HEY GUYS! So I know weekends almost over...well over here anyway, but for the first time in ages I HAVE A CHAPTER!!!!! =D Oh and Zandra I will most certainly pray for your family and everyone being evacuated, hurricanes are not cool. Oo Chanel cool your a junior, I'm a junior as well!! At least I think, is that year 11? We don't really have those terms here hehe. Anywhoooo I guess I should just get to the chapter, its been ages since I've posted so if you need to re read the last chapter, I totally understand ahaha. =]
Ch 17
*Gemma’s POV*
I had received two more gifts from Joe over the last week, a mix CD with all our favourite songs on it, including an edited section of please be mine at the end. Plus a picture, of Joe and me, the night before the tour. He’d taken the picture so we could ‘remember the good times’ if things got hard. It took me this long to realize I’d never looked at the picture, especially when times did get hard. I never saw my smiling face as Joe kissed my cheek, the camera angle slightly weird as his hand moved when he kissed me, and again on the back the next verse of song lyrics.
I’d framed the picture and it was sitting next to my bed, a constant reminder of the good times, the times that I missed and wasn’t sure I would get back. The break with Liam was the best thing that had ever happened to me, but…I didn’t know what to do about Joe. I wasn’t sure if I should see him, or call him, I was more confused than ever. I got off my bed and went downstairs to find something to eat, even though we’d had dinner only an hour ago. I walked into the kitchen and found my sister sitting at the kitchen bench.
“Hey Ariel, what are you doin?” I asked my little sister as she gave me a big grin.
“Colouring.” She said, and held up a brightly crayoned piece of paper.
“Uh…that looks really good.” I told her, with a smile. She smiled brightly back, before picking up an orange crayon and fiercely ran it over the purple scribble. I opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water as well as an apple.
“Have fun colouring.” I said to her as I left the kitchen and walked into the tv room. I sat down on the couch and flipped through channels, while biting my apple. I settled on a re run of Project Runway and watched without any real interest. Halfway through the show I heard a knock on the front door.
“I’ll get it!” I called out, putting my apple down and I walked to the front door, but before I could open it I saw a piece of paper slip under it. I bent over and picked it up curiously, turning over the white sheet.
‘But I’ll be there forever and you will see that it’s better
All our hopes and our dreams will come true
I will not disappoint you, I will be right there for you
Till the end, the end of time…’
The lyrics stopped there, I could hardly breathe, as the door knocked again. I stared at the door, my heart was pounding as my hands shook reaching for the door handle. I slowly turned it, knowing who was waiting outside. I opened the door and froze. Joe was standing in front of me, holding a light green tiffany’s box. Without speaking he opened the box, and I gasped, seeing the silver charm bracelet, with a little love heart charm with the words ‘Please be mine’ engraved on it.
I looked up at Joe, tears springing in my eyes.
“Please…” He said quietly. ‘Please be mine?”
This was the guy I wanted to be with, the perfect man, the hopeless romantic and the love of my life.
“Always.” I said softly, our lips were together within a second, I could feel his smile against mine. Liam was my past, it was over between us, but Joe…he was my forever.
- - -
*Nicks POV*
I walked back inside after the end of shooting, in search of Alexis. The extras were clearing out, and I could see people putting equipment up for a photo shoot, promotional shots for the campaign.
I’d hardly gotten halfway across the ballroom when someone called out to me.
“Nick, they want you to go back to your dressing room and get some touch ups before they start taking photo’s.”
“Sure, uh…have you seen Alexis?” I asked hopefully. The guys just shook his head, before walking off to direct extras out.
I walked back to my dressing room and spent half an hour getting ready for the photo shoot. This was it, I could feel it…I had to tell her how I felt. I mean after a kiss like that, a moment like that…how could I not. It was so obvious, I love her.
“Alright, you’re done.” A makeup artist told me.
“Thanks.” I said, quickly walking out. Maybe I could catch her before we started the shoot. No luck.
I walked into the ballroom and she was already getting positioned in the centre, she noticed me and gave a small smile. I smiled back, just transfixed by her beauty.
“Over here nick, you stand here, staring down at her. While you, Alexis stare at the camera. Alright let’s take a few shots like this.” Brett the photographer said after positioning me standing next to her, he walked back to the camera. A few people ran over and smoothed out Alexis’ hair & dress, giving her a bit more blush and fixing my curls. There was no privacy, no chance to tell her anything.
“Ok, you ready, yes that’s perfect.” Said Brett, the camera clicked away. I looked down at Alexis, her angelic face.
“Place your arm around her waist!” Brett called out; I obeyed and slid my right arm around the front of her waist. I felt her move slightly when I touched her.
We held our position for the next few minutes, before Brett came over again and moved us around.
“Alright, so now just stare at each other, Alexis place your arms on Nick’s chest; yep like that…hands around her waist Nick, you guys got it!” He moved away as we stared into each others eyes. Something wasn’t right; I looked into her eyes, and saw confusion.
“Is something wrong?” I asked her quickly before Brett started up again. No one else would have noticed her slight hesitation before answering, it was hardly noticeable, but I noticed, I noticed everything about her.
“No, everything’s fine.” She said, trying to sound convincing, giving me a smile. But I saw through it…something wasn’t right. She was confused and unsure…but about what?
I had little time to wonder as Brett yelled out constant instructions. We did the rest of the shoot in silence, moving positions every few minutes for the next hour.
“Alright, go get changed, nice work guys.” Brett said, giving us a large smile as everyone started packing up.
Before I could even talk to Alexis, people had led her back to her dressing room. When was I ever going to be able to tell her?
*Alexis’ POV*
I quickly walked back to my dressing room, and slowly changed. Maybe he would leave before I finished, I hoped.
I felt it, in that kiss. I felt the love I had for him, the love that was hidden in my heart, in that one kiss it had erupted so passionately I couldn’t deny it. I love Nick, I really do…but I don’t want too.
Ever since I was little I had the constant reminders that love means nothing. All it does is cause pain, who wants to be in love when it will just end badly and me of all people…the most unloved. No one loved me, and if they did…it wouldn’t last it would just end in pain.
I wiped away a tear before anyone could see it, as I undressed and put on my black skinny jeans and red shirt. I sat down and let my hair dresser undo my hair, leaving it in long waves. I’d take my makeup off later. I stood up and thanked everyone in the room, makeup artists, hairdressers and stylists, and then I picked up my purse and left the dressing room. I paused in the hallway, expecting to see him leaning against the wall waiting for me…but he wasn’t there.
I breathed in relieved, as I walked back through the ballroom; I was almost at the front doors when I saw Nick step out from the shadow of a column.
I stopped in my path, as Nick walked up to me.
“Hey.” Was all he said, as he looked at me.
“Hi.” I replied, just as short. I saw him breathe in; his fingers ran through his hair.
“Look, Alexis…today was…something.”
“Nick…” I started.
“Wait, I just really need to get this out.” Nick said to make sure I didn’t interrupt. I just swallowed and stared at him.
“That kiss Alexis, was the best thing that happened to us.” He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “You know a few weeks ago I was confused, like really confused because…I realized that I liked you, more than just as a best friend.” Again, his fingers ran through his hair. “I didn’t know what to do, how to act around you, I tried to brush it off, forget about it, but I couldn’t.” I didn’t want to hear this, I couldn’t hear this, but I was frozen. “Then today all my feelings, everything became more than clear, and I know you felt it too.” He stopped talking, and then came close to me.
“Alexis, what I’m trying to say is that…I love you.” I didn’t know what to do.
I tore my eyes away from his, staring at the marble floor, trying to figure out what to say, how to tell him…that I didn’t want to love him. How do I say everything I felt without hurting him? It wouldn’t work.
“Nick..” I said finally looking up at him. “I-I…I don’t love you.” I responded, lying. Nick’s face clouded with confusion. I continued.
“You’re my best friend, I don’t want things to be weird between us…it’s just that-”
“Alex, I know you felt it too. How can you stand here and tell me you don’t love me?” He asked me.
“Nick, we were acting!”
“No, you weren’t! You can’t fake how you feel!” He said loudly, staring into my eyes. I could see the pain.
“STOP IT NICK!” I yelled out.
“Stop what? LOVING YOU?!” He yelled back.
“Nick! You have to listen to me, I don’t feel the same! OK! I don’t feel the same, I don’t love you!! Stop trying to force me to love you, when I don’t.” I could feel tears falling down my cheeks.
“So it didn’t mean anything? The kiss, how you looked at me? NOTHING? It meant ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO YOU?!” I shrank back from his anger.
“NO, that is NOT what I’m saying. You’re my best friend, but I DON’T feel the same way you do.” I said loudly. He just shook his head, suddenly going quiet.
“You know, I thought we told each other the truth, that there were no lies and no secrets between us. I tell you I love you, knowing you feel exactly the same…and you lie to my face, you cover the truth. How can I even be friends with someone who can’t be honest with me?” He stepped back, upset. “More so, how can I love someone who won’t love me back?” I saw him look down away from me. I hugged myself tightly, feeling my tears fall.
“You win Alexis; you didn’t want me…now you don’t have me.” He said quietly, his eyes filled with hurt, pain and anger. He took a last look at me, then turned around and walked away. I stood fixed in my spot, tears still running down my face, watching him walk away from me. I didn’t know what to do, it was right then, as he turned the corner out of my sight, that I realized I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.
That was it, the end…no fairytale, just two broken hearts.
WHOAAA, so what do you think? Hehe happy and sad all rolled into one, with one HECKA spoonful of emotion. Anywhooo bio and chem are unfortunately calling me! So comment and I hope you all have an awesome night, and have fun at school with your new school years if your in the states, otherwise hope if your in Aus. that you enjoy the last few weeks of this term =] Stay super cool!
<33 Rebecca
