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Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23
NEVER BEEN GOOD AT TALKING

LUISA RASPED HER KNUCKLES against the wooden surface of the door, and waited.

She wasn't as anxious as she thought she would be, especially having met Katie and Mr Richards and them receiving her as they always would. Plus, she considered the fact that Polly had invited her after all, so it probably meant she wouldn't be as sour with Luisa as she was fearing.

"I'm still how you left me ten minutes ago, Katie," came Polly's reply.

"Oh, um...," she cleared her throat, "It's Luisa,"

"Luisa?" she heard some dulled out sounds from behind the door and then the knob was turning, the door pulled open, revealing her once best friend. Her eyes widened taking in Luisa before her, "Shit, it's really you," the next second she had her arms wrapped around Luisa, well not quite wrapped around since there was here bulging belly to consider in between them.

Polly pulled back for a second, one of her hands cupping Luisa's cheek as if she couldn't quite believe that she was actually there, and then they were hugging again, "Oh my god, I didn't think you'd come,"

Luisa could only laugh out loud in return, very much relieved, embracing her friend. She looked quite different than she did before.

Her once wavy blonde hair that reached her waist was now cropped short into a pixie-cut, and she had also gotten a nose ring. And of course, there was a prominent bump on her belly.

But it was still Polly, her best friend.

Polly winced suddenly, and then gestured to her legs which were, not to exaggerate but, the size of tree stumps, "I need to get off my feet," 

"Yeah, c'mon," Luisa guided her to her bed, and helped lift her swollen legs up on the mattress. 

"Perks of being pregnant," Polly claimed, chuckling softly, once she was settled. She put a hand on Luisa's arm, squeezing it gently, "God, I missed you,"

"Me too," she patted her hand, smiling.

"I honestly didn't know if you'd come," 

Luisa scoffed, rolling her eyes, "Of course, I came. There is no way I was going to miss this, no matter what. Especially after you invited me. I should have probably texted you that I was coming—I forgot, I'm sorry,"

"Stop. Don't apologise. I'm just happy you're here,"

"Stop crying then," Luisa wrinkled her nose, referring to the tears that had started to streak down Polly's cheeks.

"Oh, shush," she waved her hand dismissively, "I cry all the time now. Don't mind me," shuffling a bit to the side, she patted the spot beside her, "Come sit,"

Luisa followed suit, folding one leg under her, and the other dangling off the bed. She smiled at Polly who was smiling at her back. She hadn't realised just how much she had missed her best friend until she saw her again.

"I'm sorry," the words left her lips on their own, and Luisa didn't try to stop them.

Maybe if she had had the courage to apologise, she wouldn't have had to stay away from her best friend for a year. She felt so stupid right then—why hadn't she just apologised? They could have worked it out right then.

"I'm sorry I said all those stuff at–,"

"It's fine," Polly interrupted, shaking her head, "It's really fine. You don't have to apologise. We don't have to talk about it,"