Scarlett lacked peace for everything that took place, reason being her over all these years. She was sure though; Dylan detected that she regretted everything following her apologies that day. She definitely understood he would undeniably need time to roll this all, and yet he tried to stop her from leaving his apartment but she did not look to make it extra tough further.

Certainly, he'd need some time to feel the changes and the whole thing, yet that does not affect the amounts of hurt and struggle he had been through. Scarlett's apologies and admission of guilt certainly do not overlook the forceful patches he'd gone through. Knowing him, she was sure he would stop her. He has always had a tremendously huge heart and that makes her turn persistent to stick to her conclusion of leaving him alone. In the end, it is still there. Scarlett found it too hard to forget her own inanity and shock.

Finally walking away from him, Scarlett sprinted towards the elevator, trying fraught efforts of calming her nerves down. She cursed inwardly, for not being able to control the tears, which had already made their way out in front of Dylan.

She was frantic and overcast like never before. She wanted to end up in her room as soon as possible, curl on her bed, and cry her heart out. The ache of destroying everything is the nastiest sort of remorse one could ever feel. Scarlett's heart clenched and it felt unaided. In addition, Dylan's void expressions from before does not go away from her mind, making her all the way more rueful.

Stepping inside the elevator, and without more ado, Scarlett pressed the button to reach down. Her gaze landed to her front and a perceived Dylan approached carrying his maximum speed. Scarlett evidently frowned. Before the elevator doors connected together, he was already there, reaching out for her arm and dragged her out of the small area. She was just too in daze to even catch her breath or act in response. She stared at him and was staggered. Before she could query him, Dylan was on his way, dragging her inside his apartment again.

"Dylan," Scarlett called out for him but reflected as if he was not in a mood to stop until he reached his destination. The next moment, she realized him stopping only after getting back to his living room, and at the same spot where she'd expressed her unfathomable regret. However, his hand missed her arm as he backed away, facing his back to her. Scarlett watched him puzzled. His hands held his face as he rubbed it a few times, letting her know about his agitation and hassle.

For the next few good minutes, he did not confirm his emotions. All he did was pace back and forth, not to forget, not glancing Scarlett's way even for a moment. Nevertheless, she waited for a few more moments for him to articulate. She wondered what was happening in his mind. Finally, she decided to split the raucous silence as she cleared her throat. It suddenly went dry. "Dylan, if you want to talk..." Hearing her speak, he turned her way hastily and cut her off, he was quite furious.

"Will you let me have a bit more time to comprehend and believe," he raised his voice for the first time. Scarlett instantly looked down mortified. He further added, "Or you just thought that no matter what, you won't let me have my way here!" He mocked facing her completely, stepping a bit closer. She frowned.

Of course he went mad. Actually, Scarlett was befuddled since he was soundless and unmoved at the time she made an apology. He did not verbalize anything. It definitely took a few minutes for him to record everything in his brain and hence his reaction was quite late. He audibly took a sharp intake as he looked endlessly lost. He had his face palmed again as he looked heavenwards. Scarlett could notice him going astray. His expression completely deciphered his lethargy.

He dispatched, holding her by her arm resolutely, leaving her startled. "You have no idea how I dreamed this to be true," he said in a complaining tone, yet his tone of voice was soft, as he looked once into Scarlett's eyes. She could only stare back and just match his deep eyes.

"I almost gave up," he whispered, slipping down his hands, away from her shoulders. Instantaneously, she missed his closeness and touch. His previous words were yet to be registered inside her conscious part when he spoke his next sentence. "I tried hard to forget about you, but you just wouldn't go away from my heart and mind." He admitted making her heart skip a beat as she gave him a look of bewilder.

This is not happening. He made Scarlett susceptible. She does not want his girlfriend to get hurt because of her. Before she could protest, he spoke again. "Enough of this distance, Angel," he jadedly said in a low tone, "Let's begin it all over again." He pleaded, leaving her speechless.

Scarlett let out a quiet breath and spoke, "You shouldn't be asking me this, Dylan, it's not fair on Alice's part," she paused. He frowned in confusion as he tried to speak but again she did not let him, "I understand and believe me, I don't aim to form trouble or any kind of disparity in your successful new relationship." Scarlett finished in a low tone backing away. Suddenly, breathing turned out so hard. There were continuous big lumps under her throat, and it seemed so impossible to pass up the tears, as few of them already made their way out of her eyes. Instantly, she rubbed them away.

"Alice?" He uttered questioningly, his forehead forming lines, deciphering his perplexity, leaving her mystified as well. However, she let out a curt nod.

Dylan backed away, his forehead still creased, crushing down her remaining little hopes of his feelings being the same for her. Even Scarlett had no idea what she truly wanted. She wished him to forget about everything, yet knowing he belongs to somebody else, made her murky as hell.

The next moment, she heard him amused, as she jerked her face his way. Dylan was really laughing. Never in her life had she been this astounded and bamboozled. What makes the man laugh? She has not cracked a joke that would entertain him. Scarlett's face frowned in disbelief when he continued his unbelievable titter. Honestly, she started to get bothered and frustrated.

We were talking about something serious, she almost expressed her perpetual love for him and letting him go at the same time and all he had to do was to snicker. Was he enjoying her madness over these years? It might certainly be that. Was it a laugh of derision? Precisely, it could definitely be that. Realizing that, her head hung down, as she fought back the tears of her defeat. She turned away, not able to witness the result of her absurdity.

Not long after that, Scarlett felt his hand on her arm as he deliberately twisted her, forcibly making her look at him face to face. However, she avoided his gaze as she still looked down.

"You were right," he started, as she slowly lifted her gaze, and his eyes still represented a glint of soft laughter, "You are absurd." His thumb reached out for her face, making her look at him. Scarlett's cheeks were already crimson from all the introversion as he gave her a soft stare, his lips slightly curved up into a small fond smile. She squirmed a little, in an attempt to get away, only to be held by him tighter.

"Leave me." She requested slowly, it was a light murmur as she glanced at him. He instantly shook his head, "Not anymore." He said, suddenly curling his arm back to her waist and drawing her closer, leaving Scarlett alarmed.

"Dylan..." she started to say, but his hand that stroked her hair distracted her as he smirked. Slipping his other arm too at my back, he pulled her again closer as she gasped. Scarlett wiggled, yet again, he smirked, "Stop trying, Angel, stay where you are. You belong exactly here." The smirk he carried was gone as he ran his thumb all over her cheek, making her let go of all the composure, which she had been holding since she'd stepped there.

"Did she give you an impression, indicating she is my girlfriend?" Dylan questioned in a slow voice, his tone slightly amazed and Scarlett could only stare at him bemused. He raises his brows in question as he waits for her answer.

Apparently, she forced herself to think about minutes ago, since she stepped there. Certainly, she came up with an unconstructive reply as she recognized her conclusive stupidity all over again. Scarlett's cheeks were on fire, as soon as she met up with her own recognition. She glanced up at Dylan and he already smirked making it not any easier for her. Indeed, she assumed her as his girlfriend. However, she was no one to blame, her attire could make any person believe that way and the fact that she was out of her mind, obviously did not help any.

Nevertheless, that surely meant she was not his girlfriend! He is not in love with her. Happy was such a small word to describe her situation. A sudden wave of cheer washed over Scarlett's existence, which even trounced her own humiliation. She shifted her gaze at him enduringly. His hands were still around her as he stood there, waiting for her to have a word. She parted her lips to form something, which would probably justify her actions, but nothing came out of her mouth. Scarlett suddenly wanted to hide or disappear.

The good-looking jerk suppressed his grin, "Exactly." He caressed her cheek again and she bit my lips again looking down. However, the heaviness she carried was nowhere to be experienced. This time, successfully backing away from his hold, Scarlett looked everywhere but at him. However, that was only for a mere moment as he instantly approached her. He held her arm, his expressions free of smirks and grins, as he finally had a real smile. He held her face in his hands. Scarlett did not realize that she still had moistness in her eyes, until Dylan wiped them away.

"You are the only one for me, sweetheart, since from the start," he smiled as she directly looked into his eyes. His eyes showed longings and pain as he leaned to kiss on her forehead. "I really want to start all over again," he uttered again, his one arm curling around her waist. Scarlett did not rebuff his touch this time. However, she still went against the way they both currently feel.

"No, I don't think this is enough now. It's different." Scarlett replied in a quiet voice.

"It will," he protested right back, his hand finding her cheek again, "And do you really think, I would let you go?" He exclaimed snootily and this only made her give him an incredulous look.

"How come you are so sure?" She asked, ignoring his cockiness.

His eyes turned serious, not the mainly grave one but there was not the wicked smile he was carrying a while ago. Bringing his hand up to her face to caress, he brushed off the hair locks away, leaving soft caresses of his fingers making her lose herself under his touch and it certainly made her realize how much she had missed the sensation.

"I just know," he replied in a soft voice as he continued, "I was angry with you, Angel, but later I realized that it wouldn't have been painless for you to accept your loss as well," he paused, taking in a long breath. Scarlett looked down forlornly, reminiscing the past events as tears brimmed her eyes, "I knew you have been enforced to think that I was behind all those events and I don't really feel any hard feelings towards you, I just can't, not that I have not tried, but I can't feel anything but love for you. It's a mystery to me either." He completed slightly shrugging, still holding her gaze.

His eyes held pain and hurt, and realizing that it was caused by her, Scarlett felt more repentant. How can he forget so smoothly? He is the same man she had handed her heart to and yet, she thought he had changed. How could she? Scarlett inwardly reproached herself for the said fact.

Scarlett could only manage to stare at him disbelievingly. What was he made of? "This is not right, I don't want to..." before she could complete, he cut her off placing his index finger on her lips, probably knowing about the rebuffing that would come out from her mouth.

"Please, I have waited for this. Do not deny, love, I am still holding on only for you. Trust me." His words were just a mere, soft whisper in a pleading way, his eyes boring into hers. Scarlett would be lying if she said that she does not want him too. She sighed audibly, shaking her head in disapproval.

"You don't have to be so brave to let go, Angel. I know what you have in your heart for me. And you know that I do. I really can't take this distance anymore." He added making her heart skip a beat there.

"I..." she trailed off as she cleared her throat.

"You don't need to say, I know that." He said, running his hand over her arm in a soothing manner as he kissed her forehead tenderly. No matter how she messes things up between them, she needs to make herself happy. She certainly wanted him.

The next moment, he took Scarlett in his warm embrace instantly as he held her tight, yet tenderly, dropping light kisses on her head repetitively. Unknowingly, she reminisced about a few days ago, the hug they'd shared at the stream came back running in her mind, where he'd held her promptly. Scarlett had no idea why she remembered about it, but she did. She recalls him whispering that day - Dylan expressed that it felt like home and today, for her, it felt like home. Her home.

His scent, his embraces and his touch made her remember all the hugs they'd shared in the past. Though it was a long time ago, Scarlett still relives it. He has had a huge effect on her, all the time.

No doubt, they'd gotten closer even now in the present after his return, but Scarlett was highly suppressing herself, and the things she'd felt for him. She was running away from feeling. Nevertheless, now she had this push to let go of everything irresolute, which she had in her mind and she wanted to hold him wholeheartedly, not acknowledging other things. Scarlett was finally free of the qualms. She was strong enough to be selfish and think about her own heart.

She just realized how much she'd missed him all these years. "I missed you so much." She whispered the same, still in his arms as he ran soothing circles on her back. Dylan let her go as he smiled at her. She witnessed adoration and satisfaction. She could not understand how in the world she could not see the longings before. She was so busy thinking that she hated him.

Scarlett suppressed her feelings for him while the reality was she yearned for him. No matter how unpleasant things she'd said to him, somewhere deep down her heart, she was captivated by him. Certainly, Scarlett was giving it away. She cursed herself thinking he still had her heart. However, the bad times are over. She doesn't intend to run away from the beautiful feelings she'd felt for him.

Scarlett shifted back to reality, when she felt his thumb wiping her teardrops away.

"So, do you have the same opinion?" He asked, arching up his brow as she just smiled as her reply. "It was just a formality though," he casually stated as his lips twitched into a wit smile, "I would have not let you go this time, even if you don't agree to stay with me." He stated as she gave him a pointed stare. Scarlett surely knew what would approach next, his smugness.

Dylan and conceitedness are soul mates.

"Not that you can resist my charms," he arched back his shoulders as he held his chin high, proudly. He continued, "I believe I'm more strikingly good looking and hot now, no? What do you think, love?" He faked a question as he tilted his face from right to left, asking her about his facial appearance.

This made Scarlett give him an incredulous stare. "You are forever so high and mighty." She declared gruffly wriggling as his arm was curled at the back of her waist, but he held her tight.

"What! Its truth," he chuckled, giving her an obvious expression. "Stop trying, babe," Dylan added when the love of his life continued attempting to back away and he only beamed.

"You haven't changed a bit," Scarlett hissed, finally getting away from his hold as she slapped his arm.

"Sox haven't you, my dear beautiful Angel," he admitted and soon added, "So, are we cool now?" He asked, pointing at him at first and then at her. "No." Scarlett immediately countered turning on her back.

"Oh yes we surely are, come here, sweetheart," he pulled her to him again, "Let me love you," he suddenly whispered hoarsely, tucking her hair behind her ear. According to Scarlett, the guy was so mind-boggling. He knew how to press her buttons effortlessly.

Her heartbeat turned uneven as their breaths gradually connected. He leaned closer, not maintaining any kind of distance between them. His arms left steady, yet torturous trails all over her back and this only made her heart jump up and down. A sudden wave of heat ran down her spine as he lessened the gap between their lips.

Finally, Dylan's lips met hers as he moved along with hers in sync. Her hands automatically found their way locking around his neck. He pulled Scarlett by her waist more to him, not liking the distance between them, though it was only a little. The kiss exactly showed their desperation and desire. He was as passionate as he slipped his hand at the back of her head, getting a perfect access to her mouth. Scarlett, on the other hand, found herself pulling away as she ran out of breath, although he continued pecking her lips as she smiled.

He looked at her with only admiration in his eyes. "You are so beautiful." Dylan simply hugged again. "This is the best thing ever happened to me. You, your realization and everything it's just, I don't know what to say, I'm so madly in love with you, Scarlett Jones, don't you dare leave me ever again." He expressed it all in one go making Scarlett inwardly feel amazingly good about it.

"I am sorry, Dylan andI'm hopelessly in love with you too. I never stopped." She finished bringing a tremendously huge smile on his face.

"I was here last night to have this talk, but you were not home yet." Scarlett said slowly and in a soft voice against his lips. The moment he'd heard her, he backed away, only a little, still holding her arms as he had a clear look at her face. Clearly, he was shocked and surprised to hear about it.

"What!" He questioned, a frown replacing his forehead. Scarlett nodded, the smile not leaving her lips as she straightened the lines that formed into a big frown on his forehead.

"I was with Leah and the moment I realized everything, you know, all that," Scarlett paused as he held a questioning frown, "She forced me to make things clear as soon as possible, so I ended up landing myself here. I was so miserable, wrecked and slightly smashed. It was so dense." She completed it with a light embarrassing smile as she chuckled.

"I was not..." Scarlett cut him off, "Yeah, I waited but when you still didn't show up, I finally decided to leave." She explained walking closer as she brought her hand up to his cheek, tracing his light stubble.

"I'm sorry you had to wait." Dylan exclaimed apologetically as he held her hand, which was on his cheek.

"No, it's okay, I wanted to settle this that bad." She responded with a slight shrug.

"How long have you waited?" He asked right back, "Because, I just got back this morning.," he added.

"Um...it was late night, it was past four, I don't really remember," Scarlett replied nonchalantly, "I even slept on the floor outside. I was so hopelessly determined to talk with you." She giggled at her own stupidity. Indeed, it was rather clumsy of Scarlett to be that determined and certainly, she wished to see him that she'd let herself crash right there on the floor and let sleep overtake her for a while.

"Oh my goodness," Dylan exclaimed in shock, "I am so sorry, I feel bad." he said suddenly taking her in his arms, hugging her again, "You could have just called me, Angel." He was very concerned, his hand on her head.

"It's okay, Dylan," she chuckled in his arms, "You didn't know that I was going here to meet you and besides, it's nothing compared to the hurt you went through because of me." Scarlett completed in a small voice. He instantly let go of her as he heaved a sigh.

"Forget it, Angel," he started stroking her face, "Let's start it all over again." He said, pecking her nose. Scarlett could simply manage a nod with a bright smile.

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