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Prologue

Louis.

I've loved her for the time that is countless.
She doesn't know it.
No one knows it.
How much it hurts to not have her.
To kiss her.
To touch her.
To see her smile whenever I want.
Because at the end of the day, I'm just another teacher she talks back to.
Just another teacher.
I don't stand out, but I care.
And she doesn't see that.
I'm determined to open her eyes, but I can't, I shouldn't.
I will.
One of these days I will.
That was my ambition.
Until one day I did.
It wasn't a mistake as others might say.
Why not?
Because I don't regret it...

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Belle.

A perfect woman.
She had flawless skin.
Her make-up looked natural.
It was an advertisement on a shelf that reached my eye level.
I caressed the image with my flawed fingers.
Soft breath on my neck.
I didn't flinch.
"She should be jealous of you"
I turned around.
Brunette.
Blue eyes.
Clean skin.
Early 20's.
Louis.

"Wake up Belle! Wake up"
It was a nightmare.
Felt like a memory.
Open eyes.
Louis.
He hovered over me.
Louis had ink now.
It was false.
"Belle..."
He says as if I were nearly dead.
I wasn't. Not then.
"I had a nightmare" I whispered.
"What about?"
"You"
He sat up next to me.
"Do tell"
"T- There was an ad. On a shelf. It was an ad for make-up. You were there. You whispered to me. Something like, I-I should be green....? No, en-"
"She should be jealous of you..."
Louis finished for me.
Horrid realization spread on him.
"D- Did I say it in my sleep?"
"No..."
In the dark.
I saw. How worried he was.
Why?
Tension.
"It felt more like a memory, Louis"
"Oh, Belle" He spoke in dread.
"What- What is it Louis?"
Silence.
"Come on Louis! You're scaring me!"
Through the dark.
I saw it in his face.
Fear.
He looked straight ahead.
Not to me.
He avoided my eye.
"Louis"
I exasperated as I forced his face to Look at me.
Dull. Lifeless. Tired look.
The type dead people give you.
"Louis, please tell me" I pleaded.
It was a truth.
"It was nothing Belle. Go to sleep"
Monotone.
"No no no Louis. It was something"
It had him scared sh*tless.
He sighed.
Continuously.
He was panicking.
Louis got up from bed.
He started pacing.
Back & forth.
Back & forth.
His hands tugged his hair.
He leaned against the door frame.
His hand to his mouth, frustrated.

Light from his living room.
It illuminated our conversation.
No where else to go.
I ran to him.
During the night.
Something of Bad Idea.
"Belle..."
He frowned.
I turned around.
Ready to sleep elsewhere.
Tight grip to my wrist.
Turned to look at him.
Stay.

"I was at your house. I told you that Going there was a bad idea. You Told me to
stay"
"I did horrible things to you"
He muttered.
Over.
And over again.
"They told me this day would come. I had to be prepared for it. Oh, god Belle. You deserved better" He cracked.
Louis looked up at the ceiling, pushing back his tears with his fingers to the
bridge of his nose.
" You taught me how to do that"
I don't do that.
He chuckled bitterly.
"I'm so sorry Belle. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I- I'm sorry for what I put you
through"
"Louis. Please tell me what's going on. You promised to tell me the truth. No
matter what it was. To never lie"
" I am. I am going to. I just don't know how"
" Please. You're scaring me"
Something flashed in his eyes for a split second.
Gone the next.
"I'm scared too. The truth scares me"
He quivered.
Louis got closer to me.
He held my hands in his.
" Belle, promise..."
He sat next to me on the bed.
"Promise. Promise that you could only leave me if you're unhappy. Promise me"
"Wh- What if I don't?"
Fast Words escaped his lips.
" Then you'll be the death of me. You're the reason I wake up every morning. To
See you. To touch you. Make you laugh. Bring you a basket of smiles. To talk you,
to sniff you again. To do all I can to see you happy. You're my ray of sunshine.
I was diagnosed depressed before I met you. Did you know? Once I met you,
everything changed. So if I'm going to tell you, you could leave... If I make you
unhappy, then leave me. J- Just not completely. Friends in the least. Even if it
Tears me apart to see you with another bloke. To know he beat me. Pleases you
better than I ever could. So. Will you promise me?"
I croaked near tears.
"Okay. Okay Louis. Promise. I promise you"
" Okay"
He took a steady breath.
Relief.
And he told me.
Our entire past.
I remembered portions.
Not all.

Louis finished speaking.

His eyes darted.
From me.
To the bed.
From me.
To the bed.
His movements were anxious.
He was waiting for my response.
"Thank you for telling me Louis"
I kissed his cheek.
His eyes focused on me.
Confusion smeared all over the room.
His chest was luke-warm.
I cuddled to his bicep.
He tensed.
Then relaxed.
Like the time we shared an Ice Cream on my birthday.
The lucky 17.
As I fluttered my eyes to sleep, I replayed our story.
The way he told tales.
His recorded voice in my head soothed me to sleep.
Another year, same ol' schedule, same ol' classroom, but in a year, my life would change in such an extraordinary way. I fell in love...