Arabella's POV

After our lunch and everyone was about done dining, I decided that it would be nice to take in some fresh air on the patio. Ace couldn't have gone through the night without dessert so he remained inside with Erika. Aaron accompanied Max who stepped out of the restaurant to take a smoke.

I leaned my elbows against the balcony and peered up at the orange and red canvas painted in the sky, illuminated by the sun setting behind the rippling sea.

I knew I couldn't deny the fact that I wanted desperately to go stand beside Tyler who stood on the other end of the patio, his eyes focused before him. With a sigh, I pushed myself off the wooden balcony and strolled quietly towards him.

I frowned at the conflicted expression etched on his features. At the moment he didn't seem to mind the chilly air that whipped past his face, flinging his curls before his eyes that no doubt must have annoyed him but he didn't make an effort to wipe it away.

As I lowered myself down beside him against the balcony he didn't seem to acknowledge my presence but I pushed my luck and tried anyways.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Does it matter?" His cold voice sliced through the silent air. My eyes widened at first and I cleared my throat before snapping my gaze away from him. "If that's what I get for trying to be nice," I muttered.

"I'm sorry, I'm just thinking about. . . stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" I asked as I slowly tilted my head towards him. His frown deepened and he shook his head slightly and pursed his lips in a thin line. "Nothing." He bite out, his eyebrows creasing harshly together.

I frowned in response and bit the insides of my cheeks to prevent myself from saying something I didn't mean. I flickered my gaze away from him for a moment and focused it on the darkening sky.

"It's infuriating how I never know what's going on in your head. How do I never know what's going on in your head?"

"Because you never ask."

"And what if I do ask?"

"Then I simply won't answer you."

"Your complications do not make you attractive." I spat, he shrugged and leaned forward, his lips quirking up in a small smile. "I know."

With a small chuckle, I pivoted my body towards him and propped my elbow onto the balcony. He flickered his eyes towards me for a second, his gaze was clearly non inviting but I stayed put, not moving even for his satisfaction. He sighed and turned towards me, his brows arched in a silent question.

"I wanna know what happened to you. Why do you fight? I mean I only know Tyler Hart as the school football quarterback. The glorified and hailed Prince Charming of DC high, how come you changed, you're not you. At least not the you I remember, you're still arrogant and pompous but–"

"I am still me, Arabella. There's definitely nothing that has changed, nothing you need to know about for that matter." He clipped, his eyes swivelling away from me. And there it is, that closed off person that I am rarely fond of.

"Don't bullshit me. The you two years ago isn't the you now. I remember you as the neighbour that I've had for years but never paid any attention to before high school. Sure he was an asshole but he was still loveable, why do you think I liked him?"

He pursed his lips in a thin line and let out a dry chuckle as his eyes flickered to me. I couldn't quite decipher whether or not it was out of amusement of just plain annoyance that he chuckled but he smirked and shook his head.

"And I remember you as my socially awkward and quirky neighbour who came to my house to seduce me."

"I did not come to your house to seduce you!" I shrieked. He let out a soft laugh for the first time tonight and for a moment it serenaded all my senses which automatically put a smile on my face. He spun on his heels and leaned his back against the railing.

"Yes, you did. Come on math homework? Do you think I was gullible?" He asked.

"I only wanted to get to know you. I mean we were neighbours for years and I never really knew you existed till high school. I saw my chance at getting to know you since you were literally graduating in like weeks and I knew I had to do it now or never because I was a coward to do it before. I always liked you."

He ran his tongue over his lips as he frowned. I watched as his brows knitted together and he cocked his head in my direction and raised a questioning eyebrow as if he were asking me something or a mystery, his face said one thing but his lips always said another. "Did you ever like me or knew that I existed before that?" I asked softly.

A smile tugged at his lips as he shrugged, "I practically broke your nose on the first day of school. I would never forget that day and yes, Arabella. I did like you. Although it appeared like your existence was nonexistent to me, I always liked you."

I smiled softly and leaned towards him, his eyes never left mine as I did so and for a moment I was tempted to kiss him but I didn't. It didn't matter now that I knew he once returned my feelings, I should have known about this before I thought he abandoned me after I practically gave him all of me.

Never have I thought to ask him why he never returned my calls or texts and disappear like he never existed after that day. But I wasn't gonna ask tonight that would just damper the mood.

"If you barely knew me then, why'd you sleep with me?" I blurted out before I could stop the word vomiting. I knew he said he liked me but that's not a good enough excuse as to why I randomly showed up at his door and he flung the sex card onto me like we were in some porno movie.

I couldn't help myself, I knew this would damper the mood but if I didn't ask now when would I get the opportunity again?

"I didn't want to," he said, his dull eyes flickering away from mine, "that day was what turned me into Blaze. That was the day I realized that I needed to do something for the situation I was in so I turned to fighting, Arabella. If that's not clear enough for you, it was the day my life was in shambles and you were at my doorstep and I just–"

"Hey, you guys okay?" Aaron sliced through Tyler's words and I cringed. God, why did he have to come now!? "Yeah, why?" I asked impatiently. He flashed me a confused glance and shook his head as he pointed towards the group. "We need to go?" He drawled out. I stared at him confusedly till he let out a frantic sigh.

"Our flight leaves in a few hours!" My eyes widened in realization and a string of curses escaped my lips as I turned my attention to Tyler who didn't bother with the news.

"Come on the guys are ready to leave," Aaron exclaimed before pivoting on his heels and disappearing behind the doubles doors. "Tyler are you okay?" I asked softly. He nodded his head without responding and began to strut away.

Before he could move any further, I grasped his hands in mine and halted his footsteps. "Are we ever going to finish this conversation?" I asked, hoping desperately that he'll maybe tell me more, he was literally seconds away from answering one of my most burning questions, the question that could clarify my spiralling at school in the past last two years.

Maybe I could get some sort of closure.

"No."

I recoiled in shock at how cold his voice came out, leaving little to no room for argument. Anyone who didn't know him would cower away. He shrugged off my hand and began walking away but not before grumbling for us to go.

I sighed softly and ran my hands through my hair as I stared at his retreating back.

Why can't you just let me in Tyler Hart?

~~~

Giving my dad one last kiss on the cheek, I pulled away, willing the tears at the back of my eyes to go away. "You sure you can't come to the airport without us dad?" I asked.

He frowned deeply and pulled me in for a tight hug. I hugged back and wrapped my hands around his waist. Nuzzling my face in his chest and probably soaking his expensive suit with my snort.

"I'm sorry sweetie. I'm not feeling all that well, I promise that the next time you ever visit will be way longer than this. I'm sorry we didn't get to spend quality time together for the past few days and I'll make it up to you." He mumbled as he places a kiss against my temple.

I nodded my head and pulled away, mirroring his distraught expression. "I'll see you soon dad. Don't go anywhere on me." I pointed warily. He raised his hands and saluted. "Aye, aye captain."

I let out a chuckle through my tears and hugged him once more before retreating to the limousine. "Tell everyone else I said bye." I waved.

I should have spent more time with him for the past few days. I shouldn't have focused on my friends I'll be seeing all year long. But I know I'll see him again so there was no reason to stress and guilt trip myself. He isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Hey sweet cheeks, you okay?" Aaron asked as the door slammed shut. I nodded my head and swiped away the tear that trickled down my cheek. 

I leaned against his shoulders and he quickly wrapped a hand over mine and caressed my scalp soothingly. He planted a kiss against my forehead and I smiled through my tears. Why do I feel like something horrible is gonna happen soon?

"I feel like I'm being replaced!" Erika suddenly grumbled.

"Maybe because you are," Ace taunted. She widened her eyes and balled up her fist as he coward away. I chuckled softly, smiling at my two idiot friends firing insults at one another. They're so in love it's ridiculous.

"To be honest, I don't know about you guys but I had a lot of fun," Max exclaimed. "Yeah me too." Erika grinned as she nudged Ace in the arm softly. He turned towards her and smirked to which she replied with a small smile, her cheeks a deep shade of red.

I raised a brow in her direction and she widened her eyes in defence and shrugged. "Yeah, this little trip was cool," Aaron mumbled beside me as he squeezed my shoulder softly.

"What about you Tyler?" Erika asked as she nudged him in the arm. I didn't miss how he fidgeted by her touch, once again his body stiffened and I couldn't help but frown at the conflicted look etched on his face. "Good." He grumbled softly.

His gaze was locked on the window and his mind seemed to be beyond valleys and galaxies. Meaning that his mind was far of in the distance, nowhere to be found. Was it because of the conversation earlier? Did I cause this? Did I push too hard?

"Good?!" Erika snorted. Ace nudged her softly and frowned. She flashed him a confused glance and flickered her eyes back towards Tyler but didn't seem to get the memo.

"Hey what's wrong with lover boy?" Max whispered as he leaned over Aaron. I flickered my eyes away from him and towards Tyler.

"I honestly don't know."