She Was The Challenge He'd Been Waiting For.

"S-so..." Isabella began, blushing furiously. "Wow."

"I want to be with you, Iz. I always have." Matt spoke, wiping the stray tears that fell down her face. "You're my Minnie."

Anyone else would probably think that was cheesy, but it made Isabella smile widely. It made sense that Matt was the one she would be with. They both had a weird Disney obsession, and he had always been there for her. Alex had never treated her as well as Matt did on a daily basis.

Still, she had just lost her virginity, and hadn't officially broken up with Alex. She couldn't just agree to be with him. Even if Alex hadn't treated her well and he had pressured her so desperately, she couldn't do that to him.

The brunette sighed, moving away from her, ultimately taking her silence as a "no."

He knew it was too soon. She probably thought that he'd just been waiting to step in. He hadn't wanted her to think that he was only interested in winning her from Alex or something. He'd always cared for her, and always wanted her. From the moment he met her, he knew that she was the girl he wanted.

"Matt, I can't." She spoke quietly. "I want to..."

"He's not sorry, you know." The older boy spoke quietly. "Alex doesn't even care... he never did."

"Don't say that!" She cried, more tears falling.

"He doesn't care about you, Isabella... at least, not like I do."

The blonde frowned, unsure what he wanted from her.

Didn't he understand that she was a bit heartbroken after what had happened? Sure, she liked him... a lot, but she couldn't just move on like that. Alex had damaged her, used her. She didn't fathom that Matt didn't understand that she was hurting. She wasn't able to explain it to him, but he should have understood. It was so selfish to think that she would automatically crawl into his lap.

"Look, if you need time to process everything."

Isabella nodded slowly.

The older boy smiled sadly, nodding his head in response.

He gave her a hug, rocking her small form back and forth. He wanted to heal her wounds, take care of her. She was like a bird that couldn't fly, and he needed to teach her to spread her wings again. She had just been through an emotional rollercoaster, and he needed to give her some time.

"Y-you probably want some time to think... I should go."

The small blonde nodded slowly, daring to press her lips to his softly.

Matt smiled, stroking her cheek. "Just... when you need me, I'll be here, okay?"

Isabella smiled, not saying anything.

Even after Matt had left her, she was smiling. Her whole body seemed to be on fire just from kissing him. She couldn't focus on anything without thinking about his lips on hers or the way he smelt. There was ultimately a comfort that she felt with him that she had never once felt with Alex. She had no idea what made him so special, but she felt lucky.

Of course, she couldn't help but regret everything that had happened with Alex. Still, she wouldn't have met Matt if she hadn't been with Alex... It was all an odd catch 22 or something. A part of her wanted to fix Alex, and talk to him. Another part of her was too disgusted to even fathom talking to him. Ultimately, she was saddened that she could no longer cling to her maidenhood, her virginity stolen.

She sighed, lying back against her pillows, and wrapping herself tightly in her covers.

"I can't believe him!" Kara exclaimed, full of anger.

Isabella fell silent, her gaze falling on her sundae.

"Bells, sweetie, I had no idea when you were asking-"

The blonde nodded slowly. "Its nothing you did, Kar." She sighed, shaking her head.

She didn't blame Kara at all for what had happened. The girl had become one of her closest friends and there was no way she would've known. Isabella didn't blame her at all, but she did feel badly that she hadn't been able to say anything. If Kara had known what was going on between her and Alex, what could she have down anyway?

"So what about Matt?" Kara asked nonchalantly, causing the other girl's eyes to widen.

Isabella was having a hard time answering that question for herself. She'd been thinking of him nonstop since their kiss. Maybe it was because he had taken care of Alex or because he comforted her, but she longed for him now. Still, she was not officially over with Alex, as far as she knew. She just needed some form of closure.

And then, she saw him. He headed into the diner alone, with visible bruises from where Matt had bunched him. Isabella felt the butterflies in her stomach start to flutter. No matter how terribly he'd treated her, she still had feelings for him. He was still her first.

Kara was mumbling to herself angerly, but Isabella stopped her, saying it was okay. She didn't want to cause a scene. She wasn't sure what she wanted... to talk to him, to yell at him. All she knew was that there would be nothing good of it if Kara decided to attack.

It was like any other day, like nothing had even happened. That was what she wanted, though, wasn't it? To get on with her life, forget the whole thing. No. For some inexplicable reason she wanted him to acknowledge her. She wanted him to take responsibility in some way, she didn't know how, but some way. She wanted him to look at her.

Neither girl did anything, just stared at the boy as he sat alone at the counter and ordered something quietly.

Isabella couldn't help but let her emotions get in the way. To her, no matter how Alex had pressured her or tarnished her, he was still a good person. She still cared deeply for him. Even through her heartbreak, she still cared for him. No one seemed to understand that she didn't feel capable of hating him.

"Bells," Kara finally spoke.

"Yeah?"

"You said you wanted closure. Now's your chance."

"I...I don't know." She bit her lip. "M-maybe its too soon."

The brunette frowned, but didn't dare go against Isabella's wishes as they watched his back.

She didn't understand why Isabella was not furious that he'd dare show his face around town. She didn't understand that the girl was too distraught in her own way, and couldn't comprehend much. Isabella didn't react like anyone she knew. She seemed absolutely emotionless about the whole situation and it upset Kara further.

Finally, taking a deep breath, Isabella stood up from her spot and made her way to the counter where Alex sat. He didn't notice her, too busy reading a copy of Alternative Press, but then as she cleared her throat, his eyes widened. He turned to her with a horror stricken expression.

She didn't say anything, just waited for him to.

"Iz, fuck..." He murmured.

The blonde looked at him placidly, shaking her head. "Who the fuck do you think you are, Asskarth?"

Her voice had a rough edge he would have never assumed she could have. He had never expected that she would be brave enough to seek her closure. She was the only girl he'd done this to that he felt honestly badly about. In the time since they'd slept together, he'd had a lot of time to think and-

"I was scared." Alex spoke quietly, his gaze falling on the counter.

Isabella took a seat beside him. "Scared?"

"O-of actually feeling something for you."

She sighed.

"I know I fucked up with you, Iz. I hate that I did..." He sighed, turning to look at her. "I think the honest I've ever been with you is telling you that I love you."

The blonde was flabbergasted.

She couldn't figure out if she was happy that he would say that to her or if she was upset... She didn't know if she could even believe him. He had lied to her so much that she didn't know she could believe when he claimed to be honest.

So instead of reacting, she summoned all the courage in her to slap him across the face. Then, she returned to her seat with Kara nonchalantly. Alex sat there, wide eyed, bringing a hand to where her hand collided with his cheek.

God, he deserved that.