-Chris' POV-

I woke up when I felt someone jump on top of me. I groaned with discomfort. Who the hell would dare wake me like this? I lazily opened my eyes and found the last person on earth I thought I'd see. Ben was smirking down at me like the cocky asshole he was when he pulled stupid shit on me. I pushed him off of me and he landed on his feet, unfortunately.

"What the hell are you doing here? I thought you weren't getting here till tomorrow."

Ben shrugged his shoulders and hopped onto the lazy boy chair in the corner of the room. "My plans changed."

I shook my head, more to wake myself up than anything. I had to wonder, did Ben have a motive for changing his plans?

The morning went by in a blur. Ben and I helped our grandparents with a few chores around the house. Grandpa couldn't keep up with his garden anymore so I spend most of the time pulling weeds as he directed me. Ben took the easy way out and drove grandma to the grocery store. You could tell they loved having us around for the company. Grandpa dove into his war stories that I loved so much. I didn't even mind him repeating the same ones. The time flew and when I finally did check the time it was 5pm. The wedding rehearsal was in an hour. I needed to take a shower.

"I'm gonna head down to the church with you for the rehearsal," Ben said casually while he was looking down at his phone.

"What? Why? You're not even in the wedding." It just wasn't his kind of thing. Usually you'd have to drag him to wedding preparations.

"So, I'm family aren't I?"

Was he serious right now? If he comes that means he'll see Laura. My gut was telling me that was why he wanted to go.

How would Laura react to seeing him again? I didn't want things to get harder for her especially after what she told me last night. She didn't deserve more bad things happening to her.

"Ben why don't you stay here? I mean you can catch up with your old school buddies."

He gave me a stern look. "I already promised Michael I'd come and help with the last minute things."

"Right." I got up and scratched my head. This was going to be a long night. "I'm taking a shower before we go."

By the time we got to the church everyone was there including Laura which surprised me because usually she was late for everything. I saw her struggling to hang some decorations so I started walking in her direction but I was stopped by Dania.

"Hey Chris, can I talk to you for a second?"

I hesitated. "Sure."

She walked off and I followed her down the hall away from everyone else. Dania looked completely serious. Not like her bossy look that I was used to either. No it was much deeper than that. She honestly looked kind of pissed.

"What's up Dania?"

She placed a hand on her hip with attitude. "I need you to stay away from Laura."

What? Where was this coming from? What the hell was she talking about? "Well Dania that's kind of hard to do since I'm walking down the aisle with her tomorrow."

"Look," she said pointing a finger at me. "She's had a lot of stuff going on these past few days and she doesn't need you making things worse."

"What are you talking about?" I was extremely confused. I thought I was being nice, well nicer.

"Don't act dumb."

For a split second I thought that maybe Laura told her about out little heated, hate make out sessions.

"I can see the way she cringes every time you're near. She hates you and it's no secret you don't like her. Just keep your distance. We don't need any drama around the wedding."

This was unbelievable. I wanted to say something back but Michael happened to walk into the room.

"Hey Chris here you are. What are you doing?"

Dania answered for me before I even got a chance to open my mouth. "He's just about to leave actually."

I raised my brow at her. What the heck kind of game was she playing? "I am?"

"Yes. I need you to pick up a few more streamers for the reception hall."

I ground my teeth together to keep myself from giving her a piece of my mind. She could easily find someone else to do it. I don't know maybe like Ben since he wasn't technically in the wedding.

"Yeah of course. I'll be back in 20 minutes."

She smiled at me like the most innocent person on the planet. "Thank you."

I started walking towards the exit. "You're welcome," I spit out. This was definitely going to be a long night.

-Laura's POV-

My heart dropped at the sight of Ben. Chris was such a freakin liar. Ben wasn't supposed to be here till tomorrow. Damn him. For some reason I felt like Ben was staring at me the whole time. I tried to ignore the feeling by busying myself with decorations but I just couldn't shake it off.

My mind wandered off to his body with every glimpse I took. He was tall and lean like Chris maybe a little shorter. Ben was undoubtedly more built though. I remember when we were dating he would spend every morning from 9 to 10:30am in the gym. He took pride in his body and it showed. His well-defined muscles were bulging out of his black cotton shirt. Somedays I would look at him and just marvel. How did a plain Jane like me end up with a guy that Ben Compton?

I shook my head a few times to get his stupid perfect image out of my mind. Why must I always be tortured? I was holding onto a white piece of satin but I couldn't freaking reach the spot I was supposed to get at. Damn my stupid short genes. How the heck did my brothers get all the tall genes in the family while I was stuck with the 5 foot frame?

Just as I was about to give up I saw a larger and much more masculine hand take the fabric from me and raise it up to the spot it needed to go. Fear and regret clouded my mind but I knew I had to turn to see who it was.

Ben's incredibly piercing baby blues eyes were looking at me with foreign warmth. I forgot how seducing his eyes were. He used to silence my arguing with the batting of his lashes.

No, no, no. I will not let my mind wander that far. Those memories were supposed to be forgotten. I took a step back and we were both still, standing there and looking into each other's eyes like it was the first time.

"Laura it's time to walk down the aisle." Sarah's voice pulled me out of my trance and I rushed over to the other bridesmaids.

Damn that was close. I was getting so freaking hot. Everyone was lined together with the person they were supposed to be with...except me.

"Ben, can you walk Laura down the aisle?" Dania asked like it was a favor.

My heart sunk to the depths of hell. Aww heck no. This was not happening. "What? Why? Where's Chris?"

Dania gave me a sympathetic smile but it didn't quite make the cut for me. "He's out doing a little errand. He'll be back but in a mean time we need to match the music up to your guys' walking."

She was doing this on purpose. I could tell by the look on her face. She was up to something and I think I knew what it was. Dania always thought me and Ben were the perfect couple. I never told her the reason I left him. I didn't tell anyone, not even Ben.

I would bet anything she was trying to get us back together. My life sucked...bad. I had no room to complain either because Dania would just tell me to suck it up. It's not my wedding.

Ben walked right up to me and turned to face the front. Maybe he was going to cooperate. I laced my arm around his and unintentionally took a whiff of his cologne. God he smelt so good. He still used his Diesel cologne I loved so much.

The music started and I forced myself to focus. We went down gracefully and mid-way through his hand went up to mine. His fingers intertwined with mine and he squeezed them gently. That was not called for.

I regretfully turned to look up at him. His eyes were sucking me in. "I miss you," Ben whispered ever so softly.

I stopped breathing. What did he just say? When I broke up with him he hated me. I supposedly broke his heart. He told me he never wanted to see me again and now he missed me. His eyes were deep with emotion.

I let go of his hand before he could trap me. I went over to the bridesmaid side of the stage and had a perfect view of the bride and groom but also Ben. He was still staring at me; waiting for a reaction. I tried to ignore it but it was getting to be too much. Old memories began flooding in. The good times we had when we were happy and together. That only led to the end where I remembered the reason I broke up with him in the first place.

I felt like I was suffocating. I took off running; down the aisle and towards the back exit. I heard heavy footsteps followed by his voice.

"Laura! Laura, wait!" Ben was ganging up on me and fast. We were already out of the church and in the hall away from everyone's' ears.

Why couldn't he just stay away? "Leave me alone Ben," I didn't stop walking.

"Laura we need to talk." Somehow Ben made it close behind me faster than I would have anticipated.

I shook my head. "I have nothing to say to you."

I felt his strong hand wrap around my arm, stopping me from advancing towards the exit outside. Damn him. "Ben let me go."

"Laura, please. Can't we just talk?"

He spun me around and I tired yanking my arm from him. "No, no we can't. You can't just come back here and tell me you miss me."

Ben's dazzling blue eyes grew sad. "But it's the truth."

The sorrow in his words and eyes were holding me captive. Was he serious? "Stay away from me Ben." I jerked my arm again. "Let me go."

"I can't. I can't Laura."

I wanted to cry. This couldn't be happening. Not now. And I couldn't let him win. All his actions ever did was hurt me. No, I will not let him do that again. I shut my eyes for a second to gather my thoughts. This was ridiculous. This was all bullshit. I bet he was the one who convinced Chris to use me like a worthless whore. Ben was behind it. He wanted to hurt me so he got Chris to help him.

There was fiery rage burning inside of me.

I should have seen it. Damn it. I pushed him and he finally let me go. "I can't believe you. You're sick."

"Laura what are you talking about?"

I was taking deep breaths but I don't think it was helping. "Was Chris your revenge? You convinced him to do those things just to get back at me."

"That's not true Laura. Ben never asked me to do anything to you," Chris' voice came out of nowhere.

I was absorbed in my pit of anger that I hadn't noticed Chris entering the hallway.

"Liar," I tried my best to hold in the sobs.

"Laura!"

"Laura..."

They were both calling my name. This was vindictive and twisted. I somehow found it amusing as well. I started to laugh in their faces like the mad woman I was becoming thanks to them.

"You want to know Chris," I said taking a few steps back to give myself some space from Ben's reach. "You want to know the reason I broke up with Ben?"

I was done being the villain. I was not to blame for ending our relationship. It was about time everyone saw that.

They were both silent but I knew deep down inside they were both curious to find out my excuse for breaking it off.

"Ben doesn't even know why," I turned to gaze up at him and he was staring at me with such intensity I almost felt like gaging.

How could he look at me like that and not have a clue? Could he still be in love with me? Was he ever in love with me?

"It was your birthday Ben. Remember?" His beautiful face remained unfazed. "I got off work early. I wanted to surprise you because you know that's what good thoughtful girlfriends do. They make time for their man."

I wanted to laugh at the irony. He was never truly mine, was he?

"I had the whole day planned. I was going to take you out to your favorite restaurant and then surprise you with tickets to see 'Three Days Grace' because they were your favorite band."

It was all flashing in my mind like a camera documenting my whole life. It was a sad moment in my life indeed.

"You were supposed to be home. You always take your birthday off. I didn't knock. I wanted to find you in bed so I could jump on your back to wake your lazy butt up." I paused since my heart was breaking all over again. "But you weren't asleep...and you weren't alone."

Ben's eyes went a shade darker while his face got pale a bit. He knew where I was going with this story. He remembered now.

"I found you with Ashley." She was his blonde ex that he claimed he hated. "And you were..." I had never been cheated on. "You were kissing. I thought that maybe it was her but the longer I stayed and hoped you'd push her away, you didn't." I felt a stupid tear run down my cheek. And I promised myself I would never cry over that again. "You never pushed her away Ben. You. Broke. My. Heart. Not the other way around." Heat was consuming my face. "I wanted you to confess but you never did. I ended it and didn't even give you a reason because I didn't want your family to find out what kind of a person you are."

I was a good person at heart. I didn't want to embarrass him. I didn't want to embarrass myself. I had stood up for him countless times, defending him to anyone who tried to bash him. I was so wrong. I couldn't even admit it to myself. He was a cheater and I was too ashamed because I held so much trust in him.

"Laura I'm so-"

I cut Ben off. I didn't want to listen to his excuse. "Don't. Don't even try to justify your actions now. It's too late. You had your chance."

"Laura," Chris called my name.

"All you do is hurt me...both of YOU! I hate you. I HATE YOU BOTH!"

I just wanted the pain to stop. I wanted to forget but they wouldn't let me. They were making me uncover my wounds so they could add salt to them. I ran out of the hall before either one of them could stop me. I heard my name being called but I ignored it. I drove home doing 90 almost the entire time. My house was empty, thankfully. I ran up to my room. It was the only place I would let myself break down. I had so much hatred and anger radiating off my body that I was shaking.

My second of solitude was brief. Chris opened my door and cautiously came in. He followed me.

"GET OUT!" I didn't want to see his face.

"Laura I'm sorry. I didn't know. He didn't ask me to do anything." His face was etched with grief and sympathy. I was so sick of sympathy.

"So you're an ass all on your own?"

His greens eyes dropped down to my shoes in shame. "If I would have known I wouldn't have-"

"Who are you trying to fool Chris? I know exactly who you are."

His haunting green orbs went back up to my face. "I didn't know Laura."

Would he have treated me differently? I honestly didn't know. Probably not. He was a disgusting jerk with only selfish means. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted him to feel the pain I was feeling.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again and again.

I couldn't take his words of pity. It was infuriating. I ran over to him and slammed my lips to his, not giving him any time to think. I was going to use him just like he always did me. The pain was punching me from every direction and it was barely letting me surface the suffering blanket it was holding me under.

I bashed his head back against the wall and he didn't try to stop me. He let me taste from him without any fight. Our mouths melted as one but I wasn't satisfied. I took his bottom lip between my teeth and bit down till I tasted blood. He opened his mouth and grasped an intake of breath before moaning in pleasure. Our tongues fought for dominance but I wouldn't let him win. I clawed my nails into his scalp while his fingers trailed the skin at my back. I felt tingles run down my spine from the pleasure of his touch.

I wanted it to stop. I wanted the pain to go away. "I hate you," I breathed onto his parting lips.

"I know." He cupped my face and pressed his lips roughly against mine. "But you're hating me sweetly."

He forced me to halt for a moment. I didn't even know I had tears falling down until I felt his thumb wipe them away. He was slowing time just by looking at me.

His next kiss was gentle and sweet. He caressed me, not just physically but mentally as well. His beautiful tender kiss, I never thought he was capable of, was actually calming me down.

"I don't need your pity."

"What do you need from me?" He was apparently at my disposal.

I bit my lip. There were so many things I wanted to do to him. I backed away at the same time lifting my shirt off. I watched as his eyes roamed over my stomach and then my full D cup boobs. Lust and hunger was driving us both. The back of my knees hit the bed and I crawled backwards never taking my eyes off him.

"Just your lips."

Chris didn't need more instructions than that. He started trailing kisses from my navel up to my purple bra. His lips were igniting a heat inside of me making every other thought insignificant. His teeth bit down on my right boob but over the fabric. I wanted to feel him on my flesh. His other hand cupped my left boob massaging my sensitive cravings.

Finally I felt his lips over the areola and his teeth passionately biting into me. I moaned, grabbing hold of my sheets. It felt so good. Then just like that his lips were gone. They fell back down over my bellybutton to the hem of my jeans. He bit into me again and again. Probably leaving bite marks in his path but then his tongue came out. His licked my flesh and I got goosebumps all over.

I wanted to call out his name but I was saving it on the tip of my tongue.

He maneuvered on top of me and the pressure of his weight held me down like an anchor. His lips found their way to my neck. I arched by back unintentionally pressing my body into his. Fire was raining down on me.

I did hate him but it was definitely the sweet kind of hate. It was that kind of hate that consumed your whole soul and made you do things you normally wouldn't. It turns you into a different person. A person you may not recognize as yourself at all. I was being taken over by that hate and indulging in the sweet desires it lead me to.

I felt Chris' hand slip inside my jeans. My heart was thumping so hard and loud. I had never gone this far with a man before.

Ben would get close but I stopped him every time. Why couldn't I stop Chris? Why didn't I want to? Maybe I was tired of abstaining from the pleasurable desires of the flesh. It felt amazing. It felt so good...with Chris.

Chris' lips were still suckling my neck. He was giving me a hickie I would no doubt have to cover up with make up tomorrow. His fingers grazed the fabric of my underwear I panicked.

"Chris," I moaned.

"Laura honey are you home," I heard my mother's voice yell at me from downstairs as the front door slammed shut.

This was not happening. I was not going to get caught by my mother with Chris' hand down my pants. I pushed him off of me and I grabbed another shirt off my bed. I threw it on and composed myself. I was very good at cover things up especially my emotions.

"You need to go." It wasn't a request.

Chris dabbled with the idea. "Will you be okay?"

His concern was definitely a different side of him I had never seen before. Maybe he wasn't working with Ben after all.

"Fine." I lied. There was nothing else he could do for me now except leave. "Go."

He frowned obviously not believing my lie.