Forever and Always - Olivia Rodrigo and Louis Patridge

London Calling

A month had passed since Olivia met Louis at the party. Life had been its usual whirlwind—interviews, photoshoots, and rehearsals for her upcoming tour. But every now and then, she'd pull out the small piece of paper he had given her and wonder if she should reach out.

It wasn't until she found herself with a rare free weekend in London, her team giving her a break after days of press, that she finally mustered the courage. Sitting in her hotel room, with the city lights twinkling outside the window, Olivia stared at her phone.

"Just text him," she whispered to herself. "What's the worst that could happen?"

She typed out a simple message:

"Hey Louis, it's Olivia. I'm in London for a few days. Any good recommendations for a tourist pretending to be a local?"

She hesitated before pressing send but finally did. To her surprise, the reply came almost immediately.

"Olivia! Pretending to be a local, huh? I could help with that... if you don't mind some company."

Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly responded.

"Company sounds good. Where should we meet?"

Louis suggested a small café tucked away in Notting Hill, promising it was the perfect place to avoid prying eyes.

The next afternoon, Olivia arrived at the café wearing oversized sunglasses and a simple trench coat. She spotted Louis sitting at an outdoor table, his casual outfit and messy hair making him look effortlessly charming.

"You're early," she teased, slipping into the seat across from him.

"Had to make sure it was actually you and not some superfan who stole your number," he joked, flashing that crooked smile she remembered so well.

They ordered coffee, and the conversation picked up as if no time had passed. Louis told her about his latest project—a historical drama that had him learning fencing—and Olivia shared stories from her tour rehearsals.

"So, what's the plan for today, Mr. Local Expert?" she asked.

Louis leaned back in his chair, feigning deep thought.

"Well, I could show you the tourist traps, but I have a better idea."

He led her down cobblestone streets and through hidden alleys, pointing out spots he loved: a tiny bookshop that smelled of old paper and ink, a record store where they spent nearly an hour flipping through vinyls, and a park where they sat on a bench, watching the world go by.

As the afternoon turned into evening, they ended up by the Thames, the city skyline glowing softly against the darkening sky.

"I've been here so many times," Olivia said, leaning against the railing, "but it feels different with you."

Louis glanced at her, his expression unreadable.

"In a good way, I hope?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "In a really good way."

For a moment, they stood in silence, the sound of the river filling the space between them. Then Louis turned to her, his voice quieter now.

"You know, I wasn't sure you'd actually text me."

Olivia smiled.

"Why not?"

"I don't know. You're... Olivia Rodrigo. It's easy to think people like you are out of reach."

She looked at him, surprised by his honesty.

"And you're Louis Partridge. Trust me, you're not exactly ordinary either."

He chuckled, shaking his head.

"Fair enough."

Before she could second-guess herself, Olivia reached out and took his hand, her fingers brushing against his.

"I'm glad I texted you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Louis squeezed her hand gently, his smile soft and genuine.

"So am I."

The city buzzed around them, but in that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.