ILLICIT AFFAIRS | WLW

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

It was finally Friday. The day that Catherine had been thinking about, somewhat dreading, and, in some strange way, anticipating for the entire week. Yet every time she thought of it, she couldn't help but label it with a strange significance. This was the day she and Blair would finally talk. Not just a conversation in passing or a brush-off of their emotions, but a chance to really talk. About what had happened between them. About Grace. About the tension that had been simmering beneath the surface of their relationship for weeks, threatening to boil over with ever glance, every lingering touch. Now, there was no running from this.

The past few days had been a whirlwind of conflicting emotions for Catherine. She had replayed their last encounter over and over in her mind—the kiss that almost happened, the way Blair had looked at her, the way her own resolve had nearly crumbled under the weight of the moment. And yet, Catherine had managed to pull back, determined to keep her promise. She didn't want their first kiss to be tainted by uncertainty, by things unsaid. She wanted to come into this conversation with clarity, with honesty. It was a rare feeling for her, this desire to bare her truth so completely, but it was Blair. Blair who made her feel things she hadn't felt in years. Blair who deserved to know everything.

She had been mentally preparing, playing out different scenarios in her head, rehearsing what she might say, and anticipating Blair's possible reactions. But the more she had thought about it, the more she realized that nothing could truly prepare her for what might happen. Blair was unpredictable, and their connection was complicated in ways that made Catherine both hopeful and fearful.

As she stood in the front of her bedroom mirror that morning, Kingsley took extra care with her appearance. It wasn't vanity that drove her attention to detail, but rather a need to feel composed and in control; qualities she knew would be tested in her conversation with Blair. She wasn't the kind of person who dressed for others—not typically—but today was different. Today, she wanted Blair to notice.

Kingsley allowed herself a small smile as she glanced at her reflection. She had chosen her outfit with deliberate care. A black turtleneck tucked into a sleek black pencil skirt, her waist cinched perfectly. It was the same outfit she had worn on the day she first noticed Blair's eyes lingering on her, the day she senses Blair's expression shifting from innocent curiosity to unspoken attraction.

Her red hair was neatly styled, a controlled wave that brushed just past her shoulders. The finishing touch was her signature scent, a rich, floral perfume that Blair had once complimented during a study session.

Satisfied with her appearance, Catherine took one last look in the mirror before grabbing her bag and heading out the door. Today wasn't just any Friday. It was the day everything between her and Blair could finally change.

For Blair, Friday had crept up with both anticipation and anxiety. The past few days had been a blur of thoughts, and she had been wrestling with her emotions; her attraction to Catherine, her anger over Grace and her regret about her brief involvement with Thomas. It had all been a mess in her mind, an angle of feelings that she hadn't been able to sort out. But after their quiet moments together earlier in the week, after waking up in Catherine's apartment and seeing the way Catherine had cared for her, Blair knew what she wanted. Who she wanted.

Catherine.

It was as simple and as complicated as that. She had been trying to get over Catherine, to distract herself with Thomas and anything else that might dull the intensity of her feelings. But none of it had worked. If anything, her time with Thomas had only made her realize how much she didn't want anyone else. How much she craved the connection she felt with Catherine, even if it scared her.

Blair had spent the morning staring at her closet, trying to decide what to wear. It felt ridiculous to put so much thought into something as simple as an outfit, but today was different. She wanted to impress Catherine, to make her see that Blair wasn't just some young girl lost in her emotions. She wanted Catherine to see her as someone who was serious about their connection, someone who was ready for whatever conversation awaited them.