MATT'S POV

It physically hurt to even look at her. Why is she here, I thought, why is this happening right now? Our eyes locked across the room and shivers ran down my whole body. I definitely wasn't prepared or ready to see her yet.

She wasn't even that close with Mona, though we graduated together. Was she here alone? "Matt," I heard Cat say. She threw me a questioning look. It was only then that I noticed I'd stopped dancing. God damnit, I'm such an idiot... I'm fucking up big time...

Cat turned around to see what got my attention. I threw her an apologetic look. It was no use denying. I saw her frown for a split second, but she did her best to keep a straight face.

"I think," she said as she took a gulp from her beer that was placed on out table from earlier, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom and then dance with Brian for a while. You should talk to her, seriously. I'm not mad. See you around, buddy." Buddy. This word hurt so much.

And off she went. I felt she was mad, but I couldn't fight back the urge to walk over and at least have a civil conversation with Val anyway. She'd been my life for almost eight years now, that wasn't something you forget easily or you can write over like an old CD.

"Hey Val." My voice trembled slightly. This is a bad idea. I didn't think it would be this hard.
Without even greeting me, she stated, "I waited for you, you know?" Hurt painted a pained expression onto her pretty face. She wasn't even looking at me. Wait?

Before I could ask, she continued on her own. "I waited for you to call, you know. Just to ask me how I'm holding up. If I'm alright. To maybe talk it over and find out what it was and when it happened that we fell apart. Or at least to thank me for eight of my years by your side. I like to think I kept you happy for at least five or six of them..." Her eyes sparkled suspiciously. I knew she was going to cry.

"Val, I'm sorry. I,..." I'm such an idiot, I thought. I should have called. After a short break, I continued, "I think I needed time after everything that happened. I had to learn a week before my wedding that my fiancée fucking cheated on me!" I felt my jaw clench.

But when I saw two or three strangers turning around, I noticed I had no right to be angry right now. I was trying to be civil, not to upset her even more. Surprisingly, the breathing and focusing from my anger management classes seemed to work.

My volume dropped significantly as I added, "Plus, I was on our honeymoon first, and I had to come back earlier for Jimmy. I don't know if you've heard about it..."
"It's okay, Matt," she said with a brave, pained smile, "I visited him, too. And you went with Caitlin, right? And now I see the two of you here. Her in your arms, where I used to belong. Her, of all people. That's just a little too much for me."

"Why her of all people? What do you mean by that?" I asked, choosing to ignore all further comments, just because it was easier this way. God, she was still beautiful, and by the mere look of her, my insides fluttered painfully. Not because I wanted back to her, but because it hurt being reminded of what happened.

"I mean, after what happened at WARPED, I was suspicious of the two of you being so close, anyway," she began, and by now, tears started falling down her face, staining her make-up, "but I mean, who was I to point fingers with everything that happened. But not even a month after we broke up I see you here with her, happy and everything. You love her, don't you? Always have."

Her words hit me like a gleaming needle. My heart pounded so fast I was almost sure I was having a cardiac arrest. "What was it that happened at WARPED?" I wanted to know. "I said you love her, don't you. Now please have the balls and admit it at least," she cried out, and people started looking at us. I couldn't help it. I pulled her close and hugged her. "I'm sorry, Val," I said, "but I do."


We're sitting in a circle.
Jimmy, Cat and I playing a round of truth or dare with the roadies and a bunch of fans in our newly acquired tour bus. Suddenly, the flask points at me, and since I'm too lazy to get up (and probably too drunk, too) I pick truth.

One of the fans asks me, "Matt, who's the most beautiful girl in this room?" She obviously wants me to pick her. She doesn't know I have a girlfriend, but somehow, neither do I. I don't think for a second, I point at Cat and state "She is." Loud and clearly.

Val angrily storms out and I follow her. We argue between a bunch of cars parked in the meadow, and then she just runs away. I get myself a beer at the bar, thinking she'll come back anyway and that there's nothing I can do in this very moment, and then I walk back to the bus, where Cat is the only person I find, drugged and almost dying.

And suddenly, all the pieces fell together. Just one question remained.
"Val?"
"What, Matt? What now?"
"Why did you never say that this was the reason for you to cheat?"

"Because I figured you didn't remember. Because I hoped you never would, and that we could go on like always. But now you did anyway. And it doesn't matter anyway, because we didn't break up for that reason. But ... She was in the back of your mind anyway. I just wish you hadn't wasted my time." Her eyes were cold now and dark now.

"Val... What we had was definitely real. You know it. I know it. I loved you."
"Don't you dare tell me you ever loved me you piece of shit! Not when she was in the back of your mind the whole goddamn time!" She didn't scream. She just whispered it to me.
And maybe, I thought, she's right. And when her hand slapped my face hard, it somehow felt like justice.


CAT'S POV

I should have known. It was too beautiful, too fragile to last. I should have known that he still had feelings for Val and that they wouldn't go away just like that.

Jimmy's plan didn't work, though it was amazing how much effort he put into it. He wanted Val to break up with Matt right there and then, when he said I was the most beautiful girl, and when Val slept with him, but they didn't. He wanted Matt to remember in the morning, but he didn't. He thought Val would confess and confront him about what he said, but she didn't.

But with the wedding coming so near, he felt he needed to do something. Jimmy knew that if he told Matt about Val, he'd break up. But he didn't, at least not right away.

He knew if Matt remembered about that incident he'd probably at least think about that there could be more than friendship between us. And he hoped if he told him about that night, he might think hard about WARPED and remember what happened between us.

And what did I think? God, what do I think? I don't even know. What good use is it that I know what Jimmy planned? I thought I had the time to figure out what I want, but it seems like that decision has been made.

I looked around as I approached the dance floor again, looking for Brian or Zack. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder and a voice that I knew far too well rasped in my ear, "Can I have this dance?"
I didn't move. I didn't have to turn around to know who that was. Dave. His voice alone awoke so many memories I rather wanted asleep. I just stood there like a child, stubbornly believing that if it closes its eyes, it's invisible.

I turned around anyways. His eyes basically pierced through my own ones right into my heart, as if one look alone sucked out all the life I had left. "Come on, Caitlin, I'm just looking to share one dance with you," he said with a sly smile, "you know, for old times sake. No harm done. It's only a dance."

He took my hand and led me to the dancefloor where they were playing "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton. "And may I add that you do look wonderful tonight," Dave purred. His sharp contures were extremely pronounced by the neon light that was by now flooding the dance floor.

With an amused grin, he asked, "So where is your boyfriend?" He practically spat the last word. I still chose not to talk. "Do you really think he could make you happy? On the long run, Caitlin? Are you that reckless? A man who's been practically left at the altar suddenly catches feelings for someone he never gave a damn about? What kind of soap opera is this?"

I swallowed. He was right. Matt didn't love me. He just couldn't. And strangely, it was that moment that I learned that I did love him. Dave seemed to feel that I was about to break, so he added some more fuel to the fire.

"If he could, he'd still be with her. I mean look at them." Right over there they were standing, hugging. My heart felt like it was stung by a thousand wasps. "You'll always be a second choice. To me, on the other hand, you're still the only one I want. Come back to me, Caitlin."

His eyes pierced me. The room started spinning. Somehow, that one new song Jimmy wrote entered my mind, Almost Easy. "So how long did you expect love to outweigh ignorance?" I heard myself say. The fuck, I thought.

"Dave?" I heard a voice behind me, "I'm gonna need to ask you to leave her alone." I felt strong, familiar arms around my waist. He was here. "Oh really? So she can keep on being your second choice?"
It hit me like a punch into the stomach. Guys, stop. "Second choice?" Matt laughed. How can he laugh right now? "She's still, and always will be, the most beautiful girl in the room. And she's not yours. And I love her. Fuck off bro, you lost" Wait?

He just grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Dave. "I remember now," he whispered, "And I'm sorry I've been so blind all this time. Now let's get out of here."

We didn't make it home. We started heavily making out right in the parking lot. His tongue inside my mouth felt so good. Every fiber of his skin tasted so good. He was the strongest drug I'd ever known.

His hands roamed my body and felt up my thighs, leaving a trail of goosebumps wherever they went. In a heartbeat, my lace thong was removed. He carefully placed me onto the hood of his car and kneeled before me, placing little kisses along the insides of my thighs before his head finally disappeared under my dress.

He let his tongue run up and down my folds, obviously not in a hurry, before finally finding the spot. His fingers entered me, too, and he finger fucked me hard while circling my clit with his tongue at an astonishing pace. I moaned out loud and he went even faster, causing me to get to my release in seconds.

I screamed out in pleasure as the earth-shattering orgasm took over my body and I started shaking from the intensity. A part of me wished Dave would hear. Just as I was gasping for air, he pulled out his fingers and his face reappeared in front of me. He leaned against me onto the hood and we shared a passionate kiss.

Without any warning, he shoved his long, hot cock into me and started pumping in and out fast and hard. He hit my spot with every thrust and we moaned into each others' mouths as he fucked me.
I dug my nails into his arms as I came hard, and I could tell he wasn't far behind. He released inside of me, moaning my name, and gave it a few more sloppy thrusts before kissing me gently.

"Matt? I love you, too."

Notes

Sorry I've been away for too long :( Hope you liked this chapter.