choices //

chapter four

The sight of Ali made Daniel realize something. He couldn't just stand there and watch. Daniel needed to go see her.
At least talk to her.
She was standing right across the room, this was his chance.
So much was happening, all these thoughts - and Daniel's own girlfriend was standing right next to him, and she did not look happy.

"Daniel. Come on." Jessica grabbed his hand. "Let's go find something to do, yeah?"
Daniel blinked and looked at their hands. He pulled their hands apart. "Uh, yeah.. Just- I need a minute. I'll be right back." He started walking toward Ali.
Jessica scoffed, "Daniel!"

Ali was playing some shooting game with a couple of friends. Daniel wasn't sure how to approach her. What was there to say to your ex who you had no idea you would ever see again, when you were out on a date with your new partner?
So, he just tapped her shoulder.
"Ali?"

Ali turned around, gasping when she saw Daniel. "Daniel? What are you- but- Daniel?" She laughed, in complete shock.
Daniel laughed quietly, "yeah, yeah, it's me, uh- what are you doing here?"
Ali shrugged a little, "I moved back in to town."
Daniel felt an odd relief from that statement. She was staying.
Daniel, you have a girlfriend, stop, he thought to himself.
"You did? Wow, that's.. That's great. Really." Daniel nodded.
Ali set her 'gun' down, looking up at him, "what have you been up to?" She asked, her eyes focused completely on Daniel. Daniel's eyes were focused right on Ali.
"Um, nothing really. Mr Miyagi and I opened a store. For Bonsai trees," Daniel explained.
Ali laughed, "you did? Wow, that's cool. How's it doing?"
Daniel shrugged, "it's doing well, yeah. It is. You look great-"
Daniel suddenly felt someone grab his arm. He turned his head, seeing Jessica.
"Daniel, hey, you never came back," Jessica smiled, clearly faking it. She felt as though she needed to step in, or this wouldn't go good for her and Daniel.
Ali looked confused, glancing at Jessica. She didn't say anything.
Daniel laughed awkwardly, "hey, Jessica, I was just going to come back," he gave her a look.
Jessica quickly flashed him the same look, before returning to her giddy self, staring at Ali. "Hey. I'm Jessica." She held her hand out for Ali to shake. "Daniel's girlfriend."
Ali slowly shook her hand, "I'm Ali. Daniel's, um.."
Daniel chimed in, "ex. Well- friend. Yeah. Ali's my good friend."
He saw a little hurt in Ali's eyes, and it hurt him, too.

"We should really get back to our date, Daniel. It was nice to meet you, Ali." Jessica nodded and walked back off, but she motioned Daniel to follow.

Daniel sighed and looked back at Ali, "I'm sorry-"
Ali shook her head, "it's alright." She turned back around. Daniel knew he messed up. He walked away from Ali, back to Jessica.

"What the hell was that, Jessica?!" Daniel whispered to her, clearly angry.
Jessica shrugged, "how am I, as a girlfriend, supposed to feel comfortable with my boyfriend talking to his ex?"
Daniel rolled his eyes, "you trust me, don't you?"
Jessica stared at him, shrugging slowly, "lately, I don't know."
Daniel's angry expression slowly dropped to one of complete blankness.

Daniel was back home. He was laying in bed, ranting on and on about Ali and Jessica, while Mr Miyagi stood in the room, listening.

"I mean, what am I supposed to do?! I've got two girls, and I don't know what to do, I can't hurt either one-"

"Daniel-San. There must be reason why you went to Ali. Do you still love her?" Mr Miyagi asked.
Daniel looked over at him, shrugging. "I can't love her. I'm with someone else."
Mr Miyagi laughed, "no mean you can't love someone else."
Daniel went quiet, thinking about what he said. Was it true? Did he love Ali still? What did he feel toward Jessica? He had no clue.
"Go to Ali." Mr Miyagi smiled. Daniel looked at him, confused. "To her house?" He asked.
Miyagi nodded, "aye."
Daniel sighed, slowly sitting up, "what if she doesn't want to see me?"
"Daniel-San, never keep woman waiting." Miyagi nodded.
Daniel smiled, nodding, "alright. I'll go."

Daniel pulled up at Ali's quite large home, that she moved back in to. He climbed out of the car and walked up to the door.
Taking a deep breath, and then exhaling, Daniel knocked.
After a few minutes, Ali opened the door. She looked quite shocked to see him, but then her expression went calm.
"Daniel. Hey." Ali smiled.
Daniel smiled a little, "Ali. Look. I wanted to apologize for tonight, about Jessica, she's just- she's protective. One of her past relationships didn't work because some girl stole her boyfriend. She doesn't want that to happen again."
Ali shrugged, "Daniel, I'm not bothered. You and I are just friends. Why would I care?"
That sure hit Daniel hard. "Um.. Yeah, pft, you're right," he laughed, which was clearly fake, and kicked gently at some bricks near by. "You're right. I just thought-"
He accidentally kicked a brick out of place, and it fell to the floor.
"Sorry," Daniel laughed and knelt down, going to put the brick back.
Ali smiled and knelt down too, going to grab the brick, "let me help,"
Their hands touched as they both picked the brick up. Ali looked up at Daniel, laughing shyly, looking away.
Daniel just smiled and watched Ali as she put the brick back. He stood, helping Ali up.
"Would you like to, um, come in?" Ali offered.
Daniel thought about the offer. Of course he wouldn't pass up. "I'd love to."

The two were hanging out on the couch, watching some television.
"Hey, where are your parents?" Daniel asked from the other side of the couch.
Ali shrugged, "out at dinner. Date night." She rolled her eyes, smiling.
Daniel laughed softly, looking back at the television, "oh."

The two would sneak glances at one another every now and then. Over time, they scooted closer and closer to one another, until they were right next to each other.
Ali went to move away a little, "I'm sorry, didn't notice how close I was-"
Daniel grabbed her hand. It was an instinct. He didn't know what he was doing, but he wanted to continue.
Ali froze, looking at his hand.
He slowly entertained their fingers. Ali moved back next to him.
"Daniel, what are we doing-"
All of a sudden, Ali felt lips on her own.
Daniel was kissing her.
Her hands went up to his hair, tangling her fingers in as she kissed him passionately.
Daniel had his hands on her waist, until they slid down, underneath Ali's shirt. He took off her shirt, tossing it aside. He continued to kiss her the whole time.
Ali did the same to Daniel, she slipped off his top, tossing it to the side.
Daniel slowly laid Ali down, crawling on top of her.
The kiss got more heated by the second. Daniel and Ali would even press their tongues against one another's every now and then.
Suddenly, they heard the door open.
"What is going on in here?!" A man's voice demanded, followed by a woman's gasp.
Daniel and Ali scrambled away from one another, pulling pillows close to hide their exposed selves.
"M-mom, Dad," Ali said, sounding nervous.