Amaya's POV:

It was like my feet had suddenly been glued to the floor, and my tongue had become a sheet of sandpaper. I stood there, with my mouth agape and refusing to look Theo in the eye. I couldn't look at him, or else I'd just start crying all over again. If I cried another time I'm sure my eyes would dry up like the desert. I was surprised I wasn't dehydrated yet from all the constant crying and wallowing.

I felt pathetic, and truth be told, I was so done with all this. It was Christmas. My Christmas, my favorite holiday out of them all and they had to come traipsing in like they owned the place?

No. I was tired of the Thompson family acting like they owned the world, and acting like nobody else's feelings mattered. All that mattered to them was money and power. They had absolutely no right to be here. I was over them and it was time for them to go.

Without removing my eyes from the hardwood of our living room, I cleared my throat and spoke. "It's time for you guys to go."

"Mya, could you please just hear me out?"

"No. Why should I? I'm done being the understanding and forgiving person all the time. I'm tired of it all. I'm tired of always being considerate to others, just for them to walk all over me." My eyes finally flickered up to Theo and I immediately regretted it.

I returned my eyes back to the ground and kept them there. He was now keeping his mouth zipped shut, but in his eyes I knew he was desperately wanting to talk again. But I didn't care. I was holding my ground.

In the few seconds I had seen him I noticed he was sporting a five-o'clock shadow across his pronounced jawline, proving that he hadn't taken the time to shave since the ball. There were dark circles from lack of sleep resting rudely beneath his eyes. Theo was in just about as bad shape as me, maybe even worse. It was so odd to see him looking anything less than his usual model-like self.

I almost felt bad for him. Key word being almost.

"So you can both leave. Now."

"No no. Nobody go anywhere. Mya, sweetie, can you help me grab the cookies from the kitchen?" My mom stood from the couch and gently wrapped her hand around my forearm, pulling me out of the room before I could say no.

"Mom, what are you doing?" I asked when she finally released me.

"Trying to help you. Amaya, sweetheart. I know you're hurting, but you told me he never truly broke up with you. You just heard it from rumors."

"Yeah, but he admitted to the whole thing being true. He was planning on dumping me either way!" I retorted, feeling like my mom was suddenly against me.

"Maybe, but what is also true is that you never heard him out. I know you don't want me saying this, but you two are so good together. He brings out this light in you that I hadn't seen in you since you were a child. Back when you were so carefree. Before you cared about GPAs and your college applications. And when he looks at you, he looks at you like you're the only one in the room. He sees only you, Amaya. He's a good boy, sweetie. I know he is, and I think you should at least give him a chance to be heard. I know you want nothing to do with him right now, but just give him a chance to tell his story." She looked into my eyes seriously, almost like she knew something I didn't.

I was shocked at her words, and felt butterflies flutter in my stomach. She had seen that much during Thanksgiving? How had she been able to see things I didn't even know were in existence?

Either way, I was not giving in.

"I don't care. I can find another guy to look at me like that."

"Amaya."

"No, mom. I am standing my ground. Why are you against me on this?"

She shrugged. "I just think you should hear him out and after that if you feel the same, like you still can't deal with him, then that's your decision to make. But I don't want you to make a hasty decision when you haven't even heard the other side of the story."

I hadn't seen my mom look so serious about something in so long. The free spirited woman that she usually wasn't evident in this moment. I let out a sigh and picked up the plate of cookies. "Fine. Let's go get this over with."

"Good!" She sounded optimistic as she followed me. "I'll just go see your dad tomorrow."

I immediately stopped and whipped around, almost making all the cookies slide off Christmas-themed ceramic.

"No. You can't just ditch dad on Christmas." I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. I can't believe I was about to do this to myself. "Why don't you go see him while I deal with this whole situation?"

I noticed her eyes immediately light up, but she did her best to hide it. "Are you sure sweetie? I don't want to leave you all alone here."

"Yeah. I'm positive. Just tell dad I'll be in to see him tomorrow and that I'm sorry I couldn't see him."

"I could just wait on you." She suggested.

"Mom, I'm serious. Just go. I have a feeling that this conversation isn't going to be over before visiting hours." I sighed before truthfully.

My mother looked conflicted. I could see there was a battle going on in her eyes, whether to stay or to go. But in the end I assisted her to the door, assuring her I'd be just fine by myself.

I wasn't sure I would be, but I was tired of seeing the guilt in my mother's eyes, so I just went for it.

As soon as the door was sealed shut between us, I immediately regretted my decision. Having my mom here ensured me not turning into one of two personalities.

Either a raging lunatic or a pathetic and sobbing mess. Knowing myself, I was expecting an equal mix of the two to channel through me. So I put on my bravest face and walked back into the living room.

Theo was sitting there staring at the floor with his hands folded in front of him, waiting for me to return. And as soon as I did, he perked right up.

Our eyes met and I immediately felt bad. Which I hated.

I had no reason to feel sorry for him. This was all on him. It was his fault completely, but my stupid heart still yearned to hold him in my arms and comfort him.

There was a major civil war was going on between my brain and heart. My mind knew that Theo had broken us up. He was the reason we were in this whole mess and yet my heart still loved him with all it had. For this battle, I had no idea who was going to be the victor.

Theo's POV:

The first thing I noticed about Amaya was how cute she looked in her christmas pajamas. We had picked ours out together online, and I thought a onesie covered in reindeers was just right for her. She had always told me that Christmas was her favorite holiday, but her face showed differently.

Her eyes were red and puffy, like she had been crying for a day straight. And her hair was disheveled as if she had just rolled out of bed. This wasn't the Amaya I knew, and I knew that it was my fault she was like this. I had ruined her festive holiday within the timespan of a few days.

How could I even begin to apologize? Could she ever take me back? And more importantly, would she ever forgive me?

The girlfriend I have come to know and love had always been the most forgiving person I knew, but this was a whole other level. Just as I was about to lose my shit, Mya walked back into the room with a plate of Christmas-themed cookies. I watched her politely set the platter down on the coffee table and quietly take a seat on the chair opposite me.

She didn't say a word and refused to even meet my eyes. It was becoming very clear how close I was to losing the one thing in my life I was proud to have. The one person who I loved. Was she as afraid of losing me as I was of losing her?

Amaya's POV:

Was he as afraid of losing me as I was of losing him? I know he broke up with me. He drove a wedge between us. He didn't communicate. This was all his fault.

But seeing him sitting there across from me, all shifty and nervously messing with his hair every five seconds I started seeing all the things I would miss when I lost him.

His joking manner that would always bring my mood up in trying times. His perfectly chocolatey eyes that could make any dieter break their commitment. The way he treated children and animals with such compassion. The way he cared for me, sick or healthy. And most importantly, the way he loved me with all his heart.

Sitting there thinking about him, started to eat away at my resolve to block him out till the end of our days. Thinking all those lovely things about him triggered something in me, and before I could stop myself I again locked eyes with the one and only Theo Thompson.

Theo's POV:

In a rather surprising turn of events, Amaya's eyes moved away from the coffee table and locked with mine. Confusion and sadness swirled around her beautiful irises. I wanted to take her in my arms and apologize profusely, but I didn't want to push my luck so I remained rooted to my seat.

Beside me my mother cleared her throat, which surprised me since I had almost forgot she was there. "So Amaya."

Amaya's mood immediately changed. Her pretty eyes left mine and vehemently landed on my mother.

"What do you want?" She spat.

"Amaya, you have every right to be angry with me, but I want you to know right here and now that Theo didn't break up with you because he wanted to. I made him do it." She said with a regretful tone.

Mya's emotions changed so quickly that I had no idea how to decipher what she was thinking. I opened my mouth to ask what she was thinking, but before I could she was on it.

"Explain." She kept her comments short out of what I was assuming was anger.

My mother went into great detail about her past, my false father, and all his threats. But she still took all the blame for everything, saying she shouldn't have let it get as far as it did. My mother had spilled all her life secrets to Amaya after only knowing her for a short time. Something she never did. Trust was difficult for her, but she did all this in hopes I would get my love back.

And judging by Amaya's face, I didn't know whether or not I had her back.

The couch lifted as my mother rose to her feet and excused herself. "You two need some time to talk. I'll be in the kitchen."

She was halfway there, but she turned back around. "Amaya?"

Amaya's eyes unfortunately left mine and connected with my mother's. "Yes?"

"I truly am sorry. Please don't be angry with Theo. It's all my fault. I gave him no choice, but to break up with you. I threatened you through him, and for that I'll always hate myself. I put my livelihood above my own son's happiness. Don't take it out on him. Everything he did was for you. To ensure your happiness, with or without him. He's truly an angel, and letting him go would be a huge mistake." She sent me a sad smile, and moved to the kitchen to give us privacy.

My mother taking responsibility for everything she'd done really improved her image in my eyes. We were far from being 'okay,' but after this we were definitely moving in that direction.

"What does she mean, Theo?" Amaya asked with her confused eyes on me.

"It doesn't matter, Mya." I sighed. "All I know is that I don't want to lose you. You mean the world to me, and if I lost you it would be like losing a major part of me. You've made me into such a better man, and without I'd be losing my whole world."

I hadn't realized I was crying until I felt a tear hit my lip. Crying wasn't something I did often. I was taught from a young age to keep your emotions in and crying only showed how much less of a man you are. My un-biological father had been strict about that, especially when we were in public.

Instinctively, I put my hands over my eyes and cried silently. I didn't care anymore. I was hurting and I was done bottling up my emotions.

The room was silent for a minute before I heard Amaya get up from her spot in her seat, probably leaving the room. I expected it and I was okay with it. She deserved better than me.

What I didn't expect was for her to sit next to me and gently take my hands in hers. She removed them from my face and held them in her palms. Her cheeks were wet too, telling me she had been crying too.

With her soft hands she swiped away all my tears, and looked into my eyes. "Tell me the truth, Theo. Tell me."

I sighed and looked up into her eyes. She was begging me to tell the truth, and after nearly a week of withholding the truth, I felt like it was the least I could do.

"What do you want to know?" I asked ready to answer any and all of her questions.

She sat back and thought for a minute before she opened her mouth to ask her first question. "Why?"

She had a sad smile on her lips, and knowing Mya, I knew she partly blamed herself. She had to know this had nothing to do with her, and I was going to do everything in my power to assure her she had no responsibility in any of this.

Amaya's POV:

"Why?" I questioned.

When a lot of girls were broken up with their first question would be asking if there was cheating taking place. Or maybe they wanted to know if it had to do with their conflicting schedules. maybe she'd scream at him or attempt a physical fight.

But none of that was me. I just wanted to know one thing. Why?

Why did all this happen to me? Why didn't he just tell me everything, and just communicated? Why did Theo done this to me? Why had he let his mother push him around? And if he really loved me, why would he go through with it all?

So many questions were bouncing around in my skull that mentally I could only compartmentalize it all into one word. One question.

Why?

Theo looked to me, lounged at the end of the couch and thought for a moment. "I now it sounds stupid, but I did it all to protect you."

I immediately scoffed at his answer and rolled my eyes.

"Are you serious with me right now?" I removed myself from the couch and came to stand in front of him. I was now looking down to him and I could see in his eyes he was begging me not to leave. Begging me to stay and hear him out.

"Please Amaya. Just listen to me." He pleaded as he gently pulled at my arm.

I pulled my arm away from his touch, which still to this day left sparks buzzing through me. Reluctantly I silently sat back at the end of the sofa, and waited for him to explain himself.

"When my mom called to tell me I had to come to this ball, I instantly declined. I was over coming to her stupid events. I would've rather stayed on campus with you. We could've decorated a tree, danced around the apartment to festive music, and made little Gracie put on some cute reindeer ears." He smiled like he was in a dream land, but was soon pulled back to reality and the gin fell from his lips. "There were a million things I would've rather done than come to her stupid ball, but she said if I didn't she'd get you kicked out of the university."

I shook my head, unbelieving.

"Wait. What?" I asked, making sure I had heard him right.

"Yeah. She threatened to have you kicked out of the college you had worked so hard to get into."

"How would she even do that?" I questioned, not believing a word he was saying.

"You'd be surprised what all you can do with money, especially my mother." He said with a slight tone of embarrassment.

"Why would she do that?" I questioned, still trying to puzzle everything together. This whole plot just continued to boggle my mind. Like eggs, my mind was scrambled.

Theo's POV:

"To make sure I'd come to her little charity event. She knew how much I liked you and manipulated my feelings for you into getting everything she wanted. But that isn't where the blackmail ended." I told her. I was telling her everything, making sure not to leave a detail out. I wasn't losing her over this. I refused to.

I looked up to Mya and the expression in her eyes told me to keep going.

"As soon as we got to the house, it was like everything intensified. My mother's threats became worse. First it was just about getting you kicked out of college, but when she realized how close we were, she added onto her extortion."

"Huh?" Amaya was confused now as she tried her best to keep up.

"My mother changed her threat. At first it was if I didn't come for Christmas you'd get kicked out. Then when I had completed the task of her little game she changed the rules, saying that if I didn't break up with you then you'd get kicked out."

"What did you do?" She had her head propped against her hand listening intently to the full story.

"I didn't know what to do. A couple days ago, you remember how I was all mad and drinking?" I asked her to remember.

She nodded.

"Well it was because I didn't know what to do. I was agitated because I was having a mental crisis. I'm sorry to have taken it out on you. Just know that was unintentional." I explained.

"It's okay." She sent me a sad smile.

"Keep going." She said as she let her hand give mine an encouraging squeeze.

"Either way I would be losing something. If I broke up with you, I would lose you. The one person who I have come to love and who I love being with. But if I didn't break up with you, I'd lose getting to see you happy in the place you felt close with your dad." I explained.

"So you chose to break up with me right away?" She asked with a tsk.

"No." I replied, getting an automatic look of befuddlement from her.

"You weren't going to?" She quizzed.

"No." I looked down to my hands, embarrassed with myself. "At the time I didn't thoroughly think of what you would be losing. I didn't think over the consequences as much as I should have.I just told myself I'd be there to comfort you, and help you get into a different school. I selfishly only thought about keeping you, even if it meant you losing so much. I'm sorry about that, Mya."

"But you didn't go through with it."

"No. I didn't, but that wasn't my first answer. I was going to stay with you no matter what, but with more thinking I knew I needed to break up with you. But I only came to that conclusion because my mother added more threats to everything."

"More?! How could she possibly think of more?" Amaya shouted, angry.

"I know this is all upsetting, Mya. I'm sorry, but I'm really telling you everything. I'm telling you all the truth." I figured I'd remind her.

"I know you are, Theo." She gave me a tight-lipped smile, which I added to the 'not-so-bad' pile of this whole conversation. "Keep going."