The Next Step A-Z One Shots 4

Parallel World -Pinn

DESCRIPTION: Piper struggles with her feelings for Finn. (S7 AU)
WHAT TO READ: N/A
DATE PUBLISHED: 07/11/20

Piper's POV

"Should I speak at all?
Or leave it alone?"

This whole day I have helped Finn plan his date with my best friend - because I made a deal with him: a deal that meant I had to say "yes" to everything. But all today proved was why I say no. It protects me from heartbreak and disappointment - and that's all I felt today.

"I won't forget this moment"

I was heartbroken seeing Finn and Amy riding the tandem bike out of Studio A to go on a date. This wasn't my intention when I first made them spend time together. Amy had disliked Finn from the moment she came back to the studio: he had "stolen" me from her while she was at AcroNation, and thought he should be out-of-the-picture because she was back. And Finn. He was disappointed in Amy because she wasn't there when I needed her - but he was. I thought that if they'd spend an hour or two together while I went to the airport, that the would talk about their issues with each other. Instead, they started to like each other - as more than friends. I thought that this would never happen, I thought I had a chance. But now my best friend is dating the guy I like. The guy who I held back feelings for because I was scared. But it's too late now, he's moved on.

"So
You can hear my..."

As I look in the mirror, moving the hair from my face so that I can see myself, I catch sight of someone else.

"Finn," I say turning to face him.

A smile shows on his face, "that was amazing!"

And as much as I want to thank him, all I'm thinking is why he's here. Where is my best friend? The one he was supposed to be on a date with right now? "What are you doing here?"

"I need to talk to you," he says walking towards me. "I didn't want to say anything before, because I remember what you told me when we first became friends. But I can't."

"What are you trying to say?" I ask, wrapping my arms around my body. I don't know what he was getting at, but if he's here and not with Amy, it can't be good.

"You're the one. Always."

He can't be saying this. Not now. He has Amy, and I know she doesn't deserve to have her heartbroken again. As much as I like Finn, and as much as I want to be with him, my friendship with Amy comes first.

"I'm sorry," I tell him before walking past him and taking my bag from the cubbies.

I need to talk to Amy about this. Finn left their date to tell me how he feels, so I can't imagine how she's feeling right now. I know that she needs me more than Finn does.

"Hey, Amy," I say as I come to the doorway of the locker room. There, I see Amy sitting on one of the benches. But she seemed fine - she was smiling at her phone.

"Hey!" She says excitedly. Now I'm really worried about telling her about what Finn told me. She looks so happy.

"Finn came to talk to me," I say wringing out my hands and looking down at my bare feet. Why hadn't I put on my sneakers before I came here?

"Good," Amy says standing up. What could be positive about your boyfriend talking to your best friend? And she's not clueless. She'd know what he talked to me about. "I told him to."

"So you told him to tell me that he likes me?" I question looking at Amy. I really thought she liked Finn. I moved on to make her happy, and now she's setting us up?

"Yeah. We were on our date and he couldn't stop talking about what you two did today."

"But, you like him," I remind her. I'm not going to let her get heartbroken again just for me. She's doesn't deserve it.

"I guess," Amy shrugs. "But, it doesn't feel like we were dating when we spend time together. It feels like we're two friends. I want a relationship where it feels like it's meant to be. And I know he does too. That's what you are for him."

This whole time I had thought that I was forgotten about - merely a third-wheel. Instead, I'm their only thought. I feel terrible. Amy was supposed to end up happy, not with a guy she doesn't truly like.

"I'm sorry," I tell her before I walk up to her to hug her.

"Don't be," Amy replies before pulling out of the hug and looking behind me. "Just talk to him."

Yeah. Like he's going to want to talk to me after I ran away before. I'd be lucky if he still wants to be in the same room as me. Finn's always liked me, and (even though I just realised) I've always liked him too. But I'm not sure whether he wants me now. I prioritised my best friend over him.

"Pipes," I hear from the direction I had just come. I freeze up, but Amy is quick to turn me around so I can see him.

"You got this," Amy whispers to me before heading out of the locker room and leaving Finn and me alone. Now I have no choice but to tell him.

"I'm sorry for putting all that on you before," he says still standing by the doorway.

"No, um, it's okay," I say fidgeting with the bottom of my shorts. "I, um, I like you too."

Finn seems to smile at that comment. Whether he's known this whole time or not, I don't know. But by the looks of it, he's been waiting for me to say those words for a long time. I've been wanting to say that for a long, but my fears just got the better of me.

"Every time we go to the movies together, I've hoped that it was a date. But you told me that you were over your crush," Finn nods understandingly before taking both of my hands in his. Now, instead of fidgeting with my shorts, I'm fidgeting with his hands. Which, now that I've done it, feels a lot more therapeutic than the other method. This is what I was missing. "You are the only person who knows how to calm me down when I'm stressed out. You are the only person I want to spend time with. I really like you."

"I really like you too, Pipes," he says smiling down at me. "And I'm sorry for making you think that my feelings for you didn't exist. They always have. I just thought you'd never tell me you felt the same way."

We could've been together at any point during our friendship, but instead, I hid behind my feelings and made Finn think that I'd never like him. I feel so stupid. Things could've been easier for us. "We could've said this a long time ago," I tell him.

"I know," he replies. "But I don't care. I would've waited a hundred years for you. You're worth it."

I know what's coming next, but it still surprises me when his lips touch mine. It feels like my missing piece has been found. Even though Finn's always been there, we were always destined to be together. This feels right. Us together. Kissing.

Finn pulls away. "I really like you, Piper."

"I really like you too," I say before standing on my toes to kiss him again.

I'm always going to be able to tell him how much I like him, but right now, I don't want this moment to end. We're only going to have our first kiss once. We're only going to get together once. And I'm not going to let it end any time soon.