:) here's chapter 20. probably won't go how you expect, but hey. maybe i'm wrong.

We were so different
But opposites attract
So my hope kept growing
And I never looked back
You're one of a kind
No one can change this heart of mine, oh...

...The things you say
You make me fall harder each day
You're a trainwreck
But I wouldn't love you
If you changed, oh yeah

One more thing I thought I'd share
With someone special
I am falling like I never fell before...

...And look how far we've come
You're a trainwreck
But with you, I'm in love

Of course, every time we go into the tree house, intimate moments are shared, and we get close to just making the sweetest most amazing love imaginable. But, thankfully, one of us is always capable of stopping it, and tonight it was Seth.

"Good boy," I smiled as I took a deep breath to calm myself. "Sorry about everything that happened today. I, uh, I would've dealt with the Lindsey issue a long time ago if I had known what she was gonna do."

"It's not your fault, Ari," he assured me, giving me a small smile as he looked over at me. "I'm just sorry that it had to happen like it did. I don't blame you. Is that what has been bothering you?"

"Nothing's really been bothering me, per say," I murmured. "Well, one thing is, but that's not it. Actually, that has absolutely nothing to do with it. I just wanted to go ahead and get that out there. Actually, Seth, what I wanted to ask you was...well, okay. I'll have to make sure it's okay with my parents, which I know it will be, but we always go to Arizona for Thanksgiving with my grandmother. She usually comes here for Christmas with her husband and all. My point is, do you wanna come and meet the rest of my family? I mean, you will one day anyways. Why not now?"

That bright adorable smile spread across his lips. "Is that all, baby girl? Wow. I would much rather be with you than let you go off across the country. That's really it? Of course I would love to go. My parents will probably say it's okay, since they're letting me make my own decisions now—especially tomorrow."

I smirked at him. "Oh what fun tomorrow will be."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "What have you done?"

"Nothing of consequence," I giggled. "But, no, Seth. That's, uh, actually not all. There's a couple more things we need to talk about. Um, I talked to Jessie this morning, as you know. First, before I tell you my thoughts, I wanna know something. Why don't you want me to meet your family in England?"

That completely took him by surprise. He knew I had talked to Jessie, but I'm pretty sure he figured it was just about the birthday present thing. No, he didn't know what I had gotten him, but he knew I had gotten him something. So, that part, he knew.

The rest of what we talked about, he didn't know anything about.

Which is why he seemed so surprised.

Actually, he seemed pretty pissed too. I'm not sure if he was mad at me, or Jessie—or both, really.

"Ari, we're not talking about this," he said firmly.

"Look, Seth, I understand why a wedding in England would be a bad idea, but why can't I meet them?" I insisted. "From how Jessie talks, your grandfather seems like a nice person. He seems to adore you, Seth. Why not go to the eighteenth birthday ball he's throwing? At the very least, leave me here and go."

"Ari, I'm not going halfway across the world from you for even a minute!" he exclaimed. "I can't. You should understand that!"

"I do," I said honestly. "Look, Seth, there's gonna be a time when your family isn't here anymore. You need to see them as much as possible. We're gonna live forever, but they won't. It's hard to face, I know. I really won't understand your pain, because most of my closest family is living forever. But you have to go see him. I don't care if it means with me or without me. There's no time to waste."

"I'm not going with you, and I'm sure as hell not going without you!" he snapped. "Look, Ari, drop it, okay?"

"No!" I yelled back in his face. This was the first time I believe I've ever been mad at him before, ever. Seth was really pissing me off. Why wouldn't he talk about it? We had to, so there was no getting out of it. What was he so defensive about? "Seth, you know damn well this is something we have to talk about."

"No we don't!" he shouted venomously. "Ari, drop it. Seriously. I don't want to go back there, and I'm not! None of you can make me!"

"Seth, there are people there who love you and who care about you!" I reminded him angrily. "Don't leave them behind! I don't know what it is that keeps you away, or why! I just don't know, but if you really think I'm just gonna drop this, you really don't know me."

"Don't. Say. That," he ground out through his tightly clenched teeth. "Aria Samantha Lawrence, I know you better than anyone does!"

"I know that, Seth," I said firmly. "Which is why I know you know I'm not dropping this. Talk to me! I don't care what happens. Just tell me why and I'll understand!"

"You won't understand, Ari!" he exclaimed in an agitated, somewhat sad tone. I didn't understand why, but he was suddenly shaking. It was out of rage and sorrow, but what was so bad that he didn't want to go back to? "I'm not going back! You can't make me!"

I felt a tear trickle down my cheek, something that surprised us both, I think. "Maybe I won't understand, Seth, and I'm not by any means saying you have to go back. I just want to know why you won't."

"It's none of your damn business!" he screamed in my face, which caused my heart to stop in my chest. It was shocking when he turned and headed towards the door, which was now able to be opened by him, and headed out, probably towards the house.

I couldn't do anything but stand here in complete shock, eyes wide and body trembling.

Shock is a powerful thing. It's a simple emotion, yet it can somehow manage to hut your body down, freeze you in place, and send your normal body functions into crazy fits; bad crazy fits, although they can be good.

When my leg started twitching, or my body became rigid as a rock, it was definitely a bad thing considering my fiancé was possibly heading home away from me.

Even as tears poured down my cheeks faster than they had in a while, silently, I ran out, making sure to lock the door behind me. It surprised me a little to see him leaned up against a distant tree, trying to regain his composure.

"Don't you dare tell me it's none of my damn business," I said darkly as I stepped closer to him, eyes tightening as he glared up at me.

"That came out wrong, but we're not talking about it right now," he hissed before turning and heading inside.

"Stop!" I shrieked, but he just ignored me. "Damn it, Seth, if you don't tell me what you're so scared of, I'll just ask Jessie!"

"She doesn't know, so good luck with that!" he screamed back at me. "Ari, just don't worry about it, okay? I'm not scared of anything! Just do me a favor and forget Jessie said anything, okay?"

"We will talk about this tomorrow," I informed him in a cold, completely serious voice. "If I have to strap you down to a chair and make you talk, we will. You know what? Here's an even better idea! I can just scan through your memories and see for myself!"

"NO!" he exclaimed in a pleading voice, eyes wide in fear and absolute horror. "Okay, Ari, I'm scared, alright? No. None of my household family knows why, and I will tell you. Just give me time, and we'll talk tomorrow, okay? Let me calm down a little, and then we can talk. Right now, I can't. And I'm sorry."

Without another word, he headed towards the house, going through the basement to head upstairs. I followed him, but I went a different way in. Everyone was staring wide-eyed at us as we angrily went into our bedrooms, slamming our doors behind ourselves.

He probably kicked his bed, or did something along those lines to release some anger. Right now, honestly, a part of me wanted to have some serious hate sex, but at the same time, I felt like a terrible person for wanting that.

Something about his past life was killing him, and he had never talked about it. All these years in America, he had repressed those dark memories, and he seemed to have forgotten about them.

But now, they were resurfacing, and he was scared again. Maybe he was scared I would be upset, or maybe he was just scared I would leave him, maybe?

It was silly, but I honestly didn't mark that idea out. Whatever it was, Seth not only blamed himself for it, but he hated himself for it.

And I was gonna find out tomorrow. It worried me, probably more than he wanted it too. When my family tried to get in, I simply locked the door and told them not to worry about anything.

We were fine. I mean, every couple fights. It happens. Sure, it was our first serious fight like this where we were both seriously pissed at one another, but it wasn't the end of us.

Not by a long shot. He's gonna have to do more than yell at me to get me to go away. Actually, no, that's stupid. Nothing he could do would get rid of me now. Well, especially now. Even before, he was stuck with me. He just didn't know it.

Now, he does, and that force holding us together was literally unbreakable.

He was mine, forever. So he's got a dark, terrifying secret that's torn him up inside? I would help him in any way I could.

Well, there goes the England idea. Now, I just had to know why it was gone.

Maybe we can still get married over Christmas break. I don't know. We'll see.