Laura's POV

The water was crystal blue and to get to our little cabin we had to walk on a wooden bridge. There were living quarters evenly spaced apart giving off plenty of privacy.

Somehow the doctors arranged for me and Will to get our own place probably because no one else could afford it. This place was ridiculous. There were green mountains on an island in the far distance. It was possibly swimming distance.

The cabin was huge. The curtains were pulled back and everything was open and bright. It was water and sand for days. I felt like I was in heaven. The kitchen was fully stocked. Will went through the fridge pulling things out. Two minutes later he handed me a pink frozen daiquiri.

"I'm so glad I came." I didn't mean to say it out loud but I did.

Will laughed. "Me too. But your mother wasn't too happy about it, was she?"

"She doesn't like me running from my problems."

"Well since you're already here try to forget about it."

"I think I can do that." The daiquiri was delicious and I was literally in paradise.

We spent the afternoon lounging in the cool bed on the patio. The other side had a net to lay on and a staircase going down into the water. Clare and I laid in the sun. Her husband and Will decided to snorkel with the fish.

We sipped on our refreshing mamosas before she dived into the first session.

"Do you feel guilty for coming?"

"No." Not even a little.

"Does that bother you? Do you wish you cared more?"

"A little." I adjusted my aviator sunglasses because the sun was blinding. "I don't think I should feel guilty. I'm not intentionally trying to hurt Chris by being here even though he might think that. He knew he was hurting me and he did it anyway."

"What kind of closure are you looking for? Closure with Will or Chris?"

I shrugged. "Closure of my mind. I don't want to think about it."

Clare took the hint. "When you're ready, I'm here."

Now I felt like a douche. Was I being rude? "Thank you. Will is so easy to be around. Even when we broke up he was so...nice about it. He wasn't mad."

"Will is a patient man."

I started laughing like an idiot. She had no idea how right she was. "Yes he is. Will told me he was betting Chris would mess up and that he'd be there for me when he did."

"Oh," Clare tried covering her shock by taking another sip.

That alarmed me in a weird unbelievable way. "What, oh?" What did she mean by that?

"Do you think subconsciously you're taking this more offensively because you knew Will was kind of waiting for you?"

But was I over reacting? "Chris..." I was suddenly at a loss for words.

"Chris was confused just as you were with him when Will proposed. You made the decision to see if you and Chris had anything left before marrying Will. You did exactly what he did. He needed to see if he still loved the other woman before starting something with you."

Shit... I had a sick sensation was punching me in the gut. I was too absorbed in myself that I hadn't realized we were the same. Chris and I did the exact same thing. I was being a total hypocrite.

"I think you regretted letting go of a very good man. With Will you knew what you were getting; security, love, and affection. Will never made you doubt him. Chris was an uncertainy. He abandoned you, made you hate yourself. You were freightened."

And I ran without giving it a second thought. "I'm an idiot."

"No honey. You're not an idiot. I think you still love Will. That's why you're so conflicted. I think you love both of them for completely different reasons."

I felt sick and nauseous. "I think you might be right."

"What do you want or rather who do you want?"

I wanted to cry again. "I don't know."

My chest was pounding and my hands were shaky. But the sound of Will's voice in the distance silenced my mini heart attack. I got up and jumped off the ledge of the deck. I needed to cool down so I swam. I swam till I was too sore to move then I floated on the surface. The warm sun beaming down on me was hopefully evenly tanning my skin.

Will swam up next to me a few minutes later. He touched my bare legs but I think out of pure concern.

"Are you alright? You swam pretty far."

I paddled my legs back and forth in the water to face him. "Are we here as an engaged couple?"

He looked extremely thrown off. "Mike and Clare think so but we don't have to pretend if you don't feel comfortable."

His wet hair looked brown but his eyes were glowing in the sun even though he was squinting. He was beautiful and always so thoughtful.

I followed my impulse and kissed his salty lips. It was like a surge awakening me.

"You're too good for me." I whispered bluntly.

Will drew in and deepened the kiss, more passionately and possessively.

"Don't ever say that again. I'm not too good for anyone especially you." His aggression surprised me.

Was he really that pissed? It wasn't a marvel. He was amazing, practically unreal. Sometimes he made me feel like I was dreaming him up.

"But you are." I laughed to lighten the mood but that didn't seem to work on him.

"Is that truly how you feel?" He frowned.

I didn't want to upset him even more, so I leaned in and stole another kiss before swimming away. I made it as far as the shore when Will reached me.

"Laura wait!"

I stopped only to blind myself by looking towards the sun. Maybe it could burn my shame too. "You're like this fucking gorgeous superhero. You save lives Will. I can't even get my shit together."

I couldn't compare to him.

He was so sad and hurt. How was that possible? I was complimenting him.

"Is this how you felt during our relationship?"

I nodded, closing my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I had no idea. I never wanted you-"

"You're apologizing?" For what? "You really are perfect, aren't you? I'm such an idiot for letting you go." I didn't even realize what I was blabbering. I just kept talking.

Will got closer. Water drops were trickling down his chest. I avoided looking up at his eyes. I squeezed the warm sand between my toes to relief some anxiety.

"Do you mean that?"

Oh God. Did I? "A part of me does." It wasn't a lie.

If Chris hadn't given Ariel another chance and he would have called me I would never have been with Will. It was his fault I fell in love with Will.

He was the reason for this twisted mess.

Will's palm felt hot against my burnt cheek. "I'm not perfect especially if I couldn't distinguish how miserable I made you feel about yourself."

He was perfect for just saying that. "Forget it."

I turned but before I could walk Will drew me into his arms. His moistened lips melted into mine, sculpting them into his desired creation.

My stomach leaped and dropped to the ocean's floor. Shit.

I tilted my head inward, breaking the kiss. Will was smiling regardless.

"I'll never forget it. I'll never forget you. I love you Laura."

Shit. Shit.

Mike and Clare arranged for all four of us to have dinner on their back patio area. The table was set beautifully by the staff, waiting on our hand and foot. Candles and the moon were our only source of light. It was gorgeous and romantic. There were dozens and dozens of candles flickering in the calm wind and dripping wax onto long gold plates.

Clare and Mike were such a loving couple. I mean they were always attentive to each other's needs. He made sure she got her food first then she made sure he had enough to eat. It was just little things that made me want to have exactly what they had.

After eating Will scooted his chair closer to mine so he could put his arm over my back, making me lean into him. The night, as cliché as it was, was magical. Everything was so perfect.

The servers pulled out a radio and began playing soft music. Of course as soon as Mike took Clare for a spin Will asked me to dance too.

We were dancing under the stars, over glistening water, and nothing felt more fairytale than this. This was what I wanted. Will was who I needed to choose. Right? Could the signs not be anymore clearer?

Yet as I stared into his beautiful big brown eyes I wanted them to be green. I was dreaming of those emerald eyes with specks of gold.

Why?

Why at a moment like this? 

Chris's POV

A week without Laura felt like a month. I was torturing myself with possible scenarios. I should have told her. She didn't deserve to find out from my ex. I should have also known Ariel would come back to bite me in the ass.

She was relentless. She was a woman that had to have everything her way. Ariel couldn't or wouldn't understand why I didn't want to be with her. I told her I met someone else and I thought it would stop her from pursuing me but apparently it didn't.

I couldn't believe it got this bad so fast. One minute I was blissfully happy with Laura as my girlfriend and everyone knewing it to having her run away because of some dumbass mistake I made. I shouldn't have dated Ariel when she came back. I was stupid though and she was persistent. And I thought maybe... I wasn't sure.

I needed to know if Ariel and I had a future or if I should, once and for all, end it. I needed closure before I started anything with Laura. Because I did believe I was in love with Ariel. It wasn't a good love but I did care for her. Ariel broke it off with me and I guess I was still attached because I technically never let it go.

Being with Laura helped. She opened my eyes and I realized I didn't love Ariel the way I should have. Sometimes I felt like I didn't love Laura the way I should either because I keep screwing it up.

Ben's car wasn't in the driveway when I got home. It felt like such a long day. I was under a dark cloud of haze. I couldn't stop thinking about Laura. I wanted to talk but that was impossible since she left without her phone. I couldn't reach her.

I didn't want to pressure her mom or harasses her with questions she might not know the answers to. Although I did ask if she was ok. I mean I knew Laura probably wasn't but I was still concerned. I needed to know something. Mrs. Brown assured me Laura was tough and would undoubtedly be home soon. At least it was something to go by.

Laura was tough, maybe too tough. How long did I use her? A month? I was brutal. I wouldn't treat any other women in my life the way I treated her. Yet Laura took it. I verbally and physically abused her, constantly slamming her into things, forcing my tongue down her throat. Fuck... thinking about it filled me with shame.

I was a dick. No wonder she left.

I couldn't even explain how much I needed her in my life. She gave me substance and balance. She understood me on a level no one else could. I didn't have to pretend to be ok around her. She could see through it.

She wasn't scared of me either, of that dark side of me. Laura... the sound of her name made my heart ripple into a frenzy.

I missed her. I missed holding her.

I nearly shit my pants when I turned on the light in my room and found someone sitting on my bed. I was about to unleash some serious ass wiping until I realized it was Laura.

Her dark hair draped to her waist in waves. She tilted her chin up to paralyze me with her haunted eyes. I couldn't move. I could hardly breathe.

"Laura..." I fumbled over her name. "I'm sorry."

She didn't say anything and the silence was torture.

"I should have told you but once I realized I never really loved Ariel she didn't matter anymore. I wanted you. I needed you. And I came here for you."

Laura wasn't expressing any kind of emotion. I swear I was about to fall on my knees and beg for her forgiveness. But she got up.

"You realized kind of late." She paced to the left near my dresser. "I found Will, perfect Will because you weren't here."

I knew I was never going to live this down. Prefect Will? I wanted to punch that guy so many times in the face. He wouldn't be perfect Will no more.

Laura chucked one of my books at me luckily I dodged it in time. "I was literally just in paradise except it wasn't paradise."

The hell? I was confused. Where exactly did she go?

"Not without you." Laura stormed towards me, fire blazing in her eyes. Her hand fly across my face and my cheek began to sting. Maybe I deserved it.

I grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her into a kiss. I needed to taste her spirit, the sweet hatred.

"I hate you." She smirked.

"The feeling is mutual." I spun to slam her into the door.

She huffed and I bit into her lip.

"I was lost without you." I breathed.

Laura sucked on my bottom lip. "I shouldn't have left. I'm sorry."

It didn't even matter anymore. She was here. She was really here. "I'm sorry."

She pulled back just enough for me to see the dark pools of her eyes. "You did exactly what I did to Will. I came back to you and you came back to me." She nearly cried.

I guess I didn't see it like that at first. She couldn't be with Will because of me and I couldn't be with Ariel because I loved Laura.

I pressed her into me. I needed the feeling to consume me.

"I'm going to marry you someday." She declared, grasping my full attention. "Whenever you ask I'm going to say yes."

"Will you marry me?" The proposal sounded natural coming off my tongue.

Laura grinned, nodded and began kissing me. "Yes."

I thought my heart was about to burst. It wasn't a rush but a promise. She was promising herself to me. Finally.

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Sorry it took so long*