"W-what?"

Susie's expression was beyond perplexed. I leant into her ear and spoke in a low tone.

"I said, be my mermaid, Susie"

"What do you mean by that?"

Well there goes me trying to be romantic, I thought. I ran my hands over my face.

"I mean that I want you to be my girl, Susie. Move in with me, stay with me, be with me. Be mine, baby."

She searched my face, and I realised she was looking for honesty.

"Susie, I'm serious. You gotta trust me. I want you... I need you in my life. Nobody has ever made me feel-"

She cut me off, getting up off the bed, still naked. She stood right in front of me with no attempt to cover herself whatsoever.

I didn't mind, of course.

"This way before? Yeah... I wonder how many times I heard that one."

"I'm telling the truth" Her assumption made my heart sink to my stomach.

"No! No, you think you are, right now. At this very moment with your testosterone up in your damn head you mean everything you say. But give it a month, week even, you will realise that I'm no good for you, you will toss me aside because I am so disposable and you would rather I didn't soil your good name anyways. That's what's gonna happen, Jackson. We can have an entire week of lust filled goodass sex but it ain't gonna last because I know you don't feel anything for me other than what your dick is feeling, alright? So you might as well save your breath on that fake romantic shit."

Her venomous tone cut me open. Was that really what this was? Just lust? Just sex? Nothing more? I couldn't believe that.

"No Susie listen. I know what they say to you. I know they lead you on and drop you. But I would never do that to you. I don't talk about my feelings usually, I don't like talking about how I feel, but it's you that's changing me.... you're doing something to me a-and I can't explain it and it's not just because I have this overwhelming desire for you either... it's something else. You gotta trust me, baby, you have to trust the fact I'm not going to desert you."

Her eyes glittered but she shook her head.

"I don't care. Quite frankly, I... do not.... care. Whether you mean it or not, I can't trust you. That's just the way I am. I have learnt not to trust people or let people use me as a doormat. I rely on no one but my damn self, because I can't physically leave my own ass."

She walked across the room, picking up her stray items of clothing, pulling them on quickly. I watched her intently from the bed.

"Susie... don't leave. Not like this."

"No I'm gonna go, I said I wasn't gonna stay from the beginning. The sooner I'm gone, the sooner you can forget about me and your-"

She stopped herself but I pressed her.

"Me and my what?"

She stood up and blinked at me, her face flushing.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter."

I slid out of bed, my pyjamas rumpled and unbuttoned.

"It matters. Tell me what you were gonna say. Me and my what, Susie?"

She walked over to the door and pulled it open. I followed her close behind.

"I can't... I can't say. I shouldn't be here, I have to go"

This woman was beyond irritating. As she jogged down the stairs I grabbed her waist and shoved her against the wall. It was the only way I ever got anything out of her.

"You tell me. Right now. My what? I'm not going to ask you again" My tone was low and authoritative, she wasn't getting away from me that easily.

"Y-your... your fiancé, Michael"

*

My heart slammed to a stop, memories flooding back to me in waves.

"I don't have a fiancé, S-Susie"

She shook her head, her eyes watering. I looked into them and it all made sense.

Her eyes. They were similar, but not exactly the same as hers. Her name too, was the same. Her hair must have been cut, I realised that her blonde hair was nothing but the work of deception. My eyes flashed to her, my breaths heaving as I attempted to keep control.

"M-Michael, I'm sorry... I didn't want to bring this up ag-gain but... I can't keep her away from you anymore. I tried, I really really tried. I convinced everyone that she... that she was sick and I-"

I pushed her in a rage, and she slipped down a couple of stairs. She sat up and looked at me, eyes wide a fearful.

"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!" I shouted, my hands were sweaty, my mind was reeling.

"Y-y-you know who I am" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

I slumped onto a step and hugged myself, rocking slightly as every emotion, every feeling I had felt for her came flooding back.

For months I had fooled everyone, saying I didn't care about her anymore.

"No... I don't know you. I met you once, maybe twice. What are you doing back in my life.... Maria"

The name shot out of my lips and it pushed me over the edge. I cried, hard, suddenly realising everything. She wasn't gone. I had removed her from my life, I thought I had moved on...

*

AN: Sorry this is so short and sweet but this is where I would urge you all to go and read my other fic "Ever Victorious" if you haven't already, or the rest of the story might not make much sense. I hope you're enjoying it! I will update asap :)