In Love: Against All Odds

I Thought I Moved On... Until I Saw Him

Complicated – Avril Lavigne 😵‍💫
"Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?"

-----

The next morning, the sun spilled through the blinds, casting soft golden rays across our apartment. The city was already alive outside—horns honking, people shouting, the distant hum of life moving at breakneck speed. But inside, everything felt... heavy.

I padded out of my room, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and found Adri curled up on the couch, wrapped in the biggest, fluffiest blanket we owned. Her hair was a mess, her face pale, and she looked like she had just fought a battle against the flu and lost.

I frowned. "Dude, you okay?"

She groaned, barely cracking one eye open. "I think my immune system just gave up on me."

I placed the back of my hand on her forehead. Not burning up, but definitely not her usual self.

"Stay home," I said. "I'll cover for you."

Adri sighed dramatically. "You're a lifesaver. Tell Lydia to chill if she starts acting like she runs the company."

I snorted. "Lydia always acts like she runs the company."

With one last look at my sickly best friend, I grabbed my bag and car keys from the counter.

"I'll pick up some medicine on the way back."

She groaned in appreciation, curling deeper into her blanket cocoon.

I headed outside and slid into Adri's red car, the leather seats still warm from the morning sun. The moment I turned on the engine, the city noise faded into the background, replaced by the steady hum of the car.

---

The workday dragged forever. My brain was fried from staring at fabric swatches, adjusting designs, and dodging Lydia's passive-aggressive comments. By the time I packed up my things and stepped out of the building, the city was drenched in that warm, golden glow—the kind that made everything feel cinematic, like I was living in an indie movie.

I took a deep breath, letting the fresh air clear my head.

Then, I remembered—medicine for Adri.

With a quick turn, I slid into car and pulled onto the street, heading toward the nearest pharmacy. The drive was smooth, the streets quieter than usual, and for a moment, it was nice—just me, the city, and the low hum of the radio.

I parked outside a small shop, jogged inside, and grabbed a few flu essentials—cough drops, fever meds, tea bags, the works.

But when I stepped out of the shop, my heart stopped.

Across the street, stepping out of a café, was someone I never wanted to see again.

Patrick.

I swear, my stomach dropped to my feet.

His hair was slightly tousled, like he'd been running his fingers through it too much—probably stressed, probably deep in thought. And then, as if he had some kind of sixth sense, his head snapped up, and his eyes locked right onto mine.

For a second—just one stupid second—I froze.

I wasn't ready for this. Not now. Not ever.

So, obviously, I did the only logical thing.

I bolted to the car.

"Kat! Wait!" His voice cut through the street noise, but nope. Nope, nope, nope.

I yanked the door open, threw the bag of medicine onto the passenger seat, and slammed the door shut. My hands fumbled for the keys, my pulse hammering in my ears.

Before Patrick could take another step, I hit the gas.

The tires screeched against the pavement as I pulled into traffic, my hands gripping the steering wheel like my life depended on it. I didn't stop. Didn't look back. Just kept driving, the city blurring past in streaks of neon and fading sunlight.

---

By the time I reached our building, my heart was still racing. I parked the car and sat there for a second, breathing hard, my hands still clenched around the wheel.

What the hell just happened?

I grabbed the bag of medicine and hurried inside, practically slamming the door shut behind me.

Adri was sitting at the kitchen table, a cup of tea in her hands. She blinked at me like I was a lunatic.

"Kat," she said slowly. "Did you... drive home like you were in a Fast & Furious movie?"

I bent over, hands on my knees, still catching my breath. "You're... not gonna believe it."

She raised an eyebrow. "Try me."

I straightened up and ran a hand through my hair. "Patrick."

Adri's expression shifted. "Oh hell no."

"Oh hell yes," I groaned, throwing my bag onto the couch. "He was right there. Just... existing. Like a completely normal human being. How dare he?"

She snorted. "How dare he be in a public space? The audacity."

"I panicked and ran away."

Adri set her cup down, giving me a look. "Kat, what the hell?"

"What else was I supposed to do? Walk up to him and be like, 'Oh hey, Patrick, remember when my life fell apart because of you? Yeah, same, anyway, how's your latte?'"

She groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "Girl. It's been months. You need to talk to him."

"No, I don't."

"Yes, you do. You can't just run away every time you see him. That's literally not sustainable."

"Watch me," I shot back.

She sighed. "Kat, you're my best friend, and I love you, but you're being so dramatic right now."

I slumped into the chair across from her, my fingers tracing random patterns on the table. "I just... I thought I was over it, you know? I thought I was moving on. But seeing him again? It was like all of it—the concert, Alista, everything—came crashing back."

Adri's face softened. "I get it. But running from your problems isn't gonna fix them. You have to face him at some point."

I groaned. "Yeah, well, not today."

She rolled her eyes but didn't push it. Instead, she switched gears. "Okay. You know what you need? A day off. We should do something fun. Just us. No work, no stress, no ex-boyfriends randomly appearing in cafés like they're in some Netflix rom-com."

I huffed out a laugh. "That actually sounds kinda nice."

"Great. We'll go shopping, eat way too much junk food, and forget that men exist."

"Iconic."

She grinned. "See? I always have the best ideas."

I smiled back, feeling a little lighter. Adri always had a way of pulling me out of my own head, making everything feel a little less terrifying.

And yeah, I still had a ton of unresolved feelings about Patrick. About what happened. About everything I'd been avoiding for months. But at least, for tonight, I wasn't alone.

And maybe, just maybe, I'd figure out what to do next.

——

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