***~ ~ ~ ~BLAIR’S POV~ ~ ~ ~***

I stretched silently, attempting to wake up as I realized it was Friday and we would have a long day ahead of us. I felt the warm body of Tony next to me as I smiled, leaning over and bringing my lips to his ear and kissing him.

I whispered harshly, “WAKE UP!”

Tony jumped harshly as his head snapped to me, his sleepy eyes taking me in, “I really hate when you wake me up like that…”

I smiled mischievously, wrapping my arms around his bare torso and getting closer to him, “But don’t you get happy again when you see me.”

I watched his white smile spread across his face as he nodded, “Si. Buenos dias, bonita.”

I grabbed his face as I realized I was probably smiling like an idiot, “That’s the only Spanish I need to understand.”

He kissed me lightly as we both pulled ourselves out of bed and began getting ready for the day. I didn’t know exactly everything we would be doing but it didn’t matter, as long as Sam and Megan joined me and Tony I knew we would have fun.

I finished brushing my teeth and we exited our room, heading down the hall and towards the staircase. As we passed Sam and Megan’s door I banged loudly, “You two better be up!”

Then I continued walking down the stairs as Tony and I giggled to ourselves.

I loved giving Sam a hard time but now I could really give her a hard time since her and Megan seemed to be getting pretty serious. I had never imagined in a million years Sam finding someone like Megan, but now I couldn’t be happier that she did.

I started the coffee pot as I started heating the stove, knowing that I would be stuck cooking breakfast this morning since I was the first one down.

I heard Tony’s deep voice from the table behind me, “Want me to help?”

I turned, smirking, “You’re probably better at this than I am, so yes.”

He smiled as he made his way over to me, and I felt his warm body against my back. After all the years of me wishing I could find someone, Tony had come along and just granted all of my wishes. He was literally everything I had wanted and more, and he had yet to fall short in amazing the hell out of me.

As the eggs sizzled in the pan I heard footsteps marching down the stairs and into the kitchen, and I expected Sam’s voice before she even spoke.

“Tony, if you want your eggs edible I suggest you kick Blair straight out the kitchen.”

I rolled my eyes and smiled, turning around and looking at Sam who seemed to be glowing. I responded, “Good morning to you too.”

Sam smirked again as I heard Megan ask from behind me, “How many cups of coffee should I pour?”

I seemed to be the only one to protest coffee as Tony agreed to some, and we all knew Sam couldn’t go on without hers.

Eventually breakfast was cooked and we were all sitting at the table, allowing us to discuss the plans for today. As we spoke I watched Sam and Megan from across the table, wondering how two people could complement each other so well. Just seeing how Sam looked at Megan made me warm inside, mostly because I had never seen Sam look so happy in the three years of knowing her.

Sam had literally changed into a completely different person since Megan, and I knew I wasn’t the only one that noticed that. She was happier, healthier, and everything about her seemed brand new. Her laughs were filled with joy, her eyes weren’t pale and dark, and her eyes weren’t ringed with dark circles from the lack of sleep. She wasn’t the same girl she had been in August and I really couldn’t thank Megan enough for walking into Sam’s life.

Although Megan and Sam had a rough start, everything seemed to work out for the best after eight months of them riding the most emotional roller-coaster known to man. Watching the development of Sam and Megan had been phenomenal, mostly because I had the privilege to watch my best friend fall in love with someone.

And I knew Sam probably didn’t know she was in love with Megan, but I knew, I knew everything.

We all eventually finished breakfast and soon Megan pulled out her laptop to check the events for the day. I was excited to get our day started but I knew most of the fun things like the parade and what not would be going on later tonight and all day tomorrow.

So we probably would need to entertain ourselves until later this afternoon.

Megan announced, “Okay so today they have this stage at The Pier, it seems they’re hosting concerts for a bunch of LGBT bands but they don’t start till 3:00. They’re going to have a bunch of stands and a firework show at 9:00 but tomorrow they have a lot more to do.”

I felt the excitement kick in as I thought about all the awesome bands we would get to hear later on. Although it was only 10:00 I was already growing anxious, but figured we would just chill by the pool and then get ready to go around 1:30.

I heard Sam’s voice laced with excitement, “It’s going to be like a huge outdoor party.”

I groaned, “But that’s not until three.”

Sam stood from the table, shrugging, “It’s beautiful outside so I’m going to waste time at the pool with a margarita.”

I stood, taking Tony’s hand, “I think we’ll all join you on that one.”

~ ~ ~ ~

The afternoon was passing slowly as we all relaxed outside in the pool with no worries in the world. I was currently talking with Tony as I eyed Sam and Megan from across the pool, who seemed to be having a goofy conversation. Sam’s smile was spread from cheek to cheek as I watched her and Megan flirt and talk back and forth, envying the way Sam had finally found her happiness she deserved.

Tony’s voice cut me out of my daydream, “You’re happy for Sam.”

I smiled, nodding, “I am, you have no idea how lost she used to be…”

Tony smiled, leaning on the edge of the underground pool and questioned, “Remember the night I met you, at that party?”

I nodded, “Of course I do.”

He sighed, “Well, remember how you two acted like a couple and all that?”

I remembered the memory all too well, and how we had initially done it to get out of an uncomfortable situation but had been forced to play it all night. I didn’t know what had possessed us later that night to make-out in Sam’s bed but, I was glad we were both finally past all that bullshit.

I nodded towards his question, “Yea.”

He questioned, “Were you two ever… a thing?”

I inhaled deeply; figuring a conversation like this would eventually come up. Tony knew I considered myself bisexual, even though I tended to lean more towards guys than girls, but I had never told him about me and Sam’s history.

I grimaced as I answered, “Sam and I had a weird start to our friendship, but I don’t want you to get freaked out over it.”

His smile reassured me he wouldn’t, “I don’t judge, Blair.”

I felt my walls soften as he said that, letting me know it was okay to open up to him about this. Sam and I hadn’t really ever talked about it but that was okay, because she and I discussing something like this was a bit weird. Sam knew me better than anyone else and vice versa, but I knew both of us kind of regretted our early history, and talking about it was hard.

I continued, “When I met Sam I was intrigued by her, just like every other curious high-school teenager. We ended up hooking up a few months after meeting each other but both of us didn’t want a relationship, especially with each other. We agreed never to talk about it or hook up again for the sake of our friendship and that was that, we’ve been nothing but best friend’s ever since.”

Tony’s dark brown eyes watched me curiously, “So you never had any romantic feelings for her?”

I thought about when I had met Sam, and after we had hooked up I had gotten a little ahead of myself. We had been pretty good friends and I cared about her, so maybe there had been a little bit of romantic feelings back when we were sixteen, but not now.

I answered honestly, “Maybe years ago when I was young and didn’t know any better, but after a while of being close with Sam and realizing how damaged she was… I knew she needed someone stronger than me. All I could be was her best friend, and the feelings didn’t last long.”

Tony smiled, “You think Megan is strong enough for Sam?”

I looked at them, seeing how much Sam and Megan made each other better people. I nodded in response, “Definitely.”

“Even if she’s her History teacher?”

I looked at Tony, wondering if he was freaked out over that. I shrugged, “It’s just an obstacle they’ll have to overcome, but Sam knew Megan before she was her teacher.”

He nodded, “I guess I can see how that makes the situation messed up, but even I can see they’re happy together.”

I smiled, watching them from afar, “You have no idea how sad Sam used to be. Megan has managed to completely change Sam into someone that is warm and loveable… She used to be a real bitch sometimes.”

Tony nudged me playfully, “I think she’s transferred that bitchiness over to you.”

I shoved him playfully, “Shut up, I am not a bitch.”

Then I heard Sam’s voice in protest, “Yes you are.”

I looked at her from afar, seeing her sly grin playing on her face as I rolled my eyes, “Screw you.”

She pointed at me, nodding, “See Tony, she’s the bitch now. Better watch out.”

Tony grabbed my waist, pulling me into him and kissing me on the lips before mumbling, “Don’t worry, I love your bitchiness.”

I smirked playfully, blushing against him, “You better.”

He smiled, kissing me once more before asking, “Would you like another drink?”

I noticed I was empty and looked up at him, nodding, “Yes please.”

He exited the pool and attempted to dry himself the best he could before leaving me in the pool with Sam and Megan as he went inside.

Then I heard Sam call out, “You got that boy whipped, Blair.”

I smirked, flicking my hair, “He loves me.”

I watched Sam tense at the word Love, and how I knew she was literally terrified of saying that word. I’m pretty sure she hadn’t heard it from anyone in years whenever she needed it most, and I hoped she wouldn’t wait too long to tell Megan.

Because I knew Sam loved Megan, and I knew Megan loved Sam, I was just praying Sam didn’t wait too long and screw up everything between them two. Sam needed to admit it to herself, and then to Megan before Megan got the wrong idea and ended up leaving Sam’s life for good.

Because I knew if that ever happened Sam would be completely broken, and there would be no repairing her if Megan broke her heart.

Eventually we had decided to get out of the pool and start getting ready for tonight, allowing us to go upstairs and shower. I knew Sam wouldn’t take long to get dressed, she never did, but Megan on the other hand was obviously a little more high maintenance. Tony had allowed me to shower first so I was currently downstairs waiting for the rest of them to finish up.

I heard someone strutting down the stairs and I looked up, seeing Sam ruffling her blonde hair as she looked at me from afar. She smiled, “So who’s going to be the DD?”

I shook my head, “Not me!”

She leaned on the counter, looking back at the stairs as if expecting someone to come down behind her. I watched her silently, seeing her fidget with her hands and realizing sometimes she seemed so lost without Megan next to her.

God she had it so bad.

I questioned, “So how is everything between you and Megan?”

She nodded, “It’s amazing. I just feel like a completely new person with her… I don’t know how to explain it.”

I smiled to myself, “You don’t have to, I understand.”

Even at the mentioning of Megan’s name brought life to Sam’s eyes, and I thought it was pretty adorable. Sam still had her hard exterior, and I was convinced that was never going away, but she was a much more tolerable person now.

I teased, “So is the infamous Sam Carson finally settling down?”

She didn’t scoff at me and tell me to shut the hell up, she didn’t protest or shake her head, and she didn’t defend herself by claiming she could never be tied down. She just looked at me with a sad look in her eyes and shook her head, “I don’t know how good I’m doing with this whole thing Blair. She’s says she’s not rushing and she’s holding true to that, I just don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to give her everything she wants.”

I watched my best friend struggle internally, knowing she was in fact having a hard time keeping up. Megan wasn’t a teenage girl she picked up at a bar, she wasn’t easy, and I knew somewhere deep down she kind of intimidated Sam. I could see it on her face, even though I knew there was a lot more depth to their relationship.

I took Sam’s hands and attempted to make her feel better about herself, because she deserved that. I pressed, “Sam, believe that you’re good enough, because you are. I promise.”

She shook her head, and I knew it was going to take time for Sam to grow confidence concerning this aspect of her life. And I knew Megan was going to do the best she could to help her along the way, but I needed to be her best friend right now and do my job.

I continued, “Sam, I know you think Megan’s this perfect woman and shit but she’s human just like you. She’s made mistakes, she has her flaws, and she’s disappointed you a lot in the past. She understands no one’s perfect, and you understand that too. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing and everything’s gonna fall into place, I promise you.”

I watched a little bit of the weight fall off of her slim shoulders as she nodded, “Thank you. I think I needed to hear that from you, Blair.”

I smiled, silently giving myself a pat on the back, “I know.”

“You know I love you, right?”

I smirked, tilting my head, “I know that too, now the next step is getting you to say that to Megan.”

Her blue eyes seemed to widen at that sentence and I knew I had instantly freaked her out, but then Megan and Tony soon joined us downstairs and we had to cut our convo short. I rolled my eyes at my stupidity, knowing I should’ve held my mouth shut before telling her that.

I didn’t know if Sam was ready for that, but I knew it needed to happen, and maybe me saying that would help her along, or just scare her away.

~ ~ ~ ~SAM’S POV~ ~ ~ ~

I looked out of the window of the suburban as Megan drove us to The Pier for the performances going on later. I was trying to have a good time and relax but all I could think about was what Blair had told me back at the condo.

I knew I was going to have to tell Megan I loved her, whether it was soon or not so soon, I knew it was going to have to happen. I knew I cared about Megan, but what did love even feel like? I had never been in love with anyone, and I didn’t know the first thing about love, but I knew I felt different with Megan.

Did that mean I really did love her?

I felt the anxiety of the situation threaten to take over but I tried not to let it get to me. The last thing I needed right now was to freak myself out before we even got to the festival, and I really did want to have a good time.

As we arrived closer to town I saw a variety of people and colors of clothing, most consisting of rainbow attire. I smiled at the sight, seeing banners and advertisements lining the streets of downtown Tampa.

I needed to just let loose and have fun tonight.

Megan parked and we all got out into the breezy Friday afternoon, and began following the crowd down the pier. Megan was beside me instantly, holding my hand. I knew she was going to ask me why I had been so quiet in the car but I honestly didn’t want to talk about it.

At least not at the moment.

She whispered, “You okay?”

I nodded, “Yea, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”

She smiled a little too sadly for my liking, “I always worry about you.”

We eventually made it while one band was already playing and it looked as if there were billions of people here. It was crowded, some people were already drunk as they danced and stumbled around, but it looked like a huge party.

Megan looked over to me and smiled, “Would you like a drink?”

I looked at her, smiling and nodding, “That would be great.”

Blair directed Tony to get her one too while he walked side by side with Megan, leaving Blair and I alone again. I honestly didn’t know how to take what Blair had told me in the condo but I was still trying not to freak out.

Blair nudged me, “Sam, don’t worry about what I said okay? Just have fun tonight. I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

I shook my head, “But you’re right, I’m going to have to tell her.”

She shook her head “Not until you’re good and ready to.”

I knew Blair hadn’t meant to freak me out but she liked to over-talk and say everything that ran through her mind. She had always been that way with me and in a way I appreciated it, but with Megan it was different. It freaked me out knowing that I could possibly love Megan, or maybe even be in love with her, which made bile in my stomach rise.

The thought of being in love with someone was literally the scariest feeling in the world to me.

Megan and Tony rejoined us, handing over our drinks and pulling us into the crowd towards the band. They sounded awfully amazing, and if this was just the first band I was excited to see whoever was up next.

The cool wind whipped around, allowing the salty air to enter my nose and attempt to relax me a bit. I sipped on my drink, feeling Megan’s warm body close to me as she swayed to the music. As much as I was worrying about everything right now I knew I should just let my hair down and forget about it, at least until tonight whenever Megan and I were alone.

Right now was about having fun and celebrating, and that’s what I was going to do.

~ ~ ~ ~

A few hours later we were all feeling pretty good, everyone except Megan who had initially decided not to drink to where she would drive. I had also decided not to get too crazy since Megan was sober, and as the band played a song with a cool bass line I felt myself wanting to dance.

Then I heard Megan’s cell ring and she answered it, “Hey Shawn!”

She stayed silent as she tried her best to hear whatever Shawn was saying on the other line, then responded again.

“Yea we’re at The Pier, you should come!”

A second passed before she nodded again and responded.

“Awesome, see you soon!”

She hung up and put her phone back in her purse as she moved closer to me, “Your brother’s at the condo, he’s gonna come meet us in a bit.”

I smiled, swaying to the music as I pressed my body against her, “So if you want to have a drink you can, he can drive tonight.”

She smirked, “I’ll wait till he gets here.”

As my body moved to the beat of the music I could see Megan’s crystal eyes taking me in. Being around all of these people who were dancing their hearts out made me really loosen up, with the help of my liquid courage too. I wrapped one of my hands around Megan’s neck as I pressed my hips against hers, knowing I could seduce her into dancing with me.

Even though I was a little tipsy I was still aware of everything, and eventually Megan took hold over me as she pressed her back against the front of my torso. I could smell her dark hair as one hand reached around, holding me close to her as she grinded her ass against me. I had never had the privilege of Megan dancing on me like this, but it was the closest thing I had to Heaven at the moment.

I could feel myself growing hot as she continued to dance on me, seducing me this time as she turned around, allowing me to take her in. I shook my head and smiled like an idiot, “You like to drive me crazy.”

She wrapped her hand in my hair as I felt the humid but cool atmosphere settle on us. She didn’t respond verbally, but instead planted a soft kiss on my lips as she pulled me into her. I felt everything in me grow weak, just like every other time Megan kissed me like this. I felt everything she felt for me in the kiss, it was so overwhelming but so amazing at the same time, and I absolutely loved it.

She pulled away, “Driving you crazy is my favorite thing to do.”

Then I heard Shawn’s voice from behind me, “Holy shit this is a party.”

I turned around, seeing Blair, Tony and Shawn talking as Megan and I joined them. I knew that the firework show would be soon since it was nearly 9:00, and I was glad Shawn had made it in time to see them.

I spoke, “Glad you decided to come.”

He shrugged, smiling, “No use missing the biggest party in Tampa.”

The performer onstage finished their song and the crowd went crazy, and then they announced the starting of the firework show. I turned towards the bay, seeing the first streak rise through the air and explode above the water, gaining a huge applause from the crowd.

I felt Megan’s hand wrap around my waist, pulling me into her as I smiled, looking at her while she looked up at the fireworks. Everything about Megan was perfect to me, no matter how many things she messed up throughout our time of knowing each other. I still thought she was the most beautiful person inside and out, and I felt like she deserved to know that every day for the rest of her life.

I watched her features light up, her dark hair and her glowing eyes that would light up because of the glowing fireworks in the sky.

She felt my eyes on her and smiled, “You’re staring at me.”

I nodded, “I know.”

She seemed to smile at that and moved closer to me, “But you’re missing the fireworks.”

I shook my head, “I don’t care.”

I watched her blush in the light of everything going on, and in this moment I wished we were alone. I wanted to talk to her about everything, I wanted to know what I felt for her and if it was real or not. I wanted her, all of her in every possible way, but being here with her was perfect enough for me in the moment.

She leaned in and I grabbed her face, kissing her soft lips and not caring about anything else in the world. The fireworks must’ve ended because everyone was cheering and starting to leave but I didn’t want to stop kissing Megan. It was as if the world had stopped turning and Megan and I were in our own little world.

That was until Blair coughed, interrupting, “Alright love birds, time to go.”

I pulled away and smiled, taking Megan’s hand, “Fine.”

We all headed back to the condo and eventually Megan and I were upstairs getting ready for bed. I was restless and wanted to talk to her about what Blair had talked to me about earlier, but I wasn’t sure if it was the right time.

We lay in bed, Megan looking at me while I debated internally if it was best to bring this up now. She whispered through the dark, “Is there something bothering you?”

I just looked into her blue eyes, wondering what exactly I should say. There obviously was something bothering me, I just didn’t know how to put it.

I asked quietly, “What does it feel like to be in love?”

I could see Megan’s eyes fill with shock because she had obviously not expected that to come out of my mouth. I watched her attempt to come up with an answer, and I knew she had been in love with Nikki before me. I just wanted an idea of what I was getting myself into.

I could feel Megan’s hands press against my chest, looking into my eyes as she smiled softly, “I believe it’s the most amazing feeling you can possibly feel in your lifetime. Being in love with someone is like you don’t need anything else but them, like they’re you’re world you know? You two still have lives but… it’s not just you anymore, it’s them too. You always have someone there to support you and love you, and you can’t help but get excited around them. Just them being near you is enough to send you to cloud 9… it’s kind of hard explaining but, that’s the best I could do.”

I just looked at her, attempting to form my own definition of what love felt like. I knew I cared about Megan, and when I was with her I couldn’t help but be happy. She made me feel important, she loved all the beauty and darkness about me, and I appreciated that so much. There was no one in my life that compared to Megan, not in my nineteen years of meeting so many people.

I had always known in the back of my mind that what I and Megan had was different, but was it different because I… loved her?

She whispered, “Why?”

I smiled softly, still feeling a bit confused over the entire situation, and replying, “Just curious.”

She smiled as if she knew the alternate reasoning as to why I had asked, but she didn’t press me further. I couldn't tell you how grateful I was that Megan wasn’t rushing me into answering anything like she had before with my parents and all the other crazy shit that had happened to me.

She was allowing me to figure myself out before expecting me to answer any serious questions.

She whispered, “It’s kind of like when you know, you just know, Sam.”

I ran my hand down her cheek and over her soft neck, bringing her face closer to me as I kissed her lips softly. The familiar tingling sensation rose in my stomach as I felt my breathing hitch, praying that figuring this out wouldn’t take too long.

I wanted to figure this out so bad but I knew I shouldn’t rush it, and like Megan had said… when I was in love I would just know, and I wouldn’t have to question it anymore.