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Chapter 6

Jewel and Andi were sitting in a booth in an ice cream parlor. Jewel called Andi up earlier one Sunday afternoon and asked her to meet her there because she needs to talk about something. In less than 15 minutes, they were digging into their ice cream sundaes.
�So, what is it that you want to talk about?� Andi asked, spooning her cookies n� cream.
�Well, you know that I�m getting along well with the guys, right?�
�Yup. I told you that you�ve got nothing to worry about.�
�Yeah, well. Looks like I got along too well with�� she let her sentence hang and looked down at the table.
�What?� Andi asked her.
�It�s Paul,� Jewel lifted her head.
�What about Paul?�
She took a deep breath. �I think that I may have been developing some sort of� feelings towards him.�
Andi stopped eating. �What kind of feelings?� she asked slowly.
�Well, umm� I think that� umm,� she stuttered. �Gosh! I can�t believe this!� She looked at the ceiling.
�What? What is it?�
She took another deep breath. �I think I�m falling in love with Paul,� she said quickly and then bit her lip.
Andi�s eyes widened. �Oh my-�
�I know, I know! It�s crazy, it�s weird, it�s stupid, it�s-�
�It�s great!� Andi interrupted her.
�That�s not exactly the adjective that I would use,� she creased her forehead. �There�s nothing great about it.�
�What are you talking about? Paul is a very nice guy. He�s sweet and fun to be with.�
�Duh! Don�t you think I know that?�
�So, I don�t see what the problem is,� Andi shrugged.
�This is my problem!�
�Okay, you just lost me right there,� she laid back on her chair and folded her arms.
Jewel sighed. �Paul is my friend. Aside from you, he�s the only one whom I can really talk to. His friendship means so much to me and I don�t want to sabotage it by falling in love with him.�
�I see,� she nodded and leaned closer. �But what about him? What does he feel about you?�
�I don�t know,� she shook her head. �The topic has never come up in a conversation. And I wouldn�t dare talk to him about it.� She looked out the window. �I�m scared, Andi. I don�t want to lose him as a friend.� She turned to look at Andi and tears started to fall from her eyes.
�Oh, Jewel,� Andi reached out to touch her hand. �What are you planning to do?�
�Nothing,� she shrugged, wiping the tears from her face.
�What do you mean �nothing�?� she raised her eyebrows. �You�re just going to go on living every day being miserable. Is that what you want?�
�Of course not! Maybe if I just ignore this feeling, it would just go away.�
�Oh, come on! It won�t go away just like that,� Andi snapped her fingers.
Jewel put her head into her hands. �Oh, why do I have to fall in love when I just promised my self that I won�t?�
�Yeah, right,� Andi said sarcastically. �You know that you can�t promise yourself something like that. It�s not something you can control.�
�Yeah. I guess you�re right.�
�So, are you going to talk to Paul?�
Jewel looked at her as if she�s just suggested that they go on a killing spree.
�You�ve got to be kidding!� she exclaimed. �If there is one thing that I would do, it�s not to talk to Paul about this. He will never know about my feelings, Andi. Never.�

One late afternoon, the guys were jamming in the living room. They have just composed another ballad for their upcoming album.
�Alright,� Ben laid back on the couch. �Another song done.�
�So, everyone agreed to the title?� Mark asked.
�Yep. �One More Try� it is,� Paul confirmed.
Ben looked at his wristwatch. �It�s nearly dinnertime. I think we should just order something for our dinner.�
�Yeah, and Jewel will be home any minute,� Christian said.
�So, it would be the usual at Winsted�s?� Ben asked them as he picked up the receiver.
�Yeah,� Mark turned on the television.
�Alright,� Ben started to dial the telephone number of Winsted�s.
�Oh, and don�t forget extra cheese on Jewel�s spaghetti,� Paul reminded him. �That girl likes cheese so much you�d think she�s part mouse.� Then he stared into space with a smile on his face.
Mark and Christian looked at each other.
�Umm, Paul?� Christian passed his hand in front of his face. �You still with us?�
�Huh? Uh, yeah. What?� he said as if he just came out of a trance.
�That�s becoming a habit of yours recently,� Mark noticed. �Every time Jewel�s name pops up in a conversation, you�d just stare into space like that.�
�What are you talking about? I do not!�
�Oh, yes, you do,� Christian agreed. �So, tell us. When did you start falling in love with Jewel?�
�Falling in love with Jewel? I think you guys have been writing way too many love songs,� Paul tried to avoid the question.
�You can�t fool us, Paul,� Mark shook his head.
Ben put down the receiver after a few minutes. �Man, sometimes that girl from Winsted�s can be annoying. Taking down orders is not that hard, is it?�
�Well, I heard that she�s quite cute,� Paul changed the topic in hopes that Mark and Christian would stop talking about his feelings for Jewel.
�Yeah?� Ben suddenly looked interested.
�Hey, don�t change the subject, Paul,� Christian remarked.
�What are you guys talking about anyway?� Ben asked.
�Paul�s in love with Jewel,� Mark told him.
�Oh, that,� he said in recognition.
�You guys? In which tabloid did you read this silly rumor?� Paul asked.
�It isn�t a silly rumor, Paul,� Mark answered. �If you don�t want to tell us, then at least admit it to yourself.�
Paul took a deep breath and finally said, �Oh, alright. I admit it. I am in love with Jewel. Big time.�
�See? Now that wasn�t so hard, was it?� Christian joked, putting one hand on Paul�s shoulder.
�Well, now that you�ve told us,� Ben said. �When are you going to tell her?�
And just then, the front door opened and Jewel entered the living room.
�Hey, you guys! What�s up?� she greeted.
�Hey, Jewel! How was work?� Mark scooted over to let her sit on the sofa.
�It was okay. Busy, but not bad,� she smiled. �What have you guys been doing?�
�We�ve just composed another song,� Christian replied. �Want to hear it?� he asked, reaching for his guitar.
�Oh, I think I�ll just wait for the album to come out. Just to keep the suspense,� she said.
Changing the subject, Ben asked, �So, what�s in the box?� referring to a small box that Jewel had been carrying.
�Oh, this,� Jewel placed the box on the coffee table and opened it. �I stopped over at the coffee shop and I thought I�d buy you guys some brownies.�
�Thanks!� Ben said as he reached for a slice. Christian also reached out to get himself one.
�What do you guys want for dinner?� she asked.
�Oh, don�t worry about dinner,� Mark said. �Ben just ordered it for us.�
�Great,� she remarked. �Oh, did you remember to ask for extra cheese on my spaghetti?�
�Yep,� Ben chewed on his brownie. �Paul reminded me.�
�Oh,� Jewel turned to look at Paul and gave him a smile. �Thanks!�
Paul just smiled back.
�Well,� she said, standing up. �I think I better go to my room and change.� She headed towards the staircase.
�We�ll just holler when dinner�s ready,� Christian told her.
�Okay, thanks,� Jewel started to ascend the steps.
�Oh, and thanks for the brownies!� Mark called out.
�Don�t mention it!�
�She really is a sweet girl,� Mark commented. �No wonder you�re in love with her,� he said to Paul.
�Yeah�� Paul said.
�So, you never did answer my question,� Ben reminded him. �When are you going to tell her?�
�I don�t know,� he shook his head. �When the right time comes, I guess.�
�And when would that be?� Mark asked. �When you both already have families of your own and decided to reminisce? And what would you say? �Oh, by the way, Jewel, I was madly in love with you at that time. But I only decided to tell you now because I think it�s the right time�.�
�It�s not that easy, Mark!� Paul snapped. �I can�t just go up to her and say, �Hey, guess what? I�ve realized that I�ve fallen in love with you. Would you want to be my girl?� I don�t want to scare her off!�
�Hey, take it easy, you two,� Ben tried to pacify them.
Paul sighed. �Yeah. I�m sorry, Mark,� he apologized.
�Me, too,� Mark said. �I didn�t mean to pressure you or anything. It�s just that I�ve been in this situation once. And I think you should do something about this before it�s too late.�
�I agree,� Christian said. �Or else you�ll just regret the things you never did.� Then he paused. �Hmm� that�s a nice line. I think I�ll use it in a song.�
�Trust you to think about songwriting when we�re discussing something else here,� Ben snickered.
�So, what about it, Paul?� Mark asked.
�I�m going to give it a lot of thought,� he said as he stood up. �I�m just going up to my room. Thanks, guys.�
As he went up the stairs, he thought, And boy, have I got a hell lot of stuff to think about!

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