𝐈𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇, imogen alodia in a bar, craving a cigarette but having none, notices a man whose face seems oddly familiar. she asks him for a smoke, and he reveals he's down to his last one. they decide to share it. who is this man?
it turns out...
after a lovely walk with my mum and feeling refreshed, i was back in my cozy little cottage when my phone buzzed with a text from addy.
addy🌑 heysunshine! jacob and i are going out for dinner tonight, and we want you to come no saying noyou need to eat 7 p.mat bella'sand jacob's treating us.
a grin spread across my face. addy always knew how to pull me out of my own head.
blue💙☀️ i'll be there! can't wait 😘
i quickly decided on my outfit: a soft blue cardigan over a light blue top that complemented my complexion, paired with high-waisted black jeans that made me feel confident. to finish it off, i accessorized with cute jewelry that added a touch of sparkle. i felt fabulous and ready to enjoy the evening.
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addy and jacob arrived promptly at seven. jacob stepped out of the car first, holding the door open for me, while addy flashed me a bright smile from the passenger seat. "you look adorable!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.
"thanks! you both look amazing," i replied, feeling the warmth of their friendship envelop me as i climbed into the backseat. "where are we going again?"
"bella's," jacob said, starting the car. " i hear they do a mean steak."
"and fantastic dessert!" addy chimed in, her excitement palpable. "you'll love it. it's the perfect way to unwind."
the drive was filled with laughter and teasing, and my heart felt light. i was grateful to have such wonderful friends who made me feel included, especially since i wasn't as close with addy's other friends. it was just the three of us, and that felt perfect.
when we arrived at bella's, the restaurant looked cozy and inviting, with warm lights glowing against the cold late winter night. jacob parked, and we bundled up against the chill as we stepped out of the car.
inside, we were led to a table near the window. as we settled in, i noticed a familiar figure in a corner booth—louis tomlinson, the guy from the bar, was sitting with a group of friends. my heart raced.
how had i not recognized him sooner? he was, after all, a member of one of the most famous boy bands in history.
"what's got you staring, imogen?" addy asked, breaking me from my thoughts.
"oh, nothing! just someone i thought i recognized," i said, trying to sound casual.
as the evening progressed and our food arrived, i couldn't help but sneak glances over at louis. his laughter rang out across the room, and he seemed completely at ease, surrounded by friends. the way he moved, the way he joked with everyone, made my heart flutter in a way that felt both exhilarating and terrifying.
after dinner, we stepped outside to find jacob's car waiting. as we walked toward it, i suddenly felt a rush of nerves. would i see louis again? the thought of it sent butterflies dancing in my stomach.
"imogen! wait!" addy called out as i lagged behind, my eyes still on the restaurant. when i turned back, my heart nearly stopped. i had been so distracted that I bumped right into someone.
"whoa, steady on there!" a familiar voice exclaimed. it was louis, standing just a few feet away, a smirk plastered across his face.
"louis! i—i wasn't looking where I was going," i stammered, feeling my cheeks heat up.
"i really think you're stalking me now," he teased, arching an eyebrow.
my heart raced as i looked up at him. "i swear, i'm not! i just—uh, you're kind of hard to miss."
"right, because i blend in so well with the crowd," he said sarcastically, gesturing to his group of friends who were now looking our way, clearly amused by our interaction.
"i mean, you do stand out," i admitted, biting my lip to keep from grinning too widely. "in a good way! i just—"
"you're rambling," he said, his tone playful, and i felt a rush of embarrassment.
"sorry! it's just that i didn't know you were famous until, like, 5 hours ago." i couldn't help but laugh at myself. "i thought you were just a really cool guy who was kind of a d."
"well, that's fair," he replied, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall, his demeanor relaxed. "you've seen me at my best, after all."
"and your worst!" i added, the playful banter making me feel light and happy. "but seriously, you're not as bad as you act."
"you've got guts, i'll give you that," he said, shaking his head with a smirk. "so, what are you doing out here? on a secret mission to follow me?"
"no secret mission," i replied with a smile. "just out for dinner with friends. but i do have a question..."
"shoot."
"do you really think you're the only famous person in the area? there's a whole world out here, you know!" i teased, trying to lighten the mood further.
he chuckled, the sound deep and genuine. "fair point. you're not afraid to speak your mind, are you?"
"not when it comes to you," i said, my heart racing. "i mean, if it helps, you really do have a good aura about you."
he looked at me, a spark of surprise crossing his features. "aura? well, that's a new one. maybe i should start charging for my good vibes."
"i'd pay you!" i replied, unable to suppress my grin.
just then, addy called out, "imogen! come on! we're freezing out here!"
i turned back to louis, feeling a bit bolder. "well, it was nice running into you. literally."
"yeah, just remember: stalking isn't cool, love," he shot back, his tone teasing. "but you can follow me on socials, and we can call it even."
i laughed, already feeling the warmth of connection between us. "i'll think about it!"
as i turned to catch up with addy and jacob, i couldn't help but glance back at louis one last time. he was watching me, a thoughtful expression on his face. i felt a little spark of something—could this be the start of a friendship? or maybe something more?
the thought lingered in my mind as we drove off, my heart racing with excitement and curiosity about what might happen next.
