Chris' P.O.V.: 

"You're ready, Chris?" Ryan asked me as our car stopped in front of the Austin's Resort.

We landed in Vermont at 11 this morning. I wanted to come here directly and meet Amber but everyone needed rest and also, because I needed a little more time to get myself prepared both mentally and emotionally. 

"I think I am." I said, as a took a deep breathe and exited the car. 

"This is your chance, brother. I wish all the luck to you." Oliver encouraged. 

"And I wish all the bad luck to you." 

And there she goes again. Elsa has already taunted me and discouraged me to the level of 'est' since the day she came to my office.

"Babe, don't be like this." Oliver said. 

Elsa just rolled her eyes and entered the party hall along with Jade leaving us behind at the entrance of the hall. 

"Guys, I am shit scared right now. I don't know how am I gonna face her." I said, nervously. It must be the first time that I was this scared and was feeling nervous. I haven't seen her and here I am already feeling sweaty. 

"Chris, chill! I know you can do this, buddy!" Ryan said, encouragingly as he lightly patted on my shoulder. 

I nodded my head slowly. I took nth deep breath and entered the hall. 

The hall was huge and the number of guests present were beyond numbers. 

"What is this party for?" Oliver had told me the reason for this party but I forgot it again. The nervousness has been over powering everything else in my mind. 

"It's the silver jubilee of this resort today, brother." Oliver replied. 

Oh!

We walked through the huge crowd and made our way to the bar. Elsa and Jade were already there holding their drinks. 

I looked around in the hope of finding Amber standing somewhere but to my dismay, I couldn't find her anywhere. 

Where are you, Amber?

"Are you sure we are at the right place, Oliver?" I asked. 

"Definitely! We are at the right place." he said. 

"May I have your attention, please..." we heard the host of the party saying in the microphone at the height of the stairs.

Everyone present at the hall including us, turned towards the host. 

"It's a great pleasure to have you all join us for the silver jubilee celebration of Austin's Resort. I, Mathew Bryan on behalf of Mr. Austin, would like to welcome you all here." he continued. 

Everyone applauded. 

I kept looking here and there in the hope of seeing my Amber. 

"May I now welcome the host of the evening and the owner of this resort, Mr. and Mrs. Austin along with their son, Mr. Mark Austin." he said and the light of the whole hall went off and two spot lights were switched on, which traveled through the hall and stopped at the entrance of the hall. We could finally see an elderly couple entering the hall followed by a guy of around my age. 

What?

That's Mark!

"Mark is the heir of this resort?" I heard Elsa asking in surprise. 

My blood boiled looking at him. I still remember how much I hated him back in the university for flirting with Amber at every occasion possible.

"Amber's here, Chris." I heard Ryan saying.

As soon as he said that, I noticed her standing behind the father-son duo in a black sequin plunge long sleeve body-con dress and she looked...hot!

"Damn! My girl looks smoking hot." I heard Elsa saying and I don't know why, but I felt really proud hearing that. 

"I know right! I had never seen this hot avatar of hers." Jade said. 

Neither had I.

My legs automatically started take steps forward when I was pulled back. 

"Buddy, calm yourself! It's not the right time to appear in front of your girl." Ryan said. 

I looked at him in confusion. He pointed towards her direction with his eyes. 

I turned to look at her when I realized that Mark had put his hand behind her back. 

What the hell!

"I am going to kill him! How dare he touch her?" I said, balling my hand into fist.

"He must have asked her to be his date for the night." Oliver said. 

"Omg! They look so cute together."

"They definitely make a great pair."

I heard Elsa and Jade squealing in excitement. 

Whose side are they on?

Not yours, definitely! My conscience replied.

"Ignore them, brother. That Mark guy is nowhere near you." Oliver tried to encourage me. 

"Yeah, he's way better than your brother." Elsa taunted. 

Mark's father started speaking in the mic but my eyes were glued to just one person. Her.

She looked so mesmerizing in her dress and the hairstyle that she had made. It was making her stand out in the huge crowd. 

"...thank you for coming and please enjoy the evening." Mr. Jack Austin concluded his speech. 

The music started playing and every one joined the dance floor in pairs. 

This is my chance!

I thought as I started walking towards her when I pulled back by Ryan again. 

"Now what?" I asked, slightly irritated. 

He signaled with his eyes. I looked at the direction and saw Mark asking Amber for a dance. 

"There's no way that she's gonna accept." I said but I was too quick in making a judgement. 

She gladly accepted and put her hand into his. 

"Seems like, she just did." Elsa said, mockingly and Jade giggled. 

"Chris, I think you should stop dreaming about getting forgiveness from her. Because my girl doesn't need you anymore." Elsa said, sipping on her drink. 

"Chris, please put your glass of drink on the bar counter or else we all know it's gonna be smashed on the wall soon." Ryan said. He was right. Seeing that asshole Mark Austin dancing with my girl was making my blood boil and my hold around the glass was getting tighter with every passing second. I put the glass on the counter and balled my hand into a fist. 

"I want to go and smack that Mark guy really hard." I said as I looked at his hands around Amber's waist. They were too close for my liking. 

Can't he they maintain a distance while dancing?

"I know but you will have to control yourself. You can't ruin it this time. Be calm for now." Ryan advised. 

"Jade, don't you think that Mark is hot?" Elsa asked, looking at Mark, dreamily. 

Suddenly both Ryan and Oliver turned their heads. Oliver looked at Elsa in disbelief whereas Ryan looked at Jade anxiously waiting for her reply with a horrified look on his face. 

"Yeah, he is. He is one of the most handsome guys in this party." Jade replied. 

"Babe, I am hot as well." Oliver said.

"Jade, I am way more handsome than this Mark Austin." Ryan said, in a complaining tone. 

"Right, brother?"

"Right, buddy?" Ryan and Oliver asked looking at me, expectantly. 

Seriously?

"I am in the middle of my lives' biggest crisis and you guys are busy determining who is hotter? Are you guys gonna help me or should I go and punch that guy on his face for touching my girlfriend?" I said, irritated. 

"Ex-girlfriend, to be precise." Elsa intervened. 

"For how long are you planning to put a grudge against me, Elsa?" I asked her, slightly irritated.

"For as long as you don't get forgiveness from Amber." she replied. 

"That I will get soon. "I said, confidently. 

"I don't think so, Chris." Elsa said, arrogantly. 

"You will know so very soon." I replied, with a smirk on my face. 

I walked towards where Amber who was dancing with Mark and in a swift movement, I grabbed Amber's waist and pulled her towards me crushing her body on mine.

Amber's P.O.V.:

I was dancing with Mark and laughing at his silly jokes when I was suddenly pulled away from him and crashed onto a hard chest. I looked up and saw Chris looking down at me. I couldn't believe my eyes. To say I was shocked to see him in front of me would be an understatement.

How is he here?

And more importantly, why is he here?

"Chris?" I looked at him in shock.

"Amber..." he said my name in his hoarse voice and like the first time, my heart seemed to skip a beat.

It took me a good minute to sink in the fact that he was actually standing in front of me.

"Why are you here?" I asked, after a long silence.

"To take back what belongs to me." he said as he smiled looking into my eyes.

Am I dreaming again? Because I have been getting this sort of dreams a lot lately.

God, let it not be him. Please! I chanted the line as I shut my eyes tightly in the hope that Chris would disappear when I would open them again but little did I know that he was actually standing in front of me holding my waist and wasn't willing to leave it anytime soon.

"Can't believe your eyes? I am actually here to take you back, Ms. Amber Milburn." he said, with a smirk on his face and then closed the gap between us.

I literally got goosebumps all over my body both because of his words and his closeness.

I tried to push him and make a decent gap in between us but he didn't seem to like my idea as he tightened his hold around my waist.

I glared at him and he just kept smirking.

One irritating human!

We were interrupted when Mark spoke.

"Chris Collins..." Mark said distastefully as he came and stood beside me.

Chris looked at him and his expression became bitter almost instantly.

"Mark Austin." he said his name, more like saying a curse word.

Mark looked down at my waist which Chris was still holding and then looked up at Chris who gave him an arrogant smirk.

"Why have Chris Collins come to my party?" Mark asked putting his hands in his pockets.

"To take back my girlfriend with me." Chris replied and turned his head to look at me. It wasn't a rocket science to know that his reply was more for me and not for Mark.

"I need to take some fresh air." I said as I tried to push Chris away again and free myself from his hold but he didn't even move a bit and his hold on my waist was intact.

"Mr. Collins, I need fresh air...so, let go of me." I said, pressuring on each and every words, looking directly into eyes with warning eyes.

"Not letting you go away from me again, Amber. And call me Chris or else...you can call me 'baby', 'babe', 'darling', or any other endearment you like. To be honest, I prefer 'baby' more." he said with a smug smile. I rolled my eyes at that.

What is wrong with this man?

Has he hit his head somewhere?

"The lady clearly isn't appreciating your efforts to woo her so it's better if you would leave her. It doesn't suit you, Collins." Mark said, tauntingly.

"I don't need your advice on what my girl wants and what she doesn't, Austin. So, stay the fuck away from our matter." Chris said under gritted teeth.

"Still the same old stubborn Chris Collins. You will never grow up, will you?" Mark asked, trying to infuriate Chris.

"You haven't changed as well, Austin. Still the same old nosy and 'trying to steal others girl' Mark Austin." Chris fired back.

"Shut up!" Mark said as he tried to punch Chris. Chris docked down taking me along with him. He left my waist in the process. He then stood up and placed a punch on Mark's face.

"Mark!" I exclaimed when I saw him falling on the floor. I stood and rushed towards him and examined his face and saw blood oozing from the side of his mouth.

The little commotion created by Chris and Mark grabbed everyone's attention at the party and now everyone were looking at the whole scene.

"Are you okay?" I asked Mark as I tried to help him stand up.

"How dare you, Collins?" Mark placed a punch as soon as he was on his legs.

Not again!

"Chris!" I ran towards Chris who was pushed back due to the punch.

"Are you alright?" I asked, worriedly. Soon Ryan, Oliver, Elsa and Jade joined me and stood beside Chris.

What is the whole gang doing here?

"Are you alright, Chris?" Ryan asked. Mark's parents also came and stood beside Mark.

"What is happening?" Mr. Austin (Mark's dad) asked Mark, confused by the whole situation.

"The asshole, the wanna be boyfriend of Amber, Chris Collins is here." Mark said.

"You!" Chris was about to punch him again but luckily Ryan and Oliver held him back.

"Chris, calm down!" Ryan tried to calm him down.

But...

*****

Right now, we were at the Resort's clinic.

I could see two extremely furious men glaring at each other with their bruised face.

Ryan and the whole gang were seated on the couch looking at Chris and Mark, giving mixed reactions. Jade was looking at them worriedly, Ryan and Oliver were looking at Chris with pity whereas Elsa seemed to be enjoying the whole scene.

Mark's parents were still at the party trying to handle the whole chaos created by Chris and Mark.

"Are you guys kids who are fighting over a toy?" I asked furiously, folding my arms over my chest.

"He started it first." Mark replied.

"We all saw who started it first." Chris fired back.

"Shut up, you both!" I said.

They both tried to explain themselves again but I glared at them which made them shut their mouth.

Elsa and Jade giggled.

"You go, girl!" Elsa cheered. I glared her as well which made her keep quiet.

"Do you guys know how important the party was for Mr. Austin (Mark's dad)? It was his resort's 25th anniversary. Don't you guys have respect for others feelings?" I asked looking at both the men.

They both looked at me guiltily.

"Amber, I am sorry that the party got ruined because of me. I am really sorry." Chris said.

"There's a lot of things that you should be sorry for, Collins." Mark said which earned him a death glare from Chris.

"Shut up, Austin! Why the fuck do you always need to interfere into my matters?" Chris asked as he continued to glare at him. 

"You know what, I am done with you both. You both are hopeless. I need to be alone for sometime or I will lose my mind." I said and as I was about to turn and walk away when I lost my balance and was about to trip when Mark grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him.

As soon as I was to hit Mark's chest, Chris held my other hand and pulled me towards him and I was yet again hit on his hard chest. Mark was about to hold my hand again to pull me towards him.

What do these men think of me? Am I a toy to play 'pass-pass'?

I jerked away Mark's hand and took few steps away from both the men.

"Enough of you both. I need to get some air and some alone time so don't you dare to follow me." I warned them.

They both looked at me with guilt.

"Amber, I..." Before Chris could say anything else, I gave him a warning look.

"Amber..." I gave warning look to Mark as well. They both shut their mouth and looked down.

Elsa and other people in the room were clearly enjoying the scene.

I took a deep breath and turned around.

I need some alone time!

With that I exited from the clinic.

"Amber, wait! Please!" I could hear Chris calling my name as he followed me but I was too furious to listen to anyone.

"Amber...wait..." I kept walking when he grabbed me by my arm and pulled me towards him.

He hugged me from behind.

"Amber, please don't walk away from me again." he said, huskily.

"Chris, leave me." I said as I tried to free myself from his hold.

"No, I will not. Even though I look like a goon trying to molest a girl, I won't leave you...I can't. It hurts." he said.

"Hurts? It hurts?" I asked as I put all my efforts into freeing myself and I was successful at that.

"It hurts...yes, it does. I was hurt too, Chris. I was hurt when you doubted my loyalty towards you, it hurt when you got engaged to some other girl and it hurt even more when you didn't even try to clear the misunderstanding." I continued.

"Amber..." he was short of words.

"Chris, please don't say anything because I don't want to hear anything now. I have given up on you already so your apology or anything that you're trying to do is of no use." I said as I tried to turn around when he pulled me towards him.

"Amber, no matter what it takes, I won't give up. I know what I did was wrong and I can't tell you how ashamed I am of myself. Trust me, I am more disappointed at myself then you are. I f*cked up everything." he said looking into my eyes.

"Yes, you f*cked up everything, Chris. Now, if you're done with your speech then I would like to leave." I said.

"Amber, please don't leave." he said.

"These words would have held some meaning to them if they were said on that night, Chris. Now these words hold no importance anymore." I said, looking into his eyes. My eyes were filled with tears but I was holding them back because I don't wanna be a cry baby, atleast not in front of him.

"Amber, I am..." I cut him off

"Chris, don't...just don't." I said and turned around and walked away.

I can never forgive you, Chris.