Chapter 7.1: Brett

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    It's a Friday afternoon, which means practice just ended, and usually I'd be hanging out with y/n and Eddy, but today is just me. Eddy's hanging out with his roommate again, and I think he fancies her, but it's just a guess anyway.

  I'm in my car, jamming along to Tchaikovsky when my music is replaced with my ringtone. I press a button on my dashboard, and it answers the call.

  "Hello? Colette?" I say.

  "Hey Brett, I was um... just wondering if you got the invite to Max and Jo's wedding?" She asks.

  "Yeah, actually. Max asked me to be one of his groomsmen, and he told me Jo asked you to be a bridesmaid, did she?" I answer. I got really excited when I found out, so I really hope that it's true and Max isn't just pranking me.

  "Yeah, so you're part of the wedding too?" She asks.

  Yes! I punch the air excitedly, and I almost swerve into another lane. That's enough air punching for now.

  "I guess. So, are you going to bring anyone to the wedding?" I ask while trying to lower my energy so I don't sound too excited.

  "Well, I'm not sure, and I don't think so. He might be busy that day, so chances are he couldn't have made it anyway," she replies.

  "Well, how about we take each other, since we're already part of the wedding?" I suggest, feeling hopeful that we can have this moment all to ourselves.

  "What about Diana?" she asks. Great. I think my good mood is gone.

  "I... erm... she's busy that day," I lie while I feign a sigh.

  "Oh, well, okay then, let's take each other!" She sounds really excited. I bet it's because of the wedding. Girls like this kind of stuff, and I'm not sure why.

  "Okay!" I match her excitement. Someone's trying to call me, and it's flashing on my phone. It's Wallace.

  "Hey Col, a friend's trying to call me, so I'm gonna hang up right now, okay?" I ask.

  "Bye!" She says cheerily.

  "Hey, Wallace," I speak into my phone.

  "Hi, umm... Brett," he says.

  "What's up?" I ask.

  "Well, I managed to stumble inside Tiffany and Co today, and I was wondering if you know what kind of jewelry that Colette likes? Rings, especially?" He asks.

  I almost swerve into another lane again. He's going to propose. He's going to propose to Colette. My Colette. Colette is going to be someone's wife. She's going to be married. She can never be mine anymore. I stop the car. Thank goodness I'm already in my neighborhood and not on the highway.

  "I... don't think she likes anything too fancy. But you know, go with your gut," I sigh while trying to maintain my composure. I want to shout and let my anger at him out, but honestly, the person I'm most angry at, is myself. Why did I not pursue her when I had the chance?  She's such a wonderful and lovely person, of course she's going to get snatched up. How long was I planning to wait? Why was I so gutless? I slam my head against the steering wheel.

  "Do you think she'd like something round or square?" He asks.

  I think back to all the times that I've seen her wear jewelry. She rarely wears them, in fact, I can vividly remember each piece of jewelry that she's ever worn. There's this necklace with a small diamond, and she has her grandmother's ring, which has tiny little diamonds on a plain silver band, and she has these silver earrings with treble clefs, and that might be it. For these years that I've known her, these are all she wore. How can he not know about this? I thought he was supposed to be her soulmate or something.

  "Round," I reply, "It's better for when you want to play anyway."

  "Thank you so much for helping me with this, Brett. I really appreciate it. Colette so lucky to have you as her best friend," he says.

  "Well, you... you better take good care of her. You have to love her and cherish her, and treat her like the lady she is. If you ever make her cry, I... I... will not hesitate to go look you up and give you a good beat down," I struggle to hold in my tears.

  "I will, thank you for giving me your blessing. It really means a lot to me," he says.

  "Well, you just make sure she's happy, that's all I ask for," I sigh.

  "She's calling me now, I think I need to go. I'll talk to you soon?" He asks.

  "Sure."

  I take a deep breath. I'm going to lose her. I'm going to lose her for good. But nothing is too late, not until she says "I do". Oh, who am I kidding? He's well to do, he's handsome, he's nice to her, he loves her, and most of all, she loves him. I'm just some guy that had a hopeless crush on her, I'm just some guy. They seem perfect for each other, and when I see me and Colette, all I can see is a foggy future.

  "Daddy! You're home!" A little girl runs up to me.

  "Daddy!" A younger boy follows behind her.

  They look remarkably similar to... me and Colette.

  "Hey kids," I bend down to give them a hug.

  "Hi sweetheart, how was rehearsals?" Y/n comes over and gives me a peck on my cheek. It melts my heart.

  "It was alright, I really missed you though," I cup her face, bringing it closer to mine, and I give her a real kiss. Right on the lips, locking, perfect.

  "Ew!" The kids cover their eyes and we laugh.

  "Daddy, play Mario Kart with me!" The girl squeals as she drags me by the hand

  "Daddy, I want bubble tea," the boy pulls on my pant leg.

  "Kids, Daddy's tired, and you two should be practicing. We can all play after you two finish practicing," she says sternly.

  "Okay Mommy," they both say as they go back to their rooms.

  "You're such an amazing mother," I smile at her.

  "I'm not," she giggles.

  I pull her in for a hug.

  "Thank you for bringing them into our lives,"  I whisper.

  "I didn't. You did," she removes her arms from around me.

  "What do you mean?" I look at her in confusion.

  "Brett, I'm marrying Wallace, and those kids will be his kids, not yours, even in your imagination," she replies.

  "What are you talking about? They are supposed to be our kids. Are you leaving me?" I say, holding onto her tighter.

  "I was never yours to begin with. They are not real. None of this is real. Open your eyes."

  I open my eyes, and I'm back in my car, alone. No kids, no Collie, no one. A tear falls onto the cold, leather seats. Why am I upset about losing something that I never had? My imaginary family, my future with Colette, and... Colette herself. I can't take this anymore. I want that future with her. I love her.

  But if I truly love her, should I let her go?

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