C Minor // R5

The Fault Is Not In The Stars

I sit on the balcony listening to the sound of waves crashing. It seems to be the only thing that can help me keep my mind of what happened last night. I also took Julius Caesar off of the book shelf in my room and I'm reading it. I suddenly hear a knock on my double doors of the balcony. I assume it is CJ wondering why I haven't come down for breakfast yet when it's already 10:30 in the morning.

"Come in." I say. I am about to go back to Julius Caesar when Ross walks in. I don't even know what to say. He's wearing black ripped skinny jeans, a pink shirt, and a jean jacket. His hair looks extra fluffy, and of course he is wearing his R5 guitar pick necklace, and his black converse. I look down at my outfit. Orange lacey shorts, a sleeveless jean top that I tied in the front and converse. My hair is down, straight, which it naturally is. Ross closes my double doors and turns towards me, leaning on the doors.

"You wanna hear a funny story?" He asks. I nod. "Last night, I got all my siblings to help me ask this girl out."

"Ross-"

"Rydel helped her get all dressed up and my brothers and I set up a picnic in the park." He laughs. "I put on a tie." He sighs and starts walking towards me. "And you wanna know what she said?" He asks. I look at the ground. I really don't wanna say this.

"I-"

"She said no." He interrupts. "And I was pretty sad. No, that's an understatement I was devastated." He says, pacing in front of me. "I went home and went right to bed. But I didn't sleep. I couldn't. I just thought. I don't know what I did wrong. Why am I not good enough?" He says.

"Ross-"

"But then, I realized, why am I trying to ask out a girl that's not in love with me? It'll only hurt me...But as many times as I tried to tell myself I don't like her, I couldn't. You know why?" He asks. I shrug. "Because I don't like her. I'm in love with her. And love is a one way street. It doesn't matter if one person is in love or two. Love is always there. I can feel it everywhere. I feel it in my bones when I move. I feel it in my stomach when I eat. I feel it in my eyes when I sleep. I feel it in my fingers when I play guitar. I always feel it. And William Shakespeare did say, 'the course of true love never did run smooth.' But I never thought it would be this bumpy. And I was embarrassed...humiliated even in front of this girl. But then I did something even more embarrassing. I went to her house. Do you know why?" He asks.

"Because you wanted to tell her off?" I ask. He laughs.

"No. Because everything was so awkward last night, I had to make sure I don't lose her. I don't want her to avoid me, or feel awkward around me just because I love her." He sits down and looks at me. "Because I'm in love with her. I love her more than anything. I love her more than food. I love her more than sleep. I love her more than I love tormenting Ellington about Rydel. I love her more than touring. I love her more than I love acting and dancing..." And then he pauses and looks me right in the eye. "I love her more than music." He says.

Wow.

"And yes, that is the first time I have ever said that." He says. "She's my most precious thing in this world, and she's not even mine! I went to her house because I can't lose her." He says. I smile and look away. He's sweet. I hope he treats his wife like this one day. "And yeah, I hate to admit it but maybe...we're star-crossed lovers." He says. I laugh.

"You are." I say. He sighs and I look up. He looks at my book, and then at me.

"The fault is not in our stars, dear Nina, but in ourselves." He says.

I'd laugh but it makes sense.

"Well, if this girl has any brains, she will not be avoiding you for sure."

"I think she has brains." He says confidently.

"Well then, you'll be okay, Ross."

We'll be okay.