"Um, would it be a bit rude of me to ask what the hell your doing here Cole, like I appreciate what you did back there don't get me wrong but I thought this event was invite only"

Cole looked incredulous.

"Florence I literally just saved you from total humiliation and your confronting me like I'm so kind of bad guy, really?"

"I had it under control, I just saw someone from school that I used to know and got all distracted, you don't need to treat me like some immature child Cole who needs to be saved"

"Unbelievable" he replied shaking his head emphatically.

"Your actually unbelievable I didn't expect an elaborate declaration of thanks but I didn't expect you to be so damn rude Florence, I seem to be the only one here who cares where exactly is your fiancee?"

"This has absolutely nothing to do with Andrew..."

Florence trailed off as she realised that the crowd who had been quietly queuing were now observing the two of them with interest, she could see Natalie's widening eyes as she surveyed them, this wasn't the time or the place to have this argument, she didn't even know why they were having an argument, she should be thankful.

But she didn't want to be, she hadn't spoken to Cole in three years and in the ten minutes where he'd re entered her life he'd already made her feel small and confused, she'd rather not be having this conversation especially with people waiting for her to sign there books.

"I don't want to do this right now" she muttered.

"I'll catch you later"

Cole wasn't looking at her.

"No, I don't think you will"

Natalie had reached them now.

"Florence" she said in a too cheerful voice "Honey your fans await!"

And with her vice grip she led Florence to the signing table leaving Cole behind.

She signed books, made small talk, smiled, laughed and even got into discussions about the origins of her stories and whether there would be another book, but all the while she was evaluating her behaviour and wondering why she'd had such an adverse reaction to someone helping her, it had been pathetic really.

"Florence whatever went down before I really don't want to know, your personal life is just that, personal but we have  a state by state tour running now, I can't afford for you to have relapses like that, if your not up to continuing I can always cancel this week's commitments, I may be your agent but I'm also your friend"

"No please don't"

She had kept an eye out for Lauren the entire time but her former friend hadn't appeared, cancelling this weeks commitments would mean letting people down who had specially bought tickets to see her, there would be no more distractions on her tour, she would ensure that.

"Nat it's fine, I was just thrown a bit off guard being here, and thank you I know that I stress you out, but your a star"

Natalie gave her a one armed hug.

"I have a taxi waiting out front for you, you did a great job today Flo, the light in those kid's eyes when you talked to them was really something special to see"

Florence smiled at her.

"Thanks for getting the taxi but I think I'll just walk, I want to try and clear my mind and I've found a long walk is one of the best ways to do that"

"Okay, if your sure, see you in two days"

Natalie looped her scarf around her next, waved and then left the hall which suddenly seemed so much smaller.

She grabbed her own coat from the stand and advanced outside, the winter air wasn't as chilly as it had been in the morning.

"Hey Florence"

What the heck?

He'd actually waited for three whole hours outside here in this hallway, after his reply to her she'd thought they wouldn't be seeing each other again for a few years.

"Hey Cole, can't talk right now there's a taxi waiting for me"

His eyebrows scrunched.

"Uh, no you haven't I just heard you tell your agent you want to walk, and we need to talk my house is near yours so what better time to have a conversation than now"

Damn it, she looked like a prize idiot right now.

"Okay I've been caught out, so shoot, what do you want to talk about?"

She tried not to sound nervous and concentrated on her movements carefully walking just fast enough that they didn't fall into step side by side, she didn't want to be in close proximity to him.

"Well let's start with the easiest thing first, I came here today because Charlie gave me her ticket, she's not feeling too good and asked if I wanted to come, I wasn't planning on it but something made me come here, you looked like you wanted the ground to swallow you up on the stage and I guess the knight inside of me had to save the damsel in distress"

She couldn't help it, a snort of laughter escaped before she could shove it back in, she wasn't meant to be laughing at things he said, technically they weren't even friends anymore.

"Glad you find that so amusing"

They had reached the corner where the park lay ahead and rows of houses were on the other side, shadowing them as they crossed the glade.

"Now something not so amusing, what the heck happened to us Flo? This is the longest conversation we've had since you left for university which you never really explained, you've even been to see Levi, but not me why?"

"Because it just hurt too much Cole" she burst out.

"I know that you've got your memories back now and I'm glad I really am, but people can't rely on me for anything, especially not a massive task like helping you get your memories back, I know thats what everyone wanted me to be able to do but I was never going to be strong enough. Before I helped others I needed to help myself, going to Colchester and becoming an independent person was me helping myself"

"And did it work?"

"In a way, yes I'm so much stronger and my entire life doesn't revolve around someone else, I'm happy without sadness overshadowing my happiness, my pain is a part of me I'll never be able to let go but its better to feel pain and be able to smile every day than to become some kind of shell of a person"

"So Andrew, he helps you to not be that shell, more than any of us could here?"

There was a double meaning somewhere in that question.

"To be honest Cole it isn't about another person that's what I'm trying to tell you, my life is mine and I need to be able to help myself without being reliant on someone else, staying here would have been like life imprisonment, I'm sorry I left but I really did find myself in ways I never could here, I love Andrew and he's a part of my life but he isn't my entire life if you get my meaning"

"I do, I get it"

And there was her house, with her parents probably waiting inside to hear how her day had went, she had said all she needed to say.. except for one thing.

"Come to my wedding Cole, please just come I don't care what went down three years ago your in my life now and that's just something to deal with, invites are going out in a week and I'd love it if you came, you can bring someone..."

"No..." he looked like he wanted to run.

"I don't think that would be a good idea Florence, I'm sorry I hope the rest of your tour goes well and that you don't need any saving because I don't think I'll be around to have your happiness thrown in my face"

Why did they always leave things on such a bad note the two of them?

The word toxic came to mind.

"Okay, hey wait now I was in a foul mood before, thanks for stepping in"

"Too little too late, bye then"

And he just walked away.

There were two things she could have done but as usual Florence chose the easier option, turning away to her house, it was almost eight pm and she and Andrew had decided this was the best time to FaceTime, she wasn't going to miss his call.

She just needed to see his face right now, really badly.