Finding My Way
Song of the Chapter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOjdXSrtUxA


Chapter 42 Part 2: Val's P.O.V. Cont.

“You were…amazing.”
“Thank you, so were you.” I smiled slightly and wished that I could hug him to congratulate him, but I knew I shouldn’t.
“Watching you act makes me better.” He said and I felt my cheeks get warm. I just hoped Ben wouldn’t be able to see my blush in the dim lighting. “How are you?”
“I’m okay. It was weird at first, without her. But then I realized that it was more important than ever for me to do well. I needed to prove to everyone, but mainly to myself, that I could do it without her.” I said and he nodded.
“I’m sorry, Ben. I shouldn’t have kissed you, I didn’t mean for it to ruin our friendship, I don’t want to lose you again.” I blurted out before I could stop myself and I saw his eyes flare with anger.
“I…can’t, Aly.” He forced himself to say the words.
“Ben, please,” I started.
“Aly, do you not understand how hard it is for me? Do you really not know?”
I looked at him confusedly and he groaned.
“I’m in love with you, Aly! That’s why I can’t be friends with you anymore. Every time we kissed, it- it hurt me, knowing that it meant so much to me but nothing to you. And you kept saying it wasn’t fair to Danny…what about me? Did you ever wonder what you were doing to me? Did you ever stop and think about how I felt? And, it’s sickening to watch you be with him, knowing that it should be me. I can’t do this anymore, Aly. I’m sorry.” He said and turned around, walking away.
At first, I was paralyzed. He was in love with me. I mean, I already knew, but to have him tell me flat out and to my face, it all felt real. And it pained me to see him so upset. But I figured I would mess with him a little bit, because he was hurting me, too. If he wasn’t so stubborn, I would’ve told him already!
“I told Danny.” I called after him. He paused and turned around, staring at me. “I told him about us, and what we’ve been doing.” I said, walking closer to him, my heels clicking on the floor.
“What did he say?” He said impassively. I couldn’t read his face, and I so badly wanted to know what he was thinking.
“He forgave me.” I looked down and played with a loose string from the embroidery on my dress. Then, I unfolded the piece of paper I had grabbed from my bag. “And I wanted you to know that I crossed another item off my list.” I said, handing him the paper.
“Fall in love.” He scorned. “So you guys are fine? No trouble in paradise?” He mocked harshly.
“Not since I broke up with him.” I said and Ben’s head snapped up to mine.
“You what?” His tough-guy façade had broken, but I couldn’t pin his facial expression to one specific emotion.
“Last week; I broke up with him. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn’t listen to me.” I said and stepped even closer to him. We were only a few inches apart now and my heart rate skyrocketed off the charts.
“But…” He held the paper up and showed it to me, his eyes searching mine for an answer.
I grabbed it from him and let it fall to the floor. I stepped against him and cupped his face in my hands.
“I didn’t fall in love with Danny; I fell in love with you.” I said boldly.
He didn’t say anything, so I decided to go on.
“You were right before, when you said that I could’ve already met ‘the one,’ known him my entire life, and just not have realized it? You were right. It’s you. You’re the one I want to be with. I love you, Ben. I always have, I just never realized it.” I surprised myself with how forward I was being, but I didn’t care; I needed him to know.
“Aly, I--”
“Shh,” I cut him off. “Just kiss me.” I whispered.
His eyes flickered to my lips, and he grasped my wrists, which were still cupping his face, in his hands.
He pulled me even closer to him, if that was possible, and kissed me. It seemed as if the whole room was spinning.
I was hopelessly in love with him. 

A/N
What do you guys think?
Again, I love this chapter,
And I hate to say this, but I think there will only be one more chapter... 
but there will be an epilogue!
So lemme know,
and thank you so much for reading! (: