"Friends"

"Friends" Chapter 6

JIMMY'S POV

I walked around her room and just waited for her to get back.
Did she want me?
Would she choose me?
I looked at all of the pictures, trophies, and posters that filled her walls.
Seeing everything that filled her room just made me miss her more. I looked at some pictures that she had of her family and friends, just wondering who some of the people were. One thing that I wish would've happened was that I should've told her how I felt earlier. I knew her for several years and I just didn't even try.
If it's all too late, it's my fault.
I tried to get my mind off of what was happening but it was just so damn hard.
I decided to call the one person who could really help me out.
"Hello?" I could hear people chatting in the background.
"Hey, Tina... It's Jimmy."
"Jimmy! How are you? I already miss you, kid. You feeling okay?"
"Yeah... I guess I feel okay. Do you have a second to talk?"
"Yeah, give me a sec." I heard some muffling of voices and then silence.
"What's up, Jimmy?"
"I need advice... I don't know what to do." My voice began to crack as I talked to her.
I had never cried in front of or around Tina.
"Okay, take a deep breath. What's wrong?" I took a deep breath and looked around the room.
"Well, yesterday, Val and I drove up to her parents house to visit them and for some odd reason, I started to let myself go. I began to show her that I liked her and she slowly began to realize it."
"Thank god... It's only been like forever! Sorry... Continue."
"Well, we had a moment and I almost kissed her. Anyways... after that, it was awkward for a little while but things began to work out. For a little while, I was so happy because she seemed like she really liked me. She made me feel like I was loved.. So here comes the fucked up part... We went to breakfast with her family and she ran into her ex and they started kissing! IN FRONT OF ME! I freaked out and ran out of the restaurant. We ended up talking and it didn't go so well. She has no idea what she wants. She is still in love with him... Right now I'm sitting in her room and she is out having coffee with the douche..."
"Okay, okay... So, how do you feel about her?"
"How do I feel about her?!" I can't believe she asked me this. "Tina, you know I'm crazy about her... She's my best friend and I just adore her more than anything. I want her to be happy... with me."
There was a long pause and I heard her clear her throat.
"And that exactly why you're the best guy I know."
"Huh?"
"You always put others needs before yours... She is a damn lucky girl, Jim. There aren't many guys like you out there and when she realizes that, that's all it will take. But right now, I think you should focus on what YOU need. Stop thinking about her. Think about you. What do you need?"
"I need her to be happy in order for me to be happy..."
We chatted a little bit of small talk after and ended up hanging up the phone soon after.
I knew her family was still downstairs wondering what all just happened. I'm sure they heard me screaming at her but at this point I really didn't care. I was upset.
I don't know how many times I walked around her room but as soon as I knew it, two hours went by and I couldn't wait any longer.
How could getting coffee with an ex take two hours?
I just wanted her here with me.

VALERIE'S POV

As I walked home by myself, I thought about everything Gio and I talked about in the past two hours.
He asked me to marry him and I had no idea what to say. What was I supposed to do? There were so many questions that I didn't have answers to.

I'm still young.
I don't want to get married yet.
I still have the rest of my life to fall in love again, get married and hell, have children...
Right now I just want to focus on me...
And Jimmy.
I just want to spend all the time I can with Jimmy.
That's all I want.
That's all I've ever wanted.
There was just one big person left that I wanted to talk to.
As soon as I entered my house, I went straight into the living room and looked around for any family member.
"Hey Honey..." I heard my mom call from the kitchen. I slowly took off my jacket and walked towards her.
My mom was cleaning the dishes.
"I could use some advice, Ma..." I jumped up onto the counter, sat down and set my jacket next to me.
"Sure... Is it about Gio?" She wiped her hands with a towel and closed the dishwasher.
"Kind of..." I ran my hand through my hair. "He just asked me to marry him."
She looked up at me quickly and looked shocked.
"Wow... What did you say?" She leaned on the counter and crossed her arms.
"I didn't... I had no idea what to say. I love him and I could see a life with him, its just not what I want right now."
She looked down at the floor and let out a chuckle.
"What?"
Why would she be laughing right now?
"You're going to think this is ridiculous..."
"Mom! Tell me, come on."
"Well, Val... Your dad and I always thought that if you ever got married, that it would be to Jimmy."
That was really all it took for me to realize how clear my decision was.
"He treats you right, he is always making you laugh and do you see the way he looks at you? I don't know, Val... It's just something your father and I always thought about."
I looked down at my hands.
Why didn't I see any of this before?
I was so blind this entire time.
I got off of the counter.
"Thanks... You just helped me so much." I gave my mom a hug.
"Anytime, Hun." I held her tight and then walked outside with my phone.
There was one last phone call that I needed to make.

JIMMY'S POV

I ended up just sitting on her bed again. My hands wouldn't stop shaking and I couldn't stay still.
You gotta calm down, Jimmy...
Whatever happens will be for the best.
Everything happens for a reason, right?
I heard someone walking up the steps and didn't think anything of it.
Suddenly, her door opened and I saw her standing in front of me with tears in her eyes.
I stood up and walked towards her.
"Hey... What happened?"
I held her hand as she looked everywhere but at me.
"He- he asked me to marry him."
Oh no...
This was bad news. Why else would she be crying? This was bad for me...
Oh my gosh.
"What did you say?" My voice trembled as I spoke.

She was in love with him, not me.
She would obviously say yes.
I didn't even want to hear the answer.

"Well, we talked about everything and he begged me to move back here and marry him... but I said... no."
My eyes shot up to her and she had a faint smile on her face.
"What?"
"Jim, I told him I couldn't marry him."
I have never felt so much relief in my life. I just wanted to jump around and scream like a little boy.
"Seriously?" I couldn't believe this...
"Yeah... He is the past... And I want you in my future, for a while if that's alright with you."
I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up.
I felt her hands hold onto my neck and her sweet breath tickled my ear.
"Yeah... I guess its fine..." She laughed and I just held onto her so tight.
I turned around and we both fell onto the bed with me on top of her.
She giggled and I held myself up on my elbows, hovering over her.
I pushed a piece of hair away from her face and her eyes sparkled.
"What happens next?" She looked into my eyes and waited for a response.
"I don't know... What do you want?" Her hand went up to my face and he touched the side of my neck.
"You." She traced her fingers up and down the side of my face.
"Well, you've got me... Really, what do we do now?" She looked around and thought about her answer.
"I'm sick of this place. Take me back home."
I smiled and leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips.
Her hands ran through my hair and I felt her legs gently wrap around my body.
She finally knew what she wanted,
And I couldn't believe it was me.