Okay guys, here it is! I have to say that I really, really loved writing this chapter. Let me know what you guys think! :)
"Well...I was here about 8 months ago we went out for my birthday and ran into Caleb…literally."
"It made for a very awkward night...let me just tell you." Jen said
"Oh, I can only imagine." Aria agrees with a lift of her eyebrows, no doubt relating to her Liam/Ezra situation.
Hanna can't help the smile that creeps over her face when she can feel him before she hears or sees him.
"Excuse me ladies, you mind if I steal the bride away for just a few minutes? I will bring her back, I promise." he asks as he walks up behind her and puts the back of Hanna's chair, his fingers barely grazing her naked shoulder and it makes shivers run down her spine.
"Of course we care." Spencer says as she tries to keep her stern face straight
"Me and the guys are fixing to leave to head on somewhere else, and I wanted to snag a slow dance with the most beautiful girl in this place before we did."
"I'm just kidding. You two lovebirds go on somewhere."
Hanna turns around to face him, her face blushed and she takes his hand and they make their way onto the dance floor.
As the song stops the DJ's voice booms through the speakers "Okay, it would appear that not only do we have the bachelorette party in the house…but we also have the groom and his bachelor party in here as well." He stops as the crowd of people start to hoop and yell "And the groom as asked to have a slow song played, just so that he can dance with his soon to be wife, and here at Murphy's, we try to make everyone happy so…we're gonna slow it down…just for soon to be newlyweds."
They take a spot in the crowd near the center of the dance floor and she wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him close. He wraps his around her waist and smiles a smile that almost makes her too weak in the knees to dance as 'All of Me' begins to play through the speakers and they slowly begin to move.
They watch as one by one every other person on the dance floor moves and leaves only the two of them dancing, with all eyes on them. Hanna's eyes fill with tears as she looks around and everybody in the bar stops to watch them. Most of the girls are tearing up like she is, and couples stand with their arms wrapped around each other. She laughs through her tears and turns her attention back to him as he stands his eyes only on hers.
"So, you're getting married next week I hear?" he asks playfully.
"I am. This time next week I will be Mrs. Caleb Rivers" she says and the smile creeps up onto her face as stares into his deep brown eyes
"Mrs. Caleb Rivers…that has a damn fine ring to it if you ask me" he says as he returns her smile "So, what's he like…your fiancé…?"
She giggles at his playfulness "He is…my tall, dark and handsome. He is the love of my life, my very best friend, and every single wish I have ever made come true. He has had my heart since I was 17, and he always will…until I am like, 117." they both laugh and he looks down and back up at her "Leaving him standing in our apartment 3…almost 4 years ago was the biggest mistake I have ever made…but having him back, it's the greatest gift I have ever been given. I never plan on making that mistake again. Where he goes, I will go because, he's…home."
Caleb chokes back what looks like tears in his eyes and chuckles "Lucky bastard."
They laugh again and she looks at him questioningly "Did you know about this? About them bringing me out tonight and having the girls in town?"
"Yeah, I did actually…the guys came into town too…they wanted to surprise you so they begged me not to say anything…and you don't know how hard it is to keep something like that a secret when it comes to you." they laugh again as they continue their slow circle in the middle of the dance floor. "I didn't know that you would be coming here though, or I would've made plans to go elsewhere…which I should've done anyway considering the circumstances."
"You don't have to leave…it won't ruin my bachelorette party. I would rather spend the night with you around anyway." she says as lays her chin on his shoulder "I'm sorry if Jordan ruined your night…what was that all about?"
"Nah, he didn't. He bought us some beers…told me congratulations…it was a little awkward, but he's a decent guy…can't hate on him, at least not now. I know why he's so messed up…I feel sorry for him, I've been there…done it. You're a hard girl to shake Hanna Marin."
"Rivers. Hanna Rivers." she whispers
"Yeah, I can't wait to be able to call you that." He says as the song comes to an end.
As they pull apart they look around at the crowd and there is hardly a dry eye in the place; everyone claps and wipes their eyes. Hanna can feel her face heat as her cheeks turn red with all eyes on her. Caleb grabs her hand and she glances over at him as he looks at her and brings her hand to his lips, kissing her finger just above her engagement ring. She can feel the hair at the nape of her neck prickle at the touch of his lips to her skin.
They move off of the dance floor and walk back to the table hand in hand. As they reach table, she notices that Toby has made his way over to join Spencer and Ezra stands with his arms wrapped around Aria at the table. Emily and Alison sit side by side with their arms link together, and Hanna knows that they are holding hands under the table. She smiles and then gives them a shocked look as she sees what is going down.
"Looks like I am not the only one that has some explaining to do." she says as she makes her way back to the table. She points between Aria and Spencer "When did this all happen?"
"Hey, tonight isn't about us…it's about the two of you." Toby says with a grin
"Yeah, and the fact that I feel like I just watched the most romantic movie ever watching you two dance out there…I mean, I read books, and nothing has ever touched me the way that did." Aria says as she wipes her eyes.
"Imagine how their wedding day will be" Spencer says back to her and she flashes a smile to them.
Hanna looks up at Caleb and he smiles down at her and kisses the top of her head. She walks up to sit down on her bar stool and Caleb stands behind her and looks towards the other two guys "You two about ready?"
They shake their heads and start to say goodbye to the other girls. Hanna turns around to face Caleb "Where are you going to go?"
"I don't know. We have to go get Jamie, he had to work late so we're heading to pick him up and then I don't know where we are going to go." he says as he rubs her knuckles with his thumb "I will see you back at the apartment?"
Hanna play pouts at him "Are you sure I can't persuade you to stay?"
He laughs and kisses her forehead again "Oh you don't know how tempting that is…but you need some girl time so you have fun and be careful. Text me later?" he asks
"Of course." she whispers to him
He leans down and kisses her lips and her whole body shakes from the inside out. She keeps her eyes closed as she leans his forehead against hers.
"I cannot wait to marry you Hanna Marin." he whispers back.
"Rivers. Hanna Rivers" she whispers back as she smiles
"Hey guys…still here." Jen calls out and they pull their attention away for each other and notice everybody staring at them.
Caleb laughs and rounds up the other guys before leaving the bar. Hanna watches them through the window as they hop into a cab and speed off.
The girls all exchange looks at each other before Erin finally says "Yeah, I am definitely going to need that run down because you two…wow."
The rest of the group shakes their head yes in agreement as Alyssa picks up the champagne bottle from the bucket and starts pouring them around glass full.
"Where was I? Oh yeah, so we stroll in here for a girls night birthday get together and get up there, I make a total ass of myself singing because at this point I don't really care because...I don't know any of these people...I'll never see them again, right? We get down and Alyssa and I go to the bar from drinks and we bump into Caleb...in all his tall dark and handsome glory...this one" she says as she points to Alyssa across the table "had never met Caleb...knew nothing about us...and she wanted me to hook them up after she found out we knew each other." she said with a laugh.
"Hey, in my defense...you said he was just an old friend from back home, okay!" she playfully scorns and it makes everybody Hanna included.
"Right, like I could really say 'Oh this is Caleb, the love of my entire life...don't mind this ring on my finger from my fiancé'? Anyway, they drag me up on stage to sing another song after I have already seen him...not just any song...the 'Always be My Baby' Mariah Carey song...you know the one you should only sing in the car or shower...anyway..I get up on stage, have a total freak out moment and run out of the bar. Caleb being the absolute adorable gentleman he is comes to find me to check on me and we chat...he finds out about Jordan and he leaves the bar. I spent the rest of the night drinking and dancing and drinking...and drinking...and guess who ends up drunk and heartbroken? Spoiler alert! Me."
"It was the most awful thing I have ever seen. She was pitiful." Erin throws in as Hanna stops to take a sip of her drink.
"Tell me about it...a Haleb breakup was the worst." Spencer says in agreement "And I don't know who is more miserable...him or her...you should've seen him in Europe. It was awful."
Hanna almost chokes on her drink and looks at Spencer "Excuse me, did you just say Haleb?"
"Yeah. All couples have names. Brangelina, Benifer, Robsten, Kimye...Haleb..." Spencer explains.
"Haleb...Haleb" she repeats over and over as if testing the word "I pretty much love it. You're good Spence." Hanna says with a smile and another drink from her cup. She holds her hand up and swallows "That HAS to be in our wedding hashtag." she says as she begins to think of how she can use it.
The wedding hashtag is something that they have disagreed on over the last couple months. He did not want one; he thought that it was a really dumb detail actually. She insisted on it since they along with all the wedding party would be wearing from her designer's upcoming line, it would make for good marketing; he gave in of course, saying that as long as she was happy with it, he wouldn't make a big deal about it.
"Oh! What about #HalebEverAfter!" Aria announces excitedly.
"Leave it to the writer to come up with the hashtag" Ali says deadpan and it makes everyone laugh.
"Right?! So, when we leave here I get into the cab and here is where it all gets a little fuzzy. I made the cab driver pull over when I see him walking from Jamie's apartment to his hotel, that part I remember but what I said to him...well actually screamed at him is the fuzzy part...which apparently is brought on by whiskey...did anyone of you know that? Because he did...and it was really weird. I should know these things...but then again he does know me better than I know myself..." she says as she trails off lost in her thoughts about the night.
"Anyway he ends up having to take me home and take care of me because that is just how Caleb is...he's so protective...and loving...and sweet...anyway, getting sidetracked...we had dinner the next night as a thank you to him for having to deal with me. We really connected...it was like we used to be and it was like we both really knew that we were just meant to be together. The next morning I went to Jordan's and broke off our engagement...I went to tell Caleb and he was gone." she says as she thinks back to the day.
"Everyone still with me? Because this is where it gets good." she says as she looks up at them and they all sit around in a circle, attentive to her story.
"So I raced back to my apartment to see if he was there and he wasn't but he had left a message on my machine that said 'Hey Han, it's me...ah Caleb. I had information look up your landline...look I uh, I had to run back to D.C. first thing this morning. Yeah, I uh...I have to go...look, just call Jamie. He knows all the details...I'm. uh...I'm not running...I promise. I gotta go, just call him, please.' So of course you know I only listened to a few select words of that and started to panic. It took me three hours of nonstop crying before I realized he said the words 'I'm not running' in the message." she says as she lets her mind go back to that day as she tells them the story.
She laid on the couch sobbing into the throw pillow that stayed on the couch.
Why did he leave? What could be so important to throw us away…again?
When the thought finally hits her she sits straight up on the couch and walks over to the machine to play the message again. This time the words "I'm not running" ring in her ears and fill her lungs with air as she begins to cry. She stands there for a few minutes before she jumps in the directions of her phone to call Jamie. She scrolls through her contacts looking for his number and coming up empty handed.
"I don't have his number" she says to herself "I DON'T HAVE HIS NUMBER." she yells at her phone, waiting for it to answer her.
She begins to panic as she paces the living room floor trying to figure out what to do next. Then she stops when the thought comes to her head.
I'll just go over there…
She grabs her keys and her phone and walks back out the door and hits the stairs. When she reaches the street she examines the traffic and realizes that she would get there quicker on foot, so she turns to her left and makes her way down the sidewalk towards Jamie's apartment. She walks as quickly as she can with the sidewalks as crowded as they are. She zips through the people offering an 'Excuse me' when needed.
She has only made it a few blocks from her building before her phone buzzes in her pocket. Pulling it out she does not recognize the number and debates answering before she finally slides it open and throws it to her ear
"Hello?"
"Han. Oh thank god you still have the same number." he says and his voice makes her slow down her pace.
"Caleb? Oh my god. I was going to call Jamie but I didn't have his number so I am on my way to his apartment now. I have been so worried. Is everything okay?" she asks as she throws her fingers over her other ear so she can hear him.
"Yeah, I uh I think so…" he says then he turns silent before he finally sighs into the phone "Say you love me Hanna. Please."
"What-What are you talking about?" she asks confused.
"Say that you love me…please. I've done an impulsive thing…and you know I don't do impulsive. I uh, I watched your video diaries last night and I uh...I didn't watch all of them because I quite frankly can't watch you cry that many times in a row so I watched a few and I skipped to 658 like you said…after I was done I laid in the bed and I thought about where we would be if I had waited for you…and I realized that we would probably be married by now if I hadn't have ran. I know why you said you are so sick and tired of me leaving you…and I don't want to run anymore Han. So I checked out of my room and caught the last flight out to D.C. and I quit my job." He stops to take a breath.
She opens her mouth to say something but cannot find her voice before he continues
"I went to my apartment and packed up everything I could fit into my Jeep and I drove as fast as I could back here. I don't know what I am going to do about a place to live…or a job but I know that I'm tired of running…I am tired of away from you Hanna, so this time I am running to you, so please tell me that you love me." he says as he chuckles and Hanna can tell he is fighting tears.
She stops in the middle of the sea of people and her hand flies over to her mouth as her eyes get blurry with tears. She tries to speak but she can't force herself to speak.
"Before I left I stood, looking out the windows of my hotel…looking down at the busy street. I watched the cars as they would stop and then would go and then would honk when they couldn't go anywhere. I hate this city Han. I hate it. I hate the traffic and I hate the noise…but it somehow feels like home when I am here, and it's because you're here…and that makes me love it…because I love you. I hate demanding bosses that make you have landlines so they can get in touch with you at all hours of the day and night…I hate landlines because fiancés call landlines and leave messages while I am pouring my heart out to you…but you have both and I'm okay with that, because I love you. And I hate that I ran away because now, all I want to do is be with you…" he chuckles again "I chuckles again "I uh, I don't know what else to say but…god, even in my hoodie…you're beautiful…with your hair pulled up on top of your head like that."
Hanna stands still at the crosswalk and she turns her back to wipe the tears from her eyes before she speaks "Caleb, I..." she whispers before he cuts her off
"Have I said yet how much I hate this city and its stupid crosswalks that keep me on one side the street away from you when all I want to do is wipe your tears away and kiss your lips…because I love you."
Hanna gasps and spins around towards the street, and their eyes lock. He stands waiting to cross the busy street his cellphone up to his ear. She laughs and cries all at once.
"Hi." he whispers into the phone when their eyes meet across the busy street
"Hi" she sobs back into the phone and looks at him. She wipes her eyes "Caleb, I-"she starts but stops when he shakes his head from side to side.
"Hold that thought…3…2…1" he says as the light turns white letting them walk across the street.
He steps off the sidewalk and she does to. Before she can stop herself she takes off running towards him. He puts his phone into his pocket and when she reaches him she launches herself into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist right in the middle of the four lane road. She grabs her face and pulls it to hers and their lips meet, making all her arms immediately break out into chill bumps.
The crowd walks around them, leaving them in their own world, totally consumed in each other. The light turns red and the sigh starts to blink 3…2…1 before the stop is displayed in red. They stay here until the cabs in the lanes beside them honk and pull them out of their own little world. Caleb puts her down and grabs her hand as they run out of the middle of the street, letting the traffic pass by.
When they reach the sidewalk he turns back to her "You were saying?"
"I was saying…I love you Caleb Rivers. I have loved you since the day I sat next to you in detention. I have loved you this whole time we were apart, I love you…I will always love you."
He wraps his arms around her and picks her up, swinging her around in a circle making her laugh.
"I love that sound…your giggle…and I want to hear it for the rest of my life. I love you Hanna Marin." he whispers as he leans down to kiss her again.