Secrets

"A publishing deal?" Nicole threw her arms around Bruno. "Bruno, that's fantastic! I'm so proud of you!"

Bruno hugged her back, a little less than enthusiastic, Nicole noted. They were at Bruno's place, where they spent most of their time now. Ever since Nicole had broken up with Jesse, she'd been avoiding going to Lou's after school like she usually did, thus giving herself the perfect opportunity to spend more time with Bruno. She knew him better than ever now, and knew that he wasn't telling her everything.

"OK" she demanded, pulling away. "What's up?"

"What do you mean? Nothing's up."

"You're a lousy liar Martelli," she told him with a smile. "I know you. And I know there's something else going on with you. Now, tell me."

Bruno sat down with a heavy sigh. "OK. The publishing deal...."

Nicole frowned. "What?" There was an omnious quality to both her tone and Bruno's.

"It's in L.A. I'd have to be based out there."

"Oh."

"If I take it."

"What do you mean if you take it?" Nicole's voice went up an octave. "Bruno, you've worked for years for this, it's what you've always dreamed of. Why in the world wouldn't you jump at the chance?"

"You."

That one little word threw Nicole into a momentary tailspin. The idea that this man, who she'd known and loved for so short a time, would literally give up his life and his dream job for her was more than she had let herself believe. Bruno wasn't like Jesse, she'd always known that. Jesse was outgoing and demonstrative towards her - he always made sure she knew, and everybody else knew, exactly how he felt about her. That wasn't Bruno's style. Bruno was the kind of guy who showed how he felt instead of telling her all the time. It was in the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't looking, the way she knew he sat up by the phone when she'd gone home until she rang him and let the phone ring twice to let him know she was home safely. And most of all, it was in that one little word.

She knew that he meant it. That he'd give up his dream.

For her.

Because he loved her.

And she knew she couldn't let him.

All that went through Nicole's head in an instant. She opened her mouth to speak, but Bruno cut her off.

"Nicole, just let me say this, ok?" He took a deep breath, let it out slowly. "I'm not good with saying how I feel. It's easier for me to express myself in music than in words. But I just need to tell you....I love you. For maybe the first time in my life, I know what that means now. It's not some rush of hormones, it's not just spending time with another person, it's wanting to spend all the time with that person. Not wanting to be away from them for a second. It's caring about them more than you care about anything else. That's how I feel about you."

"Bruno...."

"Y'know," Bruno continued as if she hadn't spoken. "I never thought I'd care about anything more than I cared about my music. And then, I met you. And it's like, if I don't have you, I don't have anything. I waited my whole life to find you Nicole. I don't want to lose you now. So I'm going to turn down the deal."

"Have you given an answer yet?"

Bruno shook his head.

"Good." Nicole's voice was strong, although tears were running down her cheeks. "Because you are not staying in New York just because of me. This is an incredible opportunity and you're not passing it up."

"But..."

"But nothing. We can write. Call. You can visit here. I can go out there. And in the summer, I graduate. I can come out and join you then. For good." She put her arms around her neck and pulled him into a hug. "You have to do this Bruno."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I'll miss you, but it's not forever. I'll join you as soon as I can"

"Is that a promise?"

Nicole smiled. "What do you think?"

Bruno didn't speak in reply. He didn't need to.