Disclaimer : I don't own a thing so there!
xXxSARAHxXx : Yeah, I was basing Brian on the Brian from the Backstreet boys, mainly because I used to think he was absolutely gorgeous lol, though I never was a huge fan of them myself, my sister LOVED them lol. Anyways thanks for reading yet another of my stories. Thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
BLONDE-BRAIN : Arr, I'm so glad you're already enjoying this story, I was a bit unsure about this story. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
KATIE : How the hell did you guess which friends they were? Am I that obvious lol? Right since it's you, I'll try and add a bit more of Guy later on – I promise – cross my heart and hope to die, stick a needle in my eye – Brownie guides promise lol. I think you have to be my biggest ever fan. I'm in one of my moods lol, but I just think you're ace, and couldn't ask for a better reviewer, you support my every move and well I don't know where I'd be without you – I swear I'm not crying, or maybe I am lol. Anyways ignore me and thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
A : You'll have to read on to find out lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
EMMY : I think you spelt it right, but even if you did I knew what you meant lol. Yeah I did kinda loosely base Brian on Brian from the Backstreet boys, mainly because in his hay day he was really hot lol, and I just happened to see a music video of theirs when I first started writing this lol. I'll see what I can do about the C/G thing, but there's no promising ok. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
MEADOW567 : Thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
ANE : Yep, it certainly looks like I've got myself a fan lol. Anyways thanks for your support and review. CHEERS MI DEARS!!!!
Chapter 2
I must have sat around my living room, with my friends all night, just talking about what we'd all been up to. Before I knew it, it was 8am, and I should have been getting ready for work. But instead, I picked up the phone, and took a few days holiday instead - well I was the editor, and very rarely had days off. I got up, and made us all a bit of breakfast, with Charlie's help. From where I perched on the work surface, watching Charlie cook, I could see Adam and Julie all loved up on the couch. It got me thinking about Brian. We had been like that once, but now, we rarely saw each other, and when we did, I don't know, we just didn't feel as romantic as Julie and Adam looked. It was something I longed to return to our relationship – romance, and secretly, I suppose I was hoping it would when we got married. There's no fool like an old fool I suppose.
"They make you wanna barf don't they"? Charlie chuckled, as he noticed me gazing at them.
"Not really no". I said, somewhat, longingly, and I knew he'd pick up on it.
"What's wrong Connie"? He asked, turning the stove down and heading toward me.
"I don't know Charlie. I look at those two, they've been together longer than me and Brian, but they still seem so, so"... I searched for the right word.
"In love". He said it as though he was about to gag.
"Exactly. I mean, you can tell those two were meant to be, but how do you know you've got the right guy for you"?
"I don't know Con's, mainly because I'll never have the right guy for me, and I sure as hell haven't found the right girl for me. I suppose, you just, know". He'd never been any good at these kind of talks. "But, I suppose if you're having this much doubt about a guy, then you can't be with the right one".
"I am with the right one. I love Brian so much. I think we've both just been working so hard lately, and trying to plan the wedding. I'm just having pre wedding jitters". I said as convincingly as I could manage.
Though secretly, I was beginning to think it was more than that. Yes I loved Brian, I wouldn't have said yes to his proposal otherwise, or started planning the wedding, but just lately, I was beginning to question his love for me. His visits to my office had gotten more and more frequent, when we talked on the phone he seemed as though he was somewhere else, even more so when we were together. When we were laid in bed, we used to hold each other close, but recently, he had been sleeping on almost the edge of the bed. I had always put it down to him being stressed with work, or something like that. I suppose it had been watching Adam and Julie that got my thoughts ticking. Was Charlie right, that if I was having this much doubt about it, then I can't be with the right guy.
"Breakfast is served"! Charlie shouted, carrying some food to the dining room table, then returning with the rest, followed by me with the plates.
"So, how would you guys like to join me to the magazines publicity party tomorrow night"? I asked, attempting at taking my mind from Brian.
"You sure"? Julie asked.
"Hey, I'm the editor, I can invite who I like. Just make sure you buy at least one magazine at some point". I laughed.
"Are you kidding, Julie's bought every issue and saved them since you started working there". Adam laughed.
"Are you being serious"? I asked shocked, I felt a lump in my throat, and tears in the back of my eyes.
"Well, they might be worth something one day". Julie tried to make light of the situation.
"I can't believe you'd do that". I almost stuttered.
"Why not, you're my 'little sister', why wouldn't I save them"? The words rolled easily from her tongue.
I leant forward, hugging her tightly. The fact that she'd saved every issue I'd been involved with meant so much. It was something your parents would do, to show friends and relatives when they came over for dinner, to show off.
"So, what do you fancy getting up to, today"? Charlie tried changing the subject, into a more lucid subject.
"SHOPPING"! Both me and Julie replied instantaneously, then cracked out laughing.
"Please God no, shopping is so boring, can't we go sight seeing or something". Adam droned.
"Yeah, we can go sight seeing in the Gap, and Dolce and Gabbana". I answered.
"Not to mention Bloomingdale's and Macy's". Julie inputted.
Charlie and Adam rolled their eyes, knowing they weren't going to win this argument, but then again, when did they win any arguments. I mean don't get me wrong, even we didn't go shopping that often, not being girly, girls, but when we did go shopping, we liked to do it right and make a day of it.
"Tell you what, why don't you two go sight seeing in the places you want to see, and me and Julie will go and do our own sight seeing". I received two nods in response.
An hour later, we all headed out, separating outside Macy's. I headed inside with Julie, feeling excited, I hadn't done this in ages, mainly because I'd never really had anyone to do this with. Sure I had friends out here, but not Julie kind of friends. They were simply just acquaintances.
We must have been shopping for hours, starting in Macy's then heading into the gap. I was sat outside the changing rooms, awaiting Julie to reveal the outfit she was thinking of buying, when my mobile phone started ringing. Expecting it to be either Charlie or Adam wanting to know where we were or work, wanting a decision on something, I pulled it out my bag and quickly answered it.
"Hello". I said, putting the phone to my ear.
"Connie? Where are you, I've been to work and they said you hadn't been in all day". It was Brian, I should have known.
"I took a day off. Why what did you want to see me for"? I asked, keeping a steady, pleasant tone.
"Can't I just come and see you? Well anyway, I'm not working tonight, so I thought that maybe we could"... He began, but I cut him off.
"I'm sorry, I have plans tonight". I said calmly, just as Julie emerged, showing off the outfit. I gave her a thumbs up, mouthing that she looked great.
"With who"? I could hear the jealousy in his voice, at not being told of my plans.
"Friends". I answered simply.
"But I cancelled appointments to finish early so I could spend some time with you". He was using the tone he used in the court room, the one when he was trying his hardest to convince the judge or jury to reconsider any decision they may have made.
"Well I'm sorry, I'm not blowing off my friends. You should have asked me, before you simply assumed that we'd spend the evening together".
"So you can't blow off your friends, but you can blow me off". He was annoyed now.
"You tell me. You can blow me off, but you can't blow work off". I answered, by now, Julie had exited and was stood awkwardly, pretending to be interested by the rack of pants a meter or so from me. "Things work both ways you know".
"Connie you're being childish. Who do you think is paying for the wedding, I have to work to pay for that".
"You aren't the only one. You don't work just to pay for the wedding, you work the hours you do because you are addicted to work". And with that I put the phone down, not wanting to hear anymore.
"Is everything ok"? Julie asked, not wanting to pry, but just checking incase I wanted to talk about it.
"Oh I don't know Julie. Things just aren't the fairytale that I always thought they'd be".
"They never are". She wrapped her arm around my shoulder, as we began walking around.
"They are for you and Adam. You guy's are so in love, it's untrue". I told her, as we headed toward a coffee shop, and sat in one corner.
"Different people have different ways of showing their love for another". Julie told me.
"So spending as little time as possible with someone is a way to show that person you love them". I told her, knowing that everything was about to come out. "I love him so much Julie, and I know he loves me, but sometimes I get the feeling he loves work more".
"He's probably just wanting to get more hours in now, before the wedding so that he can spend more time with you once you are married, plus he might be wanting to earn enough so you both have a secure future".
"We both have well paying steady jobs, what more security does he need". I argued my point. "You know, what first attracted me to him, was his passion for life, for his job. When he first got this job, he loved it, and I couldn't have been happier for him, but he used to rush from work to come and meet me from work. We'd tell each other about our day, and that would be it, subject over and we'd spend the evening and night together talking about other things. But as time went on, he talked about work more and more, then he stopped coming to meet me, then gradually he'd get home later and later. Sometimes he wouldn't even come back to mine. I asked him if he wanted me to get rid of some of my things so he could fit more of his furniture and stuff from his apartment into mine, but he said it didn't matter, that he was going to keep his apartment for a while, then maybe just rent it out".
"Sounds to me as though you have to decide if you love this guy enough to commit yourself 100 to, and if you think he can fully commit to you". Julie said simply.
"Oh I love him enough, and hell I'm willing to spend the rest of my life with him. I wouldn't have accepted his proposal otherwise. I just don't think he can commit to me, either that or he doesn't want to".
"In that case, you have to decide whether or not to risk it". The way she said it, made it sound so easy.
Not long after our conversation, we met back up with Adam and Charlie, who were both wearing Statue of Liberty hats that you could buy, little plastic American flags were in their hands, and both had bought themselves a t-shirt, both said 'My friend went to New York and all I got was this lousy t-shirt'.
"You two look like a pair of geeks that have been set loose in New York". I laughed, looking at the cheesy souvenirs they had bought.
"Either that or a couple of kids". Julie laughed.
"Well ha, ha, but I wouldn't laugh, because we bought you two something". They laughed, revealing two t-shirts that read 'I'm with dumb' with a big arrow pointing left, and the other said 'I'm with dumber' with a big arrow pointing right.
"Oh how sweet". I said through gritted teeth.
"We thought you'd like them". Charlie smiled sweetly back, then cracked out laughing.
We went back to my apartment, where we decided what we were going to do that evening. I told Charlie and Adam, to go and collect their things from the hotel that they had booked into, as there was plenty of room at my place for them. While the two were gone, I took Julie up stairs, so she could choose a cocktail dress for our dinner reservations, that night.
"Connie"? I heard my name being called from downstairs.
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