The Great Musical Wizard

Chapter Fourteen: "Fading"

By: Decyfer Down
Album: Crash
"And every single day, a part of my soul is fading."
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"I have to tell you something." The words had been bubbling uncomfortably in her stomach. They were itching to be brought to the surface. She was ready to throw up her confessions all over Jane.

Jane laughed, "Geez, did you kill somebody? The air just got so serious."

Donnie cracked a smile and fought the word vomit that wanted so badly to exit. She swallowed them down and tried to gradually build up to them. She had been dreading this moment. Her mind painting a scene of complete disgust and judgment from her own best friend. She was so worried to tell her. Or anyone for that matter.

"Don? Come on, just tell me. You're freaking me out." Jane said, putting the car in park and turning in her seat.

It was such a good thing for it to be dark. Her facial expressions probably didn't look the best right now.

"You know that night when I said I had a crush on Jacob?" Donnie asked slowly.

"Yeah." Jane replied.

Donnie swallowed the nervous lump in her throat and knotted her sweaty hands together.

"I lied. I don't like Jacob. I was trying to tell you that I liked Nick."

There it was. Her words floating in air, never to be taken back. Jane would now know. She winced at the scene had made up and was ready for it to unfold. But instead, Jane laughed.

"I had a good feeling about this." Jane said.

"What? You did?" Donnie asked shocked. How did Jane always know?

"The other night when we saw him at the gas station. You were giving him the googoo eyes. You were looking at him like he hung the stars." Jane explained, using dramatic hand gestures.

"I did?" Donnie asked. Her cheeks were already blushing fiercely.

"Yeah you did. Why were you so scared to tell me?"

Donnie fidgeted in her seat. She felt ashamed at her thoughts. Why she didn't want to tell people that she liked Nick?

"Because you were always saying how disgusting he was, so I thought you would judge me."

Jane held her own look of shame. "I would never judge you. If you truly like him, that's okay with me."

Donnie cracked a nervous smile. She had confessed this to someone finally. But now that she had, what would she do?

"We should call and see what he thinks!" Jane exclaimed.

Donnie nearly jumped out of her skin. "Are you insane?!"

Jane laughed, "Come on. We will pretend you're out of the car."

Jane must be insane! This was not a good idea and Donnie didn't think she was ready for Nick to know. She didn't want it to happen like this. It had to happen naturally-

"Hello?" A new voice said.

Donnie's eyes almost bulged out of her head. She looked at Jane and almost choked her. Jane looked over at Donnie and gave her the signal to be quiet.

"Hey Nicky." Jane said.

Donnie could hear him scoff. "What do you want Jane?"

Jane laughed. "You know Donnie, right?"

The other end was silent for a minute. "Yeah."

Jane cleared her throat, trying to hide her amusement. "You like her, right?"

Another long silence and then a response, "No."

Donnie felt a stab to her heart. The word stung her but she should've expected it. This is exactly why she kept it to herself.

"I know you do Nick. Anyways, what if I told you she liked you?"

"Stop." Came his response as he they both heard him end the call.

Jane let out a frustrated sigh. Donnie tried to mask her hurt.

"We shouldn't have done that." Donnie said.

"Donnie, he likes you. He's just being an idiot."

Donnie didn't believe her one bit. "I want to go home."

Jane nodded, defeated.

The drive to Donnie's house was silent. Even if Jane spoke, Donnie didn't care to listen. She was too hurt. She knew Jane shouldn't have done that. But she couldn't be completely mad at her. Jane was just trying to make her happy.

As Donnie laid in her bed that night, she wondered if she could ever face him again. As she thought of ways to avoid him, her phone dinged.

She groaned and checked it.

It was a text.

From Nick.

"Hey." It read.

"Hey." Donnie replied.

Nick: Were you in the car with Jane?

Donnie hesitated. Should she tell him? Yes, what was the point of lying?

Donnie: Yes.

Nick: Thought so. I'm going to put myself out there and say I do like you. If there is any doubt in your mind, I will give it a rest. I do like you. If you don't return my feelings, that's okay. I just needed to get that off my chest.

Donnie didn't know what to think. Surely this was some sort of cruel joke. This could not be. No, it wasn't true.

Donnie: I like you too.

There was no response for a while. Donnie grew a little anxious. She watched for the three dots to appear to indicate he was typing but they didn't come. She began to type another message.

Donnie: What do we do now?

The three dots finally appeared. She chewed anxiously on the bottom of her lip. He felt like a century for him to type out his response.

Nick: Would you like to go out sometime?

Donnie couldn't help the small hopeful smile that appeared on her face. She could barely contain her excitement.

Donnie: I would love to.