A/N: This chapter is smutty. Be warned! LE-MON!

Vince's POV

I played right into her hand. I hurt the girl I love because I was too stupid to see through her tricks.

I threw the basketball in my hands up in the air and catch it in my hands as I lay on the couch, wallowing in my depression. Tears well in my eyes knowing that Gretchen almost died because of my existence.

I hurt the only girl I've ever wanted. It's my fault she almost died. I'm no good for her. She'd be better off without-

The doorbell rings. I choose to ignore it because I'm not in the mood for any company at the moment. Then the doorbell rings again and again. Then I hear someone pounding on the door rapidly.

"Shit! I'm coming. Calm your ass. And don't be knocking my door like I owe you mon-"

The words die on my lips as I open the door to Gretchen. She was dressed in an off the shoulder gray pullover and black leggings tucked into her Ugg boots. Her auburn hair is pulled away from her face in a messy top knot and her glasses are perched upon her face. She looks beautiful.

I'm stunned silent. Then she opens her mouth and asks "Are you going to stare at me all night or invite me in? I just came out of the hospital, you know?" Her voice. God, I missed it...

I look at her and realize I haven't made any movements in the last couple of minutes. The events of the day flashed at the forefront of my mind. I have to stay away from her to keep her safe.

"Hey Gretch. I'm glad you're okay and all but I really want to be alone right now. I hope you understand." I say to her, feigning callous disregard. I attempt to close the door but she pushes her way in.

"BULLSHIT! Vince, I've known you since kindergarten and dude, my IQ is 185. I can tell your bull when I hear it." Gretchen says with anger marring her features. Look at that little wrinkle on her nose when she makes the angry face. She's so sexy. Wait! I need to get her the hell out of-

"ANSWER ME VINCE! What the hell is wrong with you?" she screams.

"Gretch, you don't get it. I can't be around you anymore. I'm no good for you. If you only knew the thi-"

"I know. I know what Ashley A. and Lawson planned. The guys told me. But what the hell does that have to do with you and me?"

I grow frustrated. "DON'T YOU GET IT GRETCH? They hurt you because of me! Because that selfish bitch wanted me! You were hurt because of that and it could've been so much worse! That shit could happen all over again. I won't let you get hurt because you just want to be my friend!"

She gets right in my face and yells "Maybe I just don't want to be your friend!"

I stagger back from her, a hurt look plastered on my face. "W-what?" She already sees that I'm not worthy. She doesn't want to be around me anymore.

"Vince, how dense can you be? You saved my life! You sat vigil by my bedside for so long the doctors thought we were engaged! You defended me, cared for me, hung out with me! You make me laugh and smile all the time! You always know how to make me feel better! I don't want to be your friend anymore because I LOVE YOU!"

She WHAT! Do something, you shy mother fucker! She's waiting!

I march up to Gretchen and lower my lips to hers. She places her hand on the back of my head and deepens the kiss even more. I nibble at her lower lip, begging for entry because I'm dying to taste her. She opens her lips to me willingly and I slip my tongue inside. She taste like spearmint and something entirely sweet that it can only be classified as Gretchen. The passion of our kiss builds until we are forced to separate when the need for air arises.

I place my forehead against hers and whisper "I love you too."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispers back, eyes glistening with tears.

I look into her eyes and see the vulnerability and innocence within them, clouded by the unmistakable sign of love. I had to tell her the truth.

"I thought I wasn't good enough for you. You're a genius and I'm just a dumb jock who owes his mediocre GPA to you. I thought you deserved a smart guy who'd understand you and your passions for science. I wasn't worthy of you and I'm still nowhere near close."

She pulls away from me with a pained expression. "Is that the type of person you think I am Vince? Don't you ever tell me what you think I deserve! I want you and I love you! A smart guy, yeah we could talk science and smart shit. But will he ever treat half as good as you do? Will he care about me the same? Will he save me from harm? Will he go out of his way to make me feel better? No. That's why I love you and I want to be with you. I thought I wasn't cool enough for you and that my 'geek' label would bring you down. If anyone is undeserving, it's me."

I brought my hands to Gretch's face and cupped it in my hands. "I'm sorry baby. I was wrong. You're not that type of person to judge others, especially based on their intelligence. I was just too stupid to have faith in you and to realize that you were perfect and perfect for me. But, baby, don't you ever think you are undeserving of me! You're beautiful, intelligent, kind, gentle, and funny with a bit of fire to make you just damn near perfect. The fucked up high school idea that you're not 'cool' enough for me is just BULL! I want you more than anything and no one can tell me anything. I almost lost you. I was willing to throw this crazy, fucked up love we have away to protect you! And I'm an idiot for that. I got you, finally, and nothing but Death itself is gonna take me away from you baby."

Tears begin to stream down Gretchen's face. "Vince, I love you so much and I'm so glad that you know, finally. In that hospital bed, hearing you brought me back and it brought me home which I'm starting to think is right here in your arms. I've loved you for years and nothing is taking us away from each other ever again." She gently brushed her lips against mine.

My heart soared from her words. I went from almost distancing myself from her to having her safe in my arms. No other miracle could be better than this.

Our sweet and innocent kiss took on more passion. Our tongues, battling for dominance, and our bodies were moving into one another. I felt her body turning weak and quickly slid my hands to her thighs and lifted her into my arms. Her legs locked around my waist as I pushed us both into the nearest available surface: the wall.

Gretch broke the kiss, gasping for breath and whispered "Vince, I w-want you." I laughed and replied "Anyway you want me baby!"

She let out the most adorable giggle and looked up at me with nervous eyes. I brought one of my hands to her face and stroked it tenderly. "Hey sweetheart, tell me. I love you and I'm yours. You can tell me anything."

She said the words softly but with assurance. "I-I want you to make love to me."

I'm dreaming. I have to be dreaming. She can't be ser –

"V-Vince, make love to me."

"Are you sure? I'd never force you into anything you weren't ready for. I've waited forever for you so don't worry, I'll wait for you." I said before brushing my lips lightly against hers.

Gretchen looked up at me with glistening eyes and spoke with her voice cracking. "Vince, I want to do this. When L-Lawson tried to r-rape me, he took power away from me. He almost took away my choice about my virginity. I want my strength back. Whether we blessed with forever or not, I want to know that being with you was my choice. I want to be happy with the fact that I shared this moment with someone I love that loves me. No one can ever take that choice from me."

Her words pierce my heart and I know she's serious. I hold her in my arms and look deep into her eyes. Love. Pure unadulterated love.

I brush my lips against hers and wordlessly carry her upstairs into my bedroom. The room is neat and clean, devoid of any lingering boy smell. I lay her down on the bed and whisper in her ear "Thank you. For this. For loving me. For choosing me. Thank you."

I nipped at her lower lip and led a trail of kisses from her lip and all over her face where the small scar on her lip echoed the memories of her previous battles. The battles that brought us here together. My kisses continued down her jaw and to the sensitive line of her neck. I nuzzled her ear and whispered "You're beautiful baby. And you're mine."

After what seemed an eternity, I pressed my lips to the exposed skin along her chest and collarbone. Her fingers gripped at my hair as my hands crept up under her pullover and camisole, shaking fingers dancing across her ribs and inching ever so slowly to where I wanted them most, but I didn't touch her there yet. Instead I pushed up her pullover and camisole and she sat up and raised her arms, letting me draw the fabric from her body.

I took in the beauty that was Gretchen. Her hair was splayed across my pillow, wearing only a bra and tights, with her skin flushed red. I felt timid and unworthy to touch her. I felt like I was losing my own virginity all over again, nervous and unsure.

"Baby, is everything okay?" she says as she tenderly strokes my cheek.

"Yes. I'm just realizing that although this may not be my first time, it matters more to me than any time I've ever had before. I'm nervous and unsure because it holds so much importance now that it's you. Before, I was straight fucking. Now I'm making love and I'm terrified of what to do." I said honestly.

She looks me in the eyes carefully then smiles one of her broad smiles that she saves just for me. "My Vince. Don't worry. We're both nervous so we'll both figure out what to do. All that matters in this moment is you and I, two people in love joining together."

I smile and press my lips against her. She slides her hands underneath my shirt and pulls it over my head, adding it to the growing pile of clothes on the floor.

Gretchen's POV

With trembling fingers, Vince reaches around my body and drops my bra to the floor. He stares at my newly exposed breasts as if he were transfixed at the sight before him.

I'm about to call him into action until I feel something warm and wet enclose around my nipple. He fastened on to my nipple, and I moaned. My moans came out deeper and fuller when he drew my nipple into his mouth. I arched my body up to his lips inviting him to kiss me and suck me harder. He wouldn't, though. He kept up his gentle assault on my body until I was arching my body as close as humanly possible towards him.

"Vince, please!" I begged. I wasn't all too sure what I was even begging for. Vince looked up at me and smirked. He brought our lips together in a tender kiss while sliding his hand up my stomach and to my breast. He rolled his thumb over my nipple, eliciting breathy cries. He watched me squirm, arching my back, pushing my breast into his hand.

Vince began sliding his hand down the front of my body, sending my nerves into frenzy from his sensitive touch. He slips his hand underneath my leggings until his fingers were between my legs. I drew in my breath sharply. "Is this okay?" I nodded my head and attempted to speak, but all that came out was a breathless moan.

He rubbed me gently, watching my face as his fingers explored my sensitive flesh. I twisted my body, pumping my hips, asking him silently to slide his finger inside me. He chuckled at my actions, finally slipping his finger inside of me as I moaned relief for finally getting what I wanted. I turned my face to him once more, and he kissed me deeply, muffling my cries, swirling his tongue with mine while his finger did something quite similar down below. I bucked my hips against his hand until the tightening I felt in my lower abdomen was released.

My vision turned white and I saw the world in a multitude of colors. My body shuddered as a wave of pleasure came over me. I was falling into an incomparable state of euphoria and bliss that could only be the work of Vince. My Vince.

He left a series of butterfly kisses all along my jaw and down my neck before returning to my lips. I let out a contented sigh after he released my lips.

I playfully nipped his ear and whispered "What was that and how can I have one of those again?"

He let out a laugh and said "That was the magic that belongs to the two of us. And as one for when you can feel it again, I'm aiming for a few more tonight and millions during the rest of our lifetime."

I giggled at his admission and decided to do some exploring of my own. I slid my hands under his shirt and he shuddered at my touch. My hands grasped the hem of his shirt and pulled it up and off his body. I ran my hands along the planes and contours of his body. I could feel his muscles contract against my touch and I reveled in the power of tempting my man. Sliding my hands down his abs, I placed a tentative hand in the bulge in his shorts.

"Oh fuck Gretch...that feels so fucking good. Yes...wait...no baby you don't have to do this."

He saw the hurt look that flashed across my eyes and pressed tender kisses along my neck as he whispers "Baby, you touch me like that again, it'll be over because we get to do a damn thing. I'm too keyed up to come anywhere but inside you. We have all the time in the world to learn about each other's bodies. Tonight is all about your power. Your control. Your first time. And it's all about you." he whispered against my lips.

He slowly slid my leggings off my body and began trailing kisses down. I was completely bare before Vince. Self-consciousness started to seep in and I attempted to cover myself.

"Gretch, stop. Whatever you're thinking, just stop it. You're absolutely gorgeous, better than every fantasy I attempted to conjure up about you. You, all mused up, hair spread against my pillow is beautiful and is only for me. That's the best gift I could ever imagine."

Awwww. "You know just what to say and you're too sweet. I love you Vince." I said with a watery smile "Next you'll have me crying over here."

"Only crying I'm aiming for is you crying my name out of your mouth." Vince says laughing. I can't help but laugh too. It amazes me. Even while we're making love, we can still be us. Perfect together.

He resumed his exploration down my body. I felt as if I was on sensory overload from the sensations of his lips caressing every part of my body.

"Oh!" My eyes snapped open, and my body jerked when I felt his tongue run the length of my folds.

"What are you doing?" Oh, my God. That felt awesome. If I weren't so embarrassed, I would grab him by the head to keep him there.

"I'm tasting you, all of you. All I need from you is to lay back and enjoy yourself sweetheart." Vince says as he kisses my inner thigh, sending shivers up my spine.

The pleasure was immense. "It's too good. Baby I can't. I can't anymore." I say my voice unrecognizable.

He lifted his head and said "You can and you will". Then he buried his face back between my thighs. His tongue licked the length of me and then he sucked on my clit. Every ounce of energy and desire in my body pooled between my legs, and I knew that something was building inside of me. My nipples were hard, and Vince twirled his fingers against one hardened nipple at a time while he worked between my legs.

My stomach clenches and my eyes roll back in pleasure. The wet warmth of his tongue against me is almost more than I can handle. I find it hard to catch my breath with the bevy of sounds I release. My moans grew louder as he worked between my thighs with more urgency and fervor.

Vince plunged his tongue inside, and I threw my head back, arching into him for more. I came, holding my breath while the waves of ecstasy heated up my body and made me cry out for him. Vince continued to work me until the final shudders left my body.

He kissed his way back up my body and took my lips in another heated exchange. Tasting me on his lips only heightened the eroticism of the moment.

Vince came off of my mind for a moment to grab a foil wrapped package and I groaned at the loss of contact. He pulled his boxers down and I finally saw him. All of him.

My eyes widened comically and my nerves started to kick in. Vince looked at me, a smirk gracing his features. I smiled and said "Is this the moment for a poorly thought out 'black men' stereotype? Because, baby, I've got a few."

He threw his head back laughing. "Baby we live in Arkansas. You gotta stop with the BET girl! I never should have showed it to you!"

I look at him with a serious expression and say "Honey, I got me some jungle fever and only you got the cure!"

Vince and I laugh so hard that tears roll out of our eyes. He gasps out "No BET! Never again!"

After our laughter dies, the tension in the room becomes sexually charged again. I take the condom from his hands and open it. With shaking hands, I proceed to roll the condom down the length of him. His eyes roll to the back of his head as my hand attempts to slide down him.

Vince pushes me on to my back and positions himself at my entrance. "Are you sure?"

I place a chaste kiss on his lips and whisper "With you? Always."

Lacing our fingers together, he raises them over my head and kisses me as he slides into me. The pain is intense and I cry out.

"It's okay baby. Just give a little time to adjust."

We stay connected like this for a few minutes, just staring into one another's eyes. The pain I initially felt slowly begins to ebb and is replaced by a dull ache.

"Vince, you can move." I tell him.

He slowly begins to thrust into me and at first, it feels foreign. But then, he hits something in me and I'm moaning and writhing in ecstasy.

"Oh Vince! Fuck! Vince! Yes" I scream out in pleasure as my eyes begin to close.

He increases his pace and I'm gripping his shoulders, nails digging into his shoulders and legs wrapped around his mid-section.

"Look at me Gretchen. Look at me. Being inside you is where I'm meant to be. I love you and only you. It will always be you." he whispers into my ears as he thrusts into me.

I feel the same buildup of pleasure from earlier within my grasp but the feeling is much more intense. Suddenly I'm bathed in an ocean of pleasure as my release hits me suddenly. My release triggers Vince's and he groans as he releases himself into me.

"That was...amazing. Better than in my coma." I murmured in an orgasm-induced haze as I roll off of Vince and onto my back.

Vince looks up at me chuckling and says "What?"

My face burns red from embarrassment and I cover my eyes, hoping to weasel out of my explanation.

"Can't we just continue to consummate our relationship?" I say hoping to deflect the attention.

Vince tugs my hands away from my face and says with a grin "Uh-uh sweetheart. No deflecting. Don't think I'm gonna be distracted by your smart talk. Tell me what you meant."

"Can I distract you with my breasts instead?"

"Gretchen…" Vince says with feigned sternness.

"Ugh fine" This is so embarrassing. "The night I woke from my coma, in my mind, I imagined you and me in the library. You begged me to stay with you and proceeded to…umm…pleasure me the way you just did. But then when the figment of you tried to have sex with me, I saw his eyes were empty. They were soulless and dark, lacking the warmth that yours always have. I think it was my mind trying to keep me vegetative forever. Then I heard you telling me about the library in the 7th grade and that you love me and wanted me back. I was convinced that I needed to come back to you."

Vince looks at me silently. I start to grow nervous. Does he think I'm a stalker of some sort? "Babe?"

"Knowing that my voice brought you out of the depths of your mind is truly a miracle. I've wanted to tell you for years. That day in the library was one of the most amazing, awe-inspiring, frightening moments of my life. I learned that I was in love with a girl who was perfect and I was terrified because I knew she was too perfect for me."

"Vince, that day changed my life too. I fell for the boy who made me smile after another Ashley attack. The boy who held me in his arms and made sure I ate. The boy who spent three class periods looking for me. My best friend and confidante. My first…everything."

Vince wraps his arms around me and kisses my head. "Can we live in this moment forever?"

"I'll allow it."

Vince laughs and says "So we're Katniss and Peeta now?"

"Nah, Hun. We're fucking so much better!" I say before we fall into a blissful sleep.