If heart ache was a physical pain, I could face it.

Part Thirty Five

Charly’s POV

“Come in.” I call, as someone knocks on my bedroom door; Max walks in looking apologetic. As he should. “How are they?” I quickly ask as he opens his mouth to speak. I may not have gone to the hospital, but that doesn’t mean I want them to die. I wouldn’t go to the hospital to see a stranger but I wouldn’t want them to die either. And that’s all they are to me now. Strangers. People I know wouldn’t do that to their friends.

“They’re all fine now.” He says, walking further into my room and sitting himself awkwardly on the bottom of my bed. “Charly I’m so sorry.” He starts looking down at the floor. I look down at my fingers and begin playing with them. I guess this is where I find out if he ever even loved me.  “I’ve been a real dick to you, and that was the most stupid thing I’ve ever done, and probably will ever do, because you were the best friend that anyone could have ever asked for. But when I found out about those two, my first thought was to try and make her jealous, and I know that was stupid too, and even more stupid to use you to do it. But I really thought that if it didn’t work then maybe I’d fall in love with you. Because I know that any man would be so lucky to have you. But you’re just not the girl for me. And I’m so sorry, but please can we go back to being friends. I need you in my life Charly, and I swear I’ll make this up to you somehow. Please just let me. Please forgive me?”  Hearing his little speech brings tears to my eyes, minus the part about using me that was the sweetest thing someone has ever said to me. Looking up into his eyes now, I see that his tears have spilled over.

“Don’t cry!” I launch myself into his arms and hold him tight, seeing him cry breaks my heart. “You were upset, your head was all over the place, you just wanted the pain to go away. I don’t blame you. Of course I still want to be your friend!” I feel him wrap his arms around me back and rest his head on my shoulder, and I smile happily. It my just be as friends but it’s great to have my best friend back.

“Thank you, but I really don’t deserve to have you forgive me so quickly.”

“Shut up, I missed you too.” I feel him laugh lightly against my shoulder, and my smile widens knowing that the two of us will go back to how we always used to be. “So Anne and Tom will be moving back to their own house again now right?” I ask, feeling happier every second.

“Only if they want to.”

“What why?” I ask confused, surely he’s want them gone even more than I do.

“I’m going to win her back Charly.  But to be able to do that I need to convince them I want to be their friends again first, and that I’ve forgiven them.”

“Max, she loves Tom.”

“Now she does yeah, but if she believes Tom’s not treating her as good as he could, and I’m there when she needs someone, then maybe she’ll love me again.”

“Max...”

“Please just let me try this. I still love her Charly.”

“Okay.” I sigh. Love really does suck, but if I can’t have him, I’ll do anything I can to help him get Anne back. “I’ll do whatever I can.”

Tom’s POV

Come on Tom grow a pair you can do this. I think to myself for about the hundredth time. And just like every other time another voice in the back of my mind is telling me it’s too soon. And I agree it is, but I don’t want to wait any more. Placing what I have in my hands in my pocket I decide to go for it. No turning back now.  Walking into Anne’s room I kneel down besides her bed, taking her hand in mine and begin playing nervously with her fingers.

“What’s up babe?” She asks looking down at me with concern.

“Nothing.” I smile back up at her, but I know she can tell it’s forced. Maybe I should wait...

“Tom, you can’t lie to me something’s wrong.”

“Can you just be quite a minuet please?” I ask. Running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Sorry.” I add quickly. I try to use the silence to get my head in order but it’s really not helping. I’m just going to have to go for it. I stick my hand into my pocket and pull out what I have been holding onto for God knows how long now. “Anne.” I say looking directly into her eyes now. “I know you might think this is too soon, and I’d kind of agree with you, but if there’s anything the last couple of weeks have taught me, it’s that life is much too short, and you never know when it’s going to end. So I just want to make you mine.”

“Babe, I am yours.” Anne says, as I finally stop to catch my breath, but I just shake my head. This is so much harder than I thought it was going to be. Especially when my nerves have made my mouth so dry it’s almost impossible to speak.

“No, I mean in every possible way.” I take a deep breath before opening my hand out in front of her, so she can see the haribo ring that I’m holding. “Anne, babe. Will you do me the honours of becoming my beautiful wife?” Shock passes across her face but that’s it, no ‘yes’ no nothing. As what seams like forever but was probably only seconds passes, I begin to panic. “It’s too soon isn’t it? Or is it the ring? I mean it’s a shit excuse for a ring, I promise I’ll get you a proper one, but I didn’t want to wait anymore and I couldn’t get out to get one, and...”

“Tom shut up, you muppet, and kiss your fiancée.”

“What?” I ask in confusion. I really did a great job of convincing myself she was going to say no.

“Put that ring on my finger and kiss me!” She squeals, a huge smile on her face, and mine quickly matches hers as it finally sinks in. I push the ring onto her finger before pulling her to me. My lips crash against hers and it feels as if time stops. Nothing else matters other than the girl in my arms. My fiancée in my arms.

Anne’s POV

“You know, I really love this ring.” I smirk, looking down at my left hand, feeling as if I’m on cloud nine.

“Oh, in that case I won’t need to buy you one.” He laughs, his breath hitting my neck from where he was just kissing it. I quickly bring my hand to my mouth and bite the ring off before eating it.

“Make sure it’s a big diamond please!”

“You weren’t supposed to eat it idiot!” He says while playfully hitting me around the head.

“I’m sorry it was just so damn tasty.”

“You’re just so damn tasty.” He replies, nibbling my ear, and I have never hated something so much in my life as I do this hospital bed right now. I want to be back in our own bed! “But luckily for you, I know how much you love your sweets, so I brought two.”

“I Promise I won’t eat this one.” I laugh, while holding my hand out once more.  He pushes the ring onto my finger, where it will stay until he’s able to go shopping and get me a proper one.  But whatever he buys will never mean as much to me as this one does. This is the one that will forever remind me of the day Tom made me his fiancée, of how cute he can be, and how if he wants something bad enough he’s never able to wait. I’ll keep this ring and the memories it symbolises forever. The day Tom made me the happiest girl in the world.