From now on

Chapter four

"Stace." Joe called out, knocking on Stacey's dressing room door. It was nine am on semi finals day, and he couldn't wait another moment to break the good news to her. "Stace?"

"Oh, Sorry Joseph, just been on the phone to mum. Come in," she invited him inside, and he plunked his bag down before walking around the room that had all sorts of little trinkets around the place, photos and memories and things. "So how's everything going?"

"Couldn't be better." He said, seeing her shoot him an expectant look. "I, er. I asked Dianne to move in, Di and Em." Her jaw dropped open to the floor, everything falling out of her hands. It was exactly the kind of reaction he expected from his ginger friend. He grinned. "And they said yes."

She practically screamed the place down, quite similar to what Emelia had done. "Oh my god that's amazing!" They hugged. "I'm so happy for you guys, you must be over the moon!"

"We are." He said, reminiscing. After a moment he nodded. "Things have moved fast, Sure." She nodded, there was no pretending. Things had moved quickly. "But...you know how they say when you know you know?" She nodded. "I knew."

"I think we all bloody knew!" She laughed, him bursting out into a loud belly laugh. He sat down on the sofa. "You guys wandering around with heart eyes for each other."

He scowled. "Shut up."

She laughed. "Not a chance. But anyway, it's so lovely to see you like this, happy." As she said this, she sat down and put a supportive arm around his shoulders, seeing him smile gratefully at her while she spoke. "It's all I want for you bro, to be happy."

"And especially after what you've told me, not having a million girls chase after you, why not I'll never have clue cos you're a bloody gooden'"

She spoke lightheartedly and pat his shoulder encouragingly, them both chuckling.

She truly did mean what she said, she knew Joe was a great guy, and deserved more luck than he had been given, but at the same time also knew that when the time was right, he would find love.

"But I'm just so happy for you bro, finally finding someone. You really do deserve it, even if it's taken longer than wished for. Like they say Joe, good things come..." She looked at him, the two friends smiling towards each other.

He finished her sentence. "...to those who wait." He sighed, looking down at the ground. "And she was definitely worth the wait." With every word, a new inch of skin flushed red, unexpectedly and betraying him, even if it was only in front of Stacey. He had tried, he had waited, and he had been patient in the hope and belief that everything happens for a reason. This was for finding someone, but finding the one? He had kept this hope low as normally you go through a few relationships before you find the one, but maybe he had found, the one.

She sat down beside him, nodding and unable to hide her giant smile, full of emotion. Stacey was full joy and very emotional, and she wasn't even the one in love, but he was, and she could see how happy he was which in turn made her happy, and happy for him.

Stacey rested her hands in her lap, smiling at what he had said. Sighing as she felt a tear prick in her eyes, she chuckled from the tears, quietly.

"You really have found her, haven't you?"

She asked, turning to face her friend, who had yet to lift his gaze from the floor.

The two had been friends since day one, pals from the start, and they had the kind of relationship that felt like a brother and sister, and it was sweet. When he started to fall for Dianne, she could see him changing, becoming happier. She could only imagine how even more special it would feel, this being his first time in love: feeling those infamous butterflies for the first time, feeling your cheeks go red at the thought of them for the first time, feeling yourself feel powerful and vulnerable and nervous and elated all at once. She had seen his first love first hand, and she had a funny feeling that it would be his last. She had seen people fall in love, most of the time to fall out of love again and move on.