brunette ended the call before her fiancé even had a chance to protest. She couldn't bear to listen to how happy and excited he was for their future together when she knew she had to break his heart. She couldn't marry him. She'd only wind up resenting him for taking away her independence and losing sight of herself. It would be better this way, Colette told herself sternly. Fletch will be happier this way. She'd break his heart but at least then he could go on and build a life with someone who could make him truly happy, someone normal. She was too broken to make him happy. It would be better this way, she told herself again before once again succumbing to bout of fresh tears which threatened to spill down her cheeks.
