Let Me Save You Then

Chapter 9

SIBLINGS

LOUISE's POV // Past.

It had been a month since that encounter, and Louise tried so hard to act normal around Florence and not feel different towards the girl. And it's not like she can just ignore her really, even if she wants to. Louise knows that however hard she might ignore her, she can't escape the fact that Florence is now part of her life. Whether she likes it or not.

And anyway, Florence is a nice and sweet kid, and Louise also knows that it wasn't technically her's or Florence's sister's fault anyway. But she just can't disregard that lingering feeling in her heart. Especially when Florence will offer her her sweet smiles, Louise would feel melancholic.
Even so after she took notice that Florence kind of resembles her father. That's why it has been one tough of a decision for her to keep her lips tightly shut even if she really wanted to speak and just burst it all out. She had the every rights to acknowledge her feelings and to confront them, and she can. Really. But she chose not to, well not yet that is.

So with the heaviness in her chest, Louise let out a deep breath as she stared at Florence sitting across her.

I can still endure this. That had become her mantra for the last month. Even though it's hard for her, she had no other choice but to keep quiet and endure it. She keeps on repeating in her mind that it wasn't their fault, not even Florence's. It was their dad's fault. No one else to blame but him.

Louise didn't know she was holding her breath and had been clenching her hand into a fist until someone held her balled up hand. Louise was immediately pulled out of her reverie and looked at Florence.

She didn't know what to feel as she stared at her face. Louise can see Florence's worried face as she looked at her, her eyes held questions. So with another sigh, calming herself, Louise gently smiled at her and tapped her hand that sits atop hers.

“You alright, Louise?”

Florence asked, visible worries holding each words. Louise tried her hardest not to grimace and reminded herself again that it wasn't her fault. Louise smiled at her again and nodded her head before she pulled out her hand from Florence's hold

Yes, I can still endure this. “Yeah, I am. Just thinking of something, is all”

“Are you sure?” Louise could only nod before one of their friend arrived

They were now sitting at the cafeteria for their one hour break before their last lecture of the day. They planned to study for their next subject here since it's not too crowded and they felt hungry after their three hours lecture.

“Hey” Their friend, Jess, came with their food. Florence helped him, while Louise cleared their table

Jess is Louise's best friend since primary school, it had always been them both since the beginning. Although they also had other friends, Jess and Louise much rather wanted each other's company. But now, Florence was added to them, yet she feels okay with it. Jess don't know about their situation, and she wants to keep it that way. Florence, on the other hand, oddly as it may sound, but she has no issues with her tagging along with them.

Even if Louise won't admit it, she would rather want to be close with Florence so she knows her moves and might dig up something about her and her family.

Family, Louise scoffed. How ironic it actually is.

Louise knows her family might crumble once they found out about the truth, and she knows for sure it would break their Mum's and Ashton's heart, yet her she was, befriending the “daughter” of the reason why she was hurting.