Gina's POV
We were at the airport dropping Ej off. It was time for him to go back to Duke. I'm missing him already but thankfully the show is in 3 weeks. Ej is coming back to see me perform. So I am so happy that we won't be apart for to long and winter break will be that following week and I will have him to myself for a whole week. I'm excited for that but seeing him leave is still hard for me.
Ashlyn just said her goodbyes and hug him. Finally it was my turn to get my last kiss in and cuddle.
"Are you going to miss me?" I asked
"I'm missing you right now.....I wish I could take you with me" Ej said
"Me too, I want you to know I am proud of you and I love you so much" I said genuinely
"Thanks babe, that means a lot to me" Ej said then he kissed me, I was a bit teary eyed. Ej wiped off a side tear that escaped my eyes
"My Duchess" Ej said to me lovingly
"My Duke" I said back to him
"We won't be apart for long this time, the next time I see you will be you on stage crushing it as Cinderella, I can't wait"Ej said excited for me
"I can't wait, and I can't wait to see you. I know it will be short but even if I get a day with you, I'm grateful" I said
"Me too, and FYI I know about the kissing scene in Cinderella with this Jack guy, make sure he doesn't get comfortable with kissing you, keep that on the stage, ok?" Ej said
"FYI I actually haven't kissed him yet even in rehearsal. You know my eyes and lips are only for you babe. And I will be sure of that & I'll make sure to emphasize that to Ricky and Big Red so the next time they report intel they will come again with a good report" I said
"Why are you assuming it's Ricky or Big Red? I have eyes everywhere." Ej said
"Whatever, you just make sure your heart, eyes and lips stay on me, Mr. Wells" I teased
"Hey, what did I say about you calling me that?" He snapped playfully, I just sticked my tongue out at him and laughed.
"Anyway, I want you to have fun at homecoming with your friends. Have fun for me, and if you get to meet Drake make sure you FaceTime me or make a video of him saying hi to me ok?" I said
"Ok I got you" Ej said
"Have fun for both of us, but don't get too wild" I said
"I won't. I promise" Ej said
"Will you call me when you are back on campus?" I asked
"Yes, im going to text you when I land, I'll call you when I get on campus, I'm taking communication to another level. I'm going to communicate so much better that I'm going to annoy you" Ej said
"Do it" I said and we both laughed
"I love you" Ej said
"I love you too" I said
"I'll be back in 3 weeks" Ej said
"I'm already counting down the days.....I'm going to let you go. The faster you leave the sooner you can come back to me" I said lovingly
"I love you" Ej said and we shared one last kiss. We hugged one last time and then pulled away.
I watched him go into the airport. He turned back at me and smiled, I waved at him, and then kept walking. Ashlyn held my hand the entire time we watched him leave.
Monday
Lab
I was so over this Mr.Povinski science class already. I better get an A on this experiment or els. He keeps playing with my life on these labs and experiments. I am so over it.
After finally finishing my experiment, it was time for me to write my paper on it.
"Hey Gi" someone called my name, I looked up and it was Jack.
"Hey Jack, how are you?" I said greeting him as he sat down on the other side of the table with me.
"I'm stressed" Jack answered
"Povinski" we both said at the same time and then we laughed because we said it at the same time.
"I feel my hair turning gray right now" I joked
"My knees are morphing into a 80 year old man as we speak" Jack said making me laugh. We were quiet for a moment.
Everytime Jack is around I feel weird but mostly, I feel bad because I wasn't really there for him when my friends kinda jumped on him and iced him away from me when we all first learned he goes here to East High. That wasn't cool. I also feel bad because he's always that reminder for me that pushed me into what I was feeling for Ej. I think it's bad to use people like that, but sometimes people are meant to come in your life for a reason. Jack was the reason I am where I am with EJ.
"Hey um, I ugh, feel like I owe you an apology of some sort....no I simply want to apologize to you for not really being welcoming to you when you came here. I really hadn't been myself for awhile but that's no excuse. I just want you to know I'm sorry" I said feeling really convicted.
"Dude, Stop, you have nothing to apologize for, that was so unnecessary" Jack said
"Yes, I do, my relationship has somehow put everyone on this protective edge. You know with Ricky & Big Red, Ashlyn and Courtney. You didn't deserve that especially right out the gate. I know everyone loves you now and you fit in like a glove with us. But I should have stood up for you in the moment and I am sorry, truly I am" I said
"Gina, it's okay, you have nothing to worry about. All of that is old news. Honest. Im good, we're good, I'm good with everyone." Jack said
"Are me and you good?" I asked to just clarify again
"I assure you, me and you are good. " Jack said
"Good" I said
"So earlier you said you weren't feeling like yourself, do you know feel back yourself. Like are you good?" Jack asked me concerned
"Yeah...Um...I am feeling more like myself again." I said smiling
"Could this have anything to do with Ej? Are you guys good?" Jack asked being nosey and I couldn't help but smile a little at the mention of Ej's name.
"Somewhat......sometimes long distance relationships can be tough." I said
"Tell me about it, but when you're with the right person distance doesn't matter" Jack said in like a agreeing tone. He's taking this a little to close to heart. I sense he may want to open up about something.
"Definitely, you know Jack....I've never had the chance to really catch up with you. How did you end up here in Salt Lake?" I asked him
"It's really a long story...My grandparents are here. My grandma she's kind of sick right now. So my dad decided to resign as a pilot, he supervises now for Salt Lake Airport - air control station. He did that so he can be stationary and help take care of my grandparents." Jack explained
"I really hope your grandma gets better Jack" I said hoping for the best for them
"Thank you, I appreciate that" Jack said
"So have you always been in Salt Lake since your grandparents are from here?" I asked
"I'd come here summers to spend time with them, they are the best" Jack said not giving too much away
"We're you and Teddy friends before you got here?" I asked him
"Actually we didn't become friends until I got here. We have neutral friends. I knew of him but didn't really hang out with him until I came here. It's weird and complicated to explain" he said
"Weird and complicated, guys only use words like that if a girl is involved, so who is she?" I asked.
Jack looked bashful, I was right, it is a girl. I knew him being here wasn't all a complete coincidence.
"Her name is Jessica......Rosum" Jack answered, I immediately knew who she was.
"Jesse? You guys are a thing? Spill the tea" I said anxious to know
"We're not anymore" He said sadly
"What happened?" I asked
"Honestly long story short, we just keep missing each other." Jack said
"How so? You're here now" I asked while making a point
"You would think it would be that simple, but it's a little more complicated than that. I guess there's just somethings that you don't get to come back from" Jack said
"It's not about going back, it's about what's forward. If going forward you see Jessica still in your life, then you should let her know that. Maybe if you did then maybe you won't miss each other anymore. Maybe that reassurance is what she's looking for from you" I said
"Maybe, I don't know sometimes, it feels easier , to let whatever things are be as they are. Sometimes enough really is enough. Honestly I've come to my last ends with our situation." Jack said regretfully
"I'm sorry you feel that way. I know beneath it all you still care. That's what sucks the most" I said
"I do.....I guess there really is no way out of the heartbreak club" Jack said
"Maybe we never get out we just continue to pick up the pieces and if we're lucky we may get some help along the way to keep the pieces together " I said
"Maybe...if you're lucky " Jack said then his phone went off. He looked at it for a moment. I went back to finishing my paper.
Rehearsals
[Courtney]
Impossible
For a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage
Impossible
For a plain country b__pkin and a prince to join in marriage
A slipper made of glass is just a shoe
And dreamers never make a dream come true
Impossible
Impossible
For a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage
Impossible
For a plain country b__pkin and a prince to join in marriage
And four white mice will never be four white horses
Such falder-all-and-fiddle-dee-dee of course is
Impossible
But the world is full of zanies and fools
Who don't believe in sensible rules
And won't believe what sensible people say
And because these daft and dewey-eyed dopes
Keep building up impossible hopes,
Impossible things are happening everyday
[Gina] Impossible
[Courtney] Impossible
[Gina] Impossible
[Courtney] Impossible
[Gina] Impossible
[Courtney] Impossible
[Both] Impossible
[Gina]
It's possible
For a plain yellow pumpkin to become a golden carriage
It's possible
For a plain country b__pkin and a prince to join in marriage
[Courtney]
And four white mice are easily turned to horses
Such falder-all-and-fiddle-dee-dee of course is
Quite possible
[Both] It's possible
[Gina] For the world is full of zanies and fools
[Courtney] Who don't believe in sensible rules
[Gina] And won't believe what sensible people say
[Both] And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes
Keep building up impossible hopes
Impossible things are happening everyday
[Gina] It's possible
[Courtney] It's possible
[Gina] It's possible
[Courtney] It's possible
[Gina] It's possible
[Courtney] It's possible
[Both] It's possible
"LADIES! Awesome job. Teddy great job on the arrangement. It is so fresh. Few notes, we have work on the transformation. It has to be smoother. We will work on it.Great job, let's take 15, rehydrate and let's block Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" Ms. Jenn said.
Courtney and I sat down and drink some water to rehydrate. I noticed Courtney looking at Teddy and Teddy looking back at her. I couldn't help but smile because I know what she's feeling.
"I think you're ready" I said to her
"Ready for what?" Courtney said off guard and curiously to what I was talking about.
"Ready to open up again...ready for that date" I said
"Wait Teddy told you he was asking me out?" Courtney asked
"No, I actually was just throwing that out there because I think you should go on a date....wait he asked you?" I asked getting excited for Courtney
"Yes, I haven't given him an answer yet" Courtney said
"Awww Court, you are afraid." I said
"I'm even embarrassed to admit this but ever since Howard, I've been really second guessing my instincts on guys and on people. Plus drama is not what I do. I can't go through that anymore" Courtney said
"I get that, Courtney listen, you are my friend and I love you. I am not going to stick my neck out for someone if I didn't believe that they weren't worthy of you and your time. With Teddy, I genuinely think that you have nothing to be afraid of with him. If you get to know him more, I don't think you will be disappointed. Plus it's only 1 date. You're just taking the time to talk and get to know each other better. One date can't hurt and what do you have to loose?" I said encouraging her to take the date the Teddy.
"You're right, I guess one date can't hurt." Courtney said reasoning and taking what I said to heart.
"Exactly, one date can't hurt" I said
"He has been pretty consistent. I'll give him that, and he's been very patient and understanding too." Courtney said still reasoning
"Mmhm, all the more reason to say yes. Consistency is key. And what about all the notes, the flowers, and these music arrangements that has you standing out like the sun but can make us blend so beautifully. The stolen glances in class, in rehearsals and at lunch. It's time to meet him halfway" I said
"Okay......how does my hair look?" Courtney asked
"It looks great" I answered
"How's my breath?" She asked
"It's great, but here, take a mint anyway, mints are good to bite down on if you get to nervous to talk." I said offering her a mint. She took it and put it in her mouth. She collected herself to go over to Teddy.
"Ok, here goes nothing" Courtney said turning around to go walk over to Teddy.
I sat back down to stretch so I don't cramp up. I grabbed my phone and saw Ej texted me.
The Duke📱:I know you are in rehearsals babe, just want you to be free at 8 you're time for us time 😉
Me (The Duchess)📱: us time at 8, I can't wait 😘 p.s I've got some tea to spill ☕️
"Hey Gi did you want to warm up really quickly?" - I looked up and saw it was Jack that asked me that.
"Yeah sure, let's do it" I said to him.
"Hey um, thanks for earlier" Jack said
"Yeah, anytime" I said
"Oh this scene has the first kiss in it at the end, we don't have to do it if you don't want to we can just not do it, I know Ej is your first and only kiss, I just don't want you you know feel uncomfortable " Jack said awkwardly. I didn't pay attention to the fact we are marking this in rehearsal today.
"Relax, we are leads. Thankfully we both have experience now and it shouldn't be weird at all. We can rehearse it. I'm sure Ms. Jenn is going to want to see it...I mean the entire scene, she wants to see us perform the entire scene. It will be fine. " I said trying to clarify what I mean. I am actually nervous because is low key the reason I was really gearing to Ej. Had Ej never came and picked me up from the airport, I would have maybe kept Jack's number and who knows what would have been of us now. He definitely maybe would have been my first kiss. That would have been a true twist of fate. I should probably not be thinking about this.
We started to warm up and finally it was time to do it for real.
Jack: Do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you?
Am I making believe I see in you a girl too lovely to be really true?
Do I want you because you're wonderful, or are you wonderful because I want you?
Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as beautiful as you seem?
Me: Am I making believe I see in you a man too perfect to be really true?
Do I want you because you're wonderful, or are you wonderful because I want you?
Both: Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as wonderful as you seem?
Once we were finished the song, we hesitated for awhile and then finally we kissed. The kiss wasn't bad. Not better than my Ej's but not bad. Wow I should not be doing that. I should not be comparing his kiss to my boyfriend's. That's wrong.
After Big Red dropped me and Ashlyn off home, I went for a quick shower then changed into my workout clothes. I need to go for a walk and clear my head. I told Ashlyn I was going for a walk and thankfully she didn't pressure to come with me or ask me if I am alright. I'm sure she will do it later but right now I'm grateful she didn't do it now.
I went on my walk around the block. I saw a bench and I sat down and I thought I'd call my mom.
"Hey baby girl" mommy answered
"Hey mom, how was your day? How are you doing?" I asked
"My day was good, busy and productive as usual, how was your day? I know it was a lot with taking Ej to the airport today. Are you okay?" My mom asked
"Yeah, its not easy to see him leave. I miss him. It definitely made my day full and eventful." I said to her
"I know it did, but look at it this way, you won't be apart for long this time." My mom said being positive
"Yes, that's what I've been saying to myself all day long" I said
"Sweetie what's wrong, you have that nervous sound in your voice." My mom said reading me like a book.
"Mom can I tell you something and you not completely judge me or freak out with what I'm about to say?" I asked
"I promise I won't freak out. I'm your mother, I do not freak out, what's this about" she answered
"Ok so, I did my scene with Jack today. You know the one I met at the airport over spring break last year?" I said jogging her memory
"Uh huh" she says
"So today in our scene, we kissed after we did Do I Love Your Because You're Beautiful?" I said
"Oooohhh" my mom said
"I just feel a little weird about it" I said
"You feel weird because that was your first kiss with another guy that is not Ej?" She asked
"Yeah" I answered
"Did you like the kiss?" My mom asked
"Is it wrong to say yes, but it's not what you think, I'm saying yes because we are putting on a show, not because I like him like him the way I have feelings for Ej." I said - "Am I even allowed to say that?, I mean I have to tell Ej and I don't know how to explain it to him if he was to ask me if I liked the kiss?" I said freaking out
"You worried about me freaking out, you are freaking out. Baby girl calm down. Take a deep breath in and let it go" my mom said. I did what she told me and I started to calm down.
"Does this make me less mature because if so this makes me feel like I probably shouldn't be with EJ and that makes me freak out because I don't want that to happen, I want Ej, I will always want Ej." I said
"Gina, just because you don't have enough experience in something doesn't make you immature. I wouldn't be approving of your relationship with EJ if I didn't think you were both a good fit for each other." My mom encouraged
"Mom I feel like I shouldn't be feeling this, like questioning myself, my relationship and feeling weird about another guy. I don't like Jack in that way." I said
"It's natural to question to things baby even about your relationship. It's important to have an answer to them as well. What you are experiencing is testing and temptation. All relationships experience little tests from time to time, sometimes things or people come in the way to tempt you. But you have to know what you know so that you can past the tests and RESIST the temptation. " my mom said
"Well, I know that Ej is all I want, I just get scared a lot that we weren't meant last. And that fear kind of sends me back to the moment when I absolutely knew for sure, I had feelings for Ej. In the ironic of ironic history, Jack is the reason why I came to that point with EJ. And Jack being here feels like living in like this twisted universe where I see, if a Ej never came and got me from the airport day. I would have kept Jack's number and God only knows what Jack and I could have been by now. Oh my God that is the test, that is the temptation. It's just a sign to show me that in no matter what scenario....I'd still choose Ej?" I said thinking I had a breakthrough
"Close, you are close to the point. The point is Jack is temptation. Its about acknowledging what it is so that you know how carry yourself and not give into temptation. Its about keeping it in its place. If Ej is who you want to be with continue to be faithful. That's how you win and past the test. Be faithful. Faithfulness is what is going to keep you and Ej together" My mom said
"Okay" I said
"The biggest thing you have to deal with is overcoming your anxiety about the future. Remember what I have always told you "just keep pushing forward" I said long with her
"Exactly, no matter what happens you keep pushing forward. You don't know what your tomorrow brings. So you take your day as it is and be grateful and recognize what you already have. Because no other alternative future or anything else you have made up in your mind is not what is today and it can never be today. You have Ej. And you say that is who you want. So enjoy it. I know long distance is hard from Ej. Long distance is hard for me as your mom as well. I miss you too baby. And I hope you never forget that" my mom said and it hit me. I never show as much compassion to her because I'm so caught up in my own world. I never once thought about how hard it is on my mom being apart from me.
"I'll never forget that, I miss you all the time too mommy" I said sincerely
"Look no matter what I will always be your mom, I can't guarantee that Ej will always be your boyfriend or your husband someday, but I have high hopes like you do. Remember, school isn't meant to be forever. But people decide what type of relationships can last forever. You and Ej can. So always keep that in mind. Ok." My mom said
"Thank you for that mommy. That makes me feel a lot stronger and confident. I love you.....so much. I'm glad you will always be my mom forever" I said
"Always and forever" my mom said. Then my phone went off and it was Ej calling me. I forgot we said 8pm was us time. I can't believe it's 8pm already.
"I have to got mommy, thank you" I said to her
"I love you baby girl, say hi to Ej for me" my mom said
"I will." I said then we hung up. I clicked over to answer Ej.
"Hi Babe" I said excited to talk to him.
"Hey babe, where are you?" Ej said noticing I was outside
"I went for a walk, and I was talking to my mom for a little bit. She says hi. I'm walking back home now" I said
"Tell Ms. Deena I said hi. Are you okay? I know you take walks when you feel a little stressed" Ej said knowing how I am
"Today, was a lot, we had a lot to block today. But I talked to my mom and you know talks with her just makes your feel better. So I am feeling great. How was your day? Is everyone excited for homecoming?" I asked
"Yeah, everyone is excited. But some professors have no care in the world it's homecoming, they are loading the work on. It's crazy." Ej said
"Aww I'm sorry babe. But just keep pushing. Get it all done so that you can be free this weekend so you can have fun" I said encouraging him
" Thanks Babe, so you told me you had tea, what's the tea? Spill it" Ej said
"Courtney is going on a date with the new guy Teddy. I'm not saying I'm a match maker but I'm the best match maker there is. Pending a successfully relationship. I will be taking fully credit for it because I was the one that pushed her to go for it and she's doing it" I said bragging
"Oohhh that's the tea now is it?" He asked
"Yeah, I mean we could maybe take some credit for Ricky and Nini, but I think that would have happened with or without us so, I'm not really counting them" I said
"True, is that the.....only tea you have to tell me?" Ej emphasized
"Umm yeah,...do you know something I don't know? What do you know?" I asked
"You kissed Jack in rehearsal, that's tea" Ej said
"Eej, you didn't let me get to tell you, why did you say it was tea? Because it's not. You already know I have to kiss him in the show and in the show only. It was in rehearsal. Everyone saw it" I said feeling offended
"Yeah, I know and everyone told me first as soon as it happened and you didn't tell me it happened. I was hoping that you tell me especially because it's Jack." Ej said
"I wasn't keeping that a secret. Eej, you have to know that. I was ready to tell you until you brought it up. Why are you acting like this?" I asked upset.
"You're outside and not at home, I know you, if you are outside on a walk it's because something got to you. I need to know, how did you feel after your kiss with Jack?" Ej asked me straight up.
"I don't feel anything for Jack. When I kissed him my mind was on you the whole time. That's what I was also ready to tell you. But what was the point in telling you that, because obviously you don't trust me." I said
"I do trust you , I don't trust him" Ej said
"No, it's me you don't trust. If you really love me and trust me, you wouldn't thought that was "tea", or keep tabs on me, to test how faithful I really am to you, I have to go. I can't do this right now" I said frustrated and then I hung up the phone. He kept calling me back. But I kept my phone on do not disturb for the rest of the night. I don't want to talk to Ej.