The next day, you barely slept, replaying every moment of the night before over and over in your mind. Chappell's words echoed painfully, and you knew that your careless actions had hurt her in a way that couldn't be undone with a simple "I'm sorry."
So, you spent the morning thinking, planning, hoping that there was something you could do to show her just how much she meant to you. Finally, you had an idea—a small way to remind her that you wanted nothing more than to be by her side.
You gathered supplies, feeling both nervous and determined as you made your way to her apartment. As you approached her door, you hesitated, the weight of her words from the night before holding you back. What if she didn't want to see you? What if you'd hurt her too deeply to come back from this?
But you knew you had to try. Taking a deep breath, you knocked on her door.
A few moments passed, and you heard her footsteps approaching. The door opened, and there she was, standing in front of you, looking surprised—and maybe a little annoyed—to see you there. She was still wearing her oversized hoodie from last night, her hair pulled up messily. Her eyes were tired, but you could see the flicker of curiosity in them.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice guarded.
"Chappell," you started, holding out the small bouquet of wildflowers you'd gathered on the way. "I know this doesn't make up for what I did, but... I'm here because I want to try. I want to show you that you mean more to me than just a few words."
She looked at the flowers, then back up at you, her expression softening just a little. She didn't say anything, but she didn't close the door on you, either. It was enough of a sign that you could keep going.
"I know I messed up last night. I know I made you feel like you didn't matter, like I wasn't there for you when you needed me. And I'm so, so sorry for that," you continued, your voice filled with sincerity. "You deserve someone who makes you feel like you're the only person in the room. And I want to be that person for you, Chappell. I want to make it up to you."
She sighed, looking away, but there was a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"
"Give me today," you said, a little desperately. "Let me show you. No distractions, just us. Like it should have been last night."
For a moment, she just looked at you, as if weighing whether or not to let you in. Finally, she gave a small nod and stepped back, allowing you to enter her apartment. Relief flooded through you, and you couldn't help the soft smile that spread across your face.
You spent the rest of the day doing everything you could to make her feel special, starting with cooking breakfast together in her tiny kitchen. You put on her favourite playlist, letting the music fill the space as you clumsily cracked eggs and burned toast, earning a few reluctant laughs from her. Slowly, you felt the tension between you starting to ease, her guardedness melting bit by bit.
After breakfast, you suggested a walk in the nearby park, one of her favourite places to go when she needed a break from the world. The two of you strolled down the winding paths, your fingers grazing hers until she finally, tentatively, reached out to hold your hand. It was small, but it felt like a victory.
As the sun began to set, you found a quiet spot by the lake, sitting together on a bench and watching the fading light dance on the water. Chappell was quiet, her gaze fixed on the horizon, lost in thought. You wanted to say something, to make sure she understood just how deeply you cared, but before you could, she spoke.
"You know, I didn't need flowers or a perfect day," she said softly, her voice carrying a hint of sadness. "I just needed to know you were there. That I could count on you." She looked at you, her eyes reflecting a vulnerability that took your breath away. "Last night... I felt invisible. And that hurt more than anything."
Her words hit you like a punch to the gut, but you met her gaze, refusing to shy away from the pain you'd caused. "I'm so sorry, Chappell. I never wanted to make you feel that way. I was careless, and I took you for granted, and that's on me. But I want to do better. I want to be someone you can count on, someone who makes you feel seen. Every single day."
She was silent for a long moment, studying your face, as if searching for any sign of insincerity. Finally, she let out a small sigh, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "Well, today was a good start."
You felt a spark of hope, and, without thinking, you reached out to take her hand, threading your fingers through hers. She didn't pull away, and you felt your heart soar at the small gesture of forgiveness.
"You mean everything to me, Chappell," you whispered, squeezing her hand gently. "And I promise, from now on, I'm going to show you that every day."
For the first time that day, she looked at you with that familiar spark in her eyes—the one you thought you might have lost. She leaned in, her forehead resting against yours, her voice barely a whisper as she said, "Then don't let me down again."
"I won't," you promised, sealing it with a gentle kiss, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the two of you. And for the first time since that terrible night, you felt like maybe, just maybe, you could make things right.
