One Chance

Chapter 11

I wake up to see Amanda sleeping soundly beside me. I guess this is why best friends are like family, they never leave you especially if you aren't feeling your best. I get out of bed slowly, not wanting to wake her up. I quickly take a shower and I feel so much better from last night. By the time I'm out of the shower I see that Amanda is no longer in my room so I go out and make breakfast for the both of us. 

I am almost done making breakfast when Amanda joins me just in time to eat. We quietly eat and then walk together to work. On our way Amanda asks me if I'm okay and that I should call her if I feel like talking. I assure her that I feel better and I really am okay before we part ways. 

I reach office on time and not even an hour later my desk is filled with more work to be done. It takes me hours to even catch a break. Somehow I manage to get almost everything done on time before I have to leave. I pack the rest of the things to take home. 

After the short walk to the restaurant, I greet Amanda and assure her that I am okay and just tired. She asks me a couple more times if that's the only reason and I repeatedly tell her that I didn't even think of anything else all day because work has kept me occupied which ofcourse I was grateful for. 

For some reason the restaurant is ridiculously busy today which means I barely get a moment of respite, not that it really bothered me because being busy meant I have less time to dwell on the Toby situation. My day however takes a turn for the unexpected when I see Mark ,Toby and Ashlyn walk in and get seated at a table. 

I quietly observe them trying not to be seen. Someone else goes to serve them which means I get more time to calm myself down. I make it a point to not go near their table, deliberately avoid making any kind of eye contact with any of them. 

After a while I quietly sigh feeling tired and nearing the end of my shift I go around clearing tables. I am almost done clearing the last one , when I am interrupted with a tap on my shoulder. I turn around thinking it's one of the staff but to my surprise it's Mark. 

" I've been here for an hour now and I was hoping I could see you. But it looks like you've been avoiding our table. I tried to wave to you a couple of times to get your attention but you always looked away," Mark says looking a little disappointed. 

" Well.... I just have been busy. The restaurant is quite full today so I didn't get the time to notice you guys. Are you done with your food ?" I ask coyishly. 

"We are, we are heading back home. I am leaving tomorrow to go back to the cottage. Ashlyn is coming with me too, incase you were wondering. " He replies. I can see that he wants to say something more but sensing that I was not in the mood to talk anymore he tells me that he'll see me at the cottage in the weekend and walks away. 

I am a little glad that he decided to end the conversation because I really didn't know how to react. I am still a little sad but what he said about Ashlyn going with him to the cottage also made me feel a little better. 

My shifts ends half an hour later. I pack my stuff and head out alone. I plug in my earphones needing a distraction and clearing not paying attention because I accidentally bump into someone and fall down.

I look up to see Toby, who is clearly concerned. He pulls me up and asks me if I'm okay. He checks to see if I'm hurt. I tell him I'm okay and give him a small smile. 

" Can I walk you home ?," He asks me all of a sudden. 

"Um, weren't you with Mark and Ashlyn ? I don't want you to go out of your way !" I reply immediately without looking at him. 

" I was actually waiting outside for you. I saw you come out but you didn't look at me. I want to talk to you. So can I walk you home?".He asks, this time almost pleading. 

"Sure..." Is all I reply before we start walking. 

We walk a little further before he says, " listen, I want to explain last night to you. I know how it must have looked and I do take part of the blame. I got a little carried away with Ashlyn and I don't have any excuses. She is a big part of my past, I'm not going to say she isn't important to me but when I told you we are friends that's all there is to it ." 

" But, you said the only reason you broke up was because she moved away. I don't want to be in the way if there's still something there. I do like you Toby and I do want to continue whatever it is we've been doing, but I don't want to be blindsided." I say trying my hardest to not shed a tear. 

" I know last night doesn't really help my case of me being just friends with Ashlyn and also her staying at my house. She's my friend and I offered her to stay there. I didn't mean to ignore you last night..... I just... I'm sorry for making you feel like I didn't want you there. I did, I should have said something yesterday before you left. I just got overwhelmed with seeing Ashlyn after years. But I do want you to know that my feelings for her are not the same. I only think of her as my friend." He replies and I finally look at him .

" I... I'm sorry I misunderstood. I should have asked you. I just couldn't.. I didn't want to know if you still liked her. I thought if you did I would never stand a chance. I just I don't know where we are headed. Thank you for waiting for me. " Is all I manage to say before he hold my face in his hands. 

He looks at me and makes me face him. We stand there looking right at each other, not losing eye contact. He rubs my cheek with his fingers and he smiles before speaking. 

" I want a relationship with you. I don't know where it'll go or what will happen in the future. But I do want you to know that I like you too. I chose you. I want you." 

He then pulls me close and hugs me. I lean into his hug and we stay there for a while just holding on to each other. Our breathing in sync and just still in the silent night. 

I can hear his heartbeat like I'm sure he can hear mine. We break apart after a few minutes but not letting go of our hands. He walks me back to my apartment . As I am about to let go and walk in, he pulls me to him and kisses me ,catching me by surprise. 

At first his lips brush against mine to only deepen his kiss. It was tender and slow like he was taking his time and I let him. I am almost lost in the kiss and by the time we pull apart, there's a clear flush in my cheeks. 

He has a huge smile on his face too. He then slowly says, " I've wanted to do that since our date and I almost lost the chance." 

We then bid each other goodbye. He walks back to his place and I head inside my house. 

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Author's note: To all the people reading my story till now I want to say a massive thank you.