wl_fanfiction | The Weakness Within - Chapters 11 and 12 (Reply)

My last chapters, which is a relief in a way even though I've really enjoyed writing this!! Probably gonna work on some shorter fics for a little while. Anyway here they are chapters 11 and 12, for Ally who has stuck with the story and Garrardsisters for helping me with these last chapters ^_^

Title: The Weakness Within
Chapter(s): 11 and 12
Pairing(s) : Greg/Josie and Josie/Ryan
Rating: 12 (For Lanuage)
Words: Chapter 11 - 1,035
Chapter 12 - 1015
Summary: Josie is torn between Greg and Ryan, but cannot face the guilt of dating both of them any longer.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except the story. This did not happen, as it is purely a fanfic. It is not intended to slander the people it dipicts.
Author's Notes: The song in Chapter 12 is "Since You've Been Gone" by Rainbow.

Feeling numb now from the shock and sadness of what she had just done, Josie found herself knocking once more. Ryan opened the door faster than Josie had anticipated. She had still not entirely composed herself from her emotional encounter with Greg.

“Josie, I wasn’t expecting you here. Not that I’m not pleased to see you.” Ryan added. “It’s just I thought we agreed it safest to stick to the theatre dressing rooms.”

Josie shook her head slowly. “That’s not why I’ve come Ryan.” She spoke softly. Trembling from her barely contained emotion. “It’s over.” She said firmly before she could change her mind. “I can’t do this, the guilt is driving me mad. Lets end it now before we both regret it and hate each other.”

Ryan said nothing. He simply stared at Josie as though he was seeing her for the first time. Finally he spoke, calm and collected as always. The voice that infatuated Josie beyond belief.

“You’re right.” He agreed. “It’s not fair, not just my wife, but Mr Proops as well.” Josie gasped. How did he know?

As if Ryan had read her mind, he continued. “I met Greg last night, we did a recording together, he’s a great improviser and very genuine man. He’s right for you Josie” A salty tear of regret trickled from Josie’s eye. She sniffed, Ryan seemed oblivious however and continued.

“He showed me the ring last night, I assume that’s why you’re ending things with me. Listen, I’m truly pleased for you both our fling has been fun, but at the end of the day, we were never going to be serious.”

Josie felt sick inside. “I’m… thank you for understanding Ryan. We’re friends right?” Ryan winked and shook Josie’s hand. “Greg’s a lucky man. Look after him Josie.” Josie didn’t hear, she wanted to get out escape.

Her head just kept replaying the same words over and over. ‘He showed me the ring last night.’ He was going to propose to her and she cast him aside like an old toy, to cowardly too tell him the truth about Ryan and ask for a second chance.

She saw Clive before he spotted her. Running Josie yelled his name. Clive caught her in his welcoming arms in time to catch her breaking down. Josie sobbed hard into his shoulder for a considerable amount of time. Clive cradled his friend rubbing her back comforting her.

Clive was glad of his own initiative in telling Josie to meet him after she had spoken to whomever it was she had decided to leave. He had felt guilty having seen the engagement ring Greg had bought for her the previous day, however he felt it was wisest Josie picked from the men impartially.

Josie hiccoughed and sat on the park bench Clive had steered her towards. All the regret, all the bitterness, all the guilt had flooded out in her tears of pain. Now she sat silently in shock at the feeling of emptiness, the aftermath of the emotional collapse. Finally she chose to speak. She turned to Clive who’s sympathy meant everything to her at that point. “He was going to marry me Clive.”

Her companion shut his eyes at this statement. His heart went out to Greg, who would be sat broken no doubt in his hotel room completely solitary and without a friendly ear to spill his hurt to.

“So, you chose Ryan then?” Enquired Clive voice calm expression difficult to read. Josie shook her head.

"I took the easy way out Clive.” Josie looked up sadly. “I dropped them both, Greg and Ryan.”

It hit her understanding, sweet and wonderful realisation. True she had fallen in love with two people, a victim of the cruel acts of the heart. Her conscience had goaded her, tormented her into feeling guilty. Eventually the happiness had been drained, tiredness worry and fear replacing the euphoria of being loved. She had pushed the two men away. She couldn’t bring herself to tear her heart, to choose between them. This had been her true failing. The weakness within had been the ability to make a decision. She could not.

Josie sat on the park bench with her friend, held his hand for support. Clive merely sat and watched her, almost hearing her mind ticking. Now that she had reached the solution she could finally begin to heal once more from the danger of falling in love.

“Josie” Clive said after a while. She looked up, shock and despair still evident on her features. “It doesn’t have to be this way.”

Josie sniffed but look confused. Finally she spoke.

“What do you expect me to do Clive? I screwed up. The first decent man I have a relationship with and I go and have a fucking affair behind his back. Well, it’s not going to work out. I ditched them both and although Ryan’s okay, Greg wasn’t. He…” her voice trailed away.

“He was devastated wasn’t he?” Clive finished for her. Josie nodded at the floor.

“Well. What are you waiting for?” said Clive suddenly. He had leapt from the bench and was tugging Josie forcefully into a standing position too.

“What the hell do you mean Clive?” Josie was confused. She’d never seen Clive flustered by anything.

“He’s proved it, he loves you. He still does. He was devastated because he truly wanted to be with you. You’re right for each other. You go back to that hotel right now young lady. You face up to your responsibility, you beg him on your knees to take you back and marry him for God’s sake. He’s everything you deserve it was meant to be. Go!” He was deadly serious no hint of a smile this time Clive was pointing out of the park to Greg’s hotel just visible in the distance.

Shell-shocked at Clive’s words Josie took a little while to register he was actually steering her out of the park in the direction of Greg. Tears still glistening in her eyelashes and trickling down her cheeks, but face set and determined, Josie began to walk forcefully back towards the man she had left crushed only a short while ago…

Clive had remained behind in Hyde Park so Josie made her way to the hotel room completely alone. She appreciated she had to do this herself but wished Clive could’ve gone with her just to the entrance of the hotel.

Horrible thoughts chased around Josie’s mind. What if Greg wouldn’t take her back? What if he wasn’t even there? Her stomach flipped as her mind raced, causing a feeling of distinct nausea. Josie stopped halfway up the stairs leading to Greg’s room to catch her breath and try to control her rapidly beating heart, which had nothing to do with how fast she was walking.

She had reached his door. Should she knock? She raised her fist to the door in preparation to but stopped. She heard a soft voice not far from the door. She could not make out the words. She decided to try the door handle. It was unlocked so Josie edged her way cautiously into the room steeling, afraid of what would happen.

Whatever she had expected it wasn’t what she was seeing. Greg was sat on the floor, back against his bed, facing away from her. He wasn’t aware of any other presence in the room. Comprehension dawned on Josie he had not been talking. He was singing.

Strumming intently at a small battered guitar, a din of smoke was surrounding him. It was a sickly sweet scent, that made Josie want to cough, but she refrained not wanting to alarm him.

“Since you’ve been gone, since you’ve been gone, I’m out of my head can’t take it…” Hurt was evident in every syllable he cried out.

Josie realised it wasn’t just tobacco present in the cigarette Greg was holding with the hand plucking the guitar strings. She approached him slowly but forcefully and knelt down next to him.

His pupils were blown completely and the whites of his eyes were tinged pink, from crying or the strong cloud of smoke Josie couldn’t tell. His thick lenses magnified the imperfections making the reality of what she had done to this man all the more unbearable. Sweat clung to his upper lip and tears had caused red tracks down his cheeks. Small droplets of the salty liquid were still clinging to his chin, waiting to drop.

Greg had stopped singing. He knew she was there. No more though did he attempt to conceal his misery from her he just raised the spliff to his lips once more. A soft hand however took it from his slack fingers before he had the chance.

”What have I done to you?” She whispered desperately more to herself than to the man sat on the floor next to her. She stubbed out the joint and continued to look at Greg, who was still looking resolutely ahead.

“I need you Greg.” Josie began. “I need you to listen to the pleas of a coward who fucked up considerably.” Finally Greg silently turned to face her, eyes wide. He had never heard Josie swear until now.

“I cheated on you Greg. I don’t deserve you.” Josie confessed. “I didn’t lie to you though. I didn’t leave you for him, I convinced myself by cutting both of you away it would be the best thing for everyone.” Greg continued to blink at Josie, slowly taking in what she was saying.

“I was wrong I knew as soon as I left here. I made a mistake Greg and I just want all this hurt to go away. I don’t want to be punished for my stupidity any more.” She spluttered as tears cascaded. Still he said nothing. Josie stood up to leave. She had blown her chance. He didn’t love her anymore.

Sobbing and stumbling she headed blindly for the door. A surprisingly strong hand gripped her shoulder, forced her to face him.

As she turned Greg knelt to the floor and took one of her trembling hands in one of his own. Warm and soft, it was the most reassurance she could possibly want.

His mind had seemed to clear somewhat as the cold harsh reality of Josie’s betrayal had washed over him. Yet here he was on bended knee gripping her hand. Desperate it seemed for her not to leave him alone again.

Josie felt soothed as she looked into his warm eyes, the smallest hint of their old sparkle had returned. Hope washed over her and she gasped as she felt a cold band slide down her finger.

“Marry me?” He beseeched her. Kneeling down opposite him she collapsed weeping in his arms. This time it was tears of happiness engulfing her senses as she snuggled into his warm protective body.

His chest was heaving. He was crying too as he cradled her. Swaying slightly from side to side consoling himself as much as her. The miserable state of his mind had rendered the dope practically useless. Nothing compared to the natural high of having Josie in his arms once more, now his fiancée.

Finally the two broke from the embrace, as their knees were sore on the rough hotel carpet. They stood instead just content looking at each other. Greg moved first, raising his hand slowly cupping it around her chin. Tenderly he wiped her tears from her face with his thumb. She melted at his touch. Her tired eyelids dropped gratefully closed as he pressed his mouth to her own.

He tasted as good as always. Softly probing with his tongue. Stroking her hair happiness she’d almost forgotten returned in that instant. She knew that she’d finally found what she was searching for.

No longer kissing, they stood comfortably wrapped in each other’s bodies, silent, but content. After a while Josie voiced the question she’d been longing to ask him. She looked into his face; his eyes had returned to their normal soft brown, the pink was slowly fading.

“Greg?” Her voice was muffled slightly by his shoulder. “Why have you taken me back?” Greg replied immediately, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Everyone deserves a second chance.”

End.