Fresh Start, New Beginnings

Chapter 26

Abigail and Ryan were happy to be walking through Milan late at night. There was hardly anybody around "Now this is what you call privacy" Ryan sighed as he made Abigail do a little twirl in the middle of the street. To their surprise they heard a swing band playing in a nearby bar. The song was Frank Sinatra- Witchcraft. Ryan led Abigail closer to the music without taking her in the bar. They were in what seemed to be a market place.

"Would you like to dance miss?" Ryan asked in an awful English accent.

"Of course sir" Abigail giggled as she took his hand. He pulled her closer, putting one hand on the small of her back and hold her hand in a ballroom dance position. Abigail rested her hand on Ryan's shoulder as they started to dance to 'Witchcraft'

Abigail's steps were faultless, Ryan was good but not to the same professional standard of Abigail "Why do I get the feeling I am out of my depth right now" he whispered in Abigail's ear.

"Aww did I not tell you I have been dancing since I was 3 years old?" Abigail laughed cheekily.

"No you must have failed to mention it" Ryan laughed as the music slowed down and Louis Armstrong - Wonderful World "Now this is more my speed" he pulled Abigail even closer to him and took the lead. They waltzed gently around a small pebbled area, Abigail rested her head in Ryan's shoulder as they danced. Ryan could smell Abigail's perfume "So when am I going to see you do what you do?" Ryan exhaled, he was still taking in her scent.

"What you mean dance?" Abigail pulled away gently and looked into Ryan's eyes, he replied with a nod. He frowned as he watched Abigail take off her shoes, she handed them to him and walked away from him a little. As A Wonderful World continued playing Abigail started dancing effortlessly. Ryan watched in awe as this beautiful woman danced faultlessly around the small area. It wasn't long before she attracted the attention of a few passers by "Wow" they gasped as they watched her dance. Ryan couldn't understand what they were saying, but he was certain they enjoyed when they all clapped after the song had finished and Abigail stopped.

"Well what did you think?" Abigail smiled hoping Ryan had enjoyed what he saw.

"If I think if I can sing even half as well as you can dance...well then I am doing fine" Ryan handed Abigail her shoes back and held her steady so she could put them on "That was absolutely incredible, and that was all just freestyle, off the top of your head?"

"Yeah" Abigail nodded, after she put her shoes on she took hold of Ryan's hand and the pair walked away from the bar "Dancing is abit like singing, you need to be able to feel the music. Dancing isn't about practice and routines, it's about turning music we hear into something we can see"

"You truly are talented" Ryan was still stunned "I have never seen anyone dance like that before, ever"

"Yeah well what can I say" Abigail giggled "We are both very talented people"

X-x-x

They walked back to the hotel, it was around 4 am when they finally returned. Abigail walked into Ryan's room and smiled when she turned as saw him smiling at her, he had the most amazing blue eyes "What?" She wondered curiously.

"Nothing, I just can't believe I pulled this off" Ryan spoke honestly without thinking about what he had said.

"Excuse me?" Abigail reacted angrily to Ryan's remark "Pull what off exactly?"

"Nothing I just meant...?" Ryan's comment was said in innocence, but it obviously struck a chord with Abigail.

"Is this just a game to you?" Abigail yelled "Am I just someone to prove you are still good enough, that you still have it"

"No...Abi I just meant, I have no idea what I have done to deserve you" Ryan stuttered hoping his explanation would calm Abigail but it made it worse.

"I am not a toy, nor am I a prize" Abigail was still yelling "I spent 12 years of my life with a man who wanted a trophy, I refuse to spend the rest of my life being an ego boost" she turned on her heels and walked out of the door "I'm done'

"Abi wait..." Ryan followed quickly behind her "Abi please" he grabbed her arm and pulled her round to face him "Don't walk away, not now"

"Just leave me alone" Abigail had tears in her eyes "This was a mistake"

Everything in Ryan's body wanted to go after Abigail but the tear's in her eyes had left him paralysed "What happened?" Leroy rushed towards him from the other end of the corridor.

"She misunderstood something I said" Ryan just stared into the now empty corridor, where Abigail had been stood. Leroy didn't wait for Ryan to finish, he just rushed out of sight and after her.

Ryan quickly took his cell phone out of his pocket and dialled Abigail's number, she just cut him off so he typed a message 'I swear it didn't mean to sound like that, I just meant I can't believe I have managed to be with someone like you, Ryan xx'

X-x-x

Abigail's phone beeped as she got out of the hotel, she read her message from Ryan before deleting it, she couldn't even bring herself to replying "Abi wait" Leroy's voice came from behind, he sounded out of breath so Abigail stopped "Honey what happened?" He asked curiously.

"This was a mistake" Abigail sniffed, she was fighting her tears "I should never have let myself get carried away in the idea of this, all of this, him everything...it was a mistake"

"Abi just stop" Leroy grabbed Abigail in his arms, she resisted at first, but soon gave in "What exactly did he say to you?"

"He said he couldn't believe he had pulled this off" The tear's streamed from Abigail's eyes "I am such an idiot, I fell for it. Why didn't I see it?"

"Shall I tell you what I see?" Leroy made Abigail look at him "I see and man who has fallen for you in every way possible" Leroy's words hit Abigail and made her relax a little "Don't punish him for chosing the wrong words to say it"

"He is a song writer" Abigail frowned "Words don't exactly fail him do they? I can't be in he same position Nick put me in, again Leroy. I can't do that to myself again, or to Freya"

"Ryan isn't Nick though princess" Leroy looked at Abigail "And it's obvious how he feels about you"

"Yeah to you and everyone else maybe" Abigail "I have no idea what to think right now"

"Why don't you talk to him?" Leroy already knew the answer.

"Because I have nothing else to say" Abigail wiped the rears from her eyes as Leroy watched helplessly.

"So what about a place to sleep tonight?" Leroy realised Abigail wasn't going to back down from her misunderstanding with Ryan.

"This isn't the only hotel in Milan Leroy" Abigail grabbed her phone and quickly dialled a number "Hello it's Abigail Jenson, sorry it's late but I am going to need to call in that favour"