Unexpected (Avi Kaplan)

I Will Wait

Ivy's POV

I silently paced back and forth outside of the karaoke bar, trying to get my thoughts straight in my mind before I could voice them. Avi had kissed me after my performance inside, and I asked to talk to him outside. That was almost fifteen minutes ago and I haven't said a single word.

I jumped, feeling someone grab my arms and looked up to find Avi staring at me in concern. "Stop thinking and just talk," he told me, though he didn't release the gentle hold on my arms. 

"Look, what happened in there," I paused, hesitating, "it was nice. It was really nice actually. And I don't want things to be awkward between us, but I just don't think I'm ready for a relationship yet. I mean you saw what happened yesterday with Dean and you know how that ended up. I know it's completely cheesy to say this and not everyone believes it, but believe me when I say it's not you. I'm just-"

"Scared to get hurt again," he finished for me. I nodded slowly as I looked up at him. His eyes showed a mixture of concern, hurt, and understanding. I hated it. He pulled me into a hug, and I felt a bit of pressure on my head when he rested his chin on top of it. "Then I'll wait for you," he said softly, almost to the point that I couldn't hear it, but I did.

Pulling back and staring up at him, I frowned and began shaking my head. "I don't want to be the reason you suffer. I don't want to see you hurt," I told him truthfully, my voice starting to shake a bit.

He moved one of his hands to my cheek, his thumb gently caressing the skin. "Hey," he started, "I'm not gonna lie and say it's not gonna be hard to see you everyday and not call you mine, but some things are worth waiting for." I closed my eyes as he kissed my forehead, causing me to smile ever so slightly. "I'll be here when you're ready," he finally said, his hands on my face making sure I was looking him in the eye.

I nodded my head and pulled him into a tight embrace, resting my head against his shoulder. "Thank you," I murmured quietly, not wanting to let go just yet.

"Don't thank me, but we should probably get back in there. Everyone, a.k.a Mitch, will start thinking things," he said with a toothy grin. I nodded and walked back in with him, making my way back to the table. I took my place next to Kirstie and Avi sat back down beside me, making it a point to avoid Mitch's skeptical gaze.

"Alright let me put a stop to this before it starts. Nothing happened, Queen. We're not together. I'm just not ready yet," I said, keeping my gaze on the small brunette. The disappointment on his face was evident, but he simply nodded, throwing in a pout for effect.

"Fine but you owe me. I've been shipping this since day one and the one chance it gets to happen, you don't let it. Because of that, you have to sing with me," he said, already in the process of getting up.

"No, Mitch. I've done my part and I'm not doing it again," I said, unable to escape the laughter that was starting to make itself known. However, I was already too late. He was gone, presumably to flip through the books and see what they had for duets.

After only a couple of minutes, he was on stage, a knowing smirk on his face. Oh no. "Okay so I'm here to do a duet with a girl. You saw her a few minutes ago rocking that classic cover called Hurt, only to engage in a lip lock with that hunky bearded lumberjack. Her name is Ivy Summers and she is an intern at RCA Studios and a very good friend of pretty much everyone at that table over there," he spoke into the mic, pointing in our direction. I could feel my cheeks heating up with a blush, actually glad I hadn't been drinking water at the moment. "So a few days ago, we were talking about musicals that we loved, and Wicked was right up there at the top. Now I don't know about you guys, but I want to see what that voice can really do," he said, earning several cheers and whistles from the crowd.