Fate

Forgive and Forget

JAMES' POV

We woke up to sand being kicked all over our faces. I focused my eyes on an angry, spray tanned body above me. Shit.

Elena.

"I hate you! You're a two-timing asshole!" Elena screamed at me. "You cheated on me... with her?" She said pointing at Grace. Why was Elena even here?

"Shhh!" I said putting a finger over my lip not wanting to wake up Grace but once I looked back at her, she was already starting to stand up, staring at me like I was a monster.

"You're dating her?" Grace whispered looking absolutely crushed. Tears welled up in her eyes as she slowly walked up to me. "I thought we were different together? You promised me... but the funny thing is, you guys are all the same."

"Grace, trust me! It's not what it looks like-" I said trying to reassure her but she cut me off right away.

"James! I don't know how someone can fake or misread this. I'm not listening to this it's not what it looks like shit! I don't know who I can trust anymore because every time I trust someone -even for a little while- it all turns into lies," she said shoving my chest. "Don't come near me." I tried to keep up with her.

"Grace can we just talk about th-"

"There is nothing to talk about! Just leave me alone!" I watched her run back to Bridget's house with tears streaming down her face. I turned my body so I was facing Elena again.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked pissed off that she just ruined the chance I had with this girl. "Did you not get the text I sent you last night that said I don't  think we should be together anymore? Obliviously I should've been more specific with you." She doesn't understand anything that doesn't involve her and I together.

"Well I got here last night - before you texted me- and was going to surprise you," she said calmly. "But I guess I rudely interrupted something, didn't I?"

"Don't start with me. You've cheated on me before too and I let you somehow get away with it but technically I broke up with you! You have no reason to be here so you can just go back to where you came from while I get the girl I actually like back," I said walking back to the house.

"I hate you! What has the last 3 years been then? You would've broken up with me if you really didn't like me. You just couldn't choose between us so you wanted both. Truthfully... I am the right choice for you," she took a step towards me. "You can't leave me," she whispered taking another step. She's playing this card again. "I need you."

This is the part where I would give in and go right back to her. She wrapped her arms around my abdomen and rested her head on my chest. I felt a pain of guilt but I knew I couldn't give in. Not anymore.

"Please. Just give me another chance. I swear I'll change! We can do whatever you want, whenever you want! Please..." She begged. She went up on her tippy-toes and gave me a soft kiss on my lips. I didn't respond.

I took her arms and gently unwrapped them from my body. I looked her straight in her eyes. "Elena, it's over. I should've talked to you before doing anything with her," I said, trying not to be harsh. "But I just feel like I belong with Grace. We can still be friends."

Her face turned rock hard. She looked pissed. "You know what? Whatever! I could get any guy I want! I don't wanna be friends with you! I don't need you. Good luck getting her back," she smirked back at me. Well... That didn't work.

I turned around and ran back to the house to hear Elena scream in distress. I ignored it and continued through the back doors of Bridget's beach house and into the kitchen. I saw Grace sitting with her back against the wall. She had her hands covering her face like she was thinking. Then she started running her fingers through her thick hair.

I pulled her up into a standing position and grabbed her chin to make sure she was looking at me. I started to caress her cheek, but she flinched at the touch of my hand and she turned her head away from me. She's flinching at my touch.

What am I doing to this girl?

I bent down at eye level and very, very lightly brushed my lips against hers. Then I lent in closer to make it a real kiss.

Out of nowhere the kitchen door flung open and caused Grace to jump which ended our kiss. "First," Nicolette explained, "Bridget and Luke are sleeping together on the couch and then you two are making out in the kitchen, yet I still get made fun of for last night with Jason!" She stomped right out of the kitchen before another word could be said. I have a small chuckle at her remark and looked at Grace again.

"I broke it off with Elena! Remember last night? I asked you if I could tell you something important and while I was telling you everything, you fell asleep! I was telling you about Elena," I explained taking her hand.

She looked conflicted for a moment and squeezed her eyes shut before talking again.

"Either way, you still cheated on me. You can't pretend that didn't happen. Elena's voice keeps replaying in my mind..." She whispered and I could hear in her voice how hurt she was.

She started to pound on my chest with the little strength she had left in her. She started to slow down and stopped with her head and her fists on my chest, sobbing.

I took her wrists and whispered, "Please don't play hard to get. I can't lose you."

I really couldn't. I haven't been this happy in a while and I loved the feeling.

"Well maybe you should've thought about that before you kissed me. I have been hurt too many times to go through it again. Why couldn't you just clear things up with her before you started anything with me?" Her voice started to get softer the more she talked. "I'm not doing this again. I thought you were different. Everyone's the same," she whispered as tears streamed down her face and she started to walk to her room.

I grabbed her arm and turned her back around to face me. "You're completely right! You have every right to be mad at me. I was going to tell you last night, but while I was talking you fell asleep! I was going to clear things up so you knew the truth! I wouldn't do that to you Grace," I said, taking her face in my hands gently.

"How do I know you aren't lying to me to cover yourself?"

"You don't."

At that moment she just stared at me. Like when we were on the beach yesterday. She looked at my face; first my eyes, then my hair, and she took her thumb and ran it over my cheek bone. She looked so calm. She looked like a child.

I could see in her eyes that there was misery. Something different. Then she looked at me like I was a different person; like I was a total stranger. She rested her head on my chest.

"Grace, I just-" I started but was quickly cut off.

"Shh," she said putting her pointer finger to my lips. "Don't talk."

I was confused. What was she trying to hear? Then it clicked.

She was listening to my heart beat. Why? I have no idea, but it seemed to calm her down. I wrapped my arms around her and whispered, "You make me forget about everything when I spend time with you. I want us to talk about everything. I think we both need to clear our minds," I said caressing her cheek.

"Everything?" She asked still not looking into my eyes.

This girl. This crazy, beautiful girl is just making me feel something in my heart that I haven't felt before. Something that makes me feel good inside. Something I don't want to stop feeling.

"Everything." I nodded.

I took her chin and pointed it towards me. I leaned in and rested my forehead on hers and whispered to her again. "What are you doing to me?"

This time she kissed me. If I lost her I wouldn't stop trying to get her back until the day I died. She's... special. Unlike anyone else I've known.

I can't let her slip through my fingers that fast.