What Becomes Of Us (An Anthology)

Always You - Finale

Nic sat quietly in Steve's car for a few minutes as they drove off.

She looked out the window and sighed, lost in her own thoughts.

"You look really beautiful tonight, Nic-Nic." Steve said to break the silence. "You always do."

Nic shot him a quick smile and mumbled. "Thank you."

"I didn't get to tell you why I was at your shoot." He said. " I meant to give you this." He added, handing Nic a wedding invitation.

"This? With me in a wedding dress? That's convenient." Nic said.

She looked at the envelope and smiled. She opened it and read the contents.

"Wow. Look at you. Finally getting married." She smiled.

"Congratulations, Steve. I'm happy for you and Chloe. I wish you all the best."

"Thank you, Nic-Nic." He smiled.

Nic slipped the invitation in her purse then looked out of the window again and stared blankly at the other cars.

"Maybe some music?" Steve asked.

"Sure." She answered without looking at him.

He turned the stereo on. Nic turned instantly when the music turned on and the look on her face made Steve realize it was about Chad.

Yellow

By Coldplay 

Look at the stars,

Look how they shine for you,

And everything you do,

Yeah, they were all yellow.

"Couple theme song." Steve sighed, turned the stereo OFF and parked the car in front of the nearest café he could find.

"Coffee?" He beamed.

Nic gave him a small smile. "Okay but don't you think people will wonder why I'm in these clothes when I go in there?"

"Oh, yeah plus I'm not necessarily qualified for crowd control." He shrugged. "No coffee then. It was just an excuse to talk to you anyway."

"Chad?" She frowned.

After everything that happened with Chad, Steve had been one of the people who helped her through. He was always there when she needed someone to talk to.

"No. About us." Steve said somberly as she looked into her eyes.

"Steve..."

"I know. I just. I needed to let you know about a few things."

Nic nodded her head and smiled at him to encourage him to go on.

"It's my fault, Nic-nic. What happened between us… The marriage proposal. That's all my fault."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't ask my parents to do that but I guess they knew. They knew so they had to do something to make me happy." Steve held her hand and stared into her eyes. "I love you, Nic, and for the longest time since we were twelve, I've been in love with you."

"Steve... You know I love you, but..."

"But never in a way that I love you. I know. We grew up together like brother and sister and I guess to you that's all we'll ever be." He sighed.

"Oh, Stevie... I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything, Nic-Nic. I understand. I have long accepted that fact which was why I was able to move on. How about you, Nic? When will you accept it?"

She gave him a puzzled look. "Accept what?"

"That you still love him." Steve said as he nodded at a LED wall on a building that was showing Chad's concert.

Nic followed his gaze and stared at Chad quietly.

"You know Nic-Nic, when I first saw you with him, my heart was crushed because I knew somehow that my love for you is a lost cause. You found the one for you. I hated that guy. I always thought he's going to break your heart because of all the girls that throw themselves at him but I saw how much he made you happy, how much he loved you and how much he was trying to stay true to you despite the many women that flock around him so I thought maybe he won't do what I think he would do."

"But he did." She said quietly as she bit her lip and blinked her eyes to stop the tears.

"He did. He made a stupid mistake but I don't think he meant to. He also had his difficulties that pushed him to do that. He’s still wrong but I could see that he's been trying so hard to prove himself to you and win you back. All these months, Nic, I've seen him do that. I, of all people, should be the last person defending him but you have to look beyond the pain he caused you, Nic-Nic, and see that he has already punished himself over and over about what he's done."

He brushed some strands of hair away from her face and she looked at him.

"I think he already did. He has won you back. Everytime you shed a tear for him, I know that you still love him but you're afraid to admit it to yourself. Every time you stare blankly, I know you're thinking of him and you miss him. Everytime you smile randomly at a memory, I'm sure it's about him and if he can make you smile again it means you have forgiven him, have you?"

"You know me too well. Maybe I should marry you." She sighed.

"Maybe you should. I still have time to cancel everything, recover from all the, broken bones, cuts and bruises Chloe's family will definitely give me if they don't shoot me first, come to terms with the guilt of breaking the heart of the woman I love and wait ten more years for you to get over Chad, then we can live happily ever after." He grinned.

She smiled. "I think that tells us we're really not meant to be."

"And you're meant to be with him." Steve said as he patted her hand and looked back up at the screen where Chad was shown singing with his eyes closed.

She sighed again as they watched Chad for a few seconds.

"What do you want to do now, Nic-Nic?" Steve asked.

"I want to go home." She said.

"Okay. Let me take you home." He replied as he turned the ignition back on.

***

Chad looked around the concert venue, grateful for all the love and support the band has received. Atleast, before he focused on the family business, he was able to fulfill his dream.

He closed his eyes and remembered everything he had lost along the way but nothing hurt him more than losing Nic.

"Thank you all for coming here tonight." He smiled at the audience. "It means so much to us. This is our dream and you all made it happen. Thank you."

The crowd cheered and waved at them as the lights turned low to signal the show coming to a close.

"You have all indulged me for most of the show as I dedicated songs for her."

The audience gave a unified sigh.

"Please allow me to dedicate this last song to Nic. Can I do that?" He asked.

The crowd yelled "Yes", some clutched their chests, some were close to tears but all supported Chad.

"Thank you." He smiled and looked up at the ceiling.

"Nicia, I will always love you. No matter what happens it will be always you. Whether I get the chance to be with you again or not, I want to say thank you for all the love and the wonderful memories. The thought of you will always make me smile."

The audience quieted down as he strummed his guitar and sang.

Everglow

By Coldplay 

Oh they say people come

They say people go

This particular diamond was extra special

And though you might be gone

And the world may not know

Still I see you celestial

Chad suddenly stopped singing and stared at the back of the theater. The band, not realizing what was happening, continued playing and the crowd sang along with the music.

But when I'm cold, cold

When I'm cold, cold

There's a light that you give me

When I'm in shadow

There's a feeling within me, an everglow

A spotlight lit up, made its way through the crowd to the venue's exit and focused on a woman by the door.

"Nic.." Chad gasped as his tears immediately started to roll while his eyes stayed glued to her.

The band stopped playing and silence filled the theater.

The audience all looked at the direction Chad was staring and were all stunned.

Nic stood there gracefully in the white dress she still wore from the shoot. She stared back at Chad.

The crowd quietly made a path for Chad to walk on as he jumped down from the stage. His eyes never left Nic, fearing that he might lose the beautiful vision in front of him.

He rushed up to her and stopped right in front of her.

The entire venue hushed and their eyes held each other's gaze for five earth-stopping minutes. The cameras turned to them and everyone anxiously waited for what happened next.

"Hi Chad." She smiled.

"Nic... Oh my God! You're really here." He exclaimed in disbelief as he wiped his tears away and nervously tried to look his best in front of her.

"I am. Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb your show. I was just..."

She was stopped mid-sentence as Chad couldn't keep himself from wrapping her in his arms and holding her tight.

"It doesn't matter. Nothing else matters. You're here now." He whispered. "Thank you, Nic."

Nic closed her eyes and slowly slipped her arms around his back to hug him back.

"I'm so happy you're here. You have no idea what this means to me." Chad said.

Nic gently pulled away from him. Chad lifted her chin with his finger so he could look into her eyes.

"Does this mean..." He started.

"This means that you broke my trust. You almost cheated on me. I know why. I know everything that happened to that point. Your friends and even your Dad reached out to me several times over the past months. You have no idea how many times I’ve heard that stupid story and I don’t want to hear it again.” She told him as he quietly listened. He had no right to say anything to defend himself at that point. She silently stared into his eyes for a few seconds while he held his breath before she shook her head and spoke again. “This means, I'm willing to give it another try with you, Chad. I’m giving us one last chance." She sighed. "This means that I was deeply hurt and I hated you for a long time but my dumb heart kept screaming your name like an idiot and now I am finally giving in."

Chad was dumbfounded for a moment before his lips slowly lifted into a smile. She still loves me.

He took her hands and held them tight.

"I promise you won't regret this, Nic. I promise to never hurt you again. I would rather die than let that happen. I love you so much, Nicia Deither. You are the only one that really matters to me in this world." Chad said sincerely and raised one of her hands to his lips then kissed it.

She nodded her head. "I'm choosing to trust you again, Chadrick Alders. Please don't break it."

"That will never happen, Nic. Not this time. I won’t be as stupid and weak as I was before. Only you will have my heart forever." Chad gently pulled her back in for a hug and pressed his lips on her shoulder as she leaned her cheek on his chest. “Thank you very much for this chance, Babe. I will definitely cherish it. Cherish you more.”

The audience sobbed and sniffed as they wiped away their tears and the band continued playing.

What I wouldn't give for just a moment to hold

Yeah, I live for this feeling, this everglow

So if you love someone, you should let them know

Oh, the light that you left me will everglow

Nic closed her eyes and nodded her head. She was content with that promise. Deep in her heart, she knew she wouldn’t regret her decision. Chad will definitely keep his word and he will always be the one she would still gladly come home to after all that's said and done.

THE END