FIX YOU | Ollie Bearman

IV

After a short while, Louise heard a gentle knock on her door. She was taken aback; she hadn't expected Arthur to actually show up. With a mix of surprise and curiosity, she opened the door and scrutinized him, her gaze lingering as if she were trying to decipher a puzzle. Arthur, undeterred, simply stood there until she finally stepped aside.

"Are you going to say something or just stare?" he asked, raising an eyebrow with a hint of amusement.

"Just stare, thank you," Louise retorted with a sassy edge. "Oh, and I should clarify that this is not a date. I have a crush on Ollie, not you!" she continued, her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she failed to notice Arthur's knowing smile—he knew Ollie Bearman quite well.

"Ollie, huh?" Arthur said, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "I could invite him to join us if you want—"

"No! Stop! You haven't heard anything about me or Ollie or anyone!" Louise interjected, her face turning a deeper shade of red. "Also, can we just go now?"

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A little while later, Louise found herself genuinely enjoying Arthur's company. As they exchanged stories and discussed a myriad of topics, she began to appreciate his sense of humor and easygoing nature.

"You know, one time I was on a yacht with my family, and a turtle ended up on deck out of nowhere," Louise recalled with a chuckle. "Stupid me thought I could just push it off, but I was so wrong. It bit me, and I had to go to the hospital. Thank goodness nothing serious happened. Actually... hey! Why are you laughing? This was a serious situation!"

Arthur couldn't help but burst into laughter. "I'm sorry, but it's kind of hard not to find it funny. You really tried to push a turtle off a yacht?"

Louise's laughter was infectious, and she found herself unable to stop. "You have to admit, it's kind of hilarious!" she giggled, tears of mirth streaming down her face.

"Maybe," Arthur conceded, still chuckling. "But definitely not as funny as you think it is."

"Oh, don't be a buzzkill!" Louise said between giggles. "If you're going to be friends with me, you'll have to put up with this. Wait, are we friends now? Oh my gosh, what if we're not? I'm so sorry for being so forward. I'm still kind of a fan, you know."

Arthur looked at her with genuine warmth. "Of course we're friends. And actually, I can get you a special pass for the Ferrari garage this weekend so we can meet up again."

Louise's eyes widened in disbelief. "You would do that? Really? That's amazing!"

"Yeah, absolutely. I just need your phone number to arrange it," Arthur said casually.

Louise nearly squealed with excitement. "Yay! I can't wait!"

Arthur took the number she scribbled on a piece of paper and slipped it into his pocket. "I'll text you the details soon. Just don't lose this paper before then."

"I won't, I promise!" Louise said, her excitement palpable. "Thanks so much, Arthur. I'm really looking forward to it."

As they continued their evening together, the initial awkwardness of their meeting had melted away. They talked freely about their favorite movies, bizarre travel stories, and everything in between. Despite the rocky start, they had clearly built a genuine connection.

By the time they reached Louise's door, she felt a lot more at ease with Arthur. "Thanks for a great evening. I had a lot of fun," she said, her smile reflecting her gratitude.

"No problem at all. I had a great time too," Arthur replied warmly. "I'll be in touch soon about the Ferrari garage."

"I'm really excited!" Louise said, waving as she closed the door behind her. She was already eagerly anticipating their next adventure together.

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A/N

I finally managed to write another chapter! I had such a bad writers block all the time but I feel like I'm back in the flow now. Hope you like the chapter! - xx, Lilia