Second chances

5

It's been a few weeks since that night at Katie's flat, since that kiss that upended everything you'd tried so hard to rebuild. You'd been doing well keeping your distance, sticking to safe routines, avoiding places you knew she frequented. But all of that planning falls apart on a drizzly Thursday night, as you stand in the produce aisle at Tesco, mentally debating over apples, when you feel a familiar presence. You glance up and spot her a few aisles down, looking so much like the Katie you fell for—the way her brow furrows as she studies the shelves, her hair still damp from what must've been a post-training shower.

Your heart stumbles, and before she can see you, you turn quickly, trying to slip out of the aisle as quietly as you can. But then, you hear her voice.

"Oi, wait up!" she calls, and there's a hint of hurt laced in her tone.

You pause mid-step, fighting the urge to run. But when you finally turn around, you're met with Katie's wide, hopeful eyes. She approaches slowly, almost cautiously, as if she's afraid you'll bolt at any second.

"Didn't think I'd run into ya here," she says, a nervous chuckle breaking through her voice.

You force a small smile, awkwardly shifting the basket in your hand. "Yeah, just needed a few things."

Katie's gaze flickers to the basket, then back to you, like she's taking in every detail she's missed these past few weeks. There's a silence between you that feels heavy, loaded with everything unspoken, but she finally breaks it.

"Listen," she says softly, her voice unsteady, "I didn't mean t'make things worse between us. I... I was just so caught up in how I felt, I didn't think. I'm sorry."

You nod, not wanting to meet her gaze fully. "I know you didn't mean to, Katie."

She takes a step closer, her voice more pleading now. "I've missed ya. Missed us, y'know? I just... I just want things t'be right between us."

You finally look up, meeting her eyes, and the hurt there is undeniable, raw and open. You swallow, feeling a pang in your chest. "Katie... I appreciate you saying that. And I'm glad you're being honest with me, I really am. But right now, friends is all I can give you."

Her face falls, and for a moment, you see the flicker of disappointment before she covers it up with a forced, tight-lipped smile. "Friends, yeah?" she repeats softly, almost as if testing the word, trying to make sense of it.

You nod. "I know it's probably not what you wanted to hear, but I need to protect myself too. I can't just... dive back in, you know?"

She rubs the back of her neck, looking down as she nods. "Aye, I get it. I really do. Friends is... it's enough. If that's what ya need, then that's what we'll be."

A wave of relief and sadness hits you all at once. Relief, because Katie finally seems to understand the boundaries you need, but sadness too, because a part of you knows how much this hurts her.

"I hope this doesn't make things harder for you," you murmur, voice barely above a whisper.

She lets out a sigh, a faint, resigned smile tugging at her lips. "Ya know, it probably does. But I'd rather have ya as a friend than not have ya at all." She shoves her hands in her pockets, a familiar flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. "So, friends it is."

You smile gently, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, Katie. Really."

"Ah, don't mention it," she says with a forced cheerfulness. But you can see the strain in her smile, the effort she's putting into holding herself together. And for a brief moment, you wish things could be different, that it wouldn't hurt so much to let her back in fully.

As she turns to go, she pauses, looking back over her shoulder at you. "If ya ever need a training partner, though... ya know where t'find me."

A small smile creeps onto your face. "I'll keep that in mind."

Katie nods, giving you one last lingering look before walking away, her shoulders slightly slumped. And as she disappears down the aisle, you're left feeling both lighter and heavier all at once, knowing you made the right decision—even if it's not the one either of you wanted.