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Author's note:
Read if you care.
Hey guys! So, I don't know when I'll have time to write a lot… School starts Tuesday (today is Sunday) and then I'll be busy all during the school week so the only time I'll be able to type is on weekends. Plus, I'm also typing What You'll Do For Your Best Friend's Brother so it'll change every weekend from that to this.. It actually depends on my mood and whichever I feel like typing, Lol. Anyways, just wanted to tell you guys that. I was supposed to work on WYDFYBFB tonight buuuuut, I had an idea for chapter 2 of this story and I had to type! Also, I've been up until 4 in the morning, typing this.. The least you could do is review it… Please?!
Um… So.. Yeah, don't hate me for this chapter. It's kind of sad. You have been warned!
Drifted Apart Chapter 2
You are now Detective Mal Fallon:
You lay in bed that night, thinking about that tiny voice that you swear you heard earlier today. The one calling out your name.. The one that sounded a lot like hers..
Then you start to think about that night. About what could have happened differently, if only you would have told her. You would've; could've; should've objected at the wedding.. But you didn't. And now you regret it.
Like most nights in the past five years, you fall asleep thinking of her. You dream about the day that changed your life for the worse.
*Flashback/Dream*
You'll always regret that one day for the rest of your life. The day that she was taken from you, because you were too much of a coward to tell her how you felt.
You had walked into the church, 7 minutes before the wedding would start, since it took you 45 minutes that morning to decide whether or not you would come. Your breath was shallow and you had to clear your throat many times. You were so nervous; you thought you were going to be sick right there in the hallway.
As soon as you stepped in, you were seated. Considering you were a close friend of the bride, you were seated near the front, right beside Blaise and Jeremy. You looked around and saw Kai talking to some woman. Well, talking is not exactly what you would describe it as. More like the woman was talking, and Kai was staring at her creepily. She didn't seem to notice though. Natara's mother, Anita, walked up to you and held out her hand with a smile on her face. You quickly took her hand, putting on the best fake smile you could muster.
"Hello, Malachi. Nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you, too, Mrs. Mansingh."
"I'm glad you could make it here. I'm sure Natara will be glad to see you as well. And please. Call me Anita."
"Sorry, Anita." I smiled at her. "And please call me Mal."
"Of course, Mal." She smiled at me one last time, before going to the very first row, and sitting down.
You faced the front of the church, and saw Oscar socializing with some of the guests.
'That should be me up there, thanking people for coming, waiting for Natara to come out,' you thought to yourself. You couldn't help but be jealous of him. He had the perfect job and he was amazing at it. You had to admit it. He fit the tall, dark, and handsome quota perfectly. He had brown eyes. And not to mention, he had the most beautiful woman in the whole, entire world about to walk down the aisle and marry him. He should feel like the luckiest man alive. Meanwhile, you were just a detective. You were on the taller side, but not as tall as Oscar. You had a slight tan, but again, not as much as Oscar's. You had more of a rugged, mysterious look to you. You have blue eyes. And Natara was totally head over heels in love with him. You would give anything to be in his position right now.
"So, Fallon, you gonna interrupt this wedding or what?" Blaise asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"What?" I asked.
"Are you gonna object?"
"I.. I don't know!" I exclaimed, desperately.
"Well, you should. This is the last chance to get her back. If you don't take it, it'll be too late."
"But I don't want to ruin her happiness," I pouted, thinking of her never talking to me again if I did this.
"She's not happy right now. She's making the biggest mistake of her life right now. You need to help her realize it."
"But I-"
You stopped talking as the piano started playing. Kai quickly shuffled to his seat, in between Blaise and me.
The bridesmaids, and Neha, came out, on the arms of the groomsmen, each smiling widely.
As Neha got to the Maid of Honor spot, she gave you a sad smile, a knowing look in her eyes. You returned it with a sad smile of your own.
As soon as all the bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girl, and ring barrier came out, the pianist started playing the wedding march. Everyone stood up except you. Blaise nudged you with her knee, and motioned for you to stand up. You reluctantly, with a sigh, stood up and faced the double doors at the back of the church.
You dreaded this moment. The moment she would pass you, and be looking into the eyes of her husband-to-be. She suddenly stepped out of the hallway, on the arm of her father.
She looked as beautiful as ever in that wedding dress. She always looked beautiful in my opinion, but today, in the wedding dress and veil hiding her face, I couldn't help but imagine she was walking down the aisle towards me. That I was the one marrying her. That I was the one that she was in love with. I could tell she was nervous, just by how she was clutching the crook of her father's arm and her bouquet. Which, by the way, were lilies. At least Oscar got one thing right. Either that, or Nat picked them out…
Natara, slowly and hesitantly, walked down the aisle, along with her father. Just as she was about to pass me, her eyes caught mine, and she smiled nervously.
"You look beautiful." I mouthed to her, flashing her a Fallon trademark grin.
Her tense shoulders visibly relaxed as she breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you." She mouthed back, just as she passed by me.
She got to the front of the church.
"Dearly Beloved," the tall, balding priest's loud, booming voice started. "We are gathered here in the presence of God to witness and bless the exchanging of vows that will bind Oscar Santos and Natara Mansingh Williams together in the covenant relationship of marriage. When this ceremony has ended, they will leave as husband and wife having been joined by the God of Heaven.
'Insert long and boring message here.' You think to yourself, rolling your eyes. You had much more stuff to be doing than sitting here, listening to the marriage of the love of your life and her fiancé… Like worrying about if you were going to object or not.
You started to think about how strange it felt to be back in a church. You hadn't been inside a church for years. Not since your mother died. Sitting there, it brought back memories. Most of which, involved you singing in the boys' choir. You never thought you had that great of a voice, to be honest, but other people seemed to think you had the most amazing voice that they had ever heard. You remember thinking that they probably never got out much then. You smirk at the memory. They always tried to convince you to be a singer when you grew up, but you had wanted to be a detective instead, just like your dad. Now, thinking back on it, you're glad you never became a singer, because if you hadn't become a detective, you probably never would have met the love of your life, either.
You were jerked out of your thoughts when the priest said, "-submit with love in your heart to Oscar as your husband."
He faced the many pews once again.
"Who gives this woman in marriage?"
Raj looked up and murmured, "I do." He leaned over and kissed Natara on the cheek. He, then, looked her in the eyes sadly and said, "I love you baby girl."
"I love you too, Daddy," she whispered tearfully. He gently placed her dainty hand in Oscar's then went to sit beside his already crying wife.
"Could I do this? Did I want to do this? Of course I did. More than anything. I just didn't want her to hate me if I did. Maybe I shouldn't. But if I don't then I'll be miserable for the rest of my life…" You think to yourself. You rake your fingers through your once tidy hair, and sigh frustratingly.
"I can't do this."
"Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which is instituted by God."
"But I have to."
"Into this holy union Oscar and Natara now come to be joined. If any of you can show just cause why they may not be lawfully be married-"
"Yeah, I can show you a bunch of reasons, old timer."
"-speak now-"
"Oh God."
"-or else forever-"
"Forever?!"
"-hold your peace," he paused, looking around.
Kai, being the idiot he is, cleared his throat and quickly stood up. Natara watched him in confusion.
"I do because I believe Oscar is a weenie and Natara belongs with Mal… Who else agrees?!" he looked out to the shocked audience, all watching him.
"Well he is a-" Kai started, but Blaise clapped a hand over his mouth and dragged him back down to the pew.
"Shut up Kai!" she hissed at him. A millisecond later, Blaise jerked her hand away from his mouth, her face screwing up in disgust.
"Did… did you just lick me?!" she asked, accusingly.
He nodded, smiling, then quickly stood back up.
"I think Mal and Natara should get married because it would be just like my fanfic and all the Maltara fans out there would be having fangirl moments, squealing and dancing in their bedrooms!" he said quickly before, he was dragged down once again by Blaise.
"You. Did. Not. Just. Lick. Me.!" She said, threateningly.
"…Would it help if I said your hand tastes delicious? Like vanilla?"
"KAI!"
"Sorry.."
"Does.. anyone else object to this marriage?" the priest asked, for the last time.
Blaise cleared her throat and motioned for you to get up with her eyes.
Kai was staring at you creepily with his eyes the size of tennis balls.
You swallowed the lump in your throat. You were on the tip of your toes, ready to stand up and object. Ready to get your girl back. Her eyes instantly locked on yours. You felt guilt eating at you. You were going to ruin the best day of her life just for your own happiness…
And that's why you rocked on your heels, and sat back down.
"She loves him. I'm not going to ruin that for her. She wouldn't be marrying him if she loved me." You think to yourself.
"Now I'll never have the chance to tell her. I completely chickened out, once again. You missed your chance. I really am a sorry thing. I can face down serial killers at gunpoint but I can't tell her that I love her." You mentally smack yourself in the face.
Blaise gives you a 'What the hell?' look and you ignore her.
You ignore the rest of the ceremony along with almost everyone staring at you from time to time. You're slumped in your seat on the pew, a sad expression across your face, as you watched Natara say her vows to Oscar.
"Now that Oscar and Natara have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring in the presence of this company, by the authority of the state of California, and that of all-mighty God, I pronounce that they are husband and wife."
"No."
"These whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder."
"I would like to 'asunder' a bunch of people right now. Especially male ones with big, poofy hair and dark skin."
"You may kiss the bride!"
"Oh, I can't watch this…" You turn your head disgustedly away, and study the glass windows instead. Deep sadness washes over you like a wave, as you hear the cheers from the guests.
"I now present you Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Santos!" the priest exclaimed, excitedly.
As soon as those words are said, you feel your whole world crumble, and your heart slowly rip in half. Your breathe is shallow and short and you feel like you're going to be sick.
You can't help but turn and look as Oscar and Natara hold each other close, and walk back down the aisle, going to the reception area.
At the reception, you sit around one table, with Kai, Blaise, and Jeremy, watching the newlywed couple sit at the front and whisper to each other whilst feeding each other strawberries, and those little minty things.
"Mal, are you okay? Why are you so pale?" Jeremy asked, raising an eyebrow at you.
"I'm fine." You growled at him. You were sick of people asking how you felt. They had only gotten married 10 minutes ago, and you'd been asked that same question 5 times. They just didn't realize that you didn't want to talk about it.
"Jeremy? Kai? Could you leave us alone for a few minutes?" Blaise asked politely.
"Sure…" Jeremy stood up, and went off to go congratulate the new couple.
Blaise glared at Kai, who refused to get up.
"No, I'm not finished with my cake, so you can't make me." He stuck his nose up in the air.
"Beat it before I cut your Sims game in half."
His eyes widened in horror.
"You.. MONSTER!" he cried out, before huffing, and angrily stomping over to the punch bowl.
Blaise turned to you.
"Spit it out Fallon."
"Spit what out? I don't know what you're talking about."
"We both know what I'm talking about. Why didn't you tell her?"
"Because… she may be making the biggest mistake of her life by marrying, but at least she's happy while doing it… She deserves to be with someone who loves her, Blaise."
"But, you love her."
"And she loves Oscar, who loves her back. Why should I get in the way of that? 'If you love someone, set them free. If they come back, they're yours; if they don't, they never were.'" You quoted sadly.
"Fallon, you're such a good guy. They better get a divorce soon, so she can realize what she's missing out on."
"Thanks Blaise." You smiled sadly at her, then began playing with the food on your plate, mixing it around with your fork.
"C'mon. Let's go talk to them."
Your eyes widened. "No!"
"Why not?"
"I don't want to congratulate them on something I'm not happy for!"
"You're her best friend, Mal. You need to be there for her."
"Ugh, I hate it when you're right.."
You both stood up and made your way to the newly wedded couple, who were chatting to all the guests.
Right before you reached them, Natara's eyes met yours, and she smiled warmly.
You instinctively smile back at her.
You and Blaise reach them. Blaise holds her hand out for Oscar to shake. He puts his hand in her own, and she starts to rack up a conversation with him. She gives you a look and winks meaning, 'Talk to her.'
You turn towards Natara, who's looking at you expectantly. You put on the fake smile you've been wearing all day and hug her.
"Congratulations partner."
"Thank you, Mal. I'm so glad you showed up." You pull back and observe her.
"Wow, Nat.. You look.. beautiful."
She smiles and blushes faintly. "Thank you."
"I'm so happy for you, Nat. I'm glad that you finally found true love. You deserve happiness after all that you've been through. Oscar is truly a lucky man. If he ever hurts you, though, give me a call, and I'll hunt him down."
She laughed at your 'joke.' To be honest, only a smidge of that sentence was joking to you. You meant every word.
"So… Um, are you and Oscar going to move in an apartment together or are you going to move into his apartment or…?" You trailed off, raising an eyebrow.
"Neither. We've been talking lately, and we've decided that we're going to settle down in Monterey."
You almost choked on your own spit.
"Monterey?! Why Monterey?!"
"Well, Oscar is getting transferred over there and it's safer over there than here in San Francisco when we have kids."
Your heart felt as if it was ripped in half all over again.
"K..kids?"
"Well, not now of course. Later on though."
"But, But. Nat, Monterey is 2 hours away! How are you going to come to work?"
She shifted uncomfortably. "Well, you see, Mal. That's the problem. I think I might have to quit working at the SFPD."
The two halves of your heart dropped all the way down to your stomach.
"Qu.. quit?! But, Nat! You can't quit! You.. you love the SFPD! If you move, I'll never get to see you…"
"I know. I'm sorry, Mal. I really am. I don't have much of a choice though."
"Of course you have a choice! Don't move with him! Stay here with me!" You want to scream at her but you bite your tongue.
"We'll still keep in contact. It just.. won't be every day, like usual. But, don't worry about that right now Mal. That's in a couple of months anyways."
You couldn't help but already start worrying.
Later that night, after the couple had been long gone, off to their honey moon, you stormed inside your apartment, heartbroken and angry. You walk in the door and with a satisfying 'BAM' it slams shut. You take off your jacket and throw it forcefully on the floor.
You angrily pace across the room for a few minutes, thinking about the day's events.
When it comes to the memory of you not standing up during objections, your rage is so high, you take the nearest thing, and throw it against a wall. It instantly shatters, making a loud noise, which normally would make you flinch, but it doesn't do a thing except make you even angrier.
You pace across the room for a few more minutes, biting your lip furiously, before you draw blood. You wipe your lip with the sleeve of your white button-up shirt. You can't decide which you are more of: exhausted, angry, or heart broken.
You pull out a chair from the kitchen table and prop your elbows up on the tabletop. You rake your fingers through your hair a dozen or so times, pulling hard, hoping you'll forget about her.
Finally the anger drains out of you, along with your energy.
You cross your arms on the table, making a sort of pillow with your arms, and bury your head into them, squeezing your eyes shut, trying to block out everything.
The exhaustion is replaced with heart break.
You feel your eyes burning, with tears threatening to spill out.
'Mal, don't you dare start crying. Mal Fallon, you are a 34 year old man. 34 year old men don't cry because their best friend is moving… but they would if it was the love of their life and they just lost her forever.'
You rub your eyes, hard, trying to stop the tears from coming out. Bad move. It seems you rubbing them, just let on the water works. One tear leaked out from the corner of your eye and you quickly wiped it away. One tear led to two; two led to three; and so on. Soon, tears are streaming down your cheeks as you still struggle to hold it all in. You tried not to think about how if you just had stood up, you'd be in a totally different situation by now, and Natara wouldn't be moving 2 hours away and quitting her job. You tried not to think how you won't get to see her everyday anymore, and how you'll barely ever get to see her. You tried not to think about how she's going to have a family and kids with Oscar. Hence the word: Tried. You tried not to think about all that stuff.. But sometimes, trying leads to failure. You let out a pathetic sob and hide your face in your arms. You sit there for the next hour, head buried in arms, tears streaming down your cheeks, thinking about how you'll never get to see her again, while trying to nurse a broken heart.
After an hour, you sit up and head to the fridge.
Maybe a beer or two… or ten would help you pass out or make you have such a huge hangover in the morning you would forget all about your best friend, the love of your life…
Natara Santos