Second Shot (Bastille)

19: Back on track

A/N: Hi! Sorry I have been so inactive over the last month and a half, I've been super stressed about my A-Levels and I've had no time whatsoever to write but now the summer holidays are coming up so hopefully I can write more. Anyway, hope you enjoy this next chapter. x

*Freddie's POV* 

*August 2013*

"You know everyone's left right?" One of my new coworkers, Amy, checked, leaning against my desk with a teasing smile on her face. Looking around the room, I noticed that no-one else was here and then, glancing at the clock on the wall I saw that it was 5:30, my shift had ended half an hour ago.

"Oh, um, wow, I guess I was carried away."

"I'm not surprised, I wouldn't wanna stop if I was working with pictures like this" Amy peered over my computer and admired my photos. "I bet your landscapes will be on a front cover of a magazine in no time" I chuckled appreciatively and stared at the Tuscan cityscape, imagining what it would look like on the front of a glossy travel magazine.

"Thanks, well, I better head off, my flatmate will probably be waiting for me, see you tomorrow" Logging off my computer, I made my way back to the apartment, deciding against taking the bus to take in the most of the high temperature.

I was halfway up the last flight of stairs to get to my floor when I heard a two voices battling to be heard over one another; one was male and radiating rage whilst the other was female and calmer. Pausing on the steps, I listened into the argument.

"- Out of my own decency! And you took advantage of it!" It was Dan.

"I'm sorry! I was desperate!"

"Funnily enough, I don't care."

There was a silence then a quiet mutter and then footsteps descended down the stairs. Before I had a chance to hide that I was eavesdropping, Liv turned the corner, met my eye for a second before mumbling a quiet 'I'm sorry' and disappearing again.

"Evening" I greeted Sam as I entered the apartment and found her spooning heaps of noodles and vegetables onto a plate. 

"Hey Fred, just in time for dinner, how was work?"

"Yeah it was good" We continued to talk about the day while we ate, however my attention was slightly divided as I kept glancing at the door and wondering what Liv and Dan had argued about.
"Did you hear Dan earlier?"

"I'd be surprised if the entire apartment block didn't hear"

"Could you tell what he was so angry at?"

"No idea, you should go over."

"What? Sam, need I remind you I haven't spoke to Dan in nearly a month. I can't just waltz over to his place and stick my nose into his business"

"Yes you can, he'll appreciate it knowing you're there, despite all that happened"

I nodded understandingly then put my plate in the sink and headed into the hallway. For a moment, I hesitated. For some reason, just standing a few inches closer to Dans apartment made me nervous; my hand shook as I knocked and my legs quivered while I waited for an answer that didn't come. 
I knocked again, slightly louder this time.

"Alright alright, where's the fire? What do you- shit. Freddie, um, hi. C-Can I help you?" Dan rubbed the back of his neck embarrassedly. "You wondering about the shouting? Sorry did I disrupt you and Sam?" 

"Oh no, no, I've been at work all day, I was just wondering if you... wanted to talk" I watched Dans face soften appreciatively, a relieved smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. 

"Yes, please, if you don't mind" Dan stepped to the side and welcomed me in. Nothing about Dans apartment was that different since the last time I had been here, except now, all of Alfie's things were shoved to the side instead of being sprawled all over the floor. Dan was fussing frantically around the room; shifting cushions and collecting empty plates and cups. 

"Dan," I stopped his cleaning frenzy by taking the crockery out of his hands "What's going?" 

Sighing Dan ran his hand through his hair "Um, Alfie isn't... mine" I felt my jaw drop open and a gasp caught in my throat. 

"What? Oh God, how-how did you find out?"

"A letter, it uh, fell out of Livs bag, it was from a paternity clinic- I knew I shouldn't have read it, but I did- and it said there was no match between me and Alfie. It was too good to be true, I should have known better than to trust Liv," Shaking his head, he laughed, like he was mocking himself "I'm such a fucking idiot" 

"You're not an idiot for accepting- what you thought was- your responsibility. It was an admirable thing to do, something many people wouldn't take on. If anyone's the idiot it's Liv, she took your kindness for granted and abused it by lying to you." 

"And I let that lie take priority over everything else." Everything but one thing specifically. Dan glanced at me apologetically and I knew what we were moving towards.

As much as I wanted to just brush it off and tell Dan 'lets forget it and pick up where we left off' I couldn't ignore the apprehensive voice that was shouting at me to be careful, keep my guard up. "I know we haven't talked about it but, I just want to say I'm so sorry, it was inexcusable and I'm not expecting you to forgive me and just fall into my arms again." 

I gave Dans hand a quick, reassuring squeeze and smiled gratefully, glad that he- as always- was being so considerate. "I do forgive you Dan, you could have done far worse in my books but... Because of Rowan, even though I desperately want to go back to how we were before, I just need a bit more time to trust you again, is that okay?" 

"Okay? Jeez Freddie of course it is- in fact it's better than okay, to me it's a bloody miracle that you're over here to see if I'm alright- take as much time as you need yeah?" I nodded before putting my arms around Dan and hugging him thankfully. 

"See you around, you know where I am if you need a chat" I reminded as I stepped into the hallway.

"Don't remind me too much, or else I'll end up over-doing it" Dan joked, leaning against the door and waiting until I'd disappeared in my own apartment. As the lock clicked shut, I sighed happily. Everything was slowly getting back on track.