Matt’s Point of View:

I sat at the bar, drumming my fingers gently on the counter. I was impatiently watching the blonde bartender, who had been mercilessly flirting with me since I walked in, pour my 5th shot of Jack Daniels.

If I was going to talk to Ariel, I figured I might as well take the edge off. I downed the 5th shot, and licked my lips. She leaned over the bar, pressing her arms against the sides of her breasts making them almost fall out of her shirt, a smile gracing her full lips. I didn’t even acknowledge the fact that she was basically flashing me. My mind was on Ariel. What would I say after all this time? Should I have broken up with Valary before I did this? But what if Ariel doesn’t take me back? Then I would’ve lost her and Valary in one day. But would it even matter if I lost Val?

“Can I get you another, babe?” she winked, taking a piece of a hair and tucking it behind her ear. Her voice annoyed me, and all I wanted to do was rip off her fake ass face.

“No,” I grunted, waving my hand indicating I wanted her to go away. She made a sort of huffing noise, and walked away, repeating the leaning-over-the-counter action to another guy further down the bar.

I took out my cell phone, after feeling it vibrate, and flipped it open, touching the screen to view the text. It was from Zacky. It was a forward from Ariel. Right, I forgot that I had texted her off of his phone.

FWD: I’m pulling into the parking lot now. Are you here?

I texted him back, telling him to tell her he was and to walk in. He replied with an “Ok,” and I made my way to a booth by the front door. I slid in out of view, and watched the door. I was shaking and a bit nauseous, but I had rehearsed what I was going to say to her at least 300 times.

Then it happened.

She walked in, wearing a very revealing red dress. Her long black hair hung straight, except for the fact that her bangs were pulled back on top of her head, and her hair was teased slightly to give it volume. I’m pretty sure my jaw fell open as she scanned the room for Zacky. This was my chance.

Okay, Sanders, don’t fuck this up.

Ariel’s Point of View:

I thought Zacky said he was here, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe he was in the bathroom. I really hoped that I wasn’t being stood up because if I was, I would’ve felt like an idiot. I got all dressed up and did my hair and make-up cute, and if it was all for nothing…well whatever. I looked around again just to make sure I wasn’t missing him, when I heard a familiar timid voice.

“Hey, Ariel,”

I turned around, almost losing my balance in the process. My eyes couldn’t believe what they were seeing. A rugged looking Matt, stood before me. He was wearing a bandana under a black hat, and when he removed his aviators from his eyes, they revealed a dull version of the vibrant ones he had before.

“What the hell happened to you?” I asked, being a total hypocrite.

“I lost you,” he chuckled slightly, nervously rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

“Matt, you chose not to keep me, there’s a difference,” I sighed, tears brimming my eyes. I expected Zacky not Matt. Zacky had totally fucked me over. I wasn’t ready for this.

“Ariel,” he spoke, clearing his throat, and taking my hands in his.

“What, Matt?” I shifted uncomfortably in my heels, not wanting to do this in public.

“Ariel, there’s only three things in the world that I love more than anything,” he began, a small smile appearing on his face, “my band, my family, and you,”

“Matt-” I started to say, but was stopped by his lips on mine. He deepened the kiss, removing his hands from mine and cupping my face. I immediately kissed back, a familiar bubbly feeling rising in my stomach as he pulled our bodies closer together.

He pulled away, leaving me slightly breathless and wanting more. He grinned, his perfect teeth exposed, and his dimples gracing his cheeks. I smiled back, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing him again. There was nothing to say, and no need to say it: Matt was forgiven.

He pulled me towards the door, forgetting about Ash’s car, and we made our way to his Black Escalade that was parked out front. I was surprised that I didn’t recognize it when I pulled up. As I climbed into the passenger seat, I heard a voice I never thought I’d hear again.

“Ariel?”

I whipped around, almost falling out of the car. Matt reached over the driver’s seat to grab my hand, and he caught me before I hit the ground.

“Who the fuck is this?!”

Justin. And he was PISSED off. How did he find me?

“Uh…uh-uh,” I stuttered, shrinking into the seat, praying for the ability to disappear.

“No, who the fuck are YOU?” Matt growled, suddenly appearing in between Justin and I.

“I’m her boyfriend!” he yelled, pushing Matt in the chest. Bad move.

“I suggest you fucking keep your hands off of me, and Ariel is MY girlfriend,” Matt snarled, his chest swelling in anger. He was at lest 3 times the size of Justin.

“No, she’s fucking not! She’s mine! The little whore is playing you!” Justin said, venom dripping from every word. I started to shake, hiding more behind Matt. He felt my body tense behind his, and I felt every muscle in his back flare.

“Fuck you!” Matt shouted, drawing his hand back and decking Justin right in the right side of his face. I heard a crunch on contact, and within seconds Justin hit the ground and obviously wasn’t getting up anytime soon.

“Baby, let’s go,” Matt rushed me back to the car. He shut my door, jogged to his side of the SUV and got in, locking the doors.

"What the fuck just happened?" I started becoming hysterical. I had no idea that Justin would ever be capable of finding me so far away from home.

"Was he the one who hit you?" Matt said angrily, glaring at the road ahead of us.

"Yes. I don't know how..." I said glancing out the window.

"You're safe now, I'd never let anyone hurt you. He won't hurt you anymore, and I won't ever hurt you again, Ariel. I'm so sorry," I could tell Matt had carefully said ever word.

The whole ride back to the hotel was silent after that, but I couldn’t stop staring at Matt. Seeing him defend me like that was an odd turn on, despite how upset I was about seeing Justin, and worrying I'm going to have to look over my shoulder everywhere I go now.

I slipped my hand in between Matt’s legs, putting a slight pressure on his inner thigh. He let out a shaky, yet satisfied sigh, and I increased the pressure.

“Thanks again for saving me back there,” I smiled, watching the expression on Matt’s face as I slowly got closer to his crotch, “Maybe I can make it up to you when we get back to your room,”

“Oh god,” he moaned, as my hand brushed over his hardness through his jeans, “Baby, I’d like that a lot. But first,” he said taking my hand away and lacing his fingers with mine, “There’s someone I got to kick the fuck out,”

I raised an eyebrow, remembering Valary.