A/N: OMG! Hiya guys!😁 Im so glad to finally be back and continue on with Ariel and Damons story!😄 Im so sorry if I took so long, I was just trying to heal and get back into the swing of things. Even now it still isn't easy but I feel a lot better and more motivated to start up writing again. This chapter may be a little shorter than my others but it's a transition between Ariel and Damons falling out and moving forward. 

I hope you love it!😘 Enjoy!

| Ariel |

Would you rather have loved and lost or never loved at all?

If someone were to ask me such a question right now, a thousand times over I would respond with I would have rather loved and lost.

And that is exactly what happened.

I still stand with that view and wouldn't change my mind because of our ending. Loving Damon was one of the sweetest things I could put my heart through and it also ended up being the most painful thing, but it is said that sometimes one is not achieved without the other. I took a chance on him and embraced every minute. I felt and still feel no regret because every day, every minute I spent with Damon was one I cherished, despite now knowing how it would end.

I did hold out hope, a small ray of it but regardless it was wrong of me to, knowing how he felt but this is reality and in the real world you don't always get your fairytale ending with the perfect prince but you get awfully close.

Lena's voice quickly snapped me from my inner self reflection. "Ari?" her voice unusually sweet as opposed to her natural playful, teasing tone. "Have you spoken to Damon at all?"

The elephant in the room has finally making its presence know.

It has been one month, 31 days to be exact since the morning after my birthday, since I have spoken to Damon. I would be offended and hurt that he has been avoiding me however it is not just me, he hasn't spoken to anyone during this time. He has been totally MIA and the only person he calls – to assure he is okay – is his mom and even then, he only calls every so often.

The week after my birthday, Emma and the family became suspicious and started hounding me as to where Damon was and why they couldn't get ahold of him, the whole time thinking he was busy with me. Eventually I caved and confessed to Emma and Lena, over vanilla ice cream and Emma's homemade double chocolate brownies, everything that happened between Damon and I, from the night we first had sex to the night of my birthday and the morning after.

They weren't the least bit shocked; hurt that I didn't confide in them sooner, maybe...but I reassured them that I simply wanted to live in timed fairytale bubble with Damon without judgement or pity. Emma took it harder; she loved her brother but hated the way he pushed me away.

Blowing the hot cup of coffee that was cradled in my hands, my lips hovered over the rim as I peered up at my girls sat across from me. "Nope." I mumbled softly.

"He called mom a couple days ago. He is doing busy supposedly. He's vague as always so I don't know much more than that." Emma pipped up before popping into her mouth, a large bite of the sticky cinnamon bun in front of her.

Lena shook her head and let out a frustrated breath "I don't understand why he insists on acting this way? The silent treatment is a bit childish."

I shook my head "I don't think it's the silent treatment Le, I highly doubt he would be giving everyone the silent treatment." I shrugged then, a quick thought coming up in mind. "I think he may just need a break from it all. Maybe take time to be alone with his thoughts?"

"Maybe." Lena mumbled, then continued with a roll her eyes "Convenient it was right after you guys broke up."

"It wasn't a break up..." I sighed after taking a large sip of my dark roast with a splash of coconut milk coffee. "...In order for it to be a break up, you need to be in a relationship –" I would have continued to speak but Emma cut me off effectively.

"That's where your wrong Ari. Despite his efforts of denying it and labeling it no strings attached, from what you told us, that is very much what it was – "

"She's right --" Lena cut in, pausing a moment to swallow a bite of her own sticky cinnamon bun. Her and Emma practically copy and pasted their orders.

"-- For the better part of a month you opened up to him and he did to you. You guys shared more than sex. His problem is he refused to put a label on it." She sighed "We knew long ago, he has always had an issue with commitment."

Lena spoke as if she was older than her days and had decades worth of wisdom under her belt – it made me want to smile but I pushed it down noting the serious conversation between us.

Emma shook her head that was now hanging forward in disappointment "I will never understand why Damon won't allow himself to love and be loved..." A beat of silence engulfed the table before she looked up from her mug and forced a reassuring smile that I knew was there for my sake. "It's his life and it's not my place as baby sister to tell him how to live it. I just want him to be happy but at the same time I want to kill him for hurting you, does that make sense?"

Her eye roll at the end sealed the deal and I couldn't hold in my laugh. Letting out a chuckle I shook my head "Please don't kill him Em. I still want him in my life. It was my fault; I shouldn't have started something I knew would end in heartbreak but –"

"—But you took a risk hoping it would turn out the way you wanted." Lena finished.

I nodded with a soft smile. "He cares for me Em, that much I can say with confidence but for me to have hope that he would change just because I was there was foolish..." I paused a lump forming in my throat and my next words getting lodged in my throat. I take a deep breath and look up at both the girls who have been there for me since middle school.

"I've learned my lesson. I've loved and lost. Time to move on..." I mumbled the last part, quickly taking my drink to my lips to avoid their immediate reactions.

Their gasps were so loud that if it weren't for the upbeat music here at Aden's, everyone could have turned their heads to see what the commotion was all about.

I finally peeked up from behind my mug of coffee and Lena hit me first with a couple shocked blinks before speaking "Move on?"

"Move on from my brother?" Emma spoke the sentence in one word, letting it out on a breath. "Like let him go?"

I nodded not shocked by their shock because I think they both thought on some level I would always wait for Damon, but how long can one girl wait? I'm done waiting – this past month has proved that Damon can do just fine without me and I don't know if that made me mad to the point of wanting to punch my fist through a wall, or so sad where I'm crying tears into my pillow followed by ear piercing screams.

"It hurts guys, that love I feel for him is still there and I sometimes wonder if my love for him will ever subside..." I summoned all the strength within me not to cry, to be strong and show myself more than them that I can push through this.

"It was going to happen eventually, but I have to put my big girl red lacey thong on with matching red leather pumps," they smiled at my play on big girl panties as I continued "and take the first few steps into my new journey. I have my business to focus on along with what makes me happy. Damon cannot be the only thing anymore."

They were silent for a minute just watching me. Waiting and listening, hanging on to my every word and taking it all in.

"Wow..." Lena whispered "I..." she reached over the table and engulfed her hand on top on mine, giving it a light squeeze. "I'm so damn proud of you."

"I have to admit," Emma began "There is a part of me that's breaking inside because I was hoping my brother would be so lucky to end up with my best friend but..." she got up from her seat and came over to my side engulfing me in a big hug.

"...I'm proud of you too." She gave me another light squeeze and slowly pulled away. "You deserve everything you want and more, including your happily ever after." She smiled brightly then.

We settle back into easy and much more light hearted conversation after Emma sits back down. We order another cup of coffee; the girls finish their sweet treat and we just take our time as we do every time Lena is in town.

"How are my favorite girls doing?" Aden's sweet tone over gravelly voice makes my head twist to the side and give him a friendly smile.

"Do you need another sticky cinnamon bun for the road?" he raised a brow nudging at Lena and Emma's empty plates. Their simultaneous eye rolls make both him and I chuckle.

Lena opened her mouth and I saw the smart remark coming but I quickly cut in front of her with another soft chuckle "No we are great, thanks Aden."

His gaze now focused solely on me as he smiled an innocent boyish grin that I had a gut feeling was anything but innocent. His eyes grazed me up and down as he licked his lips "That dress looks beautiful on you Ariel."

His compliment shouldn't have made me blush but it did, I was only used to compliments from Damon but I wasn't going to deny that it felt good when Aden noticed too. Just knowing someone else finds me pretty, I guess it's just reassurance for my soul.

I smoothed out my hunter green rib knit sweater dress before giving him a shy smile "Oh. Thank you, Aden, I just bought it."

October had just begun so the weather was slowly becoming much more chiller, hence why we were finally enjoying hot coffee, I saw this dress on a store front display and couldn't stop myself from buying it. It was a shorter sleeve, rolled up a few times with a curved neckline and stopped right at my knees. It was simple but still beautiful.

The room got quiet and the tension surrounding us grew as thick as a mid-summers fog. It was only then I realized Aden and I had been looking at each other, his arms crossed over his chest as his eyes glittered watching mine.

Lena cleared her throat and dusted her finger on top of her plate. "My fingers are really sticky from the glaze on the cinnamon buns..." she attempted but failed to elbow Emma discreetly in the ribs.

Emma's eyes widened and she bit back a laugh, knowing exactly where Lena was going with this and I did too. I cut my eyes towards them, in warning.

They better not, why would they?!

"Yeah, we should go wash up before heading back home." She pointed her thumb behind her, gesturing to the restrooms.

"Yup." Lena exclaimed making a quick move of getting up from her seat while Emma followed, but not before shooting me a discreet wink.

As soon as Lena and Emma were out of the booth and headed towards the bathroom, I finally looked to Aden to notice his head fallen forward and his body shaking silently with laughter.

I made a mental note to myself to kill my best friends as soon as I got my hands on them. The embarrassment right now made me want to crawl under a hole and make it my new home.

Why am I best friends with them again? I internally groaned as Aden moved to occupy Lena's seat in the booth, right across from me. He seemed to find my horrified embarrassment amusing because he couldn't help but chuckle once more.

"They are very subtle." He stated, teasingly, with a mile-wide grin.

The tension loosened from my shoulders and this time I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head in the process. "Aren't they though? Remind me never to rob a bank with those two."

"Please don't." Aden replied, the amusement still sounds in his tone of voice. "It would be a sin for a beautiful girl like you to be locked up behind bars."

I played nervously with the handle of my coffee cup, feeling flattered by the compliment but at the same time feeling guilty – I only ever felt good when Damon said those things and paid such sweet attention to me, was it wrong that I felt good hearing another man telling me that too? It made my heart hurt and made me more confused than it should have.

"So how's Damon? I haven't seen him around in a while." He sated trying to start an easy conversation. Little did he know...

Short and sweet flashes of the beautiful weeks Damon and I spent together invaded my mind. The emotions started rushing back and I felt my heart race at the notion of being in Damon's arms once again.

I cleared my throat, shaking away those thoughts and emotions and focused my attention on Aden once more. With a shrug I answered "I wouldn't know either. We think he is going through something; he hasn't spoken to anyone but his mom in a month and even then, it's only a short phone call to let her know he's okay."

Aden rose a brow and gave a shocked expression. "Wow. Well maybe he just needed a break?" he suggested with a half-hearted shrug. "We all need that sometimes, a moment to step away from reality."

"I thought so too..." I answered truthfully taking a long sip of my second cup of coffee.

I felt his eyes on me as I took a sip and gazed into my cup. I knew he wanted to ask me something but I made no move to look up until he spoke.

"Ariel, is there anything happening between you and Damon?"

His question took me by surprise and I had to calm myself in order to not choke on my coffee. Swallowing that last bit of coffee felt like swallowing sand paper as I thought of what to tell him. The truth, or at least part of the truth. I could never tell him or anyone else how my heart still called out for Damon. I knew it would take time but I would get over him and make a life without him in it.

"No." I tried to look up at him and smile brilliantly, but I'm still unsure how real it looked. "He is a really good friend and he's..." I thought of my words carefully "He is special to me but nothing more. Why do you ask?"

Taking a deep breath, he made sure to lock his eyes with mine. "I want to make absolutely sure I am not overstepping any boundaries."

"Overstepping?" I reiterated with furrowed brows in confusion. I had no idea where he was getting with this, overstepping what boundaries?

"When I ask you out on a date." He stated with confidence and once again that innocent boyish grin that can't be all that innocent.

A...a what? A date? I felt my eyes widen and my cheeks heat. I quickly palmed my cheeks, trying to save myself from more embarrassment – apparently, I'm not used to this at all. I looked down at my lap, unsure what to say.

I collected my thoughts for a moment, trying to push Damon's face away from my mind and replaying to myself, in my mind that Damon doesn't want me, he doesn't want forever and he pushed me away. I am allowed to date and have fun if the moment comes up.

But why does it feel so wrong?

I looked back up into his eyes, his amusement gone as he waited for my response. "Who says I would agree to said date?"

He swallowed and finally smiled again "I hoped you would." His voice choked out softly.

I watched him for a moment as the nervousness and sincerity flicker in his eyes. "Will you Ariel?"

I thought about how my heart was still focused on loving Damon and how it was slowly healing itself day by day. I promised myself I wouldn't become a broken girl and Damon was no exception.

I thought about this past month, all this time he was able to ignore me and be without me perfectly fine while I was a mess. That time that he needed to himself helped me heal, at least I think so, and helped me realize I was worth more than waiting my whole life for a man to love me. I felt pathetic after realizing all that. I was supposed to be finding my own happiness now, right?

"Yes." The answer slipped past my lips before I had another moment to think about it. I almost gasped and covered my mouth at what I said but then I remember this is good, it would be good for me.

He smiled brightly "Great! How about we exchange numbers and I can plan something out for us and give you a call?"

My heart palpitated and my stomach dropped a bit. This was really happening and I wasn't sure why I was so nervous. I nodded my head before sifting through my purse and bringing out my phone, handing it to him as he handed me his, a new contact information all set up for me to type my number.

Once I handed him his phone and he handed mine back, a stray hair made its way out of my professionally messy bun and before I could be the one to brush it away Aden's hand reached over, his fingers brushing over the apple of my cheek as he moved the hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear.

His touch didn't spark me or make me feel as good as one simple soft touch of Damon made me feel but I pushed away the wrongful feeling and tried to enjoy the flirting.

A clearing of a throat tore our eyes away from one another and brought us from our conversation. My head shot up while Aden's turned to see Emma and Lena standing awkwardly behind him.

I wanted to groan in annoyance. They must have seen that whole little hair tuck scene play out.

Lena coughed "Uhm, my hands are still wet..." she turned to Emma "Are your hands still wet?"

She nodded "Oh yeah, they are definitely still moist. Maybe we didn't dry them well. Come on, lets fix that!" she exclaimed

"Yup! Right behind you!" Lena jumped up and whirled around to follow Emma right back to the bathroom.

My cheeks were on fire and as Aden turned to me, I saw the slight embarrassment in his gaze as well. It was sweet the way he rubbed at the back of his neck, forcing himself to meet my gaze again but as soon as our eyes did meet, a smile broke out on his face and we both ended up chuckling at Lena and Emma's antics.

"Man, they just get better and better at that don't they?" He questioned, teasingly.

Trying to calm my laughter, I hummed "Mmm, I'm afraid if they get any better, we might actually have a real problem."

As we sat there and talked, Emma and Lena came back to join the conversation with us and soon after Aden excused himself needing to get back to work but not before reassuring me that he would call me later. The day went on from there but as Aden got up from the table and I watched him walk away to the back of his bakery, I wondered...

When I finally get over Damon and when I am living my happy life, maybe one with a husband and two or three cute little babies causing chaos and making me smile, will there still be that one part of my heart that will always belong to Damon? Will there be a cut off section in my heart just for him and the memories of what we had?

That sounds so wrong and maybe it is. Some would probably say its unhealthy but can you really help what you can't change?

Then I thought about change...

Maybe one day Damon would change his mind and love again. He would see that he is capable of it, I sure hope so. I willed back the tears thinking that when that day came it would be too late for us and that I would be happy with someone else and in turn so would he. 

I know you guys were hoping for more or at least another chapter because normally I would grace you guys with two chapters at once but I need you opinion and thoughts on this one before I move on! I know how the book will end but getting there is where I am at right now and I want to see how you guys react to this! 😉

As soon as I get enough feedback I will work on the next