choices //

chapter seven

Daniel could really have fucked up by that statement. Well, of course he did. He already has a girlfriend. It's Jessica. Did he really want to be with her, though? Ali was right there, in front of him. That's how Daniel wanted it - ever since Ali moved away in the first place. He wanted it to always be Daniel and Ali, through it all. He could never get his mind off of her.
Ali blinked, looking at him in shock. "I.. Me? Daniel- are you serious? But.. You have Jessica-"
Daniel sighed, shrugging a little, "I know. Dammit, I know. I don't know what to do." He pulled away from Ali.
Ali frowned a little, reaching out to take his hand gently. "Whatever choice you make is up to you. You know that I wouldn't hate you for something like that."
Daniel looked over at her, shrugging a little, "it's just that. When you do that. When you get all sincere and understanding and caring.. Jessica isn't like that. She gets me, yeah, but Ali, you've always had the answer."
Ali smiled a bit, reaching up, stroking Daniel's hair gently. "I can't give you the answer to this one. Who do you want, Daniel? That's on you."
Daniel thought about it. He really needed to. This decision could ruin one of his relationships, but at the same time, make another grow stronger. Unless Jessica realized that Daniel was only being honest. In that case, Daniel laughed and pulled Ali close, kissing her again.
Ali sighed in relief and kissed him back, hard, falling in to his arms. "Yes. I'll be your girlfriend. Yes."
Those words easily changed Daniel's mood. It was as if everything negative was gone. It was Daniel and Ali again.

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That night, Daniel awoke from hearing a foot stomp at his door. He shot awake, sitting up fast. "Shit," he whispered, realizing he had just knocked Ali - who was sleeping with him - off of him. No, they didn't have sex. They just hung out and kissed and all. Ali was still asleep, luckily. Daniel looked toward the door, seeing the worst person who could walk in at that moment, standing there.

"Jessica, oh shit," Daniel quickly climbed out of bed, grabbing a shirt.
Jessica crossed his arms, watching him. She didn't look mad at all. That was scary. Daniel knew, though. He figured what she was feeling.
"Care to explain?" Jessica sighed, shaking her head. "I knew it. I should have known better. You want to be with her, fine, go ahead, I really don't care anymore. I understand. She was your first. Maybe your last."
Daniel pulled the t-shirt on, grabbing Jessica's arm when he saw her turning to leave. "I wanted to tell you. I wanted to talk it out with you, I swear."
Jessica rolled her eyes, yanking her hand away. "Daniel. I said I understand."
"We need to do this properly, because I can't have you leave with you hating me. Please, I can't have anymore people hating me."
Jessica relaxed. She was ready to listen.
"I like you. I do. I really like you. It's just.. You and I definitely felt better as just friends. And I know those words suck to hear, but I am really attached to Ali. She's who I.."
"Love?" Jessica whispered.
Daniel didn't say anything.
"I know. Daniel, it's fine. And I'm not just saying that anymore. Maybe friends was better, yeah? We work best that way. Even I agree." Jessica looked down.
Daniel smiled slightly, "thanks for understanding. Really."
Jessica nodded a little. "Yeah." She kissed Daniel's cheek before walking out of the room. Right when Jessica left the room, she felt something hard hit her head, and she went unconscious.