Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: Thank you to everyone that took the time to review. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Carlycarter, thanks for the offer - but unfortunately I'm technologically ignorant when it comes to forums. I will try to give it a go when my exams are over and I have more time to figure it out.
Love, Fate…and a Handful of Second Chances
Chapter 2: Blind
Alex drove the axe into the log, throwing the pieces aside as he grabbed another one from the stack beside him. He wiped away the sweat from his forehead, looking up as he saw her approaching. Fiona stopped in front of him, somewhat confused.
"Why is everyone chopping wood? We're heading into summer. . ." She muttered.
"Who else is chopping wood?" Alex questioned, setting the log in front of him.
She paused. "No one. It doesn't matter." She said quickly. "We need to talk."
Alex let out a frustrated breath, raising the axe and bringing it down swiftly on the new log. He shoved aside the broken pieces. "Not right now, Fi."
"You never answered my question." Fiona said, ignoring his statement.
Alex shook his head, finally letting the axe drop to the floor. "What question?" He asked.
"About Adelaide?" She tried to jog his memory.
He shook his head. She was speaking to him in riddles, and he had to stop himself from raising his voice. "What about Adelaide?"
"Alex. . ." She let out, disappointed. "We talked about it yesterday. About taking off a few weeks and going to Adelaide?"
He let out a breath, annoyance taking over. "This isn't a good time." He said firmly.
"It's never a good time." She replied, her voice rising. "All I want to do is go away, just you and me. We need to work on our marriage. . .I'm trying here, Alex."
He stared at her, before dropping his gaze. All he could think about was Stevie. He didn't want to think about anything else, go anywhere else. But then it struck him – Stevie had made it clear that she didn't feel the same way. So why was he holding on to something that was never going to happen? He looked up at Fiona again, before nodding.
"Okay." He said quietly, relenting.
"Okay?" She replied, surprised.
"Yeah, let's go." He said, smiling slightly. She returned the smile, before throwing her arms around him.
"Thank you." She said softly. He held onto her, his smile disappearing after a moment. He was doing what was best – working on his marriage. It was the right thing to do. He knew that. But why did it feel so wrong?
"So you're going on holiday?" Dave questioned, disbelievingly.
Alex nodded, glancing at his friend from the corner of his eye. "Yep."
"Righto." Dave said, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"It's just a holiday . . ." Alex said, leaning against his ute. He folded his arms across his chest.
"So it doesn't have anything to do with Stevie, then?" Dave asked, cringing in anticipation of Alex's response.
Alex hesitated. "Maybe." He said with a sigh. He had finally revealed to Dave everything that had happened between him and Stevie. In some ways it was good to get things off his chest – to get another opinion.
"Maybe?" Dave repeated, taken aback by Alex's quick admission. "Mate. . ."
"Brewer. . ." Alex let out, "I know, okay?" He looked up at Dave, shaking his head. "But she doesn't want anything to do with me."
"Alright. . .so you're just going to walk away?"
Alex frowned, considering the question. "She's happy to walk away. . .so am I." He said after a moment. "I've been thinking 'what if. . .' for the last few weeks, and ignoring my marriage. Now I've got the chance to try and save it." He glanced at Dave. "Fiona's the next best thing."
Dave gazed at him, not knowing how to respond. "Mate. . .you have the best of intensions. . .and I commend you for it." He hesitated. "But sometimes it's just not meant to be."
Alex looked at him, a grim look on his face. "You're right there, Brewer." He said, fishing his car keys out of his pocket. "And Stevie and I. . .we were never meant to be anything other than friends."
Stevie dragged the last bale of hay off the ute, and threw it aside onto the pile before her. Regan closed the hatch on the back of the ute and turned to face her.
"How're you doing?" She questioned, eyeing Stevie apprehensively.
Stevie glanced up. "I'm fine, Regan. Stop worrying." She snapped. She closed her eyes, immediately regretting the tone of her voice. "I'm sorry." She said after a moment, gazing at Regan. "It's--"
"I know." Regan said. "It's okay." She gave her a reassuring smile. "If you need to talk. . ."
"Yeah." Stevie said, returning the smile. "Not now, okay?"
"Sure."
"What's Dave doing here?" Stevie asked, glancing over Regan's shoulder as Dave's truck pulled into the driveway.
"Don't know." Regan replied, turning around and heading towards the car, Stevie following suit. "Hey." She greeted Dave as he approached them.
"Ladies." Dave replied, leaning in to kiss Regan. He met Stevie's gaze somewhat uncomfortably.
"Dave." Stevie greeted, tilting her head slightly, suspicious. "What's up?"
He sighed. "Just had a chat with Alex." He stated. "Apparently he and Fiona are headed--"
"Adelaide." Stevie interrupted. "We know."
"Righto." Dave replied, nodding.
Regan spoke when no one had said anything for a long moment, "That was it?" Dave nodded again, uncomfortably.
"Spit it out, Dave." Stevie said, planting her hands on her hips impatiently.
"I. . .uh. . ." He broke off again.
"I think I'll leave you two to it." Regan said, recognising that maybe this was for Stevie's ears only. "I'll get started on the fences." She told Stevie, before heading off towards the stables.
"Well?" Stevie questioned after Regan had disappeared.
Dave looked at her warily. "Alex told me. . .about what happened between you two."
Stevie inhaled deeply, before letting the breath out slowly. She should have known that's what this was about. If it wasn't Regan, it was Dave. Someone had to put their two cents in. "Nothing happened between me and Alex, Dave." She said, turning around and walking back to the ute. Dave followed, trying to keep up with her.
"So you two didn't lock lips, then?" He asked, waiting for a reaction. Stevie stopped immediately, but remained standing with her back towards him. She glanced downwards.
"What exactly did he tell you?" She asked, turning around to look at him. He gave her a gentle smile, cocking his head slightly.
"He told me everything that he should have been telling you." Dave said simply.
"What does that mean?" She questioned, annoyance setting in again.
"It means that you guys are acting like children, and that's serious coming from me." Dave said, chucking softly to himself. There was no amusement on Stevie's face, and his smile quickly faded. "Pretending that you don't feel it doesn't mean that it'll disappear."
"He's the one that left, Dave." Stevie said, turning around and heading back towards the ute.
"He doesn't love her, Stevie." Dave called out, causing Stevie to stop again. "But to him, she's the next best thing if he can't have you." Stevie clenched her fists, trying to ignore his words. "He's leaving thinking that it meant nothing to you." Dave continued, his voice comforting rather than accusatory. "But I think we both know that's not true."
Stevie spun around again, meeting his gaze. She shook her head slightly, shrugging her shoulders. "What do you want from me, Dave? What do you want me to do?"
Dave gave her a small smile, as though the answer was obvious. "They'll be leaving soon." He said simply, backing away towards his car. "I think you know what you have to do."
Stevie watched him leave, contemplating his response. She stood there for a few minutes after he had disappeared. Logic told her that she shouldn't feel this way, that it was wrong. But there was another feeling coming over her – something she realised she was incapable of suppressing. It was a longing she was getting tired of hiding from. Her thoughts broke apart and scattered, and she clenched her fists.
"Bugger it. . ." She muttered, turning on her heel and running towards the stables. Just outside them, she found Regan fastening the saddle buckle on her horse, checking to make sure it was firmly in place. She looked up as Stevie approached her.
"What's up?" She questioned, concern etched on her face.
"I need your horse. . ." Stevie said cryptically.
Regan stared at her, for a moment looking as though she were going to ask the obvious question. Instead she stepped backwards, realising immediately what Stevie's intensions had to be. "Good luck." She said, smiling vaguely.
Stevie smiled back, taking the reins that Regan held out to her. "Thanks." She replied, pulling herself onto the saddle effortlessly. Using the inside of her heel, she started the horse forward, rounding the gate before turning the trot into a gallop. She leaned forward, the wind whipping at her face.
"Come on. . ." She whispered, anxiousness creeping up on her. It felt like a life time before she hit the dirt road leading to Killarney. She pulled on the reins, stopping the horse and turning to gaze in the opposite direction. "No. . ." She muttered, eyeing the familiar black ute as it headed away from her. She urged the horse forwards again, her knuckles white from the rigid grip she had on the reins.
The ute was moving too fast, there was no chance she could catch it. After a long moment, she pulled on the reins again, slowing to a halt as her eyes followed the car. She watched it until it disappeared around a bend, and didn't move for minutes afterwards. Finally, she let out a shaky breath.
"Well, can't say I didn't try. . ." She whispered, stroking the mane of the horse as she turned back towards Drover's. She glanced over her shoulder one last time, watching the dust settle back onto the road. She lifted her hand, wiping away the lone tear that crawled down her cheek. "Let's go home." She muttered, heading slowly back the way she had come.
Well, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed it. I forgot to mention that this is going to be an EXTREMELY short fic, not more than four chapters. You probably noticed from the speedy pace I'm moving at. I've never been good at stretching out stories, hope you guys don't mind. Review and let me know what you thought.
