Only One
an excerpt

Avery started to turn and walk away, through with all of it. She was not just going to stand here and listen to a worthless apology from Owen any longer. It was not worth it anymore. He had hurt her too much.

But, she felt his arm tug on her to pull her back towards him so she would listen to him again. He then spoke once more, an action that would change everything for both of them.

“Avery...The second reason why I...why I...I left...is because...well...I'm in love with you,” Owen said with such a hesitant and shaky voice that Avery had to pause and think about what he said before she could take it all in. He…loved her? Impossible. Completely absurd.

But, his words reinflated her broken heart, sending a new emotion running through her body. She was furious at him, for so many things, but to know that he loved her too, still, after all this time, came a feeling of elation that she had a hard time ignoring. She did not want to be happy about this. She wanted to hate him. She had every right to hate him, and never to speak to him again.

But she couldn’t. Maybe it was that 17 year old girl in her that had been vying for his love for so long, and part of her still was. Yes, even after this long and all the pain he had put her through, she loved him back, as much as it pained her to admit it to herself. And now, she just wanted to tell him she loved him too, even if this would be the last time she saw him. At least she could feel relief in knowing that she told him, even if it led to nothing.

Owen, though, happened to misinterpret Avery’s silence for something much worse. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Avery, that I couldn't be the man you wanted me to,” Owen said, his head down and shaking slightly as he walked away from her, his hands shoved in his pocket.

“Owen…” Avery whispered, feeling as though as he walked away, he was taking the wind out of her. So, she had her moment to walk away and never look back. Owen was leaving, and she could too, with no problem. She could move on with her life and leave Owen behind her forever. But, she couldn’t. She needed to tell him one more thing, before she could declare this over, for both of them.

With out a second thought, she ran after Owen, grabbing his arm and turning him around. She opened her mouth to say her peace, but no words came out. For once in her life, Avery Prewett was speechless. She looked into Owen’s engaging blue eyes, and decided now was the time to do this. It was now or never. So, deciding it was best to act out her words rather than try and get them out, she flung her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply on the lips.