Chapter 17

• "I-" I tried to say something to completely eradicate her, but nothing came out of my mouth. But I knew she was wrong. How could this even come to her mind?
• "One day, you'll look in the mirror and see it. It's just- before that, I thought we could be together. But it was always her for you, and then I thought we could be mates, and she took that too. And then I thought, since you still don't want her, then it could be me. You could be mine.
• "And today, I know that it isn't possible. I was a fool."
• "Bella," I held her face in my hands, "I don't know why you think that. If I had a choice, I would choose you."
• I pressed my lips against her, and she kissed as good as always, but I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel anything. Her lips moved against mine, but they didn't fit. Her smell didn't drive me insane. I wasn't thinking of a million ways to touch her, she wasn't driving me insane.
• But that was only because she was my mate. If I do reject her...maybe...?
• But still, it was just a kiss with Fiona, the way it should have been with Leah. Maybe she sensed it, maybe she didn't, but she broke it, leaning her forehead against mine.
• "You always had a choice, Pete, and I don't think you realize how much you chose her."
• And like everybody else, she left me alone with my thoughts.
• "Leah? Are you okay?" Kira ran to me as soon as I stepped out of the room. "I heard they locked you inside a closet."
• I watched as Pete took Fioa's hand, and then looked at me. I smiled, because I knew this was going to happen. I knew he would never feel differently, I knew she would be his Luna-
• And I knew this shouldn't hurt me. But it did.
• "Leah!" Kira shook me.
• Harry came over, eyes wide and frantic. "I am so sorry, Leah, I told them that five minutes would be fine, but nobody-"
• "It's okay, Harry, I am okay. And it wouldn't have been your fault."
• I glanced back, but Pete and Fiona had already, disappeared, hand in hand, off together somewhere.
• "Let's just go." Kira said. "I am so sorry, Leah, I should have been there."
• I sighed. "Kira, I love you, but you have to stop thinking you are responsible for me. Please? I am an adult, too, you know."
• Kira looked at me with concern. "I know. But, Pete is nothing short of a monster when it comes to you."
• I smiled at her. "I can handle it. I can now."
• "What even happened inside that closet?" Kira asked, holding my hands.
• "Nothing. Where is Josh?" I never hid anything from her, but this would come with no consequences. It meant nothing. It was nothing.
• She looked at me with narrowed eyes for a few seconds, but then pointed outside. "Get in the car."
• "Let's go!"
• PETE
• The party ended a couple of hours ago, and Gary had been frantically asking for Leah's number, but nobody had it. Unsurprisingly. I had told them all to delete it at the very start of this year. I was the only one who had it, and Gary was adamant on not talking to me at all costs.
• Finally, after all his guests left and I lounged near the swimming pool, drinking shots after shots to stop thinking about what it all meant, he came to me.
• "I cannot believe you did that."
• I closed my eyes. "I did nothing, Gary."
• He kicked me over, but I rolled and got up. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
• "Get out of my house."
• "Gary-"
• "I asked one thing of you. One thing! And you couldn't even do that. How can you not be ashamed of hurting her so much?"
• "I. Did. Not. Hurt her." I stood in front of him. "It was a fucking game. It was a game about kissing. How much could I hurt her in that?"
• He stared at me. "Do you have her number?"
• "No."
• "Don't lie to me."
• I stared at him in return, and his eyes widened. "Why?" He asked curiously.
• "Because what was the point? You don't need to have someone's number to hate them. You don't need to know everything about them. You don't-" I took a deep breath. "-You don't need to know them."
• He checked his watch and grabbed two cans of beer. Sitting down beside me, he handed me one. "Wanna talk?"
• "I thought you hated me?" I asked, raising my eyebrows as I opened my can.
• He rolled his eyes. "No, I am just mad at you. And I can't believe I am saying this, but I do... love you."
• His disgusted expression as he said it made me want to laugh so hard, it was hard to keep myself from laughing loudly. "That wasn't too hard, was it?"
• He took a sip of his beer, and stared at the pool, as the lights glimmered off it. "You have been hiding it for so long, man, don't you think it's time to let it out?"
• "Hiding what?" I asked, knowing fully what he meant.
• "Fine, you'll come at it and tell me one day."
• I smirked at him as I took another sip. He shook his head in exasperation.
• "Pete, what...what are you going to do?"
• "Are you asking me if I'll 'change my ways'?" I quoted. "No."
• He sighed. "Pete."