I'm sorry it took so long to get this updated! It's been hectic for me these past few months and I'm hoping things are finally starting to settle down. I was finally able to sit down and write this and I hope to get my other stories updated too. Thank you for the reviews from the last chapter! This is chapter is written in Paul's perspective and I want to thank Iknowyoulovemexoxo who gave me the idea to write this chapter in Paul's perspective. I hope you guys enjoy :)


Paul sat on his bed looking down at his phone he was holding as his thumb hovered over her name. It wasn't the first time today he found himself doing this only to end up backing out of calling her. It had been almost two weeks since she had broken up with him and he missed her. He wanted to call and hear her voice, try to get her to believe him that nothing had happened with Charlotte. But she hadn't believed him the day he had tried to talk to her about it. Hell, she hadn't even believed him when he had told her he loved her. As if it hadn't hurt enough that she didn't believe that he wouldn't hurt her like that she went and twisted the knife deeper sending searing pain through his chest. And yet somehow that didn't compare to the pain he was in now that he was without her in his life. He wasn't used to this kind of pain, he had never loved someone the way he loves her. It was the worst pain he had ever felt.

He let out a frustrated sigh while his thumb went to the side of his phone pushing the button to lock it and watched the screen go dark just like earlier. She probably wouldn't pick up anyway and what would he even say that he hadn't already said the day she broke up with him? There was no proof that he hadn't done what she believed, all he had was his word and she clearly didn't trust that. He couldn't think of anything else to prove he was innocent, but just walking away and moving on with his life didn't feel like a possibility right now. Not until he tried all he felt like he could. Even though there was a time he didn't know if he could be with her if she didn't trust him. Now that he knew what it was like to be without her it had changed his perception. Somehow, they could work through her trust issues and he wasn't going to just let her go without trying.

Lost in thought it took him a second to realize his phone was ringing but when he did his heart started to accelerate slightly hoping that it was Stephanie. But when he finally looked down at the screen and seen the number his chest tightened and his shoulders slumped as the hopeful feeling diminished quickly. He tossed the phone to the other side of the bed and ran his hands through his hair. Why did it always seem like the last person he wanted to talk to was the one constantly trying to call him instead of the person he wanted to call him? He pushed himself up off the bed and started to pace the small space of a room he had. It was probably a lot bigger than he felt it was but after cooping himself up it for the last week and a half it felt suddenly too tiny to him. After a few more seconds of pacing he wiped his palms on his jeans and grabbed his cellphone from the bed and put it in his pocket. He needed out of the hotel, he had no idea where to go but he needed out for a little bit. He grabbed his shoes and put them on and then grabbed his jacket and slipped it on before leaving his room and headed towards the elevator to leave.


After about twenty minutes of trying to figure out where to go Paul found himself walking into a dim lit bar which was probably the last place he should be. At first when he left the hotel he thought of going to the gym, which is honestly where he should be, but he wasn't feeling in the mood for it. It had been that way since the break up and he couldn't force himself to go. The bar seemed like the next best choice right now, maybe a drink or two could help him unwind and to just stop thinking about everything. Though he wasn't sure it was possible to stop thinking about everything with just a drink or two, it would probably take a lot more than that but he was willing to give it a try.

He found an empty seat at the end of the bar where there were two empty seats beside of him so he could hopefully be left alone. All he wanted to do was sit and enjoy his drink but as soon as he ordered his drink he felt a presence behind him and then the seat next to him was being occupied.

"Hey" he tensed and closed his eyes as his jaw clenched at the familiar voice.

"Are you stalking me now?" Paul asked sharply finally looking over at her.

"No" she replied crossing her arms and looked away from him. He could tell he hurt her feelings but he could give a fuck less. "I came in to get a drink and I happen to see you and I thought I'd see how you were doing."

He couldn't help but let out a humorless laugh at her question. It was obvious how he was doing just by his physical appearance so she already knew the answer to that.

"What do you want Charlie?"

"I hate that nickname" She crossed her legs and grimaced before trying to get the bartender's attention.

"I know" Paul smirked as she narrowed her eyes at him. He ignored her though and took a drink from his glass as the bartender approached them and Charlotte turned her attention towards him.

"So…" Charlotte turned back to him after ordering her drink. "You and Stephanie broke up?"

Paul gripped his glass hard and his other hand clenched into a fist at the mention of Stephanie's name especially coming from Charlotte. He was sure she knew damn well that him and Stephanie broke up but the way she said it came out as more of a question. It was a topic that was not up for discussion, especially with her. She was half the reason he had lost Stephanie and was as miserable as he currently was.

"What are you even doing here?"

"I told you I came in to get a drink-"

"No. Not in this bar but here in this part of the state. If I remember correctly Shane yelled at both of us to get the fuck out and I know you know nobody else here besides Shane and me to continue to live here. So why are you still here?" Paul asked with a hard edge to his voice. Charlotte got quiet as her cheeks tinged pink and she looked down at the floor. When she looked back at him she had a sheepish look on her face. It was kind of unexpected for him to see because Charlotte hadn't ever got embarrassed easily or at least never let anyone see if she did.

"I have to find a new place back home so Shane said I could stay the week but I still haven't found anywhere to go" she tucked her hair behind her ears and cleared her throat before continuing. "I was hoping after our night together and now that we're both single you and I could give things a try again. We've both have changed and matured since. I think things would be different this time and I've missed you."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me" Paul muttered shaking his head. "You haven't changed a bit Charlotte and there was no 'our night'. I don't know how you ended up in my bed or why you were naked but I know nothing happened between us. You need to understand that what we had in the past is in the past. I don't want to be with you and I don't feel the same way about you that you do me."

"You're the one that started everything that night, not me. You kept kissing me and telling me that you missed me and loved me. Now you're pretending you don't remember any of it."

"I'm not pretending. I don't remember any of that happening. The last thing I remember is throwing a blanket over Shawn who was passed out drunk and I went to bed alone. You weren't even at the apartment and I don't remember waking up at any point that night. If any of what you said happened then I must have doing it in my sleep after you came into my room and got into my bed uninvited. If that's the case then I thought you were Stephanie because she is the one I've only ever really loved" Paul replied taking a drink from his glass and then rubbed his temples to try to ease the headache that was starting to form.

"Whatever. Just keep pretending our night didn't happen. I just wished I wouldn't have fucked up my relationship with Shane for this" Charlotte scoffed "I can't believe I thought you had changed. You're still the asshole you always were."

"I'm an asshole?" Paul snapped finally losing his patience with this conversation. "You're honestly the last person I want to talk to. Stephanie broke up with me because of you but I sat here and talked to you so if that makes me an asshole then I guess I am."

"You are" Charlotte replied with a huff as she got up from her seat and headed towards the bartender. Paul turned his attention back to his drink hoping he could finally get some peace and quiet. He was sure he pissed Charlotte off enough that she wouldn't come back over and hopefully enough that she'd finally stop calling him constantly.

Paul finished off his drink just as Charlotte starting walking back towards him and his shoulders sagged in relief as she kept walking past him. Now that she was gone he felt like maybe he could relax and finally enjoy having a drink so he decided to order another one. Then he'd probably end up going back to his dreaded hotel room but hopefully he could just crash onto his bed and fall asleep quickly.


Stumbling into the elevator he punched the button for the floor of the apartment he used to live in. This hadn't been part of his plan at all but neither had having more than two drinks. But that was exactly what had happened after he started thinking about the breakup, Shane throwing him out of the apartment, Charlotte still being allowed to live there. All he could feel was his heartbeat pounding against his chest and the alcohol starting to blur his vision as he stumbled back out of the elevator when it reached his destination. He wasn't sure what he was even going to accomplish by coming here and confronting Shane. But he wasn't about to be thrown out and having to stay in a hotel while Charlotte was still allowed to live there. It was bullshit and he should have known Shane would forgive her and make him out to be the bad guy in all of this. It fueled his anger even further until he was almost to the apartment door and it opened and he saw her step into the hallway. And it felt like he suddenly went from stumbling drunk to stone cold sober.

Their eyes connected and he knew he had been wrong earlier about being without her hurt worse than anything he had felt because looking at her and seeing the pain etched on her face that was caused by him hurt worse than his own pain. All he wanted to do was stop her pain, pull her into his arms and comfort her, kiss her, hold her until it all faded away. But he didn't have that privilege anymore.

"Steph" he called out her name taking a step towards her while she took a step back and shook her head at him.

"Please don't" Stephanie pleaded looking at him as she started to tear up. "This is already hard enough as it is."

"I miss you" Paul replied taking a step towards her again he couldn't help himself he just needed to be near her. This time she stood still so he kept going until there was hardly any space in between them. "I'm miserable without you Steph."

"I- Paul- " Stephanie started but stopped and shook her head. She looked away from him and stared off looking like she was trying to figure out what she was trying to say.

"Look I know what you walked in on looked really bad but I didn't do anything with Charlotte. Tell me what I can do to get you to believe that and trust me because I'll do anything."

"Paul you're drunk. You probably don't even fully comprehend what you're doing or saying right now."

"Yeah I'm a little drunk" he said as he swayed forward a little. Maybe he was a little more drunk than he thought but it wasn't like he was a rambling drunk. "But I understand what I'm trying to say to you. I would be saying it to you whether I was drunk or not."

"Maybe you should go sleep it off-"

"I'm not giving up on us Steph. I don't understand why you are giving up on us on so easily."

"You think this is easy for me?" Stephanie asked putting her hand to her chest. "This is hard for me too. It's hard to see you and be around you without wanting to forget about it all and wanting to erase the image of you and her together. But I can't do that because every time I close my eyes or think about you it's all I see and it makes me sick to my stomach all over again."

"Nothing happened. She was nowhere in the apartment when Shawn and I came in that night, I went to bed alone and I was out of it all night. None of it makes sense to me just as much as it doesn't make sense to you. But I think there is a part of you that wants to believe me, you're just too scared to."

"Of course, I'm scared. What if I trust you and take you back only for you to end up proving I was right by cheating on me? I've watched my mother cry over my father for cheating on her and yet she would take him back in a heartbeat if she could. I don't want my life to be like that."

"It doesn't have to be. I'm not like your father, I wish you could see that. I know you're scared especially after seeing what your parents are going through but don't judge our relationship based on them. Take a chance and trust me Steph. I know we can work through this, I know it will be hard but we can do it" Paul said as she looked to the floor for a moment and then back to him with some uncertainty in her eyes. He could see she was struggling with wanting to believe him but her trust issues were still holding her back. "I'm going to prove to you that nothing happened with Charlotte. I don't know how but I'm going to try. Like I said I'm not giving up on us."

They stood there for a couple of minutes in silence and Paul knew he said all he could say and it seemed like she wasn't going to say anymore. So, he leaned over and kissed her on the forehead letting his lips linger as he enjoyed being able to kiss her even if it was only on the forehead. Then he stepped back and turned around and started walking back down the hallway, his anger from earlier gone. He no longer felt like confronting or dealing with Shane now but as he reached the elevator he heard her call his name and he turned around to see her coming towards him.

"Let me give you a ride since you're drunk."

"Okay" he replied pushing the button for the elevator. He didn't really need a ride back to the hotel. He could've just got a cab but he wanted to be around her for as long as he could.

It didn't seem to take long once the elevator arrived for them to make it down to the lobby and out of the building. Paul followed alongside of Stephanie to her car occasionally letting his fingers brush against hers until they had to separate. He went to the passenger side and opened his door once she unlocked them and got in. Once they put on their seatbelts and he told her the hotel he was staying at she started the car and headed out of the parking lot.

The ride was mostly silent except for the low sound of the radio playing. He mostly watched her as she stared straight ahead biting her bottom lip occasionally which was something she did when something was on her mind.

"What are you thinking about?" Paul asked making her take glimpse over at him.

"I just can't stop thinking about you and Charlotte together and how you were holding her close to you. If nothing happened why were you naked and holding her?"

"I think she came into my room while I was asleep. I really don't remember waking up at all but the only reason I would ever hold her was because I thought it was you. I don't know if she was completely naked but I was in my boxers which is how I always sleep."

"Why would she come into your room while you were asleep?"

"Because she wants to get back together."

"How do you know that?" Stephanie asked looking over at him after they came to a stop at a red light. He grimaced at the question hoping she wouldn't try to read more into his answer than what it really was.

"She came into the bar I was in tonight and sat down beside of me and instantly started talking to me. I didn't really want to talk to her but I wanted to see what she wanted and see if I could get rid of her quickly. That's when she started saying that me and her were both single now and she wanted us to try things between us again. Which I told her no because I don't feel the same about her that she does me and that you are the only woman I have ever really loved" Paul replied and Stephanie nodded her head but stayed quiet and started driving again as the light turned green. "I didn't invite her there if that's what you're thinking. I didn't even know she was going to come in there. All I wanted was to have a drink or two and be left alone to try and relax."

"I believe you Paul" Stephanie said and it gave him hope that maybe she could try to trust him. "About that at least."

"Well at least you believe me about something" Paul murmured to himself as they made it to his hotel and she pulled into the parking lot. He turned towards her gently grabbed her chin with his fingers and looked in her eyes. "Just please think about what I said earlier about taking a chance on me."

"I will" Stephanie promised and that was all he could really ask for. He leaned over and quickly kissed her lips because he knew it could be the last time he would ever have the chance again.

"Be safe going home." He opened his door and got out and shut it behind him. Then he walked to the entrance of the hotel and then turned around and watched her leave.

After she was out of his sight he turned around and headed inside the hotel. He walked to the elevator suddenly feeling like a part of him was gone. It was like there was a hole inside of his chest and the pain from not being with Stephanie was back in full force. As he stood waiting on the elevator trying to focus on anything but the pain and empty feeling in his chest, his phone started to ring. He slipped it out of his pocket and gave an exasperated sigh at the number. Apparently ignoring the call wasn't going to ever give her the hint but he already knew that since she wouldn't leave him alone earlier.

"I thought you said I was an asshole" Paul said after accepting the call and putting his phone to his ear.

"You were being an asshole."

"What do you want Charlotte?"

"I just want to talk" she replied and he rolled his eyes. He was about to tell her that it wasn't going to happen and to just leave him alone, but an idea started to form.

"You know, you're right I was being an asshole earlier. I was in a bad mood but maybe you were right about some things. What do you say about meeting tomorrow for dinner and we'll talk."