Amore||Jake Shim

twenty-one

it was two days before finals and everyone was feeling hectic. the performance was put together and the costumes were fitted.

jake and ava practiced all week in his garage with the help of k, daniel, and taki. all five of them ended up getting much closer than expected, but they all really enjoyed each other's presence.

the boys discovered ava's talent for singing throughout the week, while she got to have a closer look on the boys' talents as well.

jake and ava were currently at his house practicing one last time with the boys and mrs. shim as an audience.

"ready?" jake asked ava as they got in formation.

"let's do this," ava replied with a smile.

daniel started the music and the pair began their performance.

jake slid his right foot backwards in a smooth motion, while ava moved her left foot towards jake's retreating one. looking into each other's eyes, jake dipped forward and tightened his grip on ava's waist.

their graceful performance continued as jake lifted ava up. spreading her arms and legs, ava soared in the air like an angel.

ava was brought back down and jake portrayed a motion that pushed ava away, his left hand still attached to her right. he then reeled her back in a spinning motion, allowing ava to fall perfectly in jake's strong arms that wrapped around her.

their performance ended as the two looked into each other's eyes with genuine smiles, their lips threatening to touch.

the music stopped and the room went silent, leaving jake and ava to focus on each other.

ava's smile slowly fell as everything in her turned serious. jake's heart beat became unsteady and he focused on ava's face, glancing from her eyes to her lips.

ava and jake's bond tightened over the past week and it was safe to say that they grew a much stronger connection than they ever had.

hesitating, ava backed up slowly, making the two snap back into reality.

"that was uh- that was a good practice," ava spoke quietly.

"yea," jake replied.

"you uh said you prepared food for us right mom?" jake asked mrs. shim.

"y-yea honey. i'll go set them out on the table," mrs. shim replied, wanting to leave the two alone.

"let us come help you mrs. shim," k called out, the three boys running into the house after her.

ava walked over to her water bottle and took a sip to distract herself from the awkward tension in the garage.

"when do we have to be at the dance studio on the day of the competition again?" jake asked.

"i think eight," ava replied without making eye contact with jake, "it's an hour drive, so we have to get there early."

"right," jake mumbled.

"well uh- i'm going to head inside first," ava said.

"yea go ahead."

ava walked into the house and shut the door, leaning her back against it.

"ava, what in the world was that?" she muttered to herself.

"do you like jake?"

ava turned her head and saw taki approach her, making her smile. she looked down at the water bottle in her hands as she tried to find the proper response.

"do i?" ava asked more to herself.

"i don't really know," ava answered, looking back at taki.

"you know that's not the first time your practices ended up like that. it's happened every time we monitored your practices and i think you like him," taki smiled.

"is it that obvious?"

"very."

taki's response made ava laugh, "well.."

"maybe i do like him," ava mumbled.

"finally," daniel and k sighed in unison, joining the conversation.

"you- i- i won't even ask," ava sighed back.

"well then what are you waiting for?" k asked.

"what am i waiting for?" ava chuckled, "everything."

"it hasn't even been a month since i've been back home."

"well .. i don't think there's such thing as falling in love too fast ava," k began, "love happens whenever it wants to happen."

"wahh .. how come i never knew you could talk like that?" daniel asked.

"because you never asked about it and it better stay that way," k replied, giving daniel a fatherly look.

"you three are unbelievable," ava laughed.