Stuck with you (BWWM)

Chapter 17

"Ben and I stood in the dressing room, the echoes of our final performance still reverberating in the air. He looked at me, his expression a mixture of curiosity and uncertainty.

"So what's next?" he asked, his voice soft.

I shrugged, trying to shake off the residual emotions of the evening. "What do you mean?"

He leaned against the makeup counter, his gaze thoughtful. "I mean, I've never opened or closed a musical before. What's the usual routine?"

I thought for a moment, trying to recall the usual post-show routine. "Well, usually the cast just says their goodbyes and goes their separate ways. It's kind of bittersweet, you know?"

He nodded, his eyes distant. "Yeah, I get that."

"But," I continued, a teasing glint in my eye, "during the bow, you were going to say something. You were about to open your mouth, and then you didn't. What was that about?"

He looked momentarily taken aback, as if he hadn't expected me to notice. "Oh, that? It was nothing, really. Just... something that crossed my mind."

I raised an eyebrow, not letting him off the hook so easily. "Come on, Ben. You can't just drop a half-confession like that and expect me not to be curious."

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Alright, fair enough."

I turned as if I was going to leave, but then I paused and looked back at him with a mischievous grin. "You know what? Wait."

He tilted his head, clearly surprised by the change in direction. "Wait? For what?"

I took a step closer, my heart racing. "Wait for me to hear what you were going to say."

His eyes widened slightly, his expression caught between surprise and realization. And then, just like that, he started speaking, his words pouring out with a raw and genuine emotion that I hadn't expected.
Look, Gabi, you and I, we've been through a lot together. From the first time we met, something changed in me. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but now I know."

I felt my heart skip a beat as I listened to him, his words resonating deep within me.

"I ain't no smooth talker, that's for sure. I stumble over my words, and I've messed up more times than I can count. But there's something real here, something I can't just ignore."

He paused, his gaze locked onto mine. His vulnerability was palpable, and it sent shivers down my spine.

"I'm not one to spill my guts out, but fuck it, here I am, trying to put it all out there. You're not like anyone I've ever met, and yeah, it scares the hell out of me. But it's a good kind of fear, the kind that makes you realize you're onto something special."

I swallowed hard, my breath catching in my throat. Every word he spoke was like a puzzle piece falling into place, revealing a picture I had never dared to imagine.

"I ain't saying it's all been perfect. I've made mistakes, I've been a jerk, and I know I've hurt you. But through it all, you've been there, holding your ground. You've seen something in me, even when I couldn't see it myself."

His eyes bore into mine, his sincerity unshakable. And then, he said the words that shattered any doubt or uncertainty that had remained.

"So, damn it, I'm gonna say it. Gabi, I love you. Okay, I love Gabriella Saintpatrick. It's not some bull crap or a line I'm throwing out there. It's real, and it's messy, just like me. You've shown me a side of life that I never thought I'd be a part of."

His voice wavered just slightly, his emotions laid bare for me to see.

"I'm not gonna pressure you or expect anything in return. I just needed you to know, to hear it from me. 'Cause maybe, in between the chaos and the drama, there's something here worth fighting for. That night when we weee in your room, you showed me the song and said I love you to me I was scared, fuck it, I was terrified, but I'm not anymore."

My eyes welled up with tears as his words washed over me, a tidal wave of feelings I hadn't allowed myself to acknowledge.

"So, Gabi, I'm saying it loud and clear-I love you. I love you since the first day I'd met you in 1st grade when you shared your crayons with me, I love when I first heard you play the piano and made a song about butterflies. I love your eyes, I love your long black hair, I love your laugh, goddammit, I love your laugh. I love you on your good days, I love you on your bad days, I love everything about you. No more holding back, no more trying to play it cool. Just the truth, raw and real. Fuck it, I'll do another musical just for you."

I blinked away tears, my heart pounding in my chest as the weight of his confession settled over us.

"I get to pick the musical, not you," I said, my voice catching just slightly.

He looked momentarily puzzled, but then a slow smile spread across his face. "You know what? Fine, cool with me."

My smile matched his as I took a step closer, my heart swelling with a newfound certainty. "If you don't love me, that's okay. But I just want you to know that I love you. Even if you don't, it's worth it. You are worth it."

As Ben's heartfelt words hung in the air, I felt my heart swell with a mixture of emotions. It was as if time had slowed down, and the weight of his confession lingered between us. The sincerity in his eyes, the vulnerability in his voice-it was all too much to ignore.

And then, before I even knew what I was doing, our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. It was a kiss that spoke volumes, a kiss that held all the unspoken feelings we had kept hidden for so long. As our lips pressed together, it was as if the world around us faded away, leaving only the warmth of the moment.

My fingers instinctively tangled in the strands of his hair, pulling him closer as if I couldn't get enough of his closeness. Every touch, every brush of our lips, sent a shiver down my spine. It was a kiss that held years of friendship, of shared moments, and now, of a love that had finally found its voice.

We kissed for what felt like an eternity, lost in the sensation of being so close to each other. It was a kiss that held promises of a new beginning, of taking a chance on something that felt right. As we finally pulled away, our breaths mingling, I looked into his eyes-eyes that were filled with hope, fear, and an unspoken question.

I couldn't help but smile, a mixture of emotions dancing in my chest. "Ben," I whispered, my voice filled with a newfound sense of clarity. "I love you too."

We kissed again his hands on my waist my hands laying on his shoulders he looked at each other our noises together

As we looked into each other's eyes, a shy smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Ben's question hung in the air, his uncertainty endearing. "So does that mean you're my girlfriend again?" he asked, his voice soft.

I nodded, my heart racing with a mixture of excitement and happiness. "Yeah," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

And then, as if an unspoken agreement had been made, we both leaned in, our noses touching lightly before our lips found each other in a sweet, gentle kiss. It was a simple yet powerful confirmation of what we both felt - that we were in this together once more. As we pulled away, my heart swelled with affection and a sense of rightness.

We hugged tightly, our embrace saying everything that words couldn't. In that moment, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we were facing them together. And as we held each other, I felt a deep sense of contentment, as if I had finally found my missing piece.

I got my person back