(Galleria's POV)

What a day this has been! After we patched things up at the train station, we spent the entire day rehearsing. The new song sounds even better than I could have imagined. We're even going to have a practice gig at the Dancing Cat, thanks to Lola. Chanel was so great when we talked to her on the phone today. She was totally bragging on me to Lola, telling her that I wrote our best song ever. The best part (for me, anyways) was that for the whole conversation she was next to me on the piano bench, with her arm wrapped around me. It might not mean anything at all, but it at least gives me a tiny bit of hope that things will go well tonight.

We made plans for her to spend the night in my room, so we can talk privately. I've decided I'm going to tell her the truth about my feelings tonight, no matter what. I'm crazy nervous, but I know things will turn out okay. Even if she doesn't feel the same way, at least I know now that we'll still be friends. If only I knew what to say, how to tell her. She's going to be here any minute now, and I still have no idea what I'm going to say.

I kill time by changing into my comfiest sweats and a tank top. I put on a dab of lip gloss and check my reflection. I want to look casual, but nice. Can't be looking a mess when I tell the girl I'm in love with her! I'm just fidgeting nervously with the drawstring on my pants when I hear Chuchi knock softly on my door. I close my eyes and take a deep breath before getting up to answer the door. "Hey girl," I offer casually, "Come on in."

She grins at me and pulls something from behind her back as she moves to sit on my bed. "I brought popcorn and chocolate. It's not a sleepover without snacks!"

I grin back at her and chuckle. Dang, why's she gotta be so adorable? I give her a quick once over as she settles herself onto the bed. She's wearing a different set of pajamas than she had on this morning. These are lilac and fleecy. She's wearing the button-down top open over a dark purple silk cami. Nice! My heartbeat quickens at the sight of her and at the thought of what I'm soon going to tell her.

I carefully sit down on the bed next to Chanel, close but not touching her. I open my mouth, and begin, "Chanel, I-"

"Wait! I want to start, please? I am the one who asked if we could talk."

I'm a little surprised at her interruption, but I tell her to go ahead. I look into her eyes expectantly, ready to find out what she wants to say to me.

"First, I wanna say that I am so sorry that I yelled at you yesterday. I know I said some really mean things, and the thing is- I didn't mean any of it. I know that the only reason you came to Barcelona was to help me with the whole Luc thing. You were only keeping your promise to me. And I know that I haven't been around much to rehearse. I just… well, I just needed time. I know that doesn't make sense at the moment, but I realize now that I should have said something instead of just leaving you hanging. I knew how important the contest is to you, to us, and I should have been more serious about it."

She says all of this in one breath, and when she finally pauses for air, I take the opportunity to speak up. "It's okay, Chuchi. I understand. I mean, I know how hard things are for you right now. I know you're scared about your mom and Luc getting married. I wasn't very nice yesterday either. I should have paid more attention to how you were feeling. I'm really sorry, can you forgive me?"

"Of course, Bubbles. You're my best friend! But now that we're done talking about the fight, there's something else we need to talk about."

"There is?" Does she know? No, how could she. But what is it then? Stop. Pay attention to Chuchi, she's trying to tell you something.

"Yeah, um, there is. I want to explain what I said about needing time, and why I've been so distant with you. It wasn't just the whole Luc thing."

"Okay." I search her face, looking for some clue as to what she's telling me.

"I-, well I guess I was, um, pushing you away on purpose."

Ouch, that hurt! I'm not even sure what to say to that, so I settle for asking her a pained, "Why?" I turn my eyes away from hers. Instead I focus on my hands in my lap. I'm fidgeting nervously again, waiting for her answer. Several moments pass and she still hasn't answered. Instead she stills my hands with one of her own. She leaves her hand on mine and looks at me until I lift my head to return her gaze. She gives me this sort of sad, wistful smile before speaking again.

"Because I was scared. Not of you, of course. I was scared of what I was feeling. All of a sudden I felt like things had changed with us. You were no longer just my best friend. You were, no are, more than that."

It can't be! Is she really saying what I think she's saying? Could I possibly be so lucky? Trying to remain calm, I squeeze her hand, willing her to continue.

"I started to feel more for you than just friendship, and it scared me. I didn't want things to change between us, I didn't want to mess things up, so I tried to just ignore it. But every moment I spent around you made it impossible for me to ignore my feelings. So I started pulling away, thinking it would help me get my feelings under control. I was so wrapped up in my own confusion that I didn't realize I was hurting you. I didn't even realize what I was doing until it was too late. It wasn't until last night that I finally admitted it to myself. I can't ignore it any more. I almost lost you today, and I never would have been able to forgive myself for letting you go. As soon as you forgave me in the train station this morning, I knew I had to tell you the truth. So here it is: Galleria, I'm in love with you."

My heart is beating like crazy. She loves me too! I'm doing an internal happy dance as I replay her words in my head. Then I notice that Chanel is looking at me nervously, biting her lip. Her hand twitches on mine, like she's about to pull it away. I realize that she's waiting for me to say something. I move our hands so that I'm holding hers gently between my own. I smile at her briefly before I answer.

"I can't tell you how happy I am to hear you say that. I never really thought it would happen. I mean, I hoped, but-"

"You mean you-?"

"I mean: I love you too. I've been in love with you for a while now. I just didn't know how to tell you. Actually, I had finally decided I was going to tell you on this trip. But then everything went wrong, and you and Marisol seemed so close, and I-"

"Wait. You thought I liked Marisol?"

"Well, yeah. Don't you?"

"As a friend, nothing more. It's you, it's always been you. I just took forever to figure it out."

"That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me."

"It's true."

The look Chuchi is giving me right now is making me melt. She's looking at me with so much love and warmth that I can't resist. I slowly lean toward her and capture her lips with my own. The warm touch of her soft lips feels so incredible it steals my breath away. I back away just enough to look deeply into her eyes. My heart gives a jolt and I close my eyes reflexively. I lean back into her for another kiss. I feel Chanel place her free hand on the back of my neck to bring me even closer. This kiss is longer, deeper. My entire body tingles and warms. Needing more, I gently glide my tongue along her lower lip. She gasps softly before meeting my tongue with her own. My hands leave their spot in my lap to run aimlessly up and down Chanel's back.

Chanel eventually eases us apart enough to rest her forehead against mine. "Wow!" She whispers wonderingly with a smile. "That was…"

"Amazing!" We both answer at the same time. I giggle at our little unison response. We really have been best friends forever.