There was no denying it anymore.

Mia liked Sebastian.

After coming back from Amsterdam, Mia was more sure about feelings than ever before. She wanted to be with him, like she was in Amsterdam. She wanted to have dinners with him, go for walks, talk forever, laugh at his cheesy jokes, and have him hold her in his arms at night.

She wanted it all.

However, she just needed to move on from the past.

Mia had this fear of being too close to him. Like it was a dream, and then he'd turn around and say it was some kind of prank that Blake and him formed.

She felt that until she didn't discuss the past with him, she'd never be able to give into her feelings.

Deciding to be brave, and mostly because Nicole told her to stop being such a wuss, she decided today was the day that she'd talk to Sebastian.

Mia knocked on his office door, before she quickly peeked in.

Sebastian was at his desk and focused on his work, however, as soon as he heard the knock at the door and saw Mia's face, everything else just stopped.

"Hi," Mia greeted him with a smile on her face.

When he saw that expression on her face, it immediately brightened up his day and he couldn't help but smile back too.

"Hi," he replied and watched as she stepped further into his office.

"Do you have a moment?" Mia asks, unsure if he was in the middle of something.

At her question, Sebastian promptly closed his laptop and put the pen down, that was in his other hand. His sole focus became Mia instead.

"Sure. Come sit," he gestured towards the seat in front of his desk.

After Amsterdam, Sebastian felt that something between them was different, but he couldn't outright ask her, 'Hey, Mia. Do you like me now?', even if he really wanted to.

Instead, he thought that it was best to wait for her to make the first move and he'd just continue to make her feel special until she made that move.

Mia took at seat by his desk and just sat quietly. Her hands were in her lap and she kept fists kept tightly closed. She could feel the pressure of her nails in her palm, but still made no move to unclench her hands.

When she looked up, she saw Sebastian's head titled to the side a little, with a worried expression on his face.

He was waiting for her to speak up, since her silence was unnerving.

Mia then cleared her throat. "I kind of need to talk to you," she said.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she wanted to smack herself over the head. She wanted to seem casual and breezy, but 'I need to talk', didn't exactly scream easy-going. That sounded ominous, if anything.

Sebastian seemed to have the same train of thoughts. At her words, he felt his body stiffen a little and began to think that this could either go really great or really bad.

He didn't want it to seem like he was panicking inside and so instead, he tried to remain normal and kept a smile on his face.

"Sure, go ahead," he said, whilst keeping his fingers crossed underneath his desk.

"Actually, I meant for later. Do you have somewhere to be after work? Because I was hoping we could talk? I have a place in mind that we could go," Mia told him and that surprised Sebastian.

'If she wanted to take me out, that could potentially be a good sign,' he thought. 'Unless she was planning on letting me down easy, in a less public place,' that thought worried Sebastian.

"Oh, uh okay," he said.

He seemed to have lost the ability to form a proper sentence, with his mind now filled with questions.

Sebastian began to think about, where Mia was planning on taking him and what she wanted to talk about. What worried him more, was wondering if there was someone else that Mia liked and if she maybe wanted to tell him to back off.

"So, do you?" Mia asked, snapping Sebastian out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" he replied.

Mia frowned. "Have time?" She repeated her question.

Sebastian realised that he hadn't yet given her an answer and then quickly nodded.

"Right. Yeah I do," he said, with a little more confidence in his voice this time.

A grown man turning into a complete buffoon in front of a girl, he internally scolded himself.

Mia was a little confused with Sebastian's strange behaviour. He seemed very...on edge, all of sudden, but she didn't ponder too much on it, since she was more concerned about her own nervousness in front of him.

She didn't have to uncurl her fists, to know that there were probably nail marks in her palm, from having it so tightly closed the entire time.

After hearing Sebastian agree to go with her, it gave her a little relief. 'That's step one, done,' she thought.

She then gave him a small smile, before she got up from her seat.

"Great. I'll meet you outside then," she told him and all Sebastian could do, was just nod at her words.

"Yeah, great," he smiled.

Once Mia had left his office, Sebastian leaned back in his seat, his eyes focused on the door that she had closed behind her.

He didn't like going into things blind, and since this situation included her, he was completely thrown off balance.

Sebastian spent the rest of the working day, a little less focused on the work, and instead counting down the seconds till the end of the day, with much anticipation.

He would glance at the clock on the wall, his phone, the time on the laptop and his watch.

Unfortunately for him, they all moved at the same pace.

There were a kaleidoscope of emotions, swirling within him as the day went by. Mostly, excitement and nervousness. However, since he'd basically left the end decision all on Mia, with her even knowing it, he'd just have to wait and see what she wanted.

Although, he just hoped it was him that she wanted, because never in his whole life, had ever acted like this or liked someone so much.

When the working day had finally finished, Mia met Sebastian outside his office and together they made their way to his car, sharing small talk along the way.

All the while, Sebastian felt his heart pounding in his chest. He was so sure that at one point, his heard was about to leap straight out of his chest and then into her hands. But then again, he wouldn't really mind that.

Unknown to him, Mia felt a similar way.

She knew what she wanted to tell him and what she wanted to talk about, but was still so nervous about it all. A lot could depend on the conversation, they were going to have, but she knew it was a much needed one.

If things ended up badly after the talk, then so be it. At least it would be out the way.

Mia gave Sebastian directions to a certain place that she held very dear to her to heart. It was where she intended to have this conversation with him. A place that seemed right for it.

The roads felt familiar to him, as he followed the directions Mia gave him. When they seemed to approach a park, he recognised the place, having driven past it a few times, but never really visited it.

"We're here," Mia announced with a smile on her face, as she looked at the green fields.

Sebastian then pulled the car to an appropriate parking spot, all the while feeling incredibly confused.

Once the car has come to a stop, Mia slipped off her seatbelt.

"Come on," she said and open the car door, stepping into the evening fresh air.

As he got out the car, Sebastian looked towards the park and then back towards Mia.

He was at a loss, on why she had brought him to a park of all places. She wanted to talk, that he understood, but all that suspense to bring him to a park? He was baffled.

Mia walked around the car and stretched out her hand towards Sebastian, silently asking if he trusted her.

He didn't think twice about it, and instantly placed his hand in hers, as she then led the way, taking him further into the park.

She guided him towards an old oak tree, where a rope-tied swing on one of the branches, with a wooden plank to sit on. This was her place, and after all this time, it still remained.

First, Mia took a seat on the swing, before Sebastian sat down next to her. A heavy silence hung between them.

Sebastian noticed the way Mia's hands began to shake slightly, not from the cold, but something else. Although she seemed to try her best to hide it, he saw, but chose not to say anything.

It became clear to him that she was more nervous than he was, and he really didn't want to say anything to spook her.

"I used to come here during high school," Mia finally broke the silence between them.

Sebastian shifted his body slightly and turned, so that he could face Mia. He didn't want to just stick to side-glances, he needed to see her face, to see her eyes, but she avoided his gaze.

She continued to look down at her feet, gripping onto her side of the rope, as the swing began slowly rock back and forth from their movement.

"This was my little place. I would always come here with a book, or just to sit and listen to music. Just to be away from everyone. From everything," Mia smiled to herself.

Sebastian listened to her words and thought over it. He appreciated that she brought him here, since he know understood that it wasn't just a park, but a placed that she loved. However, he was still confused.

"It's a really nice place. Peaceful," he then commented awkwardly, not sure on what he should say right now.

Mia then took a deep breath. "I think it's time we speak about the prom incident."

Sebastian's eyes widened. That was definitely not something that he expected her to say.

"Mia, we don't need-" he hastily started to say, but when looked at him, the pain in her eyes stopped him mid-sentence.

"No, please. Let me talk," she asked.

Sebastian just nodded.

He also knew that sooner or later, they needed to have this talk before anything else could ever potentially happen between them.

They shared this past, that he had marred by his own actions. It was his own fault for being stupid and taking things so far that night. Now, years later, it was biting him in the arse, since he'd fallen for her!

Mia tried to keep her eyes focused on Sebastian. She knew that if she was going to do this, she had to look him in the eye, and tell him honestly how he made her feel on that prom night.

She took another deep breath.

"That night, you really hurt me," she began and Sebastian felt those strings in chest tug again, this time a lot more painfully.

He bowed his head down and continued to listen.

"You were my brother's best friend and despite us not really having a real friendship, I hoped you would at least give me the benefit of the doubt, but you didn't."

"You took my first kiss from me at the time," she reminded him.

When he heard those words, the hurt in her voice, Sebastian felt disgusted towards himself. He couldn't believe he'd done such a horrible thing, and that to the girl he now claimed to like.

He wanted to hit himself. Or rather, for her to hit him.

As he glanced up towards her, shamefully, he saw that she was already looking at him.

"I'm sorry, Mia. I don't-"

"No, please. I need to say this. I need to get this off my chest," she said and Sebastian kept quiet once again.

Mia took another breath and tried to control her emotions.

"That broke me.Of all the things that happened, that was one that crushed me," Mia told him.

Sebastian was immediately reminded of what Aaron had told him, at that lunch. What he wanted to question her about at Leslie's fiftieth party. He had broken her.

"I need you to know that I didn't deserve it. After that incident, I couldn't stay in school, all the girls said that I was a slut and the boys thought I was easy, some even tried to..." she trailed off, unable to continue.

The memory of what some guys tried to do to her and what they had said, nearly had her tearing up. She felt that lump in her throat and tried to harshly gulp it down. She didn't want to cry. She refused to.

Despite not continuing her words, Mia had said enough for Sebastian to understand where that sentence was heading towards. He wasn't even sure what to make of that. He didn't know what to feel first, guilt or anger.

"I was called all sorts, and went home crying everyday. Aaron would come back from college and see me just, shattered, and he hated it. Then one day, he decided that enough was enough, and then he convinced my parents to homeschool me," Mia told him.

A traitorous tear managed to escape from its hold and began to slip down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away, ending its path abruptly.

Hearing all that, caused Sebastian's blood boil.

His own vile behaviour towards her, disgusted him, and everyone else's angered him to no extent.

He was part of the reason she had to suffer so much. He was the reason that she had to hear all those taunts, why guys deemed it acceptable to just force themselves on her, and assumed her to be 'easy'. He knew how much she liked studying, but his actions let her to quit going to school, and instead be home-schooled.

She cried and endless amount of tears because of him, and when she came back into her life, he'd behaved like a complete twat once again.

She went through so much because of me. What the fück is wrong with me? He thought to himself, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt.

One action. One stupid, pig-headed, ignorant action on his part, led to her suffering, and worse, he wasn't even aware of it.

"Fück," he breathed out. "I didn't know. I wish-" he began to say the words, but he didn't even know how to continue.

Sorry, just didn't seem like enough. It wasn't. The girl he claimed to like so much right now, had been through hell because of him, and all he could think of was a measly, 'sorry'. It just wasn't enough.

Mia couldn't help but look down once again. "I hated you for doing that to me," she confessed.

Sebastian froze at her words.

She had every right to hate him after that, and he hated himself right now, but a selfish part of him didn't want her to hate him.

As if reading his mind, Mia carried, now looking at him once again. "Slowly, I realised I couldn't hate you-" she said, and Sebastian's eyes lit up with slight hope. "-you reacted from what your friends told you, which I understood, but you still took things too far. While I couldn't find myself to hate you, I didn't like you either," she told him.

For Mia, hate had always been a strong word. One that she knew held a lot of emotion.

Back when she was determined to forget about the incident, she decided she didn't want to hate Sebastian. She didn't want to tie any sort of emotion to him.

Unknown, to how she'd feel years later.

Mia had always been good at rationalising. She never took words or actions at face value. At least not all the time. Some things weren't always as they seemed. Sebastian's anger and hate towards her, was clear, but that only really came after the video played and Victoria egged him on. It wasn't there before. She knew that.

As Mia told him, that she couldn't hate him, Sebastian was filled with relief. She didn't hate him. That was something at least. He felt like he could work with that.

Mia sucked in a breath, as she needed to say the hardest part of the whole thing.

"The truth is, that day in the library-"

Only, she wasn't able to continue when Sebastian took her hands, within his.

"Mia. I'm sorry. I am so, so sorry" he apologised, his regret and guilt for his actions, expressed on his face.

He tightly clutched her hands, scared that if he let her hands go, then she'd leave. She'd leave him and he couldn't let that happen, at least not until he properly apologised to her.

Sebastian then abruptly got off the swing and knelt down onto the grass, right in front of Mia. He still held her hands in a firm grip, and they rested upon her thighs, as she looked down at him.

It wasn't lost on him, that in this position, he looked like he was begging...and he was okay with that. He needed to beg for her forgiveness. He was down on his knees and he knew he deserved it.

"You were right to hate me," he began. "I was so terrible, so out of line for doing that to you. In the heat of the moment, in anger and ignorance, I took things way too far. You're right. You didn't deserve what I did to you, and if I could take it back, I would. My God, Mia, how I wish I could take back every venomous word and heinous act, I've committed towards you."

He then bowed his head towards her, as one would do in worship or, in his case, when asking for forgiveness.

"I'm so late in asking this, but please, forgive me? I'm truly, so sorry."

Sebastian needed her forgiveness. He needed her to accept his apology, because the crushing guilt within him, was almost too much to bear.

Those damn strings within his chest, were pulling and tugging away, so close to snapping. He felt pain. Her pain. And it was because of him.

He'd been so oblivious to all that she had gone through in the past, because of him and his one immature mistake in his youth. He had previously called her all sorts, and accused of many things, but she was completely innocent to all his accusations.

She never deserved any of it.

He knew that should've apologised that night. The moment that he had crossed that line, he should've begged for forgiveness straight away. But of course, his male pride and ego got in the way.

However, now Sebastian was determined to make things right.

Mia frowned slightly, "I haven't told you the whole-".

Sebastian shook his head. "I don't need to know it all," he told her.

He looked up at her, before raising himself on his knees, and now at eye-level with her.

"I don't need to know all of it, because I now know you. I know, that you're the Mia that I like. The one I have spent months working with, and the one I cannot get out of my mind, no matter how much I tried," he confessed.

Mia's eyes widened at this new information.

Sebastian then sighed. "I hated you in the past because Aaron broke our friendship, and I needed someone, other than myself to blame for it, and I chose you. It seemed easier to hate you in that moment, even though I knew deep down that it was all on me."

He wasn't proud of that. Holding resentment towards Mia, for something he'd done himself, but he was too stubborn and immature at the time.

"I never asked him to break the friendship," Mia said, feeling need to defend herself.

Smiling softly, Sebastian shook his head. "I know that now. I think I always knew it, I was just too stupid to acknowledge it."

Mia didn't really know what to say to that. She just nodded.

"I thought, it was all an act," Sebastian then regretfully confessed and Mia just listened. "I always knew you to be quite and innocent, the perfect good-girl, but I always thought there was more to you. Then that night, I thought it was all an act."

"What I did, I never...I never thought there would be such severe consequences for you. I'm so ashamed to say this, to say that I continued with my life, as if I didn't ruin yours," he continued, despite the constricting feeling within his throat.