Temporary Fix

Chapter 8: Confession Amid Chaos

The night air was thick with anticipation as Trixie stepped into her apartment, the remnants of the club still buzzing in her veins. The energy of the dance floor, the laughter shared with friends, and her recent heart-to-heart with Louis lingered, but there was a storm brewing outside that mirrored the turbulence in her heart.

As she closed the door behind her, the world outside suddenly went dark. A citywide blackout plunged her neighborhood into a deep, eerie silence, broken only by the distant sounds of confusion and frustration as others realized the power had gone out.

"Great timing," Trixie muttered under her breath, feeling a mix of annoyance and amusement. It was almost fitting; just when she was about to confront Louis about their feelings, the universe decided to throw a wrench into her plans.

But the dark didn't scare her. She had always been one to embrace the unknown, to seek out the thrill of what lay ahead. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Trixie glanced toward the living room, where faint moonlight trickled through the windows.

Just then, a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it to find Louis standing there, his silhouette framed by the dim light from the hallway. "Hey! I came to check on you. Are you okay?"

Trixie couldn't help but smile at his concern. "I'm good! Just a little... surprised by the blackout."

He stepped inside, and the door closed behind him, sealing them in a cocoon of darkness. "Do you have any candles or flashlights?" Louis asked, scanning the room as he stepped further inside.

"Yeah, I think I have some candles in the kitchen," Trixie replied, leading him toward the light source. As they entered the kitchen, she fumbled through the drawers until she found a small stash of candles and a lighter. She placed the candles on the counter and lit them, casting a warm, flickering glow around the room.

"Much better," Louis said, leaning against the counter beside her. "It's kind of cozy, isn't it?"

Trixie nodded, a spark of warmth igniting in her chest. "Yeah, it is. It's nice to have some quiet time."

With the glow of the candles illuminating their faces, the atmosphere shifted. The chaos of the outside world faded, replaced by a peaceful intimacy that Trixie hadn't anticipated.

"Do you want to talk about what happened at the club?" Louis asked, his voice soft but steady.

Trixie took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle around them. "Yeah, I think we need to," she replied, her heart racing. "I don't want to keep dancing around our feelings. It's too confusing."

Louis met her gaze, his expression earnest. "I agree. I want to be honest with you, Trixie. Ever since we started hanging out, I've felt something between us, but I didn't know how to approach it."

The air felt thick with unspoken words as Trixie searched for her voice. "I've felt it too," she admitted. "I just didn't know if you were serious about it or if you were just having fun."

He nodded, the vulnerability in his eyes reflecting her own. "I understand why you'd feel that way, especially with Julia around. But I promise you, it's you I want to focus on."

His words warmed her from the inside out, igniting a flicker of hope. "So, what are we then? Are we officially... something?"

Louis hesitated, and Trixie's heart dropped. "I mean, I think we could be," he finally said, a nervous smile creeping onto his face. "I really like you, Trixie. I want to explore what this is, together."