NOTE: hey guys! So this is a short story I wrote today and decided to post it here. I hope you like it!

***

“Look at me,” Chace said softly, tilting her chin up to gaze at her tear-stained face. He clenched his jaw and balled his fists at her appearance. Her beautiful brown eyes were no longer relaxed and intense but now were pained, twinkling with non-stop tears from the moment she reached his apartment. “That asshole,” he growled quietly, his voice dripping with hatred.

It broke his heart when he didn't see the brilliant, beautiful smile he loved so much. He had always tried to make her laugh just to see it. Instead, here she was, her once perky little figure now curved into a ball on his couch, looking so vulnerable that made Chace want to just hug her and kiss her...and just do something to tell her that she wasn't and will never be alone; that he will always be right beside her, wiping away her tears and rubbing her back soothingly, telling her that it was all going to be okay, comforting her the best way he could. Just like he was doing now.

Because her pain was his pain.

“I can't believe it. He...he told me...” she croaked out, her voice husky and filled with hurt, “he told me he loved me,” she burst into tears again, soaking his shirt, and he hugged her tighter.

“I can't believe I actually believed him,” Aelyn whimpered against his chest, her voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt. She shut her eyes tightly, trying to forget the image that would surely be forever burned in her memory. The sight that greeted her when she arrived at Sean’s apartment. The way he looked at her with confused eyes, as if he didn't even know her. The way he looked at the other woman in his room.

Just like the way he looked at her before today.

But that was exactly what it was. Just looks. She couldn't believe how stupid she’d been. Stupid for loving him. Stupid for believing his constant lies. Stupid for not seeing through his façade. She took a sharp gasp as new, fresh pain threatened to swallow her and clung to Chace for dear life.

She started to sob uncontrollably, and his heart clenched even more, knowing he couldn't do anything about it. He wanted to growl and curse and maybe even hit something—he wouldn’t mind beating him right now—but he knew he had to be strong for her, to take all her pain away then start working on his own.

Aelyn inhaled deeply, breathing in his the scent of aftershave and cologne, letting it soothe her. She loved the smell of him. It was calming and just so...Chace.

“Shhhh, please don’t cry Lyn,” Chace combed his fingers through her hair, but Aelyn noticed the anger in his voice. Her heart warmed a little at his protectiveness. He was her best friend in the world and she loved him so much.

The next few weeks were excruciating, but again, he never once left her side. When she needed a smirk, he was more than willing to give her a playful—and slightly sexy—one. When she wanted to laugh, he was always there to crack her up to the point were she even forgot about him. And when she wanted comfort, he would always notice and give her a hug, to let her know again that she wasn't alone.

***

“Bastard,” hissed Chace, his voice venomous, glaring at the figure that just passed by them.

Aelyn, fiddling with her fingers—a habit that indicated she was nervous—looked up sharply at Chace, startling him for a moment. “Chace...I...” she laughed nervously.

He waited, raising his eyebrows.

“I...I can't...” she took a deep breath. “I—can't—hate...him...” she stuttered.

Chace winced as if he'd been slapped in the face.

***

She stumbled.

He caught her.

He always did.

She muttered a quick thanks, avoiding his eyes.

“Okay, what is it?” Chace rolled his eyes at Aelyn, who had been stuttering whenever he tried to make conversation and tried in vain to ignore him as best as she could over the last week.

She looked up, faking innocence. “What?” she asked nonchalantly, trying to ignore the pounding in her chest and...the guilt. God, the guilt was eating her inside.

“You're obviously stressed about something, you look so...uncomfortable?” he frowned, ending the sentence with a question, silently demanding Aelyn to explain.

She sighed, “Chace...Sean and I...we...we made up.”

Chace froze, which made Aelyn's stomach flip uneasily. After a few minutes of silence she looked up, thinking if he was even going to talk. At first, his face was blank, but Aelyn watched as realization dawned on him, the fire blazing in his eyes.

“What?” he croaked, barely containing his anger.

Aelyn, feeling guilty and desperate, hurried to explain, “It’s just that--”

He cut her off, “it’s just what, Aelyn? How can you even look at him, after what he did to you?”

Aelyn winced, staring at him, her eyes hesitant. “He said he’ll try...”

“Try? Oh that’s just rich,” he laughed harshly and stood up. “He should’ve felt lucky he even had you. But I guess he was too busy screwing all the other girls on campus.” He instantly regretted his words as he watched Aelyn’s eyes water. He sighed, his voice more quiet as he said “why are you going back to him?” his stomach twisted uncomfortably as he waited for her answer—knowing exactly what it would be.

There was a strange kind of desperation in his eyes as he asked her that, she noted. Her voice shook, “because I love him.”

He swallowed; hearing those words...it ripped him completely apart, his heart completely shattering right there.

She put her hands on his, anxiousness evident in her eyes. “Chace, please. I know how much you hate him, but can you just try to like him a little bit? Please, for me?”

He stared at her for a long moment, and then asked, “Are you sure?”

She nodded, her eyes never leaving his.

He sighed, offering a weak smirk. “For you.”

Anything for her.

An excited squeal escaped her mouth, and she threw her arms around him, basking in the warm comfort he offered. “Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me,” she breathed against his neck, then quickly kissed his cheek. “I love you.” She said sweetly. His cheeks warmed, but he covered it with a scowl.

He sighed again as she walked away. Just for you.

***

“Oh my God I’m so glad you’re here!” she bunched up her gown and ran toward him. “Where were you? I was freaking out! I kept looking for you and you weren’t there and I was so nervous—never mind, you’re here. Oh God, I don’t think I can do this Chace, what if he changes his mind? What if he...”

She grew quite as he put a finger on her lips. “Shhh,” Aelyn sniffed and leaned against his chest. His arms automatically went around her, pulling her close. “Of course you can do it. And he would never change his mind.”

“Really?” she looked up at him, her voice giving away the uncertainty and desperation she felt.

His hands cupped her cheek and he smiles, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Really. You have nothing to worry about. You know why, Lyn?”

“Why?” she breathed, completely absorbed.

A smirk tugged at his lips—one that always brought out a mix of annoyance and amusement to her. ‘You’re killing yourself, Chace.’ A voice deep inside him told him. “Because he once told me he loved your smile. And how he tried everyday just to make you laugh. He told me how much he loves you; every curve of your body, every strand of your hair, every breath you take.” He wiped the tears that fell down her cheeks. “He would always be there for you. Now and forever. He will never back down. I know for a fact that he'd wait forever, just for you. So smile, okay?”

She looked at him softly, and slowly, a gentle smile covered her lips. “Thanks Chace.” She brushed a strand of hair from his handsome face. “The girl you’ll get should be considered lucky she has a guy like you love her. I mean it.”

It killed him.

He smiled back at her as she went to the mirror for a last look. She looked painfully beautiful. A familiar ache began in his chest as he looked at her.

“So...” she said with renewed vigor. “Wanna walk me down the aisle?” she cocked her head to the side and grinned playfully, knowing he wouldn’t say no.

He could never say no.

Chase nodded, smiling with her, ignoring his own anguish. What little life he had in him strived, lived for her happiness. Even if he was driven mad with hopeless longing. Even if it wasn’t with him.

Because he loved her.

***

NOTE: Ahh...bittersweet, unrequited love. I was really surprise at how I ended this, as I really hate stories that don’t have a happy ending. Anyway, don’t hate, this is my first story! xD

Oh. My. Gosh.

I just found out that some of my favorite books are going to be made into movies! How awesome is that?!

First off, if you didn't know this yet: I am a total bookaholic. I love reading. It's my favorite pastime. And I recently read on some of my favorite authors' websites that there might be a possibility that their amazing books might turn into movies! Yay!

Some of them are:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This book (and it's sequels, Catching Fire and Mockingjay) is like the best book I've ever read. Collins is a genius. If you haven't The Hunger Games yet, DO. IT. NOW! So this isn't a "possibility" anymore, it's final! It's going to be made into a movie by LionsGate in 2011. Can't. Freaking. Wait. And better yet, the author of the books, Suzanne Collins, is going to be the scriptwriter! That's the best part; because now I don't have to worry about the dialogue being predictable and boring as some movies are *cough* Twilight *cough*. LOL. Oh, and it's about America 100 years from the present time, ruled by a dictator. So America isn't "America" anymore. It's called "Panem" and it's ruled by the "Capitol". And it's surrounded by 12 Districts. So the Capitol has everything while the Districts starve to death. And as punishment--for an uprising the Districts held years ago--they force each District to send one girl and one boy to the Hunger Games, were they fight each other to death to win. So when Katniss Everdeen's little sister is chosen, she takes her place--even though she knows she has to kill the boy who's in love with her.
2. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. This book's been optioned by Warner Bros. I so hope it turns into a movie! Anyway, this is a really sweet, romantic and sad novel about a werewolf that's in love with a girl. Sam--our werewolf--shifts into a wolf's form each winter, or any time when the weather is cold. Meanwhile, Grace's been watching the wolves at the back of her house for years, where they linger in the woods. Among those wolves, she remembers one particular thing about one particular wolf: yellow eyes. That's why she immediately recognizes him, a naked yellow-eyed boy shot in her backyard. Throughout the book, Sam struggles to be with his summer girl, as winter comes nearer and nearer everyday. It's sequels are called Linger and Forever.
3. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. This series gets better with each new book! Fortunately--and unfortunately--the series has one more book to go, which will be out in December 7, 2010. Richelle Mead is an amazing author. So this has been chosen by Preger Entertainment to become a movie! Yay! I'm like so happy right now, because this is my favorite vampire book! The series evolves around a Dhampir (half-human half-vampire) girl named Rose, a Moroi (mortal vampire) princess and Rose's best friend, Lissa, and another hot Dhampir named Dimitri, who's Rose's love interest. Dhampirs are trained since childhood to become bodyguards to protect the weak Moroi, who are in danger of being killed--or eaten, I guess--by the world's strongest and fiercest vampires, Strigoi. Anyway, please join the official Vampire Academy movie on facebook, and follow OfficialVAMovie on Twitter, because the more fans it has, the more likely it is that it'll be made into a movie! The series in order is: Vampire Academy, Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, and Last Sacrifice.
4. I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. This book is a really quick, fun read and is the first book of the Gallagher Girls series, it's about three best friends attending The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women--which is a secret school for spies. Everything changes for Cammie Morgan when she meets a boy in a park while on a mission and immediately falls in love with him. But how can she be with him when she can't even tell him of her true identity--that she's a Gallagher Girl? This one's been optioned by Walt Disney. I've only read the first book, but I have the rest, so I am going to read them.
5. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. This is not one of my favorites but I thought I'd put it here. A lot of people love the series, but not me. I don't know why. It just seemed like a Harry Potter rip-off to me. But the serious definitely has potential. The books in order are: City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, and City of Heavenly Fire. The film rights to the Mortal Instruments have been optioned by Unique Features.This series is so intricate and complicated I can't even explain it and not get you confused. You have to have read the books to understand. Click the links above to know more about them. All I can say is that it's funny, sexy, romantic and action-packed.

So, has anybody read any of these books? If you haven't, go straight to the library and borrow it. You won't regret reading any of them!

~Nina

Oh my gosh, this is like, the HOTTEST Vampire Diaries scene ever! I've been watching for an hour and I still can't get enough of Damon Salvatore. And the music. And the dancing. And the whole scene.