Reunited

Sidney looked from Shea to Tyler. He was wickedly confused, and his feelings had only half to do with it. The last time Sidney had talked to his mom while Shea was in college, she hadn't said anything about a boyfriend, and he knew Trina and Shea talked about everything, all the time.

Sidney looked back to Tyler and grabbed his outstretched heart. The guests at the party had gone back to dealing with their own business, since apparently it was only a big deal when Sidney's fiancé had crashed a party. "Sidney."

Tyler nodded, either he wasn't a hockey fan, or he was trying to play it cool. Sidney looked back at Shea, her face was full of confusion and she looked worried. Sidney excused himself, knowing that Shea wanted to talk to Tyler alone.

"Happy birthday!" Tyler ran up to Shea and hugged her, spinning her around in the process. When he finally let her go, Shea was feeling a little bit dizzy, but something told her it wasn't because of the spinning she had just endured.

"Thanks Ty, how did you know about this?" Shea said motioning around to the party.

Tyler pointed towards Elizabeth. "Your mom told me when I called her. We haven't talked in forever, you just kind of dropped off the face of the earth when you came home."

Shea took a deep breath in, "Tyler we broke up. I took some space." Tyler closed his eyes, the words stinging him, even four months after the fact.

"I was hoping we could talk about that.."

Shea grabbed Tyler's hand and rushed into the house. She stopped in the kitchen, hoping everybody was outside enjoying the party.

"Tyler what we had was great and you're an amazing guy, better than anything I ever deserved, and you didn't deserve what I did, but turning up here now, it's just not the time."

"You practically left me at the altar Shea," Shea's pity immediately turned to anger.

"I never accepted the proposal Tyler, I told you that I was still in love with an old friend and you proceeded to ask me anyway. I warned you that I wasn't going to say yes. I'm sorry that I did that, but we aren't meant for each other, and you know that."

"I do know that, I'm sorry I didn't mean what I said," Shea nodded her head understandingly,"I just miss you," Shea looked down at her feet, "I know I know, we're definitely over, I know."

Shea grabbed Tyler's arms pulling him into a hug, "I missed you too Tyler, but you're gonna come find me in two years with some hot fiancé on your arm, because you deserve so much more than little old me."

Tyler chuckled, "I guess this is my cue huh?"

"Stay for a drink, go out and buy me a present, or go whatever feels right for you. I'd love to have you here, but there's something about heartbreak that makes things like that hard."

Tyler nodded,"Your present is on the front step of your house." Shea nodded, letting go of Tyler to watch him walk out the door.

Before leaving, he turned around and said, "I hope when I see you in two years, the guy you've been in love with for so long, realizes what he has by then." Tyler walked out of the door, pulling it closed behind him.

"Me too."

"Wow people sure do like to propose to you."

Shea turned around quickly, not knowing anybody else was in the room.

"Taylor, holy shit you scared me." Shea put her hand over her heart, her breathing increasing. Taylor chuckled. Once Shea had calmed down a little bit, she looked at Taylor, pleading with her eyes.

"Oh don't worry, I won't tell Sidney. He'd probably kill the messenger and I really want to live long enough to see the wedding," It was Shea's turn to chuckle, Taylor muttered something inaudible, "the wedding hopefully won't happen."

Shea nodded her head in gratitude,"Where is Sidney anyways?" Taylor pointed out towards the backyard, Sidney, as usual, was skipping rocks near the dock. Shea smiled at Taylor before walking out the door, heading towards Sidney.

"Seeing as how it isn't your party, you aren't actually allowed to cry Sid."

He laughed.

Good that's a start, Shea thought to herself, walking closer to Sidney.

"So who exactly is Tyler?" Sidney grabbed another rock, skipping it eight times. He smiled, impressed with his own darn self.

"Uh we used to date in college, it was casual, which is probably why your mom never told you about it," Sidney turned and looked at Shea.

It's like she's in my mind, Sidney thought grabbing another rock to skip it.

Jackpot, Shea thought walking closer to Sidney, grabbing her own rock.

"It interests me that throwing rocks is your escape, why?"

Sidney looked from the water to Shea, biting his lip, not quite knowing where to start.

"Throwing rocks isn't my escape."

Shea looked over at Sidney before chucking another rock, it plummeted to the bottom of the lake, "Well then, what is your escape? What do you think about when you need to leave wherever you are physically, mentally?"

Sidney threw a rock up in the air, before catching it seconds later, debating whether or not to tell a lie to please Shea, or break her already broken heart and tell the truth, he opted for the truth.

Sidney puffed out his chest, "The day I told you I loved you for the first time."

Shea dropped the rock she was holding and immediately felt her eyes start to well up with tears.

"Every time I'm in a game and I'm frustrated, I'll think about it, honestly I think about it all the time."

"Sidney."

"I know, trust me Shea, I know," Sidney said scratching the back of his neck. Sidney saw tears slip out of Shea's eyes, he walked over and wiped them away with his thumb, pulling her into a hug, "Happy birthday Shea."

----------

It had been about two weeks since Sidney had surprised Shea for her birthday. They had gotten coffee and watched movies, they had been together almost everyday since then. Shea had gotten over Sidney's little splurge of the truth. It was a lot to take on, but the more painful part of it was remembering the day he thought about all the time. It was like Shea had put everything Sidney into a box, letting the dust settle, she had just forgotten to open the box when the cobwebs started to appear.

Sidney and Shea were sitting in Sidney's kitchen, talking about hockey, and what Shea's plan was when the summer ended. Shea had a glass of wine in her hand, Sidney drinking a beer. They had been sitting on the same bar stools for about three hours, Shea not able to get of her chair, Sidney not wanting her to.

They were discussing an upcoming interview Sidney had when they heard the front door open and close. Shea gave Sidney a questioning look, not knowing he had invited someone else. Sidney returned the look, shrugging in the process. Sidney heard the clicking of heels and quickly sighed.

Brooke walked in through the living room to the kitchen. She was looking at Sidney, but she spotted Shea she stopped, "Am I interrupting something?"

Sidney put his beer and down and walked quickly towards Brooke, "Hey babe I didn't know you were coming into town."

Brooke looked from Sidney to Shea, rather coldly, "We need to discuss wedding details, after all it is in about three weeks, and I didn't want to do it on the phone" Sidney nodded, not realizing that the wedding had crept up on him so fast. He kissed Brooke. Shea flinched and looked away. She grabbed her wine glass and poured the rest into the sink.

Walking towards the door Shea said, "Thanks for the drink Sid. See you later." Sidney looked away from Brooke and gave Shea the smile that said "I'm sorry." Shea just nodded her head glumly and walked out the front door.

She didn't really know what had just happened, or why she had left, but she started to feel rather uncomfortable looking at Sidney kiss someone else.

Who are you kidding Shea, he's getting married.

Shea walked down the driveway, towards her car. She didn't want to question it any longer, all she knew was that she needed a drink.

And fast.

Notes

Bad chapter and a crappy ending, but I only have one more chapter until the wedding and I wanted to get Brooke into town.

xoxo