I stare down at Amaya in all her beautiful glory. Her long, brunette hair was fanned out all around her, making this an image I'd be sure to remember for a lifetime.

But as I continue to stare down at her lovingly, I soon come to the conclusion of something I'd temporarily forgotten. As her chest rises and falls out of anticipation, I remember this will be a moment Amaya will always remember as her first. The first time she'd truly put her trust in me and the first time she'd be closer to anyone than ever before.

But as we all know, I cannot possibly do this to her. Share something so intimate with her and by tomorrow completely shatter her heart? No.

I won't do this to Amaya. She deserves the world and more, but by doing this I wouldn't only be proving I'm a heartless asshole, but I'd also be ruining her idea of love for the future. I want her to be happy, even if it was without me.

When I notice Mya's eyebrows scrunch together in confusion, it becomes clear that I had been quiet for a long while, and I was beginning to look crazy.

"Is everything okay?" She questions concerned.

"Yeah. Everything's fine." I reassure her with a small smile, but the tilt of her head shows that she knows differently.

No matter the circumstances, Amaya's mouth is still upturned in a sweet smile as she looks up at me through her thick lashes. She looked absolutely angelic at this moment and I knew I'd regret my next words. But I also knew it was the right thing to do.

"I'm sorry, princess. But I just don't think I can do this." I sighed as I watched as that sugared grin was wiped from its existence.

Her face registered nothing but befuddlement as her heavenly eyes flashed pure hurt. "Oh."

"I'm sorry Mya. I'm just-"

"No. No that's okay. I understand." She hurriedly sat up in my bed as she pushed me away from her. I noticed her eyes quickly dash around the room, and I assumed she was searching for the sweater she had tossed off not too long ago. Before I could find it she did, and I watched helplessly as she shoved it over her head.

She stood up from the bed, her cheeks were flushing with a new color of red, and from knowing her so long, I knew it was from embarrassment.

I watched her hurriedly smooth out her hair and adjust her top carefully. I continue to observe all that is happening right now, with slight shock.

She sent one last look my way before averting her eyes to the ground, twisting the door knob and bolting out of my room.

I continued to stare where she had once been and was stunned. Everything had all escalated so quickly. One moment we were laying on my bed, wrapped up in a moment of love and passion, and the next she was sprinting out of my room.

What am I doing just sitting here? I need to go find her and explain myself!

I dashed out of the room as fast as I could and tried my best to hurry to her. She was halfway to her room already, but luckily she was just walking. Well, I wouldn't classify it as walking. It was more of a slow, zombie-like shuffle.

"Mya! Wait!" I shouted after her and surprisingly she halted but still kept her back turned to me.

When I finally made it to her, we were only a few steps from her door. I stood in front of her and noticed her eyes remained glued to the floor. It was almost like she was stuck in a daze.

"Mya?"

"Yeah?" She questioned, but her eyes remained on her feet.

"Can you please look at me?" I pleaded before grabbing ahold of her hands.

She didn't squeeze back like she usually would, her hands were basically limp in mine. I knew she wasn't going to look at me willingly, so I reached out and wrapped my fingers around her chin and lifted her head to look at me.

As soon as her eyes locked with mine I immediately regretted everything. There were fresh tears beginning to form in the lower lids of her eyes. Her once megawatt smile was tugged into a downcast frown.

This was all my fault, but I knew deep down I had done the right thing. Being Amaya's first and then breaking up with her the next day would've destroyed her.

"Mya. I'm so sorry."

She bit her lip and a sniffle escaped her before she slipped her hands out of mine. "It's fine."

"It's fine.?" I questioned not believing her.

"Yeah. It's fine. I understand." She tried her best to smile but failed before bringing her sweater sleeve up to wipe her nose.

"Understand? Understand what?" I tilted my head waiting for her to explain.

"That you don't want me like that." She shrugged.

I let out a big sigh, not wanting to believe my ears. She couldn't possibly think that. Could she?

"Amaya, you have to believe me. I want you like "that" more than anything. I just couldn't today because-" I was about to tell her. I was going to tell her everything. About what my mother's scheming ways and what she was forcing me to do, but before I could even start, she cut me off.

"No, Theo. It's okay. You don't have to lie. It doesn't matter anyways. I have to start getting ready for dinner tonight, so I'll just see you later, okay?" I could see the blush taking over her entire face and neck. She was truly embarrassed, and I had caused that for her. God, I'm such a piece of shit.

But I would make this up to her. I'd make sure of it.

***

Amaya's POV:

"I know, guys but I'm just so embarrassed. How am I supposed to ever face him again?" I choked out. I can't believe I was about to cry over this...again. I had been on video conference with Tucker and Annalee for the last hour, ranting and sniffling like the big baby I was.

Theo didn't want to have sex with me. So what? No big deal!

"It's okay, Amaya. I'm sure he has an explanation for this. Let's just take a deep breath, okay?" Annalee tried to comfort me by being her best zen self.

"Eh. It's his loss, honey." Tucker sighed. "If I were straight, I'd take you up on your offer any day."

"Tucker!" I chuckled despite the stray tears that were still left over on my cheeks from my crying fest.

"What? It's true." He said as I saw him shrug on the screen.

"I love you guys." I sniffled as I wiped underneath my eyes. The makeup artist would be here any minute, and knowing her attitude, I knew she'd have something to say about my puffy eyes and reddened face.

"We love you too, girl." Tuck smiled. I was happy to see him back to normal. Happy and upbeat, rather than solemn and sad like yesterday.

"And so does little miss Gracie." Anna smiled as she lifted my dog from the ground and had her little paw wave to the camera.

The knock on my door made me jump in surprise, but I already knew who it was. "Alright guys, she's here. Gotta go!"

"Ugh you're so lucky to have your own personal makeup artist." Annalee sighed dramatically.

"Agreed." Tucker nodded. "We'll talk to you later, Amaya!"

They both waved and the call ended. The room was quieter with them gone, but also a bit lonelier. I took a big inhale and tried to clear my throat to seem normal before answering the door.

When I was ready, I finally twisted the knob and the same makeup artist came tumbling in with her big suitcases full of beauty supplies.

I'd looked in the mirror just as I was about to open the door and my reflection was absolutely horrific, so I was hoping she had brought a miracle along with her.

She shuffled in and tossed her things on my big and made-up bed before turning around to face me. Before, she was too busy trying to carry all her things that she had hardly even noticed me, so when she turned and saw my face for the first time today, she gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"What could you have possibly gotten into in the short time frame from yesterday to today?" She wondered aloud.

"Nothing." I muttered. "Just the same old same old."

I kept my eyes trained on the ground as I spoke to her. I had just gotten all my crying out and if she poked the bear that was my emotions the bear would fight back in a form of sobbing tears.

Something we just didn't have the time for right now. Dinner was just under two hours away.

"Oh," She tsked before she moved across the room to grab me a chair. I looked up to her, slightly confused before she patted the seat. "Sit down, darling. We've got time."

I did as I was told and plopped down and brought my legs up so I they were crossed like a pretzel.

"It's quite obvious that this is a matter of the heart." She told me as she unzipped her suitcases and rifled through her makeup.

"How do you know?" I asked kind of amazed she was able to tell that so quickly and with no information to go on.

"I'm old, darling."

Old? She couldn't have been more than 50.

She chuckled as she continued to work as she talked to me. "I've seen everything, including heartbreak."

I watched as she plugged in the needed curling irons and organized the makeup she'd need for my face. I noticed the palette she'd chosen form me today was a bit darker than yesterday's.

"And I've learned something very important over the years when it comes to boys who have broken your heart." She set up all her brushes before turning to me. "Doesn't matter if it was a big break or the smallest known to man. A break is a break and that's all that matters."

"What is it?" I questioned, growing more curious.

She smirked noticing my anxiousness to know the answers. "You always gotta give them a little payback."

My eyebrows immediately dove together with confusion evident on them.

"We have a little extra time tonight and I like to consider myself a charitable woman, so we're going to go all out tonight, my darling."

I knew in that instant, this was going to be a very long night.

***

The makeup woman, whose name I finally got out of her, Theresa, had spent every last second perfecting my look. From the very last curl in my hair, to the perfect winged eyeliner she had went all out.

Also over this time, I had learned she wasn't as mean and rude as she had led me to believe that first night. She was actually very kind once you got to know her.

She was married with two kids and had been in the makeup business for twenty years, mostly catering to the beauty needs of the rich and powerful. She was one of the top cosmetic artists around and has been known for her work on well-known celebrities, as well as her appearances on a few talk shows.

Theresa was the real deal.

"There! All done! Everyone's going to be absolutely envious of you, darling." I watched as the one side of her lips curled up like the Grinch when he stole Christmas. "Well. Have a look for yourself!"

Theresa had insisted on me having a big reveal at the end and had even went to the trouble to cover all the mirrors so I couldn't peek.

She handed me her own hand-held mirror and my eyes immediately bulged out of their sockets. I don't think I've ever worn this much makeup in my lifetime.

Not that it looked caked on, but the dramatic smokey eye effect was definitely had a major impact. The shadows on my lids were perfectly blended and not a single lash was out of place. My liner was winged so effortlessly and beautifully that it wouldn't surprise me if the decided to fly away. Theresa had really outdone herself. I looked stunning, and the fact that I knew that, gave me the ultimate confidence boost.

"You look amazing, darling." Theresa told me as I admired my now curled hair in the mirror. "So let me tell you something."

I turned to her, desperate to know what she had to say. I mean the woman was after all a miracle worker.

"Well. I always have my clients send me a picture of the outfit they're going to be wearing before I arrive, so I have an idea of what I'm doing before I get here." She begins to tell me.

Not knowing where she's going with this, I urger her to continue.

"And the outfit you're wearing tonight does NOT do this look justice. I'd advise you to wear something else...maybe something that shows a little more skin?" She tells me honestly.

I nod, letting her know I understand as I watch her continue to pack up her things. And not long after she was gone, with all traces of her taken away. I gave her my farewells and thank you's, knowing I'd see her tomorrow.

After what Theresa had told me about this outfit, I was dying to see what it was. I go to the closet and whip open the doors. I scan through the tags, looking for the one labelled specifically to today's date. When I finally locate it, I pull it out and set it on my bed to further examine it.

With my hands on my hips, I look at it from all angles and try to weave through the negatives and the positives of the dress.

A definite positive was that it was simple, but elegant. It was pure white with no other color than the black lace that wrapped itself around the skirt bottom. It was long sleeved and stopped at the top of my knees. It was beautiful, but Theresa was right. I needed something more. Something more...exciting, and I knew just what to wear.

Tucker had convinced me to buy it, saying I looked like an absolute queen in it. It cost no where near as much as the dress Mrs. Thompson had wanted me to wear, but for what it lacked in price it gained in the ability to catch everyone's eye.

I reopened the closet and dug through to find the black material of the dress I had grown to love. And at the very back of the wardrobe, it stood out. Right next to a garment bag labeled specifically for tomorrow's ball, was the dress I was looking for.

With excited hands I yanked the hanger out of the armoire and rushed to the full length mirror at the edge of my room. I laid the dress against my body to give myself an idea of what it'd look like with my hair and makeup.

The dress was just as I remembered. Form-fitting and straight. It was an extremely dress. No embellishments, no lace, nothing. It was just a long-sleeved, off-the-shoulder, black dress.

Normally, I wouldn't wear something that clung to my body so much. The material was basically like spandex with the way it stretched around me, but I felt like this was the perfect time to wear it. Show Theo what he missed out on.

So I slipped into the dress, pulled on a pair of black pumps with glossy red bottoms, and put in a pair of gold, mesh earrings. I fluffed my hair a bit and took a look at the completed product in the mirror.

I looked different. A good kind of different but still different. My usually straight hair was done all up in soft ringlets. My normally bare face was beautifully coated in what I'm sure was the most expensive brands of makeup. I looked like a super-model about to make her way down the runway, and the fact that I had so much new confidence oozing through me seemed surreal.

I felt like I was the only girl in the world, but this time I didn't need a man to tell me how amazing I looked. I knew that all on my own.

***

Unfortunately, Theo got caught up talking to the guests of honor, so I had to walk myself to dinner. He sent me a text explaining, which I briefly skimmed over.

I still wasn't 100% over the fact that e rejected me in the last possible moment of something so personal, but I knew I'd eventually overcome it. But for tonight I was going to make Theo regret what he did.

Did that sound slightly selfish? Sure. And I'm sure he would be able to come up with a miraculous excuse, but for now all I needed was me.

I made my way down the grand staircase all on my own, without Theo holding me upright. I gripped the handrail till my knuckles turned white to ensure I wouldn't topple over my incredibly high heels. When I finally descended the stairs I made my way to the ivory double doors, and that was when the butterflies hit me.

I was nervous. Walking into a room filled with people I barely knew and not completely humiliating myself? Yeah. Like that was possible. Amaya Dawson's signature move was embarrassing the crap out of herself. But this was my day. It was my time to shine. My moment to be independent and look absolutely breathtaking all at once.

All it would take is a second of absolute bravery and that second was now.

I continued to stand there, staring at the door handles.

One second. That's all it would take, but the uncertainties behind the French double doors were holding me back. What if I was the only one dressed like this? What if they judged me?

You know what? No. I know I looked amazing and that's all the mattered. I'm going inside! Right. Now.

And with that I flung open the doors to the elaborate dining room. Just like the previous dinner, the table was set up with the finest china. Every eye in the room was on me, so I took this opportunity to not be my usually clumsy self and walk into the room without tripping over myself.

I looked around the table and noticed all the same spots as yesterday were occupied. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson remained in their thrones, looking down their noses at me. Mrs. Thompson's slight look of disgust told me she was not approving of my outfit change. Mr. Thompson didn't seem to care about my arrival. He just shrugged before taking another swig from his glass of scotch before looking to his watch for the time.

With the four empty seats and the bare plates, I immediately assumed the guests of honor still hadn't arrived.

"Glad to see you've finally decided to show up." Mrs Thompson acknowledged before rolling her eyes for good measure.

"Glad to be here." I said with the most forged smile of them all.

"Hurry and sit down. They're going to be here any second." She gestured to the empty seats before elegantly wrapping her fingers around a wine glass.

My eyes immediately flitted to the vacant spots at the table. On one side, I had Will looking at me with a smirk, as if he was surprised I had the guts to wear something so bold. On the other side was a show of complete opposition.

Although the two brothers were both clearly surprised at my appearance, they both had separate ways of showing it. Whereas Will was laid back, Theo looked like he was suddenly very tense. His eyes looked like they were going to fall out of their sockets and his chiseled jaw was about to scratch the sophisticated marble surface beneath him.

I noticed how much my appearance had affected him and my lip immediately smugly curled up. He seemed to like this look.

I watched him stand from his seat and like it was a second nature to him, he scooted the chair beside him out and looked to me. For a second I was puzzled as to what he was doing and my precisely outlined eyebrows came together on their own to show this. And that's when I realized he wanted me to sit beside him.

I looked from him, to the chair he had just pulled out, and back to him. I knew this was my ultimate moment for payback.

I looked to Theo, shrugged, and walked down the table to Will's side. I pulled out my own seat and sat down beside my current nemesis' brother.

Theo looked shocked and slightly disappointed, but Will just chuckled.

"Using me just to get back at your boyfriend, huh?" He jokingly questioned me.

"I know we just met and I want you to approve of me, but yeah...that's about the gist of it." I whispered back as I adjusted the top of my dress.

"Wow. You're just using me...I'm beginning to like you even more." He laughed again.