It was half past two when Will reached the door of the apartment

It was half past two when Will reached the door of the apartment. He rifled through his pockets for the keys, but they were nowhere to be found.

"Shit!" he yelled loudly, forgetting the late hour and the fact that most of the neighbors were asleep. He continued to look for them, getting more frustrated with every passing moment. "Shit!"

Then, the doorknob turned and the door opened, revealing Bella on the other side. She held the keys up in her hands and smiled, "Looking for these?"

Will walked into the flat and took them from her, sighing as he sat down on the sofa. "Where'd you…?"

She sat next to him and smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I forgot I had them in my purse."

He shook his head, too tired to really care. "It's all right. Lucky for me you're still up. I thought I was going to have to sleep in the hallway."

"Lucky for you, I got home ten minutes ago."

Will looked at her, realizing that she was still in the clothes she wore when she left with Scout. Making the connection between her statement and her appearance, "You mean you were with SCOUT all this time?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So? You were alone with SCOUT, the man that you love and who you haven't seen in 8 years, and all you can say is SO?"

"There's not much else to say," she shrugged.

"You mean to tell me nothing happened?"

"Exactly that…nothing."

Observing her closely, Will retorted, "You don't have a 'nothing' face to me. Come on Bell…what happened?"

Giving in, she looked at him, exhibiting a trace of vulnerability and distress. "That's just it," she retorted softly, sounding disappointed, "Nothing happened."

Will wrapped his arm around Bella and pulled her into him. She rested her head on his shoulder and he kissed her temple, stroking her long blond hair with his hand.

"You didn't tell him…did you?" he stated, rather than asking, for he already knew it to be true.

"No. He's…he hasn't gotten over what I did to him. What I did…what I said…that was terrible. It's no surprise that he hasn't forgiven me."

"Bella, he doesn't know why you did what you did. It's hard to forgive someone when you don't know the reasons…their motives. Damn…I don't even know why you did it. You tell him you love him and then you just…take it back? You almost slept together…then you pretended like it didn't mean a thing. If I hadn't walked in…"

"I know how the story goes, Will."

"I'm just…Bella, to this day…I still don't understand why you told him you didn't love him. He would have given you everything because he loved you that much. You pushed him away…because you were…I don't know…scared, confused…because you were…"

She picked her head up and looked at him, holding back her tears. "Because I was what? You don't know what I was feeling. You don't know what was I was going through. You're trying to help me, but you can't. You don't know what was happening in my head or in my heart."

"Then I guess you better tell me."

* * * flashback * * *

Five hours had passed since Bella left Scout's dorm and returned home. She didn't get a wink of sleep for her thoughts kept wandering back to what had occurred not long ago.

I told him I love him.

I love him.

I'm in love with Scout Calhoun.

The memories of their heated make-out session kept her in a headspin; she was blissful thinking of how good it felt to have his arms around her, holding her, protecting her… protecting her from everything, all the wrong in the world, all that caused her pain or unhappiness. At least that's how she felt when he held her.

Had it really happened? She hadn't slept all night so it couldn't have been a dream. She brushed her fingers through her hair, still wet from the shower she'd taken minutes before. The curls that she'd fixed her hair in for the prom were washed out now, the damp locks a concrete reminder that it was all real.

All of it.

She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair, its golden glimmer darkened by the water that remained. Bella looked at herself; she looked like a completely different person than the one she was the night before. She felt so plain and simple without her hair fixed or make-up on. Her worn-in jeans and red tank top looked like rags compared to the lovely gown she wore to the dance.

When she thought about the Rawley Academy Prom and all the people who had attended, she realized for the first time, how much she didn't fit in. It wasn't like the time she was Will's date to the Cotillion because she was with Will, a fellow outsider, a townie who had worked his way up to the Millionaire Boys' Club. She was Scout's date. Scout Calhoun…the epitome of what a Rawley boy was. Hell, his family had practically built the place.

As she stared at herself in the mirror, she suddenly felt so strange…out of place even. It was like she'd been playing a part that night, like she was living in a fairy tale. She was the princess and Scout was her prince charming. She charmed everyone there, she was so easy to like…so comfortable to be around.

Now she was back again…home again…her little room above the gas station where'd she'd lived her whole life. She knew nothing else but this town, nothing else but this life.

Scout was from a totally different world than she was. No matter how much she tried to deny that, she couldn't deny the truth. They were as different as yacht parties and barbeques. Summers in South Hampton and camping in the woods. Jaguars and pickup trucks. They were from opposite sides of the track, but that didn't seem to matter. They loved each other. They'd found each other. Heartbreaking as the thought was, Bella knew that love might not be enough.

Being with Scout meant she'd have to leave it all behind and she wasn't ready to do that just yet. There was Charlie and the garage…Grace…her New Rawely friends…her mother…the mother she was just starting to get to know again. Scout wouldn't ever ask her to leave this place, but how could she not? He was onto bigger and better things. Princeton and eventually law school; a career in politics. Carrying on the Calhoun name.

She didn't fit into his world. She never did and never would. That's just way things were. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't deny that. She was no trophy wife. What did she know about upper class and high society? All she knew was how to be herself and being Bella Banks meant being who she was at heart—easy chairs, warm beer and cold pizza. Dinner at Friendly's. Crusing through town. A New Rawley girl. That's the only Bella she knew how to be.

Bella looked at herself again, and hard as it was, she realized what she had to do. Without bothering to fix herself up, she bolted down the stairs and out of the house, hurrying towards Rawley Academy.

She'd said the words—those three special words that she knew she'd never feel for anyone but him. Now, she was about to take it all back—for his sake and for hers. She was going to lie to him.

Before she knew it, she was at the door of Scout's dorm room. It was slightly open, and through the creak she saw him, lying peacefully on his back, staring up at the ceiling, a smile upon his lips.

Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, fighting back the tears, her pulse becoming more rapid.

The winter here's cold and bitter

It's chilled us to the bone

We haven't seen the sun for weeks

Too long too far from home

I feel just like I'm sinking

And I claw for solid ground

I'm pulled down by the undertow

I never thought I could feel so low

And oh the darkness I feel like letting go

'Come on Bella. You can do this,' she whispered, a single tear falling down her cheek.

She wiped her face quickly and took another deep breath, and slowly opened the door, her eyes never wavering from Scout, who was totally unaware that she had entered.

If all of the strength and all of the courage

Come and lift me from this place

I know I can love you much better than this

Full of grace, full of grace, my love

'You can do this,' she told herself once more. 'You have to. It's for the best.'

She took one more step and this time, Scout finally saw her. He looked at her with that quiet intensity and love he always had.

It's better this way I said

Haven't seen this place before

Where everything we say and do

Hurts us all the more

It's just that we stayed too long

In the same old sickly scheme

I'm pulled down by the undertow

I never thought I could feel so low

And oh the darkness, I feel like letting go

She loved him so.

But she had to do this.

There was no other way.

She had to lie to him.

She had to say the words.

'I don't love you.'

All she could do was stand there, feeling like the world around her was about to collapse.

And it did.

If all of the strength and all of the courage

Come and lift me from this place

I know I can love you much better than this

Full of grace, full of grace

I know I can love you much better than this

It's better this way

* * * end flashback * * *

"I don't know what to say," Will started, "except that that was…what you did…was…unbelievable. I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone, Bella."

"Me too," Bella retorted meekly, her eyes shut tight.

"You have to tell him everything. You can't keep this a secret anymore."

"Yeah I can. I have to."

"What do you mean? Don't you think you owe it to him…to yourself…to tell the truth? Nothing good can come from keeping this to yourself, Bell. Living in a lie will only bring you heartache," he told her, his statement seeming to hint at something more than just Bella's predicament.

"Are we still talking about me, Will? Or about you?"

"All the more to listen to what I'm saying," he retorted with conviction. "I've been there. I've lived that lie. You want all the pain, hurt, guilt, and confusion to go away? Then you have to tell him. How can he forgive you unless you tell him what you need to be forgiven for?"

She didn't say a word, only looked at him, her eyes wide, filled with realization.

He was right.

Will leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Bella continued to keep her focus on him as he walked to the stairs. He stopped at the foot of the staircase and looked at her thoughtfully.

"Think about it, Bella."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"I promise to love you and honor you, all the days of my life."

Hamilton smiled as he said those words aloud, thinking to himself how wonderful his life had turned out to be. He could not imagine ever saying those words to anyone but Jacqueline Pratt.

"Just 15 more hours, Fleming. Just 15 more hours," he said as he sat up in bed, glancing at the unoccupied space next to him, where Jake usually lay. This night, she was staying at her mother's, following tradition by not seeing the groom until the ceremony. It was the first night since his return home that she wasn't sleeping next to him and it was driving him crazy.

He had managed to sleep for a half an hour, but the excitement of the wedding kept his subconscious active and eventually, caused him to wake up. Since that time, he'd been sitting in bed, looking through photographs of the two of them, reading old letters, and thinking about the years they'd spent together. It made him feel warm inside when he thought of her, the simple things about her always brought a smile to his face. Her laugh, her smile, the way she bit her bottom lip whenever she couldn't think of something to say. Every time he thought of those things, he could not help but be happy.

Hamilton missed her so much. He'd only left her a few hours ago, but he wanted to be with her, especially since the news of her father's return had sent her in a state of shock and uncertainty. Still, he knew he'd done the right thing by letting her spend some time with Will. He was her best friend and the fact that in spite of everything, their friendship had endured, was a testament of how deep and strong their friendship really was—and a testament to what a great guy Will was.

It was three thirty AM and Will had come to him a short while ago to let him know that he'd taken Jake to her mother's. They exchanged quick good nights and he was sure Will was asleep now, and Bella too. So, with no one to talk to and nothing left to do, he figured that it was time to finally go to bed. After all, what good would a sleepy Hamilton be at the altar, yawning through his vows? Jake would kill him!

He turned off the light and shifted around a bit, almost forcing himself to close his eyes for he was far too anxious. Some minutes passed and just when he was dozing off, someone came in the door and turned the light back on.

"Just when I was finally falling asleep, now you wanna talk," Hamilton grumbled as he struggled to open his eyes.

" I wanted to do more than just talk but since you put it that way…" a familiar voice laughed. Jake.

At this, Hamilton shot up, his stare fixated on her. "Jake? Wait a second…aren't you supposed to be…"

"At my mom's? Yeah, I was. I couldn't sleep."

"Neither could I."

"I missed you," she said as she closed the door behind her and made her way to sit down next to where he lay.

"Me too. I mean…I missed you too," he returned, his sideways smirk on his lips.

He took her hands and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "I can't believe you came over here at this hour! Going around the city by yourself! I would have come to get you if I'd known you wanted to…" his statement cut off by Jake's kiss.

"Don't worry," she said with a smile, "Don't you remember that my mom has her driver on call 24 hours a day? Thought I'd take advantage of it for once. Plus, I gave him the day off…so it worked out in his favor, see?" she laughed.

"Smart girl," he grinned. " Always loved that about you," he remarked, planting another kiss on her lips, this time longer and more passionate. "God, I love you," he sighed.

In between kisses, she managed, "And I love you."

She lay in the spot next to him, tucking herself into the covers. She snuggled up next to him as he hugged her close. "My mom is going to kill me when she finds out I came here! All of sudden she wants to be Ms. Traditionalist and do everything the old fashioned way. That was never my bag."

"You can say that again," he answered, as he rested his head on hers, smiling all the while. "I'm glad you snuck out. Reminds me of all those times I'd sneak out to go to your dorm, risking a serious ass kicking from my dad every time."

"It was worth it, wasn't it?"

"Oh yeah. Definitely," Hamilton chuckled.

"So was coming here tonight. I know we promised we wouldn't see each other until the ceremony, but I can't stand to be away from you, not even for one night. I never want to spend another night or day without you."

"It's a good thing we're getting married then, isn't it?"

She brought his hand to her lips, as she placed a gentle kiss upon it. "Yeah…pretty much."

With that said, Hamilton took her face in his hands, bringing their lips together for another kiss. Every time they kissed, it was filled with the same fervor and warmth, want and love as that first REAL kiss—the kiss the night of the Cotillion.

Jake covered his body with hers; he held her tightly, their kisses unrelenting and filled with desire, never breaking for air. When they finally did stop, Jake teased, "You just can't get enough of me, can you?"

Hamilton just smiled and replied, "No. Never."