Chapter 10 – The Truth Comes Out – Part Two

Emma got up from the couch and walked out of the reach of Mitch and Kirstie and headed towards the door. Scott reached for her arm, but she pulled away and continued on. She knew that pulling away from him wasn't going to make him happy, but she needed space. She wanted out of this room. She could hear voices behind her, but she wasn't paying attention. She felt the room closing in on her and she wanted to get away as fast as she could now. She knew how Scott felt about her, but what she didn't know was how Scott felt about Esther. Esther just professed her feelings for Scott in front of everyone. Emma grabbed her coat and purse on the way out and headed down the long hallway towards the elevators. She waited for the elevator and could hear someone sprinting towards the elevators.

***BACK IN THE LIVING ROOM***

"Esther, do you really like Scott?" Kevin asked almost shocked.

Esther looked at Kevin and frowned and looked down at the ground. She couldn't bear to look at Kevin or anyone. Avi spoke now, "Esther, can we go talk?"

Esther looked over at Avi who seemed disappointed and she nodded. They headed into her bedroom and Esther prepared herself for what her brother was going to say. She really didn't know what he was going to say. Avi paced the length of her room and Esther finally said, "Avi, just say something please."

"Esther, since when have you liked Scott? I thought you liked Kevin? You know that Scott loves Emma, why would you say that? You should have lied, I know that is horrible to say, but what did you expect to happen when you said that?" Avi said. Avi had stopped pacing and was now facing Esther with a look of concern on his face.

Esther took a deep breath and said, "Avi, you of all people should know what it's like to like someone from afar. You liked Kirstie for so long before you made a move. I have liked Scott since the beginning. I also like Kevin. I can't help how my heart feels. I like them both. I know that Scott is with Emma, but I can't help how I feel. I thought that kiss at that party was going to be the start of something, but it never happened. I wasn't able to come to the beach house this summer, and I could kick myself for that, because I feel that if I was able to come there, I could have made my move. Now, believe me when I say, I see how he is when he looks at Emma and I can tell that he loves her, but I truly believe that I can make him happy too. I just didn't want to lie to Emma, she's one of my best friends and I want to continue being her best friend, I just wanted to be truthful."

Avi took all of what Esther was saying and didn't really know how to respond to his sister. He didn't want to see her hurt at all. He did not how it was to like someone from afar; he had liked Kirstie since the very first introduction. He looked at his sister with empathy, for he had a feeling that this was not going to turn out the way it did for him. He looked at her and said, "You have to talk to Kevin if you like him."

"I know, I know. I wasn't really thinking clearly. I can't believe that I just said that out loud. What am I going to do, Avi?" Esther cried.

"I think you have to have some talks with Kevin, Emma, and Scott. You need to be honest with yourself and your friends. You are our crew manager and you are a part of this group. We can't lose you," Avi said trying to as sensitive as he could.

"Okay, Avi," was all that Esther said and then walked back out to the room where she no longer saw Scott or Kevin. She looked to the couch where Kirstie and Mitch were staring at her; clearly they had just been talking about her.

"I'm sorry, guys; I didn't mean to cause such a mess. Where did Kevin and Scott go?" Esther asked.

"Kevin went to his room and Scott headed after Emma almost as soon as you two headed towards your room," Mitch said.

Esther nodded and headed towards Kevin's room.

*** BACK AT THE ELEVATORS ***

"Em, where are you going? We need to talk about this," Scott said catching his breath.

"Scott, what do you want to talk about? Esther just told the entire room that she likes you, she had some private photos on her laptop of y'all, and this time tomorrow, your millions of fans will be obsessed with you both. Did I miss anything?" Emma said trying to hold back her jealous tears that were waiting to pour out of her.

"Emma, those photos were taken last year, I had no idea that she had them still. I forgot about that night to be honest with you. I don't think that Esther likes me in the way she thinks she does. Regardless of what comes out tomorrow to the world, no one can tell me how I feel about you, you know that I love you," Scott said touching Emma's arm gently.

With this, Emma couldn't help but look into Scott's eyes, he was sincere and being very honest with her. "I love you," Emma said with a small smile.

"Can you come back with me now, please?" Scott asked smiling and pulling Emma playfully.

"Scott, I can't. I love you, but I still need some time away from what just unfolded. I'll be okay, I just need to not be around Esther right now."

"What if we go into your suite entrance from the hallway, you won't see Esther at all?" Scott asked hopeful.

"You aren't going to give up, are you?" Emma asked knowing the answer.

Scott shook his head and stepped closer to Emma and pulled her towards him. He put a strand of hair behind her ear and placed his hand on her cheek and leaned in and whispered into her ear, "Emma, I love you more than you will ever know, I'm sorry the photos hurt you. Please come back with me."

He leaned back slightly and kissed Emma lightly and Emma responded by wrapping her arms around him and kissing him back.

They entered Emma's suite through the hallway door and locked the door for both the hallway and the shared suites common area door. Scott pulled Emma into his arms and kissed her and she knew that in that moment, Scott did love her and only her. She hoped that he knew the same.

*** AT KEVIN'S DOOR ***

"Kevin, please let me in," Esther said through a closed door. She knocked softly again and then heard the door click open. She slowly pushed the door open and saw that Kevin was unpacking his suitcase.

"I'm sorry, Kevin," Esther said walking towards Kevin, who was barely looking her way.

After a few moments of awkward silence, Esther said, "Kevin, I have to tell you something."

Kevin looked towards her and said, "I think you just did, back in the living room."

Esther shook her head and said, "Not that, the thing is Kevin, I like you and every day I like you more and more."

Kevin looked at Esther with such a strange expression on his face and said, "What?"

Esther sat in an available chair facing Kevin and took a deep breath. She put her hair behind her ears and cleared her throat and said, "Kev, I like you. I know what I said in the living room, but the truth is, I like you both. I know that is crazy to hear and it might be hurtful, but I can't help it. I really like you."

Kevin sat on the edge of his bed facing Esther and said, "How can you like both of us? He's with Emma? I don't think he's going to leave her."

Esther shrugged and said, "I don't know, I just do."

Kevin then said, "I'm sure that you know that I like you. I have been trying to find a way to tell you for months. I think you are amazing, Esther. But, I have to tell you, I don't know how to process that you like Scott and me both."

Esther then changed the subject for a moment after seeing the suitcase on his bed, "Why were you unpacking, were you planning on leaving?"

"I was. I was so pissed at Scott for kissing you at that party. I'm still a little bit mad, but I'll get over it. It was a long time ago and it's not like we were together. He still broke the brother code though, just saying." Kevin said.

"How did you calm down so fast?" Esther asked.

"I've never been the type to stay mad for long, I don't know. Scott and I also talked for a bit before you confessed your feelings to everyone." Kevin said.

Esther placed her head in her hands and wanted to rewind to that moment, rewind this whole evening. Scott was right, they should have come right out of the room and told everyone before the e-mail went out, but how was she to know that the e-mail was going to be sent out to everyone instantly. Esther raised her head and said, "Kevin, why are you being so nice to me?"

Kevin stood up and walked over to where Esther was sitting and bent down to where he was eye level with her and said, "Esther, I like you. I really like you. It's easy to be nice to you. I'm confused and hurt, but it won't stop me from being kind to you."

Esther smiled and realized it was the first time she smiled since this whole mess began. She leaned forward and hugged Kevin and said, "Thank you for being so sweet. I don't mean to confuse you and hurt you."

Kevin hugged Esther back and felt like there had been a weight lifted off his shoulders because he was able to share his big secret with Esther. He hoped that Esther would see that she didn't have a chance with Scott and that she would have a great chance with him. But, she was going to have to see that for herself.

***IN THE LIVING ROOM***

Avi, Mitch, and Kirstie were all sitting alone in the living room as Esther was in Kevin's room and Scott was somewhere with Emma, they didn't know where. Mitch finally said something in the silence and said, "Okay, what the hell just happened? Did all of this just go down? Am I in an episode of the Kardashian's?"

Kirstie smirked and said, "Mitchie, don't make jokes." She turned to Avi and said, "Avi, since when does Esther have a thing for Scott?"

"Hey, don't look at me, I had no idea. And since when did two of the three musketeers not know about a photo booth make out session?" Avi asked looking at both Kirstie and Mitch.

Kirstie and Mitch shared a glance and Kirstie knew that look in Mitch's eye and said, "You knew, Mitchie!"

Mitch said, "Well, I didn't think anything of it since nothing happened from it. We are talking about something that happened over eight months ago."

"I can't believe you knew and didn't tell me?" Kirstie teased.

Mitch smiled and then added, "Do you think that Esther really likes Scott?"

Avi nodded and said, "Yes, unfortunately, I believe she does. She also likes Kevin."

Mitch and Kirstie both nodded and Kirstie said, "Sounds like she might get hurt, if she goes down the Scott path. I think Scott's pretty much madly in love with Em."

Mitch said, "Yea, I agree with you."

"I feel bad for her; I know what it's like to be in her position. I liked you, Kirstie, for years, before I said anything," Avi said.

Kirstie leaned over and touched Avi's arm and smiled. Mitch smiled and said, "I should let you two have some alone time, I'm going to go get ready for bed, I doubt we will see any more drama tonight."

Kirstie said, "I'm actually tired, I'm going to go get ready for bed also."

Yawning, Avi said, "Me too, I'm tired too." Then he smiled and winked towards Kirstie and grabbed her hand and they headed towards his room. Mitch smiled and shook his head, "You two are so silly."

***BACK IN KEVIN'S ROOM***

"Well, I'm going to go get ready for bed now, Kevin. Thanks for listening to me," Esther said.

"Of course, Esther, I'm not going to give up on you, I hope you know that," Kevin said with a wide smile.

"I hope not," Esther said as she walked towards the door and turned back around and said, "Good night."

Esther stepped out into the living room and saw that no one was around. She wondered if Emma or Scott were back. She needed to talk to Scott and she wanted to talk to Emma. She went to Scott's door and knocked and the door was unlocked. She slowly opened it and peeked in and saw that Scott was nowhere to be seen. She then walked over to Emma's door and knocked softly. She heard some noise and then heard the door unlock and open slightly, it was Emma.

"Esther, can I help you?" Emma said, almost coldly.

"Em, can we talk? I want to apologize for earlier, that was not fair to you. I really feel like you'll feel better about everything after we talk," Esther said. Esther had no idea that Scott was just mere feet away lying in Emma's bed. Emma kept the door just opened enough for her to talk to Esther.

"Esther, not tonight, okay," Emma said.

"Why?" Esther said.

Looking back over her shoulder at Scott, Emma turned back towards Esther and said, "Because, it's not really a good time, okay."

Esther looked confused and then it came to her, "Oh, you have someone in your room."

"Yes, if you must know," Emma said strangely and then said, "Esther, we can talk tomorrow, okay."

Esther smiled awkwardly and said, "Okay, by the way, have you seen Scott?"

Smiling right back, Emma said, "Yea, why?"

By this time, Scott had gotten up to see what was taking so long at the door and leaned over Emma and looked at Esther and then frowned. Esther saw the shirtless Scott standing behind Emma. His hair was messy and come to speak of it, so was Emma's. Everything was becoming clearer to her and she stepped back and said, "Sorry, guys, didn't mean to uh, bother you."

Scott said, "Good night, Esther", and closed the door and locked it.

Esther headed to her room and closed the door behind her and went to her desk and sat down at her laptop. She opened the photos again and looked at them and closed the private folder and her laptop. Tomorrow was a new day and she really needed to figure her feelings out.

TO BE CONTINUED…