Family Ties. (A The Strokes Love story)

Chapter 16

June's PoV

"A-alb..?" I stuttered quietly as his lips were about 1 inch from mine. Literally.

I sucked in my breath, and then was almost relieved as I heard my mom burst in through the front door. I exhaled lightly, and Albert blushed.

"Sorry."

"N-No, it's cool." I immediately said, laughing gently. Albert joined me in a quick chorus of laughter. But then his face snapped back to a serious expression, and he kissed me quickly.

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks.

"June, I probably have the worst timing ever, but I love you." Albert spilled. His eyes then widened, and his hand clamped over his mouth.

"Oh, shit. I did not mean to say that..." Albert said, his voice totally muffled. He quickly rushed out of my room, brushing past my mother on her way up the stairs. I was about to go after him, but my mother blocked the doorway.

"Uh, June..? Is everything okay with Albert?" Mom asked, coming in with her makeup and hair done. She looked gorgeous.

"Uh.. He just confessed to me."

A look of confusion washed over my mom's face, then it melted into a smile.

"That's so sweet of him, baby! He must've been flustered...oh, go talk to him! I'm glad you two are dressed."

"Yeah," I said breathlessly, not knowing what to do. Nick and Julian were already on my mind, and now Albert...?

I rushed downstairs, and stumbled down the stairs in those god-forbidden pumps. I threw them off, and ran barefooted to Albert, who was on the couch, his hands in his face.

"Albert..."

"I'm sorry, June."

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked, slightly touched by Albert's confession.

"I don't know." Albert said, removing his hands from his face, which was tear-stained. I sat next to him, wiping his tears.

"No crying, Albie." I said gently, my heart breaking. What have I done? I was so blind to see that Albert had loved me the whole time, and I crushed him. Twice.

"I-I'm sorry, Albert...how could I not know..?" I asked, getting choked up.

"June, I love you very much. More than Julian. More than Nick." Albert said, spitting their names out like a piece of gum that had lost its flavor.

I breathed slowly, feeling tears coming on.

"I don't want to ever be with anyone else, June. Just you." Albert confessed. I sighed lightly.

"Oh, Albert..." Was all I could say. Albert was my best friend. It's not that I didn't want to be with him. But I was already in a tight situation with Nick and Julian, and now Albert was added into the mix.

Albert had let more tears fall from his eyes.

"Albert, look at me," I pleaded, taking his cheek in my hand. He looked towards me.

"I want to settle things with Julian. Then, I want to settle things with Nick, because to be honest, it's not Nick I like, Albert. It's Julian." I said. Albert nodded slowly.

"And then we... Can work everything out, okay?" I asked, nodding. I nodded until he nodded with me.

I hugged him tightly, sliding into his lap. Al sniffed.

I pulled from him gently, and then I can't believe what I did. I took his face in my hands, and gently kissed him. It honestly felt like I was kissing a relative. But then again, Julian was a relative.