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

Chapter 19

At 11 o'clock, I help Jonah upstairs to his bedroom.
We haven't really talked much since we got home- the awkwardness still hanging in the air.
"Do you need anything else?" I ask as sweet as I can, after i've helped him into bed.
"No i'm okay," Jonah says- obviously embarrassed.
"Good night then," I reply walking towards the door.
My fingers are on the door handle when Jonah says, "You can sleep in here if you want." I freeze.
Did Jonah just ask me to sleep in the same room with him?
"Um," I say glancing behind me at Jonah's shaded figure.
"Zach cleaned his sheets when he left," he adds. "Just in case."
"Um..." I reply. "I don't know if that would be the best idea..."
"Please?" Jonah asks- his voice soft.
In that moment, it's like I can feel my heart shattering in my chest.
I take a desperate gulp of air- taking a chance for once in my new college life.
"Okay."
Jonah doesn't say anything else, but I see the small smile appear on his lips.
I crawl into Zach's bed- the one next to Jonahs- and I face the wall.
"Goodnight Em," Jonah whispers.
"Goodnight Jonah," I respond- letting out the long breath I didn't know I was still holding.

                                      ~
At 9 am my alarm goes off, startling both me and Jonah awake.
"I haven't slept this late in forever," Jonah says quietly.
"Me neither," I reply- stepping out of the bed.
I feel Jonah's eyes on me, so I self consciously look down at myself.
Oh.
My shirt is pulled up- exposing my stomach.
I nonchalantly pull my shirt down.
"Do you need help getting up?" I ask- changing the subject.
"No I'm okay," Jonah says swinging his leg over the bed.
"I'll just need help down the stairs."
I nod and grab his crutches.
When we're both safely in the kitchen, I offer
to make Jonah breakfast before class.
"Thank you, Emma," Jonah says gratefully.
"It's no problem." I open the fridge to grab the eggs and bread.
"What classes do you have today?" he asks.
"I have a business and a gym course today," I reply cracking the eggs into the pan.
"Cool," Jonah replies with a small
smile. "Sometimes I wish I could have gone to college."
I meet his eyes. He looks sad, and it makes my heart hurt.
"You could take some classes from a community college," I offer- trying to help.
Jonah nods.
"It's impossible during tour," he replies with a sigh. "We travel for months non stop- there would be no time."
"That must be absolutely exhausting," I say with a mood lighting laugh.
"It really is," Jonah says laughing. "This break has kind of been nice in a way..."
"Yeah, must be nice to rest your voice. Singing that much must really hur..." but Jonah cuts me off.
"We aren't talking about the same thing."
What now?
"What are you talking about?" I ask with a hesitant laugh- looking away.
When he doesn't respond, I glance over to see Jonah take a deep breath, running one hand through his hair.
"I'm talking about you, Emma."
I tilt my head, still confused.
Jonah seems to read my mind because he continues.
"If it weren't for this break, I wouldn't have gotten you back in my life, Em."
"Oh..." I say, no other words coming to mind.
Jonah falters- watching my expression.
"Um... so back to college," he says suddenly- completely changing the subject.
I frown at the pan below me. We were so close to talking about the connection I know we both feel.
"Jonah." I turn around with a sudden burst of courage. "I need to tell you something."
His face looks confused at first, and then worried.
"I was in love with you two years ago," I say plain and simple. "I wanted to tell you, but when you brought all those beautiful girls home I realized that maybe the 'connection' was just one sided, so I waited. I waited until I knew for sure that you absolutely didn't want to be with me."
I continue to stare right into Jonah's eyes- no longer scared to confront him.
"You know what the best part about waiting desperately is? When the time doesn't come, you've waited long enough that the feelings really aren't there anymore."
Jonah's face contorts. "Wha... what?" He looks completely blindsided.
I turn back to the eggs, placing them on a plate next to the bread.
"Enjoy," I reply- waltzing out of the room.

                                      ~
"Hi?" I say into my phone.
"Hey, Emma. It's Dylan Cornfield." A small smile comes to my face.
"It's nice to talk to you again," I reply with a grin plastered to my face.
"Definitely," Dylan says with a laugh. "I called to ask if you want to go see a movie later tonight..."
I pause- a little nervous all of a sudden.
"I'd love that." I can't help but smile to myself, even though my stomach is twisted into a knot.
"Can I pick you up around 9?" Dylan asks.
"See you then, Dylan Cornfield."

                                       ~
"Where are you going?" Jonah asks curiously, as I walk into the house.
He looks my short sun dress up and down, obviously confused.
"I'm going on a date," I say nonchalantly, even though my insides feel like they're about to implode.
"A date?" Jonah says incredulously. "With who?"
"You're friend Dylan," I reply from the kitchen.
"Dylan asked you out?"
"Are we playing 20 questions or something?" I ask coming around the corner from the kitchen.
I hand Jonah a sandwich and an apple.
"Uh thanks, but can we go back to the date thing," he replies.
"What about it, Jonah? Can I not go out with someone I like?"
Jonah does respond. Instead, he turns away from me with a frown and flips the t.v on.
"Bye," I say walking out the way I came.
I stand on the steps waiting for Dylan.
When his silver convertible pulls up my jaw drops slightly.
"This is your car?" I ask surprised.
"Yeah, I help my dad fix em up, so for my birthday he gave me this," Dylan says patting the car.
"It's awesome," I say with a bright smile.
"Thanks." He leans forward and opens the door for me, ever the gentleman.
"So, what are we seeing?" I ask as we start to drive.
"Whatever you would like," Dylan replies with a smile- glancing at me.
I laugh and respond, "Wow, I should hang out with you more often!"
He starts to laugh too, flipping the radio on.
"This is my favorite station," I say over the radio- singing along.
"Me too," Dylan says singing with me.
By the time we get to the movie, I've had more fun than on any other date.
Dylan opens the door for me, and we hold hands into the theater.

~
"Thank you for everything," I say hugging Dylan. The movie went great- until he tried to kiss me in the middle.
When Dylan leaned in my first instinct was to kiss him. I swear I was about to- when Jonah's face popped into my mind. I couldn't get the image of him out of my mind, so I turned away from Dylan and pretended like I had no idea we were close enough to kiss.
"Of course," Dylan says grabbing the back of his neck- a smile playing on his lips.
I smile at him, and walk back into the house.
I lean against the door- letting out the breath i'd been holding since we almost kissed.
'Why didn't you kiss him?' I ask myself.
'You were so close!'
I push off the door and walk into the kitchen to grab some water.
I lean my head against the fridge door- shutting my eyes.
This feeling is so familiar.