Backstage Pass

The Official Question

The evening had settled in, and each of the girls decided it was time to address the situation with their respective partners. One by one, they made their way to their partners' places to have the conversations they had been contemplating.

Mia at Kane's Place:

Mia arrived at Kane’s apartment, her heart fluttering with nervous anticipation. The apartment was dimly lit, the warm glow from the lamps casting a soft light over the cozy space. Kane was lounging on the couch, playing a video game. Mia took a deep breath and approached him.

“Hey, Kane, can we talk for a minute?” she asked, her voice steady but with a hint of anxiety.

Kane paused the game and looked up. “Sure, what’s up?”

Mia sat down beside him, her fingers nervously fidgeting. “I’ve been thinking... we’ve been seeing each other for a while now, but you’ve never asked me to be your girlfriend. I mean, aren’t we like dating?”

Kane raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “But we are dating, Mia. I thought we were good.”

Mia nodded, trying to articulate her thoughts clearly. “We are, but it just feels like it’s never been officially defined. It’s kind of been on my mind lately.”

Kane considered her words, his expression thoughtful. “I guess I never really thought about it like that. Maybe I just assumed things were clear. I didn’t realize you needed that formal step. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncertain.”

Mia gave a small, relieved smile. “It’s okay. I just needed to know where we stand.”

Kane reached out and took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Well, if it helps, I’m definitely all in. I want us to be together, officially.”

Lexi at Jax's Place:

Meanwhile, Lexi had arrived at Jax’s apartment. It was a minimalist space with a few personal touches, reflecting Jax’s laid-back personality. Lexi sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers nervously tracing patterns on her phone case.

Jax walked in, looking curious. “Hey, what’s on your mind?”

Lexi took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about what Harper said. We’ve been together for a while, but you never asked me to be your girlfriend. Why is that?”

Jax looked taken aback. “I thought we were just naturally progressing. I didn’t realize it was a big deal.”

Lexi nodded. “It is a bit. I want to be clear about where we stand.”

Jax sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I get it. I didn’t mean to make you feel unsure. Let’s make it official then. You’re my girlfriend, if that’s what you want.”

Lexi’s face lit up with a smile. “Yes, that’s exactly what I wanted.”

Ava at Ryan's Place:

Ava went to Ryan’s place, which was filled with memorabilia from his music career. She found him in his living room, lounging with a book in hand.

Ava took a seat next to him, trying to sound casual. “Ryan, can we talk about something?”

Ryan closed his book and looked at her. “Sure, what’s up?”

Ava gathered her thoughts. “I’ve been thinking about how we’ve never had that official conversation about being boyfriend and girlfriend. Why haven’t you asked me?”

Ryan looked thoughtful, then shrugged. “I guess I never felt it was necessary. We’re comfortable and happy, aren’t we?”

Ava nodded. “We are, but I think it would mean a lot to me to have that formal commitment.”

Ryan took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Okay, if that’s important to you, then let’s make it official. I want you to be my girlfriend.”

Ava smiled, feeling a wave of relief and happiness. “Thank you, Ryan.”

Harper and Drew’s Place:

Back at Harper’s place, she was alone with Drew, who was lounging on the sofa with a guitar in hand. Harper took a deep breath, determined to address her concerns.

“Drew, I need to ask you something,” she began, her tone serious.

Drew set down his guitar, looking attentive. “Sure, what’s up?”

Harper sat down next to him. “I asked you to be my boyfriend because I didn’t want to wait around for you to do it. Why haven’t you and the guys made things official with your girlfriends?”

Drew looked slightly embarrassed. “I didn’t realize it was a group thing. I thought it was more about personal timing. I guess I didn’t think it was a big deal.”

Harper sighed. “It’s a big deal to us. I think it’s important to show commitment.”

Drew nodded, understanding her perspective. “You’re right. I should have done it sooner. I’m glad you took the lead. It’s something I need to address with the guys.”

Harper gave a satisfied nod. “Thanks for understanding, Drew.”