It's Nice To Have A Friend

44) Leftovers

FP had been tossing and turning all night, letting Fred's words echo through his mind. He shared his food with Alice. That shouldn't matter. People shared food all the time. To so many people, that wouldn't be a big deal at all, but Fred was right. FP never shared food.

It had always been some kind of joke, but everyone knew not to expect for FP to share, mostly because he was a big eater. With Alice, things were different.

He wanted to share all that he had with her. Including his food. Something silly, but meaningful. He felt stupid for something so small making him rethink their past relationship.

Alice, the girl that left him broken hearted at eighteen. Alice, the girl he had never gotten over no matter how hard he tried. Alice, the girl he had tried to hate, until he realized how she had been manipulated, used and abused. Alice, the girl he had been expecting a baby with, until they lost it.

Alice, the girl he undeniably still loved.

So, he made a choice. No more ignoring his feelings, no more clinging to the past, no more bad timing. He couldn't control whether they would end up together, but did have control of the time he could have with her.

He knew he might not be thinking clearly, but he didn't care any longer. He loved her and he couldn't miss another second with her. FP was finally ready to say those three words back to her, after months.

That's why he made the decision to rush into her apartment, to find her looking up from her moment of peace where she was eating her breakfast on the couch, slightly confused of why he barged in this early.

"I gave you my leftovers." He stated, his eyes fully fixated on her as she slowly got up.

"And I never give that to someone." His voice was soft and fragile, but Alice didn't seem to understand what he was trying to tell her.

"I'm sorry, wasn't I supposed to eat it? I won't next time, if that's what you mean." She said innocently.

"No, this isn't about food. Or actually, it is, because I want you to have it." He shook his head confused, and then cleared himself up, so she could see what he truly meant.

"FP, what is going on?" Alice asked confused, following him a little bit less and less every second.

"Don't you see? I never share my leftovers. Never." He emphasized once again.

His face turned soft, and as he locked eyes with Alice he knew he couldn't spend one second longer pretending not to love her.

"But with you... I just want to share everything. I didn't even think about it. Hell, I didn't even notice it before Fred annoyingly pointed it out." He chuckled sweetly, and took a step into her direction.

"I want to share everything with you, Alice. Leftovers included." FP declared lovingly.

"I love you, and I am sick of pretending that I don't." He finally said the words out loud that he had been wanting to say for months on end, and while things were definitely complicated between them, he needed for her to know.

Alice's eyes filled with tears as she listened to his love confession, and while it had been everything she had wanted to hear the past few months, she couldn't believe that he truly felt about her that way, when she didn't believe she deserved that.

"You shouldn't love me, FP." She croaked, as she casted her eyes way.

"Too bad. I do." He said, without missing a beat.

"Do you love me?" He asked quietly, and while she had said it to him before, he needed to hear those words now more than ever.

She looked at him for a few seconds, tears ready to spill. Alice loved him. She really did. But right now, she didn't love herself enough to let herself embrace the man she loved, loving her back.