"How long do I put it in for?" Steven asked as he was pushing the buttons on my oven, making constant beeping noises.

I chewed on my lip, searching for the instructions. "Um, I think for 20 minutes? Yeah, yeah. 20."

He nodded, pushing the buttons until the screen read the correct time on it. "Alright."

He walked back over to where I was, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel before continuing to help me. His dark grey jogger sweatpants and blue thermal matched well with his dark gray Nike Roshe's, and his dirty blonde/brown hair was effortlessly a perfect mess.

I smiled softly at him as he chopped some veggies up. "Thanks for coming early and helping me."

"Thanks for inviting me. I was probably gonna just be at my place watching Home Alone, anyway." He grinned, his focus not breaking that way he wouldn't chop off his finger.

"That reminds me. I need to put that movie, the second one, and The Grinch on repeat for the next 24 hours."

"Don't forget 'A Christmas Story'. That one's a must see." He added, finishing up his veggie chopping. "Who is coming tonight, anyway? And don't worry, I'm not wearing this tonight. I brought a change of clothes."

I chuckled, putting the milk back in the fridge. "I was gonna say." I made a disgusted face jokingly. "I'm kidding. Um, Nicole, Cam, their friend, my cousins, and someone else but I can't remember. Nothing huge. Last year, I was third-wheeling with Nic and Cam and we just drank and watched Christmas movies."

"Your favorite thing to do." That grin of his began to show as he watched me talk.

"It is, though. I mean I love a good party and any reason to dress up, but I'm such a lazy person, I just wanna be in my pajamas and watch movies. And drink."

He took a step closer to me and smiled beautifully. "Bonnie, you're telling me this stuff like I don't know you. Believe me, I know you." He winked causing my stomach to stir. I bit my bottom lip and returned the smirk that was painted across his face, deciding to keep quiet.

I don't know if it was how blue and sparkly his eyes were in this moment, or how much his smile was hands down my favorite smile in the world, or if it was because I was still reeling in from being dumped a whole 8 days ago; but Steven was looking extra perfect right now and all I really wanted to do was get my hands on him and feel whole again. But there was something inside of me that wasn't so sure if he was that guy. I mean, just two years ago, he wasn't. What's so different this time?

---

Steven's POV:

I didn't think I could ever get here again, here with her. I had spent the last two years outwardly hating her, but secretly still being absolutely in love with her. I couldn't help myself. She was so perfect. She's always been perfect. But I had fucked up and it was blatantly obvious that I had. Bonnie isn't your normal girl. She's different, always has been for as long as I've known her. That's the reason I fell in love with her in the first place. She wasn't the cheerleader, she wasn't the brainiac, she wasn't anything but herself and I loved that.

Our relationship was seemingly perfect. We were going to get married and have the house and have the perfect children and the perfect life, all up until I got around my arrogant friends. I don't know why, but whenever I'm around my friends and some scotch, I can't seem to stop being a fucking asshole. Bonnie wasn't like their girlfriends and fiancee's and wives; she wasn't just sitting there waiting for the money to start rolling in. She had dreams and aspirations and had a passion for something, and a strong-willed woman like that freaks out guys sometimes; but not me.

I wasn't supportive. I wasn't proud of her love for fashion and beauty and lifestyle. At least in front of other people. Why was I so ashamed of her in front of my friends? Something I still beat myself up about to be honest. I lost the one girl that I just knew in my heart that I was going to marry, so I had to react. And, I reacted hatefully. Three months ago, she showed up to the ceremony with this guy on her arm, and it completely broke me. Why him? Why this guy who was a drummer in a band, and barely finished high school? I kept asking myself what Mike had that I didn't. And when I saw her look at him and smile, I lost it. I had to excuse myself from the same group of pals that I had put down Bonnie in front of, to pull myself together.

She didn't ever go to those things with anyone unless it was Nicole. But, some other guy who was supposedly her boyfriend? C'mon, my heart broke all over again. No matter how much it hurt me, I wasn't going to cause a divide between them. She was happy and I had to accept that whole heartedly-- no matter how much it honestly fucking killed me.

Now here I was, here at her place with her closet friends celebrating a holiday. I feel as if it's been a very long time since we've been in the same room for a holiday. I miss that. I miss her. I don't know if she loved Mike, but I do know that she loved me. That had to count for something, right?

Bonnie was chatting with her cousin Lola and Nicole over some glasses of wine. They were laughing about something but all I could truly focus on was how insanely perfect she was. Her all black ensemble hugged at every curve beautifully. Her long hair was curled so well, it bounced. And her smile, most of all, continued to steal hearts as it had stolen mine when we first met.

She was walking in my direction with an empty glass, I'm assuming for more refills. She'd been drinking longer than anyone here, because she insisted that we pre-game before the party began. "Another?" I asked with a wide grin making her laugh.

"Yeah, I should stop right?" Her eyes met mine and they were glazed over in a daze. Along with the excessive amounts of wine, she had a number of shots also. You know, going easy tonight.

"Only if you want. Not like you have to drive home." I replied before taking a sip of my beer.

"You're right. More wine and more shots." She giggled before letting a hiccup come out, informing me that she was getting from buzzed, to tipsy, to drunk pretty quickly. She held her glass steadily as she poured more red wine into it, then closing the top of the bottle back up with the cork. "How come you're not mingling?" She questioned taking a swig of her drink as well.

I shrugged, "I am. Here and there. But you do realize I don't really talk to these people much anymore." That was how I was sometimes. Shy and anti-social.

"Well, talk to me." Bonnie softly placed her hand on my arm, sending chills up my body to be honest. I just wasn't expecting it.

"Okay, well let's start off with one thing; Bonnie, you look absolutely beautiful tonight." I said, coming off more confident than I actually felt.

A light hint of pink touched her cheeks as she smiled brightly. "Steven," She said looking straight into my eyes. "Thank you. You know," She sat on the stool beside me. "I'm really glad you're here. You and I might be best dressed by the way." She laughed, making me mimic her actions.

"Just like we always used to be." I said, not being able to control my eyes from glancing between her eyes and her lips that were painted perfectly with red lipstick. Bonnie looked down and smiled to herself before looking back up at me.

She kept herself quiet after that, not wanting to say much. My flirting was so out there right now that I had to stop. She just got dumped a week ago and here I was. I know myself well enough to know that I'm not that cold-hearted.

---

Steven's POV:

Eventually the party ended and everyone parted ways to their separate homes. I decided to stay and help Bonnie clean up mainly because she was passed out drunk on her couch. I threw all the trash away, recycled all the empty bottles, and put all the leftover food back in the fridge. Stepping into the living room, I saw her sleeping peacefully with alcohol induced dreams. I slipped off her black heels that looked awfully expensive and took her in my arms.

She grumbled at the sudden movement and I stayed silent making my way up the stairs as I recalled them from two years ago. I carefully opened her door with one hand, then quickly returning it back to carrying her. The white lights that were strung up on her walls with personal photos clipped with clothespins on it were the only lights on when I entered her room. Her bed was made perfectly and the clean smell of the white sheets were intoxicating. I gently placed her on her bed, moving the white comforter from beneath her to putting it over her body before getting up and beginning to make my way out of the door. She mumbled something softly to me, making me acknowledge her words in order to understand them. "What?" I asked softly.

"Where are you going?" She asked, her eyes completely shut as she looked at me in the doorway.

"Home." I answered simply.

"No, no. Stay with me please." Bonnie pat the spot beside her twice. Her pleading honestly made my heart want to burst out of my chest, but she was drunk and I didn't want her to wake up tomorrow and regret inviting me to sleep in her bed with her.

I walked back to her bed and she touched my hand, her eyes barely opened. "How about I stay on the couch, okay? I'll be here when you wake up tomorrow."

She nodded softly before turning over to her left side and completely knocking out. I smiled softly before walking out of her room and closing the door as quietly as I could before going back downstairs and kicking off my tan boots. I found the bag that had my sweats and stuff from early and changed into that before getting comfy on the couch and putting the throw blanket over my body for warmth.

We'll see how this goes in the morning.

Notes

Here's a short one for y'all. I'm gonna try and get another update in tomorrow and also try and keep updating this upcoming week.

What are your thoughts on this chapter? Like I said before, Bonnie and Steven are getting closer and closer as the chapters go on. How do you think Mike would feel knowing they have basically been inseparable since he left for tour/ broke up with her? Do you think Bonnie is trying to rebound with Steven or honestly thinking of being with him again. Steven made a point that Bonnie didn't love Mike, but she did love him.

As always, leave your questions/comments/concerns below and keep on reading for answers!

Thank you for reading :)

XO,
Ambs

P.S. There will be a little Mike POV next chapter ;)