Just another love story [BeforeYou Exit Fan Fic]

Talk to Me

I was seriously ready for this party to be over. I mean- yeah the party is for the band and I but I really just want to spend some one-on-one time with the people I really care about before I leave with the guys. Like Dani. I won't see her for a while once tour starts up and I feel like I've barely seen her all day. I had been talking with her and a few other girls earlier but she left in the middle of the conversation and I'm not sure why. She seemed pretty upset and I wanted to know if anything was wrong but she disappeared into the crowd.

I was finally wrapping up my conversation with the girls and they asked for pictures, which I wasn't going to deny them. I wrapped my arms around each of them as the pictures were being taken when I saw Dani walking out and over to get a drink. I started pulling away from the blondie that was practically all over me when she pulled me back into her, "Riley, I have a question," she said in a light and dainty voice, "do you have a girlfriend!?" I'm sure she wanted to know for herself and I calmly shook my head no. Her lips curled up into a soft smile and then said "then you won't mind if I do this...?" In one swift movement, her lips were pressed and locked onto mine. I didn't expect it at all, but it was a nice kiss. I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her back. We pulled away from each other and her cheeks went completely red and I just smirked at her. I didn't mind kissing her one bit until I looked up to see that Dani witnessed the whole thing. She seemed upset and that was the last thing I wanted her to be and I obviously needed to talk to her.

"Umm...excuse me for one moment," I said to Brittney. She seemed hurt but it didn't bother me as much as seeing Dani upset. I lightly pushed her aside and made my way to Dani, who was already storming towards the house. "Dani!" I called after her, but she wasn't responding, "Dani, are you okay?"

She spun on her heels and faced me, tears in her eyes, "No, Riley. I'm not okay. So just leave me alone, okay?" She turned back around and I wasn't about to let her go that easily.

"Dani, please..." I pleaded. I wanted to know what was going on and why that kiss bothered her so much. I thought we had established the fact that there was nothing between us and the kisses we had shared before didn't mean anything. And I knew for a fact that I felt nothing, she even said so herself that she didn't feel anything. I also know that the kiss I shared with Brittney meant nothing either, and it was just something that happened in the moment.

She kept moving forward and yelled back to me,"why do you care!?" She still refused to face me.

"Because I'm your best friend..."

"Exactly, and that's all I will ever be to you. A friend." She gave up in trying to get away from me and sat on a bench next to the house, away from everyone else. I sat next to her and her eyes were fixated on the grass below.

"Can we talk...?" I wrapped my arm around her and she rested her head on my shoulder. "What's bothering you...?" I felt her shoulders shrug and she was holding back from me. Usually it's not this hard to get through to her, and she would almost instantly tell me whats bothering her. I always want to be there to help her when she needs me but I can only do so much if she doesn't let me know. "Dani... I'm gonna miss you..." I whispered. It's true. I know for a fact that not being able to see her everyday or spend time with her is going to be weird and different, but things will go right back to being the way they were when I get back. I want to reassure her that nothing will change just because I'm going to be away for a while. I'm not going to come back a whole new person, and hopefully she will be the same cheeky, bubbly, and over-dramatic best friend that I've known her to be.

Just as I was about to let her know all of this, Dani had buried her face into my chest and held me tight, sobbing softly. It reminded me of the night that Connor had broke her heart and I was there to pick up the pieces. I held her close and kissed the top of her head, hoping to calm her down. "I'm going to miss you too..." she managed to say, "so much...and I just...I want you to know that I love you. And I mean it..."

This isn't the first time that she told me that she loves me, but it was more of a best friend love... This time it was definitely said in different context and the last thing I want to do is let her down or lead her on. I really don't want to mess with what we have and I only see her as a friend and nothing more. Maybe before, when I had met her, I would have wanted to be more than her friend, but now after all that we have been through I don't picture that anymore. So I had to tell her the truth.... and I'm sure she already knew that's how I feel- though I already felt like shit trying to say it.

"I love you too," I started, which was the truth, "as a friend that I will cherish for the rest of my life..." and that was the lightest way I could tell her without hurting her. She gently pulled away and wiped the tears from her face. I hate to see her like this and I just wish that somehow I could fix it, but feelings like this can't be forced. "I'm sorry..."

We looked into each others eyes and she leaned in and kissed me. I could tell that in that one kiss, she wanted to change my mind about how I feel about her, yet it pains me so that it didn't phase me. I couldn't kiss he back. Not Dani. I needed to  be real with her and she pulled away. She cleared her throat and apologized to me. She regained her composure but forced a smile onto her face as she stood up, "we should probably get back to everyone else...they're probably wondering where you are..."

I didn't respond, and instead followed her behind her. As if nothing within the past fifteen minutes never happened.