The Sound Of Music (92sies Cast/Little Women crossover fanfic)

Chapter 13: A Confession, College in Europe, and New York

A month had gone by since Melanie and Michael's wedding. It was the middle of June in 1995. Victoria and Christian were walking around in their old neighborhood for some fresh air and to catch up. The two stopped and sat down an old tree they used to stop at when they would go on walks on their days off from Newsies when they were teenagers.

"Now, you definitely need to have a long stay this time, Christian," Victoria said.
"I really hope I do," he said as he looked at Victoria lovingly.

What Victoria didn't know until she began figuring out at Melanie and Michael's wedding was that Christian had been in love with her for a while. She had a feeling that he would admit his feelings for her at any minute.

"No, Chris. Please don't," Victoria said calmly.
"I will, and you have to hear me. It's no use, Vic. We've got to have it out. The sooner the better for the both of us," the twenty one year old said.
"Say whatever you want. I'll listen," she said with a sigh.
"I've loved you ever since I've known you, Vic. I couldn't help it. You've been so good to me. I've tried to show it, but you wouldn't let me. Now, I'm going to make you hear it and give me an answer. I can't go on any longer like this," Christian said.

Christian leaned in to kiss her. Victoria couldn't help but quickly pull away as he got closer and put a finger to his lips.

"I wanted to save you from this. I thought you'd understand," Victoria began before being stopped by Christian.
"I know you did, but girls are so odd. You never know what they mean. They say 'no' when they mean 'yes' and drive a man out of his wits just for the fun of it. I've worked hard to make you happy. I gave up everything you didn't like and waited and never complained because I hoped you'd love me, though I'm not half good enough," Christian said.

Victoria hesitated and thought about what she wanted to say to spare Christian's feelings.

"Yes, you are. You're definitely too good for me, and I'm so grateful to you and so proud of you. I don't see why I...I can't love you as you want me to," Victoria said.
"You can't," Christian asked sadly.
"I've tried, but I can't change the feeling, and it would be a lie to say I do when I don't. I'm so sorry, Chris. So desperately sorry. But I can't help it," Victoria answered helplessly.
"I can't love anyone else," he said.
"It would be a disaster if we dated, got engaged, and got married! We'd be miserable. We both can't control our tempers," Victoria said.
"I can, unless annoyed. If you loved me, Vic, I'd be a perfect saint," he told her.
"I can't! I've tried it and failed," she said.
"Everyone expects it! My father and your family! Vic, say you will and let's be happy," Christian said.

Victoria couldn't help but shake her head and sigh deeply.

"I can't say 'yes' truly, so I won't say it at all. You'll see that I'm right, eventually, and you'll thank me for it,"  the twenty one year old said.
"I'll be dead if I do," Christian said.
"You'll find some wonderful, talented woman, who will adore you and make a perfect wife. I wouldn't. I'm homely and awkward and weird," Victoria said before being cut off by her best friend.
"I love you, Vic," Christian said.
"And you'd be ashamed of me," she continued before being cut off again.
"I love you, Vic," Christian said hopelessly.
"And we would only fight. We can't even help it now! I'd hate being in the limelight, and you'd hate my writing. We would be unhappy and wish we hadn't done it. It would all be awful and blow up in our faces," she told him.
"Anything else," Christian asked.
"Nothing, except I don't think I'll ever fall in love and get married. It's not my thing right now, Chris. I'm happy as I am being single, and I'm not ready to give that life up just yet," Victoria replied.
"You will care for somebody, and you'll love him madly. And you'll live and die for him. I know you will. It's your way, and you will. And I'll stand by and watch," he said glumly as he got up and walked away in sorrow.

Victoria sat under the tree and watched Christian walk further away. Tears began falling down her cheeks out of fear of losing her closest friend. She decided to head home and tell Isabella and Gianna about how Christian confessed his love for her and how she rejected him. When Victoria walked inside, she heard noise in the kitchen and found Melanie, Isabella, and Gianna talking.

"Hey, Vic. I just stopped by to get some more of my stuff and Bella and Gia told me that you were on a walk with Christian," Melanie said.
"Yeah, what about it," she asked glumly.

"Is everything okay between you and Christian? You seem upset," Isabella said.
"Oh, nothing, except the fact that I most likely ruined my friendship with Christian because I don't love him the way he loves me. He's had a thing for me since we did Newsies in 1991! Who knew? I turned him down because it felt like I would be dating my brother since he and I are so close. It just wouldn't have felt right and wouldn't have worked out," Victoria said.

"Are you crazy? You seriously turned down Christian," Gianna asked.
"Gia, I'm just not ready to be in a relationship. I'm quite happy with being single right now," Victoria answered.

"Maybe you could take a trip somewhere for a day or two or however long you need to clear your mind and do some self discovery," Melanie said.
"That's a great idea," Victoria said.

"You could go to Europe or something. I don't know," Isabella said.

"Europe! That's perfect! I could try to apply to college there and major in something that has to do with writing," Victoria said.

"Actually, I'm going to college in Europe to study art in France for a year or two and in Italy for a year," Gianna said.
"Europe? You? Why? You've always known that I wanted to go to Europe," Victoria said.
"Well, I can't help it that I applied for an art college in France and got in," Gianna said.

"You could go to New York. I've heard that some of the most famous writers lived in New York," Melanie said.
"New York! That sounds great, Mel," Victoria said.
"I'm glad I could help," she said.

Things were starting to look better for Victoria. She and Gianna couldn't believe who they would run into in Europe and New York. The four sisters could never what would happen in the next few years.