Chapter 24:

When I reach Christian he's talking to another man and they're laughing together. He spots me and smiles, tucking me under his arm. "There she is. Uncle Joe, this is Ana. My gorgeous girlfriend." I blush at his words and I reach my hand out to shake it but he laughs and pulls me into a hug.

"Hey, we Grey's don't do handshakes, we're a huggin family!" I hear a strong New York accent and immediately love him. "Eh, she's beautiful Christian! Where'd ya get a stunner like this one huh?" I blush again and he smiles.

"We met at her college." Then a woman walks over with a hot dog.

"These hot dogs are better than last years. Little pieces a fried gold I'll tell ya that fer nothin." I smile and she beams at me. "Oh my god how rude of me! I'm Camilla but you can call me Camie sweetheart. My oh my! You're gorgeous! I tell ya if my Joe wasn't taken he'd be all over you!" We all laugh and continue to have a lovely conversation. I can't believe all these people are so accepting. I love them all already and they're so welcoming of a stranger in their family, apart from one super bitch I could mention. Lily Lincoln has been eyeing me up all day, who Christian told me is Elena Lincoln's daughter. Eventually I get bored of it and just before we're about to leave she goes into the bathroom I follow her. When she comes back out she jumps when I'm standing right in front of her, then she gives me a dirty look.

"Excuse me." She tries to step around me but I block her exit.

"What's your problem with me?" She places her hand on her heart as if offended by my question.

"I don't know what you mean." I roll my eyes at her.

"Oh please, cut the bullshit." Her face changes and she steps forward so that she's further in my face.

"Ok. You wanna know what my problem is? You're temporary. Christian does this all the time. Fucks pretty girls for a while then comes back to me. He'll get bored of you soon. He always, comes back, to me. You see these people all thinking that you're his first girlfriend well honey, that would be me. And I'll get him back, and next time, it won't just be iced coffee you'll get covered in." She laughs. "Look at you. You think he'd stay with a mousy girl like you for long? Don't make me laugh. It's pathetic really, you thinking he'll stay. He's only with you because you make him look even better looking. You don't know what's coming. So stay away from my man and we won't have a problem." I'm close to tears but I don't want to show it in front of her so I close the gap between us and stand straighter.

"I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but I can see right through you. Underneath that fake bitch bravado you're just a scared, jealous foul mouthed, immature little girl. And I think it's time that you understand that Christian isn't yours. He never was. He loves me, he wants me and he's got me. Not you. If he wanted a fake blonde bitch like you he would go for it but he doesn't so he's not going to. So get that into your chemical covered, peroxide soaked head of yours and then we won't have a problem. Because trust me, me having a problem with you is so much worse than you having a problem with me. And you can tell that to your witch of a mother as well." I turn and leave her in the bathroom looking shocked and hurt. I fight back the tears until I make it out of the house. Christian is waiting for me by the car and smiles, then his face immediately drops when he sees my face.

"You ok?" I wipe a stray tear from my cheek and storm round to my side of the car.

"No I'm not fucking ok." I get in the car and slam the door. We sit in silence for a few minutes before I snap. "You going to start the car or just sit there?" He rolls his eyes then starts the car, driving out the driveway.

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong or do I have to guess."

"Why don't you ask your girlfriend?" He furrows his brows confused.

"I just did."

"No, you're first girlfriend." He still looks confused.

"That's still you baby." I huff and fold my arms.

"The girl you always go back to after you're finished with your fuck buddies. Lily Lincoln ring any bells? Fake hair, fake tits, fake personality?" He looks down.

"Ana I-"

"You what? You're sorry you failed to tell me that your girlfriend would be there?" He sighs.

"She's not my girlfriend."

"That's not what she said."

"Fuck what she said Ana! Do you believe me, your boyfriend or her, a person you just met?"

"Yeah well, not sure she's a person, she's barely human." He tuts at me.

"Ana."

"What?"

"You shouldn't speak about people like that. It's immature." I bite my lip to stop myself from screaming at him. I stay in silence until we get back to the apartment. I ignore him and walk straight into the kitchen where I open the fridge and get out wine and a glass. I start pouring a large glass when Christian walks in. "You shouldn't be drinking that much Ana-" I shoot him a look. "Ok, you can, sorry." I pour the contents into my glass and take a gulp. He walks forward. "So, you still mad-"

"-Yes I'm still fucking mad!" I scream, flinging the empty bottle across the room, he dodges it and it hits the wall, smashing. "Why didn't you tell me she would be there huh? You think I'd make a scene?"

"Well that's all you seem to be doing nowadays." I throw my hands up and walk out the room with my eyes wide. He follows me. "Why are we fighting so much Ana?" I turn and start hitting him in the chest.

"Maybe because you're such a fucking idiot that doesn't tell me anything." He grabs my wrists and I start crying.

"Hey, please stop Ana. What did she say to you?" He pulls me into his arms and strokes my hair.

"She said that I was mousy and that I was pathetic thinking that you would stay with me. That you were only with me to make yourself look better. And that you're not going to be with me for long." I say through sobs.

"Ana have I ever given you any reason to think I was bored? That I would leave?" I shake my head. "Exactly. Your are the most interesting person I've ever met. You're wonderfully weird, and beautifully innocent. You beguile me Ana, you're like newly cut grass, the smell after rain, fresh sheets, that song that you'll always remember or the line of a book that you'll never forget. You are new, and exciting and refreshing. You are mine and I love you, Anastasia Rose Steele. I'm never giving you up, not for anything, or anyone, including that bitch Lily Lincoln. So stop freaking out, and only believe what I tell you ok? Because you're my one and only, and I will never stop loving you." I hold his face and kiss him with all the love I can pour into it.

"I love you so much." I say, sniffing.

"I love you too baby, always."

A/N - Hi guys! Thank you for being patient while I was away. I've finished this story now so the updates will be more constant. No more breaks. Thank you for reading always and I hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Sophie x