It was down to one final act. The judges; Simon, Amanda, Alesha, and David were dreading for an amazing one. To somehow elevate their mood from the previous performances and make it a day.

"It says Disco Dogs right here." Alesha reads aloud. "Sounds interesting, yeah?"

"Oh, I love dogs." Amanda quipped, clapping her hands. "Wonder what it would be."

"Dogs in disco, obviously." Simon retorted which earned a playful smack from Amanda and cackling from Alesha.

David bit on the tip of his pen, somehow dazed and distracted. There was something bugging him at the back of his mind, his stomach won't stop churning from time to time. He can't really tell what it was, all he knows is that his instincts are really kicking in.

"Dave."

He snapped from his trance and glanced at Alesha.

"Yeah?"

"We were thinking of getting drinks later, want to join us?"

David smiled. "Yeah, sure. Are Ant and Dec coming?"

She nodded just as some of the crew carried a large prop on the center, signifying the last act was seconds away to start.

"Yeah. They were the ones who invited us. They also mentioned they'd be bringing some friends." She informed once the lights dimmed.

The cue for the last act started and the audience quieted down. There was a big radio prop on the center, it was designed in random bright colors and David was reminded of a particular character in his book. Not a minute or two, two figures dressed in dog mascots crawled on the center of the stage. 

The crowd erupted into a fit of 'awes' and cheers.

"How adorable."

David felt the corner of his mouth quirk up, already liking it.

"Hello," he started. "Welcome to Britain's Got Talent."

The one on the right, dressed in a white husky lets out a feminine bark. David's eyebrow rose, his stomach churning again. He ignored it.

"Who are you?" David continued, somewhat expecting them to reply. But alas.

"They're dogs." Simon answered for them.

Of course, they are. "Disco Dogs, right? Well, the stage is yours, Disco Dogs!"

Once they made their positions, music blasted from the speakers. Everything around the room was alive as the judges bobbed their head in rhythm with the music. The crowd was standing as they went to the groove. As if it wasn't enough, a mumber of people dressed as animals came parading around the crowd and on the stage, dancing along the music.

It was like a huge fiesta.

By the end of the act, confetti exploded and all of them cheered.

"Wow! That was absolutely lively." Alesha comments once they calmed down, a large grin on her face. "It somehow reminded me of a very dear friend of ours who I know for a fact would absolutely love this."

David frowned, his chest constricting. Of course, he knew who it was. She was the reason why he couldn't sleep for the last three months when she left. He remembered, after all she was David's suitor, dubbed by the chaffing girl herself back then. The internet and the whole United Kingdom knew the whole ordeal going on between them. How she would pursue him at the very first time they met and continued to treat David as if the damsel that needed pampering and loving.

The older man would brush her off and reject her offer of going out with her. Occasionally telling her that he didn't like her one bit, giving her the cold shoulder. But, of course, Callie was persistent and didn't give a shite about anything and so on, continued on operation 'Make David fall in love with Callie'. It resumed for three years, and every rejection, Callie would be more and more motivated. David wondered if this was how Simon felt when he kept pestering him.

David was narked the first time but later on, he was accustomed to the young artist's doings. He grew on her, he would still blatantly reject her now and then but he knew, deep down, feels something deep for her as well.

A weird gal, she is. But an extremely beautiful, kind, and weird gal.

He could not deny the fact that he missed her. Terribly.

"Can you take off your masks so we can see you?" Amanda asked, curious.

The others as well. The first one took off the mask and they were all surprised. Ant and Dec appeared on the stage, laughing and cheering as they tackled Stephen Mulhern.

"Oh, my god!"

The whole studio was loud with cheers and applauses.

"Now, now, everyone. We still got one left. We all heard a rumour circling around." Stephen started, smiling. "About a philanthropist who traveled across the world. Now, she's back."

David's mouth slightly hang open, his heart skipping a beat. It couldn't be her, could it?

Pulling the head off, dark curls of hair came to view and the whole crowd hollered louder. Alesha and Amanda both ran towards the stage, Simon was flabbergasted but managed to composed himself as he followed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Callista Miller!"

David felt his soul had left his body right there and then. The air in his lungs got knocked out from his system as his airways constricted. It was like dousing him with ice cold water.

It was really her, it was Callie. After three whole years, she's back.

"Look at you! Oh, my god!" Alesha gushed as she hugged the younger female, Amanda joining in.

Callista lets out a laugh and hugged her bestfriends tightly. "I missed you, guys."

They managed to pull away as Alesha wiped a stray tear. "You, devil. You never mentioned you were coming back!"

"Thought it was a good surprise." Callista winked just in time Simon tapped on her shoulder. She twirled around and grinned as she jumped on Simon's open arms, head buried deep on his neck.

"Mon! You haven't aged a bit." She giggled as Simon patted her back, breaking from their hug.

"I didn't expect that, Callie. You are such a performer! It's so good to have my little sister back."

She beamed. "Back at you, Si."

Next were Ant and Dec who hugged her and kissed her cheek. She missed the duo and Callista had this endearment swelling inside her chest, ready to burst. But it deflated just as she saw the man she's been wanting to see for the longest time standing next to Stephen, dressed in his dark blue suit, looking a bit rough-hewn but acknowledge her co-perfomer with a high-five.

Callista bit her lip. So, that's it. He's just going to ignore me like last time?

She berated herself, reminding her that this was not the time to dilly dally. She is now home, with her friends and family.

With that thought it mind, she pushed away the searing pain and greeted the crowd with a jubilant wave.

"Callista Miller will be joining us next week as an additional judge to the panel. That's it, Britain! Good night!"

•••

"I still can't believe it. How? When? Was Stephen the only one who knew?" Ant asked, disbelief lying in his phrase.

Stephen raised his hands in mock surrender. "Told you we were closer."

Dec rolled his tongue out and the lot guffawed.

The show ended fifteen minutes ago and the judges coupled with the hosts and the guests were seated on their quarters. Callista was seated in between Amanda and Alesha, Ant and Dec beside her, Simon besides Amanda, and David and Stephen on the separate cushioned seats.

David was awfully silent and Callista's anxiety grew.

Of course, it did not go unnoticed by the others.

Simon cleared his throat. "So, Callie, tell us where you've been all these years."

"Yeah, tell us."

Callie gave a fond smile. "With my project and foundation going on with UNICEF, W.H.O., and my own company, we've been traveling nonstop to Africa, Yemen, and India."

David watched carefully, studying as Callista waved her hand as she told her adventure. It made his heart flutter how her face would brighten and how she would capture everyone's attention around the room. Her light brown eyes would glow when she enjoys the topic and her eyebrows would furrow whenever something disturbs her. Her habit of scratching her left wrist signified she was uncomfortable.

David could tell.

Just watching her, talking. It was enough. The reason why he didn't utter a single word to her was because of the sheer reason of not knowing what to say at all. He couldn't form any logical greeting. David could go for the normal, 'Hello.' But what after that?

He still couldn't believe she was back. She looked more ethereal, more vibrant, and more alive.

Callie was in touch with them for the first couple of months. But she was busy, rarely popping their notification every six months. David believed he was going to get crazy when she left, he missed her.

But perhaps he deserved the pain. After what he'd done to her. He could still vividly recall three years ago, before she left the airport.

|THREE YEARS AGO|

"So, here we are." Alesha muttered softly, frowning.

The airport loomed over them like a dark shadow as they trudged their way inside, Callie dragging her large luggage behind her.

It was around December fifth, 4:30 am in the morning. The chilly air of winter made David shiver but released a breath of relief once the warm air-condition of the building caressed their skin.

Alesha and Amanda were beside Callie, shedding a few tears here and there. Simon trailed behind, tapping David.

"Did you tell her yet?"

"Tell her what?"

Simon glared behind his spectacles. "Don't be dumb, David. You know what I'm talking about. She's leaving."

David blinked and stared blankly at Callie's back, noting her dark curls bouncing against her back. He craved to have those soft tendrils between his fingers. He bit at his bottom lip.

"I...I don't know what to tell her." He mutters before putting his hands in his pockets.

"You do," Simon pushed. "You are at the deadline, Dave. Once she goes away, you might never know when she'll come back. Much worse, maybe she'll meet a great guy along the way."

It hit him.

Imagining her with another man, it was enough to make David's blood boil. But he had nothing to say to this, Callista deserves the best. She needs a man who can flaunt her, treat her more like the Queen, and love her. David can't be the one, he hurt her. He told her he would rather marry and have an affair than be with her. He knew how distressed she was, those large doe light brown eyes were transparent. She tried to masked it with a forced smile but David knew.

"Sh-she deserves it." He breathed, voice pained. "I can't be with her."

Simon stared disbelieving and shook his head. "You'll regret this, Dave. I'm telling you."

"I'm already regretting it, Si."

"So, here's my stop." Callista broke the tension, stopping at the entrance of her flight, it was about to take off in forty-five minutes.

"Promise you'll come back."

"I will, Lesha. Stop crying." Callie smiled sadly as she nudged the pregnant woman. "Your baby might take your emotional arse."

"Do tell me everything once you come home." Amanda told her as she gave Callie a tight hug.

Callie nodded, letting her go. "Every single thing. You take care, okay? Make sure Simon behaves."

Simon rolled his eyes but smiled fondly. He walked towards her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Eric is going to miss his godmother."

Callie laughed heartily. "You make it sound like I'm old, Mon."

Simon sighed and ruffled her hair. "I'll miss you, squirt. BGT won't be the same without you."

She snorted. "Nonsense. It will be. I mean, Alesha and her wardrobe. Amanda and her obsession over Disney. You being the Darth Vader, and..." She trailed off, glancing at a sullen looking David who held her stare.

"Davy." She called, relinquishing the pet name she made just for him. It brought memories, good and unpleasant ones.

"We'll give you some privacy."

The other three gave them a good amount of space and Callie stood uncomfortably, rubbing her wrist.

"Uh—"

"Callista—"

They both started at the same time. Callie stopped herself from laughing and David's mouth widen.

"Ladies' first."

She nodded and looked down at her shoes and mustered a deep breath before looking to his eyes.

David couldn't read her expression. She was stopping herself, he observed.

"I...I still love you." She says, fidgeting. "I know you don't feel the same way. I'm sorry if I keep pushing you into things you didn't want, if I annoyed you o-or made you feel uncomfortable."

David was about to protest but was rendered speechless when Callie held up a finger.

"Let me finish." 

He gulped and nodded.

"The thing is, wh-when you told me you didn't want me multiple times, I kept asking myself why I keep going on when it was clear as day that we don't see halfway." She lets out a shaky breath but continued. "Maybe because I had hope that you'll feel the same way. Ludicrous, isn't it?"

She lets out a humourless laugh as David saw her eyes brim with tears.

"Callie."

"I want us to be friends." She blurted.

There was a pregnant pause hovering between them. It took a good second to process Callie's words in David's head.

"Oh."

David swallowed the lump in his throat. There was a spike of pain in his heart but if it's what Callie wants, then...

"Alright." David agreed, emotionless.

"What did you want to say?" She asks, looking anywhere but him. David's jaw tensed.

'Tell her already! Man up, Walliams.'

"I wanted to say good luck. You need it."

Callie blinked. Disappointment masking her fair face.

"That's it?"

David shook his head, "There's one more."

Callie's eyes had hope. "Yes?"

"The t-thing is...I..don't want us to be friends." He paused and watch the hurt unfurl in Callie's flushed face.

"Wow, good to know, David. Good luck." She simpered before fishing out something in her pocket and throwing it at David's chest, the object falling to the floor.

"I was about to give you one last thing before I go. But obviously, you can throw it away. Bringing it with me wouldn't help my reeling feelings at bay."

"Callie, wait." His pained voice reached her ears. He stepped closer but Callista flinched and he stopped.

He couldn't bring to tell her the truth. David's heart broke and he wanted nothing more than to aid her but he couldn't, fearing that he'd hurt her even more.

"Stop. Just stop. You keep hurting me, David. Maybe leaving is for the best. I was going to change my mind. Maybe deny UNICEF's offer and just finish my tasks here. Somehow, I'm glad I didn't." She furiously wiped her tears away and sniffed.

"What's going on?" Simon piped in, noticing their heated argument. Alesha and Amanda following behind.

"Nothing. Everything is fine, everything is perfect. These are just happy tears."

"Reminding all passengers from flight 4 to please be on board. I repeat, all passengers from flight 4, please be on board." A voice on the intercom announced.

"That's my cue to leave."

"We'll miss you." They hug each other tightly, kissing each other's cheeks all except for David who did nothing but stand.

Callista turned her back to them, sparing one last glance at David as she disappeared from their sight. Minutes later, they watched as the plane took off.

"Amanda and I are leaving, you coming with?" Alesha asked.

Simon pursed his lips, giving them a tight smile. "No, David and I will stay a bit longer. You, girls, go on ahead. We'll see you both on Monday."

Amanda nodded before bidding them farewell. Making sure the girls were out, Simon turned to David.

He leaned down and picked the black and gold bracelet that Callie made for him. Feeling the beads between his thumb and forefinger.

"Dave."

"I messed it up, Simon." He admitted, defeated. "I couldn't tell her. I'm such a coward."

Simon sighed before patting his friend's back. "Everything will eventually fall back in its place, Dave. For now, get some rest."

David nodded timidly before clutching on Callie's bracelet tightly. The two of them exiting the airport and meeting the cold December wind once more.

| PRESENT |

Shame. Regret.

Nothing but utter shame and regret.

David would prefer to stay in a dark cave and never get a chance to see the light of the world again.

The bracelet in his back pocket suddenly feels heavy, reminding him of three years ago.

"Sounds fun, isn't it?" Amanda praised once Callista finished her yarn.

"Did you manage to find a good guy along the way?" Stephen wiggled his eyebrows at Callista's way.

Amanda and Alesha had a teasing smile. "Oh, that's tea."

Callie flushed. "Shut your trap, Steph."

"Ah! So, there is one."

It was more than he can take. David wasn't ready for any of this. He abruptly gathered his blazer and stood up.

"David, where are you going?"

"Home." He answered stiffly before closing the door behind him with a loud thud.