Note:this is un-beta'd. I'd like to apologize for any mistakes.
Thank you so much for the lovely reviews.
I hope you'll keep enjoying this fic with this chapter. I'm not sure how many chapters there will be yet, three, four or more or less, I have no idea, all I know is that I enjoy writing this and that it really helps me cope with everything that is going on in my life.
I know the scene where Miranda throws her mother only happens in "The final Curtain" But for the purpose of the story, let's say it happened earlier, so bear with me here and the scene will not be complete either but it's for the purpose of the story, promise.
Sorry if I offend any of you by talking about Mike, he is a good guy, but I don't like him at all, I don't think I'll be bashing about him, but I just want to warn you, just in case. And as for Rose when I see her, I have the same reaction Miranda has when she sees her, with or without Gary for that matter.
Disclaimer: Nothing's mine unfortunately
Chapter Two
Gary's realization
Gary Preston was wandering in the streets, disparately in need of some fresh air. He felt lost and to be honest, he didn't know what else to do, he couldn't concentrate on anything. All he could do was think about what had just happened with his best friend — the love of his life. It had taken them so long to get to this point and now the happiness bubble they'd been in for such a short time had burst.
Why couldn't she just trust that he loved her? Why was it so difficult for her to believe it? Words aren't everything in a relationship or are they? Why couldn't the shift in their relationship go as smoothly as their friendship always had? Gary wondered. He cursed himself for not being able to tell her what she wanted to hear — needed to hear so badly. He wished he'd be better with words so he could tell her just how much she meant to him. It would be so easy if he could just tell her...
Miranda was his best friend since uni,—they'd known each other for so long—, as he thought about it, a smile caressed his lips, she wasn't like any other woman he'd ever met. She's funny, clumsy… she has a great sense of humor. She can laugh about herself, she's never been anyone else than herself with him and she doesn't care one damn bit of what others might think of her—or at least that's the impression she gave to others, but as he gave, a second, more careful thought about the last part, Gary wasn't so sure of that anymore. If Miranda really didn't give a damn about what others thought of her, then why, was she feeling so insecure and have doubts about his feelings for her. Suddenly he realized that there might be something more.
It was not as if he didn't feel insecure either. He was scared, scared not to be able to meet her needs. Scared he wouldn't be good enough for her. Gary had known rapidly that he felt more for Miranda than just friendship, but he had been afraid to act on it, what if she didn't feel the same way about him?
What if they'd finally take the risk and in the end it didn't work out? He'd wanted to tell her, how he truly felt about her, so many times in uni, but fate seemed to always intervene which made him think that maybe, they weren't meant to be a couple after all. He had settled for friendship and they were doing pretty fine. Gary was convinced that even if they would have been together back then, eventually they would have gone their separate ways after they'd finished uni, probably not voluntarily but they would have. He wanted to travel and figure out what he wanted to do with his life, he secretly hoped though, Miranda wouldn't forget him and that they would stay friends forever.
Little did he know by then that fate would once again play its game with bringing her back into his life later when he would eventually come back to England. Gary hadn't expected it, but during his traveling, he realized he missed her, he missed seeing her ever day, he missed hearing her voice, he even missed her clumsiness, but most of all he missed hugging her.
What were the odds of being reunited with her when he came back home? Yet it was what had happened for them. They had, easily slid back, in their friendship as if the years, they had been separated, never had existed. A smiled spread to his lips has he thought about it. How happy he'd felt to see her again, that she was back into his life, wondering how he had been able to spend so much time away from her.
Miranda was his best friend, they told each other everything — well not exactly everything — though Gary knew he should have, he hadn't told her he married Tamara for her to be able to have her stay in England. The reason why he hadn't told her was because to him it didn't mean anything. it wasn't as if he'd loved her or anything, it was just a favor to a friend — a favor that could have cost him his friendship with Miranda — if someone should ask him why he did it, Gary's response would be… I don't know why.
It was the truth; he didn't know why he had accepted to marry her. Sure Tamara would have her Green card and so she would be able to study, but the consequences of that single decision could have been disastrous.
What if Miranda would have never forgiven him? What would his life have been life been without Miranda in it? Wasn't she the reason why he came back sooner from Hong Kong? He simply couldn't handle the fact that his best friend wasn't around all the time. If he was honest with himself for just one second, Gary knew Miranda was indeed the reason why he left Japan even though his contract was still open. And if he really was honest with himself he would admit that when he entered the restaurant and saw her kissing the new chef, Danny, his heart broke into a million pieces.
Rose filled his thoughts then, for some unknown reason and it hit him, like a ton of bricks, as realization drew in. He hadn't dated Rose because, he loved her, he had dated the woman because he thought he had no chance with Miranda. Rose had always wanted him to push his best friend out of his life because, she'd seen, what he really felt for her, what they really felt for one another, and that was definitely something more than friendship. There had been so many wasted opportunities when he could have told her, but he hadn't, he had chickened out every single time. When Mike appeared and he saw her kissing him, he really thought he had lost her for good because she really seemed happy and he didn't want to be the one jeopardizing her chances to happiness even if it meant she was with someone else.
Then, something unexpected had happened and it happened so suddenly he didn't even remember the exact circumstances of how it all started. All he could remember was that they were in the restaurant, something about Raymond Blanc, and that she had told him the word he'd wanted to hear from her for so long... That was something he remembered very clearly and would remember until the day he died.
He was mad at her that particular evening because she hadn't come to help him out like she had promises she would. She was there that evening with Penny trying to create ambiance like said and of course, with Miranda, they did so in a clumsy way. It had been the straw to break the camel's back he'd let out all his anger and frustration at her, thinking that once again, her issues were more important in her eyes than his. That they actually rarely were so, when she had told him, they were indeed more important he had demanded to know what was more important in a raising angry voice. To which she had answered him in the very same tone of voice not carrying for a second that the restaurant was full or that her mother was still sitting next to her at the table.
"Splitting up with my boyfriend, and telling you, I'm completely knocky heads over heels in love with you, I love you," the rest of the evening was a complete blur, he couldn't remember anything else except for the fact that he hadn't had any reaction whatsoever to her declaration. He'd been paralyzed, he could speak, couldn't move all he had managed to do was stare at her for a very long time. When he finally found his words, again he told her that he just wanted to stay friends with her.
How stupid.
How many times had he wanted to hear those words coming out of her? He had fantasized about hearing them even and when she finally says them, he freezes; the truth is that he was shocked. He hadn't expect her to blurt out the words to him, not like this. Not that she was with Mike — bloody hell Mike — Gary didn't like the man, but not because he was a bad guy or anything, no. It was the opposite in fact, he hated him just because he was with Miranda, and because Mike had been able to tell her what she wanted to ear.
Why was it, that when he finally had what he wanted, after all those years, he panicked? Why had he suddenly been so scared to ruin everything they had? Could it be possible Miranda had pushed him away because she was scared too? It suddenly occurred to him, that it could be a real possibility. Miranda could be as scared as he was.
He was so afraid to mess things up that it was precisely was he was doing.
Oh God what have I done?
He needed to talk to her; they needed to sort things out. He reached for his cell phone in his pocket. He was so concentrate on texting Stevie to make sure Miranda was with her that he didn't noticed the new indication board that had been placed there a few days ago and walked right into it. The impact surprised him, and he automatically responded "Sorry, Sir." and it's only when he looked up that he realized to whom or rather what he had said the words to. He couldn't help but laughed.
As Stevie heard her cell phone, she went to it to see who had texted her; a smile appeared on her face when she saw who it came from. The short woman briefly looked up at her bigger friend who was still struggling with her own cell phone. Miranda was so nervous; it was actually funny to watch her.
Stevie texted back.
Yes, she's with me, but you guys need to talk. She loves you Gary, she really does. She's just so scared to screw things up with you.
She pressed the key to send the message and a few moments later, her phone came to life again.
I know. That's why I want to talk to her, Stevie, I made a mistake, I love her so much. I'm scared too. I'm on my way back.
When she read, Gary's reply, the smile on Stevie's lips widened.
Her finger frantically typed the reply she wanted to send him.
You're doing the right thing, I'll be waiting for you and then I'll be out so you two will be able to tell one another what you need. I promise you, Gary, love is worth every risk. You and Miranda are meant to be.
When he read the answer of Miranda's best friend, he couldn't believe his eyes. Was she right, were they really meant to be? He so hoped she was right, because he couldn't imagine his life without her anymore and definitely not since they had crossed the line. He wanted that exhilarating feeling he felt when he was with her to become a constant in his life she was the only woman who made him feel like this.
Miranda was the one for him. She had always been.
All he wanted right now was to hug her and tell her just how much she meant to him even if he couldn't say the three words yet to her. He just wanted her to understand that he could not live without her anymore, ever, he realized abruptly.
Gary jumped slightly as he heard his cell phone make a noise to signal him he had received a text message.
I'm so sorry, Gary, I'm sorry I put so much pressure on you, I know that you love me, please come back... Your idiotic friend and still fiancé I hope.
A smile appeared on Gary's face. Gary didn't text her back though he texted Stevie instead to tell her, he would be there soon. Ending his message with a wish me luck.
Stevie smiled. "Miranda...' Stevie started looking at her then continued as Miranda looked up from her mobile phone. What is it?"
"…I completely forgot Tilly asked me to get something for her, and she needed it... yesterday actually so I better go before she strangles me. I'll be back in a hour I think. Love ... ou" She said and left before her friend could ask her anything.
"Stevie wait!" Miranda started to say, but her petite friend was gone already and all she could do was stare at her apartment door.
Since when does Tilly ask something to Stevie? It's not like those two were the best kind of friends. They're friends, yes, but they definitely didn't share the kind of friendship she had with Gary. Damn she missed him so much. She always missed him when he was away, but now since the shift in their relationship from best friends to lovers she missed him even more.
Miranda wished she could turn back the clock so she could just accept his ring and they could get married in three weeks. He would tell he loved her when he was ready...
The next thing she knew her mother was barging in, and she was babbling something about marriage again.
She didn't want to hear it, she didn't want her mother to be there and annoy her. All she wanted was to be left alone was that so much to ask for?
Miranda watched as her mother placed the giant board in the couch again where she had placed it a few hours ago. It frustrated her immensely. Why couldn't her mother leave her alone for once? Her mom would settle with anyone as long as she could say that her daughter has fiancé.
Her mother was obsessed with marrying it was pathetic. Why was her mother so obsessed with it anyway? What is so difficult for Penny to understand that there only one man she wanted to marry and that man was Gary.
If he wasn't the groom there wasn't going to a wedding, it was as simple as that. The only thing was to make her mother understand that fact.
Miranda couldn't take it anymore.
"No mom!" Miranda said as she stood in front of her mother.
"You could always, call Mike, get him back from Africa... or there's Benji."
Miranda sighed heavily as she sat back on the arm of the couch and told Penny "How many times… first cousin?"
"How many times, this is sorry." She replied slamming one of her hands on the place next to her on the couch. Then she closed the box that lay on her lab before reaching for her cell phone. "Oh why didn't I think of that? One of the Middleton brothers… I'll make a call," she said and started to press the digits on her cell phone.
"Mom, no!" Miranda said desperately, standing up again and taking the cell phone from Penny's hands. She couldn't believe her ears, she was miserable because she'd split up with Gary and all her mother cared about was what people were going to say at her Tennis Club.
No, she really had enough of it! And that was exactly what she was going to tell her mother no sooner than right now.
"It's been two days since I split up with the love of my life, the man I was going to marry and all you think about is what they will say at your Tennis Club or what you will answer when they ask you who is your daughter with, but you know what? I've had it! I've officially had it, mom, with your constant meddling and your absolute inability to let me be who I want to be and say what I want to and say. And you know..." by now Miranda was holding her mother by the shoulders to help her out of the couch and pushing in the direction of her apartment's door while saying:
"... and until you can accept that, I want you out of my life."
Miranda then set her mother out of her place and handed her 'wedding board' before closing the door to opening it again two seconds later so she could throw her mom's cell phone at her.
As she closed the door, again Miranda let out a relieved breath. And walked to her couch "I miss you so much, right now, Gary."
"I miss you, too," She heard a very familiar voice answer her.
She spun around and there he was standing in her apartment, the man she'd loved for years was smiling at her weakly.
The first five seconds, she simply stared at him, but then she stood and rapidly closed the distance between then and threw herself in his arms. They hugged each other tightly, and Miranda couldn't hold her emotions at bay anymore and started to cry in his neck.
To be continued...
Thanks for reading.