A Summer Musical

🎶 Chapter 22 - Love 🎶

EJ's POV

I was dreading talking to Gina. She wasn't about to tell me she loved me, it was clear she didn't. So what would she say instead? It's not like I wanted to ignore her after it happened, but what was I supposed to do?

The time came for us to talk though, and Gina awkwardly settled inside. We sat on the couch, about a foot apart, both looking nervous.

"So... I just wanted to clear this up." She started. I nodded. "I'm not there yet. And I'm not sorry. I'm sorry we aren't on the same page, but we just... aren't."

"What does that mean for us?"

"Whatever you want it to mean. I'm... I don't let my guard down easily, right?"

"Right." I nodded again.

"So this might take me some time, getting used to us. Really falling in love." She continued. I nodded, which seemed to be the only thing I was doing. "And if you want someone who does love you, right now, then you can go find them. I won't stop you... but I hope you don't. I think we can make this work. Because I want to love you. I think I will. I just... don't."

"Why?"

"I don't know. It takes longer for me to get close to people." She said, then paused. "I wish it didn't. If you're willing to give it time... I don't want this to be why we break up. Wouldn't want a Nini-Ricky situation. I'm not scared of saying it. I'm ready to, when I really mean it. And I don't yet, and I want to be sure I do. Does this make any sense?"

"Yeah."

"So... it's your choice. If you're comfortable with it, we can take it slow. I'll tell you when I do love you. And I really think I will. If you aren't comfortable with it, I'm sorry. I'm not gonna pretend I do. If you aren't okay with it, we aren't compatible in the first place."

"Gina Porter, that is one of the most attractive things I have ever heard."

"Why?" She let out a small laugh.

"Everything you said was worded so well. And, I mean, I like someone who stands up for themselves and what they believe in. And you're right."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." I confirmed. "I won't shower you with 'I love you's, but I do. And I definitely think we're compatible. And I get going slow. I just can't help loving you... but, again, compatible. If you need some time that's okay."

"I'm not just leading you on, I promise."

"I don't think you are." I scooted closer to her, filling in the large gap between us. Then I leaned in and connected our lips, smiling.

Howie's POV

I was stuck out of state, but I was in desperate need of talking to Kourtney. I had realized lots of things once I left Salt Lake. They were things that shouldn't have been said over the phone, but I didn't have much of a choice. I called her around 4:30 one day.

"Hey, what's up?" She asked once she had picked up.

"Uh, I kinda think we need to talk." I cleared my throat.

"Oh?"

"Yeah." I said as confidentially as I could manage.

"I think so too."

"Oh, uh, really?" I asked, taken aback. Was this a bad thing?

"Yeah."

"You go first."

"Um..." she trailed off. "Just wanted to say I missed you. When do you come back again?"

"Monday, next week."

"Alright... so, what's your thing?"

"Um, same." I lied. "I missed you."

"I'll see you in... 5 days."

"I'll call you later babe." I said, the nickname slipping out. She must have not noticed.

"Mkay. Bye."

The next few days felt extremely slow. My family's plane flight home was full of anticipation. I had so much to talk about with Kourtney. I finally made it, though, and went to Salt Lake Slices. Big Red and Kourtney were both working. EJ, Gina, and Ashlyn were in a booth together as well.

"Hey." Big Red waved, wiping down a table. There was hardly anyone there, since it was around 9 at night.

"Hey."

"How was your trip?"

"It was good, thanks. Hey, uh, where's Kourtney?"

"I'll go tell her you're here." He said, before leaving to get her. I walked over to the rest of my friends.

"Hey."

"You're back!"

"Yeah. What are you guys up to?" I asked.

"Not much." Gina shrugged.

"Yeah. We were talking about this musical, but... drifted way off topic awhile ago." Ashlyn explained.

"Yeah, how's it going?"

"Not great." EJ said. "There's been a lot of... personal distractions."

"Yeah, but we'll get it together." Ashlyn encouraged. "Probably. Either way, it's fun." She turned and paused. She turned back to me. "She's here."

"Great!" I turned around and saw Kourtney. I walked over, hugging her. She hugged me back. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"And... can we talk?" I asked.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Let's go outside."

"Be back in a bit!" I called to the others. I noticed Big Red had officially been dragged from working to sitting beside Ashlyn. We sat outside, on a bench.

"What is it?"

"Well... I have two things, actually."

"I have one."

"You can go first." I said, nervous.

"You go first. We'll take turns or something." She said, looking nervous as well.

"I'm... I..." I took a deep breath. It was Kourtney. Beautiful, perfect Kourtney. "I'm bisexual."

"Okay." She connected our hands. "I'm glad you could tell me."

"That's it?"

"Unless you want me to say more. Or want to say more yourself."

"No." I shook my head. "No, that's good."

"I'm proud of you."

"Thanks." I said, a weight being lifted from my chest. "And, you know, that being said, I only have eyes for you."

"I only have eyes for you. It's gonna be that way..." her eyes flickered to his lips. "For a while..." both silent, they eventually gave in and connected their lips. She pulled back after a few seconds. "I love you."

"Oh, wow... I love you too." He smiled lightly.

"So... that was my thing." She laughed under her breath. "What was your other thing, that you needed to talk about?"

"The same thing. I love you."

"I like hearing that."

"I like saying it."

"I like saying it too."

"I like hearing it, too." Howie smiled.