Part 5
Paul spent the next twenty minutes sitting and staring at Corinne, only averting his gaze to his empty glass when she caught him staring. She was out on the dance floor with Rove, Wil and the others, looking like she was having a good time. But Paul knew better, he knew she was hurt, and he knew it was his fault.
He didn�t know why he�d said what he did. He knew that he loved Corinne and didn�t know why he hadn�t just admitted it. He was wondering what the hell he was supposed to do when someone slid back into the booth with him.
�You okay Paul?�
Paul glanced over at Rhys and then looked back at his glass. He could only shake his head.
�No not really. I messed things up as usual.�
�Paul you�re messing things up right now by sitting here moping instead of going over and talking to her. Look I can�t tell you how you�re feeling, all I can say for certainty now is that if you love someone you can�t be afraid to tell them.�
�I�m just afraid. I don�t want to get hurt again. And I don�t want to hurt Corinne.�
�You�re hurting her right now Paul. She loves you and she thinks you don�t feel the same. Can you let her go on thinking that?�
Paul sighed, knowing that Rhys was right. But he didn�t know how to talk to Corinne now, worried that if he even approached her she�d just run off on him. He looked back to the dance floor but only saw Rove and Wil. Corinne had disappeared.
�Where�d she go?�
Rhys smiled.
�I think she might be getting a word of advice as well.�
Over at another table, Corinne and Amanda were indeed having a chat as well. Amanda placed a hand on her shoulder.
�What�s going on?�
Corinne looked at Amanda, knowing she could be truthful with her.
�I messed things up. I made the mistake of wearing my heart on my sleeve and Paul just ripped it right off. He doesn�t feel the same way as I do, and now our friendship is ruined.�
�I know you don�t believe that anymore than I do.�
Corinne sighed.
�I just wish I knew what to do. I love him so much, why can�t he love me?�
�He does love you. Anyone can see that. Look we all know how relationships have turned out for him in the past, I wouldn�t be surprised if he is just scared of getting hurt again.�
�But I�d never hurt him, it�s the last thing I want to do.�
�Corinne you know I�m not the person you need to be telling this too. I think you need to go and talk to him.�
Corinne shook her head.
�No I can�t. When he�s ready to talk he knows where I am.�
And with that Corinne got to her feet and headed back onto the dance floor, joining Mark and Kim. Rove and Wil had disappeared somewhere together again. Rhys left Paul and walked over to where Amanda was now sitting by herself. He shook his head as he sat down next to her.
�I think I might have got through to him, who knows? How�d it go with Corinne?�
Amanda shook her head as well.
�She said it�s up to him now. He knows how she feels.�
Rhys took her hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing it gently.
�Don�t worry. We�re going to get those together by the end of the night if it�s the last thing we do.
Amanda smiled back at him, hoping that he was right. At that moment Wil, Rove, Mark, Tanya and Kim all came wandering off the dance floor. Mark sat down next to Amanda and flashed her one of his big grins.
�So what are you two lovebirds up to?�
Amanda smiled at him.
�Glad you asked Mark. How do you guys feel about a little matchmaking?�
Paul was sitting at the booth by himself now. He suddenly felt as though he was being watched, and he looked over at the other table to see all his friends sitting there in a group talking amongst themselves, occasionally glancing over at Paul. He suddenly was very nervous about what they might be up to, but knew it wouldn�t be long til he found out whatever it was.
part 6