His Forever Flame

1. Back Again

Lauren Severide sat in the Chicago café staring at the man she had not seen in five years. She still couldn't believe it had been that long. The years had been good to him though. He still looked just as handsome as she remembered; maybe a little bit more fit and muscular but still just has handsome.

His face that was always smiling, was not smiling now. He was hiding any emotion he might be feeling but, she understood. The butterflies fluttering around in her stomach let her know that she was extremely nervous, but she tried to hide it.

"What are you doing here, Lauren?" he finally asked. She had been trying to get past the small talk for the last hour, but he just kept asking meaningless questions. She was glad he finally asked.

"I came back for you."

He snorted. Yep, he was officially over her she thought, and her heart broke a little at the thought. She never stopped loving him in the five years they'd been apart, but maybe he'd stopped loving her. "Oh, please. You think I really believe that?" he asked. "Besides I know you've moved on. I've seen you with him. More. Than. Once." He slowly said it so she would get his meaning.

"I never knew you came to Tennessee," she said.

He smirked. "I never let you know after I saw you with him," he sneered.

She sighed. She knew it would take a lot of convincing for him to believe it was just a friendship he had apparently witnessed, but right now she felt hopeless and dejected. "Why don't you just go back to the apartment with your brother, catch the first plane back to Tennessee, and forget you ever knew me. That would be for the best."

"I don't believe you," she said.

"Yea, well believe this. I have moved on, and this conversation isn't going anywhere." He threw some money on the table as he stood up to go.

"Jay, wait. You have to remember. You can't just say you've moved on like it was nothing. I know you love me, and I'm going to prove to you that we still have that chance of forever." She had tears running down her face; she pulled a ring out her pocket and was fixing to put it on when Jay just shook his head as he turned and walked away.

He couldn't stand to see that ring or the tears running down her face so he left. That's what she was good at, so he figured it would work for him too. But she was right about two things; he did remember and he did still love her. But from what he'd seen in Tennessee, she moved on, and never gave him a backwards glance. It hurt like hell leaving her in that café, but if she was serious about wanting another chance with him, she was going to have to prove it. And he hoped she did just that.