Lost Souls

Chapter 9

Sammy's POV

The service was done really well, exactly how he would've wanted it. We only stayed at the cemetery long enough for them to lower the casket and we each put a fist full of dirt in, then we headed back to Gracie and Tom's for the wake. 
I texted Shane when we were in the car heading back that we were on our way and he could come whenever he wanted. 
I sat in a comfortable silence with Fletcher in the car. 
I rested my head against the window and he took my hand in his. I shifted my hand position to hold his better, and smiled at him. 
I wasn't sure what was happening, but I knew that I was content right now. It didn't take long for wedding thoughts to creep in, though. We had plans to send out our invitations in the next few days, my final dress fitting is in two weeks, and the wedding is in four weeks. 
All of these thoughts hit me at once, and I felt my heartbeat race. My grip must've tightened, because Fletcher looked over to me.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Uh, yeah, just a lot of stuff to do still for the wedding" I say. 
He cleared his throat, "let's go inside" I hadn't even realised that we were here.

Shane arrived when most of the people had already left and we were starting to clean up.
He greeted everyone else before making his way towards me. 
"Hey, baby" he said and kissed my cheek. "How are you feeling?"
"Alright. I have to help Gracie tidy up, can you just amuse yourself for a while" I say and walk away from him.

Fletcher's POV

It was about 5 o'clock by the time everyone else had left Tom and Gracie's. Gracie and Sammy were picking up dishes and putting things away, as the boys and myself sat in the lounge. Shane hung around the doorway, watching Sammy as she moved about the house. She followed Gracie into the kitchen with a handful of dishes, and he followed her in. 
Shortly after, Gracie came out. 
"Can you guys take a walk to the store and get some milk? We've run out" she smiles. Jay and Tom agree, but I didn't move.
"I think I'll stay" I say, looking at Gracie.
"Fletcher –"
"I'll stay, you go guys" they shrugged and left the house. Gracie sighed and sat down next to me. 
"Don't say I didn't try to warn you" she says to me. I was confused for a moment, but then I heard Sammy and Shane begin to raise their voices. 
I couldn't hear what they were talking about, but it kept getting louder and I got madder. 
"I don't know why she's with him. What's so special about him, huh?" I say spitefully.
"Don't meddle, Fletch" Gracie tells me. "He's in love with her. He's good for her" she says, but it sounded like she was trying to convince herself as well. I shook my head and chuckled.
"He's not in love with her. If yelling at her in an argument doesn't make his throat burn like he just downed six shots, he's not in love with her" I say. Gracie frowns in confusion.
They kept shouting at each other, something about Shane being selfish, and I kept talking, letting all of my built-up emotions out.
"If her eyes don't make him stop in his tracks and think about his next words, he's not in love with her. If her laugh doesn't make him tense and think about life without it, he's not in love with her. If her voice can't calm his worst anxiety attacks and makes him want to listen to anything she has to say, he's not in love with her. If her beautiful smile doesn't make his chest quake and his lungs shrink and make him feel refreshed all in one motion, he's not in love with her. If taking off her clothes is the only time he pays attention to her, he's not in love with her." I don't even know why I said all of it, but it's everything I've been feeling since seeing Sammy again.
"How do you know he doesn't feel all those things?" Gracie asks me. I look in the direction of the kitchen, where he was shouting, and looked back at her.
"He's yelling at her. He's letting the argument carry on. He's not trying to apologise or stop arguing. That's how i know" I say and get up.
"Fletcher..." Gracie starts. I look at her, feeling the tears fill my eyes. 
"Tell her I'm back at the loft if she needs. I'll see you later" I grab my jacket and leave, getting in my car and driving home.