Falice One Shots by falicewins

Impulse From Another Life

She's looking at the door, expecting to see the one person she has been waiting for all day walk in, to look into those deep brown eyes, to see the only one who could turn this day around. But it was almost midnight and there was nothing but absolute silence.

Alice jumped every time she saw a shadow outside, every single time someone passed by. But it was never him. And somehow, she felt ridiculous for ever thinking he'd show up.

"I'm sorry, Mom." Betty said quietly, feeling her stomach twist when she saw the hurt shimmering in her mother's eyes.

"It's okay, Betty. I'm not sure why I expected him to be here." Alice swallowed, but for the sake of her daughter tried to brush it off.

She had done everything to throw her a wonderful birthday party, and though Alice was grateful for everyone who had been there, all she had done all day was look at the door and picture FP walking in. He was the only thing she had wished for and yet the only thing she couldn't get.

"Because he's your... friend. I get it." Betty placed her hand on her shoulder and shot her a sympathetic smile.

She was right. FP was her friend. And friends were supposed to show up. Always. But maybe that was exactly the thing. They had never been just friends and they never would be. It made her wonder if maybe this was all her own fault.

The last time she talked to him she told him she was sort of seeing someone, and that conversation had been anything but fun. He had grown distant, and she could hear in his voice that he was hurt. But what was she supposed to do? It had been seven years. She couldn't wait for him for the rest of her life. She had to move on.

"Kitchen's all cleaned up." Matthew came walking into the living room again, having missed the way Alice had teared up while thinking about FP.

He was handsome, charming, and funny, and though she couldn't wish for more to find in a man, Alice knew that nothing would ever compare to the way FP made her feel. She was comfortable, but she missed something.

Matthew had been trying so hard to get her to open up, to make this thing between them something deeper and meaningful, but she was afraid she couldn't give him what he wanted.

"Thank you." Alice gave him a small smile.

"Is everything okay?" He asked her, his voice filled with concern.

Betty gave her a look, telling her to be honest. He deserved that.

"Honestly, I am not sure. FP, he... he didn't show up." Alice casted her eyes away, afraid to look him into his eyes.

"Oh. I am sorry to hear that. I didn't realize that would bother you so much." He sat down on the arm of the couch and carefully stroke her shoulder with his hand.

"I want to go to bed." Alice stood up from the couch, totally missing the worried looks on her from Betty and Matthew.

"Do you want me to stay?" His voice was soft, and he hoped that he could do something to make her feel better.

Alice turned on her heel and looked at him for a few seconds in complete silence. She wished that having him next to her would make all her sorrows disappear, but there was only one person that could hold her that would have that effect on her.

"No, I want to be alone." She told him, giving him a sad smile.

She knew it wasn't fair. She knew that he deserved better than her going into this relationship with half a foot out of it. But she told him it was all she could give him and by the way her heart was hurting right now she was becoming more certain that it wouldn't ever be anything more.