𝓣𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐔𝐒, ˡᵒᵘⁱˢ ᵗᵒᵐˡⁱˢᵒⁿ

𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈. 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃

after my walk with mum yesterday, i thought i'd shaken off most of the weird tension that had settled in me after seeing louis again. i mean, how many times can you accidentally bump into someone? it had to be coincidence, right? but then why did it feel like something more?

i didn't want to overthink it, though. instead, i focused on the little joys of life, like the crisp winter air, warm scarves, and the way mum always made me feel like everything would be okay.

just as i was curled up on my couch, trying to unwind, my phone buzzed. it was addy.

addy: dinner tonight? me, jacob, and some of his friends. please come! it'll be fun!

i smiled at the message but hesitated for a second. don't get me wrong—addy and i were still a dynamic duo, but since she got engaged to jacob, everything had been a bit different. i wasn't exactly close with his friends, and even with addy's other friends, i always felt a little on the outside. it had always been me and her. now, it was them, and i had to adjust.

but i loved addy, and the thought of her excited smile made me quickly type back.

imogen: of course! what time? x

a second later, she replied.

addy: 7! can't wait to see you. it's gonna be fab 🤍

i smiled, already feeling that little spark of excitement bubbling up inside me. even if i wasn't super close with everyone else, i always found a way to enjoy the moment. it's all about the attitude.

you bring the sunshine with you wherever you go, and life feels lighter. at least, that's what i always tried to remind myself.

i got ready for dinner, choosing something simple but cute—my favorite black dress paired with a cozy coat to fight the winter cold.

by the time i arrived at the restaurant, my cheeks were pink from the icy air, but my smile was as bright as ever. as soon as i walked in, i spotted addy waving from a table in the corner.

"imogen! over here!" she called, practically bouncing in her seat.

i waved back and made my way over. as soon as i got close, addy jumped up to hug me, and i could feel her usual warmth wrap around me.

"i'm so glad you came!" she said, beaming.

"are you kidding? of course i came!" i said, returning her smile. "plus, it's always fun to see you guys. even if you've got your whole new engaged life now," i teased, giving her a playful nudge.

she laughed, shaking her head. "please, i'm still me. i'll never stop being your addy."

"good," i said with a grin, though deep down, i knew things were changing. not in a bad way—just in a different way. jacob was nice, and his friends were fine, but they had their own world that i wasn't exactly part of.

as the dinner went on, i found myself slipping into the background a little. jacob and his friends were deep into some conversation about football or something, and i kind of zoned out. i didn't mind, though. i was perfectly happy just enjoying the energy around me.

sometimes, just being surrounded by people you love—even if you're not right in the center of it—was enough.

and then i glanced across the room, and my heart nearly skipped a beat.

louis.

there he was again, sitting with a group of his own friends, laughing at something one of them said. i froze for a moment, my mind racing.

again?

what were the chances? the universe seriously had a sense of humor.

i didn't know what to do—should i say hi? wave? pretend i didn't see him? in the end, i decided to just let it be. maybe it was better this way. he didn't notice me, and that was fine. i wasn't even sure what i would say if he did. instead, i shook my head, trying to focus on the conversation at my table again.

addy must've noticed me zoning out because she leaned over and whispered, "you okay?"

"yeah, totally," i said, quickly flashing a smile. "just, you know, thinking."

"about what?" she asked, giving me a curious look.

i hesitated for a second before shrugging. "just life. how weird it is. one minute you're fine, and the next, you keep bumping into the same person over and over. i don't know, it just feels strange. like the universe is up to something."

addy raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips. "is this about that guy you told me about? the one from the bar?"

"maybe," i admitted, feeling a little sheepish. "i mean, it's probably nothing, right? just a coincidence. but i don't know. it's hard not to wonder if there's something more to it."

addy gave me a thoughtful look. "you've always been the kind of person who believes in signs, imogen. maybe this is one of those times where you should trust your gut."

i smiled at her, feeling a little lighter. "yeah, maybe. or maybe i'm just overthinking it. either way, i'm still gonna focus on spreading kindness and being happy, no matter what the universe throws at me."

"that's my girl," she said with a grin, giving my hand a squeeze. "you've got the best outlook on life, you know that?"

"i try," i said, laughing softly. "life's too short to get bogged down by the little things. we have to enjoy every moment, even the weird ones."

as the night went on, i found myself sneaking a few more glances at louis, wondering why fate seemed to keep putting him in my path. but at the same time, i felt a sense of peace. whatever was happening—whether it meant something or not—i was okay with it. i'd figure it out when the time was right.

as dinner wrapped up and jacob's friends started talking about grabbing drinks at another bar, addy leaned over to me again. "you coming with us?"

i shook my head gently. "i think i'll head home, actually. i've got a painting idea i'm itching to get started on."

"you sure?" she asked, her voice soft.

"yeah, i'm good," i assured her. "but thanks for inviting me. it was fun."

she smiled and gave me a quick hug. "okay, but i'm holding you to a girls' night soon. just us."

"deal," i said, returning her hug. "i can't wait."

as i walked out of the restaurant, the cold winter air hit my cheeks, but it didn't bother me. i glanced back one last time, catching a glimpse of louis still laughing with his friends. i smiled to myself, pulling my scarf a little tighter around my neck.

maybe the universe was up to something. or maybe not. either way, i knew that whatever happened, i'd keep my heart open to whatever came next. after all, life was full of surprises, and i couldn't wait to see what the next one would be.