CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Rey was quite busy the next few days. The assignments were piling up in classes and Satine's teething was just getting worse. She was glad it was finally time for her date with Andrew.

She hugged her little girl tight and rocked her in her arms as she waited for Kylo to come and babysit her.

She heard the door open and assumed Kylo had finally arrived, she looked up, only to see Jessica enter instead.

"Hey girl, you look nice, you going somewhere tonight?" Jessica asked her friend.

"I'm going to the movies with Andrew actually, I'm just waiting for Kylo to show up to look after Satine."

A look of concern flashed across Jessica's face. She bit her lip before asking Rey a question that had been on her mind for a few days now.

"Rey, do you actually like Andrew? or are you just dating him to get back at Kylo or something?"

Rey looked at her friend aghast. "How can you ask me that? Of course I like Andrew, maybe not to the point he likes me, but I still like him. I would never date someone just to get back at someone else."

Jessica nodded her head in apology. "I'm sorry I accused you of that, I'm just concerned about you, I feel like you're forcing yourself to feel something for him. If it's not working, just end it, there's no law saying you have to stay with him forever." She paused for a moment. "Besides, I think you might still have feelings for Kylo and if you do, then you need to end things with Andrew before they go to far."

Just as Rey was about to respond, there was a knock on the door, signalling Kylo's arrival.

"Come in!" Rey called out.

Kylo opened the door slowly and smiled when he saw Jessica wave enthusiastically at him. He then frowned when he saw Rey rocking a crying Satine in her arms.

"What's wrong with Satine? Is she feeling alright?"

"She's still teething so she's a little cranky. Just let her chew on this thing I bought her and she should settle after awhile." She studied him closely and noticed he had dark circles under his eyes. "Are you alright? You look exhausted."

He waved off her concern. "It's nothing, I'm fine. Go have fun on your date. I'll be here when you get back."

Rey looked at him uncertainly but after another look from him she made to leave.

"Be good for daddy Satine, mommy will be back later to kiss you goodnight." Then with a smile and wave to both Kylo and Jessica, she left.

Kylo noticed how Jessica looked at Rey a little concerned as she left.

"Jessica, is there something going on with Rey that I should know about?"

Jessica looked up at him, startled by his question. "Um no, why do you ask?"

Kylo scoffed. "You've always been a bad liar Jessica. I can tell that you're hiding something, what is it? I just want to help, if I can" he said pleadingly.

"I'm really sorry Kylo but I can't tell you. You are my friend, but Rey is to and I can't betray her confidence by telling you something that isn't your concern." She patted his shoulder in apology, then smiled. "I've got nothing planned for tonight, why don't you and I hang out and catch up while looking after Satine together?"

A genuine smile broke out on his face at this suggestion. "I think that's a fantastic idea. I'll even play one of your weird video games with you if you want."

Jessica grinned at this. "You're on!" As they were playing, the two friends started talking about various things. After some friendly chit chat Jessica decided to ask a question that had been bugging her for a long time. "I need to know why you did it, why did you sleep with Michelle?"

Kylo tensed up and was silent for a moment as he thought Jessica's question over. Finally with a sigh he answered her.

"I have no good reason or excuse for why I did what I did. The only thing I can think of is, was that I was angry by the way Rey reacted to my working with Michelle, like I was cheating on her or something. And then she kept throwing the comment that we should see other people in my face and I guess I just snapped. I knew it was wrong the second I did it but I knew I couldn't take it back, even though I deeply want to. The amount of hate she feels for me is nothing compared to the hate I feel for myself. I've loved her for as long as I can remember and now knowing that I've lost her forever, it kills me inside. Every time I see her with that guy and having a good time with him, I want to so badly punch him in the face, but I know I can't. If I do, I'll lose any of the progress I have made with Rey and I can't bare that. Plus, I don't want to lose Satine, she's also a huge reason why I force myself to behave around that guy, she's too precious to me to lose, I can't!"

Jessica turned off the video game and then gave Kylo a hug. "What you did was wrong, I won't deny it or make excuses for it. But, I can also see how much Rey truly does mean to you and I am truly impressed with how you've restrained yourself. This is the first time in a long time that I've seen a glimpse of the Ben I used to know when we were kids. I like him and I hope he plans on sticking around. I think Rey would like that too. Just promise me you won't do anything stupid to hurt Rey again. If you do, I won't back you up next time."

"I promise I won't do anything to hurt Rey ever again. I just want to earn her friendship back, and yours too."

She grinned. "I think you're on your way to earning my forgiveness right now." Satine then chose that moment to start babbling and Jessica and Kylo looked at each other and laughed.

At the movie theatre...

Rey and Andrew finally agreed on a movie to see and Andrew was at the concession stand getting them popcorn and drinks. The coming attractions had just started when he sat down beside her.

"Sorry that took so long, the lineup was really long. I got you a root beer, is that okay?"

"No problem, and root beer is fine." She grabbed a handful of popcorn and leaned back in her seat to enjoy the movie. Andrew smiled and did the same. The movie was about half way over when Andrea grabbed her hand and held onto it. Rey shot him a puzzled look but he just smiled at her and continued watching the movie. Rey didn't like holding hands in the movie theatre, she had told Kylo that as well, so she tried slipping her hand out of Andrew's. With a disappointed look on his face he reluctantly let go of her hand. Luckily the movie ended not long afterwards.

"Why did you grab my hand during the movie?" She asked as they left the theatre.

"It's a romantic thing that couples do at the movies, I thought you'd like it. I'm sorry if it offended you" he said with a frown.

"I'm not one for holding hands at the movies, I had to tell Kylo that to when we were going out. I should have told you, I'm sorry."

"No harm done. You still want to hang out in my dorm for a little while?"

"Only for a little while, I want to give Satine a good night kiss before she goes to sleep."

Andrew grit his teeth in frustration but nodded. The ride back to the college was a silent one. But when they arrived back at the campus Andrew acted like the perfect gentleman.

"I can't wait to show you what I've been working on in my animation class" he told her excitedly as he helped her from his car. Rey could tell, he practically dragged her back to his dorm. He wanted no time in turning on his laptop and showing her what he had designed.

"That's great Andrew" she told him. "I can tell you worked really hard on this. You're going to be a great animator someday." She then leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. Andrew turned his head at the last moment so it would be on the lips. After kissing for a bit Andrew decided to take things one step further. He slowly started rubbing and caressing Rey's breasts. Rey automatically tensed at this and pulled away.

Andrew looked frustrated at her reaction. "Why won't you let me touch you? You know I like you and won't hurt you, I just want to make you feel good."

"I know you like me and I like you too Andrew, but I'm not ready for sex yet. I just want to take things slow. Why can't you respect that? I thought you were a decent guy."

"How long do you expect me to wait Rey? We've been going out for almost 3 weeks now and you still keep pushing me away. We can't go any slower than we've been going already. And you always have some excuse like, oh I have to go kiss Satine goodnight, or I have homework, or something to that extent. I want you to be honest with me. Do you truly like me and want this to work?"

"Yes, I like you, I'm just not ready to sleep with you yet. But if that's all you want from me then maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore."

He was silent for several moments. Then he said something that Rey wasn't expecting. "I guess Finn and Jessica were wrong about you. They told me that you were a fun and interesting person to hang out with. But to me you've been nothing but an ice queen. The only way you're going to open your legs for me is if I'm Kylo, otherwise your nothing but a frigid woman. And by the way, your poetry isn't that good, I was just telling you that to be nice."

Rey slapped him really hard across the face. "How dare you say those things to me?! You think you know me? You know nothing of the things I've been through. I was serious when I said I just wanted you to be patient, then maybe I'd sleep with you. You can forget that now! I'm done with bein constantly being hurt by men. I'm breaking up with you right now" She stood up to leave but before she left threw one last parting remark at him. "And by the way, your design wasn't that great, I was just saying that to be nice." She slammed the door shut behind her as she left.

Kylo and Jessica had just settled Satine in her crib and Kylo was humming a lullaby to her, when Rey angrily stormed in.

"Rey what's wrong?" Jessica asked her friend worriedly. Did you and Andrew have a fight?"

"Oh we had a fight alright. I broke up with him. As of this moment I'm done with men."

Kylo looked at her in alarm. "What did he do that has you so upset?" he asked her.

After taking a deep breath Rey explained things to her friends. At the end of it, Kylo and Jessica were both furious. Kylo stormed out without a word and Jessica consoled Rey as best she could.

"I'm so sorry Rey. If I had known he was like that, I never would have set you up with him. Now I know why he's never been in a long term relationship. What a jerk! I'm going to give it to him so bad when I see him in class on Monday" she told her friend angrily.

"I don't blame you for what happened Jessica. You and Finn were just trying to be good friends. Andrew seemed like a good guy, he just wanted something from me I wasn't willing to give him, and he showed his true colours. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I've got great friends by my side and Satine. I don't need anything else. This has given me a great idea for a poem though. I wonder where Kylo went?"

Andrew was sitting on his bed, angrily going over what had just happened when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was Rey he went to open it. Much to his annoyance it was Kylo. "You've got some nerve coming to my door. Let me guess, Rey told you what happened and now your here to lecture me? Hypocritical, considering all the shit you've done to her."

"I'm well aware of what I've done to her, I don't need you reminding me. I just came here to tell you that if you harass or go near Rey again, I won't hesitate to beat the living hell out of you. Rey's been hurt enough because of me, she doesn't need to be hurt by some guy who can't keep it in his pants." He made to walk away when he was hit from behind. He cried out in pain and then delivered a blow to Andrew's knee. Andrew growled at him and then punched him in the nose, breaking it in the process. Kylo howled in pain and then clocked Andrew one in the stomach. They kept exchanging blows until the dorm room opened and they heard Rey cry out.

"Stop it both of you! You're going to end up waking the whole campus with this ruckus." She looked closely at Kylo. "Are you okay? Your nose is bleeding really badly, and you have a bad bruise on the back of your head. Maybe I should take you to the hospital."

"My nose is broken, I just need to have it reset. And I doubt they can do anything for the bruise" he groaned. "I'll put some ice on it when I return to my room."

Rey went to help him up, before she did she kicked Andrew in his already sore stomach. He moaned loudly in pain. "Don't ever come near or try to talk to me again, understand?"

He glared at her but nodded stiffly. "You won't have to worry about that. I want nothing to do with you or him. Now get out of my dorm."

"Gladly" Rey told him. She helped Kylo to his feet then left the dorm without looking back. As she walked Kylo to his dorm she quietly thanked him for defending her. "It wasn't necessary but I appreciate you wanting to defend me like that. I normally would lecture you for fighting, as you know I hate it, but I'll make an exception in this case. I'm glad your in my corner, and I think, that I'm willing to be friends again."

A smile broke out on Kylo's face at these words. "You won't regret this Rey, I promise. I'll be a great friend to you, you'll see."

"Hopefully a better friend than boyfriend. That's why I've decided to swear off dating for awhile. I need to see what I can be on my own and then maybe after awhile I'll try dating again, we'll see."

Kylo took her hands in his before she turned to leave his dorm. "Don't let Finn and Jessica set you up on anymore blind dates okay? If you are going to date someone, find a guy on your own. I can't take another beating defending you."

They both chuckled at these words and Rey gave him a kiss on the cheek before saying goodnight. "What about your nose she called back to him?"

"I've broken it before, I know how to reset it. Go to sleep now, I've got this."

As he closed his door Rey found herself confused. When had he broken his nose before? He hadn't done it in the time they were together. "It must be from the time when he left Han and Leia, I bet Phasma would know, I'll ask her when I get the chance." With that in mind she went back to her dorm for a much needed good nights rest, hoping that things would be better in the morning.

To Be Continued...

A/N- Don't hate me for this chapter, I decided that I wanted to go in this direction. I like the Andrew character but decided Rey needs to be without a man for awhile.

Andrew will still be around but he won't be a huge presence, he's done with Rey and could care less what she does now.

I want to thank all of my readers for following me and this story and would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter, please comment below with your thoughts and suggestions!

Updates could become slow now, I started school in September and that keeps me busy and SUPER STRESSED OUT! My anxiety is really bad right now because of it, my depression is kind of bad too. I'm also struggling with writers block so I ask you all to be patient while I sort things out.

Thanks for reading and I'll try to update again soon. Take care!