The sun flooded in through my curtains, curtain which hadn't been closed the night before, the burning rays stinging my eyes through closed lids. I groaned as I stretched my curled limbs, my head pounding in my ears, making it almost impossible to move, let alone think. Trying to move I found that I was still contained by the tight, spandex material of the little black dress that Sydney had forced me to wear to my party. The fact that I was still in my clothes from the night before, that coupled with the hangover from hell, it was obvious that I had a bit too much last night, though my recollection of last night's events was rather hazy. The vertigo I experienced as I pushed myself upright was overwhelming, and my stomach churned as I tried to grasp ahold of reality; I hadn't had a hangover this bad in a while, not since Vegas, and though I had promised myself I would never drink that much again, I obviously didn't take that to heart.


Shuffling into my bathroom I forced myself out of the constricting fabric, shucking my bra and underwear off before stepping into the shower, allowing the steam that surrounded me to fill my sinuses, relishing in the warmth of the water splashing against my skin. I leaned against the tiled wall, trying with all of my might to stir up memories of my party. I remembered spending the majority of the day at the bar with Tony, before being dragged to the nightclub by him and Sydney; I spent time mingling with my friends, dancing with Mike, and then...then I seemed to draw a blank. Everything else was a blur.


After ringing out my hair I stepped out of the shower, drying my body before wrapping the towel around my hair and sauntering back into my room, tossing on a sweatpants and a Love Before Glory tank top on. My phone buzzed on my bedside table, and I quickly read the text from Tony, replying with 'I'm still alive", and tossing it back on the bed before exiting my room, deciding that I was in need of some coffee, cereal, and a bottle of Ibuprofen.


As I stepped into the living room I jumped, startled to realize that I was not alone, though I immediately recognized the sleeping form that lay curled in a ball on my couch.


I slyly felt the corners of my lips upturn into a slight smile; he always looked so cute when he slept, his hair sticking out every which way, even more than normal, pillow lines etched into his face, his dimples appearing and then disappearing every few minutes.


The smile didn't remain a smile for long; as if on cue the missing pieces of the puzzle from last night came flooding back one by one, and the butterflies in my stomach were replaced with boiling rage.


I brough Jess because she's my girlfriend; because she's someone who admitted her feelings for me from the start.


Hearing Jaime say such a thing literally felt like a knife had been driven directly through my heart. The look in his eyes, the rage within his words, it was enough to make me want to hate him; even though I told him I did, that would never be true, no matter how much I wanted it to be. But, I was angry; furious with him. Furious at him for bringing Jessica to my party, furious at him for even showing up in the first place, furious at him for leaving me broken hearted and feeling like a fool for telling him how I felt.


Jaime stirred a little in his sleep, and I decided that I had had enough, that I wanted him gone. I walked to the side of the couch, grasping his shoulder forcefully and shaking him back and forth. He awoke with a start, sitting up quickly, his eyes wide as he stared at me.


"Rowan..."


"Get out," I barked, pointing towards the front door. He followed my arm, looking briefly at the door before back at me.


"But, Rowan, I-"


"Get the fuck out, Jaime! I don't want you here, don't you get that?"


"C'mon, Rowan, please; we really need to talk." His eyes were begging me, but I wasn't having it, not this time.


"I don't want to talk, Jaime," I hissed, "Just like you didn't want to talk a month ago. Remember that, Jaime? Cause I sure do."


He pushed himself up from the couch, rushing towards me, causing me to stumble back a few feet, the room spinning violently around me.


"What do you want from me? How did you expect me to react, Rowan? I have a fucking girlfriend, and you know that! Yet you still had the nerve to drop this bomb on me and expect me to just go with it? I'm sorry that I didn't give you a chance to explain, but I was a little confused seeing as how I had put myself out there for you three fucking years ago and you shot me down." He was yelling now, his voice booming off of the white-washed walls, most likely waking the neighbors.


"I'm sorry that I can't choose when to love someone, Jaime! I didn't want to tell you; I've been fighting with it for a long time now. Do you think I wanted to hurt you, Jaime? I would never do that. I love you, for Christ's sake. But, last night, what you said in the alley, you wanted to hurt me, you did it on purpose, and friends don't do that to friends. So get out, because I don't want you around me anymore."


He remained in place, and I took a step towards him, placing my hands on his firm chest that was only covered by his undershirt, giving him a forcefully shove. He barely moved, obviously much stronger than me.


"Get out!" I screamed, my face only inches from his. He grabbed my wrist, and I braced myself to be pushed back, but instead I felt a pair of lips on mine, lips I had wanted to feel for so long.


My eyes remained open, shocked that this was even happening. Jaime was rough, my lips barely able to keep up with the quick pace that his had set. Teeth knocked again each other, the kiss so sloppy, forceful; needy. My eyes eventually fell closed, my fingers digging in his muscular back as his moved down to my hips, pulling me flush against him, leaving not an inch of space between the two of us.


After what seemed like an eternity his lips began to slow, and just as I was finally able to savor the moment he pulled away, leaving both of us gasping for air. He rested his forehead against mine, his hands running mindlessly up and down my sides, making me shiver at his gentle touch. His eyes boared into mine, shining with an enamore that I'm sure was also present in mine. I tried to wrap my mind around what had just happened, but it was so quick, so rushed, that I wasn't even able to formulate a single thought.


His lips pressed against mine once more, barely, leaving me begging for more when he pulled away again.


"I love you, Rowan. I always have and I always will."


With those words I finally felt content, all the anger and the pain and the sadness drifting away, leaving my heart filled with a happiness I hadn't known in the longest time.


"I love you, too," I murmured with a smile, pulling his lips back to mine.