Spanglish | editing

Chapter Twenty-Three

"Hello?" Daniel answers. It's a normal greeting for over the phone, however the situation makes my heart drop. Everything in me screams to hang up the phone, to just drop the whole situation and not even acknowledge it, but by the look on Ariel's face, I know I don't have that option.

"You need to do this." She whispers, nodding her head towards the phone and urging me to talk. With a shaky breath, I continue. Ariel is right, I need to do this.

A lot of things about this situation is wrong. The timing: both Daniel and I are in situations regarding family, him not having the best relationship and mine in a financial mess. The execution: my best friend is forcing me to face my feelings and I'm both ready and not ready at the same time. Lastly, the aftermath: even though I can predict what he is going to say in return, he may not. And if our relationship doesn't work out, although that is the last thing I want to happen, it'll be horrible trying to get over him after the 'I love you'. Yet despite everything, everything that could possibly go haywire, she's right about me needing to do this. He's so important to me and how I feel about him is worth more than what is wrong about the situation.

"Hi Danny." I whisper into the speaker, my voice coming out unconfident and weak. Nothing is going to stop me now. He needs to know.

"Hey baby, what's up?" I smile a little at the nickname and push a lock of hair behind my ear.

"What are you doing right now? Are you busy?"

"No, I'm driving my idiot brother home. Ow Rick! What the fuck! Don't hit the driver!" I laugh at the two boys, them reminding me of John and I. The only difference is that it appears that me and John are closer than Rick and Daniel. "Why? Is something wrong?"

I shake my head, then realize he can't see me so I say. "No, nothing's wrong. I just miss you."

"Aww, I miss you too." He responds. Ariel kicks me and uses her eyes to tell me that I need to cut to the chase. Taking my last, anxious breath, I get to the point.

"So uh, are you doing something today?" I ask.

"No, why?" I clear my throat after he speaks.

"Can you come over?"

"Of course. I'll be there after I drop this oaf off. Rick, I swear to God if you hit me one more time you are walking your ass home."

"Okay, see ya." I hang up the phone and am met with the squeals of Ariel. Immediately she stands and gathers all her stuff.

"I'm leaving! Tell him! Just oh my gosh! I'm so happy for you!" Ariel exclaims before walking out of my room. I don't say anything back, as I have nothing to say. I'm so scared that I don't have anything to respond.

"Tell him!" She yells before shutting the front door, leaving me alone with my nerves. That's when I start to freak out. The part of me that's not ready goes berserk inside of my head, causing me to start breathing fast and my heart to go ecstatic. In attempts to calm myself down, I run both of my hands through my hair and control my breathing. It's okay, I tell myself. He won't hurt you. How do I know that for sure though? I don't know how he's going to take it, but I feel like I do know how he's going to react. It seems pretty obvious but sometimes life has a way of throwing you for a loop.

I stare at my ceiling and wait for him to arrive, still controlling my breath, for what seems like 20 minutes before I finally hear a knock on my door. Gathering all the courage I have, I walk through the apartment and open the door. Daniel is standing there, looking as handsome as always, wearing that god damn navy blue shirt that he wore the first day I met him. The day we ran into each other, literally, was the first day of my new life and I've come so far. He's one of the people I have to thank. He's probably the person I need to thank. With that, I make one of the most important decisions I have ever made.