Dolph's pov
A few hours earlier.
"Dolph, can we talk?"
"I really don't have time Zack. I've gotta go meet AJ in the parking lot."
He scoffs at my mention of AJ. Forget this, I don't have time to listen to him be childish and complain about the girl that I'm dating. She's probably outside right now waiting for me and I know I'd much prefer to be in her company rather than the 'woo woo woo' kid.
"So, what, are you and AJ dating now?"
"What's it to you?"
"I'm just asking. Once upon a time you used to tell me everything and now it's as if you don't even want to know me."
"Yeah? Does it really seem that way? Maybe you should take the hint."
Ouch. That was pretty low of me. The hurt stemming from what I said is now etched across his face. Great, now I'm feeling guilty.
"Zack, I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. I just really have to get going."
"You didn't answer the question. Are you dating her?"
"Yes. We're going on our second date now."
"Okay. I'd love to be your protective best buddy and tell you that maybe you're making a mistake and I'm surprised you're dating her after everything she has done, but I'm honestly not surprised at all."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you've been completely in love with her since the day you met her. It was only a matter of time before you finally got with her."
What on earth is this idiot rambling on about? I'm not in love with AJ. We've only just started dating for crying out loud.
"I don't know what you've been smoking Zack, but I'm not in love with her. I like her a lot and that's it."
"Don't even deny it bro. Think about it, since the day you two met you were always texting, flirting, and I literally couldn't get you to shut up about her if I tried. Think about how messed up you were when you stopped talking to each other and think about how happy you've been now she's back in your life. I may have not talked to you much lately but I can tell from a mile away when you're in love with someone. You were the same way with.."
"Don't even say her name."
"Okay I won't say it. But you know you feel the same way about AJ. Maybe even a little more."
Is he right? I know I was protective over AJ a few years ago. I know I cared about her and realised later on that I had feelings for her but.. Love? I don't know.
"I don't know what to say to that. I think you're more crazy than what everyone else makes AJ out to be!"
"Oh come on Dolph! You say you like her a lot right? Well you've liked her a lot for just over two years now. No-one just likes someone that much for that long without being in love with them."
"Whatever man. I really have to go."
I can't deal with this crap at 10:30 on a Monday night. I don't want to think about being in love with AJ when we've just started dating. That's just too much right now. I shake my head hoping to try and think of something else as I'm about to make my exit out of the arena.
"Hey wait a minute."
God, Zack just doesn't quit. "What?"
"You've been a pretty big jerk over the past few months. But just so you know, I still consider you to be one of my best friends and if this thing goes wrong or you want to talk about anything, remember that I'll still be here for you no matter what."
"Anyway, where were we handsome?"
AJ moves her petite frame closer to mine and throws her arms around my neck for the second time tonight. I lean forward to leave a tender kiss upon her lips and when I pull back I take a moment to study her. She really is gorgeous. She is the definition of mesmerising. Whenever I'm around her she just seems to captivate me. It's almost as if she has me under some sort of spell. Zack's words are still playing on my mind. Maybe he is right. Maybe I am in love with her.
Even if I was, who could blame me? She's one of the greatest girls I've ever met. If I'm completely honest with myself, I don't think I ever felt this way about Nikki. She just didn't get me the way AJ does.
"Can I be completely honest with you AJ?"
She smiles and the presses her forehead to mine. Kinda reminds me of those silly yet romantic Christmas segments that we filmed not so long ago. "You know that you can."
Here goes nothing. "I think.. I think I'm falling in love with you."
She slowly pulls away from me, clearly in shock over the words that I have just uttered to her and says "Oh."
Oh. I tell her something so monumental in our relationship for the first time and all she can say is 'Oh'. She gets up, walks over to her suitcase and starts playing around with something inside it.
"Um, AJ? Did you hear what I just said?"
"I heard you."
This wasn't exactly the kind of reaction I was hoping to get from her. I thought she would at least be a little more receptive of my feelings. Or did I just imagine everything that's happened between the two of us lately?
"Well I.. uhh.."
"Why would you say that to me?"
"Excuse me?"
"You don't say things like that to someone on a second date!"
"You said that I could be honest with you."
"Not that honest! You can't.. You can't.."
"I can't what?"
"You can't possibly be falling in love with me."
She's now pacing up and down the room whilst playing with her hair. She's nervous. And agitated. This certainly isn't how I wanted this night to go.
"What do you mean I can't? I can't help the way I feel about you AJ."
"Yes. Yes you can. Maybe this was all a mistake. All of it. We shouldn't be dating, we're only supposed to together on TV."
She's losing her mind. I dash over to her side to try and calm her down. Her spellbinding brown orbs are now beginning to fill with tears. How could everything have been so different just two minutes ago?
"Just calm down alright? Why are you getting so worked up over this? I thought that most girls would want to hear that from a guy they are supposed to like."
"I am not most girls! Dolph, you know that I like you but you're not supposed to feel this way about me okay, you deserve someone else. Someone better."
"Oh my god, Will you please just stop it with this little idea in your head that you are not good enough AJ!"
"But I'm not good enough! Not for you anyway. Look at all the trouble I've caused you! Before I came back into your life you were on a roll and now look, you're starting to lose more matches and you've just told me that you're falling in love with me. I'm clearly just messing things up for you."
I cup her face with my hands to make sure that she listens to what I am about to say.
"You are just overreacting babe. Trust me when I tell you that you're not messing anything up for me at all. You are more than good enough for me, in fact I'm the one who should be saying that I'm not good enough for you!"
She closes her eyes to try and get rid of the tears. It pains me to know that I'm the one who has made her become so frantic. My one weakness will always be crying women, and if there is one woman who I would want to see smile every single day, it's AJ.
"You know what, I am overreacting. But can you blame me? This is our second date and you shock the hell out of me by saying that."
"Come on AJ, whether it's our second date or not we have had feelings for each other for such a long time now."
She starts to smile. It's not really a genuine one, but more of a smile filled with distress. She takes hold of my hands and starts to play with them.
"I can't deal with this right now Dolph. I'm sorry."
She's walking away from me. Is she actually going to leave? My heart starts to race at the mere thought of her not wanting to see me again.
"You're leaving?"
"I'm really emotional right now. I think it is best if I just stay by myself for a little bit."
She really is walking out. I can feel the heartache and rage build up within me. It's time for me to be truthful not only to myself, but to her too. Zack was right.
"So you just freak out after the first time I tell you I'm falling in love with you? Are you serious? Well you know what AJ? I am not falling in love with you. I am in love with you. And I think I have been since the first day I saw you. But if you're just going to leave me every time things go a little crazy or just too much for you to handle, then just walk out now and we'll drop everything that we have together."
She comes to a halt just before the door. The short moment that she is frozen in her spot seems like it lasted a lifetime. She then turns around to look at me. Tears are unmistakably streaming down her face now. The sight of her so damaged breaks my heart. She briefly wipes them off from her cheeks and then hastily makes her exit out of my hotel room.
I haven't felt this destroyed in a long time. Just five minutes ago I was kissing her dainty lips and now she's gone. Maybe forever. I have just poured my heart out to the woman that I love and she has ultimately just shattered it into a million pieces. How I'm going to recover from this, I'm not sure.
Intense chapter for you guys. Hope people enjoyed it anyway. Reviews are always welcome :).