The last time I remember feeling so happy when I dressed up but this time I didn't feel any. Not even a bit.

I tugged on the neckline of the cream dress that I was wearing, trying to cover up my chest a bit more. The dress was beautiful with a V-neck, fitted at the waist and brushing my knees.

It made me feel like a princess yet I wasn't smiling.

"You look beautiful, my baby." I turned to see my mother behind me, holding something in her hand.

I smiled at her, "Is Mel here yet, Ma?"

"Nope, she'll probably be here soon. I've got something for you." She said, comeing closer to me and placing the small box on the desk.

"What's this?" I asked curiously.

"Something very precious to me," She smiled and flipped open the lid to show me a breathtakingly beautiful gold bracelets with tiny delicate white pearls. "It's beautiful, Ma."

"It is, isn't it?" She murmured as she took it out and gazed at it fondly. "Your dad gave this to me on the day we graduated, designed it himself and made his mother contact the best jewellers to make it." She paused and clasped it onto my wrist, "It was left on my table with a small note, that's when I realised it was a goodbye gift."

"He left you? Why?" I asked, shocked.

"He had a whole life ahead of him in France, he was here just as an exchange student and we just met. I always knew he'd go back. But I just didn't know how soon." She sighed.

"What did you do?"

She scoffed, "That moment I realised two things. One, I was never going to forgive him and two, I was in love with that fool. Your father ruined me for anyone else."

"Six months later, I'm working as an interior designer. And I get a huge offer to renovate a newly purchased mansion, I was so excited and determined to impress this client. And guess who showed up? Cassius Blanchet-Brooks showed up, giving me the same grin he shot me on the first day of Uni. And look where we are now."

"So you forgave him?"

"Not fast ofcourse, there was a lot of begging and grovelling included. Your idiot of a father had gone back because he was scared that he was getting too attached and it took him a while to finally come to his senses. He had settled in America and bought that house for us. This house. He learned hindi so he could impress me and my parents only to know that we didn't even speak it," she let out a laugh, "And finally I took pity on him."

"What I wanted to say,Willow, is that I see myself in you. You don't want to forgive him yet you love him so much, don't you?"

I nodded.

"Then give him a chance, darling, you won't regret it." She said softly and I nodded, a big lump rising in my throat.

"Atleast he's not as stupid as your dad."

I laughed.

"Is Mel here?"

"Right here," a voice came from behind and I turned my head to the side to see Mel standing there looking as beautiful as she always did, clad in a green cocktail dress and gold heels.

"Melantha, darling, you look gorgeous." Ma said, giving a light kiss on her cheek.

"You look beautiful, bitch," I grinned, wiggling my brows. "Hmm, I've seen this shade of green somewhere before,"

The tips of her ears turned bright red and she ducked her head, not meeting my eyes.

Melantha  Mikael is......shy?

"Oh my God, Mela do you like someone?" Ma whisper yelled, her eyes lightning up.

"Uh-"

"His name is Zach, Ma."

"Zach? Does he go to your university?"

"Yeah, he is Azrael's best friend, studies Med. Age 22, based in New York. And he's got a HUGE crush on Mel. Like he's always looking at her like a love sick puppy and he doesn't even try to hide it."

Mel turned even red.

"Do you have a photo?"

Typical Indian moms. Sigh.

"N-" I tapped on my Instagram account and went to his profile, shoving a picture of him and Mel that he had posted.

Ma clapped her hands excitedly, "He's so handsome."

"That he is. Did you see his jawline? Zoo wee mama." I fanned my face, trying to annoy Mel.

"Oh, and those eyes. Prettiest I've ever seen. And that hair. Swoon."

Should I be worried that my mother seems like she reads romance novels?

"But who is that girl with him? Quite a looker, that one." She said slyly.

Mel stiffened,"A girl?"

"Mhm. Wanna see?"

She grabbed my phone from me and I saw her eyes soften, "I didn't know he had a photo of us together." She mumbled.

"You would've if you had an account."

"Instagram is boring."

I rolled my eyes, "And darling? He has a million photos of you."

"Let me see."

"Nope."

"Willow Rose Brooks. You little s-"

____________

We stopped in front of the party venue. My breath quickened and my hands were suddenly clammy. I was going to see him.

"Will, you okay?" Mel asked worriedly.

"I don't know."

"Do you trust me?" She asked, looking intently at me.

"Ofcourse." I said, without missing a beat.

"Then come with me," she said extending her hand and I took a deep breath, placing my hand on hers and we got out of the car.

I couldn't help but gawk at the beautiful arrangements, the whole place decorated with white and red flowers. We spotted Rachel and Leith laughing and talking with a couple of friends and family. We moved towards them but I stopped short when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I turned around to see a pretty brunette, "Hi, do I know you?" I asked her politely.

"Y-yeah, kind of. I'm Alicia." She said nervously.

Alicia.

"I'm sorry but I don't know you."

"I'm the girl you think Azrael cheated with."

Mel's hand tightened on mine as she pulled me out of her grip, her eyes blazing with uncontrolled anger.

"You want me to have a little chat with her?" She asked quietly, stepping around me and glaring at her. Alicia cowered back even though she had a few inches on Mel.

"Mel, it's fine." I reassured her and stepped to the side,

"Alicia."

"Willow, please let me explain."

"Why should I?"

"Because I don't want any misunderstandings between you and Azrael."

I nodded my head at her to continue.

"You want me to stay or go?" Mel nudged me.

I tightened my grip on her.

She squeezed my hand in return and stared at Alicia.

"You know Gray?"

"Azrael's friend?"

"Yeah, Gray and I were neighbours and good friends when we were kids and we still hungout a lot when we're both home and then one day the rest of his friends came to his place and I saw Azrael. I-I was attracted to him and I asked Gray for his number. Though he was reluctant at first he gave it. And I started texting him," I sucked in a sharp breath.

He really did cheat, didn't he?

"And then I fell in love with him. We were planning to meet and that's when I got a call. From you. And my whole world fell apart. I had fallen in love with the man I was texting and he already had a girlfriend who loved him dearly."

Who loves him. A girlfriend who still loves him.

She took a deep breath.

"Imagine my surprise when Gray calls me within a few hours and I thought he was going to just try to console me or something but he told me that Azrael was not the one texting me. It was him. He told me that he'd been in love with me for years and then when I asked him for Azrael's number he gave me another one of his numbers. Azrael never cheated. He loves you too much to lose you."

I didn't know what to say, what to feel. All I felt was that crash of guilt and regret.

Mel's grip tightened on my hand.

"I- thank you." I said, quickly excusing myself before I could cry in front of her.

I needed to find Az. But at the same time I didn't want to. How am I going to face him again? Az will never forgive me.

I know I wouldn't if I was in his place.

I should probably just leave him, he deserves someone better, someone who does not jump into conclusions like me, someone who trusts him blindly. He deserves so much more.

"Go find him." Melantha murmered.

"I can't. I can't face him, Mel."

"Look, I don't know what will happen tonight but if you don't go and face him, you'll regret it till your last breath. If you go and face him now, even if he doesn't take you back atleast you wouldn't feel guilty. Men like Azrael are hard to find, Will." She said.

It was true. Men like Az were practically non existent.

"Find him."

And just like that I was pushing through the large crowd to find the boy with the bluest eyes I've ever seen and fallen in love with.

I found him on the stool in front of the open bar. 

My breath quickened as I saw him, he was staring at the glass of what looked like whiskey in front of him. He had definitely lost weight, his eyes had sunken and he spotted dark circles. It seemed as if the man in front of me carried the weight of the world on his slumped shoulders.

But he was still the most beautiful man I'd ever laid my eyes on.

"Az...." I breathed.

He stiffened and slowly turned towards me. His face blank and that twinkle in his eyes missing.

He did not look like the Az I know and love.

"A-are you drunk?" I asked timidly, slowly approaching him.

He suddenly burst out laughing, though it lacked warmth.

"I didn't think I was but I must be if I'm imagining you again, love."

Oh, God.

"Az, it's really me."

He blinked. Several emotion passed through his face all at once. Surprise, adoration, and then anger. Then he schooled his features into that blank mask but this time it was one of thinly veiled anger.

"What do you want?" He asked me coldly.

"I-I talked to Alicia." I mumbled feebly, tears building up.

"And?"

"She told me everything. I'm so s-sorry, Az, I should have listened." I whispered, moving closer to him and gently touched his hollowed cheek.

He looked pained.

"Please forgive me. I'm not saying you should forgive me now but some day in the future, if you can." I swallowed.

He'll never forgive me. I know that.

It was clearly over.

But I couldn't help but duck my head, kissing him softly one last time.

He stilled, not doing anything. I drew back and lightly pecked his cheek, it was obvious he was done with me. And it stung like a bitch.

"I love you, always remember that."

He and I both knew the hidden words in that statement.

Goodbye.

He stumbled away from me and stared. I finally gained the courage to voice out what I feared was true, "This is the end of us, isn't it?" I whispered, aware that my face was now filled with that silver of hope that I desperately clung onto.

He scoffed and turned on his heels, walking away from me without a backward glance.

I stood there alone for what felt like an eternity with tears running down my cheeks and a heart destroyed beyond any repair.

Because he was the only one who could and now he was gone. Because of me.

I rushed outside the venue and I picked up my phone to call Mel to get out of this place. But then I remembered that she was probably with Zach, enjoying the night. I didn't want to spoil it and moreover I didn't want even Mel to see me like this.

The people in the bus stared as I got down and I couldn't really blame them. It was not everyday you saw a girl all dressed up, with mascara and tears running down her cheeks.

I walked silently to my house and sneaked in.

Almost a year back, I had sneaked into this very house after I met him for the first night with a big smile on my face and now I'm sneaking in again, seeing him for the last time.

The irony if it all.

I closed the bedroom door behind me gently, and removed the bracelet that Ma had given me, placing it back in it's case. And that was all I had the energy to do as I slumped onto my bed.

This is it. The end of me and Azrael.

A few months back I was his everything but now I'm nothing. Not even worth a goodbye.

And just like that I was crying silently into my pillow again and eventually closed my eyes thinking of a man with cerulean eyes.

__________________

I woke up feeling warm. Groaning, I remembered that I had still not changed from my dress.

I looked at the clock.

3:00 AM.

And that was when I felt something on my chest, something heavy and alive and breathing.

It can't be.

I can't get my hopes high again. I was probably dreaming. It was a nice dream nonetheless.

But I still looked down at the mop of dark, unruly hair. One I was so familiar with. I combed it with my fingers, I felt so real.

He hummed contentedly and I immediately froze.

This is real. He is real.

He's here. Az.

"Az? Is that you?" I asked disbelievingly.

He looked up at me with an adorable sleepy smile and twinkling eyes,

"You're dumb if you ever thought I'd leave you, love."

_________________

Hey guys sorry for the late chapter.

I had my exams and all, so we just have one more chapter to go which is the epilogue!!

I'm kinda sad tbh.

Anyway, do you guys want bonus chapters?? If you do what would you like to see??

XxAelinAsh.