Summer Romance

Chapter 17

Aaron's POV:

I ran through the corridor to Scarlett's room as fast as I could. I was praying that Nat hadn't told her yet, but I had a really bad feeling in my stomach.

When I had reached the door, I started knocking fiercely almost breaking my knuckles. "Scar? Scar, open the door. Please. Scar, I beg you open the door!"

I shut up trying to hear voices or footsteps but all I could hear was nothing. "Scarlett, I swear, I didn't mean it! Please, let me in. Let me explain!" Tears started to fill my eyes.

I still couldn't hear anything from inside. And as I looked down, I realized why, there was a sign hanging on the doorknob saying Please clean the room

I was a little relieved but couldn't shake off my worries. I ran downstairs to the breakfast room and bumped into George. "Did you find her?"

"Who?"

"What do you mean who? Scarlett!", I almost yelled at him making some guests turn their heads.

"Oh, no. Sorry, I didn't see her."

I sighed and turned my head when I heard voices behind us. I saw Nat and Scar coming down the stairs. I ran toward her, only to see her eyes being red and her cheeks wet with tears.

"Scar..."

"No, don't even try.", Nat said furiously.

"Scar, please I need to talk to you.", I begged Scarlett while ignoring Nat completely.

"Leave her alone.", Nat said, grabbed her arm and pulled her away. I didn't hesitate and grabbed Scar's wrist to hold her back. "Scar, please let me explain." She looked up at me, not saying a word for what felt like forever, then she raised her hand and slapped me across the face.

Scarlett's POV:

I looked at him and freed my wrist from his grasp. It took me another moment to find my voice and the right words. Or at least the words I wanted to say, there probably weren't any right words for this absurd situation.

"How could you, Aaron?"

He looked at me laying his hand on his now burning red cheek.

I ignored the pain in his eyes, I was too hurt, too furious and to devasted to care about anyone else's feelings but my own.

"How could you hurt me like that? How could you hurt any girl like that? Are other's people's feelings just something you can play with?", I asked him reproachfully.

"Scar, I swear, I didn't mean it. I mean, yes, it's true, I took this trip for that reason, but then I met you and you changed everything. One second to the other. I swear, I totally forgot about this whole plan after we had our first conversation. Please, I really meant everything I said, you have to believe me."

I looked at him while he was allegedly pouring his heart out to me, and more tears started rolling down my cheeks.

I shook my head after he had finished his monologue.

"You used me, Aaron. You used me for sex, no more, no less. How could you flat out lie to me saying that you love me?" I could see tears filling his eyes, but I kept ignoring them, kept ignoring his feelings. This wasn't about him; this was about me – me and my feelings.

"I didn't lie. I swear, I didn't. I love you, Scarlett. I do. Please, you have to believe me." He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to collect his thoughts. "I didn't use you, Scarlett. Believe me, when I tell you last night was perfect. More than that. I never felt that way before. I wanna be with you, for more than just a week. Please, Scar, I beg you, forgive me."

I looked at him.

I wished I could have. I really wished I could have believed and forgiven him. But all the trust I thought we had built those last few days had just collapsed.

I couldn't turn off my feelings for him, I knew that. But I could put my feelings for myself first. I had to be the most important person in my own life, my feelings mattered more, and I had to protect them and myself.

So, I did.

I just shook my head, turned away from him and walked away.