The Boy Next Door

Chapter 13 - Love

*I'm going to try something new, and I need a place to test it.. So.. This chapter will be written in third person. There's no point of view.*

The group stood side by side as the carousel of luggage rotated, bringing them their bags from the plane.

Jade stood closely next to Alfie as he scanned the rotating conveyor for their luggage. Joe picked a few bags from the belt, and stacked them on a cart. Zoe stood near the cart--guarding it.

Alfie's arms crossed his chest, and his feet were planted firmly on the ground. Determination was written all over his face.

"Oh!" Jade squealed, "Alfie, I think that one's mine." She pointed to a blue suitcase with white polkadots. "It's a set of two." She smiled. Little did she know that Zoe was behind her, bowing her head down in defeat.

Zoe felt powerless. She knew she was going to have to tell Jade and Alfie how she felt eventually. And she knew that it was this week. The truth would come out in the matter of days, or hours, and she was worried. She didn't want to loose her friendship with either of them.

Somehow, she felt like the time was now. Her feelings were eating her alive. If she didn't tell them how she felt, she'd explode. Zoe knew it would risk the mood of this week, but it had to be done.

She looked at Joe, nodding her head, assuring him that her secret would be let out now. Joe distracted Alfie for a moment, allowing Zoe to talk to Jade.

She walked up to Jade carefully. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" She looked at her cousin, teary eyed. She then took a quick glance at Alfie before beginning her story to Jade.

"What's wrong?" Jade spoke, concern written all over her face. "We got all the bags, right?" Jade looked at the cart, "Are Alfie and Joe still trying to find one?" She questioned.

"No. It's not that." Zoe swallowed, her small hands trembling at her sides as she spoke. "I-I just need to tell you something. I should have told you a long time ago, Jade. It-It--" Zoe looked away, "I can't."

"Can't what?" Jade questioned as her cousin began walking towards the luggage cart.

"Tell you how I feel." Zoe cried, catching everyone's attention.

Joe tried his best to keep Alfie's attention, but it was too much of a scene. Joe couldn't keep him.

Alfie watched as Zoe cried, "I don't want to hurt you, and I never will hurt you because you mean so much to me. So if that means that I have to suffer, than so be it. I'll suffer." She directed towards Jade.

Joe listened now as well, "Zoe-- You--"

"Stop it, Joseph." Zoe spat. "I appreciate that you're trying to help me out, but not right now. Please don't tell me that I need to tell them. Both of them. Because not only will I be hurt, but they will be too." Her face burned bright pink as water streamed from her eyes.

The group formed a square now, Alfie and Jade meeting the bickering siblings. Zoe, and to the left of her, Joe. And to the left of Joe, Jade. And to the left of Jade, Alfie. Zoe was surrounded by Joe on her left, and Alfie on her right. Jade was standing in front of her.

She interrupted quietly, "You're in love with Alfie." Jade's eyes diverted to his, then to Zoe's once again.

"I told you!" Joe barked, "Even Jade knew. I don't see why you're hiding it from everyone."

"Me?" Alfie cracked. "All this time?"

"I'm sorry." Zoe returned to Alfie. "I'm really sorry." Zoe cried to Jade.

Jade was expressionless. "It's fine." Her face went unphased. "Somehow, I knew it all along." She looked at Alfie with solemn eyes. She could read the confusion in his eyes.

"Let's just go to vidcon." Alfie coughed, changing the subject. He placed his hands on the handle of the cart, and began pushing it.

The tension between the group was heightened during the car ride to The London Hotel. Joe and Zoe had separate rooms, and Alfie and Jade shared one.

"Are we going to talk about this?" Alfie questioned as Zoe unpacked her bags.

"Just go back to your room, Alfie." Zoe remarked, placing her clothes into the closet of the suite.

"I just--" Alfie choked.

"You know, it's better off if we stay away from each other this week. We can sort it out later, okay?" Zoe sighed

"But--" Alfie closed his eyes, "I love you, too."