I'M BACK!

Chapter 22

*Gale's pov*

I run as fast as I can to Lori's house, I know she must hate me, but I have to explain. She has to hear it from me. When I get to the house I find the door knob melted so I run straight in and down into the basement. I had never been in here since they changed it to her room because I'm not allowed down here alone with her, but right now I don't care. I run to the first door and hear someone crying. I knock on the door and I hear a shuffle of steps, then Nashi is staring at me. She comes out of the room and shuts the door, so Lori can't hear my voice. "What the hell do you want?!"

"To speak to Lori." I say.

"Why should I let you?" She asks.

"Because I know the full story. You know me Nash, I wouldn't hurt her like this." I say.
She studies me for a minute and then says, "fine, but I want an explanation first." She says.

"There's no time, Storm yelled at me in front of the whole guild and I'm pretty sure Romeo and some others are chasing me." I say.

Nashi groans but I know she understands and she reluctantly opens the door then shuts and locks it as I walk into Lori's room with her. As soon as it is locked we hear a pounding of footsteps.

I try to block it out as I focus my attention at Lori who is looking at me with puffy eyes and a bad attempt at a mad face. "What do you want?"

"To talk. Give me a minute to explain." I say.

That's when someone starts to pound on the door. "LORI!" Screams Romeo.

We all block it out and I turn my attention back to my crying girlfriend.

Nashi sits down beside her and says, "Let's give him a chance."

Lori nods and I start to talk. "So Nova asked me to come outside and she started rambling about stuff and I told her to get to the point and she kissed me. I didn't push her off right away because I was so surprised at what she did, but as soon as I came to my senses I shoved her into a wall. I wasn't gonna say anything to anyone about it because she is respected in the guild and she is our friend, but now I don't care. You mean the world to me Lori. I love you and I don't care what Nova does. I didn't kiss Nova she kissed me." I say hoping she can believe me.

"Really?" Asks Lori.

"Yes Lori. I would never hurt you." I say. I hate knowing that she has been crying because of me.

"But why would Nova do that? She's my friend." Lori says.

"I don't think she meant to cause this Lori she just wanted me to know how she felt. She said she had felt this way for a long time and it was eating her alive not to tell me." I say.

Then Nashi intervenes, "I'm sorry I doubted you Gale and Lori, I agree with Gale. Nova didn't mean for this to happen. She wouldn't do this purposely."

"Thanks Nash," I say pulling her into a hug.

Lori sighs, "So she kissed you right?"

I nod and she wraps her arms around me pulling me into a tight hug. "Promise you will always be here for me."

"I will," I say.

"Ok well I forgive you." She says.

"Thank you" I say.

I'm so happy she forgives me, now I just have to deal with the angry mob unforgiving men at the door.

*Lori's pov*

I listened to Gale's story and I could tell by the look in his eyes, he wasn't lying. I'm so happy.

*Rose's pov*

Rin and I run after Nova and soon we find her crying on a park bench near Magnolia square. I look at Rin and say, "Thank you for helping me find her, but I need to talk to her alone." I say.

He nods and kisses my cheek before walking away.

I walk over to the bench and sit down. Nova doesn't seem to notice until I put an arm around her and say, "Nove, what's going on?"

She looks at me with teary eyes and says, "I-i t-tried-d to t-tell G-gale h-how-w I-i fe-feel."

Nova told me that she liked Gale a long time ago, but I thought she was over it. "You what? I thought you were over that."

She wipes her eyes and speaks again, "Me too, but I guess not."

"What made you realize you weren't over him?" I ask.

"Seeing him with Lori."

"So I'm guessing you kissed him?" I ask.

She nods.

"Why?"

"Because I tried saying it, but I just started rambling I got so nervous… it was the only way I could say how I felt." She starts to cry again and I let her cry in my shoulder.

When she is calm again she speaks, "I never wanted to ruin his relationship with Lori. It was just killing me to keep it bottled up." Nova says.

"Well maybe you should go explain it to Lori." I say.

She nods and we start to stand up when I see something red sticking out of the side of a tree that is really close to the bench we are sitting on.

"REIKI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I scream.

Nova blushes as my younger brother comes out from behind the tree, I start to speak, but then I notice he isn't looking at me, but staring directly at Nova. It all clicks… Rin saying my brother had a crush on someone I know who it is, but before I can speak Reiki walks over to Nova and starts to talk.

*Nova's pov*

"I'm sorry for eavesdropping Nova, I-i just wanted to make sure you w-were ok." He says nervously. Why is he nervous.

"It's ok Reiki. I'm ok." I say.

"No your not." He says. I blush, how would he know that. I look over at Rose and she shrugs.
"Yes I am."

"Nova, I've grown up knowing you. Deny it all you want, but I know that deep down, you're hurting inside." Reiki says.

I start to tear up and he just pulls me into a hug as the tears get worse and worse. I end up crying into his shoulder as he rubs the back of my head and tells me "let it out" and "it will be ok". When I finally calm down I look around and see that Rose walked away leaving us alone.

We sit back down on the bench and I look at him. "It will get easier." He says.

"What does?" I ask.

"Acceptance." He says looking away.

"Acceptance of what?" I ask confused.

"Accepting that you can't make him happy." He says.

"How would you know anything about accepting that you can't make Gale happy?" I ask really confused.

He laughs and then sighs, "not Gale specifically… accepting that you can't make the one you love happy. That they don't want you." He says looking away.

"You love someone? Who doesn't love you back?" I ask.

He nods.

"Who?" I ask.

"You don't know her." He says.

"Well, tell me something about her and how do you know she doesn't like you back?" I ask.

He sighs, "well, she's beautiful and she has the prettiest smile and I love to hear her laugh and it's because I know she loves someone else and I'm nothing like him."

I look directly at him, "so she's in a relationship too?"

"No, she's not, but she wouldn't want me." He says.

"Reiki…. You have to tell her, or you will end up like me. I think about it a lot if I had only told Gale how I felt a year ago, he might be with me, but I was too scared and now I've lost my shot. You're my friend I don't want to see you heartbroken like that. Promise me you won't wait til it's too late. She might like you and if she rejects you at least you asked." I say. Maybe I can use this heartbreak to help him.

Reiki gulps before saying, "Ok Nova, I will."

"Good and make sure you tell me how it goes." I say.

"Ok I will." He says.

"Do you want to go with me to Lori's? I need to apologize."

He nods and grabs my hand as we walk off. I take it smiling. I'm so glad I have great friends to support me.

*Rin's pov*

I stay close by, so I can go meet back up with Rose when she has finished girl talk with Nova. I had just gotten a hot dog when I see Rose coming towards me. I take a bite of the hot dog as she comes closer. "Hey Rose." I say after I swallow.

"Why didn't you tell me my brother likes my best friend?" She whispers.

I gasp and say, "how do you know that?"

"He was spying on Nova and me. I caught him, but when he came out from behind the tree he was staring at Nova. I saw how he was looking at her. How long has he liked her?" Rose asks.

"A long time." I say.

"Well, I hope she lets him in. I mean I don't want her to date my brother, but honestly, Reiki would be a good fit for her. Their both competitive and stupid at times, super strong, and they would look so cute together." Rose says.

I nod and grab her hand. "Well let's go to the guild Reiki can handle Nova."

She nods and we head to the guild.

*Lori's pov*

As soon as Gale and I made up I told Nashi to open the door and then the mob ran in, but before anyone could harm Gale I screamed, "NO ONE IS TOUCHING GALE UNTIL THEY HEAR THE FULL STORY!"

Macao glares at Gale, but leans against the wall with Kyle and Max sits beside Nashi ready to listen. Romeo starts to complain, but Wendy stops him and he groans as Gale starts to tells them what he told me. Storm runs in just as he starts and goes over to Nashi and slaps him and yells, "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW TO BE DISCREET. I ASKED YOU TO TALK TO GALE, NOT YELL AT HIM AND NOVA IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE GUILD!"

Storm rubs his cheek before replying, "Damn, Nash your getting stronger and yes I do, but I was worried about finding out not being discreet!"

"I've been training and next time use your head before you speak." Snaps Nashi, before she shoots Gale an apologetic look that says, I'm sorry, you can restart your story.

Gale starts again and when he finishes Wendy was the first to speak, "well, Gale I don't think it was your fault. Nor do I think Nova planned for this. If Lori forgives you so do I."

Gale thanks her and Romeo speaks, "Gale, I understand, but DON'T YOU EVER MAKE MY LITTLE GIRL CRY AGAIN."

Gale promises to never do that again and Macao speaks up, "Be careful with my granddaughter."

Kyle walks over and punches him in the shoulder before saying, "I'm watching you Redfox".

Max doesn't say anything and Storm tells Gale that he was sorry for jumping to conclusions.

By now everyone, but Gale and I have left. I start to get up when Someone appears at my open door. "Lori..."

"Nova.." I say coldly.

Nova walks towards me as she speaks, "Lori, I'm really sorry I never meant to hurt your relationship, but it was killing me not to tell Gale how I felt, but now that it's off my chest I can start to move on. I hope you don't hate me… I understand if you do, but I couldn't take it anymore. Bottling up my feelings was just getting too hard. But I just came to apologize, I'll leave now."
I notice that Reiki is standing behind her and just as they start to walk away I speak, "It's ok Nova, I can understand how suppressing your feelings hurts. I don't hate you."

She smiles and says, "You and Gale are good together."

I smile back and say, "Yeah we are and Nova if you ever need to talk to someone you can come to me."

Then I run over and hug the younger girl before she walks away with Reiki. I look at Gale and say, "Now that everything is better. Let's go on our mission."
"Yea," he says ands we head off to go on our mission.

*Reiki's pov*

I walk Nova to her house and then I walk home. As I walk home, I think about my promise. Isn't it weird that I promised the girl I liked that I would ask her out without her realizing it?

I walk into my house and say nothing, I know my parents are still at the guild. I start to head up to my room when a voice startles me. "When are you going to tell her Reiki?"

I'm so glad my back is turned to her as I start to feel my face heat up from blushing. "Tell who what Rose?" I yell without turning around.

"Nova, when are you gonna tell Nova that you like her?" Rose asks.

Now I'm mad. Rin wouldn't have told her would he. "How do you know that?" I demand. Still not turning around.

"I'm not an idiot Reiki. I saw how you were looking at her today. You have to tell her."

I turn around and say, "I know, but what if she doesn't like me back?" I ask.

"I don't know Reiki, but you have to tell her, definitely not right now but eventually ok?"

I sigh and say, "I will."

I go upstairs and stare at my ceiling wondering what I would say to Nova.

I'm sorry it took me so long to update, but I've been really busy with the holidays and my bf coming home for christmas, and my sister getting sick. I promise I will write more soon, I just wanted to make sure you had a story to read and I feel bad for waiting this long to post. I love you guys and Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, or whatever you guys celebrate happy holidays.