The Letter. THE CHANGE. The
Lie.
Chapter 85:
July 18
*Katia's POV*
"No."
"Thank you Katia. I
promise..." Louis started to say before I interrupted
him.
"No, as in I still think we
need space." My hands fell to my sides as he released them.
I could see the hurt written all over his face and I started to
feel guilty but I held my ground.
His face hardened, masking any sign
of being hurt. "Okay."
"Lou don't be mad.
It's not forever, and this isn't the end of us. It's
just a break so we can be together and happy..."
"I was happy." was all he
said. I flinched and knew that was the wrong thing to say. Rather
than address it I continued on.
"This isn't the end Lou.
Plus if everything came so easily to us we wouldn't have a
story to tell our grandkids." I honestly didn't know if
we would be together forever, if we would get married and have
grandchildren. It was a nice thought, and I hoped for it, but I
don't know how realistic it was. Plus, I knew the comment
would make Lou happy.
An emotion flickered across
Louis's face, but it left too quickly to distinguish it.
"Okay." his voice was still harsh. Or maybe it
wouldn't make him happy.
A silence fell over us as we both
just stood there not sure what to do next. My arms were folded
over my chest as I took a sudden interest in the fraying shoelace
on my right shoe. I could tell he wasn't looking at me but
rather probably glancing around. There was a reasonable distance
between us now but I don't remember either of us
moving.
"Umm, I better getting going.
Mia and I have a girl's day," I said. He nodded but
didn't say anything. I waited a moment before starting to
walk away. I had barely turned the corner when I heard my
name.
"Katia!" Lou's voice
sounded almost panicked. I turned around and saw him standing
just outside the door way.
"Yeah?"
"We umm... we- we
aren't... yo-you aren't... uhh.." he kept stuttering
and I bet I would have seen his cheeks a dark shade of pink if I
had been standing closer.
"We, I aren't what?"
I urged him to continue.
"Are we umm... seeing other
people? During our break?"
"Oh," I was surprised by
his question.
The thought hadn't even crossed
my mind. I mean, I was wanting this break because I didn't
feel right dating at that moment. So did he want to be seeing
other people? He was just against us taking a break and now he
wants to see other people during it? I could feel myself getting
worked up but I didn't want to fight anymore; I was done
fighting.
"I guess we can," I said.
I tried to make my voice bright and cherry to cover up how
conflicted I was on the inside. He nodded and looked towards the
ground for a moment.
"See you later Kate." he
said before entering his flat.
"Bye," I said to the
empty space Louis just stood in. I turned back to walk away and
pulled out my phone. I had three new text messages.
One from Liam asking where I was,
and two from Mia. One asking if we were still hanging out, and
the second saying to call her when she should come pick me up. I
looked up and down the empty street as I brought the ringing
phone up to my ear.
The little girl from earlier was
outside playing in a neatly trimmed lawn. A tree hung branches
over her small head shielding her from the sun that had come
out. Was that a sign? That the sun came out after Louis and
I decided to take a break? Does that mean we aren't meant to
be together? Or just that taking a break was a good
decision?
"Helllooo?" Mia's
voice sounded through the phone, bringing me back from my
thoughts.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry had
to split into two parts!