A Summer Musical

🎶 Chapter 13 - First & Last Kiss Doubts

Carlos' POV

Ashlyn had invited me over to her house to show me something she was working on. I had just gotten back into town, but she had mentioned it was for the musical, and I decided to go anyways. It was around 4, so I'd have plenty of time to see Seb and rest.

"Come on in." Ashlyn smiled as we walked to her bedroom and sat on her bed. She picked up her notebook.

"So what's up?"

"I wrote this song, and I kinda wanted to run it by you. It's for the musical, and, um... I just wanted to talk." She started.

"Alright."

"Um... here goes nothing." She said, turning on a backing track and starting to sing.

"Wow, that's... amazing." I grinned.

"Think so?"

"Yes. But I don't know if it fits with the rest..."

"I was nervous it wouldn't, but it kinda... poured out of me." She said, picking at the edge of her notebook. "We don't have to keep it in. It just kinda... exists."

"We could probably work it in, it's really good."

"Thanks." She smiled. "But then again, it's fine if we can't. I think singing a break up song opposite my boyfriend might be a little..."

"Awkward?"

"Yeah, but honestly... painful?"

"I can see that." I nodded.

"I think we're this close to breaking up."

"What? No way he's gonna break up with you."

"It's just all so complicated." She sighed. "I don't think he forgave me, as much as he said he did."

"I'm not really following, is there a full story?" I asked. She told me everything that had happened between her and Big Red the day before. "But why wouldn't he forgive you?"

"I just... it worries me. I hold grudges. But he doesn't. So I don't wanna be the girl who gives him nothing and hurts him over and over again, and if he makes one wrong move I get overly mad. I don't wanna be the reason we can't work out."

"Come on, Ash, it was one time. I'm pretty stubborn to, but when it comes to people we love, things work out when they need to."

"Yeah, how's it been with Seb lately?" She asked.

"Don't change the subject like that."

"I'm done." She laughed. "I didn't invite you over for me to vent about my boy issues."

"Then why should I vent about my boy issues?"

"Do you have boy 'issues,' Carlos?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe?" I wondered. "I haven't seen him since I got back, I'm gonna go talk to him when I leave. We didn't talk much while I was gone. I'm sure he was busy or thought I was, but it raises the question of if we would fail at long distance."

"Why would you need to do long distance?"

"Different colleges. Anything else. I just love him."

"Same."

"Seb?"

"No, Big Red. Well, yes, Seb's the best." She laughed. "Don't go being scared about your relationship. Talk to him."

"You too."

"I did."

"Enough?" I asked.

"I don't know." She groaned.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes. "Oh!" I pulled out my ringing phone. "It's Seb." The contact popping up on my phone made me beam.

"Answer it." She grinned.

"Hey Sebby, what's up?"

"Hey Los. Not much, when are you back in town?"

"Oh, right, I'm at Ash's right now. I was gonna call you when I left." I told him.

"You skipped me?" He faked a pout. "Musical?"

"Musical." I confirmed. "Coffee in an hour?"

"Sounds good. Love you."

"Love you too. Talk to you later."

"Bye!" He hung up.

"Drifting apart?" Ashlyn laughed.

"Okay, maybe I exaggerated. He's just so... ugh. Wonderful. Adorable."

"Go get ready." She pushed me off the bed.

"Rude."

"Yeah, yeah, it's rude to want your friend to go have fun." She rolled her eyes. "Bye."

"Bye." I laughed as I left the room and drove away.

EJ's POV

I had invited Gina for coffee. It was as close as I could get to asking her out right now. I was too nervous to actually ask her out. She had opened up, and she didn't seem ready for dating right now. I knew I might as well ask her out and let her decide, but as much as I was working on myself, I was still insecure about getting a 'no' from her if I did.

Gina's beautiful laugh distracted me, hardly realizing what she was saying before snapping into reality.

"Huh?" I asked.

"Seb and Carlos are here."

"Oh, guess they're on a date." I shrugged.

"Yeah, this seems to be a pretty good place for a date." She said. I made a mental note in case I ever needed a date idea with Gina.

"Mhm." I agreed. "So how have you been?"

"EJ, you asked me that 5 minutes ago."

"Sorry."

"Is EJ Caswell being awkward?" She laughed.

"It's not my fault." I protested.

"Then who's is it?" She smirked.

"Shut up Porter."

"Nope." She shook her head. "If you're being awkward somethings up?"

"Everyone can be awkward sometimes."

"Yeah, but you're doing an awful job denying it."

"Very true." I admitted. "But I have a feeling if we change the subject I can be normal again."

"Only because I like self confident EJ."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." She smiled.

I couldn't help it.

I leaned in. Maybe I could have waited for a better spot to kiss than in the middle of a coffee shop, but the moment felt right. I just had to hope if felt right for Gina, too.

I stopped leaning, because I didn't want to stretch myself over the entire table to give Gina a kiss she wasn't ready for. Plus, it would be her first kiss, and if she didn't like me, it would be a pretty bad first kiss.

Luckily, she filled in the rest of the space as our lips touched. We pulled apart a few seconds later. "So, a pretty good place for a date, isn't it?" I spoke.

"EJ..."

"Too early?" I asked.

"What? No. I was saying that I liked it, and I like you."

"Okay, that's better. I agree. I like you, Gina." I smiled. She smiled back.

"Yeah, great spot for a date." She repeated.