Tay looked at me and I think I saw a tear form in his eye. “Joana, I think that I’m falling in love with you, too. Nobody believes in love at first sight, and I didn’t until I saw you. I loved you the moment you knocked me over, but I didn’t realize it until a few minutes ago.”
I hugged him and held him close. “I believe. I’ve loved you from the beginning. Not because you were famous, but because of who you are. I admire you, respect you and love you. But, it was all basically just infatuation until today. Now I know it’s real.”
He kissed me then, not caring who was there or who was watching. It was just as magical, if not more, than the second kiss.
When we finally broke apart, he took my hand and began to walk.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” he said, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. We walked over the bridge into Italy. Tay found a bench that was hidden in a way, and led me to it.
“Sit,” he told me. “We need to talk. And don’t worry about Ike and Nicki. They’ll probably be late. Besides, we still have about 10 minutes, if not more.”
I sat down, and he sat next to me. He was so close to me, and I could feel him tremble. I could tell that he was hesitating. Now it was my turn to comfort. “Go on, Tay. I’ll listen to whatever it is you have to say. I won’t go anywhere,” I said.
He sighed. “This is really hard for me. I’d never kissed a girl until you came along, let alone felt the way I do about you before. There is so much that we need to work out, but I know it will work.”
I looked at him semi-confused. “What are you saying?”
He took the ring off my finger and got down on one knee. He took my hand and looked deep into my eyes. Then he took a deep breath. “Joana,” he said, “even though I’ve only known you for a few hours, I’ve totally fallen for you,” he paused. Then he took another deep breath. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
I could feel tears forming in my eyes. God, hadn’t I cried enough for one day?!? I looked deep into his eyes, and without even saying a word, I knew he knew my answer.
*************************************************************************
As I looked into her eyes, I knew. Her eyes said everything. She spoke very quietly. “You know my answer. Yes! Yes! how could it be anything but that?” I slipped the ring onto her finger and stood up, bringing her with me. I kissed her forehead, then each of her eyes, then her nose, then her cheeks, and finally, her lips. It was the best feeling I had ever had in my entire life. I knew then that I wasn’t falling in love with her anymore. I already had.
I took her hand into mine, and smiled at her. I was debating whether I should tell her or not with myself when she decided for me.
“Tay, I know that this may be a little weird, but I have to say it. In the past few hours I have gotten to know you so well. When you were standing to Dave for me, I knew. I love you, Tay. All of me does.” She looked into my eyes, and for the first time all day, they were smiling.
“I love you, too, Joana. I knew it when Dave was talking to us. I hated him and I wanted to rip his hair out. I realize that I loved you when I was thinking those things.” I kissed her again.
When the kiss ended, I could see tears in her eyes again. But these were tears of joy.
“Well, we’d better go if we want to meet Nicki and Ike,” she said. “I’m sure they’ll be waiting.”
I took her hand and we started walking towards Roman Rapids. “Joana!! Oh My God!!!!!!!!!! I’ve missed you so much!!!!” Joana turned when she heard the female voice call her name.
“Katy!!!!! HI!!!!” She looked up at me and let go of my hand, running to her friend. They hugged and Joana was ecstatic.
“It’s so good to see you! It’s been too long! How are things with you and Craig?”
The question hit me like a knife in the heart. How could she lie to me? I had to hear what she had to say.
*************************************************************************
I looked back at Tay. I knew that question had probably upset him. But I didn’t worry. “I broke up with him in January,” I told Katy.
“Really?” she asked.
“You didn’t know?”
“No! I guess it’s been a while since we talked. So, what happened?” she asked.
“Where do I begin? He cheated on me with Jess and he lied about it. He was pressuring me, trying to make me have sex with him, even after I said no about ten million times. He was spreading rumors about things that never happened. There’s still more, but that’s the worst of it.” I told her
“Oh, Joana, I’m so sorry!! You must be so devastated!!
“Not really. I’m only sad because he was one of my best friends. But you know, I’m not really that phased by it. I didn’t really like him that much. Besides, I met someone else.”
“Oh? And who would that be?” she asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
I looked back at Tay. This time he smiled. I reached for his hand, and he reached for mine. I pulled him beside me, and said partly to Katy, partly to Tay, “This is Tay. I am with him now, and he is the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Katy looked from Tay to me and back. “You mean you’re with Taylor Hanson?”
“Yeah, that she is. And you know what? I’m the luckiest guy in the world!” Tay announced.
I smiled at him, and he kissed my forehead.
“Wow! How long have you guys known each other? How long have you been together?” Katy’s one of my best friends. It’s her job to ask me these things.
“Well... I don’t know....” I looked at Taylor and thought, Should we tell her? He smiled and winked.
“Well, this may seem a bit strange,” he said, “but here it goes. Joana and I met just before noon today. It was love at first sight. I just asked her out a few minutes ago.”
Katy looked at us. “Wow, that is a little strange. But strange things happen in our lives everyday. Well, It was great to see you again! Congratulations! Call me! I want to talk to you!” She said.
“Don’t worry, I will!!! It was nice to see you again!! Bye!”
“Bye! 527-8160! Don’t forget!” I laughed. How could I possibly forget her number? “It was nice to meet you, Taylor!”
“Nice to meet you too, Katy!” He said.
She was gone, and I looked at Tay, his blue eyes looking deep into my soul.
“So, who’s Craig?” he asked.
************************************************************************
I looked at her, and as I spoke his name, I saw tears form in her eyes.
“He was my best friend from the time we were for up until January. I haven’t spoken to him since then. I can’t even look at him anymore. I’s not because I loved him or anything, because it hadn’t gone that far yet. It was because I had trusted him since we were four, and he had been my best friend. Then, after 11 or 12 years of friendship, he betrayed me. I just can’t trust him anymore.” Just then the tears came flowing down her face. “It hurts so much, but I never loved him. I’d only loved once... Then you fell into my life.” She paused, wiping her eyes of the tears that were falling so freely. “Sorry, Tay. I don’t mean to cry like this.”
I pulled her into my arms and held her close. “Shh... Don’t worry. Just let it all out. I love you. I’m not going anywhere.”
I saw the bench that we left only a few minutes earlier. I walked towards it, and sat down. She did as well.
She looked at me, and again, for the second time today, I could see the pain in her face. But, this time, I could feel it, too.
“Tay,” she paused. “Thank you. Thank you for being the way you are.”
“No,” I said. “Thank you. You brought out a side out of me that I never knew I had. I love you, Joana.”
She looked into my eyes, her eyes filled with love. “I love you too, Taylor. So, so much.”
I kissed her again. It felt so right to be with her.
Though the kiss was not as passionate as the kisses preceding this one, it was just as, if not more, special. I could feel her love, and I knew she could feel mine. It was amazing to think that just 24 hours ago we didn’t know each other. I mean she knew who I was, but know she really knows me.
I kissed her forehead, and I held her close. I never wanted this moment to end. But, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.
“I hate to do this, but Ike and Nicki are probably worried sick about us,” she said, taking my hand into hers. It was so small, so perfect. Just like the rest of her.
“Yeah, you’re right. You lead the way,” I told her. She smiled.
We walk through the rest of Italy until we reached Roman Rapids. I could see Ike and Nicole talking, and they seemed very into the conversation. Then Nicki noticed us.
“Joey! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried sick!” Nicki shouted, causing a few heads to turn in our direction.
“Sorry, Nic. It’s a wicked long story.”
“Well, you better start talking. The line’s moving quite fast for so many people,” Ike said, showing his older brother tone, that he almost always used on Zac. He has only used it on me twice.
I looked at Joana. Neither of us knew where to begin.
“Well, we ran into Dave,” Joana began, “and....”
“Oh, ----!” Nicole interrupted. “How did you ever get him to leave you alone? I’m sorry, Joana. That must have been a nightmare for you!”
“It was,” Joana told her twin. “That is it was until Taylor came to the rescue.” She smiled at me, and I could feel my cheeks turn beet red.
Ike looked at me, his eyes full of curiosity. “So, little brother, how exactly did you ‘come to the rescue’?” he asked.
I felt myself turn an even brighter red. “Well, I , um.....” Joana squeezed my hand. I took a deep breath. “I told him that she was taken. That she was mine.”
“Did that make him back off?” Nicole asked.
“No. First he made me guess her middle name, which is Rachael, and then he made me kiss her, which was...” I couldn’t continue. I looked at Joana.
“It was amazing. Almost earth shattering,” Joana continued.
“So.... What happened after that?” Nicole asked, full of excitement.
“Well... I....” I began.
“To make a long story short, Tay and I are going out now. We’ll explain later,” Joana said.
Nicole threw her arms around her twin. “Joana, that’s great! Oh my God!!”
Ike looked at me and smiled. “Hey man, congrats! That’s cool!”
Just then Nicki’s eyes widened. “Joana,” she whispered, “look who’s coming this way!”
Joana turned, and gasped, “Oh my God.”
“Hi, Joana. I’ve really missed you.”
go to chpt. 5
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