His grip tightens as he cocked his head.

"Was this what all of this was about?" I asked as I looked around at the crowd of people "You lure me in, and you make me fall for you and then you hurt me?"

Stone fell back a few steps like he had suffered a physical blow

He then said slowly like the very idea was insane "I would never hurt you. I would rather die."

"Why did you keep this from me?" I asked then closed my mouth because if I said anymore then I feared I would burst into tears.

I could not cry in front of him. I told myself I would not.

He breathed out and ran and a hand through his hair roughly "I did not want to hurt you."

Anger rose from the bottom of me and released from my throat "That is a cop out."

"I did not want to lose you." He tried again.

"You already have."

"I did want you to look at me like how you are now." He watched my shivering figure with so much sadness and protectiveness in his gaze.

I said nothing while I stared at him as my eyes blurred with tears.

"Ella." He pleaded again in the softest yet harshest tone.

He never once tried to explain it to me. He never once tried to tell me.

I found it difficult to open up to people. I found it even more difficult to change my set ways and let someone into my life.

"It is too late." I shouted at him.

I would not make the mistake of letting someone in again.

"Do not say that." He matched my volume and reached forward to gently cup my face in his large hands "I love you."

I stayed in his embrace for a second. I closed my eyes and allowed the warmth to take over me but then I remembered the negative feelings bubbling around inside of me.

This was exactly why I acted oblivious to everything. This was exactly why I tried to distance myself from him. I knew this was going to happen.

Ignorance really was bliss.

"I am done." I pointed between us "This is done. It is finished."

"No. It is not." He stated gruffly as his hands fell to my arms and rubbed up and down in an attempt to warm up my cold skin.

"You knew that I hated being kept in the dark with my mother and my dad. You knew that I hated it and yet you continued to lie to my face." I repeated.

"I did not lie—"

"No. You do not lie. You just kept the truth from me. Is that what you were about to say?" I looked into his eyes for another few minutes before I finally spoke again "Bye Stone."

"No." He gnarled and it was almost like some sort of beast's growl.