Today started off on a weird note. I planned on spending the day with Seth, but that fell apart quickly when he claimed that he had a major meeting with the Authority. I decided not to question him, even though I called Stephanie to ask her if it was real. She said yes, so I left it at that.

Then, I called Lillie to ask if she wanted to hang-out with me today. Then, she's going to say that she's busy today, something with work. She said that I could hang-out with Enzo and Cass instead, though. So, that's where I was now.

We were walking around the strip of Miami, Florida. It was different than what we've done before when we're on tour. We're almost always doing everything to prepare for a show or pay-per-view weekend. I liked this scenery with two of my most closest guy-friends.

Cass and Enzo were joking around about something that happened over the weekend. I wasn't paying much attention to their conversation, mostly because my mind was kind of gone at this point. I was too annoyed by the simple fact that both Seth and Lillie suddenly couldn't hang-out with me today. Why just them?

"I'm thirsty," I heard Enzo say, then suddenly stopping with Cass doing the same right beside himself. We were stopped in front of a small coffee shop, which Zo was signaling towards. "Let's stop and get some coffee before heading back to the hotel."

Cass seemed to be agreeing with him, so I just shrugged and with along with it. Cass held the door open wide for myself and Zo as we headed inside. I went ahead and stood in line, looking through my purse for my money.

"Can't find your money?" I heard somebody ask, but didn't automatically recognize their voice. I assumed that it was Enzo, so I nodded and looked up, seeing a very familiar man standing directly in front of me instead of being behind me.

   "Baron," I breathed out, leaving my eyes wide and my mouth wide open in disbelief. He was standing right there in front of me, smiling. My heart...

"I got you," he said, taking a step forward and turning towards the cashier. "Hi, could I get some iced tea and, for the lady here, I'll get her one-shot espresso of the mocha latte."

"You remembered," I whispered out, still in total disbelief over everything. From him to the simple fact that he remembered how I liked my coffee.

Before he could say anything, the lady over the counter had our drinks made and handed them over to Baron. I turned around for a split second to see where Enzo and Cass had ran off to, and they ended up being basically right behind me with their eyebrows raised in question. They held their hands up in disbelief.

I just held up my index finger and mouthed to them: "One second, please." Somehow, they agreed and hung back.

I followed Baron to the back in a dark spot, where he offered me a seat. I took a seat in front of him while he sat my latte down. At first, it started off really awkward with some small talk. Such as: "How are you?"

"I'm good," I told him, truthfully, with a slow nod. It was only today that wasn't so good. "How about you?"

He nodded with a gulp. "I'm good, too. How's things been since your accident?"

"Fine," I simply said, taking a quick sip of my latte. I swallowed and it was really delicious, no doubt about it. "I'll be okay for now on."

"How's Seth and you doing as a new couple?" he suddenly asked, seeming bitter about it.

   Immediately, I titled my head to the side and countered him with: "How's Maria? Your wife, remember her?"

   Perhaps, that was way too rude, but I didn't think about that at the moment. He's always been up my ass, like my thong, all about myself and Seth. Now, I'm turning the tables on him and asking him how his wife was doing.

   By the look on his face, I realized my mistake by jumping to conclusions like that. He was just trying to make innocent conversation and I took it to a whole other level. My bad.

   After he took a sip of his iced tea, he looked up at me and confessed: "My wife and I have realized that we have a loveless marriage. We're officially going through with our divorce."

   I was definitely taken back by this information, as I nearly spit out my latte right in his face. I couldn't believe that he and his wife were finally splitting up. He wouldn't even leave her for me, but I'm no longer bitter about that. I have moved on in my life, obviously. It still just sucks that I fell in love with a married man and was totally blinded to the sad fact that he wouldn't ever leave Maria for me...

   "I'm sorry," I finally apologized to him, looking down at my latte to avoid eye contact with him.

   "Hey," he breathed out and that's when I looked up to meet his eyes somewhere in the middle of this tension between us. "I still love you, Ellie. I just wish that I would've stayed where my heart was. It belonged to you."

   This sudden rush of his confession sent chills down my spine as I tried not to look at him. I couldn't resist, after all. I wanted to just cry and cry until I couldn't anymore. I really love Seth, more than I ever thought that I would. Yet, somehow, Baron was there first for me, always having my back and loving me when nobody else would or could.

   I had to let this feeling go...

   "Baron," I choked out, reaching over to caress his hand with mine, "I will always love you. You do know that, right? But, my heart belongs to Seth now and this is probably the happiest that I've ever been in my life. My dad walked out on me, but came back. Seth did the same, but came back to me, too. Maybe, in the future, we'll be in a different place in our lives, where we can reunite the flame that we once shared. However, for right now, I hope that my life with Seth last forever. I hope that you find your happy ending as well. Don't quit looking for it, either."

(BTW: I'm legitimately crying actual blood right now over Ellie's fcking speech up there, man... WAY sadder than it should've been, man 😭)

   He took a moment to think about that before nodding with a heavy sigh that escaped through his lips. "Well, I've noticed that about you two," he said, gulping. "You're happy and, honestly, even though it hurts me to see you with him and not me... I'm happy for you. I'll never stop loving you, either."

   We both smiled about it, even though when we both wanted to break under the pressure. I did, if anything. This was heart-wrenching and totally pathetic of me to feel this way when I have Seth. You'll never forget your first real love...

Our final goodbye was happening. We both stood up as he took my hand and placed a soft kiss onto it. His lips felt nice on me, even if it was on just my hand. Finally, with tears in my eyes, I whispered to him: "Goodbye, Baron."

Then, I turned my back on him as I took my latte with me. Couldn't leave that behind, but my heart remained with him. I left him there as Zo and Cass followed after me when I flew through the door. I had loved him once upon a time. Maybe I will forever, but I now have Seth to remind me that first loves don't last forever...

• #Barellie ; - Their Story Isn't Over Yet... •

S/O to fabandboujee_ for helping me with this chap 💚