Revenge, Rebirth and Second Chances

Remembering her First Kiss

She had always shared things with him and he hadn't liked it that day when she hadn't told him. After a lot of coaxing from his side, she told him the whole story. He had silently listened to her and when she was finally done retelling, it was then she had broken down and not be able to keep tears anymore in her eyes. But she hadn't realized she was already crying, it was only when his fingers wiped the tears from her eyes. He had let her cry on his shoulder after that while he held her close in his arms. He had wiped her tears and he had told her lovingly not to think about that jerk who didn't deserve her at all. She had doubted that and when she had voiced that he had told her how wrong she was and then it had just happened.

She was still in his arms and he was talking to her, telling her how she was so beautiful. Anyone who didn't see that was a fool. How she was such a kind person who couldn't even see anyone, even a small dog hurting, and would immediately rush to help without any care for herself in the world. How she was so selfless that she would give everything to her friends. How strong she was to fight for her friends, and an amazing friend she was. And how anybody who couldn't see was blind and didn't deserve her. It was just too much for her.

She didn't know who it was at first. Did she lean in first, or did he get closer to her first, but somehow they had gotten a lot closer, their lips almost touching yet not. He had looked down into her eyes before focusing back on her lips as if to ask if she was okay with it. She didn't remember if she had nodded or had just leaned in, but soon their lips had locked in a very gentle yet passionate kiss. It had given her an unknown yet amazing feeling, the way he had held her lips in his sucking them, the way his eyes had looked into her while doing that. She couldn't describe the feeling but it had felt like everything had disappeared and it had just been him and her at that moment. He had parted her lips and taken time exploring her lips and she didn't know how long they had been kissing, but it was only when they had heard his mom call them down for dinner, that was when they had parted. She didn't remember why she had been crying for the moment, she hadn't remembered anything other than the taste of his lips on her, it was only his mother's voice that had pulled her out of it and looking at him, it had seemed the same for him. He had looked into her eyes, wiped her eyes again, and then, with a kiss on her forehead, had separated her from himself. He had told her to take her time while he went down and kept them occupied. With that and a loving look in his eyes, he had left the room to go downstairs.

She had remembered that look and that moment for a long time and wondered often why he had done it. She had wanted to talk to him about the kiss or what was between them, but his parents had an accident after that vacation and he had been depressed that they had never bought what had happened that day again. Eventually, they even lost touch, and for a long time, she hadn't really talked to him and only did when he had come with his parents to her dad's funeral. It had been such a long time that slowly she had forgotten about the kiss or how his lips had tasted to her that day. It was only now with him so close to her that that kiss had flashed in her head, making her blush and rendering her speechless. It was messing with her mind, and she needed some space. Space to think clearly and not do something she would regret.

So, with her drink in her hand and after telling him to keep his distance, she got up from the seat without a destination in mind but just a thought. He had let her go, it was what she had asked for, so she wasn't sure why, but her heart had wished for a small moment that he would hold her, tell her not to go, ask her to stay. Anything that showed he still cared, although she wasn't sure why she was expecting that. It had been a long time since they hadn't been close or even been in touch. The only time in the last 2 years he had shown her he care was at her father's funeral. The Woods had come, especially his father and mother, and they had hugged her and said how they were going to miss him and he was kind, gentle soul and a few other words that had given her a bit of comfort, but it was him that had made it easier for her to say goodbye to her dad one last time. He had held her hands silently through the whole thing, and even when everyone had left, he hadn't. But he had given her space to go talk to her father in private after everyone left; standing away from her not to hear what she was saying but close enough to be within reach when she needed him. And she had needed him. Once she was done talking one last time to her dad, she had gone to him, and he had held her in his arms and let her cry. He had stayed with her for a day more and helped her, but then he needed to go back, and she needed to be the CEO of her dad's company. He didn't come back after that and never spoke to her after that. She had messaged him but with no response. She wasn't sure why he was there now, but she didn't want him to come close to her again and break her walls down. It was Aaron there for her after he had left her and never looked back. Aaron had quickly become her rock at that time, but now she wasn't sure if Aaron had ever been it.

She quickly drowns her glass and goes back to the dance floor. She spotted Jim coming closer to her, and after introducing the sweet girl Angela to her, they started dancing together and eventually moved to the VIP area to give their feet some rest. Jim had gotten some drinks for all of them from time to time. She thought Jim and Angela looked really cute together and had said so too, seeing how that had made both of them blush. She had been amazed by seeing her best friend Jim blush and was sure he thought Angela was more than just a nightstand.

She had felt someone staring at her back all this time, though, and had a feeling it was Justin, but she hadn't turned around and kept pretending like he wasn't drilling holes in her back. She had been having a fun time getting to know Angela while teasing both of them and dancing together with them. Merissa had drunk more than she could count, and she was sure it was the same for both Jim and Angela and Angela's friend that had joined them too. It was only when Angela's friend had said something about going home that they realized what time it was. Jim had accompanied Angela and her friend outside to get a cab for them to take them back home while Merissa sat back in the VIP area they had gone back to a while ago, waiting for Jim to be back.

She had felt the eyes on her back even in the VIP area, but after many drinks, she had forgotten about them and didn't even realize when he had come.

"Looks like all your friends have ditched you."

She was startled and looked slowly to see Justin sitting beside her, or was it two Justin? She couldn't tell and laughed, thinking how funny it was that two were talking to her at the same time, wondering how they did it and when he had another with him. She giggled more to herself at that. Seeing her in this state, Justin called his driver, intending to take her back home since he thought her friends had left her all alone and not wanting her to be all by herself this late at night.

"Okay, I think it is time for you to go home."

" But I don't wanna go back, I want to stay here. I am having so much fun. Why are you ruining it? Let me have fun. "

Merissa cried while also laughing. Seeing her like this, Justin wasn't sure what to do or say to her. But seeing her grab another glass of vodka, he decided she had had enough. Picking her up in his arms, he carried her outside where, just a little far away from them, Jim was saying bye to Angela. Turning around, he saw just in time to see Justin putting a drunk Merissa in his car. He knew who Justin was and had also known how close they were, having seen it at Merissa's father's funeral. He had wanted to be there but seeing how they both held to each other, he had chosen not to. He knew that Justin was trustworthy and, therefore, without a word but a nod towards Justin, let him go, hoping that Merissa would forget that bastard Aaron.