I stand at the front of the church, alongside my aunt, Joey and Charlie's best friend, watching my beautiful mother walk up the isle with my granddad.

Her stunning white dress trails behind her as she walks, looking at Charlie with excited eyes. My heart warms from the thought of how happy she is, and how happy she will spend her life now she has Charlie. I can't wait until the day I find my true love and I meet him at the end of the isle.

My eyes immediately go to Zeke, and my chest tightens. Is it always going to be this painful to look at him now that I'm officially kicking him out of my life? Like you know, I'm good at forgetting people – but with him it's different. While waiting for the wedding to begin, I've been going over our memories together in my head. Getting ice cream together. Watching him fight those guys after we got ice cream. Dancing with him. Playing fifa. Listening to his random conversations with Cole and Isaac at lunch. Hugging him. Kissing him...

His eyes move to me and I feel sadness fall on me. I want to go back to how it was. But the happiness he made me feel was never consistent. We just never seemed to work together as people. From the second row, I see him frown and give me a questioning look, obviously noticing that something is wrong with me.

I look back to my mom and straighten myself up, smiling when she looks at me. My mom and Charlie say their vows, leaving mostly everyone in the room in tears – even my eyes begin to water at the beautiful things Charlie says to her.

"You may now kiss the bride," the minister says, stepping back. Charlie leans in and kisses her, and again, I feel tightening in my chest. I look away and let happy tears fall from my eyes as aww's erupt in the room and people begin to clap.

My eyes once again avert to Zeke. He's looking at me with a smile on his face. I blush and wipe my eyes, watching as he starts shaking his head and laughing. God, I hate him.

"Who's the hottie?" My aunt, Summer, says in my ear behind me.

"What? Who?" I say, turning to look at her.

"That guy who's been staring at you this whole time," I don't even follow her gaze, because I know who she's talking about.

"He's no one. My friend – well, he was my friend."

"Do you like him?"

"No, why would you think that? He was just a friend."

"Honey, I can tell from the way he's looking at you, that you and him are not just friends." She puts her hand on my cheek and wipes under my left eye. "Why don't you introduce him to me?"

"No, Summer, we're not even friends anymore."

She takes her hand away and smiles, knowingly. "Mmm-kay."

We follow my mom and Charlie out of the church, along with all the guests and we make our way to the hotel. In the dining room, everyone congratulates them while Joey and I sit at our assigned table.

"Don't they just get tired of hearing the same thing over and over again? Oh my god, DARLING, you look STUNNING. I'm so happy for you! How are the kids? Joey has gotten so big, and MARNIE, well Marnie is looking as gorgeous as ever," Joey says in a high pitched voice as we watch my mom talking to everyone.

I let out a snort. The accuracy is real.

"That was so attractive, baby," I hear Zeke say, suggesting to my majestic snort. My eyes widen.

Him and Maggie sit down beside us at our table, Zeke smirking.

Why is he calling me baby? Does he not understand that I don't want to be his friend anymore?

"Gross, man," Joey screws up his face. "Don't call her baby, she's like twelve."

Zeke laughs and I kick Joey's foot under the table. "Shut up. Both of you."

"Ooooooo," Zeke and Joey both say at the same time, mocking me.

"Leave her alone," Maggie says. "Why are guys such jerks?" I shrug in response and fight the urge to look at Zeke, because I know he's looking at me with his adorable smile.

"There you are!" Zoey says, leaving her parents behind and walking over to us. She sits in the seat beside Maggie.

"Hey, Zoe," I say. "Your dress is so nice."

"You think? I didn't want to go too colourful and crazy."

"Yeah, it's beautiful," Maggie says, admiring Zoey's tie dye dress.

"Oh my god, Zeke," Joey says in his over-exaggerated mocking voice, and I sigh, knowing what's coming. "Your tuxedo is GORGEOUS. Where'd you get it? Babe, you gotta let me borrow it."

"You get more annoying every time I see you," Zoey says, punching him on the shoulder. They have a mini argument while Zeke moves his seat closer to mine.

"Seeing you cry up there was adorable," he says quietly into my ear, making me shiver.

"Okay," I say, being salty and move my chair away from him, closer to Joey. In return, he just moves closer again.

"Don't be so dry, baby."

"Don't call me that."

"Why not? I know you love it."

"You're wrong." He's not wrong.

"I am sorry for everything." He looks deep into my cold eyes, hoping for forgiveness.

"You think you can sort this out like every other time. I'm sick of it. We are such different people, Zeke. I don't know why you still care."

"I don't know either." His eyes trail down my body. "I have not been able to stop thinking about you." He places his hand on my leg, sliding it up my thigh. Butterflies explode in my stomach and I am reminded of the feeling of lust his touch gives me.

"What the fuck, dude?" Joey's loud voice cuts off my thoughts as he looks at Zeke's hand on me. "Get your hand off her." His expression is serious, something I don't see often.

Zeke takes his hand off. "Sorry, man. Can't help myself."

"Yeah, well I know you, Blakely. Marnie's not stupid enough to fall for that shit anyway."

Yeah... I'm totally not that stupid.

"I've changed since you left," Zeke shrugs.

"Oh yeah? Let me guess you fell in love with Marnie and it made you change your player ways and spend your life trying to get her to fall for you?" He says, sarcasm laced through his tone.

He has it all wrong.

"Pretty much," Zeke says, making everyone at the table look at him in awe.

Before any of us can say anything, Charlie shouts over the noise; "Can everyone take their seats? Dinner is about to be served."

Zeke smiles at me before standing up and walking over to his assigned seat where his mom is.

Did he just admit to being in love with me? Or was it a joke?

How can I ever tell what's real and what's not with him.

+++

"How about a dance?"

I look up at Charlie, smiling. Accepting his offer, I follow him to the middle of the dance floor, next to where my mom is now dancing with Joey.

I position my hands on him and we begin to slow dance. Or we try.

I laugh. "We are not very good at this."

"You're telling me? Your mom made me go to dancing lessons and i'm still crap." He shakes his head, glancing at his bride.

I laugh again and we talk more about my mom, the wedding and his family. Just as the song comes to an end, I feel someone's hand place on my back.

"Do you mind if I take over?" Zeke asks Charlie. He looks at me for approval, and I want to shake my head, but instead I sigh and nod.

"Alright. But keep your hands to yourself," Charlie warns, raising his eyebrows.

"Of course, sir." Sir? Zeke doesn't even call teachers that. He makes up nicknames for them.

As soon as Charlie walks away, Zeke moves his hands to my waist and steps closer to me.

"What do you want from me?" I ask, tired of his changing personalities.

"I don't think I should answer that with your mom and brother standing a metre away." He smirks and I scowl, stepping back from him. His hands fall from my body, his smirk disappearing.

"Sorry," he says sincerely. "I will behave."

I consider this for a moment before stepping towards him and putting my hands on his shoulders, and his go back to my waist. Behind him I notice my mom and Joey watching us warily.

"You look... beautiful, by the way," Zeke says, sounding a little nervous. We begin to dance, and he is unexpectedly a lot better at it than Charlie.

"Thanks. You look pretty good too." Okay, he looks a lot better than pretty good. He looks hot.

"Can I ask you something?" He says, hesitantly. I nod and he continues. "Do you still like Mason?"

"No? Not in that way."

"Really? I thought... It doesn't matter." He shakes his head.

"Why are you even thinking about me liking Mason?"

"If I had a choice over whether or not I could think about you guys, then i wouldn't have been driving myself crazy over it this past month."

"Well you could have just asked me. See how easy that just was? Now you can sleep like the little princess you are again," I smile. He looks away, thinking, and i wonder why it has been bothering him so much. Does he like me? I can't tell. If he did then he wouldn't act the way he does to me.

I look around to distract my thoughts, watching everyone dance with smiles on their face. Weddings are such happy occasions – I can't let myself be so low because of Zeke.

My eyes catch Zoey, dancing with an attractive boy. He must be related to Charlie.

Cole and Zoey have been having some problems. I think Zoey is losing interest. Her relationships never last long because she always gets bored; she just wants a relationship filled with drama and excitement, which confuses me because i thought that was what Cole gave her.

"Everyone help yourself to some free drinks," Charlie says into a microphone. People head over to the newly set table filled with glasses of champagne and who knows what else. I feel Zeke's hands tighten on my waist as he stands still, watching the floor.

Oh God.

Don't tell me he's back to square one since we stopped talking.

"Do you want to get out of here?"  He asks, his voice tight.

I nod, concerned. "I'll just go tell my mom."

"Okay, I'll be outside." He lets me go and heads to the door, and I go to the table my mom, Charlie, Joey and Summer are sitting at.

"Is it okay if I leave for a little bit? It's getting hot in here."

"I'm sure it is standing that close to Zeke," Joey smirks and I blush.

"Is Zeke going with you?" Charlie asks.

"Yeah... We need to catch up," I say, trying to make Zeke and I's relationship sound as innocent as I can.

"Hmm. Joey why don't you go with them?"

Joey scoffs. "I'd rather not watch Zeke put his hands all over her-"

"Shut up!" I say, getting angry at my snakey brother.

"Oh just let her go with him," Summer defends me. "Marnie's responsible enough not to get pregnant." Joey laughs.

Oh god.

"Zeke's a nice boy," my mom says. "You can go, Marn."

"Thank you." I lean down my hug her. "See you guys later."

"Have fun," she says as I leave.

As I step outside into the dark, chilly night, the smell of tobacco fills my nose. When I turn to the right, I'm expecting to see a random person smoking, but all I see is Zeke.

He looks at me and drops the cigarette from his hand. "You ready?" He says, his voice low.

I nod, forcing myself not to overreact about what i've just seen. It's his life; he can do what he wants.

I already know where he's driving full speed towards, so I don't ask any questions and most of the journey is spent of him asking about me and school and my mom and Charlie.

Zeke stops the car at the entrance to the forest and we both get out and make our way up. I stop in my tracks when I realise how bumpy and dirty the ground is, and i'm wearing heels.

"I didn't think this through," I say, staring at my pretty shoes.

Zeke chuckles then walks towards me. With no warning, he scoops me up in his arms, carrying me bridal style.

I let out a squeal. "Zeke!" He laughs again and starts walking. I can smell his cologne as my head rests against his hard shoulder, and my stomach begins to get butterflies.

You're pathetic, Marnie Jones. Pathetic I tell you.

Oh hush, Marnie. How would you feel if you were being carried by a babe like Ezekiel Blakely?

Did you just call him a babe? How dare you! You betrayed us, Marnie!

"What goes on in that pretty little head of yours?" Zeke says, pulling me away from my mind conversation with myself.

Zeke just called you pretty.

I know! Now, shhh!

"Oh, just, yah know. Thinking about flamingoes and stuff. Isn't it cool that they are pink? Why are they not kept as pets? I'd love a pink animal. Wouldn't you?"

Smooth.

He furrows his eyebrows and stares ahead, deciding not to answer me, and I begin to think about flamingoes for real. Are there any other pink animals? Oh yeah, pigs!

"Are pink panthers real?" I ask the asshole who's still not broke a sweat from carrying me up the steep hill.

"You're not very smart for someone who spends most of her time studying."

"Screw you."

He smirks.

Zeke gently puts me back on the ground when we get to the grassy, pretty area at the top of the cliff, then he sits on the edge with his legs dangling over the side. I do the same with no hesitation this time.

"Do you remember when we jumped off of here?" He asks, looking down.

"Of course. The time I almost died – how could I forget."

"You were perfectly safe."

"Well it felt like I was gonna die. I hate the feeling of doing stuff like that. You know, the feeling you get from rollercoasters and stuff."

"Adrenaline," he states. "I love it."

"Of course you do." I roll my eyes, smiling.

"It's interesting," he shrugs, also smiling.

"Ohh, Ezekiel Blakely finds something interesting. Shocking," I gasp, teasingly. "On a serious note though," I continue. "Have you decided what you want to do when you leave school yet?"

He looks out to the distance and shakes his head no. "I told you, I just want to get away from here. Well, I'm not so sure anymore."

"Are you sure of anything in life?" I laugh.

He looks at me again, watching me with great intensity and I feel a blush rise in my cheeks. "Just one thing."

I raise my eyebrows. "And what's that?"

He stares so deep into my eyes, I worry he is so deep in there he can see my fricking brain and read my thoughts. I wouldn't be surprised if he could. He seems to know all the ways to annoy me, he's gotta get that information from somewhere, right? I'm also suspicious he's a vampire-

"That I love you."

HOLD THE DOOR.

STOP THE TRAIN.

LOOK AWAY FROM YOUR MOBILE DEVICES.

Holy mash potatoes.

Is he serious?

Zeke Blakely, the asshole who doesn't believe in love; who ridicules the high school relationships where people claim to love each other, who thinks there is no hope for relationships – that guy. Him right there. Just said he loves me.

Sugar muffin pies.

"Say something," he begs as I stare at him in shock.

Hold on Zeke, but I might need a little more time to process what you just said.

I let out a breath and begin to shake my head. "No."

His lips part and I quickly look back to his confused eyes, hoping he didn't notice I was looking at his lips. Shit, why do I hope that? If I plan on kissing the guy, I can't be embarrassed by him seeing me just look at his lips.

For God's sake, Marnie. Just kiss him!

For a moment it feels like i'm back standing on the edge of this cliff, ready to leap off. All my instincts are telling me not to, but my heart tells me to just do it. Jump.

So I do it, I metaphorically take the leap, leaning close to Zeke and pressing my lips to his.

His breath hitches from the surprise, but he recovers quick and our lips dance together in slow motions. The world around us blurs and the only thing I can focus on is this kiss.

By the time we part, we are both breathless. Zeke's face fills with guilt as he meets my eyes again.

"I am so sorry," he pleads. "For making you sad, and being a dick, and for saying fucked up shit to you. I just- I have never felt this way before, and it's scary. I thought it would be best to push you away because me liking you would only hurt us both-" I press my lips against him to make him shut up, and also as a way to say apology accepted.

His hand goes to my cheek and he runs his thumb along my bottom lip. "It look me a while to realise, but I really hate- hated - myself. And I took it out on you."

"It's okay," I assure him, placing my hand on his.

"It's not though."

I sigh. "Well I guess you're just gonna have to spend the rest of your life making it up to me."

He smiles, then gasps, his hand reaching into his jacket pocket. "I almost forgot." He pulls out an apple. I give him a confused look.

"Is this your version of a promise ring or something?" I laugh.

"Sort of. I owe you two apples. This is one because i'm not the kind of guy to offer everything all at once," he smirks and I chuckle. "Also, it's kinda perfect because, uh," he clears his throat. "You're the apple of my eye."

I lift my chin and stifle a laugh, taking the apple from him. "Well, who knew that you were a hopeless romantic."

"Shhh, don't tell anyone," he whispers.

"It's our secret."

+++

omg u guys i was in portugal and was on a boat and no joke i found this place that is exactly the place i described as the cliff side in the book. i can put a picture of it on the next chapter if u want but it's got like the small sandy beach as well and the U shape, but the cliff is really high and u can't stand on the edge or jump off of the one i saw.

AND I WENT CLIFF DIVING!! (not off of that one tho) but yeah that shit was not what i expected it was gonna be 😂

enough talk about my life update. IVE MISSED YOU PEOPLE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND VOTES I LOVE READING THEM

{remember if you want to send me anything send it on my instagram @btbbwattpad}

ly

-e