bad timing

five

    "I feel like an idiot." Sam says, frustratedly. "I don't think we have to tell you that you are one. What is it now?" Jake asks, setting his guitar down as Sam looks over at him. They had just finished recording in the studio, and there was something Sam couldn't quite get off his mind. "Same thing it always is." Sam mumbles. Danny sighs, overhearing their conversation, "Alex?" He asks, but he didn't need Sam's confirmation to know that was the answer.

"I can't stop thinking about her. And I know... you guys don't have to tell me how fucking stupid I am." Sam explains, letting out a sigh. "Like, I've liked her on and off for probably ten years, but it usually goes away after a couple weeks. This time it just... isn't."

"How long has it been?" Jake asks, crossing his arms as he looks curiously at his younger brother. "There wasn't really an exact time it started... but maybe, like, a year?" He rubs his forehead. "Oh, damn." Josh exclaims, "I was expecting you to say maybe a month." He says, surprised. "So that's why you flipped out when she kissed me? You were jealous?" Jake raises an eyebrow. Sam nods a little. "Makes sense." Jake says, as if he finally understood.

"Last week, when she came to mom and dads, and we finally made up..." He begins, scrunching his nose, "I almost kissed her. I didn't, but I... I don't know. I really wanted to." "Oh, yeah. Mom told us something was going on with you two." Josh grins. "How the hell did she... Nevermind." Sam shakes his head dismissively. "Do you really think it would be that bad to tell her how you feel?" Danny asks.

"What if she rejects me? What if it just makes everything awkward, and we can never be friends again? Or what if... what if she does like me, and I end up hurting her?" Sam shuts his eyes momentarily, "I can't hurt her any more than I have. She doesn't deserve any more pain than she's been through." "You're in love with her, little bro." Josh pats his shoulder, "Just tell her. She's not the type to stop talking to you forever if she finds out you like her."

"You really think I should?" Sam asks, looking at all of them. "Yeah, we'd love to have her as a sister in law." Josh teases, grinning. "Oh, shut up." Sam laughs, then looks down, deciding how he would tell her.