Hey guys! how have you all been? :)
first of, I wanted to say sorry for the late update and short chapter. Secondly, Gooosh! thank you for reviewing and liking my story. It really makes me happy! Lastly, I think you all won't like this chapter. hmm... we will see. :)
The morning after, Benjamin wakes up with a throbbing headache. Drinking is only fun while you're at it, but not after, he muses. He rubs his temples, to alleviate the pain in his head. Slowly sitting up from the bed, he immediately notices the absence of his wife from his side.
His brows furrowing as he stands up from the bed. It is very unusual for Lucy to be awake before him. Now, where has she gone off to? Maybe she went to work? But, it's Sunday. His headache forgotten, he walks out of their bedroom in search of his wife.
As he exits the room, a smell of something burning instantly hits his nose. Thinking that their house is on fire, he looks around in panic, trying to spot his wife. Fortunately, he sees her right away. There, standing near the stove, is a distressed-looking -Lucy. She is holding a charred pan that is still quite smoking.
Relief washes over Ben as he realizes that the house is not on fire, and his wife is safe. After seeing her, he suspects that it is she that is the cause of the smell of burnt food. Slowly, he approaches Lucy, standing right behind her. "What are you doing?"
Startled, Lucy gasps, dropping the pan to the ground. She turns around to see the handsome face of her husband. "Ben, don't you sneak up on me like that!"
Ben bends down to pick up the pan. He inspects it, noting that there is not one spot that remains of its true color. He holds it up, showing it to his wife. "What have you done to this poor thing?" he asks her, laughing.
Lucy crosses her arms and glares at her husband. "You're making fun of me." She turns around, her head hanging low. "I was only trying to cook you breakfast."
Ben's eyes bulge out of their sockets, not attempting to hide his shock. His wife is trying to cook for him? First, she woke up early, and now she's cooking! What sort of miracle is this? Not even for his birthday or their anniversary, that his wife will do this. What has gotten into her?
"I'm sorry, my dear. I'm just not used to this." Says Ben; he ambles towards his wife, wrapping his arms around her waist. Lucy leans back, resting her head on Ben's chest.
"I know. That's why, from now on, things will be different." Lucy turns around, and puts her hands on her husband's shoulder; she stands on her tiptoes and plants a kiss on Ben's lips. "Let's start anew."
In response, Benjamin just smiles, although the smile does not quite reach his eyes.
Sitting in on his barber chair, now left to his own thoughts, Benjamin ponders on about what his wife has said just a while ago. He has meant to quiz her about last night, on her leaving him and suddenly being with the judge. But, when she said that they will start anew, he doesn't want to ruin the moment with bringing up 'past' problems.
He should be happy, that finally he is getting what he wants. It seems like Lucy has forgiven him now. She is ready for them to rebuild what he destroyed. They will go back from the start, and everything will be normal again. Everything will change, for the better. He should be happy… but he isn't.
His sole focus now is his best friend, Nellie. How can he rejoice, if he has lost his best friend to his own stupidity? He knows that he will not be easily forgiven for this, and it makes him feel miserable. To be honest, he is more distressed now, than when he thought that his wife will never forgive him for his infidelity.
Nellie is a very important person in his life, and he hurt her. It's his fault that they were caught together, and yet, he made it look like it was her doing. What kind of friend he is? He is supposed to protect her. He should ask for her forgiveness, but he cannot show his face to her, yet. He feels guilty and embarrassed, very.
Closing his eyes and sighing, Ben rubs his forehead. He shifts on the chair, sliding down a bit. As he makes himself comfortable, he thinks of his other predicament.
He is torn between two women. He has just learned that he likes his best friend, and he thinks that his feelings for her are deepening. On the other hand, there's his wife, whom he still loves, but not wholeheartedly anymore. He knows that in his wedding, he did promise to love Lucy forever, but he cannot control what he is feeling for Nellie.
Maybe it is better that he and Nellie are not in good terms. In that way, he has a reason to avoid her. As much as he wants to go see her and fix their friendship, it will be for the best if he does not do that. If she happens to forgive him, then he will only just visit her every day; if he visits her every day, he is sure, he will only feed what he is feeling for her, only for it to grow- he doesn't want that, it's wrong.
If he loses contact with Nellie, then surely his feelings for her will fade away, right? Besides, what if he is only confused? That he thinks that he likes her because she is always there. That can be possible; although he knows that deep inside his heart, he is very sure of what he feels for her.
But, if his wife is giving him a chance, then he should seize it. He must not give her another reason for her to lose her trust in him. Yes, this is the answer to his problems. He'll be a good husband to his wife and avoid his best friend; when the right time comes, he'll talk to Nellie and explain to her everything- he only hopes that she'll understand him.
Slowly waking up, Mrs. Lovett instantly feels the soreness of her limbs. As she opens her eyes, she sees that she is in her parlour; she is lying on the settee. There is an arm wrapped across her waist. For a moment, she panics, thinking there might be an intruder in her house. But, when she remembers of last night's events, she realizes that she is in the hands of David.
The only thing she remembers last night, before falling asleep, is her crying her hearts out to the man. After that, she guesses that she got tired and fell asleep without her even realizing. Well, she is glad that David did not leave her side. She is really thankful for his company.
She sits up from the sofa, careful not to wake up the still-dozing-David. But, her efforts are in vain; for when she is about to stand up, and go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, David's voice stops her.
"Good morning, Eleanor." Mrs. Lovett, startled, whips her head to face David. He is rubbing sleep off his eyes, still yawning.
Seeing this, she relaxes. She smiles at David, trying her best to hide the sorrowful thoughts that are starting to invade her mind. Well, she might have looked convincing, for he beams at her. "Good morning."
Not needing to be careful anymore of waking David, for he already is up, Mrs. Lovett stands up. "Stay here; I'll make us something to eat."
David remains seated on the sofa, being obedient as ever, ready to wait until Mrs. Lovett calls for him.
As she arrives at the kitchen, Mrs. Lovett starts heating up some pies that she made yesterday. She is leaning on the counter, arms crossed, with a thoughtful look on her face.
Until now, she still cannot forget what Benjamin has said to her. Well, it will not be easy to forget, really. The memory of what he did-said- replays in her mind over and over, not leaving her alone. She still cannot understand how he easily lied, and disregarded her.
But above all these, what hurts her most is the he still chose Lucy over her. She does not have the right to be, but she will admit it, she is jealous. Somehow, she wants her love for Benjamin to be reciprocated. Just to know that deep inside his heart, he has a certain fondness for her, will be enough. Just to know that they can be more than friends will make her happy.
But alas, all of these are mere wishful thinking. She knows that these things are impossible to happen. When will she come to her senses, eh?
Pulling away from the counter, she fetches the pies; as she does so, she laughs, humorlessly at herself. Ben is right; she is desperate, and pathetic!
Putting the meat pies on the plates she grabs from the cupboard, she sets them on one of the tables. After this, she calls for David. She takes a seat as she waits for him.
She told him yesterday that she needed his help to forget about Ben, but is she ready? Can she really do it? She's not sure if she can, but she will try her best. It's not like forgetting the person you love is the easiest thing to do.
Mrs. Lovett's thoughts are interrupted when David takes a seat across her. He is looking at her with a smile on his face. How can he be looking so cheerful? Is there anything to be happy about? Well, it's because he's not the one that's been betrayed by his friend, that's why.
She frowns; she is thinking again of Ben. If she's going to erase him from her mind, then it will damn do her good to stop thinking about him! She shall focus on David. He is the one who is with her. Besides, she must express her gratitude to him for being there.
Setting down her food, she looks up to David. She must admit, he is a handsome man, there's no doubt about it. "David, I want thank you for not leaving me. You are a true friend."
David nods. He puts his hand on top of the baker's hand, which is placed on the table. He looks at her, eyes shining with adoration. "It's nothing, Nellie. I only did what I should do, as your friend. But I do hope that soon, I will be more than just a friend to you."
"I… I- don't know. It will take time, David. But as I've told you last night, I will try." the baker answers. She really does not want to make it seem like she is giving false hope to him. She is not sure if she will be able to learn to fall in love with him, only time can tell that.
"I understand. And I will always be here, Nellie. I will be waiting."
Mrs. Lovett's tears start to fall from her eyes. These are the words that she is waiting to hear from Ben. Suddenly, she wants to be alone. She cannot bear to look at David. She cannot take how he is so perfect, how he is everything that she is looking for in a man, how he is not Benjamin.
She stands up from her seat, hastily wiping the tears from her eyes. She is about to walk away, already murmuring an excuse, but he stops her. David grabs both of her hands, making her turn to him.
"I know you see him in me. I know how you badly want for me to be him. But Nellie, you need to let go. You will never find the right person if you never let go of the wrong one."
And with those words, something stirs inside the baker. There's something that changed within her that she cannot quite point out as to what it is. All she knows is that she is ready. She is ready to leave her memories and feelings for Ben behind. She will be fighting a hard battle to eliminate the wrong person in her life, and eventually meet the right one for her.
She takes a step forward towards David. She looks up at him, her eyes locking with his. Leaning in closer, she lets their lips brush. As they engage in a passionate kiss, Mrs. Lovett is glad that she is seeing David- not him.
Hey! so, what did you guys think? you think those two will successfully forget about each other? I doubt!
Reviews are L.O.V.E. :)