100 Oneshots Challenge

[4/100]

NOTE: Thank you again for the awesome reviews! You guys rock! I'm going to try to post these daily until the end of August, when I'm going on a vacation to a foreign country! Then school starts in September, but I try not to think about that because I like the summer too much :)

Enjoy!

~)0(~

Cress's breath was taken away when she walked into the grand palace. It was spectacular! And the ceiling was so tall.

"Look at how tall this place is, Jay!" Cress squeaked to her boyfriend, Jay.

She started going out with Jay recently. It had taken a while for her to start dating again after her first breakup with the one and only Captain Carswell Thorne. After dating for a year, Cress had discovered that Thorne had been cheating on her with another girl. It took time for her heart to heal after that, but it did eventually.

Jay put an arm around her. "I can see that."

They were going to a get together with the old group, and because she and Thorne were the only two not married, they were both allowed to bring one guest. Cress had no idea who Thorne would bring. They both hadn't spoken since their breakup. Probably another "victim" as she liked to call the girls who had felt the same emotions as she had.

They were close to the ballroom, and when Cress looked out the window, the view was almost as gorgeous as the palace itself. It was the golden hour, and the city was bathed in beautiful light. There were no clouds in the sky to ruin the moment.

"Looked how pretty it is," Cress breathed, gesturing for Jay to come to the window. "It's so breathtaking."

"Just like you," Jay responded.

Cress looked at him and smiled. They made it to the ballroom shortly after that.

When the big doors were open, Cress saw that everyone was already there. She grinned and walked over to them, Jay following her.

Iko was the first to notice her. "Cress! You're here, you're here!" Iko exclaimed, jumping up and down. Everyone else turned to her with warm smiles.

"Hey, Cress," said Cinder, who was standing next to Kai. They all gave her words of greeting.

All except Thorne.

She tried her hardest to avoid eye contact with Thorne. She was successful for the most part, but she could still sense the tension between them. Thorne seemed to have not brought a guest, to Cress's surprise. She could've sworn that he'd have ten girls swooning over him only allowed into the palace because Cinder and Kai were so generous.

The conversation between them was nice, everyone having stories to tell to fill up the silence.

The group moved to the dining room for a celabratory feast after catching up.

"Can you belive that storm blew some of Scarlet's roof off?" Cress said to Jay in the hallway.

Jay didn't respond. He was staring at a palace worker in the distance. She carried towels, but the pile didn't hide her high cheek bones, dark eyes, and long glossy black hair. Cress waited patiently for his response, but he continued to stare at her as she passed them.

"Jay?" Asked Cress. "Are you there?"

His head snapped to her. "Of course. And yes."

"Do you even know what I asked?"

"Maybe." His lips pursed. That's what they did when he lied. Cress frowned but let the subject drop.

She looked back quickly, and saw Thorne staring right at them. He quickly looked away when he saw her gaze. Thorne hadn't been talking that much, to everyone's surprise. He usually preferred to be the star of the conversation, as far as Cress knew.

The banquet was delicious. Cress hadn't ever eaten anything so good, and by halfway through the second course, she was already full.

Jay scooted his chair out.

"If you'll excuse me, Cress," Jay murmured before walking out. Cress assumed it was to use the restroom. She had to go too, actually.

Excusing herself, she followed after Jay.

Cress briskly walked down the hall, admiring the architecture, but gasped when she turned the corner. Jay was there, in the hall.

Flirting with the palace worker from before.

Cress didn't know whether to be furious or sad. A mixture of both seemed to churn in her stomach. She couldn't go through a broken heart again. It would break her for who knows how long.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Jay," she said, her voice barely louder thank a whisper. "How could you?"

He turned to her, his eyes widening. "Cress, I-"

Cress didn't hear the end of what he said. She ran down the hall, tears flowing freely. After all this time, when he knew, he knew, that Thorne had done the same thing, he went ahead and did it anyway.

She didn't know where she went, only that it was far away from him. Stopping when her heart began to beat fast and her breathing became deep gasps, she realized she was lost and in a secluded empty hallway.

Sliding down the wall, she allowed herself to cry as loud as she wanted, not even trying to stifle the sobs that escaped her mouth. How could he do that to her!

"Are you alright?" The sudden deep voice startled her, making her jump. She didn't see who it was, only put her head down and nodded.

The stranger sat down next to her. "You don't look alright."

Cress couldn't speak without sobbing all over again, so she just shrugged.

"Why are you sad?"

She sobbed again, and tried her best to say, "I can't speak." It came out muffled, but he seemed to get the message.

"Why did that jerk do that to you?" He said gently.

"Y-y-you kn-o-ow?" She mumbled.

She finally turned to him. Now that she cleared her eyes out, she could see features she'd recognize anywhere. It made her sob more at the thought that he did the same thing.

"Shhhhh. It's okay. You're okay," he cooed. He started rubbing her back.

"You d-did the s-same thing!" She tried to say.

A look of hurt flashed in his eyes. "I know. But... Oh stars, this is hard to say. I'm so sorry, Cress. More sorry than the universe itself. I miss you. I was so stupid then." He paused and looked at her.

"I've grown so much, though. I haven't dated since we broke up, because I only want you. I just hope that you can forgive me someday."

Cress tried to give him a smile. "You still c-care about me?"

"I've never stopped caring for you and never will."

He pulled her into his lap and kissed the top of her head.

"C-Captain?" Cress asked.

"Yes?"

"I think I can forgive you. In f-fact, I already had; b-because I still care about you too."

NOTE: I think I need to stop writing Cresswell. Except I can't.

Please review and tell me what you think!

~Cx3