DISCLAIMER: Any characters from the TV show "Fame" belong to MGM Studios.
"She wasn't sure if they wanted the same things anymore?" Danny's disbelief was audible in his voice, and not for the first time that night. "Nicole and Jesse were perfect for each other."
"Y'know, she always said that everyone thought that. But one person wasn't sure. It was just that she was the most important person."
It was one of the rare nights that he wasn't working and she wasn't with Jesse or one of her other friends. As usual on nights like that, they had ended up at his place, snuggled up in front of a movie. Going out was too hard when you considered the risks of someone seeing them. It could happen, even in a city as big as New York.
"Jesse didn't think it was strange you didn't see him tonight?" Bruno asked as he absently toyed with a lock of Nicole's hair.
"No. I told him I had to study."
"He bought it?"
"I can't believe he doesn't suspect anything. Or he does and he's just not saying." Nicole sighed a deep sigh. This was familiar territory for the two of them. "I hate sneaking around like this."
"I know. It's not fair on you Nicole, making pieces of yourself. I'll step back, if that's what you want." Bruno was being sincere, but every fibre of his being hoped that she wouldn't ask that of him.
Nicole shook her head. "We've been over this Bruno. I don't want to lose you. I just don't want to hurt Jesse." She gave an ironic chuckle. "I'm going about it the right way, aren't I?"
"Nicole....I love you. You know that. And I'll be here no matter how long it takes. Maybe you just need a bit of space..."
She shook her head, then took a deep breath. "Bruno...these past few weeks have been really special to me. Being with you, spending time with you...I'm happier than I've been in a really long time." She paused. "That's what makes it so hard. I've thought about this...and I'm going to break up with Jesse."
No matter what Bruno expected, that wasn't it. "Are you sure?"
"It's not gonna be easy. I know that. But it's not fair on him, or you, or any of us this way. I love Jesse. I always will. But it's not like this. Not any more." She paused. "Jesse was my first love. You're my forever love."
"Are you going to tell him about us?"
"No, not at first. I'm a coward, I know! But it's going to be hard enough to break up with him. I don't want to hurt him more. We'll wait a little, give things some time, then you can re-appear, and we'll tell everyone. Do you mind?"
Bruno smiled and kissed her. "I'd wait forever for you. I just don't want you to do anything you're going to regret."
"Then don't keep trying to convince me I want space!" Nicole smiled. "I don't want space. I just want you."
Bruno smiled and kissed her again.
"I never forced her into anything Danny. It was always her decision. I would have walked away any time she wanted. I wouldn't have been happy, but I'd have done it for her. But she always said no. She wanted to be with me."
"I can believe that. Nobody talked Nicole into doing something she didn't want to do."
"That's the truth! It's like I told you Danny. She never stopped loving Jesse. But it was different with me." He sighed. "I remember when she broke up with him....we hadn't seen each other in a couple of nights. Donlon's cousin was getting married or something, and you were all helping plan the wedding...."
"Yeah I remember..."
"So where's your little lady tonight Bruno? Haven't seen her in a while."
Bruno smiled at Mr. Sipowicz. Nicole had become a bit of a regular at the coffeehouse, and had quite a fan in Mr. Sipowicz. "She's been busy with school lately Mr. S. But she always asks about you!"
"Brains and looks and talent? You're a lucky man Bruno"
"I know."
"I don't think you do. I'm telling you, if I was twenty years younger...." Seeing Bruno's look, he amended the statement. "O.K. then, thirty or forty. Let an old man have his dreams can't you?" He paused for a second. "Hey, that reminds me. I got some photos from the party...there's some of you and her in there. You want them?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind."
"I'll bring them in tomorrow. There's more from after the party too... Mrs. S is a bit of a shutterbug y'know."
"Yeah, I noticed"
"Well, speak of the devil." Mr. Sipowicz was looking at a spot just behind Bruno. "Looks like your day just got brighter."
Bruno turned and saw Nicole. He smiled, then noticed that she looked upset. Very upset. She motioned to him to meet her outside.
"Hey, she don't look happy. You been messin' her around?"
"No Sir."
"Well, you see you don't. She's a special lady."
"I know"
"Well, you get out there after her, you hear me? And you remember what I told you."
" I will" Bruno was already moving to the door, calling to one of the other waiters to cover him.
When he got outside, Nicole was leaning against the wall. When he got near enough, the first thing she did was hug him. "You told Jesse." It was a statement not a question. It was the only thing that could have her this upset.
"It was so much harder than I thought it was going to be" Nicole told him, her voice shaking. "He was so hurt..."
"It's ok.... it's ok"
Nicole kept her face buried in his shoulder. "We were at Lou's... getting ready for the wedding.... and all everybody kept saying was how the next wedding was going to be mine and Jesse's...I nearly lost it then. We went for a walk...and I told him...."
"Was he angry?"
"Upset....confused....You know what he said? 'I thought you loved me'"
"What did you tell him?"
"The truth. That I do love him. And the almost truth - I'm just not sure I love him enough." Her voice caught. "He was so angry....he looked like he hated me..."
"He'll get over it Nicole. You'll both be fine."
"I just feel so guilty!"
"Nicole, you had to do this. You couldn't go on like you were."
"I know, that's why I feel guilty! Why did I have to meet you...fall in love with you....be happy with you? Why should I be happy when I've broken his heart?"
Bruno knew there was nothing he could say to that. So he just held her.
"I'm sorry" she said eventually. Then, softer, "I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"What time do you finish at?"
"I can finish up in an hour or so. Mike'll close up."
"Mind if I wait inside?"
"As long as you don't run off with Mr. Sipowicz....."
Laughing, arm in arm they went inside.
Danny was shaking his head again. He dimly wondered if there was any chance it'd fall off if he kept it up. "I remember when all that was going on...we were so shocked that she'd called it off. And I was trying to get a date with Jillian....I never would've guessed that all this was going on."
"Well, we had to keep it quiet, obviously."
Danny asked, for what seemed like the millionth time that night, "So then..."
Bruno sighed. "So then, I got my publishing deal."