The Risk of Falling in Love: A Jonah vs. Daniel Fanfiction

Chapter 14

Around one o'clock my Uber drops me off outside the Why Dont We house.
I walk painfully slow to the door, my mind racing. I haven't seen the boys in two years... and the way I left was mean. I bet they hate me.
I'm second guessing myself when Daniel opens the door.
"I almost thought you wouldn't come," Daniel says with a smile. He embraces me and yells, "Guys! I have a surprise," over my shoulder.
Three boys head peek around the corner. When they see me, they just stare as if im holding a gun at them.
"Hey guys," I say sheepishly, unsure what else to say.
Zach is the first to speak. "Em, is that really you?" He has tears in his eyes, and he runs over to me with arms extended.
"I missed you so much," I tell him, gripping onto him tight.
"Never leave me again best friend," Zach says shaking his head with a smile.
Jack and Corbyn come forward next, giving me a group hug.
"We missed you, Emma," Jack says happily.
"Yeah," Corbyn replies with a wink.
My cheeks heat up, as I know Corbyns 'subtle'
wink was directed about Jonah.
"Let's go play some pool," Daniel says leading the way to the basement.
I smile bittersweetly, remembering my first night here when we had a pool tournament. That's when I first realized I loved Jonah, even though I barely knew him then.
"Emma, you, Daniel, and Zach can be a team." Corbyn says. "Jack and I will be the opposing team."
I laugh and say, "You two think you can beat us?"
"We don't think, Emma," Jack replies. "We know." We all burst into laughter, and start the game.

                                        ~
After a few games, it's decided that Daniel, Zach and I won with only one point.
To celebrate, I offer to make some lemonade, because I know the boys could never figure out the right measurements.
"Do you remember where everything is?" Daniel asks me.
"I do," I say with a small smile.
I walk up the stairs to the kitchen, where I pull out a pitcher from one of the cabinets.
I start mixing the lemonade powder when I think I hear the front door open.
I lean my head closer to the front of the house, trying to hear if someone came in.
There's silence, so I go back to mixing the lemonade with a wooden spoon.
That's when I hear someone's shoes enter the kitchen. I turn my head out of curiosity.
I gasp, when the guy raises his head, and Jonah's surprised face appears in front of me.
"Em... Emma?" Jonah gasps covering his mouth.
I'm too stunned by the sight of him to say anything. Without thinking, I drop the spoon and I run past Jonah, and back downstairs.
"Emma?" Daniel says as he sees me run into the basement. "Are you okay?"
I gasp, "Jo... Jonah... he's... upstairs." I grab my hair, my head foggy.
"Jonah's home?" Jack says surprised.
Corbyn, Jack, and Daniel take off up the stairs, leaving me with Zach.
"Em, are you okay?" Zach asks with worried eyes.
"I... I don't know," I reply shaking my head.
"I've imagined what I'd say to him... if I ran into him," I say. "But when I saw him... I just froze."
"That's understandable," Zach says holding me to him. "You haven't seen him in awhile, it's natural to be nervous."
I nod. "He... broke my heart. But... I still love him... I don't think I'll ever stop loving him."
"Do you want me to walk you outside? We can leave out the sliding door down here, if you want."
"My phone is upstairs," I say with a sigh. "I have to go back up."
"Okay," Zach nods. "I'll come with you."
"Thank you," I say overwhelmed in appreciation for my best friend. He is still there for me even when I abandoned him for two years...
Zach leads me up the stairs, holding the door open for me at the top.
I can hear voices coming from the kitchen, where unfortunately my phone is plugged in.
I step a few feet closer to listen to the conversation.
"Bro, I thought you were getting back tomorrow," Corbyns voice says.
"The Airport cancelled that flight so we had to leave today," Jonah replies.
"I wouldn't have invited Em over if I knew you were getting back today," Daniel says softly.
It's not like I wanted to see him either Daniel.
"I... I don't even know what to say..." Jonah says. "When I saw Emma's face... my heart, it started racing. Like it did before."
"Are you going to talk to her?" Jack asks. "I think you probably owe her an explanation..."
"I... I don't think I can. She broke my heart when she left..."
"J, I know it will he hard for you, but you need to tell her the truth," Daniel says. "It's been two years, Jonah! You need to grow up and tell Emma the whole truth."
What truth? Jonah didn't want to be with me. That seems pretty simple and plain in my mind.
I cant just stand here and listen all day, so I work up the courage to walk into the kitchen.
Jonah has his head in his hands, leaning up against the counter. He doesn't notice that Zach and I have walked in, until Daniel says, "Oh, hey Em."
Jonah pops his head up and watches as I walk over to my phone.
"Just forgot my phone up here..." I say awkwardly.
"Are you leaving?" Daniel asks, as I move closer to the front hallway.
"Um I should go... maybe i'll see you guys again soon..."
"Em, Zach says tilting his head- sadly- "promise me you won't disappear again. My own cousin wouldn't even tell me where you were."
I cringe. I didn't think about how Harper and Zach's relationship would be strained because of me.
"I won't, I promise Zachy," I say hugging him tightly.
"Em, Daniel says frowning, "Please stay for dinner."
"I can't Dani..." I hug him next. I move onto Corbyn and Jack, and stop when only Jonah's left. This feels so familiar...
I turn my head from where he stands, and I walk towards the front door.
I have my hand on the handle when I hear Jonah's voice behind me. I pause, unsure if I should just ignore him or hear what he has to say.
"Emma, please," he says again.
I hesitantly turn around and say, "What, Jonah?" With every ounce of courage I have left.
"Can I talk to you? I need to explain everything from two years ago."
I close my eyes, trying to fight the tears that are beginning to appear.
"Okay," I mutter.
Jonah leads me to the back porch, where we sit around their glass table over looking the pool.
We're both silent, staring at our laps, until Jonah says, "I owe you the truth."
"What truth?" I ask quietly.
Jonah sighs, holding the back of his neck before he replies, "why I fought my feelings for you. Why I messed around with other girls."
I close my eyes, remembering all the pain I felt when I saw Jonah fooling around in front of me.
"Can you get on with it please?" I ask anxiously.
"Right," he says with an uncomfortable laugh.
"Wh... when I met you Emma, you changed my world. You... you stole my heart from the first night we talked on the couch, and every single night after that."
"Jonah..." I say shaking my head. "I can't hear this now... The..."
"Please, just hear me out," Jonah interrupts.
I sigh. "Okay, but please, please, don't say anything that we will both regret later."
Jonah nods in understanding and continues.
"I... I was about to ask you out when... I talked to Daniel and he said that you didn't like me like that..." Jonah pauses and kicks a rock underneath his foot.
"I was heartbroken when he said that. I had convinced myself that you liked me back... and when you didn't... I pushed you away."
My mind is racing. Jonah keeps talking, but the only thing I can hear- repeating over and over again- is what Jonah said about Daniel.
"Em? Are you still listening?" Jonah asks.
"Daniel told you that," I repeat.
"Yes..." Jonah says, obviously not picking up on the fact that I didn't know.
"He told you I didn't like him. That backstabbing jerk!" I yell.
Jonah stares at me wide eyed and says, "You didn't tell him that?"
"No! I thought you hated me! You were distant, and I thought it was all my fault," I say grabbing my hair.
"He lied." Jonah repeats, as surprised as me. "Wait. So does that mean you... you... did like me?"
"Yes, you idiot," I say. "I was in love with you for that whole year!"
Jonah shakes his head and says, "I have to talk to Daniel. I'll see you later." He gets up and goes into the house, leaving me on the porch, with new tears in my eyes.